I grew up in Arizona where my love of travel and other cultures was instilled early on as my family had a home in Puerto Penasco, Mexico - a beach town about 6 hours drive from where I grew up. My mother was an ESL schoolteacher, so every school holiday and much of summer was spent there. My love affair with Mexico and travel continued to grow when I moved to Hermosillo, Mexico to attend high school for a year. Unfortunately my time there was cut short as my brother had committed suicide before I left, and being so far away from my family and home turned out to be more difficult than a 16-year old could anticipate.
Flash forward to later in life when I moved to Washington, D.C. and spent nearly 8 years working for some of the world's pre-eminent luxury global hotel brands. This exposed me to colleagues from many other cultures and allowed me to travel extensively internationally. After taking an opportunity that relocated me to Tucson I decided to take the leap of faith in 2018 and venture out on my own - I wanted to be able to sell more than just one location, travel more and help others to travel more. Travel has been a way for me to connect and reconnect and love helping people make their travel dreams a reality. My mission is to create journeys that connect; to your family & friend, the country or culture you are experiencing but most importantly with yourself. Having lost a sibling at a young age, I know how fleeting life can be and the importance of connecting with those you love so it provides me so much joy to be able to help my clients do just this through travel.
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Funded
A loan helped to withstand the drop in global travel demand and continue to develop my business.
Mandy's story
This loan is special because:
More about this loan
Business Description
Creosote Journeys is a full-service luxury travel planning company specializing in journeys that connect. I work with everyone from the busy professional to multi-generational families planning everything from simple resort or hotel stays to custom multi-country itineraries. Travel planning can be stressful and overwhelming when it should be exciting and anticipatory. Most people just don't have the time to research all the options or an understanding of how to create a seamless and amazing trip so it often gets relegated to the bottom of the priority pile and then either travel just does't happen or the experience doesn't quite live up to the expectations. I thrive on handling the details and creating memorable experiences for my clients and alleviating the stress off their plate. Through my affiliation with Tafari Travel and Virtuoso as well as my experience working in luxury hotels for 19 years for such brands as Mandarin Oriental, Park Hyatt and Canyon Ranch, I am able to leverage these relationships to create something truly special and extend VIP recognition and perks to my clients that they simply could not google on their own. And certainly when things don't go as planned, I am an advocate for my clients to ensure that things are made right.
I left Canyon Ranch in October 2018 to start Creosote Journeys - becoming a travel advisor is something I had wanted to do for several years but hadn't been in a situation where I could take the financial risk to make the career pivot. The normal trajectory is 3-5 years to build a book of business and see some financial success. Certainly the cost of living in Washington D.C. would not have allowed this but living in Tucson does. I realized that I wanted more flexibility; to be able to travel more and help others to do the same, sell more than just one single location and also to create something of my own that would be more meaningful at the end of the day. Travel planning helps me to bring joy into other peoples lives and I absolutely love that.
I operate my business out of my home office in Tucson, AZ.
What is the purpose of this loan?
I am applying for this loan to help with marketing and brand development to grow sales for my business in a post COVID-19 travel world. 2020 was my second full year of Creosote Journeys so was still very much in the building phase of my business. I was on pace to double the revenue I produced in 2019 but then subsequently had to cancel everything due to COVID-19 related travel bans & restrictions as well as traveler uncertainty and future bookings are on hold given all the uncertainty. I plan to continue to build my business and weather this storm as the reason I started my company has not changed; to change peoples lives for the better through travel. I plan to use the loan to pay for logo creation/branding ($2000), build a new website (~$3000-$5000K), participate in The Scout Guide Tucson & Southern Arizona which is a print and online marketing channel that promotes local businesses and is launching in Tucson. ($3800) I firmly believe based on how 2020 began for me with my sales that if I can figure out a way to get through the next year with 80% of my sales opportunities gone, that travel will rebound and I will be able to continue on. The loan will help me to bridge this gap and continue with my business development so that I can continue to grow.
Loan details
Loan length:
Repayment schedule
Monthly: One repayment made per month
End of term: One repayment made at the end of the loan term
Irregular: Any other repayment schedule
To see a detailed repayment schedule for a specific loan, click the "Repayment schedule" link on the loan profile under "Loan details."
What is the disbursed date?
In the case of partner loans, many of our Lending Partners choose to disburse loan funds before the loan request is posted on Kiva. We allow pre-disbursal because it ensures that the funds reach the borrower as soon as they are needed. Loan funds from Kiva lenders then go to backfill that amount and as a lender you assume the risk of the loan. By doing this, our Lending Partners assume the risk that, if the loan isn't funded by lenders, they will have to fund the loan without any funds from Kiva.
If a partner loan is not pre-disbursed, it will be listed on Kiva with an expected "post-disbursed" date. If a post-disbursed loan is not funded on Kiva, there is a chance that the borrower may not receive their loan. Some Lending Partners choose to disburse loans with other sources of funding, while other partners don't have the resources available to fund loans without Kiva lenders' support. No direct loans will be disbursed unless they fully fundraise on Kiva.
