Shows
Humans of TravelThe Handoff Episode: Emma Weissmann Passes the Mic to Chelsee LoweIn this bittersweet episode of Humans of Travel, longtime host Emma Weissmann hands the mic to Chelsee Lowe, Senior Editor of TravelAge West. A former teacher, Lowe earned a Master of Education degree from UCLA and spent years in the classroom before dedicating her professional life to writing. After beginning with freelance work and a part-time editorial role at TravelAge West, she eventually rejoined the publication full time and found her niche profiling people who shape the travel industry — travel advisors, suppliers and beyond. She discusses her path from teaching to travel journalism and the value of pa...
2026-04-2037 min
Trade Secrets PodcastEncore: Trading social media for Substack: Using content to build a brand (Feat. SmartFlyer’s Kayla Douglas)Trade Secrets is on a quick break this week, so please enjoy this encore episode. Here’s the article Jamie mentions in her updated intro, “How Substack became the hottest social media platform.” In this episode, Trade Secrets is all about content — and why travel advisors should get theirs off social media and into an email newsletter. Kayla Douglas, director of content for SmartFlyer in New York, delves into the world of Substack with co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada. This episode was sponsored by AmaWaterways. Further resources Kayla Douglas’ email, Instagram a...
2026-04-2041 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Sarah Little, Senior Vice President of Business Development for ASTA, on Becoming a Ship Godmother Hey everyone, it's Emma Weissmann, the host of Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series from Humans of Travel. This Hot Seat episode features Sarah Little, senior vice president of business development for the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA). Little has spent most of her career at ASTA fostering meaningful industry partnerships. Recently, she was honored as the godmother of AmaWaterways’ newest ship, AmaSophia. She attended the ASTA River Cruise Expo in March to participate in the vessel’s christening. In this episode, Little reflects on the unexpected phone call that marked this major c...
2026-04-0614 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Travel Advisor Natalia Yepes on Preparing for (and Handling) a Crisis Hey everyone, it's Emma Weissmann, the host of Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series from Humans of Travel. This Hot Seat episode features travel advisor Natalia Yepes, owner of Adventuresque Travel Boutique. As a former flight attendant for both American Airlines and United Airlines, Yepes is skilled in the art of handling difficult, sometimes dangerous situations, and navigating through them with ease and a sense of calm. During this episode, she shares how her training has translated to her role as a travel advisor, and offers advice to fellow agents on how to man...
2026-03-2314 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: What to Know About the TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards (Feat. Mindy Poder) Hey everyone, it's Emma Weissmann, the host of Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series from Humans of Travel. This Hot Seat episode is a little different from our normal format; today, I've invited on Mindy Poder, Editor-in-Chief of TravelAge West, to share some information on the upcoming TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which honor top travel advisors. Nominations for the awards open in one week, on Feb. 2, and the application period runs until mid-March, with finalists announced in early April. Advisors can self-nominate, or nominate their peers. During this episode, Poder and I will sha...
2026-01-2617 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Eric Bowman on TravelPulse's 40 Under 40 List Hey everyone, it's Emma Weissmann, the host of Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series from Humans of Travel. This Hot Seat episode features Eric Bowman, Editor-in-Chief of TravelPulse.com and host of The TravelPulse Podcast. During this episode, Bowman will share the origins of TravelPulse's annual 40 Under 40 list, which began in 2024. Listeners will also get a behind-the-scenes look at the application and judging process, plus advice for those who are considering applying for 2026. This episode is sponsored by Air France-KLM. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE TravelPulse 40 Under 40 Th...
2025-12-0816 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Travel Advisor Tom Ho on Starring in the Reality TV Show 'Extra Mile Club' Hey everyone, it's Emma Weissmann, the host of Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series from Humans of Travel. This episode features Tom Ho, luxury travel advisor at Protravel International and Global Travel Collection (GTC), who was recently cast in the newest season of "1st Look Presents: Extra Mile Club” on NBC. During this episode, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at the audition, filming and production process of the reality television show, where GTC advisors compete to win the business of celebrity clients. Ho's episodes air on Dec. 13 (part one) and Dec. 20 (part two) follow...
2025-11-2415 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Jordan Tourism Needs Our Help (Feat. Malia Asfour) Hey everyone, it's Emma Weissmann, the host of Humans in the Hot Seat. During this episode, you'll hear from Malia Asfour, managing director of the Jordan Tourism Board in North America. Right now, Jordan is — as my friend Brinley Hineman at Travel Weekly says — a casualty of the war next door. The country is coming off of hosting the GX Summit a few weeks ago with G Adventures, and I wanted Malia to come on the podcast to explain what the state of Jordan tourism is right now, how travel advisors can learn more and how they can best educat...
2025-10-2011 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: ASTA's Michael Schottey Unveils the 'Travel You Can Trust' PodcastWelcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. This is Emma Weissmann, Executive Editor at TravelAge West, and your host. Michael Schottey, the vice president of membership, marketing and communications at the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) is the co-host for a brand-new podcast, Travel You Can Trust, with colleague Alvin Adriano. Here, he talks about the ideation for the show, what listeners can expect and how to find new episodes. This episode is sponsored by The Travel Corporation. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE ...
2025-04-0712 min
The TIN LoungeSpecial Guests: Mindy Poder and Emma Weissmann with Future Leaders UpdatesMindy Poder and Emma Weissmann from TravelAge West join Korrine and Theresa this week to chat about updates on this year's Future Leaders in Travel which will take place in Anchorage, Alaska. Applications open later this month, so head to Future Leaders in Travel to sign up for updates!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2025-04-0428 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Travel Advisor Katie Brown on Sales Automation — With a Personal TouchWelcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. This is Emma Weissmann, Executive Editor at TravelAge West, and your host. Today on Humans in the Hot Seat, we are welcoming Katie Brown, a travel advisor with Travelmation. Katie is an award-winning travel advisor; she entered the industry in February, 2020, just prior to the pandemic. In the past five years, Katie has booked over $6 million in travel, has planned trips to over 20 countries and was named as one of TravelAge West's Five Future Leaders to Watch in 2023. Today, Katie will add...
2025-03-3115 minHumans of TravelEncore: 204 Cruises and Counting: Jason Leppert’s Story as a Cruise Industry InsiderNote to listeners: We're currently on hiatus until Spring 2025, but we're replaying some of our favorite episodes each week until we return. And you're listening to one of those "encore" presentations right now. Jason Leppert, Cruise Editor for TravelAge West, has a long history onboard cruise ships. From embarking on Crystal Cruises’ inaugural voyage in 1990 to completing his 204th voyage just a few weeks ago, Leppert has spent more time onboard ships — and at sea — than most people do in their lifetime. And Leppert has turned this passion for cruising into a career. His blog, “Popular Cru...
2025-02-2439 minHumans of TravelJen Halboth’s Career Journey, From Professional Sports to CEO of Riverside Luxury Cruises (Sponsored)Note to listeners: Humans of Travel is on hiatus for the winter, with new, full-length episodes resuming Spring 2025. In this episode of Humans of Travel — sponsored by Riverside Luxury Cruises — Ken Shapiro, vice president and editorial director, sits down with Jen Halboth, CEO of Riverside Luxury Cruises, for an honest conversation about her career journey and the evolving world of river cruising. With her signature energy and passion, Halboth reflects on her dynamic transition from professional sports to the travel industry (yes, she really does have a championship ring), her nearly two-decade tenure at Avalon Water...
