Introducing the Chicago Travel Center

We love you, Windy City, and we know you love your town. But sometimes, you just want to get away – and we understand that. That’s why we’re opening a brand-new Travel Center just for you!

Visit us at 200 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60601, and discover how Liberty Travel will plan your perfect vacation and adventure!

But who is “us”? Here are your local Travel Consultants!

Daniel Lacan-Bradley

Countries Visited: Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, Jamaica, Mexico, Slovakia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and Czech Republic

Most Memorable Trip: It wasn’t really a trip as much as an experience, but I lived abroad in the Czech Republic.

My favorite trip I ever book for a client: I enjoyed booking a couple’s trip to British Columbia. They went to Vancouver, Victoria, and Banff.

Why did you want to work for Liberty? I wanted to share my travel experiences and help create the best travel experiences for my clients.

Where/when did you catch the travel bug? I caught the travel bug when I went to London during my junior year in college. It was still very different and exciting, and made me want to explore the rest of Europe.

Dianna Lankin

Countries Visited: Antigua, Aruba, Austria, Bahamas, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turks & Caicos, United States, Vatican City, Vietnam

Most Memorable Trip: It’s so hard to choose just one, but my vacation to Cuba last year was definitely one of my favorites (I am Canadian and able to travel there easily)! The old cars and buildings in Havana are amazing; it feels like you are going back in time! We also cruised around the south coast on a catamaran, snorkeling and visiting untouched beaches. So beautiful!

Favorite trip ever booked for a client: It was one of my very first bookings as a Travel Consultant. It was for two women traveling to Australia, and they didn’t want to do a tour, so I customized a whole two week trip for them: hotels, tours, internal flights, transfers, etc. I was so nervous because I was still a new consultant, but everything went smoothly. They had an amazing time! I love when I can personalize a vacation specifically to my client’s needs; it’s one of the many reasons why booking through an agent is better than online!
Why did you want to work for Liberty? I wanted to share my passion for travel with others, while having the opportunity to continue my own adventures around the world!

Where/when did you catch the travel bug? When I was a kid, my family went on a road trip every year, often to Florida, but also to other places around the US and Canada. I have great memories from those vacations! Also in my early 20’s, I backpacked across Europe on my own. It opened my eyes to so many different people and cultures, and only made me want to explore more!

Jessie Neal

Countries Visited: Canada, UK (England), France, Monaco, Monte Carlo, Italy, Jamaica, Ireland, Greece, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Most Memorable Trip: I went to Ireland with Mom.

Favorite trip ever booked for a client: Machu Picchu

Why did you want to work for Liberty? I love traveling and always wanted to have a career in something I loved – travel. I love to watch clients have new and exciting travel experiences, and bond with them over that.

Lindsay Smith

Countries Visited: Ireland, France, England, Jamaica, Mexico, Belize, Cayman Islands

Most Memorable Trip: My first international trip was to Ireland, and it changed my life – I went with a group called “Building Bridges for Peace,” and we toured mostly Northern Ireland learning about the conflict and meeting politicians, activists and many other people. I never realized that visiting another country could be like immersing yourself in a completely different world before that.

Favorite trip ever booked for a client: I booked a bucket list solo trip throughout Australia, where the client went on a sleep-aboard scuba diving trip in Cairnes, a shark dive in Sydney, skydiving in Melbourne, and camping in Ayers Rock.

Why did you want to work for Liberty? I was passionate about traveling and experiencing new things and wanted to work with other people who share that passion.

Where/when did you catch the travel bug? My trip to Ireland!

Kara Patterson

Countries Visited: Australia, Bahamas, Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Jamaica

Most Memorable Trip: I lived in Malaysia for five months and traveled the country to experience the culture and amazing scenery.

Favorite trip ever booked for a client: Group celebration to Sandals Grande in St Lucia

Why did you want to work for Liberty? I wanted the opportunity to grow, travel, and help other people reach their travel goals.

Where/when did you catch the travel bug? My trip to Australia in 2009. It was my first major trip and the travel bug got me big time.

Amanda Guerrero

Countries Visited: Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Canada, Spain, Italy, France, and UK.

Most Memorable Trip: I sailed on a Mediterranean cruise with Norwegian

Favorite trip ever booked for a client: A honeymoon to Athens, Santorini, and Crete.

Why did you want to work for Liberty? I love talking about travel and sharing my experiences with other people. I especially love when clients tell me their stories about traveling.

Where/when did you catch the travel bug? My mother is also in the travel field, and I grew up traveling. She really wanted me to experience different cultures and have so many memories and stories to tell.

Leigh Barnholt

Countries Visited: Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Canada, Thailand, Cambodia.

Most Memorable Trip: Backpacking through Thailand.
Favorite trip ever booked for a client: Honeymoon to Athens, Santorini, and Crete.

Why did you want to work for Liberty? I am passionate about talking about travel and working with people. I also love that I learn more about the world every day just by coming to work.

Where/when did you catch the travel bug? After college, I needed to get out and see new things before I was ready to settle into something more permanent in the working world so I jetted off to Asia for a month. And now I just want to go everywhere possible!

Joseph Moussa

Countries Visited: Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Bali, Turks and Caicos, Canada, Sweden, Italy, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Greece, Spain, Mexico, and Netherlands

Most Memorable Trip: Two-month Thailand and Europe trip

Favorite trip ever booked for a client: New Zealand and Australia

Why did you want to work for Liberty? I have passion for travel.

All of our professional Travel Consultants have the passionate knowledge and personal experience to make expert recommendations. The world is waiting to be discovered, and we want to help you explore it. Stop by the Chicago Travel Center during their Grand Opening Event or any of our 140 stores nationwide!

All Photos by Torin Schuster