Masters in Travel
Whitney Shindelar and Brianna Glenn interview successful travel advisors and industry professionals about how to grow and scale a travel business. Each episode offers practical advice, unfiltered stories of business successes and failures, and strategies for accelerating success as a travel entrepreneur. The show is aimed at travel advisors who want to learn from others in the industry.
Episodes
Ep 291 The Legal Blind Spots That Could Harm Your Travel Business
Most travel advisors have never read their own host agreement fine print. That gap can cost real money. Brianna sits down with Gunes Hopson, founder of GFH Law PLC and owner of Luxe Travel by Gunes, to break down real contract disputes she has handled, including hidden exclusivity clauses and non-competes that trap advisors mid-transition. Gunes also explains why AI cannot replace a lawyer's r
Ep 290 Shop Talk: Saying Yes to the Big Number and What It Actually Costs
In this month's Shop Talk, Whitney and Brianna reconnect after five months apart and compare notes on what shifted. Whitney shares the delegation ceiling she hit this summer, from moving her team onto a shared inbox to splitting her support roles at inquiry-to-deposit and pre-departure. Brianna talks through taking June and July mostly off in Portugal and Spain, then coming home to a 50-person
![Ep 289 [REPLAY] On DMCs: A candid conversation with a DMC partner](https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/staging/podcast_uploaded_nologo/16097731/16097731-1743508868201-c791ca59c50aa.jpg)
Ep 289 [REPLAY] On DMCs: A candid conversation with a DMC partner
In this conversation on DMCs, Whitney flips the script and chats with Hicham Mhammedi Alaoui, co-founder of Experience Morocco and The Travel Collection, to shine a light on the DMC side of working with travel advisors. They unpack how DMCs can create unique and memorable experiences without breaking the bank, how global expansion works behind the scenes, and what travel advisors should know to bu
Ep 288 [REPLAY] on Dmcs: A Conversation With Travel Advisors PT 2
How can travel advisors create partnerships with DMCs that feel more like collaborations and less like transactions? Joining Whitney for Part 2 of a two-part convo are seasoned travel advisor Kate Sullivan and newer advisor Anna Tretter to explore the intricacies of working with DMCs. They talk about the role DMCs play in the travel industry, especially in crafting experiences that go beyond the t
Ep 287 [REPLAY] on Dmcs: A Conversation With Travel Advisors PT 1
Sometimes you love them, sometimes they drive you crazy...this week, we're talking all about Destination Management Companies (DMCs)! Seasoned advisor Kate Sullivan and newer advisor Anna Tretter join Whitney to share their personal experiences, frustrations, and strategies when working with DMCs. Plus, they talk about the importance of transparency, effective communication, and how to build stron
Ep 286 [REPLAY] It’s a “Yes” Until It’s a “No”
When a new inquiry comes in, how do you approach it? In today's episode, Jeremy Sulek of Jetset World Travel shares his less conventional approach to handling every inquiry and effectively booking clients. If you cautiously vet potential clients when inquiries come in, expecting them to prove that they are worth your time and energy, Jeremy will challenge your mindset. Learn how to maintain a
Ep 285 [REPLAY] How to Find Your Way Into the World of Incentive Travel
We asked listeners on our Instagram what topics you want to hear on the podcast, and the topic of "incentive travel" was one. So today, Brittney Tromanhauser of Avery Travel Group shares about her journey as a corporate incentive travel specialist. She discusses the transition from leisure travel to focusing on corporate group travel and the ins and outs of that sector.For the next sever
Ep 284 [REPLAY] How to Pitch Local Media