Funding model
What does "Partner covers currency loss" mean & how could it affect my Kiva loans?
Potential for currency exchange loss is noted on every loan profile under the loan details:
"Yes" means the Lending Partner will cover any currency loss. Lenders will not bear losses due to currency fluctuation
"Partial" means that the Lending Partner has opted to cover losses only up to 10%. If the U.S. dollar appreciates more than 10% against the local currency, those losses will be passed onto lenders.
"No" means that the Lending Partner is not covering any currency losses and all losses will be passed onto lenders.
"N/A" means the Lending Partner disburses loans to borrowers in USD so their loans are not subject to any currency fluctuation.
Do Kiva borrowers pay any interest on their loans?
Our partners collect interest from borrowers because there are many operational expenses associated with microfinance in developing markets, especially in rural areas. Many of Kiva's Lending Partners also provide additional services alongside their loan products such as business training, financial literacy lessons, or health services.
Kiva will not partner with an organization that charges unreasonable interest rates, and we require Lending Partners to fully disclose their rates. In addition, we only partner with microfinance institutions and organizations that have a social mission to serve the poor, unbanked, and underserved.
There are some 0% interest loans on Kiva, including all direct loans in the United States. To learn more about the interest rates Kiva borrowers pay, you can review the "Average cost to borrower" field on a loan profile.
We also encourage you to read the following articles if you are interested in further educating yourself on the topic: Microfinance 101 (https://www.kiva.org/microfinance), Top 10 things to know about microfinance (https://www.kiva.org/blog/top-10-things-to-know-about-microfinance), Microfinance interest rates explained (https://www.kiva.org/blog/whats-up-with-microfinance-interest-rates)
What is a risk rating?
The Lending Partner risk rating reflects the risk of institutional default associated with each of Kiva’s Lending Partners. A 0.5-star rating means the organization has a relatively higher risk of institutional default, while a 5-star rating indicates the organization is at a relatively lower risk of default, based on Kiva's analysis and the available information displayed in the Lending Partner section of every loan. Lending Partners with the lowest credit tier undergo a lighter level of due diligence and do not receive a risk rating; instead, in places where a risk rating would normally appear, these partners are labeled as “Experimental.” For more information, see "What is an Experimental Lending Partner?"
Direct loans also do not receive a formal risk rating. Instead, these loans are approved through “social underwriting”, where trustworthiness is determined by friends & family lending a portion of the loan request, or by a Kiva approved Trustee vouching for the borrower. Direct loans will appear as "Unrated" and lenders should always assume these loans represent the highest level of repayment risk on Kiva.
How are loans facilitated?
Kiva loans are facilitated through 2 models, partner and direct, that enable us to reach the greatest number of people around the world.
For partner loans, borrowers apply to a local Lending Partner, which manages the loan on the ground. Lending Partners are responsible for screening borrowers, disbursing loans, posting borrowers to the Kiva website for funding, collecting repayments and otherwise administering Kiva loans on the ground to borrowers.
For direct loans, borrowers apply through the Kiva website and may or may not be endorsed by a Trustee. Unlike Lending Partners, Trustees don't handle any financial transactions or have any duty to repay loans on behalf of their borrowers. Instead, Trustees take the role of providing support and business advice to their borrowers throughout the term of the loan.
More information about successive and concurrent loans
Most borrowers take out loans consecutively, meaning that they receive a second loan after having repaid the first. However, sometimes our Lending Partners give out concurrent loans, allowing borrowers to take out one primary loan and a secondary "add-on" loan along with it. These additional loans are typically smaller than the borrower's primary loan and serve a different purpose. We trust our partners to determine whether a borrower has the means to be able to repay a successive or concurrent loan.
About Creosote Journeys
Lenders and lending teams
Country: United States
Trustee: Growth Partners Arizona
What are Trustee tiers?
For for more information about Trustee tiers, visit: kivaushub.org/trustee-tiers
Why are you endorsing Mandy?
Mandy has had an incredible journey herself to becoming the owner of her own travel company, and we believe her drive and deep expertise through years of working in the field is going to help her succeed and thrive as travel returns. She's seen tremendous success in her first two years of operation, and we know this loan will help her best prepare to continue on the strong growth trajectory she's been on since 2018.
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Loan tags help lenders find loans that match certain areas of interest.
Loan details
Loan length:
Repayment schedule
Monthly: One repayment made per month
End of term: One repayment made at the end of the loan term
Irregular: Any other repayment schedule
To see a detailed repayment schedule for a specific loan, click the "Repayment schedule" link on the loan profile under "Loan details."
What is the disbursed date?
