Destination by Design started humbly with Michele managing everything from her personal phone number and a Gmail address. As her team expanded, she quickly realized her team needs to also be able to make and receive phone calls from clients. “Presenting a professional image was so important to me,” Michele recalls. “I wanted our clients to trust us completely and feel like they were working with seasoned professionals. "The task became clear, how to provide customers with professional experience while keeping communications manageable for her team, and affordable for her business.
Enter Grasshopper – enabling Michele to keep costs low and allowing her team to stay connected, no matter where they were.
Michele, the proud owner of Destination by Design, embodies passion for creating dreamy getaways with her East Coast based travel agency. With six expert advisors and a full-service approach, this family run business might be small, but it’s making a big impact. "We are small but mighty," Michele shares. Their success stems from their deep knowledge, personalized service, and a relentless dedication to customer experience. As their business began to grow, Michele knew they needed a professional touch to look more established as they grew their clientele.
From the moment Grasshopper was downloaded, the benefits became clear. “Because Grasshopper is app based, we can use it over Wi Fi and truly work from anywhere in the world,” Michele shares. Whether responding to clients while scouting new travel destinations or coordinating evening calls from home, Grasshopper gave Michele and her advisors the freedom to do it all seamlessly.
One unforgettable moment was when Destination by Design smoothly handled back-to-back client calls while Michele was on a trip researching new packages in Europe. " Being able to monitor our team's phones and cover calls, especially when someone is on vacation, has been wonderful and has improved our customer experience.”
Michele and her team love the Grasshopper features that elevate their business day to day. Texting allows for quick, professional communication with clients, while call monitoring ensures every inquiry is handled expertly. Extensions make it easy for advisors in different locations to stay accessible to clients, and the scalability of the system means Grasshopper will grow with the agency. Michele also pointed out Grasshopper’s call recording feature, noting it as a helpful addition for her team.
"Being able to cover calls for each other has helped us provide outstanding service,” Michele says. “It makes our clients feel like we’re always there for them.” These tools aren't just practical; they reinforce Michele’s commitment to providing a boutique and personalized experience for every traveler.
Grasshopper has empowered Michele to focus on what she does best, curating memorable travel experiences for her clients. Competing with big travel brands no longer feels daunting; it's a challenge Destination by Design embraces confidently every day.
Michele’s experience is a reminder that small businesses can present a professional image, maintain strong connections, and grow efficiently without breaking the bank. With Grasshopper by her side, Michele knows her small but mighty team is ready to scale to new heights.
