Shows
Humans 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 TravelHow Stacey Ray Built a Global Community for Solo Women TravelersStacey Ray is no ordinary travel advisor. After decades in the health care industry and the loss of her husband, she made a bold career pivot — launching a business designed for women like herself: curious, solo female travelers over 45 who want to see the world and make lasting friendships along the way. Thus, Sisterhood Travels was born. In this episode of Humans of Travel, Ray shares her inspiring career journey, the challenges she’s faced and how she turned those experiences into a thriving community of travelers. The conversation also touches on the importance of succession planning — her da...
2025-10-1340 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetter Kaitlyn Metzler (Best Group Booking Effort)Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff of the Humans of Travel, is currently running a 10-part mini-series on the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which recognizes some of the most forward-thinking and impactful travel advisors in the U.S. Each year, the Trendsetter Awards recognize outstanding travel advisors across five unique categories: Best Targeted Marketing Idea Best Group Booking Effort Upward Bound: Rockstar Advisor Under 40 Saving the Day Best Use of Social Media Listeners will hear directly from this year's finalists about what makes their wor...
2025-09-2906 minHumans of TravelMentorship, Leadership and Travel Protection: Lessons from Travel Insured’s Barbra Merwin (Sponsored Content)Barbra Merwin, president of Travel Insured International, has more than 30 years of experience in insurance, beginning her career in the claims adjustment department at State Farm Insurance. In this episode of Humans of Travel, Merwin shares her personal journey — from her upbringing in Minnesota to leading a full company transformation and rebrand at TII. Listeners will hear Merwin’s views on how travel insurance gives travelers much-needed peace of mind — and her vision for how travel protection can elevate the advisor–client relationship. She also reflects on the lessons learned early in her career, and her views on mento...
2025-09-2235 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetter Mallory Wheeler (Upward Bound, Rockstar Advisor Under 40)Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff of the Humans of Travel, is currently running a 10-part mini-series on the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which recognizes some of the most forward-thinking and impactful travel advisors in the U.S. Each year, the Trendsetter Awards recognize outstanding travel advisors across five unique categories: Best Targeted Marketing Idea Best Group Booking Effort Upward Bound: Rockstar Advisor Under 40 Saving the Day Best Use of Social Media Listeners will hear directly from this year's finalists about what makes their wor...
2025-09-1508 minHumans of TravelGTC’s Vanessa McGovern, From Cruise Ship Art Auctioneer to Luxury Travel StrategistVanessa McGovern has built her entire career within the travel industry. And earlier this year, she stepped into a new role as senior vice president of partner product, marketing and events at Global Travel Collection (GTC), the luxury arm of Internova Travel Group. In this episode of Humans of Travel, Vanessa shares how she got her start as an art auctioneer onboard cruise ships — a role that taught her the fundamentals of sales, customer service and persuasive storytelling. She also reflects on her experience co-founding Gifted Travel Network, which earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 list and qu...
2025-09-0841 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetter Beci Mahnken (Best Targeted Marketing Idea)Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff of the Humans of Travel, is currently running a 10-part mini-series on the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which recognizes some of the most forward-thinking and impactful travel advisors in the U.S. Each year, the Trendsetter Awards recognize outstanding travel advisors across five unique categories: Best Targeted Marketing Idea Best Group Booking Effort Upward Bound: Rockstar Advisor Under 40 Saving the Day Best Use of Social Media Listeners will hear directly from this year's finalists about what makes their wor...
2025-09-0108 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetter Katie Brown (Best Use of Social Media)Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff of the Humans of Travel, is currently running a 10-part mini-series on the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which recognizes some of the most forward-thinking and impactful travel advisors in the U.S. Each year, the Trendsetter Awards recognize outstanding travel advisors across five unique categories: Best Targeted Marketing Idea Best Group Booking Effort Upward Bound: Rockstar Advisor Under 40 Saving the Day Best Use of Social Media Listeners will hear directly from this year's finalists about what makes their wor...
2025-08-2508 minHumans of TravelSteve Smotrys on Career Curves, Expedition Cruising and a Pandemic-Era Love StorySteve Smotrys, managing director and senior vice president, commercial for the Americas at HX Expeditions, has decades of experience in the cruise industry — but his first taste of travel came in the form of roadtrips up the California coast. And his first time on a cruise ship? During his senior prom, onboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. In this episode of Humans of Travel, Smotrys reflects on his career journey, his passion for expedition cruising and how a pandemic-era social media post led him to meet his now-wife, Emmy. He also speaks about the evolution of...
