In this solo episode, Brianna walks travel advisors through the exact mindset shift and planning process that turns a trip from a one-time experience into a long-term marketing asset. As she prepares for seven weeks in Europe, including a Portugal river cruise with AmaWaterways, she shares how she thinks through audience, intention, content capture, and post-trip visibility before she ever boards the plane. Brianna breaks down why firsthand experience is one of a travel advisor’s greatest compet...
Jun 09, 2026•30 min•Ep. 277
In this episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by Kate for a thoughtful and practical conversation about the wide spectrum of spa, wellness, and sport-focused travel. Together, they unpack why the simple question “Does the hotel have a spa?” often falls short, especially when clients have very specific expectations around relaxation, treatments, facilities, programming, or transformation. From diagnostic wellness resorts to choose-your-own-adventure retreats, hotel spas, hydrotherapy ci...
Jun 02, 2026•41 min•Ep. 276
Family-friendly hotels are often misunderstood, with many properties claiming the label without truly designing for how families actually travel. In this episode, Travel Advisor Lee Friedman of Mango Tree Travel shares firsthand insight into what makes a hotel genuinely work for families. The conversation dives into real-world considerations like room configurations, kids club quality, dining flexibility, and how hotel design impacts both parents and children. It also explores the gap between ho...
May 26, 2026•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 275
In this solo episode, Brianna reflects on what she would do differently if she were starting her travel business from scratch in 2026. With 10 years of experience behind her, she breaks down the foundational decisions that matter most, from choosing the right host agency to getting honest about your network, picking a niche early, investing in the travel business, and building systems before they are urgently needed. Brianna also shares why proximity still matters when building a client base, ho...
May 19, 2026•34 min•Ep. 274
There is a skill inside great trip design that nobody talks about enough, and it has nothing to do with knowing the best hotels or having the right supplier relationships. It is judgment. And judgment is hard to teach when it has always lived in your gut. In this solo episode, Brianna shares the frameworks she has spent years developing to articulate what once felt purely instinctive. She walks through how to truly read a client beyond their intake form, how to think about trip movement before y...
May 12, 2026•39 min•Ep. 273
If you’ve ever stared at a blank caption, rewritten it three times, and still didn’t hit post, this episode is for you. Brianna sits down with social media strategist and former travel advisor Kyla Daisy to unpack what’s really behind the hesitation so many travel advisors feel when it comes to showing up online. Together, they explore how overthinking, comparison, and the pressure to be perfect are often the biggest blockers to consistency. Kyla shares a refreshingly simple approach to content ...
May 05, 2026•54 min•Ep. 273
If you’ve been booking trips, staying busy, and still questioning whether your travel business is truly sustainable, this conversation is for you. Brianna sits down with Courtnie Nichols to unpack the major shifts happening in the travel advisor space and why the traditional business model is no longer enough. From AI-driven content saturation to unpredictable commissions, Courtnie challenges advisors to rethink how they position their value and structure their business. They dive into the diffe...
Apr 28, 2026•48 min•Ep. 271
What actually happens at a hotel before your client even walks through the door? In this episode, Brianna sits down with Alexandra Hepworth, founder of Layah and a travel advisor with nearly two decades of experience across global luxury hospitality, for a rare behind-the-scenes look at how hotels really operate. Alexandra pulls back the curtain on how upgrade decisions are actually made, why labeling every client a VIP might be working against you, and how the internal dynamics between hotel te...
Apr 21, 2026•46 min•Ep. 270
If you’ve ever come home from a trip with thousands of photos and no plan for what to do with them, this episode is for you. Whitney sits down with email marketing expert and travel advisor Kaytee Fisher to unpack one of the most common struggles in a travel business: unused content. Together, they explore why so much valuable content goes to waste and how to turn past trips into long-term marketing assets that actually drive bookings. Kaytee shares simple but powerful frameworks for storytellin...
Apr 14, 2026•51 min•Ep. 269
In this month's Shop Talk, Brianna and Whitney get candid about what Q1 2026 really looked like. Brianna shares her concerns about a slowdown in inquiries since mid-February, while Whitney reflects on a busier but more reactive quarter with shorter booking windows. Together they talk through what travel advisors can and can't control, how global uncertainty is affecting client behavior, and the simple outreach moves worth making when business feels slow. The conversation wraps with both sharing ...
