In this candid Shop Talk episode, Brianna joins from Costa Rica, where she’s spending a month on a “sabbatical-ish”—a slower pace of work made possible by years of intentional business design. She and Whitney unpack what it really takes to step away from the day-to-day without compromising client experience. They discuss shifting from task-based delegation to outcome-based leadership, building a team culture rooted in ownership and empowerment, and redefining success beyond revenue. Plus, they r...
Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Representation companies are often misunderstood, but they’re one of the most valuable allies a travel advisor can have. In this episode, Whitney and Natalia Aldacour-La Borie of TL Portfolio demystify the role of representation companies, explain why advisors should rely on them more often, and share how these partnerships elevate client experiences and advisor businesses alike. Takeaways: How reps act as liaisons between advisors and suppliers and why that connection matters The visibility and...
Jun 17, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 229
In this episode, Whitney talks with Kaleigh Kirkpatrick and Julie Jamgochian from Shameless Tourist about how they’re reimagining travel advising through AI. Instead of just dabbling, they’ve fully embraced AI tools—from itinerary review bots to inbox systems and trained ChatGPT models that write like them. They discuss what’s working, what’s not quite there yet, and how curiosity fuels their innovation. Takeaways: Why dedicating team resources to AI research has paid off for their business How ...
Jun 10, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 228
This episode dives into the critical (but often misunderstood) differences between training, coaching, and mentoring in the travel industry. Jeremy Seulich and Whitney unpack why using the wrong term can lead to misaligned expectations, and how understanding each role can help travel advisors find the exact support they need to grow. From the relational roots of mentorship to the goal-driven power of coaching, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone building a career in travel.
Jun 03, 2025•45 min
This month’s Shop Talk is a masterclass in both luxury travel and operational resilience. Brianna recaps her epic Emirates first-class experience—secured via a flurry of points and last-minute magic—while Whitney walks us through losing both her employees in five weeks, onboarding overseas hires, and simplifying systems without skipping a beat. If you’re navigating growth, hiring, or unexpected transition, this conversation will meet you right where you are.
May 27, 2025•57 min
In this conversation on DMCs, Whitney flips the script and chats with Hicham Mhammedi Alaoui, co-founder of Experience Morocco and The Travel Collection, to shine a light on the DMC side of working with travel advisors. They unpack how DMCs can create unique and memorable experiences without breaking the bank, how global expansion works behind the scenes, and what travel advisors should know to build successful partnerships. Hicham shares candid advice on communication, budgets, and the ever-evo...
May 20, 2025•50 min•Season 3Ep. 225
Brianna welcomes Sahara Rose Devore, founder of the Travel Coach Network, to discuss the power of using personal stories and deeper purpose in building a thriving travel business. They explore how travel professionals can differentiate themselves in a crowded marketplace by tapping into their personal “why,” connecting more meaningfully with clients, and combining coaching principles with traditional travel advising. Sahara shares about her transformative journey from solo traveler to industry i...
May 13, 2025•43 min•Season 3Ep. 224
How can you talk about hotels in a way that inspires and informs your clients? Joining Whitney this week is Madeline Steuber to shine a spotlight on the art of hotel and experience recommendations in the travel industry. Fresh from a FAM trip to Cape Town, they discuss the pitfalls of using superlatives (“the best hotel,” “must stay”) without context, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful, client-centered matching. And they dive into differentiating between luxury properties, understanding cl...
May 06, 2025•42 min•Season 3Ep. 223
Pull back the curtain on a Master Hour inside the Advisor Accelerator, where Sarah Williams of Rebel Office Inc and the host of IT'S A VIBE Podcast joins us to talk about client experience! We dive into topics like client retention, the art of client onboarding/offboarding, and the power of nurturing long-term relationships with clients. Plus, we cover nuanced topics like how to create personalized touch-points that strike a balance between professional boundaries and friendly engagement + incen...
Apr 29, 2025•1 hr
Shop Talk is where we talk about what is going on in our travel businesses, getting honest about the day to day and big picture successes and struggles. Brianna shares her transformative experience at a mastermind retreat, discussing both the energizing connections and the personal growth challenges she faced. Whitney recaps her recent travels—from Italian food explorations to her first-hand experience planning travel in Japan—highlighting the lessons learned when stepping outside comfort zones,...
