Brulee Travel • Georgetown

Brulee Travel • Georgetown

Written by Beth Wade Friday, 09 May 2008

Georgetown — Bruce Peterson is a man who likes to get away from the office. And he does — because it’s part of his job. “It is definitely easier to sell a product when you have been on it or seen it,” Peterson said.

He opened his travel agency, Brulee Travel, in 1997 after helping several friends put travel packages together. As a lifelong traveler, Peterson had been giving advice and helping set up trips. He thought he might as well get paid for his efforts and started the agency with a gospel cruise, which he still organizes. He plans various group trips five to six times a year as well. “Our first cruise was the gospel cruise, and I brought the music on board,” Peterson said. “The gospel music was a godsend. It really gave a direction for us.”

The name Brulee came from a combination of the names Bruce and Shirlee, Peterson’s wife’s name. Peterson was also nicknamed Bruce Lee in college by friends, he said. Peterson and his wife work and travel around the world together.

Because of the large number of cruises and cruise lines that Peterson works with, he calls himself “the cruise specialist.” Cruises make up 50 percent of his business, with tours and honeymoon trips making up the rest. “A majority of people take the five-day cruises and then decide they want to go longer and take seven-day cruises,” Peterson said. “I would say 95 percent of people who go on a cruise will take another one.”

In Texas, anyone can claim to be a travel agent without gaining any type of accreditation, but some vendors will not allow booking without proof of accreditation. Peterson and his wife are accredited through the National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents and the Cruise Line International Association.

The big bookers as far as cruises are concerned include European and Panama Canal cruises, he said. “[My favorite] is the Mediterranean cruise,” Peterson said. “I really like Venice, Italy. I like to go on the longer cruises. I love my time at sea.”

With new websites touting easy-to-use features and trip reservations, Peterson is not concerned about the competition. “The idea of a one-on-one contact with someone is very important to people,” he said. “I can get extras and answers that are not on the computer, and it is more of the personal touch.”

When planning a cruise for larger parties that book more than 30 to 35 cabins, Peterson comes along to make sure everything runs smoothly. “When we take groups on cruises, we have fun and make a lot of new friends,” he said.

Peterson is planning a cruise to raise funds for a church in December, a cruise to the Bahamas and Key West on Feb. 15 and a tour of the Holy Land some time next year.

Expert travel tips

• Pack wisely – Lay out the clothes you think you want to take and take half. You will still over pack because it is easy to do, but this will help.
• Trip insurance – Always get insurance when leaving the country. You can get medical and cancellation insurance; get both. Your travel agent or tour supplier can help with this.
• Passports – Get your passport early. It will take between four and six weeks to arrive.
• Pay attention to the law – The Bill of Rights does not travel with you. Be aware of other countries’ laws. What may seem minor here can carry heavier consequences in other countries.
• Medications – Remember to pack all of your medications. It may be difficult to find them wherever you are traveling.