Apr 07, 2026•35 min•Ep. 268
In this solo episode, Brianna walks through exactly how she uses AI inside her travel business, from the first client inquiry all the way through final itinerary delivery. Rather than focusing on tools or theory, she breaks down the real, behind-the-scenes workflows that help her move faster, think more clearly, and execute at a higher level. She shares how AI supports consult prep, shapes her North Star brief, enhances research and design, and streamlines communication with both clients and DMC...
Mar 31, 2026•33 min•Ep. 267
In this episode, Whitney sits down with email marketing strategist Kaytee Fisher to unpack what it actually takes to shift your travel business toward the trips you want to book more of. From increasing safari inquiries to pivoting into new destinations or trip types, this conversation breaks down the gap between intention and execution. Kaytee shares why consistent marketing matters even when your book of business feels full, and how storytelling plays a critical role in guiding your audience t...
Mar 24, 2026•35 min•Ep. 266
What if the fastest way to grow your travel business isn’t social media or referrals, but showing up in your local community? In this episode, Whitney sits down with Kathryn Morga, founder of Adventure Smarter, to talk about how networking became the driving force behind her rapidly growing book of business. After relocating to Nashville with two young kids and a full-time job, Kathryn rebuilt her travel business from scratch and quickly scaled it from part-time to full-time through consistent c...
Mar 17, 2026•42 min•Ep. 265
In this month's Shop Talk, Brianna and Whitney get real about navigating a chaotic start to the year while balancing the mental load of running a travel business. From wave season overwhelm to learning when to walk away from inquiries that don't fit, they explore what it means to lead with honesty in client conversations. Whitney shares her journey toward being more transparent about pricing and what it actually takes to create the level of experience clients are asking for. Together they unpack...
Mar 10, 2026•40 min•Ep. 264
What if leading a retreat didn't mean doing it all yourself? In this episode, Whitney sits down with Karen Hattaway, founder of Life Beyond the Room, a DMC based in Italy, to explore how travel advisors can create signature retreats and small group trips without the overwhelm. Karen breaks down the difference between a retreat and a small group trip, why slower-paced, single-destination experiences attract seasoned travelers, and how partnering with a DMC can take the logistical weight off your ...
Mar 03, 2026•52 min•Ep. 263
What if the reason you feel stuck isn't because you're not working hard enough, but because you're too busy executing to decide what actually matters? In this solo episode, Brianna unpacks why so many travel advisors find themselves in a cycle of nonstop busyness that somehow still feels stagnant. She breaks down five specific ways advisors get stuck: building for everyone instead of someone, being great at what they do but unable to explain why, growing a business they don't actually want, trea...
Feb 24, 2026•28 min•Ep. 262
What if the key to growing your travel business isn't about doing more, but about getting clearer on what you're actually saying? In this Ask Us Anything episode, Whitney and Brianna respond to a listener who's ready to pivot away from high-volume, promotion-driven marketing toward a quieter, more strategic approach. They tackle five questions: how to market without urgency or deals, what destination intelligence looks like in practice, how to educate without over-explaining, how to block out in...
Feb 17, 2026•49 min•Ep. 261
In this month's Shop Talk, Brianna and Whitney get real about navigating a chaotic start to the year while balancing the mental load of running a travel business. From January wave season overwhelm to learning when to walk away from inquiries that don't fit, they explore what it means to lead with honesty in client conversations. Whitney shares her journey toward being more transparent about pricing, profitability, and what it actually takes to create the level of experience clients are asking f...
Feb 10, 2026•47 min•Ep. 260
What if selling more travel still isn’t translating into the paycheck you actually want? In this episode, Brianna challenges travel advisors to stop chasing revenue for the sake of it and start designing profit on purpose. She breaks down the five numbers that matter most in your travel business and explains why owners pay should always come before top line goals. Through simple math and relatable examples, Brianna shares from her ten years of owning a travel business a realistic path to paying ...
Feb 03, 2026•30 min•Ep. 259
What if staying with a host agency as an experienced travel advisor isn’t about settling, but about scaling smarter? In this episode, Whitney is joined by Margaret Haas Wolf of Brownell to explore what true mutual investment can look like between a host agency and an established travel business. They discuss why support should evolve as advisors grow, not disappear, and how strategic partnership can impact margins, confidence, and quality of life. Margaret shares how engaged host agencies can he...
