Image courtesy of Mindy Cummings
We recently sat down with Fora Advisor Mindy Cummings, our Canadian Founding Ambassador. Mindy will helm our ever-growing community of Canadian advisors, ensuring they're equipped and empowered to best support our Canadian travelers. She's the perfect person for the job. Read on to see why.
Fora Advisors are often the go-to people for travel advice in their social circle. Was there a defining moment or experience when you developed a passion for travel?
I think I was born this way! Any opportunity to get away has always been an exciting adventure to me. As a kid, a sleepover at my aunt and uncle’s house in Ajax or a weekend in Chicago or Ontario’s cottage country felt like another universe to explore. By the time I got to high school, I knew I wanted to study abroad during university somewhere in Europe. Luckily, that manifested, and from there, I landed myself in Italy, where I worked as a luxury tour guide for quite some time. My entire career has been linked to travel in one way or another.
Tell us how you heard about Fora. What inspired you to join?
After my time in Italy, I toyed with the idea of becoming a travel advisor since everyone, from friends and family to acquaintances (and their acquaintances), would come to me for help planning their Italian travel. I briefly looked at advising as a career, but the barrier to entry felt unrealistic and the travel agency brands I knew of felt too ‘cookie cutter’ to hold my interest. Instead, I found a career in PR where I’ve been fortunate enough to work with all kinds of travel brands. Through that work, I’ve built a plethora of itineraries for the journalists behind the articles you read in Condé Nast Traveler, AFAR and more.
Fast forward to the pandemic. I saw an article about Fora and what it was working to do. It felt like a full-circle moment and I had an unrelenting desire to join and dip my toes in the field as soon as I knew a Canadian launch was on the horizon.
What has been the most fulfilling part of your travel-advising journey? Can you share any stories or anecdotes?
Images courtesy of Mindy Cummings
There have been many! If I can remove the stress of planning for clients while also adding value and making their getaways seamless and exceptional, my cup is full.
I've been lucky enough to help clients pull off surprise engagements, multi-generational family trips, meaningful work retreats and far-flung, once-in-a-lifetime vacations. These are big moments and it's such a privilege to be able to positively contribute to people's hard-earned travels and help make happy memories. I genuinely believe that travel is tied to wellness for all the joy, relaxation, connection and creativity it elicits. To play a role in that is rewarding.
Being an entrepreneur can be lonely and difficult at times. How has Fora’s community helped support your business?
I've connected with some amazing people around the world thanks to this work. Everyone within the Fora community has been kind and helpful in sharing knowledge, learned lessons, industry connections and beyond. It's helped me to fill in knowledge gaps and ultimately offer better access and service for clients. That's the magic of Fora; we're all in the same boat, connecting and championing each other.
We’re so proud you’re our first Canadian Founding Ambassador! What opportunities do you foresee this role will unlock?
I love my fellow Canadians and I'm thrilled to be a part of the launch here at home! This role is all about fostering connection. What could be nicer than that!? I'm looking forward to helping our advisors develop a support network amongst each other and seeing lots of friendships blossom. Moreover, it's an honour to bring advisors and our industry partners together to serve clients in the best way possible. This is also an opportunity to gather feedback from our Canadian advisors and clients to help ensure Fora is meeting the needs of its Canadian community as it grows.
Travel is so personal. How does your travel style influence the recommendations you give to your clients?
Images courtesy of Mindy Cummings
My travels are driven by the pursuit of culture and FUN. I’m also a high/low kind of gal, meaning I find satisfaction in a balance of down-to-earth and luxurious experiences. For instance, I love fine dining for an appreciation of a chef’s masterful use of what's local and in season, but I can't get a sense of place without sampling real-deal, street food either. It's about balance, gleaning as much of an understanding of local life as possible and maximising value. My approach is practical, easy-going and made in consideration of supporting locals while leaving the least impact possible on places I visit.
I think my clients benefit from that approach and sense of practicality no matter their budget or interests. I treat each trip as if it were my own.
We’d love to know what destinations we should have our eye on. Any under-the-radar properties Canadians need to visit?
I’m always looking to Italy and I love to plan for what’s next on the horizon there. Instead of Tuscany, look to Umbria. Substitute the crowded and pricey Amalfi Coast in favour of the Tuscan Coast. I’m very excited about the LA ROQQA in Porto Ercole — stunning, super cool design, breathtaking location and it's getting great reviews. Oh, and did I mention we get fab perks there for clients?
I’ll also always recommend Central European cities like Budapest and Vienna, where we can find everything from interesting boutique hotels to the top luxury brands at a fraction of the prices you'll find in their Western European counterparts. This is helpful when the Canadian dollar doesn't always go as far as we'd like it to.
Finally, exploring our own backyard is an epic treat. Tofino is magic on earth, and I’m constantly dreaming of visiting Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge.
Seeing your business take off has inspired a lot of our advisors. What lessons would you share with someone just starting out?
Invest your time in learning! The time commitment can feel cumbersome at the start of your journey, but it will only make your business more efficient as time goes on. Fora and the industry at large offer so many resources. The best thing you can do is sink time into studying anything that might apply to your business so that you become an authority. Aside from that, practice patience, connect with your community and be kind. You're not alone!