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Travel and using a wheelchair doesn’t always go seamlessly together, however when Spencer Blomquist was paralyzed in 2008, this was not a reality he was willing to accept. Now a successful certified travel agent specializing in cruises and accessible travel, he’s been able to make travel the highlight of his life both professionally and personally. How has he been able to do it? Spencer shares his story, and accessible travel advice, below.
From NYC to Florida
There are certain things as a child that stay with you and for Spencer, who grew up in Brooklyn, New York in an Italian household, the memories that made the strongest impact were family vacations. And on one of these vacations, his first cruise, he had a revelation. “I always enjoyed traveling as a child, but after my first cruise at 12 years old to Alaska, it became my preferred method of travel. I think a large part because my family had many members that were seafaring in the military and merchant Marines.” His family proceeded to go on 12 cruises together when he was a child.
These family vacations were so impactful that he wanted to make travel the focal point of his career. “Prior to my injury, I was in my last semester of college and had already worked six years in hospitality as a restaurant manager and bartender,” says Spencer. “The semester of my injury I was scheduled to graduate with my hospitality and hotel management degree. I also signed a contract at that time with Norwegian Cruise Line to work as a Bar and Beverage Operations Manager on the Pride of America cruise ship sailing round-trip out of Hawaii.”
Unfortunately, as it goes with all spinal cord injuries, the unexpected occurred. While in his vehicle in October 2008, Spencer at the age 20 was involved in a failed robbery attempt. The assailant opened his car door, shooting him. “I was shot in the neck and have a C4-5 injury.” Since his injury, Spencer has little function from the neck down. This however has not stopped him from getting back into the travel game.
Soon after his injury, Spencer applied for a grant from the Darrel Gwynn Foundation and was chosen as a recipient. With the funds, he was able to attend the Daytona 500. “It was an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience and I even was able to say, ‘Start your engines.'” After that vacation, Spencer was motivated to travel and still make it his career. He also moved to Pensacola, Florida.
Becoming a Travel Agent
Since returning to the hands-on hospitality world as a bar in beverage operations manager was difficult with his level of injury, Spencer decided to pivot and become a travel agent. “A local franchise opened in my area and I saw an advertisement for their services. I was already super passionate about travel so I went ahead and emailed the owner and she offered me a position.” He was ready to learn skills while on-the-job.
The position offered Spencer the opportunity to be an independent contractor rather than start his own travel agency outright. “I really was given the flexibility to grow my business gradually as I learned the trade and became more proficient as a business owner.” Today, Spencer focuses on several aspects of travel. “With my business, I had to focus on cruises, but as a full-service travel agent, I also book a lot of all-inclusive trips, vacation packages, guided tours, river cruises and Disney vacations.”
He also says that running his own business can be challenging. “While the hours are sometimes flexible, many times my job is to put out fires. Working as a travel agent often requires 24 seven availability to clients. Issues can occur anytime day or night and I am the sole person they reach out to when something goes wrong. At any given time I could have one to 100 people on their trips.” From weather delays and family emergencies to medical issues and things like car accidents and lost legal documentation, he has seen it all.
“The best part however of running my business is the enjoyment of the stories I hear from my clients that have life-changing memories.” “A prime example would be a client who traveled with her elderly mother on a 18 day cruise. They had the most amazing time but unfortunately a couple months later the mother passed away. They told me the time they spent together on that trip created memories that the family will cherish forever.”
Accessible Travel Expertise
Spencer has also made accessible travel a focal point of his travel agent career. “As a wheelchair-user myself, it’s only natural that I specialize in accessible travel. For my clients with unique needs I do tend to focus more on cruising and Disney. If a client has a specific destination many times I can find some better deals and get accessible rooms, however my specialization and accessible cruising is far more refined.”
“As a Cruise Line International Association Elite Cruise Consultant (top-tier certification), I have an extensive understanding of cruises inside and out. I have personally traveled alone on over 35 cruises and have booked hundreds of wheelchair accessible cruises for my clients. As far as accessible cruising, I’m able to offer a full-service that includes accessible transportation, hotels, and excursions, giving the clients a seamless experience.”
“I really think cruises are the best form of travel for wheelchair users as well,” he continues, “because many cruise ships leave from ports within driving distance of the majority of the United States population. Eliminating the need to fly as a wheelchair user greatly reduces the risk of wheelchair damage while simultaneously increasing the satisfaction of the vacation.”
And for those with spinal cord injuries interested in traveling again, his most important advice is to become your own self-advocate. “As travelers with an SCI our situation and injuries are so unique that we really must voice our concerns and do everything within our power to have the best outcome.” He also says to make a packing list, a travel to-do list and to prepare for every possible scenario.
Now 37 years old, Spencer, outside of flying drones and creating Youtube videos on SCI life when he’s not working, has become a lauded disability advocate in the Pensacola-area in the 17 years since his injury. He serves on several disability boards including the Center for Independent Living of Northwest Florida, The 7 Project Adaptive Fitness Gym and the NWF Rehab Foundation. He’s also a brand ambassador for the ABLE program, which makes it possible for people with disabilities to save money for retirement and maintain important benefits like Medicaid and Social Security.
As for his favorite vacations post-injury, he says he’s enjoyed his vacations to Alaska and Italy the most. “Traveling to Italy was such a magical experience and the feelings that I felt are incomprehensible. I fell in love with the sites, scenery, food and most importantly the people.” As for Alaska, he says that the destination for cruising is one of the most accessible out there.
“This past May I traveled to Alaska on my 36th cruise. This was me re-doing the journey I experienced on my first cruise as a 12 year old. While it was freezing cold for my liking, as anyone who knows with a spinal cord injury, the place is truly stunning and remarkable and many people may not realize it but it’s one of the most accessible vacations one can take. As a destination that falls under the ADA, there are more accessibility and excursion options than just about any other destination.”
— Contact Spencer for help planning an accessible vacation
ideas@spinalpedia.com