Jan 27, 2026•43 min•Ep. 258
In this month’s Shop Talk, Brianna and Whitney kick off the new year by getting real about inbox overwhelm, coming back from time off, and what it actually feels like to start fresh after the holidays. They explore the idea of using “fun” as a decision making filter in your travel business, from which inquiries you say yes to, to how you define success day to day. Whitney shares how reframing niching as “does this sound fun?” has shifted how she approaches client work. Brianna reflects on scarci...
Jan 20, 2026•49 min•Ep. 254
What if familiarization stays didn’t require waiting for an invitation or hoping the timing worked out? In this episode, Whitney sits down with Lotte Gossage, founder of Hotel FAM Club, to challenge the way travel advisors think about FAMs and hotel partnerships, offering practical insight into positioning yourself as a professional partner rather than a passive participant. Lotte shares how her background in hospitality and sales shaped a more proactive, business-first approach to creating fami...
Jan 13, 2026•58 min•Ep. 256
AI is everywhere right now, but the question on most travel advisor’s minds is how to actually use it in a way that feels practical, personal, and aligned with client expectations. In this episode, Brianna sits down with Dayo Esho, co-founder of TravelJoy, to explore how AI is quietly transforming advisor workflows without replacing the human-first service clients value. Dayo shares how his background in engineering, entrepreneurship, and growing up inside his mother’s travel agency shaped the l...
Jan 06, 2026•38 min•Ep. 255
If you’ve ever reached the end of a year and wondered how so much happened so fast, you’re in good company. In this December Shop Talk, Brianna and Whitney look back on a whirlwind year and unpack the wins, challenges, and ‘aha’ moments that shaped both their lives and their travel businesses. They dig into how AI has become a game-changing partner in everything from client experience to team operations, and why building stronger workflows has opened up space for more strategic thinking. The con...
Dec 16, 2025•52 min•Ep. 254
What if selling travel wasn’t just about itineraries, but about identity, connection, and the stories travelers carry home? In this episode, Brianna sits down with AmaWaterways’ Director of National Accounts, Jazzmine Douse, to explore how purpose-driven, culturally rooted experiences are reshaping luxury travel. Jazzmine shares the evolution of AmaWaterways’ soulful experience sailings and why intentional inclusion has become both a meaningful mission and a powerful growth strategy. They also d...
Dec 09, 2025•44 min
What would we do differently if we started our travel agency all over again today? In this episode, Whitney sits down with industry veteran Julie Lanham, President of Vacations to Remember, to explore that question. Julie brings 40 years of perspective, having built her agency from the ground up long before host agencies, online bookings, or social media existed. Together, she and Whitney unpack what they’d repeat, what they’d absolutely change, and how new advisors can learn from decades of exp...
Dec 02, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 252
Join systems-specialist and travel industry veteran Erin Faith Erdos to demystify how travel advisors and travel business owners can stop relying on hustle and start building support, systems, and automations that actually work. Erin shares her journey of moving from being a full-service travel planner to designing streamlined workflows that free up your time and scale your impact. Plus, she covers where advisors typically get stuck, how to bring in smart automation (without sacrificing personal...
Nov 18, 2025•51 min•Ep. 251
In this month’s Shop Talk, Brianna and Whitney open up about the realities of travel, delegation, and growth as a travel entrepreneur. Whitney shares highlights from her recent trip to Greece and the honest challenges of creating content while managing client work on the go. Together they talk about what it really takes to balance marketing, travel, and team leadership without burning out. Their conversation unfolds into lessons from mastermind retreats, the importance of profit and wealth-build...
Nov 11, 2025•40 min•Ep. 250
If your travel business is thriving on paper but you sometimes feel like you are barely holding it together, tune into this episode where Brianna shares the real signs that you’re ready to hire and what it looks like to step into leadership with intention. Explore the financial and mindset shifts that turn hiring from a scary leap into a strategic next step. Walk away after this episode knowing exactly how to prepare for growth and what it means to build a business that runs for you, not because...
Nov 04, 2025•30 min•Ep. 249
When it comes to hotel knowledge, it’s not about knowing which property is “the best”—it’s about understanding the differences and trade-offs that help you guide each client to the right fit. In this special crossover episode from The Hivemind Podcast , Whitney models how to have smarter, more strategic hotel conversations with fellow travel advisors Michelle Orr of Master Travel and Andrea Duvall of Andrea Duvall Travel Design. They compare six hotels in Grand Cayman —from the design-forward Ho...
Oct 28, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 248
