Whether you realize it or not as a new business owner, qualifying leads is something you’ll find yourself doing on a very regular basis and the longer you’re in business, you’ll realize that HOW you qualify leads is paramount to your success as a business owner. Tune in to this week's episode with Kate Sullivan of Anthology Travel to learn about how to qualify leads and the importance of this step for long term growth and success.
Sep 26, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 140
A Master Hour conversation with the Community + Think Tank on how to prioritize and focus our energy to finish the year strong
Sep 21, 2023•56 min•Season 3Ep. 139
In this episode of Masters in Travel, host Whitney interviews Brianna Glenn, owner of Milk and Honey Travels, about business growth expectations. They discuss the importance of setting realistic goals, tracking key metrics, and investing in your business. They also emphasize the need to analyze your time and make intentional decisions to work on your business rather than just in it. Brianna highlights the significance of identifying and articulating the value proposition of your business to attr...
Sep 21, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Season 3Ep. 138
Sandy Saburn, Chief Membership Officer at Gifted Travel Network, joins host Whitney on the Masters in Travel podcast to discuss the importance of technology for travel advisors. They address common misconceptions about technology in the industry and highlight the need for advisors to invest in the right tools from the beginning. They outline a tech stack that includes a research and knowledge tool, a CRM and workflow management system, a client outreach platform, an itinerary builder, and a mone...
Aug 31, 2023•1 hr 5 min
On today’s episode of Masters in Travel, listeners will discover firsthand accounts from travel planning professionals who have found immense success using Asana as their go-to project management tool. The hosts and guests delve into their personal journeys with various task management systems before settling on Asana, highlighting the platform's efficiency, organization, and seamless collaboration capabilities. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the benefits of using Asana, including th...
Aug 15, 2023•53 min•Season 3Ep. 136
On this episode of Masters in Travel’s Master Hour, host Whitney Shindelar and guest Brunilda De Jesus discuss the importance of managing expectations in the travel industry. They dive into the nuances of different tour operators and DMCs, providing valuable insights for travel advisors. From understanding the different types of tours and clarifying group sizes, to proactive measures taken by certain tour operators and the role of representation companies, this podcast offers practical advice fo...
Aug 09, 2023•51 min
On this episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by Mary Beth Lynn as she shares her journey of finding work-life balance and maximizing efficiency in the industry. With valuable insights on effective email management and the benefits of hiring an assistant, this episode is a must-listen for travel agents looking to take their business to new heights. Learn how to delegate with trust, batch emails for increased productivity, and prioritize tasks effectively. Don't miss out on the opportun...
Aug 02, 2023•1 hr
In part two of our series on inbox management, Whitney is joined by Torri Johnson. Torri shares her invaluable insights and strategies for efficiently managing your inbox as she and Whitney discuss the importance of organization and the impact it can have on productivity. From creating folders for different categories of emails to utilizing helpful features like stars and labels, Johnson's expert tips will revolutionize the way you approach inbox management. Whether you're a professional looking...
Jul 25, 2023•38 min•Season 3Ep. 132
On this episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by travel professionals Korrine Johnson and Madeleine Steuber as they share their insights and strategies for efficient inbox management. With the challenges of juggling multiple clients and bookings, they offer practical tips on streamlining inbox organization, utilizing search functions and labels, and prioritizing tasks. They also discuss the importance of setting dedicated times for email management, managing notifications, and integrat...
Jul 18, 2023•51 min•Season 3Ep. 131
On this month’s special Master Hour episode of Masters in Travel, host Whitney Shindelar is joined by members of the community to dive deep into the world of hiring, training, and delegating in the travel industry. With valuable insights from industry professionals, they uncover the strategies and challenges faced by travel professionals in effectively nurturing and developing their employees. From creating tutorial videos to delegating tasks to virtual assistants, this podcast episode offers pr...
Jul 11, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 130
On this episode of the Masters in Travel podcast, Rani Cheema shares her courageous journey of self-discovery and leaving a dream job to follow her desires. She emphasizes asking meaningful questions, trusting intuition, and making space for fulfilling opportunities. Rani's story highlights the power of connections and taking courageous steps in life and business.