How to pitch the media is a topic our guest on today's episode knows inside and out. Listen in as Jenn Lee, now President and CMO of Travel Planners International, lays out an easy-to-follow formula for reaching out to different media sources. Pitching the media, when done right, can help legitimize you, your business, and the business of travel advisors everywhere.For the next several weeks,
Ep 283 [REPLAY] How to Scale + Grow Your Travel Business With an Employee Model
Join Brianna and guest Erica Carr for a conversation on their innovative approaches to scaling a travel business with an employee model, from implementing unique incentive programs to understanding the evolving roles within a travel agency. They delve into the significance of hiring ahead of growth, the shift in industry norms post-Covid, and the vital role of technology in adapting to change. Plu
Ep 282 [REPLAY] Increase sales in your travel business without that "sales ick"
Love travel and planning it, but hate the sales part? In this episode, Brianna and guest Glenda from The Art of Selling Travel delve into the art of sales and client relations. Glenda shares her seasoned approach to pricing negotiations and reframing rejection, all while maintaining an authentic human connection. She provides invaluable insights on asking the right questions and building rapport t
Ep 281 [REPLAY] Shifting Your Mindset in How you Deal with Yourself in Your Business
Mindset is a topic that we hear about in our personal lives and in our professional lives. It is a topic that lingers behind all decisions that we make, especially as an entrepreneur. If we asked ten people, or ten advisors, what mindset means to them we would get 10 different answers. On today’s episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by Lina Sutton and Danielle Gaerte. Three travel advis
280 Soulful Experience w/ AmaWaterways
In this solo episode, Brianna closes the loop on her recent AmaWaterways Soulful Experience sailing through Portugal’s Douro River and reflects on what the trip taught her as both a traveler and a travel advisor. After previously sharing how to turn fam trips and personal travel into a marketing engine, she now pulls back the curtain on what actually worked, what surprised her, and how the experie
Ep 279 [REPLAY] Going Solo or Joining a Team; How to Know What’s Right for You
You may be interested in being a travel advisor, but are you also interested in being an entrepreneur? Sometimes running a travel advisor business requires much more than just planning travel. You may have to ask yourself if you’d rather join a team to help with the workload, or go solo to control more of your business. On today’s episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by Korrine Johnson
Ep 278 What Travel Advisors Can Learn From Aman-Level Luxury Hospitality
In this episode of Masters in Travel, Brianna sits down with Olivia Tambosso, a luxury travel advisor whose career began on the inside of one of the world’s most respected luxury hotel brands: Aman. After years in guest-facing operational roles in Morocco, Thailand, and Japan, Olivia brings a rare perspective to the travel advisor side of the industry. Together, Brianna and Olivia explore what tru
Ep 277 How to Turn Every Trip Into a Marketing Engine
In this solo episode, Brianna walks travel advisors through the exact mindset shift and planning process that turns a trip from a one-time experience into a long-term marketing asset. As she prepares for seven weeks in Europe, including a Portugal river cruise with AmaWaterways, she shares how she thinks through audience, intention, content capture, and post-trip visibility before she ever boards
Ep 276 From Spa Treatments to Wellness Retreats
In this episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by Kate for a thoughtful and practical conversation about the wide spectrum of spa, wellness, and sport-focused travel. Together, they unpack why the simple question “Does the hotel have a spa?” often falls short, especially when clients have very specific expectations around relaxation, treatments, facilities, programming, or transformation.