2025-02-1735 min
Trade Secrets PodcastGuess what’s coming on March 3? A brand-new season of Trade Secrets!Trade Secrets is back for its sixth season, but with a twist: Welcome to the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every week — you read that right, Trade Secrets is going weekly in season six — co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will invite a travel agency technology provider on the show. They’ll discuss their tech and how it can help travel advisors’ businesses. Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of travel agency software as a jumping-off point for the companies to feature, but listeners are invited to submit any other companies by emailing tradesecrets@travelweekly.com. The n...
2025-02-1703 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: SmartFlyer's Erina Pindar on Building an Authentic BrandNote to listeners: Humans of Travel is on hiatus for the winter, with new, full-length episodes resuming Spring 2025. This is a bonus Humans in the Hot Seat Episode, recorded at SmartFlyer's CORE conference in Lake Louise, Alberta, last month. This episode is released in conjunction with a Trade Secrets episode on email marketing, with SmartFlyer's Kayla Douglas. Welcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. This is Emma Weissmann, Executive Editor at TravelAge West, and your host. This week, we are sitting down with Erina Pindar, Managing Partner and...
2025-02-1019 min
Trade Secrets PodcastTrading social media for Substack: Using content to build a brand (Feat. SmartFlyer’s Kayla Douglas)In this special bonus episode, Trade Secrets is all about content — and why travel advisors should get theirs off social media and into an email newsletter. Kayla Douglas, director of content for SmartFlyer in New York, delves into the world of Substack with co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada. And, stay tuned after the episode for some exciting announcements about season six of Trade Secrets. This episode was released in conjunction with a Humans in the Hot Seat episode (part of TravelAge West’s Humans of Travel podcast), featuring Erina Pindar, COO and managing partner at SmartFlyer.
2025-02-1039 min
The Folo by Travel WeeklyTrade Secrets: 25 travel trends for 2025, Part 2This week we’re featuring the second half of a special episode of Trade Secrets, a sister podcast to the Folo by Travel Weekly that is co-produced by Jamie Biesiada, a senior editor at Travel Weekly, and Emma Weissmann, the executive editor of TravelAge West. In this episode, Jamie and Emma take a rapid-fire look at 25 trends for 2025, starting in the mid-teens and working their way up to Number 25. This second half is a little more travel industry- and advisor- focused. Let us know if you're seeing any of these trends come to the fore at your ag...
2025-02-0324 minHumans of TravelEncore: Entrepreneur Alle Pierce on Storytelling, Authenticity and Creating Community Through TravelNote to listeners: We're currently on hiatus until Spring 2025, but we're replaying some of our favorite episodes each week until we return. And you're listening to one of those "encore" presentations right now. Alle Pierce is an Emmy award-winning host, travel influencer, river cruise ship Godmother and founder of Gals Abroad Getaways, a travel company that designs group trips for like-minded women. Before diving into the travel industry, Pierce built a successful career in broadcast journalism as a local news reporter. During this time, she honed her storytelling and public speaking skills, which would later be...
2025-02-0347 min
The Folo by Travel WeeklyTrade Secrets: 25 travel trends for 2025This week on the Folo by Travel Weekly we are featuring a special episode of Trade Secrets, a sister podcast to the Folo that is co-produced by Jamie Biesiada, a senior editor at Travel Weekly, and Emma Weissmann, the executive editor of TravelAge West. In this episode, Jamie and Emma take a rapid-fire look at 25 trends for 2025. This episode is split into two parts: The first, which you're listening to here, focuses on consumer-related travel trends that Emma and Jamie think will be popular. The second half, which is a little more travel industry- and advisor- focused, w...
2025-01-2722 minHumans of TravelCollette’s Jaclyn Leibl-Cote on Evolving the Escorted Touring Experience (Sponsored Content)Note to listeners: We're currently on hiatus until Spring 2025, but we're replaying some of our favorite episodes each week until we return. And this week, we are releasing a new sponsored episode featuring our partners at Collette. In this sponsored episode of Humans of Travel, host Ken Shapiro, Vice President and Editorial Director of TravelAge West, TravelPulse and TravelPulse Canada, interviews Jaclyn Leibl-Cote, CEO of tour operator Collette. Leibl-Cote, who is only the fourth CEO and first woman to hold the position in the company’s 107-year history, shares insights on what it’s like to lead an iconi...
2025-01-2737 min
Trade Secrets PodcastEncore: How should travel advisors manage client expectations?Trade Secrets is on a winter break. We're sharing some of our favorite episodes until we return. Travel advisors, how do you handle it when a client has unrealistic expectations? What if they ask to stay at a property you wouldn’t recommend (especially if they serve truly lackluster midnight hotdogs)? What do you do when their budget is unrealistic for the trip they want? Or, what if they have a really bad experience while they’re in-destination? Get advice on all that and more in this week’s episode of Trade Secrets, where co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Ja...
2025-01-2743 minHumans of TravelEncore: Travel Advisor Danny Genung on the Power of YouTube MarketingNote to listeners: We're currently on hiatus until Spring 2025, but we're replaying some of our favorite episodes each week until we return. And you're listening to one of those "encore" presentations right now. Danny Genung, the owner of Harr Travel, is a former middle school teacher-turned legacy travel advisor and a YouTube influencer in the cruise and resort space operating under the @HarrTravel channel. In addition to selling anywhere from 70-100 cruises per month, Genung is perhaps best known for his onscreen appearances during the cruise ship tour videos he posts daily for his 128,000 subscribers. In t...
2025-01-2032 minHumans of TravelEncore: Travel TV Host Samantha Brown on Top Career Highlights and the Importance of Human ConnectionNote to listeners: We're currently on hiatus until Spring 2025, but we're replaying some of our favorite episodes each week until we return. And you're listening to one of those "encore" presentations right now. Most members of the travel industry community know Samantha Brown as the host of PBS’ Samantha Brown's Places to Love, a long-running television show that allows viewers to tune in as Brown jets all over the world, showcasing some of the planet’s most fascinating destinations, communities and cultures. During this episode of Humans of Travel, Brown reflects on her upbringing — her early rela...
2025-01-2039 min
Trade Secrets PodcastEncore: How can new travel advisors build a successful career? (Feat. Bill Coyle)Trade Secrets is on a winter break. We're sharing some of our favorite episodes until we return. This week, we're featuring one of our most popular episodes from season five. New travel advisors, look no further than this episode of Trade Secrets for advice on everything from setting up your business, to finding clients, to prioritizing fam trip destinations. Co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are joined by KHM Travel Group’s Bill Coyle, vice president of agent engagement, to tackle listener questions on that and more. Trade Secrets will return with season six in ear...
