Located in Charlotte, NC
Call us at 704-697-1500
to make an appointment
with one of our local agents.
About Us
World Travel Mates is a full-service travel agency with over 35 years in the business. This small group of highly-experienced individuals bring a wealth of positive energy and detailed destination knowledge to all of their valued clients. In the internet age where it is easy to be overwhelmed by the overabundance of information, the experts at WTM are able to offer something deeper and more meaningful than a TripAdvisor review—real life travel experience. It’s impossible to get this level of service from mega agencies, which sell the same old trips over and over instead of getting to know the client and building a trip custom for them.
As times change, WTM keeps reinventing itself to keep up with the latest in travel trends. They are a Virtuoso agency and have partnered with the Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons to give their clients the best that the best in the travel world have to offer.
Read more about Our Team
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Cathy Reavis and Candy Geiler
Cathy Reavis
A note from Cathy ...
With over 35 years in the travel industry I've seen just about every side of the business there is. My first experience ended with the demise of Eastern Airlines - an unfortunate turn for the airline, but a wonderful bit of luck for me. I moved from an airline to an agency, and I've never regretted the change.
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I was raised in the south, in an age when traveling and discovering other cultures was, well... almost frowned upon. But my experience has shown me the wonder, the sheer joy of seeing the world through someone else's eyes, of walking in their shoes.
Travel is more than just seeing the sights and putting a check mark on your list of "places to go". It brings a change, a new way of seeing the world and everything in it.
In fact, I can draw a line of similarity between my travels and the recent work I've done in Rwanda.
While I love cruising and planning custom trips around the world for my clients, one of my specialties is in "humanitarian" travel. Seeing teams and families experience the transformation that occurs for themselves and the people they are serving is so rewarding. These travelers begin to see the world in a different way and experience the are power of selfless giving of their time and talents which is so rewarding.
Travel, too - especially humanitarian travel - changes our perception of ourselves and the people around us. We return home with a new perspective on the world itself, a new passion for life. It's that passion that I love bringing to my clients.
Cathy Reavis
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A note from Candy ...
Travel makes for remarkable stories. Once while visiting Istanbul with a group of ladies, I was offered a camel in exchange for one of our travel companions! Well, if the offer had been two camels, we might have considered it. Later that day, I found an exquisite carpet in the bazaar, only to realize that my credit card had expired. "Not a problem" the merchant told me. He placed the carpet into a suitcase and handed it to me. "Send me a check when you return home."
It's stories and memories such as those - tales of great kindness, of baffling customs, of connecting with unknown peoples in strange lands - that have made my thirty-some years in the travel industry such a wonderful experience.
I started with Eastern Airlines right out of college, and in 1984 I was offered an opportunity to work for a travel agency. Since then, every day has been a new and different experience. In other industries, people force themselves to think "out of the box".
In the travel trade, every day is out of the box! The chance to see other lands is priceless. Italy, Greece, Ireland, England - I wouldn't know how to pick my favorite destination. But more than that, it's the people who make my job such a joy.
Whether I'm putting together a custom tour of Italy for a multigenerational family of ten, or a destination wedding in the Caribbean, simply knowing I've created that unique experience, one that will be remembered and cherished for a lifetime, brings me a pleasure and a satisfaction that no amount of money could ever buy.
They say, "Do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life"- Trust me. It's true!
Candy Geiler
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Candy Geiler
Lindsay Barney
A note from Lindsay...
My passion for travel traces back to when I was eight years old and visited Norway, Sweden and Finland. Ever since, my passion for traveling to new places and learning about the people, food and culture has taken me on a journey to over 20 countries.
While pursuing a degree in Hospitality, I also had the opportunity to study abroad in Switzerland where I learned luxury hotel policies and regulations. This led me into the industry upon graduation where I worked at a luxury resort prior to becoming a travel consultant.
My favorite places include Tahiti (where I went on my honeymoon) and Italy.
While I don’t know where in the world this journey will take me, I love this industry and am thankful for every opportunity I have to help others achieve their travel dreams.
Lindsay Barney
Tracy
Beaver
A note from Tracy...
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. where it rains most of the time made me look out of the window and daydream of being on a tropical island with family and friends. After moving to Charlotte in 1994, I knew this was where I wanted to call home. Staying true to my dream I started a career at Professional Travel in 1996.
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I started on the corporate side of the business, arranging airline tickets, hotels and car rentals for thousands of passengers. My passion has only grown stronger over the past 25 years. I love that I am now the personal travel consultant for the Charlotte Checkers, a professional hockey team. World Travel Mates is proud to be the official agency of the Checkers!
After mastering the business travel aspect, my knowledge and interest moved into the leisure or vacation side. I have traveled extensively throughout the US, Caribbean and Mexico, and I stay current with travel trends by attending monthly trade shows and seminars.
