Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Dubois.
Hi Scott, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My career has had many twists and turns, following my interests. I’ve worked in everything from nonprofits and political campaigns to elementary schools. However, for the past 12 years, I’ve been in the travel industry. That started as a design job at Andrew Harper Travel, which grew into a Creative Director and travel writing role. There, I helped produce all of the print and digital content for the Hideaway Report, a members-only magazine of luxury hotel reviews.
The pandemic threw a wrench into this, but I came out of it wanting to be more directly involved in planning clients’ trips. I combined my environmental education background with my passion for travel to start Fauna Travel. Now I book experiential luxury vacations to some of the world’s most exciting wildlife destinations. A large portion of my business is in Africa, but Central and South America are also popular.
I also still write for magazines when I have time, and am a regular contributor to Texas Highways Magazine.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Moving into a freelance sales role has definitely taken a mental shift. There are of course the highs of planning a great trip and getting amazing feedback from clients. But then there are also times when things go quiet that take a lot of fortitude. Travel can be very seasonal. I have to remind myself that perseverance pays off if I continue to deliver great experiences.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Fauna Travel?
I specialize in what I call experiential luxury wildlife travel. This isn’t a gilded luxury, but trips that evoke a more essential sort of luxury that wild places provide: space, connection, and exclusivity. The world is gorgeous and humbling, and I want people to experience this. That doesn’t mean I won’t book a luxury villa with a plunge pool; many of the safari camps I book are like that. It simply reprioritizes things to focus on the luxury of the experience. My favorite type of itinerary starts in a more adventurous camp before ending at something you call luxurious in the traditional sense.
How do you define success?
There are two measures: Meeting the client’s needs while giving them an unexpected experience they will never forget. I love hearing stories of how wild places have impacted people. The second, hopefully, flows from this: building a strong client base that comes back again and again.
Pricing:
- Good safari camps start at around $700 per person per night.
- Beyond this, I book mostly 4 and 5 star hotels, which can range anywhere from $300 to $3000 per night.
- I do everything custom to meet the clients budget.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://faunatravel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faunatravel/
Image Credits
Scott Dubois
The one of the bamboo and hiker in Utah – Wynn Myers