Jun 27, 2023•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 129
On this month’s edition of the Master Hour, freelance writer and editor Karla Walsh discusses the advantages of working with media for travel advisors. She offers tips on finding the right media outlets, tailoring pitches to target specific audiences, and building relationships with journalists. Walsh shares her 15 years of experience in digital media, emphasizing the importance of identifying oneself as an expert in a specific domain of travel. Listeners will learn how media exposure can lead t...
Jun 20, 2023•56 min•Season 3Ep. 128
On this episode of Masters in Travel, we delve into the world of social media and its impact on modern travel. Whitney, Meredith Donaldson, Jenna Swan, and Julie Patterson discuss the importance of Instagram as a platform for travel research, the challenges of maintaining a consistent social media presence, and the need for cross-referencing information found on social media with other sources. Insightful and informative, this podcast will provide valuable tips and advice for travel advisors loo...
Jun 13, 2023•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 127
This week is a special episode with Masters in Travel host, Whitney Shindelar, interviewed by Emma Weissman, host of the Humans of Travel podcast and managing editor of TravelAge West magazine. The Humans of Travel podcast features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the experiences — the highs and the lows — that make ...
Jun 06, 2023•46 min•Season 3Ep. 126
On this episode of Masters in Travel we delve into the world of hotel obsession among travel advisors and explored the importance of hotel research in their workflow. With guests Kate Sullivan and Jaclyn D'Esposito sharing their unique perspectives and experiences, listeners learned about the different approaches to hotel research, building relationships with hoteliers, and evaluating hotels based on aesthetic, facilities, location, and guest experience. The conversation highlights the crucial r...
May 31, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Season 3Ep. 125
On today’s episode of Masters in Travel, we are flipping the script. Our guest for this special episode is usually on the other side of the mic shining as the podcast host. Whitney Shindelar has been spending months dreaming about and developing The Hive. The Hive is an exciting new piece of technology for travel advisors. Join Brianna Glenn and Kate Sullivan as they interview Whitney and learn more about The Hive.
May 23, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 124
In this episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by Brianna Glenn, owner of Milk and Honey Travels, and Whitney Warne of Evoke EQ. Together they explore the power of self-reflection and emotional intelligence. Listen as they discuss how the Enneagram system can help you gain insight into yourself and others, build trust in relationships, and create a better understanding of your business. Tune in and unlock the secrets to success.
May 16, 2023•53 min•Season 3Ep. 123
wmnsWRK Tourism Accelerator is the tourism industry's first business accelerator for women and non-binary early stage entrepreneurs. While we're always looking for more support and resources for travel advisors entering the industry, wmnsWRK is specifically for those looking to start businesses in the supplier side of the industry. On this episode of Masters in Travel Whitney is joined by Iris Serbanescu, Founder of wmnsWRK, as Iris shares her journey and inspiration to support the tourism indus...
May 10, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 122
On this Month’s Master Hour edition of the Masters in Travel Podcast, travel advisors from different backgrounds come together to share their experiences and insights on improving business practices for travel advisors. From building personal connections with clients to setting firm boundaries, the group discusses a range of challenges and shares practical tips on increasing repeat and referral business. Each advisor brings unique perspectives and strategies, making this podcast a must-listen fo...
May 02, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 3Ep. 121
One of the biggest topics over the last few months in the Masters in Travel Community and Think Tank is hiring. When do we know we are ready to hire? How do we hire? Where do we find qualified candidates? There is so much to consider in the hiring process and the list goes on and on. On this episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by Kate Sullivan, Owner of Anthology Travel. Both Whitney and Kate have recent experience of the laborious cycle of hiring and finding answers to all of these ...
Apr 25, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 120
A few weeks ago, Kate Thomas and Whitney enjoyed a friendly dialogue over the time spent on beautifying supplier proposals and how important we feel this is for our businesses. While discussing this topic, we realized there's something more to this, which is likely what's causing the roadblock on anyone switching sides or switching teams on this topic. On today’s episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney, Kate Thomas, and Heather Christopher take a step back and dig deeper into what happens before w...
