MARIA SAENZ
MONTROSE TRAVEL MONTROSE, CA USA
We’ve asked 12 travel agents to give us quick, short responses to the following 15 random and fun questions. See a response in each 2017 issue of THOR Advantage!
TRAVEL AGENT PROFILE:
Name: Maria Saenz
Title: Senior Travel Counselor
Travel Agency Name: Montrose Travel
Travel Agency Location: Montrose, CA USA
Number of Years in the Travel Industry: 30
Specialty: South Pacific
In the past year, how many vacations have you taken outside of the country?
I have visited France, Australia and Colombia this past year.
Which celebrity chef would you most like to fix you a meal?
I would love to have Mario Batalli cook for me.
Have you ever visited a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
I have visited many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Carcassonne and Chartres Cathedral.
What is the best travel perk you’ve received from a loyalty program?
My favorite travel perk is free Wi-Fi!
Would you rather win an Olympic medal, an Academy Award or the Nobel Peace Prize?
I would rather win the Nobel Peace Prize
Which individual would you most want to meet in person: Richard Branson, Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey or Bill Gates?
I would like to meet Richard Branson
While on vacation, what is the most ‘extreme’ thing that you have done?
The most extreme thing I’ve done on vacation is bungee jumping in New Zealand.
If you could shop for free at one store, which one would you choose?
I would definitely want to shop for free at the Mall of Dubai.
Which is your favorite travel app on your mobile phone?
I haven’t ever used a travel app
What lobby feature has been your favorite so far?
The lobby of the JW Marriott Hotel Bogota in Colombia has the most beautiful flowers and arrangements I have ever seen in a hotel lobby.
If you could travel back in time, what year would you travel to?
I would want to travel to the 1500s in Florence to be with Michelangelo.
What’s the one food you could never bring yourself to eat?
I could never eat any bugs or worms
If you could go any place in the world to experience the history, people and culture, where would you go?
I would go to Israel.
What one packing tip would you share with clients?
The tip I would give my clients for packing is to pack the same bag three times, removing items each time, and then settle with what is left in order to avoid packing too much.
What’s the first thing you do when you get home from a trip?
I always check my mail when I return from a trip.
