Humans of Travel

Grace McBride got her start in the travel industry earlier than most — as an undergraduate at Cornell University. During her sophomore year, McBride worked as a marketing intern for JetBlue, where she helped write marketing and ad copy for the airline. After catching the travel bug, she joined MilesAhead, a travel agency founded by Cornell classmate Rob Karp.

But it was an entrepreneurship class that ultimately gave McBride and her friend, Sarah Peters, the idea for an entirely new travel business: TripKit, an itinerary builder and assistant service for luxury travel advisors (a company that the pair eventually sold in 2022).

In this episode of Humans of Travel, McBride takes listeners along on her entrepreneurial journey, sharing the impact her father — a florist from Long Island — had on her work ethic; the pros and cons of starting two companies while juggling school (and a pandemic); and how travel advisors and suppliers can engage with her newest venture: Lucia, a freelance marketplace for the travel industry.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

From TravelAge West: Lucia Gives Travel Businesses a New Way to Hire Freelance Workers

MilesAhead

TripKit

Lucia

Contact McBride: [email protected]

Rob Karp on Humans of Travel

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tara 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 Humans of Travel, Minson reflects on her childhood, her strong family ties and how travel has shaped her life from an early age. She also shares valuable lessons from her first boss, speaks on the qualities of leaders, and weighs in on the hot topic of new travel advisors entering the industry.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

InteleTravel

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is the Executive Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. 

TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. 

ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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 Smith Brown Travel, who first learned about travel advising from the audio social media platform Clubhouse. She’s a graduate of Gifted Travel Network’s MBA program and is an advocate for inclusion in the travel industry; her specialty in travel is catering to the needs of Black travelers, single parents and caregivers.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Future Leaders in Travel

5 Future Leaders to Watch List, 2024

SmithBrown Signature Travel (and @SmithBrownTravel on Instagram)

Clubhouse

Gifted Travel Network

Gifted’s Travel MBA Program

Host Agency Reviews

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is the Executive Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. 

TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. 

ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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 CruisePlanners. Theresa’s targeted sales effort was focused on a first responders’ trip to Dublin, Ireland. As part of her planning, she contacted a tour company in Dublin and created a private tour of the Dublin Fire Brigade Training Facility due to its rich history in Irish firefighting. Curbelo was named runner-up in the category of Best Group Booking Effort.

 This episode was sponsored by AmaWaterways.

Theresa's Trendsetter award was sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Theresa Curbelo, CruisePlanners

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is the Executive Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. 

TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. 

ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“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 travel, and his propensity to venture alone to some of the most remote, far-flung locales on the planet. They’ll also hear about Harris’ work as the DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) chair of the Explorers Club, and his role as the founder of the oldest African American-owned research and consulting firm in the country, JRH Marketing Services.

Harris will also share some of his best advice for curious travelers who, like him, were “born restless.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

The Explorers Club 50

The Explorers Club: Society of Forgotten Explorers

Way Out there: Adventures of a Wilderness Trekker

"Born Curious" Documentary

Connect With Harris on Social Media:

www.jrinthewilderness.com

Instagram: @JRintheWilderness

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is the Managing Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. 

TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. 

ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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 their colleague Shelby Reyes, organized a Taylor Swift Affinity Cruise setting sail in a couple weeks onboard Allure of the Seas. The Marvelous Mouse Travels' advisors won in the category of Best Group Booking Effort.

 This episode was sponsored by AmaWaterways.

Jessica and Nicole's Trendsetter award was sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Marvelous Mouse Travels

In My Cruise Era

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is the Executive Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. 

TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. 

ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 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, shares insights from her favorite projects (including a recent role covering the 2024 Paris Olympics), and opens up about how she stays authentic in the fast-paced world of social media. She also delves into the inspiration behind Gals Abroad Getaways, the lessons learned from her travel advisor mother and her vision for the future of her company.

This episode was sponsored by AmaWaterways.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Alle Pierce's website and Instagram

Gals Abroad Getaways

Gals Abroad Getaways on Instagram

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is the Executive Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. 

TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. 

ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rose 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 manager at Fox World Travel (the 25th Largest Travel Agency on Travel Weekly’s Power List), Gray still works with other advisors and traveling clients, albeit in a different way. She leads groups of clients all over the world as a tour manager for the agency, and is often found broadcasting her own radio show and podcast from the road.

In this episode of Humans of Travel, listeners will hear Gray reflect on her decades in travel; how her female role models helped shape her; how she has embraced new technologies (hello, artificial intelligence!); and her best advice for new-to-industry travel advisors on how to be successful and have a fruitful, long-lasting career.

This episode was sponsored by AmaWaterways.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Fox World Travel

Gray's Radio Show and Podcast

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is the Executive Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. 

TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. 

ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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 Day. In order to help her clients have their dream wedding in Antarctica, Lainey not only booked their trip, but she found an officiant to sail at the same time and coordinated with Atlas Ocean Voyages so that the wedding could take place on a landing. Ultimately, Lainey saved the day and her clients got their dream wedding.

This episode was sponsored by AmaWaterways.

Lainey's Trendsetter award was sponsored by Travel Insured International.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Dream Vacations - Lainey Melnick & Associates

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is the Executive Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. 

TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. 

ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 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, Tenacious, Unstoppable, Regal, Educated and Daring), and reveals how her past experiences — both as a Black traveler, and through her jobs working with underrepresented populations — and as an employee, has helped inspire the birth of this organization. Listeners will also hear about the various components of I Am C.U.L.T.U.R.E.D’s curriculum (which includes mentorship, personal development, passport sponsorship, and coordinated group trips, among other programs) and how it has influenced high school students in the New York City area. Travel advisors and suppliers will also learn how they can directly help the organization’s mission through fundraising, trip sponsorships and more.

This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

I am C.U.L.T.U.R.E.D. (Confident, Unique, Leading, Tenacious, Unstoppable, Regal, Educated, Daring)

Makeup and Breakup (YouTube), Streaming on a network called Allblk.

Coming to America (Berry’s favorite film)

Berry on Instagram: @Karmiaberry, @iamculturedinc

www.Karmiaberry.com

LinkedIn Karmia Berry

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is the Executive Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. 

TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. 

ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.