If you’ve been in the travel industry for any length of time, you’ve most likely heard of Valerie Wilson. Wilson, who is the founder, CEO, chairman and owner of Valerie Wilson Travel, is so well-known amongst luxury suppliers that many call upon her to advise them as they explore how to improve their offerings . 

And what once started as a three-person business in 1981 has since grown to encompass more than 300 associates across 12 U.S. offices.  

In this episode of Humans of Travel, Wilson gives listeners a taste of her life beyond, and before, travel. We’ll hear about Wilson’s early years working in New York City’s fashion scene as a designer and model. She’ll describe the moment she fell in love with travel — during her honeymoon to Spain in 1967 — and her subsequent foray into the travel industry as a travel advisor.  

Wilson will also talk about the ins and outs of running her business alongside her two daughters — Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg and Kimberly Wilson Wetty — and what she envisions for the future of the agency now that it’s joined forces with FROSCH.  

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Valerie Wilson Travel: www.valeriewilsontravel.com

Valerie Wilson's World: The Top Hotels & Resorts (Second Edition)

FROSCH: www.frosch.com

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is Senior Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine 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 experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amanda Ervin and Jimmy Lierow are on a mission to represent the marginalized plus-size community in the travel industry. They’re also passionate about encouraging these individuals that they, too, can travel — regardless of their physical size.  

The charismatic couple met in 2014 and quickly discovered a shared passion for travel. (They even embarked on an international cruise together after dating for just three months). While still working full-jobs outside of the travel industry, they launched YouTube channel Chubby and Away, which chronicles their extensive trips around the world. One such trip is a yearlong, adventure-packed stint in Asia — a place they have lovingly nicknamed “The Land of Tiny People.” 

The duo also hosts a podcast called The PudgeCast, which offers travel tips and interviews with other travelers, all with an emphasis on plus-size travel. Last but not least, they recently opened their own travel agency, The Chubby & Away Travel Agency, in December 2019. 

In this Humans of Travel episode, Ervin and Lierow explain that they prioritize inclusivity as well as good health — and want people to feel comfortable in their own skin. The two also offer tips on how the industry can do better in serving the plus-size travel segment, and share examples of a few notable suppliers that are already demonstrating great service.   

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE  

Chubby and Away: www.chubbyandaway.com 

Chubby and Away YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/chubbyandaway

The PudgeCast: www.chubbyandaway.com/podcast 

Chubby & Away Travel Agency: www.chubbyandaway.com/travelagency 

Chubby and Away Facebook: www.facebook.com/chubbyandaway 

Chubby and Away Instagram: www.instagram.com/chubbyandaway

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is Senior Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine 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 experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since 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 experiencing an especially impactful trip to Kurdistan (in Northern Iraq) a few years ago with his son, Ashton.  

Stowell also explains the nuances of the term “adventure travel,” which is defined by the themes of cultural immersion, physical action or natural experiences (or a combination of the three), and how his own definition of adventure travel has shifted due to a recent health scare. 

Listeners will also learn about the ATTA’s mission of promoting sustainable travel — including how members of the travel industry can get onboard with this initiative — and the future of the adventure travel segment as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

ATTA: www.adventuretravel.biz  

Tomorrow’s Air (permanent carbon recapture subscription): www.tomorrowsair.com 

Contact the ATTA: [email protected] 

ATTA’s free community membership program: https://www.adventuretravelnews.com/atta-opens-doors-with-new-free-community-membership-program 

Stowell's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonstowell/ 

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is Senior Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine 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 experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This special encore episode of Humans of Travel 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 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.

Sherwin Banda, president of African Travel, Inc., was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, during apartheid, a tumultuous time when the country was governed under the principles of segregation and discrimination based on race. He describes what it meant to be classified as “colored” while growing up, and how his family dealt with the various challenges that came with that designation.  

In this episode of Humans of Travel, Banda explains how he transitioned into a decades-long career in hospitality, beginning with the night shift at a Cape Town hotel, until he became the first Black General Manager of a five-star hotel in South Africa. He also explains what it was like for South Africa to transition to a democratic country, and more presently, the parallels between that time and the conversations we are currently having in the U.S. about race. He also explains the ways that African Travel’s parent company, The Travel Corporation, have handled the challenges of diversity and representation in the travel industry.  

Finally, he gives tips for travelers heading to Africa for the first time, along with suggested itineraries through African Travel Inc., the longest established luxury safari operator that’s focused exclusively on the African continent.  

