Melissa
Chaquea

One just never knows where the journey will lead. One day I’m double majoring in supply chain management and marketing at Rutgers University. The next, I’m presenting a digital marketing plan to CIRE Travel’s owner, who offers me an internship, then a job I love in an industry I never considered. Talk about applying what you learn in college to the real world! I love traveling, and I’m drawn to nature and photography. If I’m outdoors, I have a camera with me. Photographing landscapes in Switzerland and New Zealand is on my bucket list. I jump in. I fill in. Whatever our clients or CIRE travel planners need, I’m on it—brainstorming a social media post, pitching in when an agent is out of the office, an out-of-the-box nature, adventure or expedition travel idea. #jackofalltrades. Jumping in adds value for our clients and helps make their journeys truly unique experiences, compared to others’ experiences in the same city. After exploring Italy, Thailand and a few domestic locations, plus two familiarization (FAM) trips to Mexico and Washington D.C. as part of the CIRE team, I’ve seen firsthand how our relationships with travel partners ensure our clients are treated like VIPs.