Ep 275 Family Friendly Hotels
Family-friendly hotels are often misunderstood, with many properties claiming the label without truly designing for how families actually travel. In this episode, Travel Advisor Lee Friedman of Mango Tree Travel shares firsthand insight into what makes a hotel genuinely work for families. The conversation dives into real-world considerations like room configurations, kids club quality, dining flex
Ep 274 What I'd Do If I Were Starting Over in 2026
In this solo episode, Brianna reflects on what she would do differently if she were starting her travel business from scratch in 2026. With 10 years of experience behind her, she breaks down the foundational decisions that matter most, from choosing the right host agency to getting honest about your network, picking a niche early, investing in the travel business, and building systems before they
Ep 273 What I Wish Someone Had Taught Me Earlier About Trip Design
There is a skill inside great trip design that nobody talks about enough, and it has nothing to do with knowing the best hotels or having the right supplier relationships.It is judgment. And judgment is hard to teach when it has always lived in your gut.In this solo episode, Brianna shares the frameworks she has spent years developing to articulate what once felt purely instinctive. She walks thro
Ep 272 How to Stop Overthinking Your Content and Actually Show Up with Kyla Daisy
If you’ve ever stared at a blank caption, rewritten it three times, and still didn’t hit post, this episode is for you. Brianna sits down with social media strategist and former travel advisor Kyla Daisy to unpack what’s really behind the hesitation so many travel advisors feel when it comes to showing up online. Together, they explore how overthinking, comparison, and the pressure to be perfect a
Ep 271 The Travel Advisor Business Model Is Changing
If you’ve been booking trips, staying busy, and still questioning whether your travel business is truly sustainable, this conversation is for you. Brianna sits down with Courtnie Nichols to unpack the major shifts happening in the travel advisor space and why the traditional business model is no longer enough. From AI-driven content saturation to unpredictable commissions, Courtnie challenges advi
Ep 270 What Luxury Hotels Wish Travel Advisors Understood with Alexandra Hepworth
What actually happens at a hotel before your client even walks through the door?In this episode, Brianna sits down with Alexandra Hepworth, founder of Layah and a travel advisor with nearly two decades of experience across global luxury hospitality, for a rare behind-the-scenes look at how hotels really operate.Alexandra pulls back the curtain on how upgrade decisions are actually made, why labeli
Ep 269 How to Use All the Unused Content From Your Past Trips with Kaytee Fisher
If you’ve ever come home from a trip with thousands of photos and no plan for what to do with them, this episode is for you. Whitney sits down with email marketing expert and travel advisor Kaytee Fisher to unpack one of the most common struggles in a travel business: unused content. Together, they explore why so much valuable content goes to waste and how to turn past trips into long-term marketi
Ep 268 Shop Talk: Navigating a Slow Season, Client Uncertainty, and Building Smarter Systems
In this month's Shop Talk, Brianna and Whitney get candid about what Q1 2026 really looked like. Brianna shares her concerns about a slowdown in inquiries since mid-February, while Whitney reflects on a busier but more reactive quarter with shorter booking windows. Together they talk through what travel advisors can and can't control, how global uncertainty is affecting client behavior, and the si
Ep 267 How I Use AI at Every Stage of the Client Process
In this solo episode, Brianna walks through exactly how she uses AI inside her travel business, from the first client inquiry all the way through final itinerary delivery. Rather than focusing on tools or theory, she breaks down the real, behind-the-scenes workflows that help her move faster, think more clearly, and execute at a higher level. She shares how AI supports consult prep, shapes her Nor
Ep 266 Building an Intentional Marketing Strategy With Storytelling with Kaytee Fisher
In this episode, Whitney sits down with email marketing strategist Kaytee Fisher to unpack what it actually takes to shift your travel business toward the trips you want to book more of. From increasing safari inquiries to pivoting into new destinations or trip types, this conversation breaks down the gap between intention and execution. Kaytee shares why consistent marketing matters even when you
Ep 265 Growing your book of business with networking, with Kathryn Morga
What if the fastest way to grow your travel business isn’t social media or referrals, but showing up in your local community? In this episode, Whitney sits down with Kathryn Morga, founder of Adventure Smarter, to talk about how networking became the driving force behind her rapidly growing book of business. After relocating to Nashville with two young kids and a full-time job, Kathryn rebuilt her
