ARTISAN VACATIONS

Shamin Shariff

Owner

Born in Kenya, on the coast of the Indian Ocean, Shamin was convinced early in her life that to understand and grasp how different people live within their cultures and how they perceive the world around them was to travel and experience the environment they presented. This led to a career in travel and a trade that she has plied for many years.

With over 30 years of enriched experiences, Shamin wants her clients to have the same if not more, authentic, and exhilarating vacations. Her recommendations and ongoing training opportunities help her to transform her client’s dream vacation into an amazing travel experience.

AREA OF SPECIALTY
Cruises, Eco Expeditions, Destinations Weddings, Incentive Group Travel, all-inclusive vacations

DESTINATION SPECIALIST
Kenya, India, Egypt, Italy, Tanzania, South America, Tahiti, Jamaica, Bhutan & Burma, Pakistan

CERTIFIED SPECIALTY
5-Star Academy Celebrity Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, Taj Hotels & Resorts, Certified Sandals Specialist, AMResorts Master Agent, and Azamara World Academy Platinum Globe Travel Professional

LIFE EXPERIENCE
Having lived in different parts of the world, Kenya, Uganda, England and Singapore, Shamin’s mosaic of experiences and connections add value to the expertise she provides.

Yasmin Ker

Travel Consultant

Yasmin’s extensive travel experience began thirty years ago when she worked with Trans World Airlines (TWA) and BOAC, now British Airways. She pursued her interest by joining Woodwards Travel in Vancouver where she began her career and spent six years specializing in corporate travel. Promoted to manager, she was responsible for opening new travel branches in the Woodward stores. She then moved to Marlin Travel where she managed the Oakridge Centre store for six years.

Yasmin’s attention to detail and extensive research has earned her the unique reputation of providing information above and beyond her client’s expectations. Together with her enthusiasm and willingness to put together memorable travel experiences for her clients, Yasmin shares her knowledge gained from her trips and the training she continually acquires.

AREA OF SPECIALTY
Corporate travel, Groups and Events and Cruises.

DESTINATION SPECIALIST
South Africa, Italy, Spain, Greece, San Francisco, Turkey, Egypt and Dubai, UAE.

LIFE EXPERIENCE
Yasmin has lived in Tanzania, Israel, and England. Living in Israel was one of the most fascinating cultural experiences, visiting a kibbutz, learning Hebrew, and the customs of the local people. Aside from travelling, Yasmin enjoys yoga, gardening, and Gastronomy.

Nargis Gercke

Travel Consultant

Nargis’s unwavering passion for the travel industry has been evident since she began her career in1967. With over 40years of expertise, she has shared and enjoyed different aspects of delivering unique travel experiences. She has chosen to specialize in cruise vacations and has completed a rigorous curriculum of cruise sales training and has personally sailed or inspected a wide variety of cruises ships. She has earned the highest designation of “Elite Cruise Counselor” from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). She has also earned her Luxury Cruise Specialist, LCS, designation to add to her portfolio.

Nargis’s attention to detail and her ability to customize itineraries for group travel has taken her to countries where she has provided her services as the tour escort.

AREA OF SPECIALTY
Cruises, All Inclusive Packages, Group Travel and Tour Guiding. Celebrity, Oceania, Silversea, Crystal Cruises, Princess and Cunard cruises.

DESTINATION SPECIALIST
Montreal, Africa, India, South America, South Africa, Dominica Republic, Australia and New Zealand

CERTIFIED SPECIALTY
5-Star Academy Celebrity Cruises, 5-star Cruise Specialist for Holland America Line, South Africa and Uniworld River Cruise Specialist

LIFE EXPERIENCE
Nargis has lived in Kenya, Tanzania, England, France, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Germany, Israel, India, & Taiwan. Living in these countries as a member of the community for over 50 years, she has gained valuable experiences from their people, culture and the country itself, besides giving her access to learning their language. The ‘world’ experience and journey has provided her with a substantial backdrop, and travel and tourism has always been her passion. It has set her apart and marked her as an exclusive travel specialist. She says, “I believe, experience is everything!”

Joan Hammond

Travel Consultant

With over 30 years in the travel industry Joan’s extensive experience includes creating new and innovative training programmes for a large Canadian retail travel firm where she developed integrated staffing to maximize productivity and operating efficiency.

As Western Regional Manager for Global Travel Computer, Joan obtained experience with multiple airline reservation systems and oversaw the development, installation, and personnel training for all these systems.

Joan served on Advisory Councils at BCIT and HIEAC and as Chairman of Education and Automation Committees for ACTA. She developed the Junior Travel Agents training programme which is still taught at B.C community colleges.

Having provided professional services to various companies, Joan strongly believes that an organization’s most valuable resource is its people.

Joan has sailed to different parts of the world with many cruise lines, and experienced “River” cruising, Private Yacht chartering and barging.

AREA OF SPECIALTY
Cruises, River Cruises, Private Yacht & Charters, and Barging

DESTINATION SPECIALIST
Puerto Vallarta and Maui

CERTIFIED SPECIALTY
Azamara World Academy Platinum Globe Travel Professional

LIFE EXPERIENCE
Joan, with her husband, enjoys her summers sailing around the Gulf Islands & Desolation Sound on their boat. Her husband, who was in airline industry, gave them ready access to the world of travel!

Farah Kassam

Travel Consultant

I was born in Nairobi, Kenya and raised in Canada from a young age. I love connecting with people and enjoy travelling to expand my knowledge of different cultures and lifestyles. Music, dance and travel are my passion! I decided to join the travel industry in 2014 to be a part of this amazing industry and fabulous HSK Team. I want every client’s travel experience to be a personal and memorable one.

AREA OF SPECIALTY
Cruises, All-inclusive vacations, Groups

DESTINATION SPECIALIST
India, Mexico, Europe, Middle East

CERTIFIED SPECIALTY
AMResorts Master Agent, TICO

LIFE EXPERIENCE
I have travelled to many parts of the world, including India, Japan, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Europe, Singapore, Bangkok, Israel, Mexico and parts of Canada.

Parviz Popat

Travel Consultant

I was born and lived in Mombasa most of my younger life. Mombasa is an island,on the coast of the Indian ocean, with the perfect weather and the warm Indian ocean with world renowned beaches and exclusive hotels, the thought never occurred that I would move away and miss the beaches and the lifestyle I grew up with. The national parks were also within reach.The exotic fruits and fresh foods, experience of different cultures, of course I missed it.

Years passed and when I needed a career change, I chose the travel industry. Since I have been in Canada for over thirty years, I have travelled within Canada and many other countries. With my personal travel connections and with my recommendations, my clients have enjoyed exclusive vacations.

AREA OF SPECIALTY
All inclusive vacations, cruises, exclusive small group river cruises in Europe and other destinations, group travel, destination weddings.

DESTINATION SPECIALIST
Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt, Turkey, Mexico, Portugal, China, specialized and personally organized tours of India.

LIFE EXPERIENCE
Having lived in the exotic part of the world, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and the western world and with the cultural experiences of both. I am well prepared to organize an unforgettable life experience for my clients!!

Parin Kassam

Travel Consultant

Information coming soon…