I am proud to say that I am also a breast cancer survivor, knowing all too well that life is precious and can often be too short. I've made a career out of making dreams come true, and hopes that you’ll give me the opportunity to make a lifetime memory for you!
Tracy Beaver
Vickey
Cook
A note from Vickey...
I grew up in Greer, SC and attended Winthrop University when it was a college. I majored in Marketing Education and taught school in Charlotte for over 30 years. I taught Marketing, Fashion Merchandising and Travel and Tourism on the high school level. During my time as a teacher, I planned numerous travel adventures for my students to New York City and to attend conferences all over the United States.
After retirement from the school system, I joined the World Travel Mates team to continue to pursue my love for travel. While raising our children my husband and I agreed with Mark Paterson; “The best education you will get is traveling. Nothing teaches you more than exploring the world and accumulating experience.” We traveled extensively with our children to over 30 states, on numerous cruises and abroad.
I love exploring new places and planning the perfect trip for my clients. I would love to help you plan your next adventure, honeymoon, family vacation, girl’s trip - if you can dream it we can plan it.
Vickey Cook
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Sandy Martin
A note from Sandy...
I am thrilled to be a part of the team at World Travel Mates. I have traveled extensively throughout North America, Europe, the Caribbean, Hawaii and Tahiti both with extended land vacations and cruises. I enjoy all water activities and am both a snorkeler and scuba diver. When I travel, I like to explore and immerse myself in every destination.
I am currently focusing my educational training and exploration in South America and Asia. I have visited New Zealand, French Polynesia, Australia, Bali, and China. In South America I have toured Argentina, Ecuador, and The Galapagos Island. 2021-2022 will bring touring in Chile & Patagonia and Thailand.
My European travels have included Germany, France, Switzerland, England, Ireland, and Amsterdam. Scotland, Greece, and Iceland are future destinations i an scheduled to visit. I have a group doing a 14 day cruise and land tour in Alaska in August 2021.
I love to include suggestions for not to miss activities, attractions, and restaurants for my clients destinations. I believe the desire to travel and explore new places is embedded in your soul and I would love to help you plan your next great escape. My favorite quote is “I haven’t been everywhere, but it is on my list.”
Sandy Martin
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Kay McGarity
A note from Kay...
I started my travel career with World Travel Mates in 1995 and I was eager to help people create their dream vacations.
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I remember as a child traveling with my family up and down the east coast for our family holidays. Every trip seemed better than the last, and only increased my desire to see more. At 12, my international travel began as I joined a friend and her family on a vacation to Canada! I remember being so intrigued with the language and culture of country just across the US border. Studying geography in school, I could hardly wait until I was able to travel the world and experience everything for myself. It’s no wonder I became a travel consultant!
As I grew up and got married, I was blessed to have four children and a wonderful and supportive husband. We all have the ‘travel bug’ and have had great experiences together traveling in the US and abroad. Added to that now are my amazing grandchildren…we keep the tradition alive making memories!
I remember a quote that I once heard –
“Traveling leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller”.
My wonderful and enriching experiences have now turned me into a “storyteller” and I love to share them with my clients.
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I have had the opportunity to travel to the Caribbean, Mexico, Africa and many destinations throughout Europe. Cruising through the Panama Canal, Hawaiian Islands, Alaska and the Caribbean and sailing the Danube and Rhine Rivers gives me firsthand knowledge as a cruise counselor. I have soared over the Serengeti in a hot air balloon, visited an orphanage in Africa, hiked the Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia, and walked through the ruins of Pompeii.
I am a grateful storyteller of all, and awaiting my next tale to tell.
Travel is a gift that we all need to give to ourselves and our families.
It’s a gift that makes your richer by the experience alone.
My destination knowledge and education continued when I joined AAA Vacations in 2010 and earned my place in the AAA Carolina’s Presidents Club. Returning to World Travel Mates has brought me full circle and I am glad to be “home”.
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Whether it’s your honeymoon, anniversary, multigenerational family or friend’s group trip, as a Virtuoso travel counselor I will provide the best service, planning and resources for your destination.
Kay McGarity
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Rebekah Reavis
A note from Rebekah...
I am a native Charlottean with a lifelong love of travel and have passed this on to my son. Having a mother who worked for Eastern Airlines when I was young and getting to go places like New York or DC for the day with my sisters was so exciting and sparked my passion to see and experience new places! I was fortunate to have a 'leg in the door' and started in the industry in the late 90s and love everything from booking corporate and group air travel to assisting with vacation planning, with a specialty in Mexico & the Caribbean as well as cruises.
I love working with churches and ministries in getting their teams to short-term mission trips and have also participated in many including Cuba in 2008 but my bucket list is still very long!
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Rebekah Reavis
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