This episode is brought to you by TravelAge West.

Across the travel industry and beyond, most people know Bruce Poon Tip as the founder of G Adventures, the world’s largest small group adventure travel company. He also established Planeterra Foundation, G Adventures’ nonprofit partner, which channels travelers’ dollars into underserved communities around the world. Through these accomplishments, he has addressed the United Nations and World Bank; delivered keynote speeches at TEDx events; and much more.  

But what most people don’t know is that Poon Tip’s entrepreneurial drive began far ahead of G Adventures’ launch in 1990. Growing up as part of a Chinese-Venezuelan immigrant family in Calgary, Canada, a young Poon Tip started three businesses before even turning 13 — including contracting 11-year-olds to deliver his newspapers on multiple routes. Not to mention, he bred rabbits in his parents’ backyard.  

At age 16, after getting fired from Denny’s two weeks into the job, and then getting fired on his first day at McDonald’s, Poon Tip realized that he was better off being his own boss. 

In this episode of Humans of Travel, Poon Tip shares with listeners the roots of his early ambition, as well as G Adventures’ genesis story. He also explains how being a minority has influenced his career — and reveals a clever strategy that was necessary to move his business forward.    

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

G Adventures: www.gadventures.com 

Bruce Poon Tip’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/brucepoontip 

Bruce Poon Tip’s Twitter: www.twitter.com/brucepoontip 

“Looptail: How One Company Changed the World by Reinventing Business” by Bruce Poon Tip

“Do Big Small Things” by Bruce Poon Tip

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Valerie Chen is the Deputy Digital Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine for travel advisors based in the Western U.S.   

TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including 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 new 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 experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is brought to you by TravelAge West.

Arnie Weissmann is perhaps best known in the travel industry for his roles as the editor-in-chief of Travel Weekly, and executive vice president and editorial director for Northstar Travel Group (the parent company of Travel Weekly and TravelAge West). But Arnie didn’t just land in travel journalism by accident; rather, the unique experiences of his younger years — which were fueled by an insatiable curiosity to explore the world around him — greatly shaped him into the man he is today.  

In the first installment of this two-part Humans of Travel interview, Arnie speaks with his daughter, Emma Weissmann, our guest host and the Associate Editor for TravelAge West. The father-daughter duo discuss the defining moments of Arnie’s adolescent years, which include frequenting Chicago blues clubs as a teenager, spending six months working in a cafeteria in Boston and more. He also reflects on his first foray into the world of media: As a student journalist for Spectrum, the campus magazine at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he penned interviews with such subjects as Andy Warhol and Muhammad Ali. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Travel Weekly: www.travelweekly.com 

Arnie Weissmann’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/arnieweissmann 

Arnie Weissmann’s Twitter: www.twitter.com/awtravelweekly  

Arnie Weissmann’s From the Window Seat weekly column: www.travelweekly.com/From-the-Window-Seat 

Travel42 (formerly Weissmann Travel Reports): www.travel-42.com

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Valerie Chen is the Deputy Digital Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine for travel advisors based in the Western U.S.   

TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including 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 new 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 experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is brought to you by TravelAge West.

Arnie Weissmann is perhaps best known in the travel industry for his roles as the editor-in-chief of Travel Weekly, and executive vice president and editorial director for Northstar Travel Group (the parent company of Travel Weekly and TravelAge West). But Arnie didn’t just land in travel journalism by accident; rather, the unique experiences of his younger years — which were fueled by an insatiable curiosity to explore the world around him — greatly shaped him into the man he is today.  

In the first installment of this two-part Humans of Travel interview, Arnie speaks with his daughter, Emma Weissmann, our guest host and the Associate Editor for TravelAge West. The father-daughter duo discuss the defining moments of Arnie’s adolescent years, which include frequenting Chicago blues clubs as a teenager, spending six months working in a cafeteria in Boston and more. He also reflects on his first foray into the world of media: As a student journalist for Spectrum, the campus magazine at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he penned interviews with such subjects as Andy Warhol and Muhammad Ali. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Travel Weekly: www.travelweekly.com 

Arnie Weissmann’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/arnieweissmann 

Arnie Weissmann’s Twitter: www.twitter.com/awtravelweekly  

Arnie Weissmann’s From the Window Seat weekly column: www.travelweekly.com/From-the-Window-Seat 

Travel42 (formerly Weissmann Travel Reports): www.travel-42.com

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Valerie Chen is the Deputy Digital Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine for travel advisors based in the Western U.S.   

TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including 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 new 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 experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is brought to you by TravelAge West.

OUR GUEST

Rob Karp had his career all figured out at an early age — in fact, a day before he turned 15 years old in 2012, he officially launched MilesAhead. At the time, MilesAhead specialized in helping friends and family turn frequent flyer points into plane tickets. However, the company has since evolved to encompass a thriving, multimillion-dollar luxury travel concierge, and Karp has rightfully earned the respect of the travel industry. 

In today’s episode of Humans of Travel, Karp looks back at what propelled him to launch MilesAhead when he was still in high school, and what it was like to grow the business while he attended Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. He reveals if he has any regrets from those especially exacting periods of his life, in addition to sharing the process of working with friends and what it’s like being a member of Generation Z. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

MilesAhead: www.milesahead.co  

MilesAhead’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/milesaheadco 

Rob Karp’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/robkarp_ 

An In-Depth Guide to Generation Z Travelers: www.travelagewest.com 

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Valerie Chen is the Deputy Digital Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine for travel advisors based in the Western U.S.   

TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including 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 new 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 experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is brought to you by TravelAge West.

OUR GUEST

MaSovaida Morgan had a steady job as an in-house editor for Lonely Planet. However, desiring the excitement of the open road, she decided to transition to a new role for the travel publication: freelance guidebook author, which requires her to conduct heavy  research while immersed in a destination for up to weeks at a time.  

In this episode of Humans of Travel, the charismatic and inspiring Morgan shares how she first got into journalism and later found herself in the travel industry, as well. Being a woman of color, Morgan also discusses the dark underbelly of travel: racism. She shares a few discouraging experiences and how she chose to deal with such prejudice. Additionally, she talks about her mental health journey and how she confronts her depression. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

MaSovaida Morgan: www.masovaida.com  

MaSovaida Morgan’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/masovaida 

MaSovaida Morgan’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/masovaidamorgan 

MaSovaida Morgan’s Twitter: www.twitter.com/masovaida

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Valerie Chen is the Deputy Digital Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine for travel advisors based in the Western U.S.   

TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including 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 new 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 experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is brought to you by TravelAge West.

OUR GUEST

Heather Christopher is the owner of Heather Christopher Travel Consulting; co-owner of Travel Pro Theory; and co-founder of Wanderlust Wedding Co. Through Travel Pro Theory’s eponymous podcast, Christopher (alongside co-host Kate Thomas of FIT operator North & Leisure) dives deep into important business topics such as “graduating” clients, charging service fees and more. It’s clear that Christopher is endlessly passionate about the travel industry — particularly as it pertains to her fellow travel advisors.  

In this episode of Humans of Travel, Christopher reveals how losing her father at a young age influenced her decision to enter the industry as an advisor. She also discusses how the advisor industry has evolved throughout her 14-year tenure thus far — particularly compared to when she was the youngest in the room — and what she believes are its major pain points (hint: the lack of a barrier to entry and marginal education). 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Heather Christopher’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/heatherchristophertravel 

Heather Christopher Travel Consulting: www.heatherchristophertravel.com  

Travel Pro Theory: www.travelprotheory.com 

Wanderlust Wedding Co.: www.wanderlustwedco.com

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Valerie Chen is the Deputy Digital Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine for travel advisors based in the Western U.S.   

TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including 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 new 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 experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is brought to you by TravelAge West.

OUR GUEST 

Jenn Lee - Vice president of sales and marketing for Travel Planners International 

Jenn is known for her infectious energy, fabulous curls and tell-it-like-it-is mentality, and in this inaugural episode of Humans of Travel, she doesn’t hold back on getting real. The charismatic Lee shares the secrets behind all that energy (hint: one essential component is wine), as well as how she greets each morning before heading into another busy day.  

We also get a peek into Lee’s childhood, which was full of love and support but also constant change — including father figures and, at one point, even her first name.  

What’s more, there were bumps on her career path, including getting fired, switching industries and filing for bankruptcy. But Lee learned from these challenges and eventually got to where she is today: successfully guiding an entrepreneurial-minded travel advisor community. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Valerie Chen is the Deputy Digital Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine for travel advisors based in the Western U.S.  

TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including 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 new 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 experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TravelAge West’s new 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 experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.