Ep 264 Shop Talk: Wave Season Overwhelm, Business Confidence, and Knowing When to Let a Client Go
In this month's Shop Talk, Brianna and Whitney get real about navigating a chaotic start to the year while balancing the mental load of running a travel business. From wave season overwhelm to learning when to walk away from inquiries that don't fit, they explore what it means to lead with honesty in client conversations. Whitney shares her journey toward being more transparent about prici
Ep 263 Create Your Own Signature Retreat with Karen Hattaway
What if leading a retreat didn't mean doing it all yourself? In this episode, Whitney sits down with Karen Hattaway, founder of Life Beyond the Room, a DMC based in Italy, to explore how travel advisors can create signature retreats and small group trips without the overwhelm. Karen breaks down the difference between a retreat and a small group trip, why slower-paced, single-destination experi
Ep 262 Why So Many Travel Advisors Feel Stuck but Busy
What if the reason you feel stuck isn't because you're not working hard enough, but because you're too busy executing to decide what actually matters? In this solo episode, Brianna unpacks why so many travel advisors find themselves in a cycle of nonstop busyness that somehow still feels stagnant. She breaks down five specific ways advisors get stuck: building for everyone instead of s
Ep 261 From Noise to Nuance: A smarter way for travel advisors to grow (AMA)
What if the key to growing your travel business isn't about doing more, but about getting clearer on what you're actually saying? In this Ask Us Anything episode, Whitney and Brianna respond to a listener who's ready to pivot away from high-volume, promotion-driven marketing toward a quieter, more strategic approach. They tackle five questions: how to market without urgency or deals, w
Ep 260 Shop Talk: Honesty, Boundaries, and Getting Real About Profitability
In this month's Shop Talk, Brianna and Whitney get real about navigating a chaotic start to the year while balancing the mental load of running a travel business. From January wave season overwhelm to learning when to walk away from inquiries that don't fit, they explore what it means to lead with honesty in client conversations. Whitney shares her journey toward being more transparent abo
Ep 259 Six Figure Paycheck
What if selling more travel still isn’t translating into the paycheck you actually want? In this episode, Brianna challenges travel advisors to stop chasing revenue for the sake of it and start designing profit on purpose. She breaks down the five numbers that matter most in your travel business and explains why owners pay should always come before top line goals. Through simple math and relatable
Ep 258 Mutual Investment with an Engaged Host as an Experienced Advisor
What if staying with a host agency as an experienced travel advisor isn’t about settling, but about scaling smarter? In this episode, Whitney is joined by Margaret Haas Wolf of Brownell to explore what true mutual investment can look like between a host agency and an established travel business. They discuss why support should evolve as advisors grow, not disappear, and how strategic partnership c
Ep 257 Shop Talk: Inbox Chaos, Client Fit, and Choosing Joy in Your Travel Business
In this month’s Shop Talk, Brianna and Whitney kick off the new year by getting real about inbox overwhelm, coming back from time off, and what it actually feels like to start fresh after the holidays. They explore the idea of using “fun” as a decision making filter in your travel business, from which inquiries you say yes to, to how you define success day to day. Whitney shares how reframing nich
Ep 256 Why Travel Advisors Should Stop Waiting for Fam Invitations
What if familiarization stays didn’t require waiting for an invitation or hoping the timing worked out? In this episode, Whitney sits down with Lotte Gossage, founder of Hotel FAM Club, to challenge the way travel advisors think about FAMs and hotel partnerships, offering practical insight into positioning yourself as a professional partner rather than a passive participant. Lotte shares how her b
Ep 255 AI as Your Newest Team Member
AI is everywhere right now, but the question on most travel advisor’s minds is how to actually use it in a way that feels practical, personal, and aligned with client expectations. In this episode, Brianna sits down with Dayo Esho, co-founder of TravelJoy, to explore how AI is quietly transforming advisor workflows without replacing the human-first service clients value. Dayo shares how his backgr
Ep 254 Shop Talk: Year-End Wins, Workflow Overhauls, and What’s Next for 2026