In the case of partner loans, many of our Lending Partners choose to disburse loan funds before the loan request is posted on Kiva. We allow pre-disbursal because it ensures that the funds reach the borrower as soon as they are needed. Loan funds from Kiva lenders then go to backfill that amount and as a lender you assume the risk of the loan. By doing this, our Lending Partners assume the risk that, if the loan isn't funded by lenders, they will have to fund the loan without any funds from Kiva.
If a partner loan is not pre-disbursed, it will be listed on Kiva with an expected "post-disbursed" date. If a post-disbursed loan is not funded on Kiva, there is a chance that the borrower may not receive their loan. Some Lending Partners choose to disburse loans with other sources of funding, while other partners don't have the resources available to fund loans without Kiva lenders' support. No direct loans will be disbursed unless they fully fundraise on Kiva.
Funding model
What does "Partner covers currency loss" mean & how could it affect my Kiva loans?
Potential for currency exchange loss is noted on every loan profile under the loan details:
"Yes" means the Lending Partner will cover any currency loss. Lenders will not bear losses due to currency fluctuation
"Partial" means that the Lending Partner has opted to cover losses only up to 10%. If the U.S. dollar appreciates more than 10% against the local currency, those losses will be passed onto lenders.
"No" means that the Lending Partner is not covering any currency losses and all losses will be passed onto lenders.
"N/A" means the Lending Partner disburses loans to borrowers in USD so their loans are not subject to any currency fluctuation.
Do Kiva borrowers pay any interest on their loans?
Our partners collect interest from borrowers because there are many operational expenses associated with microfinance in developing markets, especially in rural areas. Many of Kiva's Lending Partners also provide additional services alongside their loan products such as business training, financial literacy lessons, or health services.
Kiva will not partner with an organization that charges unreasonable interest rates, and we require Lending Partners to fully disclose their rates. In addition, we only partner with microfinance institutions and organizations that have a social mission to serve the poor, unbanked, and underserved.
There are some 0% interest loans on Kiva, including all direct loans in the United States. To learn more about the interest rates Kiva borrowers pay, you can review the "Average cost to borrower" field on a loan profile.
We also encourage you to read the following articles if you are interested in further educating yourself on the topic: Microfinance 101 (https://www.kiva.org/microfinance), Top 10 things to know about microfinance (https://www.kiva.org/blog/top-10-things-to-know-about-microfinance), Microfinance interest rates explained (https://www.kiva.org/blog/whats-up-with-microfinance-interest-rates)
What is a risk rating?
The Lending Partner risk rating reflects the risk of institutional default associated with each of Kiva’s Lending Partners. A 0.5-star rating means the organization has a relatively higher risk of institutional default, while a 5-star rating indicates the organization is at a relatively lower risk of default, based on Kiva's analysis and the available information displayed in the Lending Partner section of every loan. Lending Partners with the lowest credit tier undergo a lighter level of due diligence and do not receive a risk rating; instead, in places where a risk rating would normally appear, these partners are labeled as “Experimental.” For more information, see "What is an Experimental Lending Partner?"
Direct loans also do not receive a formal risk rating. Instead, these loans are approved through “social underwriting”, where trustworthiness is determined by friends & family lending a portion of the loan request, or by a Kiva approved Trustee vouching for the borrower. Direct loans will appear as "Unrated" and lenders should always assume these loans represent the highest level of repayment risk on Kiva.
How are loans facilitated?
Kiva loans are facilitated through 2 models, partner and direct, that enable us to reach the greatest number of people around the world.
For partner loans, borrowers apply to a local Lending Partner, which manages the loan on the ground. Lending Partners are responsible for screening borrowers, disbursing loans, posting borrowers to the Kiva website for funding, collecting repayments and otherwise administering Kiva loans on the ground to borrowers.
For direct loans, borrowers apply through the Kiva website and may or may not be endorsed by a Trustee. Unlike Lending Partners, Trustees don't handle any financial transactions or have any duty to repay loans on behalf of their borrowers. Instead, Trustees take the role of providing support and business advice to their borrowers throughout the term of the loan.
More information about successive and concurrent loans
Most borrowers take out loans consecutively, meaning that they receive a second loan after having repaid the first. However, sometimes our Lending Partners give out concurrent loans, allowing borrowers to take out one primary loan and a secondary "add-on" loan along with it. These additional loans are typically smaller than the borrower's primary loan and serve a different purpose. We trust our partners to determine whether a borrower has the means to be able to repay a successive or concurrent loan.
Trustee: Growth Partners Arizona
What are Trustee tiers?
For for more information about Trustee tiers, visit: kivaushub.org/trustee-tiers
Why are you endorsing Mandy?
Mandy has had an incredible journey herself to becoming the owner of her own travel company, and we believe her drive and deep expertise through years of working in the field is going to help her succeed and thrive as travel returns. She's seen tremendous success in her first two years of operation, and we know this loan will help her best prepare to continue on the strong growth trajectory she's been on since 2018.
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