According to the Black Travel Alliance, Black U.S. leisure travelers spent $129.6 billion on domestic and international travel in 2019. Yet, the Black community still encounters unique hurdles as they crave and search for experiences that resonate with their heritage, interests, and disposable income.
Paige Banks is breaking free from these constraints and has introduced her new travel business, The Banks Way. This venture is not just about saving on travel expenses but also about empowering individuals like her to take charge of their travel and unlock residual income.
Having lived in five states and traveled since she was 15, Banks knew she wanted to continue the tradition of traveling and learning into adulthood. Seeking to do so in the most budget-friendly way, she constantly scoured the internet for the best deals. Earlier this year, she came across an old friend on Instagram with the same interests, who then introduced her to the InteleTravel platform using the Jet Set Formula for luxury travel. The formula promises to show you how to travel more for less, create residual income, escape the 9-5, work from anywhere in the world, and build your dream life.
Banks began to learn about the commission that platforms like Expedia and Booking.com would gain from individuals booking travel through their sites. Instead of giving these platforms any more of her money, she decided to launch her own travel business through InteleTravel. This allowed her to book her own travel in addition to travel for family and friends, enabling her to put that commission money in her pocket instead.
“I want to ensure this business. I’m providing the customer service I would want for myself by having honest reviews and taking the time to create itineraries, especially to the places I’ve been before. I think it’s important to be able to give that firsthand knowledge,” she tells EBONY. “I want it to have a personalized touch.”
For anyone traveling soon, Travel Advisor Banks imparts her top three travel tips:
1. Always have a backup plan. “If I’m going to a new city, I know always to have at least two places off the top of my head that I can secure.”
2. Be flexible (especially when booking flights): “We try to save money and go with some of the basic or the super saver flights, but sometimes that can be to our detriment because life happens, right? You can have anything happen in your family, and you need to be able to make adjustments.”
3. Go in with an open mind and positive spirit: “I’m a planner…But I recognize sometimes it’s okay to just go with the flow.”
