By Steve Hubrecht
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A Columbia Valley resident with plenty of experience in — and passion for — travel has started up her own travel agency.
Christine Winchester began setting up Triptician more than a year ago, put things on pause in early spring when the COVID-19 pandemic began rolling across the globe, and then decided to plunge ahead with the business this past summer. Sure, the pandemic may have put a bit of a kink in launching the businesses, but Winchester is optimistic “because I see a huge, huge pent-up demand on the other side of COVID-19.”
With vaccinations having already begun in Canada, the other side of COVID-19 is coming, although nobody can say how long until it arrives, and as Winchester notes, “even though we can’t travel today, we can still dream about travel.”
The travel industry is one Winchester knows inside and out, having worked in it for many years in Ontario. Back in 2011, Winchester’s son graduated from school and took a job in Invermere with BC Hydro. Her daughter moved to B.C. for school shortly after, in part to be closer to her brother. Winchester and her husband came to Invermere for a visit and instantly fell in love with the Columbia Valley. They returned to Ontario, and within a few years, had sold their businesses there and bought a house here.
Their first order of business upon becoming Invermere residents, was— ironically — to leave the valley behind for awhile, as the couple set out on a multi-month trip-of-a-lifetime, taking in the Caribbean, U.S. and Europe. For Winchester, it was a chance to finally enjoy some of the experiences she had spent so much time giving her customers.
“We were in Arizona in January, and it was amazing, because the winter months are so busy as a travel agent, I’d never had a chance myself to go somewhere sunny during the winter. It was fantastic,” said Winchester.
When the trip was done, the couple came back to Invermere and in 2015 Winchester took a job as national director of sales for a major travel company. It was an exhilarating role, looking after more than 700 travel agents across Canada, but one that kept her on the road far too much for her liking.
“I was forever driving to Calgary or Cranbrook to fly to another part of Canada, so after five years I said ‘enough of that’ and decided to get back to the roots of what I love and know, which is helping people get their perfect vacation,” said Winchester.
Winchester operates Triptician with associates in Ontario and in the Lower Mainland, each working independently under the Triptician umbrella, much the same way real estate agents work independently under the umbrella of a real estate brokerage. Not only does Winchester have many years of experience under her belt, she is also a Certified Travel Manager (CTM) and Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE). She believes firmly in professional qualifications and certification as a means to stay on top of the industry. This combined with her top-notch customers service is the key to her success.
“It’s really about being a vacation specialist. I’m very client centric and am known for my outstanding customer service. Being good to people is what my business is built on,” said Winchester. “I really shine at customizing vacations to clients’ unique desires.”
Over the years, Winchester has been in the travel industry she has watched travel change from a luxury item into something do every year. “Some people just want to do and be on a beach, and some people like to get out and have experiences more. Everybody is different and that’s where the challenge and the fun is; tailoring the vacation to the individual,” she said. To help people go on vacations even if they don’t have plenty of savings for holidays, Winchester offers pay-later financing options. She also has insurance products protecting vacationers from COVID-19 related and other cancellations.
“Travel is something I’m very passionate about. If I was selling vacuums, I’d be broke. But travel is good for the soul. I eat, sleep and breathe travel,” said Winchester. Her own favourite travel experience was a river cruise down the Rhine, stopping off at Christmas markets in the Netherlands, Germany and France. “It was amazing, I found some really unique gifts there, things like handmade Christmas tree ornaments,” she said.
It’s hard to miss Winchester driving around Invermere: her sky blue car is emblazoned with the word ‘sandals’ and images of tropical paradise. If you happen to see her, she encourages you to honk and wave. Winchester is currently running a contest, giving away a seven-night celebrity cruise for two in 2022 (airfare included). No purchase with her is necessary to enter the contest. To sign up for the contest, and to learn more about Triptician, visit www.triptician.ca.