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Africantravelinc.com 

Instagram: @AfricanTravelInc, @SherwinBanda  

Email: [email protected]  

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is Senior Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine 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 experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This special encore episode of Humans of Travel is brought to you by TravelAge West.

OUR GUEST 

Denella Ri'chard is a world traveler, television personality, travel industry executive, public speaker and travel writer. Her television show, “Traveling with Denella Ri'chard,” airs on both the CJC Network and the CW Network, and her column, "Traveling With Denella Ri'chard," can be read in Global One Magazine.

In this episode of Humans of Travel, Ri’chard speaks candidly about growing up in Louisiana, and how earning a broadcast journalism degree from Southern University — coupled with a year living in Zimbabwe — has opened doors for a career in travel. As an advocate for hiring diverse talent, Ri’chard also speaks about the challenges that people of color face in the travel industry and beyond.

Ri’chard also opens up about her recent pivot from a career in the cruise industry to launching her own television show, “Traveling With Denella Ri'chard," during the COVID-19 pandemic.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Denella Ri’chard’s website
Traveling with Denella Ri'chard

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 experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel advisor Korrine Johnson is a wearer of many hats: She’s an advisor for Journeys Travel Company, where she and her business partner manage a team of five; she’s a co-host of The TIN Lounge podcast  (where she breaks down the latest travel headlines and news); and she’s the founder of Travel Biz Boss — a consultancy for travel agents who need help automating and streamlining their businesses’ back-end systems. 

But before her entrepreneurial spirit drove her toward success in the travel industry, Johnson faced her own set of unique challenges and milestones. She spent her childhood moving around the country with her mother and younger brother (after leaving an abusive situation with her biological father); she sharpened her business acumen by working in the optical industry; and she became a fierce advocate for human rights after watching her wife, Tracy, lose her job in education solely because of her sexual orientation.     

In this episode of Humans of Travel, Johnson describes how she often drew on the strength of her mother to drive her forward in life, and how she was able to use the skills she learned selling high-end eyewear to create a successful travel agency. She also gives advice to agents looking to start from the ground up — as she did — whether it is by fine-tuning email marketing strategies or implementing systems that allow advisors to be taken seriously from the get-go.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

The TIN Lounge podcast    

Travel Biz Boss

Journeys Travel Company

Johnson's Instagram: @travelbizboss, @lifeasadv

Johnson's Email: [email protected], [email protected] 

BUSINESS TOOLS/SOFTWARE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Canva  

Trello

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is Senior Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine 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 experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This special encore episode of Humans of Travel 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 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 experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a child, travel journalist Mark Chesnut often dodged discomfort by hopping on the nearest plane, train or bus. Raised by a single mother in New York State and navigating the world as a young gay boy in the 1970s, he is the first to admit that he often turned to travel as both a physical — and figurative — escape. 

From creating imaginary airlines to “gate raiding” at local airports and posing as a female travel agent to get free airplane posters, Chesnut has long used his enthusiasm about travel to tap into his creativity — a skill that he puts to daily use while working as an award-winning freelance travel writer for publications such as HuffPost (formerly The Huffington Post), Forbes Travel Guide, Travel Weekly and TravelAge West, among others.  

In this episode of Humans of Travel, Chesnut takes listeners along on his journey toward radical self-acceptance. He describes the challenges of coming out to his traditional-but-supportive mother, his transformative trips across the globe and how, through persistence, he was able to turn his passions into a career. We’ll also hear about how Chesnut’s role as a travel writer has shifted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how he has dealt with the rise of “travel shaming.”  

Note: Chesnut’s memoir, tentatively titled “Prepare for Departure: A Travel Writer’s Notes on Life, Death and Growing Up Different,” will be published by Vine Leaves Press. It will be available for pre-order in May 2022. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Instagram: @mundera  

Twitter: @MunderaMedia 

Latin Flyer Travel Blog: LatinFlyer.com  

Youtube: YouTube.com/LatinFlyerTV 

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is Senior Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine 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 experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TravelAge West's Humans of Travel podcast is returning with new episodes for 2021. Join your new host, Emma Weissmann, senior editor at TravelAge West, as she seeks out exceptional people within the travel industry and gets to the heart of who they really are.

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.

For more information, visit www.travelagewest.com/Podcasts/Humans-of-Travel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.