Masters in Travel

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...

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...

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. To...

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...

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...

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...

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 Patterso...

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 a...

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,...

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? A...

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 ca...

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 Trave...

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: @mastersintrav...

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, Whitne...

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 &amp...

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,...

Traveling the world is the center of our business. Not just for our clients, as travelers ourselves it’s what we all look forward to investing our time, money and energy into. As our business grows, working on the road and finding the balance between our client work, while actually getting out and experiencing the destination that we're visiting can sometimes feel elusive. Featured on this episode...

How solid is the foundation that you and your business are currently being built upon? What if there was a list of all the things that a travel advisor should have in place in order to get their business started off on the right foot? To protect themselves as business owners, their business, and their clients, and to prepare them for future growth. Whitney, Jenn Lee, and Korrine Johnson come toget...

Are you a member of ASTA? Do you know how ASTA supports and advocates for travel advisors each day? Tune in to learn about the daily role of one of the most important organizations has in the travel industry, all that they're doing for travel advisors behind the scenes, and how we can better support them in their efforts.  Find us on Instagram: @mastersintravel Learn more and sign up for the...

Transparency. Sometimes it’s taken as a negative, but it can be a make-or-break facet of how you deal with both clients and suppliers. On this episode, Whitney and Beth Bastian of Bastian World Travel, talk about the importance of being transparent, what it actually means to be transparent and with whom we should be transparent with. Listen in to hear them dive into what it means to be transparent...

When starting a business as a travel advisor, attracting your first clients, earning a commission, and managing everything else takes time and energy. The compensation part of that equation can be especially difficult in the first few years, so hiring an assistant or building a team for your agency can be the absolute last thing on your mind. When is it right to take on the responsibility for payi...

Getting started in the travel industry can feel daunting. In this business, it can take years to earn a modest income. So how do you take a small side-hustle to the next level and embrace your business dreams? On this episode, Whitney is joined by experienced travel advisor Ashley Theis, owner of the Constant Wayfarer. Ashley shares her story in turning a part-time job into her full-time career. T...