On this month's Master Hour, the expert in the room is Kate Thomas, owner of North + Leasure and co-Founder of TravelPro Theory. Whitney and Kate answer tons of community questions in this all-encompassing episode. Topics today include; reaching out to suppliers, finding new clients in a post-covid world, and much more.
Working with supplier partners can sometimes be risky. Even with consortia or host agency relationships, most of the time, we take a leap of faith. The conversation about who to work with, who is financially sound, and who is really taking care of their business behind the scenes, can often be a really hard question to answer. On this episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by Marnie Brown, Founder of Trusted FIT Services. Marnie is here with a solution to this problem. Listen in as they...
After receiving an exciting inquiry, we may celebrate, but then what happens? Do we spend time on research or forms? Maybe this is a chance to welcome clients into our world, our business, and our experience before talking with them about their specific trip requests. On this episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by Madi and Kristen Steuber, Cofounders of Steuber Travel Group. Together they discuss the importance of onboarding a client while Madi and Kristen share their experience in l...
In the world of business, and especially in the role of a travel advisor, selling is a vital factor. Some people hate it while others excel at it, but the key in closing a deal is first knowing who you’re selling to. Jenn Lee, expert saleswoman and VP of sales and marketing at Travel Planners International, is our guest on today’s episode. She and Whitney discuss the BOLT Process of learning how people operate and the best way to handle them in closing deals and building better relationships....
On this month’s Masters in Travel Panel Discussion in collaboration with The Bridge, Whitney is joined by Anita Powell, Founder of The Africa Hub & the Managing Director of Small World Marketing. This episode is all about the fantastic resource that is The Africa Hub. Listen in to hear more about how this hub can provide you training tools, marketing resources, and tons of tips and tricks in both learning about and selling Africa.
Sustainability is a growing interest and a priority for some. But what does sustainability actually mean? How would implementing sustainable practices affect the way we do business and our clients’ experiences? On today’s episode of Masters in Travel, Clark Kotula, Kate Sullivan, and Whitney dive deeper into this topic and find ways to make sustainability easier for everyone.
On this episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by three amazing advisors who are a major part of the Masters in Travel community and Think Tank to talk about the power of community. Being an entrepreneur can be isolating at times, and sometimes you need others to help you grow your business. It's about collaboration. It's about sharing ideas, inspiration, troubleshooting, and finding a better way than any of us could do alone. To share what community means to them, Kate Sullivan, Korrin...
On this new and exciting episode of Master Hour, Whitney is joined by Jenn Lee and Theresa Chu-Bermudez to answer all of the questions from the community. This episode includes topics on optimizing Traveljoy, managing challenging client requests, and deciding how you can best use your time to grow your business.
When starting a new business, advisors can get busy with all the steps necessary to establish ourselves as business owners. But what about protecting ourselves as business owners and our clients? Liability insurance and other policies, though at times intimidating, are vital to get drafted. On this episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by Jeff Ment, Miguel Campos, and Kate Sullivan. Together they discuss the importance of being prepared for the unexpected and ensuring that your busines...
In the travel industry, representation companies can be a bit of an enigma. Many advisors don't know representation companies exist while other advisors may know about them, but they aren't really sure how best to work with them. Why should advisors work with representation companies in the first place? On this special Bridge episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by Janine Cifelli, David DiGregorio, and Dave Kartagenerto clear the fog a little bit and bring to light the tremendous reso...
Introducing the Master Hour, a monthly coaching call for the Masters in Travel community and Think Tank where advisors can bring questions to a panel to discuss what's going on in their business right here and now. On this first episode of this very exciting discussion, Whitney is joined by Emily Steele of Love Local, and Korrine Johnson of Travel Biz Boss and Journeys Travel. These think tanks are a really great place to push, to challenge, and to really encourage all of us to step into our CEO...
Profitability is a topic you've surely heard about, but what does it really mean? What does it look like in the numbers and in the financials of your business? What numbers should we be looking at and monitoring on a regular basis? And at the end of the day, is it really that important to our small business? On this episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by Jenn Lee to discuss everything about what profitability can mean. Together they discuss tips on how to analyze your business as wel...
As a travel advisor, planning fully customized FIT itineraries is a trip design style that fuels the passion of so many of us. It seems simple enough upfront because for most of us, we were planning every detail of our own travels prior to starting our travel business. So it shouldn't be too much of a challenge to transition into the world of FIT trip design as a professional travel advisor. Right? It's only after you dive into the deep end of FIT itinerary design that you realize, no matter the...
On today’s episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney, Lila Fox, and Kate Sullivan are back to dig deeper into tough conversations. Expanding on their first conversation, there are so many more tough conversations to cover. Not only in how to look out and avoid sticky situations, but how to navigate your way through difficult conversations with clients while staying true to your values.
In the journey of hiring an assistant and seeking out support for a growing business, there are many places you can look to get the help you need. One great way to find an assistant is through agencies, like Tailored Assistant Services, that train assistants to help in travel businesses. On this episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by Tiffany Wade, CEO of Tailored Assistant Services. Together they talk about what it looks like to engage a service that provides assistance to travel adv...
