Brandon man launches home-based business, Epic Travels

Collin Ammann is in the business of epic travels, hence the name of his home-based business, Epic Travels.

The Brandon man registered the travel service business in April 2024 as a sideline business. But when his full-time banking position was eliminated, he stepped into it full-time, at least temporarily.

“I am still looking for another full-time job,” he shared.

His desire to help others organize and plan trips began with organizing and planning trips for family and friends.

“It’s always been a long-time passion of mine, and the kids are at the right age now to start pursuing this,” he said.

He is a dad to daughter, Alexis, and son, Cameron.

Since registering Epic Travels, Ammann has been working to be industry certified. Last week, he celebrated the opening of Epic Travels with a Chamber-hosted ribbon cutting. He said it was important to join the business-centric organization.

“I joined for networking, and then I’ve been living in the community for 20 years,” he said. “I grew up in Brookings and my mom was an ambassador, so I was kind of familiar with the Chamber and the extra support and networking, and everything that can help you.”

As a travel agent, Ammann simply wants to ease the planning process for family vacations, friend get-a-ways, etc.

“I know families and everybody is super busy now, so I want to take that burden away and help with all the hard stuff and help create memories,” he said.

He credits his mother, who he says was “super-organized” in her planning thier family vacations.

“We used to go on family vacations all the time. When I was young, I went to every state but two. We drove around the country, and I guess planning was always like second nature when you grow up with it like that,” he said. “So, it’s pretty easy, almost calming for me, and I get a joy out of it for whatever reason.”

He said his father’s role in planning convoys – stateside or overseas – also influenced the secondary career choice.

“Some of it has stemmed from all of his professional planning, too,” he adds.

Although there’s a plethora of online travel companies to explore, agents like Ammann will handle the details with reservation snafus and canceled flights.

“Our expertise and knowledge at each resort, our connections at the resorts in case something does go wrong, we can get great discounts and things like that. Like I said, it gives the families back time to do other things that are going on in their lives,” he said.

He’s also travel savvy to suggest destinations for those who want to go somewhere, but don’t have a specific “somewhere” in mind.

“Actually, that was my last two (clients) that I had. It’s actually a lot of them, and I’m working on another oneright now, too,” he said.

Dates, budget and destination amenities, like all-inclusive, are top priorities for many travelers.

“Whether it’s stateside or overseas down to the Caribbean or Mexico or wherever, I feel this world has so much to offer, and I think it’s just cool to get out there and experience it,” he encourages.

Another perk of enlisting Ammann’s travel service is he does not charge a fee for inquiries. There are agents who do charge for that service.

“That might change in the future, but I’m trying to get up and running,” he said.

His payment actually comes from the resort or cruise line he’s arranged ed for clients.

“Personally, I want to start out with a business model, knowing the small-town community wants to use a travel agent, but they want to save money to travel,” he said, hence his no fee offer.