Ali Raymer spent nine years building her business at Picture This Travel before launching her own agency, Peace & Pearl Travel Co. In this episode, she breaks down what it actually takes to find, hire, and train the right people, starting with her very first hire (a former student) and the unconventional paths several of her other advisors took to get there.

She also shares the harder lessons: the traits she actually looks for before bringing someone on, why giving away the leads she wasn't passionate about ended up growing her business, and how she built an onboarding system that lets new advisors ramp up without her having to be in the room for every conversation.

Plus, how her team stays connected day to day, and why the right tools (including Travefy) matter more once you're not the only one running the show.

If you've ever thought about building a team, whether that means growing where you are or eventually starting your own agency, this one's for you.

Show Notes:

Website: peaceandpearltravel.com
Instagram: @alipeaceandpearltravel
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alipeaceandpearltravel/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AliPeaceandPearl
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@alipeaceandpearltravel

✨ Listen to more episodes of The Lounge Podcast at https://lp.travefy.com/the-lounge

Every advisor remembers that first inquiry. The excitement, then the quiet panic of realizing you have a customer now and no system for what comes next.

Jonathan Morris spent years as a retail agent before building Legato, a host agency built around an agent-first philosophy. In this conversation he shares what he's learned coaching hundreds of agents through the foundation stage, including a story about an advisor who sold out cruise groups within days and still nearly burned out because the systems weren't there to support the growth.

We get into the first 90 days, how to actually build a relationship with a BDM, why quarterly business checkups matter more than most agents think, and what led Legato to become the first host agency to integrate with Travefy.

Show Notes:

• Learn more about Legato
• Find Legato on social: Instagram, Facebook, & Linkedin

Learn more about Travefy's partnership with Legato and see how your host agency can become the next integration: https://travefy.com/blog-post/legato-integration

✨ Listen to more episodes of The Lounge Podcast at https://lp.travefy.com/the-lounge

Your agency's financial story is already written. The question is whether you're reading it.

Most travel advisors got into this business because they love travel, not because they love spreadsheets. But ignoring the financial side of your agency isn't just stressful. It's costing you money you've already earned.

In this episode, we sit down with Stephanie Cannon, a licensed CPA, small business accountant, and 20-year travel advisor, for a candid conversation about the financial blind spots that affect advisors at every stage — from solo practitioners to agencies with 30+ advisors.

We cover what you should actually be tracking and how often, why "I'll deal with it at tax time" is quietly hurting your business, how to figure out what you need to earn to pay yourself what you're worth, the real cost of commissions you never reconcile, and why your numbers are telling you a story, you just have to be willing to read it.

Show Notes:

• Visit Stephanie Cannon's Website
• Join Stephanie Cannon's Facebook Group: "First Class Profit Lounge"
• Stephanie's Real Pay Calculator

Find Stephanie Cannon on Social:

• Instagram
• Linkedin

Learn more about tracking and reconciling booking commissions through Travefy at https://travefy.com/solutions/building-for-agencies & start your free trial today!

✨ Listen to more episodes of The Lounge Podcast at https://lp.travefy.com/the-lounge

Every travel advisor knows the feeling: you've pitched a trip, poured time into the details, and the client either disappears, says they found it cheaper somewhere else, or hits you with the dreaded "I'll get back to you." So what do you actually say? 

In this episode, we sit down with Harish Shroff, VP of Sales at Indus Travels and author of Mastering the Art of Sales, for a conversation built around the real moments that trip up even experienced advisors. We dig into why jumping to price is a signal you haven't built enough value yet, how to use a recap strategy when a client stalls, the follow-up mistake most advisors don't realize they're making, and why the best thing you can do after a client returns from a trip isn't wait for them to call you. 

This one's practical, honest, and worth sharing with anyone on your team who talks to clients.

Show Notes: 

• Get the Book: Mastering the Art of Sales
• Connect with Harish Shroff on Linkedin
• Learn more about Indus Travels

Wave Season can bring a surge of inquiries and bookings. It can also bring long hours, constant notifications, and a pace that is hard to sustain.

In this episode of The Lounge by Travefy, we sit down with Stacey Cabell, a 14-year travel industry veteran, to explore how advisors can maintain peak performance without burning out.

We cover how to recognize the early signs of burnout, why protecting your energy improves both your business and your client experience, and simple habits you can implement right away to stay consistent during Wave Season and beyond.

You’ll also hear practical ideas for setting healthy client boundaries, building confidence through small wins, and using systems that reduce daily mental load. Because a sustainable travel business is not built in chaos.

Show Notes:

• Visit Stacey's Website at http://staceycabell.com

✨ Listen to more episodes of The Lounge Podcast at https://lp.travefy.com/the-lounge

Are conferences actually worth the time and money, especially with so much virtual education available now? In this episode, we sit down with Kelley Wright (Travel Agent Recruitment) and Stephanie McCracken (Director of Marketing) from Travel Show Marketing Group, the team behind Travel Agent Forum, to break down how advisors can approach events strategically. 

You’ll learn how attendees can get the most ROI from conferences, when it may not make sense to attend, how to choose the right event for your business stage, and how to avoid burnout while maximizing networking and follow-up. 