If you’ve ever reached the end of a year and wondered how so much happened so fast, you’re in good company. In this December Shop Talk, Brianna and Whitney look back on a whirlwind year and unpack the wins, challenges, and ‘aha’ moments that shaped both their lives and their travel businesses. They dig into how AI has become a game-changing partner in everything from client experience to team oper
Ep 253 Selling with Soul: Creating Connection Through Culturally Inspired Travel
What if selling travel wasn’t just about itineraries, but about identity, connection, and the stories travelers carry home? In this episode, Brianna sits down with AmaWaterways’ Director of National Accounts, Jazzmine Douse, to explore how purpose-driven, culturally rooted experiences are reshaping luxury travel. Jazzmine shares the evolution of AmaWaterways’ soulful experience sailings and why in
Ep 252 What if we started our agency today? with Julie Lanham
What would we do differently if we started our travel agency all over again today? In this episode, Whitney sits down with industry veteran Julie Lanham, President of Vacations to Remember, to explore that question. Julie brings 40 years of perspective, having built her agency from the ground up long before host agencies, online bookings, or social media existed. Together, she and Whitney unpack w
Ep 251 How to Build Systems, Automations, and Support That Actually Work for You
Join systems-specialist and travel industry veteran Erin Faith Erdos to demystify how travel advisors and travel business owners can stop relying on hustle and start building support, systems, and automations that actually work. Erin shares her journey of moving from being a full-service travel planner to designing streamlined workflows that free up your time and scale your impact. Plus, she cover
Ep 250 Shop Talk: Delegation, Marketing on the Go, and Building Wealth as a Travel Entrepreneur
In this month’s Shop Talk, Brianna and Whitney open up about the realities of travel, delegation, and growth as a travel entrepreneur. Whitney shares highlights from her recent trip to Greece and the honest challenges of creating content while managing client work on the go. Together they talk about what it really takes to balance marketing, travel, and team leadership without burning out. Their c
Ep 249 Am I Ready to Hire? Stepping into the CEO Role in Your Travel Business
If your travel business is thriving on paper but you sometimes feel like you are barely holding it together, tune into this episode where Brianna shares the real signs that you’re ready to hire and what it looks like to step into leadership with intention. Explore the financial and mindset shifts that turn hiring from a scary leap into a strategic next step. Walk away after this episode knowing ex
Ep 248 Comparing and Contrasting Hotels in Grand Cayman
When it comes to hotel knowledge, it’s not about knowing which property is “the best”—it’s about understanding the differences and trade-offs that help you guide each client to the right fit. In this special crossover episode from The Hivemind Podcast, Whitney models how to have smarter, more strategic hotel conversations with fellow travel advisors Michelle Orr of Master Travel and Andrea Duvall
Ep 247 The Freedom of Financial Clarity
Financial clarity might not sound glamorous—but it’s one of the most powerful tools for building a sustainable, confident business. In this conversation, Brianna Glenn and Kinaya Pettiford of Atlas & Ledger explore how clean books lead to calm decision-making, why clarity unlocks freedom, and simple steps to start managing your money with confidence instead of avoidance.
Ep 246 Shop Talk: Busy seasons, owning outcomes, and shaping your work lifestyle
October’s Shop Talk is full of honesty, exhaustion, and big-picture reflection. Whitney shares how an overwhelming travel season pushed her to rethink her team structure and workflows—and what needs to change before next year. Brianna reflects on her own delegation journey, what it means to truly give team members ownership, and how she decides when to let go of personal preferences in favor of te
Ep 245 How Travel Advisors can be found in the age of AI search
Search is changing faster than ever—and it’s not just about Google anymore. As AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity reshape how travelers look for information, the rules of online visibility are shifting. In this conversation, Brianna Glenn and SEO strategist Meg Clarke of Clapping Dog Media break down what travel advisors need to know to stay discoverable. From optimizing for engageme
Ep 244 What travel advisors need to know about Seville [from The Hivemind Podcast]
This week, we are previewing an episode from newly launched The Hivemind Podcast. For more episodes like this, add it to your weekly podcast roundup (new episodes release on Thursdays.) Seville embodies what travelers imagine when they think of ‘classic Spain’—flamenco, tapas, Moorish palaces, and lively plazas. Sam Lister, Founder & CEO at Tailormade, shares why this southern city is both a c
Ep 243 Introduction to Brava