2025-08-1839 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetter Jackie Waechter (Saving the Day)Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff of the Humans of Travel, is currently running a 10-part mini-series on the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which recognizes some of the most forward-thinking and impactful travel advisors in the U.S. Each year, the Trendsetter Awards recognize outstanding travel advisors across five unique categories: Best Targeted Marketing Idea Best Group Booking Effort Upward Bound: Rockstar Advisor Under 40 Saving the Day Best Use of Social Media Listeners will hear directly from this year's finalists about what makes their wor...
2025-08-1107 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetter Autumn Trussell-Murray (Saving the Day)Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff of the Humans of Travel, is currently running a 10-part mini-series on the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which recognizes some of the most forward-thinking and impactful travel advisors in the U.S. Each year, the Trendsetter Awards recognize outstanding travel advisors across five unique categories: Best Targeted Marketing Idea Best Group Booking Effort Upward Bound: Rockstar Advisor Under 40 Saving the Day Best Use of Social Media Listeners will hear directly from this year's finalists about what makes their wor...
2025-08-0408 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetter Jamie Rumpf (Best Use of Social Media)Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff of the Humans of Travel, is currently running a 10-part mini-series on the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which recognizes some of the most forward-thinking and impactful travel advisors in the U.S. Each year, the Trendsetter Awards recognize outstanding travel advisors across five unique categories: Best Targeted Marketing Idea Best Group Booking Effort Upward Bound: Rockstar Advisor Under 40 Saving the Day Best Use of Social Media Listeners will hear directly from this year's finalists about what makes their wor...
2025-07-2808 minHumans of TravelCarrying the Outrigger Legacy Forward: Anne Marie Brown’s Leap Into Luxury Travel AdvisingAnne Marie Brown was born into one of Hawaii’s most iconic hospitality families — the Kelleys of Outrigger Hotels — and got her start in the industry with hands-on internships in nearly every department, from housekeeping and front desk to maintenance and the bell desk. Today, her path has taken her far beyond the Hawaiian Islands and the hotel world. Brown is now the co-founder of Alpenglow Travel, a luxury travel agency specializing in FIT, small group travel, events and corporate B2B planning. In this episode of Humans of Travel, Brown reflects on her family’s legacy...
2025-07-2134 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetter Lisa McCarl (Best Group Booking Effort)Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff of the Humans of Travel, is currently running a 10-part mini-series on the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which recognizes some of the most forward-thinking and impactful travel advisors in the U.S. Each year, the Trendsetter Awards recognize outstanding travel advisors across five unique categories: Best Targeted Marketing Idea Best Group Booking Effort Upward Bound: Rockstar Advisor Under 40 Saving the Day Best Use of Social Media Listeners will hear directly from this year's finalists about what makes their wor...
2025-07-1410 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetter Sam Johnson (Upward Bound, Rockstar Advisor Under 40)Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff of the Humans of Travel, is currently running a 10-part mini-series on the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which recognizes some of the most forward-thinking and impactful travel advisors in the U.S. Each year, the Trendsetter Awards recognize outstanding travel advisors across five unique categories: Best Targeted Marketing Idea Best Group Booking Effort Upward Bound: Rockstar Advisor Under 40 Saving the Day Best Use of Social Media Listeners will hear directly from this year's finalists about what makes their wor...
2025-07-0708 minHumans of TravelStephanie Brooks on Modern-Day Touring and Her Decades-Long Career With Globus (Sponsored)In this episode of Humans of Travel, Ken Shapiro, group vice president and editorial director for Northstar Travel Group (the parent company of TravelAge West), speaks with Stephanie Brooks, vice president of product and operations for the Globus family of brands. Brooks’ passion for travel stems from seeing the power of shared experiences and personal connections, and she shares her own journey from aspiring teacher to tourism executive, shaped by summers spent working at a remote fishing lodge in Canada and an early role at the Banff Visitor Center. She also reflects on her two decades with Gl...