Apr 18, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Season 3Ep. 119
We’re almost at the end of quarter one and it’s time to dive back into goal setting. On today’s special Master Hour episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by members of the Masters in Travel Community and Think Tank to check in on everyone’s progress since January. Whether you feel like your progress is on track, or you feel behind, checking in on goals is so important to do.
Apr 11, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 3Ep. 118
For professional travel advisors, the technology that we use is vital for running our day-to-day businesses well. We often don't know what's going on behind the scenes of these technologies. How did this company, tool, or idea get started? How do they decide what features to build next? On today’s episode of Masters in Travel, we learn about Lucia, a freelancer marketplace for travel. Whitney is joined by Grace McBride, the founder of Lucia, as Grace gives us the inside scoop into Lucia, where i...
Apr 04, 2023•51 min•Season 3Ep. 117
The question of whether or not to book flights for our clients is an ongoing conversation. There can be stress, anxiety, confusion, and uncertainty that most advisors don’t want to deal with, no matter what the extra commissions are. But is there a way to make it more efficient and less of a headache, while adding a high touch, customized service? On today’s episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by Lary Neron, founder of Airfare Consultants. Lary is an expert in all things air and flig...
Mar 28, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 3Ep. 116
On this episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney and Kate Thomas of Travel Pro Theory put on their boxing gloves to debate a very divisive and hot topic. Should you be forwarding on proposals and itineraries directly from suppliers to clients? Following an Instagram post from TPT, many advisors are talking about if this is a very good idea, or a very bad idea. Listen in as Whitney and Kate discuss whether this time saver is worth it and how to maximize your efficiency when sending out proposals and...
Mar 21, 2023•43 min•Season 3Ep. 115
As a beginning travel advisor, there’s so many thoughts, worries, fears, and insecurities surrounding how to actually make money in your business. Though some advisors dive in headfirst with no doubts at all, some still wonder to themselves, is this really going to work? If you're listening today and you're currently in this position of worry and doubt, just know we see you and we're here to support you. We've all been through it. On today’s episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by a l...
Mar 14, 2023•44 min•Season 3Ep. 114
With the new year, the topic on everyone’s mind are setting goals for the new year. On this month’s Master Hour edition of the Masters in Travel Podcast, Whitney challenges the community to take concrete steps in creating a plan and goals for 2023. Whether you live and die by goal setting, whether you love it or it stresses you out, creating goals for your business can help to keep you and your business on track throughout the entire year.
Mar 07, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Season 3Ep. 113
On this episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by Kate Thomas, owner of North and Leisure and Co-Founder of Travel Pro Theory, as she shares some insight and behind the scenes on her newest project. She’s been reaching out to fellow travel advisors and turning these ideas into an amazing resource for everyone to use. Together Whitney and Kate discuss the ins and outs of the digest, starting new businesses, pivoting, and expanding your ideas.
Feb 28, 2023•54 min•Season 3Ep. 112
There are so many different ways that advisors can get started in this business. But it's always just a matter of time before a change needs to happen. Sometimes we wonder what our business could be if we shifted or if we pivoted a little bit. But how do we pivot and shift our business? On today’s episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by Heather Olivarez from Hummingbird Global Getaways. After changing her business in a major way, Heather has learned so much about the process of pivoti...
Feb 21, 2023•38 min•Season 3Ep. 111
$1 million in sales is no small feat. No matter if you’ve been working in your business for 1 year, 5 years, or 10 years, this goal is not something that can be achieved without hard work and dedication. But should we put so much importance and our own self value on a single metric? On this episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney is joined by two incredible advisors to continue this discussion on the $1 million mark. Our guests today are Lauren Bailey, owner of Lauren Bailey Travel Co. and Sarah S...
Feb 14, 2023•53 min•Season 3Ep. 110
