How Ana Maria Junqueira Built a Luxury Travel Agency Across Two Countries by Making Every Trip Feel Effortless

Meet Ana Maria Junqueira, founder of Magari Blu Travel, a luxury travel agency based in Miami, Florida and São Paulo, Brazil, specializing in highly personalized travel experiences for high-end clients who want every detail handled before they ever pack a bag. Ana Maria spent six years practicing law before a Master's degree in Rome and a growing travel blog gave her the courage to make a change. She traded contracts for itineraries and never looked back.With over 15 years in the luxury travel industry, she built a prestigious reputation in Brazil as a trusted advisor, then made the bold decision to relocate her family to Florida and start over in an entirely new market. That willingness to begin again, with the same standard of excellence she brought the first time, is exactly what defines how she builds.

Please share a brief introduction and your business:

I’ve been working in the luxury travel industry for over 15 years and I’m the founder of Magari Blu Travel, a travel agency based in Miami, FL, and São Paulo, Brazil, focused on highly personalized travel experiences.

My goal is to take the entire planning process off my customers' plate, so they can simply enjoy their trips without spending time researching or organizing details.

Are you a mamaprenista?

Yes, mother of 2. I feel like being a mother and an entrepreneur is my biggest challenge. It also comes down to time management. I try to give my best at work before picking up my kids from school, and after that, unless it’s an emergency, I don’t go back to work. I’m with them—present and available for them.

Take us back to when you launched? What was your marketing strategy?

Back then, my blog and social media were my greatest allies and served as a window for new customers to get to know me and understand my work.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

No! I worked as an employee for over 10 years before doing it.

What accomplishments are you the most proud of to date in your business?

I am well established in Brazil as a prestigious luxury travel advisor, and I started my business coming from a different background as a lawyer in an industry that was quite traditional at the time. More than 10 years later, I decided to move with my family to Florida, and starting all over again in the U.S. also makes me proud.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

It will get harder and you can handle it.

When hiring, what is your go-to interview question?

Since we currently work from home, it is very important to make sure that the person is well committed and organized.

What did you do before starting your own business?

I was a lawyer for over 6 years before starting my travel agency.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

I was searching for true meaning and passion in what I did. I completed a Master’s degree in Law in Rome, Italy, in 2011/2012, and it was there that I started writing about travel and blogging. It grew and gave me the courage to take the next step.

Do you have any recent wins?

1.5 years ago, I threw a launch party in Miami, and it was a beautiful event.

What's one app on your phone that you cannot live without?

Instagram. We are very active on social media, and I love seeing what other companies in the market are doing.

Who are your customers?

I work mostly with high-end clients who are looking for tailored itineraries, full travel planning, and concierge services.

What's your top productivity tip?

My top productivity tip is time management. When I plan my time well, everything becomes more efficient and less stressful.

What's your favorite business tool?

Whatsapp. Nowadays, it is the #1 tool for staying in touch with customers and being available to them, which makes their experience very personalized and upscale.

What's your approach to work-life balance?

Be present at the moment and do it with excellence.

How do you avoid burn-out?

I started feeling much less anxious once I truly understood what is urgent and what my real priorities are. Trying to do everything at the same time usually leads to not doing anything well.

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

Plan, but don’t plan too rigidly. Usually, your biggest challenges show up in areas you couldn’t plan for in advance. You have to be flexible and always believe in yourself and in your mission.

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Ana Maria's story is a reminder that the most fulfilling careers are often found far outside the path you originally planned for yourself, and that starting over in a new country with two kids and a vision is its own kind of extraordinary. We are so glad to have her in the Entreprenista community and cannot wait to see Magari Blu Travel continue to grow on both sides of the world.

Want to connect with founders like Ana Maria? Visit Entreprenista League to explore our community and discover more stories of women building businesses that truly matter.