Melissa Harper leaves the office to embrace the world
Published:Friday | May 30, 2025 | 12:05 AMKrysta Anderson/Staff Reporter
Once you are brave enough to say goodbye, life has this beautiful way of rewarding you with the most exciting hello. Melissa Harper had spent over 10 years in the field of marketing and communication. When this nine-to-fiver closed that chapter, she opened the gateway to a new opportunity, one that allowed her passion for adventure to take flight.
Having engaged in staycations in all 14 parishes across the island, Harper was delighted to visit 13 countries alongside her husband and business partner, Frederick. Those include the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Colombia, Panama, the Cayman Islands, Honduras, Belize, the United Arab Emirates, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and the Bahamas.
“We both love to travel, and planning trips was something I did in my spare time or when I was in corporate and bored at the office. In assessing the opportunity as digital entrepreneurs, we found that the business model aligned perfectly with our financial and lifestyle goals. It offers us the flexibility to work from anywhere without having to physically manage any inventory or product, and it provides us with the opportunity to have residual income,” the co-owner of MF Elivate Travels, an accredited travel agency that has been in business for six years, told Living.
Growing up, her family members would travel to the USA and the UK. Meanwhile, her idea of adventure straddled the line between beloved books and shared experiences. “Those stories, especially when being recounted with so much passion and enthusiasm by my friends and classmates, really spoke to my soul. And, from a very young age, I knew I had to travel the world,” said Harper.
Since making her dreams a reality, Harper recounts celebrating happily ever after with her soulmate as one of her most magical experiences to date. “Our three-week-long wedding, honeymoon and birthday vacation started at Sandals Montego Bay, where we got married and spent a week, was amazing. Then we went home for a couple [of] days to recoup before flying to New York, which was our launching point for visits to New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. The trip lasted until after my birthday, which was extra special for me, it being my first international vacation.”
Other thrilling adventures include trips to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Seattle, Alaska, Virginia Beach, Las Vegas and Florida in the United States and London in the UK. “As much as we love new experiences, there are a few places on the rock that have bits of our hearts for different reasons, and always have us going back. Strawberry Fields Together in St Mary is our go-to retreat and recharge location. No television, and limited connectivity, coupled with the rustic feel and laid-back, nature-filled atmosphere, are very grounding,” she said.
Whenever the couple has the desire to celebrate and be pampered, Harper shared, Grand Lido Negril is their hotel of choice. “The butler service, endless sea views, guaranteed sunset views, top-shelf libations, and, did we mention the butler service?” shared Harper.
And these are the first-hand recommendations that can be found in their business. With the business, she aims to make local, regional and international travel more accessible to her fellow Jamaicans. “I would love more of my fellow Jamaicans to experience the transformative joys of international travel; to recognise that taking time to recharge, have new experiences and celebrate life are no longer luxuries for the rich but necessary self-care duties for the hard workers we are by nature,” said Harper.
On a personal note, Harper is already making plans to explore Africa and Asia, while seeing sights in Brazil, Ecuador and Peru in the future. Her advice to persons who want to travel across the island or the world is to make a decision and follow suit with research. “Decide where you want to go and realistically look at how much you can set aside for the trip. After that, book a free consultation with a travel agent who can work with you to get a travel plan in place. The options can be overwhelming for first-time travellers, and an experienced travel advisor can provide the guidance necessary to make your first vacation a more pleasant and memorable experience,” she said.