2025-01-1345 minHumans of TravelEncore: Fora Travel’s Co-Founder, Henley Vazquez, on Bringing More Advisors Into the IndustryNote to listeners: We're currently on hiatus until Spring 2025, but we're replaying some of our favorite episodes each week until we return. And you're listening to one of those "encore" presentations right now. Three years ago, Henley Vazquez created Fora Travel, a host agency that caters to a select group of new travel agents: part-timers, side-hustlers or even those who are just looking to dip their toes into a career in travel, but don’t know where to start. As a travel advisor herself — and a former staff member at Town and Country Magazine and Indagare — Vazquez says her...
2025-01-0641 min
Trade Secrets PodcastEncore: Travel advisors, what’s your elevator pitch? (feat. Jackie Friedman)Trade Secrets is on a holiday break. We're sharing some of our favorite episodes until we return. This week, we're featuring our first episode of season five. Hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada welcome Nexion Travel Group president Jackie Friedman on the show to talk about the value of travel advisors. They discuss the modern history of the profession and the evolution from “agent” to “advisor,” then answer listener questions about standing out from the crowd, how advisors can sell their own value and what makes a good elevator pitch. Trade Secrets will return with season s...
2024-12-3044 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Brittany Taylor's Advice to New Travel AdvisorsWelcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. This is Emma Weissmann, Executive Editor at TravelAge West, and your host. Over the coming weeks, we will be interviewing the travel advisors named in the "5 Future Leaders to Watch List," the cover story within the October 2024 issue of TravelAge West. All of these travel advisors, attendees of Future Leaders in Travel, were chosen to appear in the cover story to acknowledge their work and their potential to be game-changers in the travel industry. Today, we're sitting down with Brittany Taylor. T...
2024-12-2309 minHumans of TravelEncore: John Diorio on Life Before Virgin VoyagesJohn Diorio has spent his entire career in travel, from the tour operator and wholesale space to Hotels.com and, most recently, Virgin Voyages. Despite this, Diorio – now the vice president of North American sales for the cruise line — said his relationship with travel didn’t start until he enrolled in travel school at age 19; prior to that, his jaunts consisted of yearly family vacations from his hometown in New York to the Jersey Shore. But after his very first flight (to Dayton, Ohio, in his early 20s), Diorio was hooked, and he hasn’t looked b...
2024-12-1644 min
Trade Secrets PodcastEncore: Why can't we be friends? Forming productive travel advisor-supplier relationshipsTrade Secrets is on a holiday break. We're sharing some of our favorite episodes until we return. This week, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada welcome Royal Caribbean’s Vicki Freed, senior vice president of sales and trade support and service, and Jamie Margolis, owner of the Dream Vacations franchise Moms at Sea. During the episode, Freed and Margolis talk about the importance of forming — and maintaining — a good agent-supplier relationship, the “unicorn” cabins onboard Royal Caribbean ships that offer more space for less money, the value proposition of cruising and more. Trade Secrets will return with...
2024-12-1649 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Sam Johnson Created a Travel Advising Internship for College StudentsWelcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. This is Emma Weissmann, Executive Editor at TravelAge West, and your host. Over the coming weeks, we will be interviewing the travel advisors named in the "5 Future Leaders to Watch List," the cover story within the October 2024 issue of TravelAge West. All of these travel advisors, attendees of Future Leaders in Travel, were chosen to appear in the cover story to acknowledge their work and their potential to be game-changers in the travel industry. Today, we're sitting down with Sam Johnson o...
2024-12-0917 minHumans of TravelCruise Planners’ Michelle Fee on Elevating the Travel Franchise ModelIn 1994, before the home-based travel advisor was a popular career choice in the travel industry, Michelle Fee co-founded Cruise Planners, a franchise travel agency model for home-based professionals, that would grow to become a staple in the industry. In this episode of Humans of Travel, Fee will reflect on what it was like during Cruise Planners’ early days — when the first cohort of advisors comprised only five people — to its present state of supporting and training hundreds of travel advisors on what it takes to open their own businesses. Listeners will learn more about the franch...
2024-12-0234 min
Trade Secrets PodcastSeason 5 finale: Emma and Jamie’s top 25 predictions for travel in 2025In the season finale of Trade Secrets, co-hosts Jamie Biesiada and Emma Weissmann share their top 25 travel predictions for 2025, covering everything from trends in the travel agency and tech landscape to destinations and travel styles they have their eyes on for the coming year. They also share some exciting news – Trade Secrets recently took home an award for Best Travel/Leisure Podcast in the annual Eddie and Ozzie Awards! The sixth season of Trade Secrets will debut in early 2025. Further resources Mentioned on the show: From TravelAge West, The top 5 trends fo...
2024-12-0242 minTrade Secrets Podcast2024 rewind: What trends shaped the travel industry — and impacted agents — this yearFrom ASTA’s fight against American Airlines’ distribution strategy to the Taylor Swift effect on the travel industry, 2024 was bursting with headlines that affected travel advisors. This week on Trade Secrets, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada talk about the major travel trends and events that shaped the agency landscape. Further resources Mentioned on the show: Trade Secrets episode featuring Andrea Grisdale and a discussion on Italy Trade Secrets episode featuring David Kolner and a discussion on generational travel Emma on the Taylor Swift cruise SNAP, an air book...
2024-11-1847 minHumans of TravelInteleTravel’s Tara Minson on How the ‘Goliath of the Travel Industry’ Welcomes New AdvisorsTara Minson refers to InteleTravel, a host agency supporting over 100,000 travel advisors, as the "Goliath" of the travel industry — and with good reason. Not only does the host agency have the largest network of advisors, but she also credits the company with bringing the most new agents into the profession. Recently promoted to President of the host agency, Minson has deep roots in the travel industry. Her father, an entrepreneur, founded InteleTravel more than 33 years ago, and for the past 17 years, she’s led many of the company’s marketing, programs and communication initiatives. In this episode of Hum...
2024-11-1140 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Jessica Brown on Building a Business for Black Travelers, Single Parents and CaregiversWelcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. This is Emma Weissmann, Executive Editor at TravelAge West, and your host. Over the coming weeks, we will be interviewing the travel advisors named in the "5 Future Leaders to Watch List," the cover story within the October 2024 issue of TravelAge West. All of these travel advisors, attendees of Future Leaders in Travel, were chosen to appear in the cover story to acknowledge their work and their potential to be game-changers in the travel industry. Today’s episode features Jessica Brown of Smi...
2024-11-0414 minHumans of TravelAn Inside Look at Theresa Curbelo's Group Booking Effort in IrelandWelcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. This is Emma Weissmann, Executive Editor at TravelAge West, and your host. Over the coming weeks, we will be interviewing the finalists of the TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which were created to acknowledge the work of exceptional travel advisors. This year, TravelAge West honored travel advisors in five categories, and named a winner and a runner-up and each category. Today, you’ll hear from the eleventh, and final, travel advisor in this series: Theresa Curbelo, Owner of BucketListTravel.Net, an affiliate of...
