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!

Marketing doesn’t have to be loud, complicated, or icky. In this Sales Workshop Series episode, we chat with travel advisor and business strategist Roslyn Ranse from Travel Agent Achievers to unpack a simple, human-first system for getting more of the right clients. We cover why value beats “specials,” how to ask for referrals without feeling salesy, a one-hour-a-week marketing routine, and what to track over a 90-day test so momentum compounds. You’ll hear practical examples and a tiny homework assignment that moves the needle today.

✨ What you’ll learn:

• How to sell value, not just deals
• Why you should segment your client lists & add personalization
• A one-hour weekly plan to create, engage, and prep for the next week
• How to measure your marketing success in a 90-day period

🎧 This episode is part 2 of our 4-part Sales Workshop series on The Lounge by Travefy. Learn more about Sales Workshop and listen to other episodes!

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Learn more about The Lounge Podcast's Sales Workshop Series
• Subscribe to Travefy's Newsletter
• Start a Free Trial of Travefy
• Roslyn's Resources for Travefy Listeners!
• Listen to Roslyn's Podcast: Travel Agent Achievers Podcast

👉 Subscribe to The Lounge by Travefy so you don’t miss the next two episodes in the Sales Workshop series, and share this kickoff with an advisor who needs a confidence boost today!

Welcome back to The Lounge Podcast by Travefy and the kickoff of Sales Workshop series, designed to strengthen every step of your travel sales process. In Episode 1, we sit down with Glenda Beagle from The Art of Selling Travel to start where great selling truly begins: mindset.

Glenda unpacks why advisors fear “being salesy,” how to stay authentic, and practical ways to stop getting ghosted after proposals. You’ll learn when not to send a proposal, how to walk clients through it (live or via a quick video), and a simple one-liner for confidently charging fees. We also dig into the difference between objections vs. rejections, why silence helps you close, and a weekly habit to build momentum and celebrate wins.

✨ What you’ll learn:

• A mindset reframe that makes selling feel ethical and fun
• The real reason for ghosting—and how to prevent it
• Exactly how to present proposals so clients say yes
• A clear script to introduce your planning fee with confidence
• How to spot (and solve) hidden objections
• A quick ritual to track wins and keep motivation high

🎧 This episode is part 1 of our 4-part Sales Workshop series on The Lounge by Travefy. Learn more about Sales Workshop and listen to other episodes!

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Learn more about The Lounge Podcast's Sales Workshop Series
• Subscribe to Travefy's Newsletter
• Start a Free Trial of Travefy

Learn More about Glenda Beagle:

• Visit Glenda's Website artofsellingtravel.com
• Listen to Art of Selling Travel's Podcast
  • Listen on Apply Podcasts
  • Listen on Spotify
• Follow Glenda on Social Media:
  • YouTube
  • Facebook Group
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

👉 Subscribe to The Lounge by Travefy so you don’t miss Episode 2 in the Sales Workshop series, and share this kickoff with an advisor who needs a confidence boost today!

In this episode, we chat with Kate Thomas, Founder of Travel Pro Theory and Owner of North + Leisure. Kate shares her love for data and why knowing your business numbers is so important and how you can use to make important decisions about your business. Kate walks through how you can get started right away by setting up a simple spreadsheet and system to start tracking your business numbers, from what your clients are booking, how long they're traveling for, the commission you're receiving and more. Being able to view these numbers can help you make strategic marketing and sales decisions to help your business thrive and succeed.

Show Notes:

• TravelProTheory.com
• Visit Travel Pro Theory on Instagram
• Freebie: Revenue Forecast

Start a free trial of Travefy at https://info.travefy.com/get_started

Recorded on August 22, 2024

In this episode, we catch up with Dave Natale, AKA the River Cruise King, whose business has skyrocketed since his last appearance on The Lounge Podcast in 2021! He shares the secrets behind his thriving river cruise group business, from using Travefy’s itinerary builder to crafting personalized experiences with city guides, movie and music recommendations, and more. Dave also reveals his top marketing tips and how he keeps travelers coming back.

Plus, hear all about River Cruise King Academy’s upcoming group cruise designed for travel advisors who want to grow their group cruise business!

Show Notes:

• River Cruise King Academy: Join on the Cruise!
• Travefy’s Podcast Episode with Dave Natale in 2021: “Leveling Up Your Business by Charging Fees with The River Cruise King”

Start a free trial of Travefy at https://info.travefy.com/get_started

Recorded on September 3, 2024

In this episode, we dive into the essential legal risks, fraud prevention strategies, and best practices every travel advisor needs to know. Sheila Folk, CEO and Founder of Travel Industry Solutions, shares her expert insights on how travel advisors can navigate complex legal landscapes, protect themselves from fraud, and maintain financial stability. Learn why regularly updating contracts and privacy policies is crucial, how to implement effective identity verification tools, and the importance of charging fees for your services.

Show Notes:

• For more information on Travel Industry Solutions, visit https://travelindustrysolutions.com/
• Follow TIS on all the socials. Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

Start a free trial of Travefy at https://info.travefy.com/get_started

Recorded on June 20, 2024