We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Andrea Jones a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Andrea with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
My parents were a huge influence regarding my career path(s). They have always been self-employed Entrepeneur’s and encouraged the same for me. I think it was instilled at birth!
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED BY FLORIDA NATIVES: Celebrating 12 outstanding years in business!
Founded in 2011, The Tasting Tours (women-owned business) has grown to be one of North Florida’s largest culinary experience providers. We offer local- neighborhood food tours and culinary adventures, entertaining everyone from lifelong locals to international visitors. Through our corporate culinary experiences, we have hosted clients and groups of all sizes, in our historic city.
In addition, TripAdvisor users have awarded The Tasting Tours with the most five-star rating! Over 1,850 EXCELLENT reviews and rated #1 in numerous categories! The Tasting Tours has earned TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence, for 12 years running, as well as the coveted Hall of Fame and Travelers’ Choice Awards.
Our story:
My amazing partner in crime (and wine), JoAnna Engel, and I co-founded the company together in April of 2011.
We are both been very entrepreneurial and career-minded women. Which is why I think we immediately clicked as friends, as well as business partners!
JoAnna’s background:
• Owner of one of the largest hair salon and spas in N Florida
• 10 years as Owner/Broker of ERA Advantage Realty with over 70+ agents
• 2009 retired to St. Augustine
Andrea’s background:
• Premier Cruise Line – Official Cruise Line of Disney (Big Red Boat). Yes, and before you ask…I was Julie McCoy! Cruise Director
• Established First Coast Talent Agency in 1998. For 25 years – the agency has provided on camera talent for film, television, commercial, and videos
Now as far as HOW the company was conceived (and depending on how many glasses of wine we have had)…it goes something like this.
Although JoAnna and I have different recollections, here is MY version…
We were sitting at the (then) Cellar 6 – talking about the next chapter in our lives.
• What do you want to do now?
• What do we love to do?
• What do you do on vacation?
• What do friends want to do when they come to St Aug?
We love to drink wine (obviously). We love to eat (obviously). And we love to talk (go figure!). So,
Ding ding ding…Let’s start a food and wine tour company to share our love of the culinary scene in the nation’s oldest city.
The next morning- I called her and asked if it was just the ‘wine talking’ or are we really doing this?
It apparently wasn’t just the wine and so The Tasting Tours was born.
How far we have come: April 1st was our 12th Anniversary Year!! And my how we have GROWN! JoAnna and I pinch ourselves regularly. The business started out with the two us doing what we love to do in life. Eat, drink and socialize. It has grown from a $5,000 a year company in 2011 (when it was just JoAnna and I doing everything ourselves) to a $850,000 a year company in 2022.
Company (management) roles:
JoAnna (CFO) – financial, payroll and legal
Andrea (CEO) – marketing, website and booking integrations
Niki (Director of Operations) – joined TTT as a tour guide in 2016 and she did such an amazing job and truly fell in love this company, that she became a minority shareholder in 2019.
We have been featured in:
• Travel & Leisure TWICE
• Southern Living
• Coastal Living
• Cooking with Paula Deen
Among many other national and international publications!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I started my hospitality career within the cruise line industry. Choosing this path instead of college. What better training ground thana floating hotel – at sea?! I learned quickly how to work with different nationalities and walks of life. As well as to under promise and over deliver when it comes to customer service.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
We collaborate with new and established food/wine venues, in the historic district, as well as the Island Blvd. We act as their ‘brand ambassadors’ while our guests are visiting and partaking in their establishment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thetastingtours.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/thetastingtours
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thetastingtours
- Linkedin: https://twitter.com/TheTastingTours
