Meet Katie Houlmiere of Propel Travel Group in Lakewood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Houlmiere.

Katie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
It is my goal to have traveled to more countries than my age, and let’s just say that although I’m achieving my goal, it’s a little too close for comfort at the moment! I grew up in Northern California, and my first international trip was to Mexico, and that began my love for learning about other cultures and traveling to various places. During university, I studied abroad in Europe and that opened my eyes to the countless jobs in the travel industry. I knew from then I wanted a job in the travel realm. I graduated with a degree in International Business and have had various jobs, mostly all with a common underlying theme: travel.

I taught English in South Korea and loved staying in one place long enough to have the local café worker recognize me when I walked in. I’ve worked with several international study abroad programs, organizing and planning for international students to study abroad in the US. I have worked for non-profit, curating group trips to countries, and most recently I worked at Denver International Airport as the corporate travel planner. These jobs have given me extensive experience and knowledge into the travel industry, and this past February I decided to open my own business. With the help and encouragement of my husband, friends, and family I started Propel Travel Group, a Corporate and Leisure Travel Agency.

Has it been a smooth road?
With only five months under my belt of being an entrepreneur, I have grown a lot; I have struggled but also succeeded. When I was in the corporate realm, if I was disliked or someone disagreed with my position, I chalked it up to my position at a specific company, not relating it to myself. Owning my own business has brought about so many insecurities and value of self-worth. Comparing myself to other business owners on social media platforms is a daily struggle. I am starting to get myself out of the social media vortex, I fall in sometimes and realize that I can learn from those people (obviously, easier said than done). Also, the struggle of previously being in an office, surrounded by people, to now working at a home office, I have realized my need for human interaction. I have learned that I need a set schedule (still working on it), a routine that I need to have every day, and I need to develop relationships that get me out of the house and networking. I have joined a few networking groups, and that has significantly helped to set a schedule and continue to grow professionally and personally. I am also learning that I must give myself grace; I know that I’m learning and that businesses don’t grow overnight.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Propel Travel Group is a full service Corporate and Leisure Travel Agency. I love to work with small to medium-sized businesses to help develop and create a travel program. I help develop policies and procedures, implement the program, and organize and plan travel for the employees. I also am a full-service leisure travel agent. I work with individuals, families, friends, couples, and groups to create getaways to all seven continents that exceed their expectations. I enjoy building relationships with my clients and offering a service and skill that they can’t find through a google search. I personalize their planning and vacations! I am a phone call away and when booking travel, one knows that they rarely ever talk to the same person!

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Denver and the surrounding suburbs is a great place to start a business. There are countless opportunities to network, to learn and to grow. There are many startups, which lends itself to a market full of resources. I know that there are other Travel Agencies, some recently started, and some have been around for years. I knew that this location would be a great place to start my business, this market is a good one!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.propeltravelgroup.com
• Phone: 530-205-0667
• Email: katie@propeltravelgroup.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/propeltravelgroup/
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/propeltravelgroup/

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