Meet Terrica Thomas | The Professional Travelista

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

Hi Terrica, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
So let me tell you about my journey into the world of travel entrepreneurship! It’s been quite the ride, and I’m so excited to share it with you.

You know how they say, “We plan, God laughs”? Well, that’s pretty much how my business story unfolded. I’ve always been head over heels in love with travel – it’s been my thing since forever. I was that friend who everyone turned to for trip planning, whether it was a quick weekend getaway or a month-long adventure across continents.

Initially, I thought, “Why not turn this passion into a cute little side hustle?” I figured I’d get my credentials, maybe help out friends and family with their travel plans, and earn a bit of extra cash on the side. No big deal, right?

Well let me tell you – the universe had much bigger plans for me! What started as a small idea blossomed into something I never could have imagined. The Professional Travelista wasn’t just born; it exploded!

Now, I’m living my dream every single day. I get to help people create unforgettable memories, explore new cultures, and experience the world in ways they never thought possible. I pride myself on not just booking flights and hotels but crafting experiences that change lives.

Sometimes the best things in life happen when we least expect them!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
It’s been quite the journey, and I’m so excited to share it with you.
The Professional Touch! Before I dove into the world of travel planning, I was an executive assistant at a Fortune 50 company for over 10 years. That experience got me thinking, “Why can’t we bring that same level of professionalism to leisure travel?” And The Professional Travelista was born!

What makes us special is we don’t plan cookie-cutter trips you see everywhere. We curate experiences and cater primarily to African Americans. We know what our people want! We want tailored experiences that speak to our interests, our culture, and our vibe. So if that’s finding that cool speakeasy in London that plays hip hop or finding the tours that give us the black history of the region, that’s what we look for because we know we have influenced cultures all over the globe!

One thing that gets me excited and bouncing off the walls with excitement is when new agents reach out to me for advice or want to join my team. Can you believe it? Little old me, being recognized in this sea of travel agents! It’s like, “Pinch me, I must be dreaming!” I absolutely love sharing the knowledge I have gained to help the ones new to the industry.

Now, I’m not gonna lie to you – it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Getting those first clients? That was tough! But I didn’t quit. I just kept pushing, focusing on creating amazing experiences that people couldn’t stop talking about. Lucky for me those happy travelers started spreading the word, and before I knew it, the referrals were rolling in!

What I want the world to know about The Professional Travelista: We don’t just excel at custom itineraries (though we rock those!). We also host these amazing co-ed group trips several times a year to amazing destinations around the world. And no…you don’t have to know anyone going but just know you will be family by the end of the trip.
So whether they’re flying solo, rolling with their girls, hanging with the boys, or mixing it up, we’ve got a trip for everyone and I promise our trips are a WHOLE vibe!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Ok so if my bestie was coming to Atlanta for a week, we’d paint the town red and check out all the hidden gems and cool spots that make ATL so special.

Day 1: Welcome to the A!
We’d kick things off with a boozy brunch at Virtue on Peachtree above 5Church! Their rooftop is amazing and I love it because as much as we love brunch I don’t need it to be a total club. Just a nice spot for food, drinks and of course a dj but not blasting the music at club level! After that, we’d take a stroll down the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail. I it’s like an outdoor art gallery with all those amazing murals because we have to get our photo ops!

Day 2: Culture and Cocktails
We would definitely hit up another brunch like Toast on Lenox. They have great food and drinks then we would explore the vibrant street art in Cabbagetown. The Soul of Reynoldstown is a must-see! For dinner, we’re hitting up Six Feet Under. It feels like a real dive bar but some of the best seafood dishes you have had! Then, we’d cap off the night with some smooth R&B at a local lounge.

Day 3: History and Hip-Hop
Time to dive into Atlanta’s rich history! We’d visit the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, then check out the John Lewis HERO mural downtown. For dinner, we’re going to Rock Steady. The ambiance and food is to die for! Then we would probably hit up a strip club…because how can you come to Atlanta and not experience that!?!?

Day 4: Art and Eats
Next we would go to the High Museum of Art, then take a street art tour of Midtown. That “let’s get funky” mural by Future Ancestors? It’s a whole vibe! For dinner, we’re going to Superica because you can’t miss with Mexican food. After, we’d catch some live R&B bands at a local lounge, depending on the night.

Day 5: Shop ‘Til You Drop
Time for some retail therapy! We’d start at Ponce City Market, then hit up Little Five Points for some funky vintage finds. And we can’t forget to snap a pic with that Fashion Through the Ages mural! Dinner would be simply hot wings at a local spot like American Deli or Atlanta Hot Wings…nothing to fancy but you gotta have wings when you come to Atlanta!

So that’s a quick rundown of an exciting visit to Atlanta!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First off, I’ve got to give the biggest, loudest shoutout to my husband, Ramonne and our amazing sons, PJ, Kingston and Boston (our angel). These guys are the real MVPs of this whole adventure!

My husband, oh my goodness,this man has been my rock through it all! When I was just starting out with zero clients and a head full of dreams, he was right there, supporting and cheering me on. He believed in me even when I had those late-night doubts and when I was crying real tears about different situations as the business was growing.

My boys put up with me working those crazy long hours, nose deep in travel itineraries and destination websites. They were so patient while I was learning and growing my travel business. Together, my husband and sons created this incredible space for me to grow and learn. They understood when I couldn’t make dinner a lot of nights and they had to get something for themselves. Their support and understanding gave me the freedom to dive headfirst into this beautiful world of travel planning.

And let’s not forget the rest of my amazing family and friends! They’ve been my personal hype squad from day one! Whether it was listening to my endless travel ideas or being my guinea pigs for new itineraries, they’ve been there through it all. They took a chance on me when I was still figuring things out, and I’ll be forever grateful for their leap of faith.

You know, it’s one thing to have a business idea, but it’s a whole other ballgame when the people you love most in the world – especially your spouse and kids – are willing to make sacrifices for your dream. Their belief in me, their patience, and their unwavering support gave me the confidence to push forward, even when things got tough.

Website: https://www.theprofessionaltravelista.com

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Image Credits
Terrica Thomas – The Professional Travelista