2025-06-3028 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetter Jennifer Buck (Best Targeted Marketing Idea)Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff of the Humans of Travel, is currently running a 10-part mini-series on the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which recognizes some of the most forward-thinking and impactful travel advisors in the U.S. Each year, the Trendsetter Awards recognize outstanding travel advisors across five unique categories: Best Targeted Marketing Idea Best Group Booking Effort Upward Bound: Rockstar Advisor Under 40 Saving the Day Best Use of Social Media Listeners will hear directly from this year's finalists about what makes their wor...
2025-06-2308 minHumans of TravelVirtuoso’s Matthew Upchurch on the Evolution of Luxury Travel and the Future of Travel Advising (Part 2)In Part 2 of our conversation with Matthew Upchurch, the chairman and CEO of Virtuoso discusses the transformative challenges that have shaped today’s travel advisor profession. Listeners will gain insight into how the industry navigated the rise of online travel agencies, the strategic decision behind Virtuoso’s rebranding and the far-reaching influence of mobile technology and social media. Upchurch also speaks about his mission to elevate the role of travel advisors, his evolving definition of luxury and why cross-generational collaboration is vital to the future of the industry. Listen to Part 1 here. This episo...
2025-06-1621 minHumans of TravelVirtuoso’s Matthew Upchurch on the Evolution of Luxury Travel and the Future of Travel Advising (Part 1)As a second-generation travel industry leader, Matthew Upchurch — chairman and CEO of luxury travel network Virtuoso — offers a unique perspective on how the world of luxury travel has evolved over the past four decades. In this episode of Humans of Travel, the first of a two-part conversation, Upchurch shares personal stories from his upbringing, the pioneering legacy of his father and the surprising origins of Virtuoso. You'll hear how the concept of a travel advisor collective emerged out of necessity in the post-World War II era, and how early collaborations set the foundation for what Virtuoso is toda...
2025-06-0927 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Why Eli Wagner Decided to Open a Physical Office for Her AgencyWelcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. Today’s episode features Eli Wagner, founder of Wagner Bespoke Travel. Wagner entered the industry about three years ago, and she has seen tremendous growth since, being named Virtuoso's Rising Star last year and surpassing $1 million in sales. She's also in the process of opening up a physical office in Santa Monica, California. In this episode, Wagner details what led her to make the decision to open a physical space when so many travel advisors are moving home, and shares the bene...
2025-06-0211 minHumans of TravelBehind the Scenes at Travel + Leisure With News Director Paul BradyPaul Brady didn’t always want to be a journalist. But when he participated in a language-immersion program in Italy between high school and college, he fell in love with travel. Now, he’s the current news director and cruise expert for consumer publication Travel + Leisure. In this episode of Humans of Travel, we’ll hear about what it’s like to work for one of the most well-known U.S.-based travel magazines today — what makes a compelling story, what a typical day looks like and what it really means when you’re tasked with creating content that...
2025-05-2636 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Meet TikTok Star (and Travel Advisor) Susie FloresWelcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. Today’s episode features Susie Flores of Countdown Travels, aka Cruisin' Susie (@cruise_yes_please). Flores began posting cruise videos to TikTok, and quickly gained traction on the social media platform. Now, she boasts nearly 100,000 followers (along with more than 8,000 on her Instagram) and runs her multimillion-dollar business largely through leads she gets through TikTok. In this episode, Flores talks about her overall social media strategy (including how to be authentic online) and gives travel advisors tips on how to make socia...
2025-05-1914 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: All About Tourism Cares, With John SutherlandWelcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. Today’s episode features John Sutherland, senior director of community impact at Tourism Cares. Tourism Cares, a nonprofit organization within the travel industry, is dedicated to advancing positive social, environmental and economic impact to help the world's people and places thrive. The organization offers a professional membership for travel agents ($99 per year), along with free tools like the Meaningful Travel Map. They also offer events, education and consulting. In this episode, Sutherland talks about what it really means to sell "meaningful travel"...
2025-05-1217 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Asia Lantz on Becoming the Go-To Travel Advisor in Her CommunityWelcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. Today’s episode features Asia Lantz, owner of Travel With Asia. Lantz recently moved to the Phoenix, Arizona area and has an especially unique way of marketing her business. Rather than focusing on garnering leads online, she has built a network of clients within her new community by meeting them during her free time, whether it's in a workout class, by hosting trivia at a local brewery or through tasting wine. Listeners will hear how Lantz has incorporated her community into lo...