In this episode, Whitney sits down with Jeremy Sulek—CEO/Owner of Jetset World Travel and founder of Brava—to unpack a new, advisor-first approach to commissions. Brava aims to decouple commission payments from host agencies so advisors can own their bookings, get paid faster, and give suppliers clear visibility into which advisors are actually driving sales. They discuss why the current agency-ce
Ep 242 3 signs you’ve outgrown your business model
Many travel advisors hit a stage where their business is running, clients are happy, and revenue looks strong — but behind the scenes, it still feels harder than it should. In this solo episode, Brianna shares the three clear signs that you’ve outgrown your current business model and offers quick, practical wins to help you step into the next phase of growth. From recognizing when you’re the bottl
Ep 241 Building a Team
When your calendar is full but your goals are bigger, something has to change. In this candid conversation, Ali Raymer (Picture This Travel) shares how she scaled from solo advisor to leading a 6-person team—owning mistakes, codifying training, and letting go of control to protect life outside of work. Expect practical frameworks, real client-experience lessons, and permission to build the support
Ep 240 Shop Talk: Biz Huddle, AI trends, how to scale without burnout
And we're back with newly recorded content! Picking up with a Shop Talk check in. We unpack the difference between trip operations and business operations, how project tools like Asana and ClickUp can run an entire agency, and why protecting client data with clear roles is non-negotiable. Plus: Brianna shares fresh takeaways from the Biz Huddle conference and strategies to make your content mo
Ep 239 [REPLAY} Client Experience Series: Five areas of business that impact a client's experience
In this second episode of our 4-part client experience series, we explore five top areas of business that impact any client's experience working with you: service offering, aesthetics, communication, systems, and attracting new clients. Do a self-audit on your travel business with this episode, and hear our experiences and advice as you consider these vital parts of your business and how to im
Ep 238 [REPLAY] Client Experience Series: Branding Experience is Client Experience
Today premiers the first episode of our 4-part Client Experience Series! Join us as we explore all the ins and outs of creating a memorable, signature client experience. This week, we are talking about how your brand experience impacts the client experience more than you may realize. Learn to define your business purpose, gauge a client's expectations, and create memorable memories from the fi
Ep 237 [REPLAY] How to host client events as a marketing strategy
Join Brianna as she chats with Megan Vatnsdal, the passionate entrepreneur behind Onyx and Evergreen Travel, to discuss the ins and outs of attracting new clients and crafting value in our sometimes competitive industry. They explore marketing, but with a twist – how to use events as a way to showcase your value and serve as a catalyst for travel business growth. Plus, they also chat about mentors
Ep 236 [REPLAY] Increase sales in your travel business without that "sales ick"
Love travel and planning it, but hate the sales part? In this episode, Brianna and guest Glenda from The Art of Selling Travel delve into the art of sales and client relations. Glenda shares her seasoned approach to pricing negotiations and reframing rejection, all while maintaining an authentic human connection. She provides invaluable insights on asking the right questions and building rapport t
Ep 235 [REPLAY] How to find the best host agency fit for your travel business
Host agencies...how do you find the right fit for you? Whitney delves into this world with special guest Steph Lee, the founder of Host Agency Reviews. They discuss the importance of transparency in the travel industry, the challenges and opportunities that come with reviewing host agencies, and tips for travel advisors on switching host entities. Steph shares her personal journey from managing a
Ep 234 [REPLAY] The secret of specialization and becoming a destination expert
Is there a certain part of the world that tugs at your heart strings? If you want to learn more about developing a travel planning niche, this is the episode for you! Brianna chats with Lori Gold, the travel savant behind Mexperts, who has built an impressive career curating personalized trips in the Mexican Caribbean AND as an expert advisor with resources to share. Lori shares her evolution from
Ep 233 [REPLAY] How to harness the power of lead magnets and email marketing to grow your business
In this episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney dives into the art of marketing with the experienced Kaytee Fisher, founder of Moxie & Fourth, and guru about all things email marketing for travel advisors. They dissect the strategic layers of marketing: the importance of understanding your target audience, the value of consistency, and tools and tricks for upping engagement. Plus, Kaytee shares