2024-10-2807 minHumans of TravelEncore: Explorers Club Member J.R. Harris on Living Life as a Curious Trekker“I have never been lonely when alone in the wilderness.” So says J.R. Harris, a worldwide adventure trekker and a member of the prestigious Explorers Club, a global professional society of leaders that have ventured to the farthest reaches of the world, and beyond. (Other notable members include Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, filmmaker James Cameron, former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, astronaut Buzz Aldrin and oceanographer Sylvia Earle.) Now in his seventies, Harris has no plans to slow down. In this episode of Humans of Travel, listeners will hear all about his love of solo t...
2024-10-2139 min
Trade Secrets PodcastDemystifying DMCs: What are destination management companies, and how can travel advisors best work with them?What’s the difference between a tour operator and a destination management company (DMC)? How can advisors find DMCs to work with, and what are the top do’s and don’ts of working with them? What if a contact at a DMC ghosts a travel advisor? Hear the answers to these questions and more in this week’s episode of Trade Secrets, where co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada chat about all things DMCs with Andrea Grisdale, CEO and founder of I.C. Bellagio in Italy. This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways. Further resources I...
2024-10-2137 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: The Women Behind the Taylor Swift Affinity Cruise That Took the World By StormWelcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. This is Emma Weissmann, Executive Editor at TravelAge West, and your host. Over the coming weeks, we will be interviewing the finalists of the TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which were created to acknowledge the work of exceptional travel advisors. This year, TravelAge West honored travel advisors in five categories, and named a winner and a runner-up and each category. Today, you’ll hear from the ninth and tenth travel advisor in this series: Jessica Malerman and Nicole Rivera who, along with th...
2024-10-1409 minHumans of TravelEntrepreneur Alle Pierce on Storytelling, Authenticity and Creating Community Through TravelAlle Pierce is an Emmy award-winning host, travel influencer, river cruise ship Godmother and founder of Gals Abroad Getaways, a travel company that designs group trips for like-minded women. Before diving into the travel industry, Pierce built a successful career in broadcast journalism as a local news reporter. During this time, she honed her storytelling and public speaking skills, which would later become the foundation for her next venture — helping companies and tourism boards craft compelling brand stories. On this episode of Humans of Travel, Pierce reflects on her journey from television host to entrepreneur, sh...
2024-10-0747 minHumans of TravelEncore: Industry Veteran Rose Gray Offers Her Best Advice to New Travel AgentsRose Gray, the business relationship director at Fox World Travel, got her start in the travel industry by walking into the agency her family used for their own personal vacations, and convincing them to hire her. At the time, she says that travel advisors were more “order-takers” and less “consultative,” and Gray would spend her days handwriting airline tickets and typing itineraries on a typewriter. She then spent the next 35-plus years in the industry, adapting to various technologies as the profession evolved, all while exploring and embracing new ideas. Now, as the business relationship director and tour mana...
2024-09-3040 min
Trade Secrets PodcastTrade Secrets at Virtuoso Travel Week, part 3: How can travel advisors get ‘commissions with a comma'? (Feat. Dondra Ritzenthaler)In this episode, the final in a three-part series of Trade Secrets recorded on the road at Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada welcome Azamara CEO Dondra Ritzenthaler. She discusses leaving her retirement to helm the small-ship luxury cruise line, the importance of suppliers listening to trade partners, luxury travel sales techniques and what sets luxury cruise lines like Azamara apart. This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways. Further resources Dondra Ritzenthaler’s email Mentioned in this episode: Azamara World Academy From Travel Weekly, Azamara intr...
2024-09-2330 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Lainey Melnick Orchestrated Her Clients' Dream Antarctica WeddingWelcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. This is Emma Weissmann, Executive Editor at TravelAge West, and your host. Over the coming weeks, we will be interviewing the finalists of the TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which were created to acknowledge the work of exceptional travel advisors. This year, TravelAge West honored travel advisors in five categories, and named a winner and a runner-up and each category. Today, you’ll hear from the eighth travel advisor in this series: Lainey Melnick, the runner-up in the category of Saving the Da...
2024-09-2307 minHumans of TravelEncore: How Karmia Berry Is Helping Youth Communities Travel AbroadIn addition to being a model, actress and licensed therapist, New Yorker Karmia Berry has always had a love for travel. In 2017, Berry decided to merge this love with her more than 25 years of experience working with youth communities by creating I Am C.U.L.T.U.R.E.D., a nonprofit organization that aims to empower marginalized youth communities through travel experiences, cultural exposure and mentorship.In this episode of Humans of Travel, Berry shares the origin story of I Am C.U.L.T.U.R.E.D (which stands for Confident, Unique, Leading, T...
2024-09-1640 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: How Travel Advisor Ann DeMers Went the Extra Mile to "Save" Her Clients' VacationWelcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. This is Emma Weissmann, Executive Editor at TravelAge West, and your host. Over the coming weeks, we will be interviewing the finalists of the TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which were created to acknowledge the work of exceptional travel advisors. This year, TravelAge West honored travel advisors in five categories, and named a winner and a runner-up and each category. Today, you’ll hear from the seventh travel advisor in this series: Ann DeMers, the winner in the category of Saving the Da...
2024-09-0907 min
Trade Secrets PodcastTrade Secrets at Virtuoso Travel Week, part 2: As a travel advisor, how do I break into the world of luxury travel sales?Trade Secrets is on the road again, this time at Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas. In the second episode of a three-part series recorded on-site in Las Vegas, Megan Vatnsdal, owner of Onyx & Evergreen Travel and affiliate of Four Hundred, talks about how she’s spent the past few years building her luxury-focused agency. She and co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada cover everything from building a book of business, to getting in front of luxury clients, to using events to network. This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways. Further resources Megan Vatnsdal on...
2024-09-0938 minHumans of TravelVeranda Adkins Advocates for Inclusivity Within the Travel IndustryVeranda Adkins, co-founder of the Association of Black Travel Professionals (ABTP) is passionate about making the travel industry more inclusive. In addition to helping run ABTP, Adkins is also a travel advisor with Travel Legacy, and prides herself in coaching entrepreneurs and being an influential speaker. Through her personal website, clients can book a multitude of different coaching tools to improve their business needs due to her more than 22 years of experience in the industry. In this episode of Humans of Travel, listeners will hear Adkins reflect on her days as a young girl traveling...
2024-09-0241 min
TravelPulse PodcastOn Location in Dominican Republic at the Future Leaders in Travel RetreatThis week we're on location at the 2024 Future Leaders in Travel Retreat. I'm joined by Emma Weissmann, Executive Editor for TravelAge West to first discuss the latest trending news in the travel industry, including big changes in the EU, Uber launching self-driving cars, and more. Later, we dive into what the Future Leaders event is all about. Emma shares insights into the logistics of this event, and we both discuss how Millennials and Gen-Z are shaping the travel industry. The conversation on the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat begins after the 14-minute mark. Today’...
2024-08-2729 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Kirsten Andrade's Agency Created a Masterclass to Connect With Disney FansWelcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. This is Emma Weissmann, Managing Editor at TravelAge West, and your host. Over the coming weeks, we will be interviewing the finalists of the TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which were created to acknowledge the work of exceptional travel advisors. This year, TravelAge West honored travel advisors in five categories, and named a winner and a runner-up and each category. Today, you’ll hear from the sixth travel advisor in this series: Kirsten Andrade, the winner in the category of Best Targeted Ma...
