What’s the best thing about doing business in Middle Tennessee?
There are two unique qualities that stand out about doing business in Middle Tennessee.
1) The diversity of businesses and industries in Middle Tennessee is fantastic and creates a number of great opportunities for growth. Because of this growth, I have had the opportunity to meet a number of different professionals and businesses who all have unique backgrounds, goals, and needs.
2) I get to serve and be a part of the community where I grew up. It’s pretty cool to be able to run a business named after the neighborhood where I went to elementary school and see my personal and professional growth coincide with the city’s growth.
Who is Green Hills Travel Consultants, and what should we know about you?
Most importantly, Green Hills Travel Consultants is me, Trey Taylor. I am a native Nashvillian, Lipscomb lifer, attorney, husband, and the owner of Green Hills Travel. My passion for travel began almost a decade ago with a three-month trip to Europe with Lipscomb University and has now transformed into a small business. I am grateful to serve my Nashville community and be a part of the Chamber. As far as what my company does, Green Hills Travel is a full-service travel agency. I am contracted with all the major suppliers of travel products (Marriot, Sandals, Virgin, Viking, etc.) along with a variety of smaller, specialty suppliers who create some really amazing and unique experiences for my clients. My services include an initial consultation with clients, conducting research and preparing comprehensive proposals for their vacation based on the client’s goals, and then making sure all the final logistics are taken care of, such as collecting final payment, confirming their reservations, and putting the finishing touches on their itinerary.
What is unique about your business that makes you stand out?
My business is unique for the following key reasons: I provide value to my clients regardless of what kind of vacation they have engaged my company to help them with. An example: Green Hills Travel is a part of the Virtuoso consortium. Virtuoso is a designation for select elite hotels, cruises, and tours across the world. So, the client who wants to take advantage of staying at a Virtuoso property during their long weekend in New York City can do so and know the service they will receive is unparalleled. Booking a Virtuoso property with a Virtuoso Travel Advisor ensures you receive an additional amenity not available to the public and complimentary upgrades to suite-level accommodations at no additional cost. While most potential clients associate the use of a travel advisor with a complicated trip overseas, using Green Hills Travel to book higher-end hotel accommodations can add significant value to your vacation. I provide beautiful, customized itineraries to all my clients, which can be accessed online or via an app on their phone. These itineraries can have documents embedded inside them for easy access, such as rental confirmations, passport copies, etc., and I include city guides for my clients in their itinerary to ensure they have an easy-to-access list of places to eat, things to do, etc.
What’s your biggest goal for your company this year?
I want to bring on at least 10 additional clients by the end of 2023 and am shooting for 25 additional clients in 2024. Another goal for 2024 is to expand my corporate book of business and assist 1-2 more companies in the Nashville area with planning their sales incentive trip, company retreat, or other similar group trip.
How do you stay involved in the community?
My community involvement is primarily through Lipscomb and Belmont University, where I attended undergraduate and law school, respectively. I am also active with the local YMCA and Nashville Health Care Council.