"Live every day to the fullest because you'll never know what tomorrow brings."
Michele Chubalashvili turns passion into a career. Everyone knows the saying ‘Do what you love and never work a day in your life.’ This quote resonates well for Michele Chubalashvili, born in Georgia and moved to Russia and Israel before settling in the United States at 17. Shortly after, she married a pilot who worked for Continental Airlines. It enabled her to continue touring across the globe while having a child at 18. Since then, Michele discovered that she enjoyed traveling and it became a part of who she is. Three years later, she turned her desire into a successful career and became one of the most sought-after travel professionals worldwide.
In 1993, Michele acquired a business and became the third owner of Vitas Travel at the tender age of 21. Her company provides exclusive and tailored itineraries that perfectly fit every client’s preference, resulting in an unforgettable experience. She is an inspiring businesswoman who leads the world with curiosity into 2022 because of her determination and creativity. Her team speaks multiple languages and makes extensive trips across Europe, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and the rest of the world. Michele is represented by ZavoMedia PR Group standing behind her and supporting her vision and this interview unravels how Michele disrupted the travel industry and remained unwavering in front of adversities for nearly thirty decades.
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Table of Contents
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
Michele Chubalashvili: I’ve always enjoyed traveling since I was young. I ended up working for a travel and insurance company in my early twenties. It was almost non-existent when I started. I thought to myself, “What can I do to turn this business up?” There were no computers; everything was done manually and by phone. With tenacity, I turned things around and grew the company to over 300% in one year. My love for history and visiting destinations inspired me to work harder and improve myself.
Can you tell us a story about the hard times that you faced when you first started your journey? Did you ever consider giving up?
Michele Chubalashvili: I didn’t have a hard time initially, but when 9/11 happened, everything fell apart. It affected tourism, and I had to let go of some employees. It was challenging, but I never considered giving up.
Often leaders are asked to share the best advice they received. But let’s reverse the question. What’s the worst advice you received?
Michele Chubalashvili: It was after the internet boomed. Everybody said people would turn to the internet and don’t need this kind of business anymore. I did consider downsizing, but I never thought of closing. Fortunately, we can learn from our mistakes. I changed the way I operated, which worked for me.
Resilience is critical in critical times like the ones we are going through now. How would you define resilience?
Michele Chubalashvili: Most people thought that travel was completely dead when the pandemic hit, but this never stopped me from traveling. The day I arrived home from Costa Rica was also the day the country shut its borders. Despite the gloomy outlook, I was hopeful that things would return to normal. I was right; the second half of 2020 came back better than ever.
When you think of your company, 5 years from now, what do you see?
Michele Chubalashvili: I see more bookings and private tours to exotic destinations. I specialize in providing customized tours to make the experience more memorable. What I offer is not only limited to personalized services, I can accompany my clients on their trips if they wish to. I’m always at their service no matter the request–that’s how much I love my job. This level of dedication made me stand out in the crowd.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success?
Michele Chubalashvili: First, I’m a positive person. I always look at the brighter side of things. I also love socializing with people; I find ways to start a conversation with them. Lastly, I love what I do, which makes everything easier. It wasn’t difficult to overcome obstacles because I adapted to change.
What have you learned about personal branding that you wish you had known earlier in your career?
Michele Chubalashvili: You can never hide behind a desk or a computer. Always be upfront, forward, and ready to project that you’re the winner. Believe in the things that you do that make people happy.
How would you define “leadership”?
Michele Chubalashvili: Never give up and always encourage other people to believe in what they love doing. I remind them to listen to our customers and give them exactly what they want. The satisfaction we received propelled the business forward. As a result, it led to more bookings through word of mouth.
What’s your favorite “life lesson” quote and how has it affected your life?
Michele Chubalashvili: Live every day to the fullest because you’ll never know what tomorrow brings. I try to wake up feeling positive to make the rest of the day go easier. Staying optimistic helped me get through the difficulties in life.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Michele Chubalashvili for taking the time to do this interview and share her knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Michele Chubalashvili or her company, you can do it through her – Instagram
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