2024-08-2608 minHumans of TravelEncore: AmaWaterways’ Kristin Karst Shares How Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain Led to a Career in TravelIf you’ve worked in the travel industry for any length of time, you’re probably familiar with Kristin Karst. The co-owner and executive vice president of river cruise line AmaWaterways, Karst is a staple at most travel industry conferences, perhaps best known for her bubbly personality, welcoming demeanor and close, personal relationships with travel advisors. However, many travel industry colleagues may not know Karst’s unique backstory. She was born and grew up in Dresden, a German town along the Elbe River, in what was formerly Eastern Germany, under a regime that mostly kept Karst and her fa...
2024-08-1945 minHumans of TravelAllianz Partners' Dee Ravenell on How Travel Insurance Can Save the Day (Sponsored Content)Dee Ravenell, a former travel advisor, is now Senior Assistance Coordinator for Allianz Partners. On this episode of Humans of Travel, Ravenell will share stories of how travel insurance can save the day, what she has learned during her time at Allianz and what travel advisors in particular need to know about travel insurance. This episode was sponsored by Allianz Partners. It was hosted by Kenneth Shapiro, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of TravelAge West. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The Allyz Travel Smart App ABOUT YOUR HOST Emma We...
2024-08-1916 min
Trade Secrets PodcastInside the Trade Secrets mailbag: Answering your most pressing questions (Feat. Chad Burt of Outside Agents)This week, Chad Burt of Outside Agents joins Jamie Biesiada and Emma Weissmann of Trade Secrets for our annual “mailbag” episode, featuring travel advisor listener questions on a variety of topics. During the episode, we’ll dig into advanced use cases of generative AI, airline loyalty, host agency affiliations, picking a travel advisor specialty and more. This episode is sponsored by Allianz Partners USA. Further resources and related readings Outside Agents on the web Outside Agents’ blog More about Outside Agents’ MAGgie technology Outside Agents’ Power Prompts Chad’s bo...
2024-08-1235 minHumans of Travel204 Cruises and Counting: Jason Leppert’s Story as a Cruise Industry InsiderJason Leppert, Cruise Editor for TravelAge West, has a long history onboard cruise ships. From embarking on Crystal Cruises’ inaugural voyage in 1990 to completing his 204th voyage just a few weeks ago, Leppert has spent more time onboard ships — and at sea — than most people do in their lifetime. And Leppert has turned this passion for cruising into a career. His blog, “Popular Cruising,” has more than 47,000 subscribers on YouTube, and he regularly represents the TravelAge West brand as he reports on the ocean, river and expedition cruise industries, in addition to penning firsthand reviews of cruises. In t...
2024-08-0539 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Lauren Quirk Creates Broadway-Style Travel Videos to Market Her BusinessWelcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. This is Emma Weissmann, Managing Editor at TravelAge West, and your host. Over the coming weeks, we will be interviewing the finalists of the TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which were created to acknowledge the work of exceptional travel advisors. This year, TravelAge West honored travel advisors in five categories, and named a winner and a runner-up and each category. Today, you’ll hear from the fourth travel advisor in this series: Lauren Quirk, the runner-up in the category of Best Use of...
2024-07-2908 min
Trade Secrets PodcastHow can new travel advisors build a successful career? (Feat. Bill Coyle of KHM Travel Group)New travel advisors, look no further than this episode of Trade Secrets for advice on everything from setting up your business, to finding clients, to prioritizing fam trip destinations. Co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are joined by KHM Travel Group’s Bill Coyle, vice president of agent engagement, to tackle listener questions on that and more. This episode is sponsored by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts. Further resources Connect with KHM Travel Group online, on Facebook, on Instagram, on YouTube and on LinkedIn Encompass the World Travel, Bill Coyle’s family agency
2024-07-2944 minHumans of TravelEncore: Top Social Media Marketing Tips From Travel Influencer Mark WoltersMark Wolters was an early social media influencer — he created his YouTube channel, Wolters World, in 2009; since then, he’s uploaded more than 2,300 travel videos and racked up more than 227 million views and nearly 1 million subscribers. In 2014, he was named the No. 1 independent travel videographer by USA Today. And when Wolters isn’t documenting his travel endeavors on YouTube, he’s a professor of marketing at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Gies College of Business. In this episode of Humans of Travel, Wolters provides a crash course in social media marketing and advises travel busi...
2024-07-2243 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: How Nikki Hendrix Is Using Facebook Groups to Grow Her BusinessWelcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. This is Emma Weissmann, Managing Editor at TravelAge West, and your host. Over the coming weeks, we will be interviewing the finalists of the TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which were created to acknowledge the work of exceptional travel advisors. This year, TravelAge West honored travel advisors in five categories, and named a winner and a runner-up and each category. Today, you’ll hear from the third travel advisor in this series: Nikki Hendrix, the winner in the category of Best Use of...
2024-07-1507 min
Trade Secrets PodcastHow should travel advisors manage client expectations?Travel advisors, how do you handle it when a client has unrealistic expectations? What if they ask to stay at a property you wouldn’t recommend (especially if they serve truly lackluster midnight hotdogs)? What do you do when their budget is unrealistic for the trip they want? Or, what if they have a really bad experience while they’re in-destination? Get advice on all that and more in this week’s episode of Trade Secrets, where co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are joined by Abbey Meyer, CEO of Sky High Travel in St. Louis, Missouri. This e...
2024-07-1542 minHumans of TravelJenn Lee Returns to Humans of Travel: Vacation Planners, Legacy and the Importance of ForgivenessJenn Lee, the former vice president of industry engagement and support for host agency Travel Planners International (TPI), made her Humans of Travel debut in the podcast’s very first episode in 2020. Now, she’s making her return to Humans of Travel four years later in her new role as president of Vacation Planners, the just-launched franchise division of TPI. In this episode of Humans of Travel, listeners will hear all about the new Vacation Planners brand, and why franchising can be a desirable option for travel businessowners. We will also dive deeper into what makes...
2024-07-0846 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Mary Beth Lynn on Creating 'Assistants That Work'Hello everyone. And welcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. This is the second episode in our TravelAge West Trendsetter series; over the coming weeks, we will be interviewing the finalists of the TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which were created to acknowledge the work of exceptional travel advisors. This year, TravelAge West honored travel advisors in five Trendsetter categories, and named a winner and runner-up in each category. Today, we are speaking with Mary Beth Lynn, who was named the runner-up of the TravelAge West Upward Bound, Rock Star Advisor...
2024-07-0112 min
Trade Secrets PodcastTrade Secrets on the road, part 3: How does Europe’s travel agency landscape compare to the U.S.?Trade Secrets is on the road for a special, three-episode series recorded on the ground at the ASTA Travel Advisor Conference in Dallas. In this episode, the final in the series, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada welcome Eric Dresin, the secretary general of the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations (ECTAA), onto the show. They chat about the travel agency landscape in Europe, the phenomenon of Europe’s travel “planners” (who don’t actually book travel) and more. Then, hear from Thekla Kammenou of the Greece-based tour operator Four Ways Travel, about the tourism scene in Greece and some of...
