Business Traveler Interview: Kelley Ferro

This is part of a new series here at WhyGo Business Travel featuring brief interviews with people who travel for work, asking them about what they do and some of their favorite travel tips. This way, if you’re looking for a career that will require travel, you’ll get to read about people doing some of the jobs you might consider – and you’ll also learn a few great travel tips from the travel pros!

This week, we’re talking with Kelley Ferro of TripFilms.com, the leading travel video website based in New York City.

What do you do?
I’m the Host and Production Manager at Tripfilms.com. I manage all of our content (which is topping the charts at 11,000 videos!) and I send filmmakers on assignments. I also manage all the editorial content, contests and partnerships at Tripfilms and yes, I’m behind our Twitter/FB too. I also host 3 shows on Tripfilms, and my main show, Get Lost and Go Local, allows me to travel around the world!

What kind of travel do you get to do for work? Do you get to choose where you go?
I love traveling and that’s definitely a perk of the job. I usually go to destinations where we need content, though I have a lot of flexibility there. If it’s a sponsored assignment, with a tourism board or tour operator, I don’t have much choice, but since I ultimately want to see everything, I’m fine with that!

How often do you get to travel for work?
It ebbs and flows but I take handful of large trips and domestic trips/local excursions at least once a month. I film a lot in NYC, so not sure if outer boroughs or uptown counts as “travel.” 🙂

Did you choose your job at least in part because you love to travel? Would you make the same job choice again, knowing what you know now?
I knew that no matter what I did in life, it would tie in with travel. I love the journey, I love meeting new people and mostly, I feel it’s the best education you can get. I want to understand our world and it’s people. When I’m not traveling, I send others out to travel and that makes me happy too. It’s a win/win since I get to live vicariously through the videos that they bring back from their adventures!

What are some of your favorite travel tips that you’ve picked up?
Always go carry-on. No matter what. I’ve just made so many flights because I didn’t have checked bagged. Also, when planning your activities — research, get guidebooks, watch travel videos, read reviews, etc, but when you are in your destination, ask people. It’s a great excuse to talk to locals and if you ask enough people, a few key suggestions will keep coming up and you know those are the real deal.

What advice do you have for someone who’s interested in doing what you do?
My advice is to go out and do it! Everyone wants to travel around the world, but if you do it, blog about it, tweet it, video it, we really take notice. You have to get out there and just start traveling because that’s half the battle. If you don’t have the budget, show what it’s like to travel on a shoestring, or take local excursions. A beautiful hike, a great park, a street of cafes — these can all be mini-travels and you should write about it and film it!

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