By Travel Weekly and TravelAge West
Welcome to Trade Secrets, a podcast from the editors of Travel Weekly and TravelAge West, where travel advisors ask -- and answer -- questions. On each podcast, our editors will ask a veteran trave
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The podcast currently has 91 episodes available.
From ASTA’s fight against American Airlines’ distribution strategy to the Taylor Swift effect on the travel industry, 2024 was bursting with headlines that affected travel advisors. This week on Trade Secrets, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada talk about the major travel trends and events that shaped the agency landscape.
Further resources
Mentioned on the show:
Trade Secrets episode featuring Andrea Grisdale and a discussion on Italy
Trade Secrets episode featuring David Kolner and a discussion on generational travel
Emma on the Taylor Swift cruise
Need advice?
Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098
Email us: [email protected]
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Balancing work responsibilities with the needs of personal life has become exponentially more difficult for travel advisors as workloads have increased. But it’s also critically important to find time for friends, family and hobbies outside of work, and to develop systems at work that improve efficiency and allow you to step away. What kind of boundaries should you set, and how can you enforce them? What can you automate to take more things off your plate? Hear all about this and more on this episode of Trade Secrets, featuring Host Agency Reviews founder Stephanie Lee.
Further resources
Host Agency Reviews on the web
Steph Lee’s email and LinkedIn page
Mentioned on this episode:
From Travel Weekly, Dispatch, Wondrous moments from a Taylor Swift affinity cruise
From TravelAge West, HAR launches travel advisor tech software directory
Trade Secrets episode on dealing with travel advisor burnout
Host Agency Reviews’ software profiles
Calendly
Text Blaze
Need advice?
Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098
Email us: [email protected]
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What’s the difference between a tour operator and a destination management company (DMC)? How can advisors find DMCs to work with, and what are the top do’s and don’ts of working with them? What if a contact at a DMC ghosts a travel advisor? Hear the answers to these questions and more in this week’s episode of Trade Secrets, where co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada chat about all things DMCs with Andrea Grisdale, CEO and founder of I.C. Bellagio in Italy.
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways.
Further resources
IC Bellagio on the web
Andrea Grisdale’s email
Mentioned in this episode:
Death of a Travel Advisor by Dori Saltzman -
From TravelAge West: The ultimate travel advisor guide to destination management companies
Conde Nast’s travel specialists
Travel + Leisure’s A List
Wendy Perrin’s WOW List
Need advice?
Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098
Email us: [email protected]
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, Trade Secrets takes on the world. Jennifer Doncsecz of VIP Vacations returns to the podcast to discuss her specialty: destination weddings and honeymoons. She talks about everything from getting started selling destination weddings and honeymoons, to turning those travelers into clients for life. Then, she answers a number of listener questions about destinations, ranging from the benefits of visiting a spot before selling it, qualifying for fam trips and where to send clients headed to Europe for the first time.
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways.
Further resources
VIP Vacations on Facebook
Jennifer Doncsecz’s email
Jennifer’s previous Trade Secrets episodes:
All things branding
Destination weddings and honeymoons
Mentioned in this episode:
Death of a Travel Advisor by Dori Saltzman -
The Travel Institute’s course on destination weddings and honeymoons
From Travel Weekly, Getting into groups
Need advice?
Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098
Email us: [email protected]
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, the final in a three-part series of Trade Secrets recorded on the road at Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada welcome Azamara CEO Dondra Ritzenthaler. She discusses leaving her retirement to helm the small-ship luxury cruise line, the importance of suppliers listening to trade partners, luxury travel sales techniques and what sets luxury cruise lines like Azamara apart.
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways.
Further resources
Dondra Ritzenthaler’s email
Mentioned in this episode:
Need advice?
Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098
Email us: [email protected]
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Trade Secrets is on the road again, this time at Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas. In the second episode of a three-part series recorded on-site in Las Vegas, Megan Vatnsdal, owner of Onyx & Evergreen Travel and affiliate of Four Hundred, talks about how she’s spent the past few years building her luxury-focused agency. She and co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada cover everything from building a book of business, to getting in front of luxury clients, to using events to network.
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways.
Further resources
Megan Vatnsdal on Instagram, Facebook and the web
Mentioned in this episode:
Need advice?
Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098
Email us: [email protected]
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Trade Secrets is on the road again, this time at Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas. In the first episode of a three-part series recorded on site, Virtuoso executive vice president David Kolner shares updates on Virtuoso’s annual event, how advisors are selling so much right now, the different habits of each generation and what the term “luxury” means to him. Kolner also talks about Maui recovery and what travel advisors can do to help the island.
This episode is sponsored by Allianz Partners.
Further resources
Virtuoso’s website
David Kolner on LinkedIn and Instagram
UBS’s Global Wealth Report 2024
From TravelAge West:
From Travel Weekly:
Need advice?
Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098
Email us: [email protected]
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, Chad Burt of Outside Agents joins Jamie Biesiada and Emma Weissmann of Trade Secrets for our annual “mailbag” episode, featuring travel advisor listener questions on a variety of topics. During the episode, we’ll dig into advanced use cases of generative AI, airline loyalty, host agency affiliations, picking a travel advisor specialty and more.
This episode is sponsored by Allianz Partners USA.
Further resources and related readings
Outside Agents on the web
Outside Agents’ blog
More about Outside Agents’ MAGgie technology
Outside Agents’ Power Prompts
Chad’s book of prompts - password: oastrong
Mentioned in this episode and related reading:
Need advice?
Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098
Email us: [email protected]
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
New travel advisors, look no further than this episode of Trade Secrets for advice on everything from setting up your business, to finding clients, to prioritizing fam trip destinations. Co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are joined by KHM Travel Group’s Bill Coyle, vice president of agent engagement, to tackle listener questions on that and more.
This episode is sponsored by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts.
Further resources
Connect with KHM Travel Group online, on Facebook, on Instagram, on YouTube and on LinkedIn
Encompass the World Travel, Bill Coyle’s family agency
Mentioned in this episode and related reading:
Need advice?
Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098
Email us: [email protected]
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Travel advisors, how do you handle it when a client has unrealistic expectations? What if they ask to stay at a property you wouldn’t recommend (especially if they serve truly lackluster midnight hotdogs)? What do you do when their budget is unrealistic for the trip they want? Or, what if they have a really bad experience while they’re in-destination? Get advice on all that and more in this week’s episode of Trade Secrets, where co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are joined by Abbey Meyer, CEO of Sky High Travel in St. Louis, Missouri.
This episode is sponsored by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts.
Further resources
Sky High Travel on the web, Facebook and Instagram
Resources mentioned in this episode and related reading:
Need advice?
Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098
Email us: [email protected]
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The podcast currently has 91 episodes available.
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