Stephanie Romanelli Becomes 407&Beyond’s First Onyx-Level Agent
We’re excited to celebrate a major milestone at 407&Beyond: Stephanie Romanelli has officially become the first agent to reach Onyx level in our Legacy Program! The 407&Beyond Legacy Program is designed to reward agents upon achieving lifetime sales figures.
When the program’s new levels were announced, Stephanie immediately set her sights on Onyx. “Once the new levels in the Legacy Program were announced, it became my goal to reach Onyx first,” Stephanie said. “It’s definitely exciting, and I feel very proud of myself for reaching it just shy of my five-year anniversary.”
Stephanie, who lives in New York state, began her career as a travel agent in October 2021. She was working another part-time job at the time and wasn’t sure what to expect from the travel industry. As her client base grew, however, it became clear that vacation planning could become much more than a side job.
“I knew I wanted to leave my other job, but I waited until I was earning enough monthly to replace the part-time job,” she explained. “At that point, I moved to full-time as a travel agent, which allowed me to focus even more on my current clients and building new business.”
Putting Clients First
Stephanie credits her success to hard work, strong relationships, and a genuine desire to give every client an amazing experience. She is also quick to recognize the support she receives from her family.
“First and foremost, I couldn’t have achieved this success without the support of my husband, who works hard so that I can do something I love,” she said. “Doing the job well, caring about what I’m doing and forming good relationships with my clients has been my recipe for success.”
That care is one of the reasons so many families trust Stephanie with their vacations. For her, the most rewarding moments happen when travelers return home and share how much her help meant to them.
“It never gets old when a client tells me they couldn’t have had such a great trip without me, or that they appreciated how I took care of their trip as if it were my own,” she said. “That means everything!”
As the owner of 407&Beyond, I couldn’t be happier to see Stephanie reach this milestone. Stephanie’s success is something all of us at 407&Beyond can be proud of. She cares deeply about her clients, works incredibly hard, and represents exactly what our agency is all about. Watching her build a full-time career while raising a family has been inspiring, and I’m thrilled to celebrate her as our first Onyx-level agent.
Growing a Career and a Family
The flexibility of working from home and creating her own schedule has been invaluable to Stephanie, especially as a parent of young children. That doesn’t mean balancing everything is always easy.
“Honestly, some days I don’t know,” she joked when asked how she manages being both a full-time parent and a full-time travel agent. “Most days that balance is reached by having help from my husband and mom, working hard when my daughter is at school and my son is napping, and just learning how to do both full-time jobs at once!”
Stephanie’s story is also a great example of how steady growth can turn a passion for travel into a successful career. Her biggest advice for agents who are still building their clientele is to provide service worth talking about.
“The best advertisement is word of mouth,” she said. “Not every client is going to shout your name from the rooftops, even if they had an amazing experience with you. But all you need is a handful of them who have big networks to do so—and believe me, it snowballs.”
For anyone just entering the travel industry, Stephanie recommends having patience, staying organized, getting comfortable sharing your business, and taking training seriously.
Creating Unforgettable Vacations
Over the years, Stephanie has helped clients plan hundreds of memorable adventures. One of her favorite bookings was a Sweet 16 Greek cruise for two girls who love Mamma Mia! She loved the idea and enjoyed being part of such a special celebration.
When it comes to her own family vacations, an April 2024 Walt Disney World trip stands out. Her daughter was three years old at the time and couldn’t get enough of meeting the characters.
“It was such a wonderful age for Disney,” Stephanie recalled.
Stephanie visits Walt Disney World about once a year, and Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is her favorite place to stay. She loves the BoardWalk atmosphere, the pools and, most of all, being able to stroll into EPCOT.
Her most important advice for families visiting Walt Disney World is refreshingly simple: “Slow down and enjoy the magic.”
Motivated by the Legacy Program
Stephanie says the 407&Beyond Legacy Program has been a major source of motivation throughout her career.
“Sell more, earn more,” she said. “While I don’t generally consider us agents to be in competition with each other, the competitive side of me does fuel my motivation to reach the higher levels first.”
She also values being part of a close-knit agency where agents and travelers support one another.
“I love having a great group of agents and travelers whom I trust to bounce ideas off of and ask for recommendations,” she said. “This is an agency made up of people, and built by people, who care. The opportunity to earn more as you grow is a beautiful thing.”
Congratulations, Stephanie, on becoming the first Onyx-level agent in the 407&Beyond Legacy Program! We’re incredibly proud of everything you’ve accomplished!