2025-05-0516 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Selling Space Tourism, With SpaceVIP's Roman ChiporukhaWelcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. Today’s episode features Roman Chiporukha, the founder of SpaceVIP, a travel agency for space tourism. Chiporukha founded SpaceVIP after he sold a $50 million ticket for a passenger to fly onboard Axiom’s Ax-1 mission — the first all-private space mission to the International Space Station. Roman is an advocate for “universal space literacy” and making space exploration more accessible to the private sector. This episode is sponsored by The Travel Corporation. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE SpaceVIP ABOU...
2025-04-2818 minHumans of TravelCo-Founder Tom Marchant on Black Tomato's 20-Year EvolutionWhen Tom Marchant co-founded the tour operator Black Tomato with two friends, the term “experiential travel” wasn’t even part of the travel zeitgeist. Now, 20 years later, Marchant and the Black Tomato team remain committed to crafting bespoke, deeply personalized itineraries that feed their clients’ adventurous spirit and insatiable curiosity. In this episode of Humans of Travel, Marchant shares what makes a Black Tomato trip so unique (including the origin story behind the company’s name), how the brand is staying ahead of the tech curve with innovations like its new AI-powered “Feelings Engine” — which suggests travel...
2025-04-2139 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: How Kristie Keller Became the No. 1 Seller in Her Host AgencyWelcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. Travel advisor Kristie Keller of Addicted to Adventures entered the travel industry two years ago. Then, a chance encounter with Amadeus River Cruises' Executive Vice President, Marcus Leskovar, at ASTA's River Cruise Expo soon propelled her to success; since that meeting, she's booked seven groups (with 40-50 people, each) and has skyrocketed to become the No. 1 seller in her host agency, OTN. On this episode, she explains how meeting Leskovar helped pave the way for her sales success, and gives advice to advisors looking to...
2025-04-1411 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 TravelSeason 6 Premiere: Mindy Poder's Journey, From Intern to Editor-in-Chief of TravelAge WestMost readers of TravelAge West will recognize Mindy Poder's name from the top of the magazine’s masthead. As Editor-in-Chief, Poder oversees everything that happens at the brand, from managing content strategy and editorial mission to working with writers and editors, improving audience engagement and considering the ethical implications of AI use. In the latest episode of Humans of Travel, Poder discusses her 14+ years at the publication, dispels some myths about being a travel journalist and shares her most embarrassing moments from her award-winning travel journalism career. This episode is sponsored by The Travel Corporation.
2025-03-2439 minHumans of TravelHumans in the Hot Seat: Host Agency Owner Angela Hughes’ Message for the Travel IndustryNote 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. 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. Angela Hughes, CEO of Trips & Ships Luxury Travel and developer of Luxury Travel University, penned an open letter to the travel industry (below) about what it really takes to get started as a travel advisor, and how to achieve success. Her l...
2025-03-1714 minHumans of TravelEncore: Australian Explorer Greg Mortimer on Summiting Mount Everest and Founding Aurora ExpeditionsNote 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. Greg 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 supplem...
2025-03-1034 minHumans of TravelEncore: Veranda Adkins Advocates for Inclusivity Within the Travel 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. Veranda 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 bu...
2025-03-0341 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 minHumans of TravelEncore: USTOA’s Terry Dale on Farm Living, Responding to 9/11 and Transforming the ‘T Word’ (Touring)Most people in the travel industry have crossed paths with Terry Dale, who has served as the president and CEO of the U.S. Tour Operators Association (also known as USTOA) since 2011. But many may not know that although he currently resides in Brooklyn, N.Y., Dale’s roots are firmly planted in Brooklyn, Iowa, a town of 900 that served as the backdrop for his childhood on the Dale family farm. In this episode of Humans of Travel, listeners will learn about Dale’s early vacations (to Iowa’s State Fair) and his entrance into the travel indust...
2024-02-1237 minHumans of TravelEncore: Beth Santos on Women’s Place in Travel and Creating the 'Wanderful' CommunityWelcome back to Humans of Travel! We’re back from our winter hiatus, and we’re gearing up to bring you a brand-new season featuring conversations from some of the most innovative and inspiring voices in travel. Our first guest is Beth Santos, the founder of Wanderful, a virtual and in-person community of more than 40,000 women of diverse ages and backgrounds, all connected through their love of travel. Santos has been recognized by Business Insider as one of 17 Changemakers Transforming the Hospitality Industry, and she’s been named as one of 12 Inspiring People to Follow by Conde Nast T...
