Kim Azzario

I built my career as a software and business consultant, analyzing complex problems and developing precise solutions for organizations worldwide. The work required me to be analytical, thorough, and thoughtful in the recommendations I made. It also required extensive travel, which fed a lifelong passion for exploring the world.

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After leaving that consulting career, people continued to turn to me for travel advice. Their questions made me realize that many of the things I took for granted as basic travel knowledge weren't necessarily things other people knew.

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Following online travel groups reinforced that realization. I saw story after story about “awful” trips, often because travelers had booked themselves, either directly with a supplier or through a large online travel agency, without the guidance they needed. Many assumed that booking directly or through a big online travel site was somehow better, without realizing that neither is there to be their advocate. Others didn't know about passport requirements or travel insurance until a problem arose.

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At the same time, I started to notice how many people were entering the travel advisor business with very little experience beyond their own vacations or occasional family trips. There are certainly knowledgeable and experienced professionals in this industry, but the growing number of inexperienced advisors hasn't made it easier for travelers to know where to turn for reliable guidance.

 

In an industry where the details matter so much, experience and expertise make a real difference. It wasn't that these travelers were careless or unreasonable. They simply didn't know what they didn't know.

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💡 That's when it clicked: my consulting skillset could be extremely valuable in the travel industry. 

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That lightbulb moment inspired me to start Amber Travel Consulting, and I have loved every minute of it. 

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