Plus, we share details on Travefy Live, Travefy’s user conference happening May 12, 2026 in Las Vegas — and why it’s the perfect add-on to Travel Agent Forum.

Show Notes:

• Learn More + Register for Travefy Live
• Learn More + Register for Travel Agent Forum in Las Vegas
• Check out Travel Show Marketing Groups' other events
• Join Kelley's "Travel Show Marketing Group 2026 Events and Application Process" webinars: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regis... (Happening on Feb. 23, 2026) and https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regis... (Happening on Feb. 24, 2026)

Choosing a host agency can shape your entire travel business—but it’s often misunderstood.

In this episode, we're joined by Shayna Zand from Host Agency Reviews to break down what host agencies are actually designed to do for advisors, and what they’re not.

We unpack common misconceptions around fees and commission splits, why long-term success has more to do with fit and expectations than numbers on paper, and what truly separates advisors who thrive at a host agency from those who struggle, even within the same host.

This episode is a must-listen for agents and advisors considering a host, thinking about switching, or wanting to get more value from the one they’re with.

🔗 Show Notes & Resources:

Host Week 2026 -

• Join Travefy's Coffee Spot during Host Week on January 27! [Register Here]
• Learn about Host Week and Register (for free!)

Free Resources from Host Agency Reviews - 

• Top 10 Benefits of Using a Host Agency
• A Travel Agent's Guide to Charging Fees
• Host Agency Commission Plan Comparison Calculator
• Choosing the Right Host: 5 Things to Consider

Artificial intelligence is no longer “coming soon” for travel advisors—it’s already reshaping how business gets done. In this episode, we’re joined by Travefy CEO David Chait to unpack what AI truly means for advisors right now and where it’s headed next.

This conversation is grounded in real advisor insights from Travefy’s recent collaboration with Travel Market Report’s first-ever Outlook on AI Trends in the Travel Industry. Using key findings from the report, we explore where advisors are seeing the biggest efficiency gains, how AI impacts personalization and privacy, why adoption is accelerating, and what advisors should focus on as this shift continues.

If you want a clear, realistic look at how AI is shaping the future of the advisor business, this episode delivers.

✨ Resources & Links:

🔗 Travel Market Reports's Outlook on A.I.Trends in the Industry, 2025

🔗 Learn more about The Lounge podcast & listen to other episodes

🔗 Subscribe to Travefy's Newsletter

🔗 Start a Free Trial of Travefy 

After the booking is made, your sales process isn’t over, it’s entering the stage that matters most. In Episode 4 of The Lounge by Travefy’s Sales Workshop Series, we chat with Courtnie Nichols, CEO of Travel Bash and founder of The Biz Huddle, to explore how thoughtful post-booking care turns happy travelers into loyal, repeat clients.

Courtnie shares simple ways to wow clients, how to personalize touch points, smart systems for gathering testimonials, and why referrals become effortless when you deliver an experience that feels unforgettable. As the finale of our four-part series, this episode brings the full sales journey together—from mindset to marketing to workflow to long-term loyalty.

✨ What you’ll learn:

• Why most advisors stop selling too early and how to fix it
• Easy “surprise and delight” moments that cost little but mean a lot
• How to personalize the client journey at every stage
• A simple system for collecting testimonials and reviews
• Natural, non-awkward ways to encourage referrals
• The one improvement you can make this week to boost retention

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Learn more about The Lounge Podcast's Sales Workshop Series
• Subscribe to Travefy's Newsletter
• Start a Free Trial of Travefy
• Visit Courtnie's Website
• Learn More About The Biz Huddle
  
  

🎧 This is Episode 4—the finale of The Lounge by Travefy’s Sales Workshop Series. Catch up on Episodes 1–3 to complete the full sales journey!

Once the leads start rolling in—what happens next?

In Episode 3 of The Lounge by Travefy’s Sales Workshop Series, we chat with Angela Hughes, CEO of Trips & Ships Luxury Travel and founder of Luxury Travel University, to unpack how to design a sales workflow that actually works.

Angela shares how to qualify clients effectively, when to charge fees, how to balance automation with personal connection, and why consistency—not hustle—is the real key to conversions. From the first discovery call to post-trip follow-up, this episode walks you through a repeatable system that keeps your pipeline flowing and clients returning.

✨ What you’ll learn:

• How to turn leads into real opportunities (not dead ends)
• The discovery-call questions that reveal your best clients
• When, and how, to confidently introduce your service fee
• Where to automate vs. when to stay human
• The “follow-up framework” that turns happy travelers into repeat clients
• Why consistency and accountability are your most powerful sales tools

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Learn more about The Lounge Podcast's Sales Workshop Series
• Subscribe to Travefy's Newsletter
• Start a Free Trial of Travefy
• Trips & Ships Luxury Travel Website
• Follow Angela on Instagram
• Find Angela on Linkedin

🎧 This episode is part 3 of the 4-part Sales Workshop Series on The Lounge by Travefy. Catch up on Episodes 1 and 2 to complete your sales journey, from mindset to marketing to workflow. Learn more here!