Photos courtesy of The Devoted Traveler
Cindi Mirchin-Work and Grace Shpiz of The Devoted Traveler create bespoke trips for even the most discerning traveler.
If you’re looking for a spectacular getaway now that COVID regulations have loosened, Chappaqua- and Larchmont-based travel agents Cindi Mirchin-Work and Grace Shpiz can help. They created their luxury travel consultancy The Devoted Traveler during the pandemic for clients seeking bespoke vacations. They handle all the fine details of the trip so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
Mirchin-Work took the skills she learned from her previous career in advertising and partnered with Shpiz, who formerly assisted ex-pats overseas in London and Hong Kong, to form the business with the goal of serving clients “looking for a seamless and stress-free planning process.”
“I think COVID and the realization of things changing was the impetus that prompted us to join forces and do this,” says Mirchin-Work. The pair create curated experiences for clients based upon the clients’ needs and desires for each trip.
They have seen increased interest in their services not only as travel advisors, but as “travel therapists,” they explain, as they help clients plan their trips and aid them in navigating the different travel restrictions and advisories after COVID. They offer resources and tools for a smooth trip.
The team has become well-versed in CDC guidelines, and Mirchin-Work says it’s their job to let clients know the rules and requirements for each destination they want to book before they book it. They advise clients of deadlines, deposit requirements, cancellation policies, and necessary travel documents.
Shpiz says to her, the definition of luxury is a worry-free experience, and the pair handles all aspects of planning a trip so their clients can relax. “The goal is for [the clients] to show up and enjoy and not have to worry about any part of it,” explains Shpiz. “We have to be great listeners and great communicators, very detail-oriented because there are so many logistics of putting trips together.”
They can plan trips for clients worldwide. Each booking is different, and the two say that communication is key to nailing it every time.
Mirchin-Work and Shpiz rely on referrals and, since they do, they are able to have clients all across the country.
“Everything that we do, from big to small, is custom and tailor-made for our clients,” Mirchin-Work says. “It doesn’t fit into a mold.” She adds, their out-of-the-box thinking allows them to deliver on what their clients are asking for in an individual and personalized manner.
“Knowing the clients the way we do, and having the high-touch service that we have, it makes it a little bit easier for them to rely on us,” says Mirchin-Work.
“We are there to provide them with the options that best suit them and then, through a collaboration process, we decide what’s best,” says Shpiz. “That’s why it’s great, it’s never boring.”