Ep 232 [REPLAY] How to plan a self-guided FAM trip
In this insightful episode, Brianna and special guest Kate Sullivan peel back the curtain on the concept of self-fam trips in the travel advisory world. From their personal experiences to the nuances of independent hotel site inspections and strategic relationship building, they offer a deep dive into the professional benefits and challenges of self-organizing familiarization trips. Plus, they dis
Ep 231 [REPLAY] How to effectively ask for and leverage reviews
On today's episode, Whitney is joined by Jen Lee, VP of Industry Engagement and Support for Travel Planners International, to talk about a valuable asset for any travel business: client reviews. Get tips on how to ask for reviews and maximize their potential for attracting future clients. Whitney and Jen talk about how to prompt clients to leave detailed reviews, how to respond to positive and neg
![Ep 230 Shop Talk: Building a Business That Runs Without You [And an important Advisor Accelerator announcement]](https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/staging/podcast_uploaded_episode/16097731/16097731-1750675619502-19a053404b643.jpg)
Ep 230 Shop Talk: Building a Business That Runs Without You [And an important Advisor Accelerator announcement]
In this candid Shop Talk episode, Brianna joins from Costa Rica, where she’s spending a month on a “sabbatical-ish”—a slower pace of work made possible by years of intentional business design. She and Whitney unpack what it really takes to step away from the day-to-day without compromising client experience. They discuss shifting from task-based delegation to outcome-based leadership, building a t
Ep 229 What every travel advisor should know about representation partners
Representation companies are often misunderstood, but they’re one of the most valuable allies a travel advisor can have. In this episode, Whitney and Natalia Aldacour-La Borie of TL Portfolio demystify the role of representation companies, explain why advisors should rely on them more often, and share how these partnerships elevate client experiences and advisor businesses alike.Takeaways:How reps
Ep 228 How this travel business uses AI to save hours every week
In this episode, Whitney talks with Kaleigh Kirkpatrick and Julie Jamgochian from Shameless Tourist about how they’re reimagining travel advising through AI. Instead of just dabbling, they’ve fully embraced AI tools—from itinerary review bots to inbox systems and trained ChatGPT models that write like them. They discuss what’s working, what’s not quite there yet, and how curiosity fuels their inno
Ep 227 Get support for your travel business: coaching vs. mentoring vs. training
This episode dives into the critical (but often misunderstood) differences between training, coaching, and mentoring in the travel industry. Jeremy Seulich and Whitney unpack why using the wrong term can lead to misaligned expectations, and how understanding each role can help travel advisors find the exact support they need to grow. From the relational roots of mentorship to the goal-driven power
Ep 226 Shop Talk: First class flights & surprise staffing changes
This month’s Shop Talk is a masterclass in both luxury travel and operational resilience. Brianna recaps her epic Emirates first-class experience—secured via a flurry of points and last-minute magic—while Whitney walks us through losing both her employees in five weeks, onboarding overseas hires, and simplifying systems without skipping a beat. If you’re navigating growth, hiring, or unexpected tr
Ep 225 On DMCs: A candid conversation with a DMC partner
In this conversation on DMCs, Whitney flips the script and chats with Hicham Mhammedi Alaoui, co-founder of Experience Morocco and The Travel Collection, to shine a light on the DMC side of working with travel advisors. They unpack how DMCs can create unique and memorable experiences without breaking the bank, how global expansion works behind the scenes, and what travel advisors should know to bu
Ep 224 Tapping into your travel story
Brianna welcomes Sahara Rose Devore, founder of the Travel Coach Network, to discuss the power of using personal stories and deeper purpose in building a thriving travel business. They explore how travel professionals can differentiate themselves in a crowded marketplace by tapping into their personal “why,” connecting more meaningfully with clients, and combining coaching principles with traditio
Ep 223 How to share contextual feedback on hotels after returning home
How can you talk about hotels in a way that inspires and informs your clients? Joining Whitney this week is Madeline Steuber to shine a spotlight on the art of hotel and experience recommendations in the travel industry. Fresh from a FAM trip to Cape Town, they discuss the pitfalls of using superlatives (“the best hotel,” “must stay”) without context, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful, clie
