Meet Patty Ehinger
LOCAL FOREIGNER’S TEAM OF INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS
This post is part of our series celebrating our Independent Contractors and Hosting Program. The Local Foreigner's Hosting Program provides a platform of systems and support for independent travel advisors.
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Right Drive, Wrong Field
Before she became a travel advisor, Patty Ehinger worked in recruiting. “I wasn’t a ‘bodies in seats’ kind of recruiter,” she says jokingly, “I cared about employees. I cared about employers. I really cared about relationships, and making sure I was pairing people with opportunities that were best suited for them.” Patty’s perfectionist tendencies made her successful in her field, but she knew her talents would be better served elsewhere. She had the work ethic and the drive, but she lacked passion. In November of 2018, she made the switch to the travel industry, affiliating as an independent contractor with a luxury New York based agency.
Committing to Client Service
From the start, Patty knew she made the right decision. She quickly built a book of business and committed herself to being the best advisor for her clients. Pulling on her years of experience as a recruiter, and her innate knack for developing relationships with people, Patty became a go-to resource for all things travel. Four years later, she prides herself on being able to deliver the best of the best to her clients, which goes beyond trip planning and providing expert advice. She makes sure she is always available for any client needs and has a true passion for delivering on clients’ visions. “I think that’s one thing my clients would say about me – that I’m genuinely there for them, no matter what’s going on. That’s what sets me apart as an agent.”
I think that’s one thing my clients would say about me – that I’m genuinely there for them, no matter what’s going on. That’s what sets me apart as an agent.
-Patty Ehinger
Building a better business
Patty’s insistence on being the very best for her clients is actually what drove her to scout out Alex Erdman (TLF’s Director of Hosting) at a conference. She said she approached Alex to talk about what she was looking for from a hosting agency, and Alex was very honest about how TLF worked and what its platform could provide. Patty was immediately struck by the business model Alex described. “I’m a perfectionist,” she tells us. “My business is about being the best. That’s what I came to Local Foreigner for.” Upon joining Local Foreigner, Patty was impressed by the team’s boundless capacity to retain and share information, and just by being around the team, she feels as though she’s already taking her business in new directions: “The Local Foreigner is at the forefront of knowing what luxury is. Being around this group has taught me to think about travel differently.”
“My business is about being the best. That’s what I came to Local Foreigner for.”
Being there for the big moments
When asked about her favorite places to travel and her favorite trips to plan, Patty laughs and claims she has to convince herself not to go to Italy every year but also admits that safari was the trip that changed her life: “Tanzania specifically. That’s THE trip. There’s nothing like it. Your first time on safari is such a special experience.” But when it comes to trip planning, Patty doesn’t play favorites. She likes planning trips for all destinations equally. She just wants to ensure she’s there for all the milestone memories in her clients’ lives: “Doesn’t matter where they’re going, I just want to be part of the big moments.”