We had the good fortune of connecting with Jerrica Islam and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jerrica, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I love to travel. I’ve always planned all of my girls trips and other vacations. My friends even reach out to me to help with for their trips, so I said to myself I might as well do this on the side and make money from it.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I own a travel agency, Ticket to Paradise. I launched my business January 2021 in the middle of the pandemic- I must be crazy! I reached out to my business partner/sponsor Kourtney several months before taking the leap, she gave me the details on how to get started, and let’s just say she was very persistent to get me started. It has not been easy, it just seems like there aren’t enough hours in a day. I work a full time job in addition to being in grad school. But, I’ve gained a lot of knowledge along the way, so that’s a win. Some lessons that I’ve learned along the way are don’t change your price for anyone, my time is valuable-people will waste your time if you let them, and people will pay for what they really want.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, I’m a foodie! So, we would definitely eat A LOT! I’m always down for a good brunch and a day party. A few of my favorite brunch spots are Boogalou, Toast on Lenox, BQE, and The Hive. As far as hanging out I try to keep it simple we would more than likely go to Ponce City Market or The Battery, there’s a lot to do without having to be in traffic all day.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have a village. My support system is truly amazing, I love and appreciate each and every one of them!

Instagram: Ticket_toparadise

Facebook: Ticket to Paradise

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.