Apr 22, 2025•35 min
Brianna dives deep into 'client experience', highlighting how creating a memorable and seamless experience for clients is not just about logistics and beautiful locations, but about how clients feel throughout their journey working with you. Tune in for insights and practical strategies to enhance client experience, drawing from Brianna's near decade of running a travel business. She breaks down the process into three key pillars: thoughtful communication, seamless logistics, and personal touche...
Apr 15, 2025•32 min•Season 3Ep. 220
Making the leap from a corporate job to full-time travel advisor is a courageous and scary decision, and here to share her story about making the leap is Julia Asselin of The Itinerary Girls. Tune in to hear about her personal journey of balancing her burgeoning travel business while working a full-time job and the eventual leap to becoming a full-time entrepreneur. The conversation provides valuable insights into branding, marketing strategies, and building a clientele in the oversaturated trav...
Apr 08, 2025•46 min
Joining us on Masters in Travel is Lindsey Epperly, founder and former CEO of Jet Set World Travel, to chat with Whitney about "the future"—the future of our businesses, our futures as entrepreneurs, and our legacies. They dive into the topics like transitioning roles, the fears and realities of one day stepping down or shifting roles, and the introspective work required to make significant business changes. Whether you are afraid to think about future changes or you embrace them with arms wide ...
Apr 01, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 218
Ever come home from a trip with hundreds of photos and videos, only to struggle with actually using them to create marketing content for your travel business? This week, we are replaying a past episode where Brianna and two other travel advisors – Julie Patterson and Kate Sullivan – talk about the nuances of crafting content for your business even while traveling. They cover the creative process, importance of authenticity, and practical tips that will help get your photos out of an album and ou...
Mar 25, 2025•54 min•Season 3Ep. 217
You own a travel business...but does your marketing showcase "travel influencer"? In this episode, Brianna dives into the balance of inspiration and advising with marketing content for a travel business. She talks elevating a business by effectively navigating the buyer’s journey, and strategically using storytelling alongside strategic marketing. From leveraging your own travel experiences to client testimonials, Brianna provides actionable steps for travel entrepreneurs to transform engaging c...
Mar 17, 2025•35 min•Season 3Ep. 216
In this episode of Masters in Travel, Lisa Taub joins Brianna to explore the intricacies of building meaningful relationships with travel clients by understanding clients' deeper motivations and needs and communicating effectively. They talk about how consultation calls can be transformed into powerful relationship-building tools, sharing strategies on how to conduct them in a way that ensures clients feel seen and heard. With a background in consumer and market research, Lisa brings an expertis...
Mar 11, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 215
In classic Shop Talk style, this week Whitney & Brianna delve into sharing about their personal and professional journeys as travel entrepreneurs. Brianna shares about her decision to join a high-level mastermind and the importance of aligning business growth with personal peace and fulfillment. Plus, Whitney spills the tea on her recent transformative trip to South Africa, highlighting its impact on her marketing strategy and client engagement. For some inspiration on investing in one's sel...
Mar 04, 2025•40 min•Season 3Ep. 214
How can travel advisors create partnerships with DMCs that feel more like collaborations and less like transactions? Joining Whitney for Part 2 of a two-part convo are seasoned travel advisor Kate Sullivan and newer advisor Anna Tretter to explore the intricacies of working with DMCs. They talk about the role DMCs play in the travel industry, especially in crafting experiences that go beyond the traditional "greatest hits." And they share tips on effective communication with DMCs, the benefits o...
Feb 25, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 3Ep. 213
Sometimes you love them, sometimes they drive you crazy...this week, we're talking all about Destination Management Companies (DMCs)! Seasoned advisor Kate Sullivan and newer advisor Anna Tretter join Whitney to share their personal experiences, frustrations, and strategies when working with DMCs. Plus, they talk about the importance of transparency, effective communication, and how to build strong partnerships with DMCs to enhance client experiences. This is Part 1 of a two part conversation!...
Feb 18, 2025•43 min•Season 3Ep. 212
Join Brianna this week for another solo episode where she breaks down her favorite topic for travel advisors – branding! She breaks down with examples how to incorporate your mission/vision/values into your brand. Plus, she illustrates how to pinpoint a unique selling proposition (USP) and the foundational elements that shape and differentiate travel brands. With practical advice on visual and verbal branding and the importance of consistency, the episode empowers travel entrepreneurs to craft r...
