Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristy Tizon.
Hi Kristy, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Miski Travels started off as a passion project that quickly evolved into a new way of experiencing Peru. Growing up as a Peruvian-American in LA, I would always visit Peru as I was growing up and with each visit, I fell more in love with the country. I visited Peru so often, and at one point even lived in Peru, that people started contacting me to help plan their trips there. That’s when I knew that it was something I enjoyed doing and wanted to make a career off of it. I wanted everyone I met to experience the Peru I fell in love with- the culture, the people, and the destinations.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely was not a smooth road along the way. I launched in 2018 and it was a slow but hopeful launch. The first two years were a learning experience as I never ran my own business, and I was sort of winging it. Making mistakes along the way but definitely learning from them. Then 2020 came and all travel stopped. This was tough as I had no idea what direction I would go next. I never quit Miski Travels though and decided to get a full-time job on the side during the pandemic until travel picked up again. Fast forward to today, Miski Travels has completely kicked off ever since the travel restrictions were lifted and people started traveling again. It has definitely come full circle and all the struggles along the way have been totally worth it. I now manage a team of 5!
We’ve been impressed with Miski Travels, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Miski Travels is a boutique travel agency that specializes in all things Peru. It is a very niche travel agency as we only work on planning people’s trips to Peru. We’ve traveled throughout Peru to make sure we only recommend the best. Apart from only wanting to recommend the best, we also strive on being a responsible travel company. Working with the locals, giving back as much as we can, and adding our little grain of salt in helping this beautiful country evolve and maintain its charm.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
That the first 4 years of my business, I was a one-woman show. I handled all aspects of my business: sales, travel coordinating, operations, finance, the emergency phone line, etc. I was working around the clock. It was a stressful and scary time. If I didn’t get something done, I felt like everything else would fall apart. My travelers counted on me so I put in a lot of work and dedication into my business so it would not crumble. Not sure if that is surprising to the ones around me as they might have seen me working 24/7.
Another thing that many don’t know is that I want my business to give more back to the local Peruvian community aside from giving them work in the travel industry. My vision for Miski Travels is to eventually connect with a local community in one of the remote valleys of Cusco and take them under our wing to help them grow as a community. Now that travel has picked up this year, it is more of a reality in making that part of my vision come true for 2023.
Contact Info:
- Website: miskitravels.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/miskitravels
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/miskitravels
- Other: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.miskitravels.com
