Business
BY JOVANNA AGUILAR
Rossnaree o ers travel to destinations in Europe and around the world.
Ursula Blackburne, center, is the founder of Rossnaree The Heart of Travel with 30 years experience in the industry.
PHOTOS COURTESY ROSSNAREE THE HEART OF TRAVEL
Rossnaree The Heart of Travel o ers exclusive deals
Originally from Ireland, Ursula Blackburne said her travel agency experience started in England 30 years ago. Her career path led her from England to Spain and to the U.S. where she founded her own travel agency, Rossnaree The Heart of Travel, in November after living in The Woodlands for 13 years. “Growing up in Ireland, I never thought I was going to leave Ireland, and it just kind of happened by accident,” Blackburne said. “And so once I got to travel, I really loved it. I loved the fact that I was visiting other countries, immersing myself in their culture ... in the landscape and the language.” What’s in the name? Blackburne said the business name is rooted in her Irish heritage and comes from the Boyne Valley, the birthplace of Ireland’s Ancient East. “It represents strength and resilience and basi- cally [being] interconnected with life and moving on ... how we endure things and how we prevail,” Blackburne said. Rossnaree The Heart of Travel is a full-service travel company o ering individual and group travel services including cruises. “We specialize in crafting unforgettable jour- neys that authentically connect the traveler to the world, “ Blackburne said. “That’s why we call it Rossnaree The Heart of Travel, because our hearts are in everything we do, and the clients are at the heart of our business, “ Blackburne said.
How it works Blackburne, who is a member of The Wood- lands Area Chamber of Commerce, said the business o ers its services remotely and can meet clients in The Woodlands or other areas of Montgomery County. Along with Blackburne, Rossnaree is operated by several The Woodlands residents including Director of Finance and Operations Rachel Watkins and Travel Concierge Marina Shown. Travelers can set up a free in-person or phone consultation with Rossnaree The Heart of Travel to discuss the destination and purpose details, whether it is for leisure, business or other reasons. The agency works with suppliers to help the client build an itinerary ideal for their plans by considering the destinations, the best time to travel and di erent travel styles, Blackburne said. Blackburne said with years of experience cre- ating relationships with travel suppliers, through Rossnaree The Heart of Travel clients can get access to unique experiences and exclusive deals. Based on her experience travel destinations trend- ing include Europe, Ireland, Australia, American national parks, Japan and the Canadian Rockies. “The world is a very big place, and so that’s why it’s really helpful for us to have a team that is so well traveled ,” Blackburne said. ”It allows us to really do a deep dive into areas and be able to give [clients] everything they need to know.”
From left, Rachel Watkins, Ursula Blackburne and Marina Shown are the team at Rossnaree The Heart of Travel.
The business specializes in building travel itineraries complete with hotel bookings and activities.
Travel destinations include: • Alaska • Canada • Caribbean
• Croatia • France • Germany • Ireland • Maui • Scotland • Switzerland
For more information visit www.rossnareetravel.com
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THE WOODLANDS EDITION
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