Feb 11, 2025•39 min•Season 3Ep. 211
Tune in as Brianna chats with a successful travel advisor and founder of the Biz Huddle, Courtney Nichols, in this week's inspiring, "I can achieve anything!" episode. Together, they delve into the art of breaking through barriers to build a sustainable and thriving travel business. Courtney shares her unique insights into dreaming bigger, overcoming industry norms, and thinking outside the box. This conversation is filled with practical strategies (like working backward from a revenue goal thro...
Feb 04, 2025•55 min•Season 3Ep. 210
In our first Shop Talk of 2025, we (Whitney & Brianna) bring back the tradition of opening up about what's going on in our travel businesses. There's some strategizing, some win-sharing, and a little venting, too. We delve into ongoing branding and marketing strategies that are working and that aren't, like Brianna's experience with a new marketing hire and Whitney's evaluation of her brand authenticity. Plus, we share personal anecdotes and hot takes about popular travel destinations!...
Jan 28, 2025•50 min•Season 3Ep. 209
We're bringing back a favorite past episode that is full of insights, even for a second listen! You may be interested in being a travel advisor, but are you also interested in being an entrepreneur? Sometimes running a travel advisor business requires much more than just planning travel. You may have to ask yourself if you’d rather join a team to help with the workload, or go solo to control more of your business. On this episode, Whitney is joined by Korrine Johnson to dive into this big questi...
Jan 21, 2025•46 min•Season 3Ep. 208
Joining Whitney this week are two star travel business owners, Madeline Steuber & Kaleigh Kirkpatrick , to delve into the intricate balance between hiring independent contractors (ICs) and employees for business growth. The discussion covers the benefits and challenges of both models, the importance of mentorship, and practical strategies for managing and integrating diverse team structures. Each guest shares personal insights and experiences, offering invaluable advice for travel advisors a...
Jan 14, 2025•57 min•Season 3Ep. 207
Welcome to 2025! We're doing something a little different by bringing you a solo episode featuring Brianna Glenn that explores "CEO-worthy goals" for travel advisors. We all make some sort of goals in our travel businesses, but are your goals "regular" goals or CEO-worthy one? AND, are they SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound)? Get actionable tips and personal insights to help you reflect on the past year and set goals that will actually scale your travel business e...
Jan 07, 2025•32 min•Season 3Ep. 206
That's a wrap to 2024! In this special Shop Talk, Brianna and Whitney reflect on 2024 and look ahead at what the next year holds for their travel businesses, from ROI metrics to track with marketing to utilizing Google profile reviews for local business. Tune in to hear their strategies for adjusting target client demographics and fine-tuning business strategies from branding approach, marketing campaigns, and financial management.
Dec 24, 2024•43 min•Season 3Ep. 205
Travel industry expert Lisa Fletcher has watched the industry evolve since the '80's when she first got into the business, and while it has evolved, her passion has remained the same: using email newsletters to connect with clients. Lisa shares her journey of writing "The Effortless Newsletter," offering practical tips on creating engaging content that fosters client relationships and highlights the importance of consistency. The episode explores alternative content creation methods, the role of...
Dec 17, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 195
Joining Brianna on the podcast again is Cynthia, the brand strategist who gave Masters in Travel our new look! Together, these two branding gurus delve into the essentials of effective strategies to truly connect with clients. Gain clarity on how to practically implement a marketing plan...and how that differs from develop a marketing strategy. Plus, Cynthia offers actionable advice on identifying your unique value proposition, the role of client experience in branding, and how to make the most ...
Dec 09, 2024•52 min
What really goes on behind the scenes of a travel business? Find out in Shop Talk! This week we spill the tea on past and upcoming FAM trips and the art of balancing family, personal, and professional travel commitments. Get Whitney's tips on taking personal time while traveling with children & hear how many books Brianna read on her last FAM! Plus, we talk about using AI tools for content creation, the work we are both doing with marketing professionals to tell our business stories, and KPI...
Dec 03, 2024•56 min•Season 3Ep. 202
A travel industry favorite, Kaytee Fisher of Moxie and Forth, joins Whitney to share her marketing insights, having worked with many travel advisors to help move the marketing needle. In this convo, hear her take on why personalized experiences are valued over cost-saving measures, the significance of niching down, and how consistent, authentic content can build deep connections and trust with consumers. Plus, Kaytee shares insights on balancing promotional content with storytelling, the effecti...
Nov 26, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 201