2024-02-0539 minHumans of TravelEncore: Antoine Wilson on Life as a Travel Advisor, a Safari Operator and an Air Traffic ControllerAntoine Wilson works six days per week as an air traffic controller at Miami International Airport, where he spends his eight-hour shifts scanning radar and monitoring the South Florida airspace from Miami down to the Florida Keys. And during his day off, he turns his attention to his second — and third — businesses: advising travel clients with A.D. Elite Travels, and working on the launch of his newest venture, Melanated Safaris. In this episode of Humans of Travel, Wilson shares the ins and outs his three careers, which he embarked on after declining a conditional offe...
2024-01-2937 min
Humans of TravelEncore: Edyta Teper on Escaping Communist Poland and How to Travel to the Edge of SpaceMost travel advisors are familiar with Edyta Teper who, over the course of a nearly 30-year-old career in travel, held positions at Jet Set Tours, Carnival Cruise Line, Crystal Cruises, Virtuoso, Virgin Voyages and Travel2. She’s a repeat winner of the TravelAge West WAVE Award for being a favorite sales representative, and now she’s turned her attention to the Last Frontier, joining Space Perspective as head of global sales, trade partnerships. While there’s no doubt that Teper is beloved by the travel advisor community, many may not know her unique backstory. In this e...
2024-01-2240 min
Humans of TravelEncore: Culinary Journalist Adam Sachs on Storytelling Through Food and Directing Silversea Cruises' S.A.L.T. ProgramAdam Sachs, an award-winning culinary journalist and magazine editor, is the brains behind Silversea Cruises' S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) program. But prior to joining the cruise industry, Sachs graced the masthead of several magazines, from his first gig as a fact-checker for Conde Nast Traveler to his time at GQ and as Editor-in-Chief of Saveur, a food-focused entertainment and culinary travel magazine. Through his written work, he aims to celebrate the culture of the places he’s visited — and the people he’s met — through the lens of what's on a plate.
2024-01-1539 minHumans of TravelEncore: Host Agency Expert Stephanie Lee on Life Before Travel and the Diagnosis That Changed EverythingStephanie Lee, the founder of Host Agency Reviews — what she calls “Yelp for the B2B side of travel" — is a true expert in the host agency sector. Lee spends her days helping connect new travel agents to the resources they need to start their agencies, and gives veteran advisors ways to enhance their professional toolkits, as well. In addition to running HostAgencyReviews.com, she has an e-newsletter with nearly 15,000 subscribers; she’s the host of the Travel Agent Chatter podcast; and she’s the author of “The Road Map to Becoming a Travel Advisor Course” for the American Soc...
2024-01-0847 min
Humans of TravelEncore: Charlie Clifford, Co-Founder of Tumi and co-Founder of ROAM, on Revolutionizing the Luggage IndustryCharlie Clifford, co-founder of Tumi Luggage and a current director and co-founder of ROAM Luggage, is no newbie to the travel industry. After all, ever since he created Tumi in the 1970s, he’s spent his days thinking about the business of travel — and what products we, as travelers, need to do it well. Although he’s no longer at Tumi, Clifford hasn’t left the world of luggage. But his latest venture, ROAM, is decidedly different from its predecessor; rather than featuring the “black-on-black" luggage trend that Tumi is famous for, ROAM puts an emphasis o...
2024-01-0145 minHumans of TravelALGV's Jacki Marks Reflects on Her 27-Year Career in Travel, and the Importance of Being Kind (Sponsored Content)Join Mary Pat Sullivan, executive vice president of marketing and partnerships for TravelAge West, as she takes the host seat during this sponsored episode of Humans of Travel, featuring Jacki Marks, executive vice president of ALG Vacations. Marks is well-known for her passion, dedication and belief that partnerships and success go hand in hand. She leads a team of more than 250, developing strategies to propel the growth and profitability of ALG Vacations and travel agencies nationwide, with decades of experience in all aspects of leisure travel, including revenue management, marketing, sales support and group travel. Her leadership...
2023-12-2525 minHumans of TravelJohn 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...
2023-12-1845 min
Media in MinutesEmma Weissmann: Managing Editor of TravelAge WestSend us a textComing 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
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