2024-07-0139 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Travel Advisor Jordana Izzo Developed an Accessible Travel CertificationHello everyone. And welcome to humans in the hot seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. This is the first episode in our TravelAge West Trendsetter series; over the coming weeks, we will be interviewing the finalists of the TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which were created to acknowledge the work of exceptional travel advisors. This year, TravelAge West honored travel advisors in five Trendsetter categories, and named a winner and runner-up in each category. Today, we are speaking with Jordana Izzo who was named the winner of the TravelAge West Upward Bound, Rock Star Advisor Under 40 T...
2024-06-2409 minHumans of TravelEncore: How Masters in Travel’s Whitney Shindelar Is Solving Her Biggest Career Pain PointWhitney Shindelar, owner of Undiscovered Sunsets, wears many professional hats: In addition to being a travel advisor, she’s the founder of the Masters in Travel online community of advisors; the host of the Masters in Travel podcast; and the creator of The Hive, a new technology platform that revolutionizes the way knowledge and insights are shared between travel agents. Prior to becoming an advisor, Shindelar spent much of her 20s living in Shanghai, China, where she taught English before transitioning to work at Le Meridien Shanghai (first in a role within the food and beverage department, and...
2024-06-1747 minHumans of TravelTravel TV Host Samantha Brown on Top Career Highlights and the Importance of Human ConnectionMost members of the travel industry community know Samantha Brown as the host of PBS’ Samantha Brown's Places to Love, a long-running television show that allows viewers to tune in as Brown jets all over the world, showcasing some of the planet’s most fascinating destinations, communities and cultures. During this episode of Humans of Travel, Brown reflects on her upbringing — her early relationship with travel, and how her interest in theater prepared her for a life in front of the screen. She’ll also share a memorable story about getting to her audition — and ultimately landing the role —...
2024-06-1039 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: A New Approach to Client Gifting With Erica CarrHello everyone. And welcome to humans in the hot seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. Today, we're speaking with travel advisor Erica Carr, founder of BookitBox Travel and a member of Gifted Travel Network. Carr has a unique business model and takes client gifting to the next level — we'll hear all about her creative approach to marketing, and her best piece of marketing advice for travel advisors who are hoping to set themselves apart from the crowd. This episode was sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands. ABOUT YOUR HOST E...
2024-06-0309 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: On the Job With Gene Delaune, Senior Medical Consultant for Allianz Travel InsuranceHello everyone, and welcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. Today, we are joined by Dr. Gene Delaune, senior medical consultant for Allianz Travel Insurance. During this episode, listeners will hear about Dr. Delaune's past as an ER doctor, what it means to be a medical consultant for a travel insurance company, and advice on what to look for in a travel insurance policy. This episode is sponsored by All-Inclusive By Marriott Bonvoy. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Allianz Travel Insurance ABOUT YOU...
2024-05-2020 min
Trade Secrets PodcastHow do you grow your travel agency — and trust your new advisors?When it’s time to expand your business, what’s the best way to do it? Should you hire independent contractors, employees or assistants? Then, once they’re onboarded, how do you effectively train — and, subsequently, trust — your new people? All that and more is covered in this week’s Trade Secrets, when co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada talk business expansion with Julie Lanham, president of Vacations to Remember in Augusta, Ga. Thanks to our friends at Jetset World Travel for helping us solicit travel advisor questions this season. This episode is sponsored by All-Inclusiv...
2024-05-2044 minHumans of TravelAustralian Explorer Greg Mortimer on Summiting Mount Everest and Founding Aurora ExpeditionsGreg Mortimer, the founder of cruise line Aurora Expeditions, is a pioneer in the adventure and exploration space — he’s traveled to many of the world's most remote and untouched regions, and has led more than 80 expeditions to Antarctica. In 1984, Mortimer made history by being part of the first Australian team to summit Mount Everest via its northeast ridge route without the use of supplemental oxygen, and he’s also summited several other peaks, such as Antarctica's Mount Minto and K2 in Asia. In 1991, Mortimer founded Aurora Expeditions, which has a fleet of two expedition ships — Greg Mortimer...
2024-05-1334 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: All About Forbes Travel Guide, With Richard LebowitzHello everyone, and welcome to Humans in the Hot Seat. Today, we are joined by Richard Lebowitz, who oversees a team at Forbes Travel Guide that aims to bring awareness to star-rated hotels across the global luxury travel advisor community. Lebowitz is no newbie in the travel industry; he’s had over 30 years of experience in travel and hospitality, 25 of them with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts in various leadership positions, including as Regional Vice President of Luxury Lifestyle and Leisure of North America for the global sales office. He was also Senior Vice President of th...
2024-05-0619 min
Trade Secrets PodcastTravel advisors, what’s your brand identity? (feat. Christina Vieira)Marketing is an important part of most travel advisors’ businesses. This week on Trade Secrets, Christina Vieira of Showcase the World Travel discusses finding your “why,” identifying ideal clients and reaching those clients on the platforms that make sense. She also discusses the importance of a good email marketing plan, automation and more with co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada. Thanks to our friends at Key to the World Travel for helping us solicit travel advisor questions this season. This episode is sponsored by All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy. Further resources Christina Vieira...
2024-05-0638 min
Out Of Office: A Travel PodcastTraveling For Concerts (Taylor's version)On this episode of "Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast," Ryan interviews Emma Weissmann on the boom of concert travel led by Taylor Swift. Plus, Kiernan endorses Mitt Romney again. Things we talk about in this week's episode: Mitt Romney for Harvard President. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/04/16/mitt-romney-harvard-president-antisemitism/ Emma Interview: TravelAge West: https://www.travelagewest.com/ Emma's podcasts: https://www.travelagewest.com/Podcasts Taylor Swift cruise: https://www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Cruise/taylor-swift-cruise NPR article on economic impact: https://www.npr.org/2023/12/27/1221483930/girl-economy-taylor-swift-beyonce-barbie-2023
2024-04-3036 minHumans of TravelEncore: Travel Advisor Kristy Durso’s Crash Course on Accessible Travel Planning (and What the Industry Gets Wrong About the Disability Community)Kristy Durso, owner of Incredible Memories Travel, is a passionate advocate that everyone should be able to travel, regardless of an individual’s unique disability. A full-time wheelchair user since 2019, she has used her own travel experiences (and those of her husband and three children, who also live with disabilities) to dig deeper into the world of accessible travel. Now known as an expert in this niche, Durso has made it her goal to educate other travel advisors and inspire and advocate for travelers from every walk of life. In this episode of Humans of Travel, listeners wil...
2024-04-2950 minHumans of TravelPhilip Blackwell on Travel Insurance Pro Tips and Lessons Learned From Coaching Hockey (Sponsored Content)Join Kenneth Shapiro, Vice President, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of TravelAge West, as he takes the host seat during this sponsored episode of Humans of Travel, featuring Philip Blackwell, vice president of sales and business development for Travel Insured International. In this episode, Shapiro asks Blackwell about his role as a coach for youth hockey players, including the lessons he's learned from his team, and how these lessons inspire him both in the corporate world and in life in general. Listeners will also hear about how Blackwell got into the travel industry, how the insurance landscape h...
