Today we’d like to introduce you to Hilary Schneidmiller.
Hi Hilary, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Travel has been part of my story my entire life. I grew up in my dad’s travel agency, earning a penny for every luggage tag that I put together, then graduated to assembling paper tickets, then (when I could finally drive) delivering those tickets to local businesses. I saw the attention and care that my dad gave to every trip, and the urgency of resolving any problem that his travelers encountered. When you watch that level of accountability play out in a person that you love, you internalize that way of doing things.
Later, I explored the world myself. I studied abroad on a shoestring budget then jumped into the breakneck pace of business travel. I learned that it’s not enough to have a great trip. You need to feel like the hours you put into it were worth your time, and that the expenses were an investment in your life.
I launched Atlas First to help travelers achieve that feeling on each trip. I want my travelers to have peace of mind with every upcoming vacation —not overwhelmed by logistics. They need to feel secure, cared for, and inspired from the moment they kick it off until the landing gear (gently) hits the tarmac back at Austin Bergstrom.
That means choosing ethical partners, using systems that keep traveler information safe, and crafting experiences that feel personal and exclusive to them. I also spend a lot of time designing trips that are easy for travelers to jump into, whatever their goals are.
The model for Atlas First is built on my digital platform that interacts with my clients. They have full control and visibility on everything.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The travel industry is built on partnerships. I had to learn which ones bring real value to the traveler and are fair to travel professionals. Most travelers spend upwards of 40 hours planning a vacation, so I need to save time on their end AND on my end AND still make sure they have the best deal for the experience they are seeking. After participating in all the programs, I now know which ones are just fancy marketing without value.
Also, group travel is a tricky beast that I’ve grappled with over and over. It’s a reason why so many trips never make it out of the group chat: they are too overwhelming and all the work often lands on one person to research and front costs. My first group trips were a real learning curve. How do I help groups of friends and family align on a travel plan? And how do we firm those plans up so that everyone stays aware and comfortable with the decisions. It’s taken a lot of work to come up with an approach that eliminates decision fatigue and chasing paybacks between travelers. This summer I’m rolling out a new Group Planning Package that surveys the group first, then locks in a travel plan to easily opt into while keeping the communication flowing before, during, and after the trip.
As you know, we’re big fans of Atlas First Travel. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
When an interest in a destination sparks there is no greater buzz kill than scouring the internet for ways to go see it. It can be overwhelming to lock in the best flights, accommodations, and experiences when pricing is so dynamic and perks are locked behind loyalty programs.
From the moment we start working together, I focus on simplifying the entire process—from the interactive itinerary, to the unique logistics, and all the bookings. We do one consultation to understand the goals and budget of a trip, settle on a planning package that ensures the trip doesn’t have to fit a specific mold, then the traveler gets a choice of complete itineraries, and books it securely through Atlas First’s platform. It’s a straight forward and easy process for the traveler.
Obviously that takes a lot of trust both ways. I trust my clients to nail down what they want out of their trip. They trust me to deliver that experience and advise on any “gotchas” that will hold them up.
Austinites come to Atlas First with a travel goal. If a traveler loves a certain cruise line or property, that’s great! If they need help with options, then I have ideas…. often with exclusive amenities that they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.
Atlas First also creates Featured Trips that fit different travel goals and are easy to join. A couples adventure to Cuba, a women’s hiking trip in Palm Springs, or a family friendly tour of Portugal that might be the first time you take your kids abroad. Featured trips hit all the buttons and are still tailored exclusively to the travelers.
What are your plans for the future?
The gratitude and excitement from travelers returning from an Atlas First trip is contagious. I often meet up with my clients around town to get the download from their trips over coffee or drinks. So I’m expanding my team of planners to bring other passionate people to Atlas First and keep that momentum going. I want to encourage travelers to be active, relaxed, sustainably minded, and to have fun while traveling. I want them to love where they are at every moment of a trip and also in between trips.
This year I’m focusing on getting out into the Austin community more directly by hosting events with other local businesses that highlight my favorite featured destinations and partners.
Lastly, I have a new Group Planning Package rolling out this Summer that makes it easy for Austinites to launch that trip that’s been kicking around the group chat into real life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://atlas-first.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atlasfirsttravel/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atlasfirsttravel/
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hilary-schneidmiller-1147838b
Image Credits
Atlas First Travel
