What do construction sites and luxury vacations have in common? A lot more than you’d think! This episode explores the parallels between project management and travel advising with Curated by Cara founder and Travel + Leisure Rising Star, Cara Donleavy. Cara shares how her background managing multi-million dollar construction sites laid the foundation for her booming luxury travel business. From timelines and budgeting to risk management and client communication, she brings a project-based mindset to every itinerary she creates, ensuring each trip runs as seamlessly behind the scenes as it feels to her clients. Hear how she transitioned from part-time to full-time advisor, the systems and tools that keep her business running smoothly, and how she approaches budgeting, boundaries, and scaling with intention. Press play to learn why every trip deserves a project plan, and how that mindset can take your business to the next level!

About Cara Donleavy:

Cara is the founder and proud owner of Curated By Cara, a luxury travel company specializing in bespoke itinerary design. Since launching her business in 2022, she has been dedicated to crafting unforgettable experiences tailored to each traveler’s unique style and preferences. Based in Boston, MA, Cara works with families, couples, and groups to curate dream vacations that are seamless, inspiring, and stress-free. At Curated By Cara, the mission is simple: take the stress out of travel planning and replace it with pure excitement. The team handles all the details—research, booking, and beyond—specializing in luxury accommodations and thoughtfully curated experiences you won’t find just anywhere.

@curatedbycaratravel

Today we will cover:

(04:30) How project management laid the groundwork for a travel business
(07:20) Applying timelines, budgets, and structure to luxury itineraries
(19:40) Risk management in travel; planning for the unexpected
(21:15) Cara’s client communication process
(28:25) Handling client pushback and setting expectations
(33:50) Attracting and working with high-profile clients
(36:10) Implementing boundaries
(40:25) Recommended tools: CRMs, branding, and automation that support growth
(42:45) Growing your team and building a scalable business
(46:40) Balancing creativity and processes

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128. The Parallels Between Project Management & Travel Advising with Cara Donleavy

TIQUE Talks: The Business Podcast for Travel Advisors