H
er goal is to create an itinerary that takes her
clients beyond their bucket list wishes and
away from the pricey tourist traps to a memo-
rable, one-of-a-kind adventure.
“I like meeting people, and I like making people
happy,” said Thompson, who has worked at Corrigan
Travel in Meridian for the past three years. “I pay a lot
of attention to detail. I love researching places for people
.... I want to make sure everything about their trip is just
right.”
Thompson did not start her career in the travel indus-
try.
A native of Weir, she attended Mississippi State
University, where she was a freshman cheerleader and
dance team member from her sophomore year through
graduation.
She and her husband, Russell Thompson, also a
MSU graduate, lived in Memphis for four years after
college. She worked as a research analyst for Fogelman
Properties, a company that builds and manages apart-
ment communities around the country. She traveled
the country conducting marketing research used by
Fogelman’s administrative committee in its decision-mak-
ing process.
The Thompsons moved to Meridian 32 years ago,
where she worked as a sales representative for Philip
Morris Corp. and Russell became a founding partner of
Insurance Advisory Group. They have three children:
Taylor, Tate, and Leah.
After her children came along, Thompson was a stay-
at-home mom for eight years before joining the team at
Meridian Community College, serving as continuing
education coordinator and director of College for Kids.
During her 13-plus years at the community college,
she also served as a travel specialist with the MCC
Foundation helping to coordinate trips. She took park in
tours to New York, California, Florida, the Northeastern
United States, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, England,
and France, among others.
“I have had a lot of experience in travel,” Thompson
said, noting that she has enjoyed visiting charming and
exotic locales throughout the nation and around the
world.
Once the last of her children entered college,
Thompson decided to retire from MCC. As far as a
career, she had accomplished what she wanted to and a
paycheck was no longer a lure. She wanted to pursue her
hobbies and other interests.
“When my kids went off to college and I was an
empty nester, I thought I just wanted to be at home and
pursue my interests,” she laughed.
Thompson is a member of the Hope Village for
Children Guild where she serves as a volunteer. She is
a member of Central Methodist Church and the Board
of Directors for Northwood Country Club. She is a past
member of the Junior Auxiliary of Meridian and the
Meridian Symphony League.
An avid cook, she also loves to play the piano and
wants to find more time for her exercise routine. “I just
ran my first 5K in 30 years,” she said. “I started training
in January and ran in the Seaside, Florida, 5K and Half
Marathon on March 1. It was great. I couldn’t believe I
did it. My entire family trained and ran also.”
Once retired, Thompson quickly discovered her inter-
ests failed to fill all of the hours in a day. Thankfully, a
www.meridianstar.com
new career path emerged.
Gaines Crawford, president of Corrigan Travel, had
worked with Thompson through the MCC Foundation
and offered her the chance to join his team part time as a
travel advisor.
Starting over in a new profession after the age of 50
had its challenges, but there was nothing too daunting.
She had to learn the lingo used by experts in the travel
industry; codes for booking systems to make reservations
with airlines, hotels, and cruise lines; and the necessary
travel documents, such as Visa requirements and pass-
ports, needed for specific overseas excursions. She had
to learn how to research destinations so she could dis-
tinguish first-rate hotels and restaurants from mediocre
ones. She had to learn how to track down lost luggage.
She had to make local contacts around the world so
she could recommend activities and excursions that are
sometimes off the beaten path, but unforgettable for her
travelers. She completed an online training course to
become certified by the Travel Institute of America.
“I like planning something
fabulous, special and
memorable for someone.”
Tanya Thompson, travel adviser
These days, she finds planning business trips, fam-
ily vacations, honeymoons, senior trips, Spring Break
getaways, and MCC Foundation travel almost second
nature.
“It was a huge learning curve,” said Thompson. “The
longer I work in the field, the more comfortable I feel
with the job requirements.”
Presently, she is facing her first big challenge as a trav-
el advisor as airlines cancel flights, countries close their
borders, and people call off trips due to the spread of
the coronavirus. Its impact is expected to cost the travel
industry billions in revenue.
“People are kind of in a panic right now,” she said. “It
is definitely affecting the travel industry.”
While Thompson still loves to travel, she has no inter-
est in starting her own agency. She likes the balance of
working three days a week, which still leaves her time
to pursue her other interests and to visit her children
who are spread out across the state. Tate is a petroleum
engineering major at MSU. Taylor is a psychometrist
at University of Mississippi Medical Center. A licensed
practical counselor, Taylor earned her master’s degree
in psychology from the University of Denver. Leah is
majoring in hospitality management at the University of
Mississippi.
“I am happy doing what I am doing now,” said
Thompson, who finds it rewarding to see the spark of
excitement from her travelers once they start off on their
trip and the thrill they express when they return happy
and pleased from the adventure she planned.
“I enjoy it. I like planning something fabulous, special
and memorable for someone.”
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