On this special episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by Gwen Rawlinson and Maria Kuznetsov of ERM tours. For this panel discussion, Whitney, Gwen, Maria talk about the art of collaboration between advisors and DMCs. They go over their experiences working with clients as well as how to foster a creative and productive relationship between travel advisors and DMCs.
Air is sometimes described as simply a necessary evil. It can be nice to earn a commission that you aren’t expecting, and at other times it’s a hassle to deal with changing flights and finding refunds. Some advisors say that they just let clients handle air on their own, but no matter whether we book air or not, it still affects us as advisors and the itineraries that we've planned for clients. On today’s episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by two air experts, Sam Dorfman and Rachel ...
The perception that a travel advisor has of themselves is at the core of everything. Every travel advisor has a “Why?” behind the reason that they started their business. In this more casual, candid conversation, Whitney and Jenn talk about their vision for the future of the travel industry and what they would love to see in the coming years. They get out their magic wands and talk about what they would change to make the travel business successful for all travel advisors.
On this very special episode, in collaboration with The Bridge, Whitney is joined by Habib El Fassi of Visit Morocco Travel & Events, and Bram Evers of Pure! Travel Group. Together they talk about creating unique experiences and what it means to truly support local communities and make the most out of destinations. Learn about what it takes to create a truly tailor made, creative, and uniquely personalized experience for clients.
Building a team of advisors is something that many of us talk about and aspire to do. On the other hand, joining a team of people in an already established travel business is something that many new advisors are seeking out. On this very exciting and guest-filled episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by Heather Keller, Lindy Schuch, Sarah Fazendin, Mallory Worthington, and Julie Patterson. With more guests joining than ever before, listen in for a deep dive into this topic from both pe...
Having tough conversations is part of the job of both a travel advisor and a business owner. Whether it’s a mistake that we made, not having exactly what a client is looking for, or an experience that did not meet expectations, complicated and awkward situations happen. Whatever the reason, it's important that we not only feel confident going forward, but it's just as important that we are ready and prepared to navigate those tough conversations. Kate Sullivan, owner of Anthology Travel, and Lil...
Talking about numbers with clients can often feel uncomfortable and awkward. These numbers might be related to many things, but even when we're not in control of these numbers, we are often the bearer of bad news. Sometimes we even avoid talking about numbers all together, but avoiding a conversation related to numbers can be one of the biggest mistakes that advisors can make. On today’s episode, Whitney is joined by Paloma White and Sarah Fazendin, to discuss this tricky topic. Listen to hear t...
Amenities, VIP status, upgrades. These are important to some clients, but other clients prefer something more adventurous. Some prefer the “ungoogleable.” The off the beaten path, the unique and extraordinary locations and experiences that really intrigue the traveler. Today, we're going to dive into those “ungoogleable” experiences, but what does that actually mean? How do we find these things? And most importantly, how do we pull them off in a client's itinerary? On this episode of Masters in ...
Any CEO of a travel business can get easily overwhelmed with the list of tasks and to-do’s and questions that need answers. What do you do each and every month to ensure your business is heading in the direction of your big goals? How do you define success from one month to the next? How do you ensure boundaries are well-established each month to ensure you're the most efficient and focused you can possibly be from one day to the next. Co-founders of TIQUE, Jennifer Jacob and Robin Brown, are he...
How to pitch the media is a topic that our guest on today’s episode, Jenn Lee, is a master of. Listen in to hear how she lays out an easy to follow formula for contacting different media sources. Pitching the media, when done right, can help legitimize you, your business, and the business of travel advisors everywhere. Find us on Instagram: @mastersintravel
There are many options for an independent travel advisor to get started in the travel industry. From joining a host agency to registering for your own iota number, there are many paths to choose. How to know which way will fit your business? And one option may not be the best throughout the life of your business. On this episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by Lila Fox of Lila Fox Travel Co., as Lila shares her journey through these tough decisions. Together they discuss the pros and ...
With 80% of her business coming from her local community, Heather Keller is a pro at reaching out to people and thinking outside of the box to find clients, gain team members, and grow her business. Join her and Whitney in this episode of Masters in Travel as they discuss Heather’s business journey and how she has utilized her community to her business succeed. Find us on Instagram: @mastersintravel
The American Society of Travel Advisors is advocating for and working on behalf of travel advisors and the travel industry at large every day. Their mission is to facilitate the business of selling travel through effective representation, shared knowledge, and the enhancement of professionals. But what does that mean to the individual travel advisor? On today’s episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by two ASTA experts, Jenn Lee and Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg. Together they discuss the “...
Marketing events, whether hosting or attending, can be a useful strategy to get in front of new potential clients. But there is a lot that goes into these events behind the scenes, and at times, be more trouble than it's worth. On today’s episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by two event and marketing experts Brianna Glenn of Milk + Honey Travels and Angela Isherwood of Olive & Atlas Travel. Brianna and Angela share their experiences and the ins and outs of marketing events. Find ...
If you’re a successful travel advisor with a growing business, it can become abundantly clear that you may need support to help you deliver high quality service to your clients. How do you find and hire a quality assistant? What goes into training and managing an assistant well? There are so many questions that follow that often paralyze us into taking action. On this episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney and Sarah Fazendin, owner of Videre Travel, discuss the hurdles and the challenges of this ...
