Meet Toni Anderson | CEO and Travel Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Toni Anderson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Toni, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I came up with the idea for my business after realizing how many people I knew had never traveled outside of Texas. After taking my first cruise and seeing how affordable it was, I was inspired to share that experience with others. I wanted to show others how they could do this with a payment plan. I have always loved planning travel and events for others, so starting a travel business was the perfect way to combine my passion with helping people explore the world.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
About My Business:

At TAE Travel, we specialize in creating unforgettable travel experiences, focusing on cruises, all-inclusive resorts, and personalized travel planning. What sets us apart is our Christian faith-based approach. We not only prioritize excellent service but also ensure that our clients’ experiences are meaningful, filled with joy, and make memories that last forever. I’m most proud of how we’ve grown over the years and the relationships we’ve built with our clients. It is more like having an extended family.

Journey & Challenges:

Getting to where I am today wasn’t always easy. However, I will say it was worth it. In the beginning when I realized that many people around me had never traveled outside of Texas. That was very disturbing to me. I have traveled my whole life and thought travel was a part of living. After my first cruise, I was inspired to show people how affordable and life-changing travel could be. But like any business, we faced challenges, especially with balancing customer needs, getting educational training, getting more experience, and running a business. I was also a wife and mother of a son who was still in school. Balancing my household and starting a business can be challenging, but God made a way. What has been the key to overcoming those hurdles was building trust with my clients, praying, confessing God’s word, and staying consistent. I’m proud to say that after 17 years in business, TAE Travel is thriving!

Lessons Learned:

One of the biggest lessons I have learned is the importance of resilience and persistence. There were moments when I doubted myself, but staying focused on my passion for travel and event planning helped me push through. It is also critical to have a strong support system—I couldn’t have done it without my husband and my Dream Team.

About My Brand:

TAE Travel is about more than just booking trips; it’s about helping people experience the world, often for the first time, and making memories they will cherish forever. I want the world to know that our business is rooted in love for travel, community, and making dreams come true or a reality as we say.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The Zoo has always been one of my favorite places to visit. A few other places I would show them are Kemah Boardwalk, the Galleria area for shopping, Houston Rodeo if it is here, The Woodlands for a concert, a Comedy show at the Improv, and live music somewhere. As for food, the must are Burns BBQ, Salt Grass for steak, Cajun Town for seafood family, Juanita’s or Tia Maria for Mexican, and Long Horn Steakhouse is another favorite of ours. It is a variety of options.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I definitely want to give a shoutout to my husband, Andy who has always been my biggest supporter. His encouragement and belief in me have kept me going through every challenge I experienced. I am grateful to my amazing team at TAE Travel, the Dream Team, who help bring our shared vision to life every day. Lastly, our clients who entrust me and the Dream Team to plan their vacations whether it be cruise or land trips.

Website: https://www.taetavel.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/t_a_e_travel/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toni-anderson-46684915/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/tae_travel

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/houstontaetravel

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TAE.TRAVEL

Image Credits
Darryl Anderson