Ep 222 Onboarding & offboarding in the client experience (Master Hour)
Pull back the curtain on a Master Hour inside the Advisor Accelerator, where Sarah Williams of Rebel Office Inc and the host of IT'S A VIBE Podcast joins us to talk about client experience! We dive into topics like client retention, the art of client onboarding/offboarding, and the power of nurturing long-term relationships with clients. Plus, we cover nuanced topics like how to create persona
Ep 221 Shop Talk: Masterminds & Tricky Destinations
Shop Talk is where we talk about what is going on in our travel businesses, getting honest about the day to day and big picture successes and struggles. Brianna shares her transformative experience at a mastermind retreat, discussing both the energizing connections and the personal growth challenges she faced. Whitney recaps her recent travels—from Italian food explorations to her first-hand exper
Ep 220 Beyond the Trip: Elevating the client experience in your travel business
Brianna dives deep into 'client experience', highlighting how creating a memorable and seamless experience for clients is not just about logistics and beautiful locations, but about how clients feel throughout their journey working with you. Tune in for insights and practical strategies to enhance client experience, drawing from Brianna's near decade of running a travel business. She b
Ep 219 Making the leap from corporate to full time travel advisor
Making the leap from a corporate job to full-time travel advisor is a courageous and scary decision, and here to share her story about making the leap is Julia Asselin of The Itinerary Girls. Tune in to hear about her personal journey of balancing her burgeoning travel business while working a full-time job and the eventual leap to becoming a full-time entrepreneur. The conversation provides valua
Ep 218 On stepping down from CEO
Joining us on Masters in Travel is Lindsey Epperly, founder and former CEO of Jet Set World Travel, to chat with Whitney about "the future"—the future of our businesses, our futures as entrepreneurs, and our legacies. They dive into the topics like transitioning roles, the fears and realities of one day stepping down or shifting roles, and the introspective work required to make signific
Ep 217 How to create content while traveling (replay)
Ever come home from a trip with hundreds of photos and videos, only to struggle with actually using them to create marketing content for your travel business? This week, we are replaying a past episode where Brianna and two other travel advisors – Julie Patterson and Kate Sullivan – talk about the nuances of crafting content for your business even while traveling. They cover the creative process,
Ep 216 Balancing inspiration and advising in your marketing approach
You own a travel business...but does your marketing showcase "travel influencer"? In this episode, Brianna dives into the balance of inspiration and advising with marketing content for a travel business. She talks elevating a business by effectively navigating the buyer’s journey, and strategically using storytelling alongside strategic marketing. From leveraging your own travel experiences to cli
Ep 215 Mastering 'relationship marketing' in your travel business
In this episode of Masters in Travel, Lisa Taub joins Brianna to explore the intricacies of building meaningful relationships with travel clients by understanding clients' deeper motivations and needs and communicating effectively. They talk about how consultation calls can be transformed into powerful relationship-building tools, sharing strategies on how to conduct them in a way that ensures
Ep 214 Shop Talk: Strategic investments for travel business growth
In classic Shop Talk style, this week Whitney & Brianna delve into sharing about their personal and professional journeys as travel entrepreneurs. Brianna shares about her decision to join a high-level mastermind and the importance of aligning business growth with personal peace and fulfillment. Plus, Whitney spills the tea on her recent transformative trip to South Africa, highlighting its im
Ep 213 On DMCs - Part 2
How can travel advisors create partnerships with DMCs that feel more like collaborations and less like transactions? Joining Whitney for Part 2 of a two-part convo are seasoned travel advisor Kate Sullivan and newer advisor Anna Tretter to explore the intricacies of working with DMCs. They talk about the role DMCs play in the travel industry, especially in crafting experiences that go beyond the t
Ep 212 On DMCs - Part 1
Sometimes you love them, sometimes they drive you crazy...this week, we're talking all about Destination Management Companies (DMCs)! Seasoned advisor Kate Sullivan and newer advisor Anna Tretter join Whitney to share their personal experiences, frustrations, and strategies when working with DMCs. Plus, they talk about the importance of transparency, effective communication, and how to build s
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