2024-04-2232 min
Trade Secrets PodcastHow should travel agents address travel advisories?When the State Department upgrades its travel advisory for a destination, or updates an advisory with new information, it can make clients a little jumpy. How should travel agents navigate the situation? Get the answer on this week’s episode of Trade Secrets, when co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are joined by travel advisor Brittany Shuford of Darling Destinations in Birmingham, Ala. Thanks to our friends at OutsideAgents.com for helping us solicit travel advisor questions this season. This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International. Further resources Find Brittany Shuf...
2024-04-2234 minHumans of TravelTravel Advisor Danny Genung on the Power of YouTube MarketingDanny Genung, the owner of Harr Travel, is a former middle school teacher-turned legacy travel advisor and a YouTube influencer in the cruise and resort space operating under the @HarrTravel channel. In addition to selling anywhere from 70-100 cruises per month, Genung is perhaps best known for his onscreen appearances during the cruise ship tour videos he posts daily for his 128,000 subscribers. In this episode of Humans of Travel, Genung speaks on the history of Harr Travel, which was started by his grandfather. Listeners will hear Genung talk about what it was like working with his grandfather...
2024-04-1532 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Wanderfully Planned’s Julie Patterson’s Crash Course on Instagram StrategyHello everyone, and welcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of the Humans of Travel podcast. Today's episode features Julie Patterson, founder of Wanderfully Planned, who gives listeners a crash course in Instagram social media strategy for travel advisors. Patterson led an educational session on social media last year at the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, and she will take listeners through her process for posting — including how she uses the platform Clickup for planning — how she organizes her content, how she handles social media posting when she’s traveling, and the top mi...
2024-04-0820 min
Trade Secrets PodcastTravel advisors, what’s your elevator pitch? (feat. Jackie Friedman)Welcome to season five of Trade Secrets. In this episode, hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada welcome Nexion Travel Group president Jackie Friedman on the show to talk about the value of travel advisors. They discuss the modern history of the profession and the evolution from “agent” to “advisor,” then answer listener questions about standing out from the crowd, how advisors can sell their own value and what makes a good elevator pitch. Thanks to our friends at WorldVia for helping us solicit travel advisor questions this season. This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured Internati...
2024-04-0846 minHumans of TravelEncore: Royal Caribbean’s Vicki Freed on Breaking Into the Cruise Industry — and Meeting the Boss Who Helped Shape HerIf you have any interest in the cruise industry, the chances are you know Vicki Freed, senior vice president of sales, trade support and service for Royal Caribbean International. Freed’s career has spanned more than four decades; after spending 29 years at Carnival Cruise Line, she moved over to Royal Caribbean International in 2008. In her 20s, Freed’s tenacity and ambition propelled her to early success; she was a senior vice president by the time she was 36, and she was named the first female chairperson of Cruise Lines International Association in 1998. Additionally, her deep relationships within the trav...
2024-04-0135 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Jessica Klement's Advocacy Efforts With ASTAHello everyone, and welcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of the Humans of Travel podcast. Today, we are speaking with Jessica Klement, the vice president of advocacy for the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA). There’s no typical day on the Hill for Klement, who spends her time lobbying members of Congress and fighting for the rights of travel advisors across the country. In this episode, Klement will describe ASTA’s top priorities for 2024 – including the FAA reauthorization — and she’ll share some of the benefits of ASTA membership. RESOURCES MENTIONED I...
2024-03-2513 minTrade Secrets PodcastMic check, one, two: How do we create Trade Secrets?How is the Trade Secrets podcast made? Find out all the behind-the-scenes details in this special episode with co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada. From the show’s origin, to scripting, to editing and posting, take a peek behind the Trade Secrets curtain. This is a special episode of Trade Secrets between seasons four and five. Season five will return in two weeks, on April 8. This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International. Further resources Email Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada Follow us on Instagram Travel Weekly TravelAge Wes...
2024-03-2530 minHumans of TravelFora Travel’s Co-Founder, Henley Vazquez, on Bringing More Advisors Into the IndustryTwo years ago, Henley Vazquez created Fora Travel, a host agency that caters to a select group of new travel agents: part-timers, side-hustlers or even those who are just looking to dip their toes into a career in travel, but don’t know where to start. As a travel advisor herself — and a former staff member at Town and Country Magazine and Indagare — Vazquez says her mission is to bring new blood into the travel industry and support people at every stage of their career. In this episode of Humans of Travel, Vazquez shares the ins and outs o...
2024-03-1841 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: How Ashley Taylor's Former Career as a Hospice Nurse Made Her a Better Travel AdvisorHello everyone, and welcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of the Humans of Travel podcast. Today, we are speaking with Ashley Taylor, a travel advisor at Key to the World Travel. She talks about her former career as a hospice nurse, and her transition to travel — and she’ll explain what she believes to be the connection between those two professions, in two very different industries. She'll also offer some advice for travel advisors just getting started in the business. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Key to the World Trave...
2024-03-1114 min
Trade Secrets PodcastWhy can't we be friends? Forming productive travel advisor-supplier relationships (feat. Vicki Freed and Jamie Margolis)Welcome to the season four finale of Trade Secrets. This week, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada welcome Royal Caribbean’s Vicki Freed, senior vice president of sales and trade support and service, and Jamie Margolis, owner of the Dream Vacations franchise Moms at Sea, during the second installment of a two-part series with Freed (listen to part one here). During the episode, Freed and Margolis talk about the importance of forming — and maintaining — a good agent-supplier relationship, the “unicorn” cabins onboard Royal Caribbean ships that offer more space for less money, the value proposition of cruising and more.
2024-03-1149 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Why Karen Coleman-Ostrov Decided to Be a Franchise OwnerHello everyone, and welcome to Season 5 of Humans of Travel. We are kicking off our fifth season with an episode of Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. Today’s episode features Karen Coleman-Ostrov, a franchise owner with Dreams Vacations. Coleman-Ostrov took her first cruise more than 30 years ago, and now specializes in cruising and owns a franchise with Dreams Vacations. Here, she’ll explain why she chose to become a franchisee (rather than an agency employee or an independent contractor), and what advisors should know when considering this business model. RE...
2024-03-0409 minHumans of TravelEncore: Award-Winning Travel Photographer Mark Edward Harris on Life Behind the LensAward-winning travel photographer Mark Edward Harris has been to an astounding 102 countries — including many that evade the average traveler and, as he puts it, places that are “seldom seen and even lesser understood.” Many times, Harris is traveling for business, on assignment for publications such as Vanity Fair, LIFE, The New York Times, Newsweek, Time, National Geographic Traveler, Vogue and TravelAge West, among others — and he’s the recipient of many prestigious photography awards for his work. He’s also the author of several travel photography books, including “Inside Iran,” “North Korea,” “The Way of the Japanese Bath” and...
