Meet the S.O.A.R. Community Fun Advisor Chris Grum Owner of Premier Custom Travel
I had the great honor to interview Chris Grum, Owner of Premier Custom Travel and the designated FUN Advisor for the S.O.A.R. Community. This was one of my most unique business interviews with Chris being in Puerto Rico onboard the Mardi Gras; one of the newest ships in the Carnival Cruises line. I got to ask Chris about the importance of being able to leave your business for a period of time to refresh whether solo or with family. Here are some questions covered in our interview.
- Chris, tell me about Premier Custom Travel?
- What led you into the travel industry?
- What do you see is the biggest challenge in regards to small business owners not taking time out for themselves to refresh and live out life?
- What solutions, or what would you recommend being a first step, would you recommend to someone that is seeking to get away and experience life through travel?
- What is the biggest challenge you face as a business owner?
- What is your biggest success as a business owner?
- If you were to leave one piece of advice with someone watching this video today, what would it be?
- How can individuals connect with you to learn more about taking time out to refresh through travel?
Chris also shared insight into his experience aboard the Mardi Gras. If you want to get a more in depth coverage of his experience aboard the Mardi Gras, check out his show 'The Itinerary' on their Facebook business page.
Meet Chris Grum, Owner of Premier Custom Travel
Chris was born in Dallas and has lived all over the country since then. Growing up, he spent about ten years in Westchester County, just outside of New York City. He also spent a couple of years going to school in Pennsylvania. His high school years were spent in Lufkin, Texas and that’s where he got his first job in radio.
The broadcasting industry would ultimately take him to Boston, Las Vegas, back to Lufkin and finally to Houston. Over a 25-year career, he played every type of music and met (and worked with) some amazing people. Throughout that time, he was an amateur travel agent, constantly helping his friends and family book vacations and plan travel excursions.
He is the owner of PREMIER CUSTOM TRAVEL, a travel agency based in Iowa Colony, Texas and specializing in cruises, theme park vacations, the Sandals & Beaches Resorts, and destinations worldwide.
Chris lives in Iowa Colony, Texas with his girlfriend Melissa and their cats Otto, who serves as the company's mascot and official office kitty, and Sammy. In his spare time, Chris enjoys going to see live theatre, traveling, sports (especially baseball, hockey and football), spending time with his friends, and going to restaurants and wine tastings.
Chris is a CLIA Elite Cruise Counsellor, a CLIA Luxury Cruise Specialist, a CLIA-certified Travel Agency Executive (TAE), a Travel Institute Certified Travel Counselor, an IATA Accredited Agent, a member of ASTA - the American Society of Travel Advisors, a Certified Sandals Specialist and a SNG Certified Accessible Travel Advocate. In July of 2013, Chris was selected from among thousands of travel agents to be Carnival Cruise Line's Fun Planner of the Month. In 2020, Chris was chosen to participate in the CruiseWorld Star Program. Chris also has a seat on the CLIA StarBoard, the travel agent advisory committe for Cruise Lines International Association.