2024-02-2641 min
Trade Secrets PodcastIcon of the Seas: How big can a cruise ship get?Get ready for a cruise-filled episode of Trade Secrets. This week, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada welcome Royal Caribbean's Vicki Freed, senior vice president of sales and trade support and service, and Nick Weir, senior vice president of entertainment, onto the show. Hop aboard as we dive into everything from the brand-new Icon of the Seas — billed as the largest cruise ship at sea — to what it takes to entertain Royal’s millions of cruisers. This is the first of a two-part series featuring Freed; join us next time for a discussion on creating a strong advisor-supplier relationship. ...
2024-02-2642 minHumans of TravelEncore: The ATTA’s Shannon Stowell on Defining Adventure and the Importance of Responsible TourismSince 2004, Shannon Stowell has been at the helm of the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) — the largest global network of adventure travel leaders in the industry — which includes tour guides, operators, lodges, advisors, destination management organizations, media and more. He believes that tourism has the potential to be a powerful and protective force – if it’s done right. In this episode of Humans of Travel, Stowell takes listeners on a journey through some of his life’s biggest adventures, from making the natural landscapes of Salida, Colo., his playground as a teenager to taking his first international trip to Fiji and...
2024-02-1946 min
Trade Secrets PodcastTravel advisors, are you using the right tech stack?Travel advisors, are you stuck in the technological past? In this episode of Trade Secrets, Brian Shultz, chief information officer for Cruise Planners, joins hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada to talk about the latest in tech offerings for advisors, game-changing generative AI use cases and tools that can save you both time and money. This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises. Further resources and related reading: Meet Cruise Planners’ Brian Shultz Cruise Planners’ website and franchise site Trade Secrets episode on generative AI: How do I use generative AI to im...
2024-02-1245 minTrade Secrets PodcastDecoding 2024: What trends will shape the travel advisor landscape?This week on Trade Secrets, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada gaze into their crystal balls to reveal what 2024 might hold for the travel agency community. They share what’s in and what’s out for this year, along with major trends that will shape the advisor landscape. They’ll even share some resolutions for themselves and for the podcast. Here’s a preview of what’s in and what’s out, according to our hosts. Emma’s “in for 2024” list: Using a travel advisor! High prices for both accommodations and airfare. Europe: Italy, Greece and Portugal...
2024-01-2929 min
Trade Secrets PodcastEncore: Top travel pros and their best advice for advisorsTrade Secrets is on a break right now, but will be back starting Jan. 29 with brand-new episodes. In the meantime, we wanted to share one of our favorite episodes from season four. It’s also one of the most popular. This episode was recorded at the ASTA Global Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on May 2, 2023. Co-hosts Jamie Biesiada and Emma Weissmann rounded up some of the industry’s finest to offer their best advice to travel advisors. They touch on everything from sustainability, to entering the luxury market, and beyond. Further resources: The...
2024-01-1537 minTrade Secrets PodcastTrade Secrets presents Humans of Travel: Kristin Karst of AmaWaterwaysTrade Secrets is on a holiday break, but in the meantime, we wanted to share some of Travel Weekly and TravelAge West’s other podcasts with our listeners. This week’s episode is Humans of Travel, hosted by Trade Secrets co-host Emma Weissmann, featuring AmaWaterways’ Kristin Karst. If you’ve worked in the travel industry for any length of time, you’re probably familiar with Karst. The co-owner and executive vice president of river cruise line AmaWaterways, Karst is a staple at most travel industry conferences, perhaps best known for her bubbly personality, welcoming demeanor and close, personal r...
2024-01-0145 min
Media in MinutesEmma Weissmann: Managing Editor of TravelAge WestSend us Fan MailComing from a family that valued travel as an education tool, Emma shares how this foundation naturally led to her pursuit to meet and interview fascinating humans, write about enchanting places and encourage future leaders in travel via an annual retreat. Follow Emma’s life and work here: https://www.emmaweissmann.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-weissmann-51923545/Email: eweissmann@travelagewest.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_enroute/ Society of American Travel Writers: https://satw.org/ TravelAge West: https://www.travelagewest.com/Emma...
2023-11-3032 min
Trade Secrets PodcastFam trips: How can they help your business, travel advisors?This week, Trade Secrets is all about the fam — fam, or familiarization, trips, that is! Hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are joined by Theresa Chu-Bermudez, owner of Get Out! Custom Travels, co-host of the Tin Lounge Podcast and the creator of Fam with Intention. They talk about all of the ins and outs of fams: how to find them, how to prepare for them, what to do on a fam, and what to do after the trip is over. This episode is sponsored by Air France-KLM. Further resources: Theresa Chu-Bermudez Theresa’s agen...
2023-09-1136 min
Trade Secrets PodcastHow do I use generative AI to improve my travel agency’s workflow?In this episode of Trade Secrets, hosts Jamie Biesiada and Emma Weissmann are joined by Christine Vincent, business technology manager for Travelsavers and NEST. They discuss how generative AI is changing the travel industry, and delve into how travel advisors can use it to improve their workflows. They also chat about how to become an effective “prompt engineer” to get a desired output. And yes, if you were wondering, Google’s Bard wrote this episode’s title and description (but it was, of course, vetted and edited by the hosts). This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations. Fu...
2023-08-0744 min
Trade Secrets PodcastNavigating the expedition cruise boom: Insider insights for travel advisorsEmbark on a voyage of discovery into the fast-growing world of expedition cruising on this episode of Trade Secrets. Co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are joined by Rachel Woodward, vice president of sales for Lindblad Expeditions, and Beth Butzlaff, Global Travel Collection’s vice president of partnership. They’ll tackle everything from which clients are best suited for which expedition cruises, to can’t-miss stops in Alaska, to how better Starlink connectivity will affect cruisers in the future. This episode is sponsored by Lindblad Expeditions. Further resources: Rachel Woodward’s email address and cell...
2023-07-2441 min
The Travel Coach Network Podcast | A podcast for coaches, travel agents, and travel business ownersHow to Combine Writing and Travel to Craft Your Own Career - With Emma Weissmann @emma_enroute | Episode 57In this episode, I talk with Emma about how to take two or more things you love, and turn them into a full-time career.
Emma Weissmann is the Managing Editor of TravelAge West.
Depending on the day, you might find Emma racing against the clock to finish a scoop, crafting an in-depth human interest piece, penning op-eds on travel industry affairs, writing first-person cruise and hotel reviews, or working to refine TravelAge West’s digital and social media strategy.
Additionally, as the host of TravelAge West’s Humans of Travel podcast and a co-host...
2023-06-0733 min
Gather and Go with Brian JewellAll About Travel Advisors with Emma Weissmann and Jamie BiesiadaReports of the travel advisor’s death are greatly exaggerated.
Though many people don’t realize it, travel advisors (also known as travel agents) are still incredibly active. On this episode of the podcast, travel journalists and podcast hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada tell us about the ways that travel advisors can make group travel better. They also share their insights about what millennials are looking for in travel experiences and how travel companies can better reach them.
Plus, we have big news about developments in airplane WiFi; a road trip about buying luggage; and...
2023-01-1850 min