Masters in Travel

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 b...

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 backgr...

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 oper...

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 in...

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 w...

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 cover...

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 c...

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 ex...

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...

Financial clarity might not sound glamorous—but it’s one of the most powerful tools for building a sustainable, confident business. In this conversation, Brianna Glenn and Kinaya Pettiford of Atlas & Ledger explore how clean books lead to calm decision-making, why clarity unlocks freedom, and simple steps to start managing your money with confidence instead of avoidance.

October’s Shop Talk is full of honesty, exhaustion, and big-picture reflection. Whitney shares how an overwhelming travel season pushed her to rethink her team structure and workflows—and what needs to change before next year. Brianna reflects on her own delegation journey, what it means to truly give team members ownership, and how she decides when to let go of personal preferences in favor of te...

Search is changing faster than ever—and it’s not just about Google anymore. As AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity reshape how travelers look for information, the rules of online visibility are shifting. In this conversation, Brianna Glenn and SEO strategist Meg Clarke of Clapping Dog Media break down what travel advisors need to know to stay discoverable. From optimizing for engageme...

This week, we are previewing an episode from newly launched The Hivemind Podcast. For more episodes like this, add it to your weekly podcast roundup (new episodes release on Thursdays.) Seville embodies what travelers imagine when they think of ‘classic Spain’—flamenco, tapas, Moorish palaces, and lively plazas. Sam Lister, Founder & CEO at Tailormade, shares why this southern city is both a c...

In this episode, Whitney sits down with Jeremy Sulek—CEO/Owner of Jetset World Travel and founder of Brava—to unpack a new, advisor-first approach to commissions. Brava aims to decouple commission payments from host agencies so advisors can own their bookings, get paid faster, and give suppliers clear visibility into which advisors are actually driving sales. They discuss why the current agency-ce...

Many travel advisors hit a stage where their business is running, clients are happy, and revenue looks strong — but behind the scenes, it still feels harder than it should. In this solo episode, Brianna shares the three clear signs that you’ve outgrown your current business model and offers quick, practical wins to help you step into the next phase of growth. From recognizing when you’re the bottl...

When your calendar is full but your goals are bigger, something has to change. In this candid conversation, Ali Raymer (Picture This Travel) shares how she scaled from solo advisor to leading a 6-person team—owning mistakes, codifying training, and letting go of control to protect life outside of work. Expect practical frameworks, real client-experience lessons, and permission to build the support...

And we're back with newly recorded content! Picking up with a Shop Talk check in. We unpack the difference between trip operations and business operations, how project tools like Asana and ClickUp can run an entire agency, and why protecting client data with clear roles is non-negotiable. Plus: Brianna shares fresh takeaways from the Biz Huddle conference and strategies to make your content mo...

In this second episode of our 4-part client experience series, we explore five top areas of business that impact any client's experience working with you: service offering, aesthetics, communication, systems, and attracting new clients. Do a self-audit on your travel business with this episode, and hear our experiences and advice as you consider these vital parts of your business and how to im...

Today premiers the first episode of our 4-part Client Experience Series! Join us as we explore all the ins and outs of creating a memorable, signature client experience. This week, we are talking about how your brand experience impacts the client experience more than you may realize. Learn to define your business purpose, gauge a client's expectations, and create memorable memories from the fi...

Join Brianna as she chats with Megan Vatnsdal, the passionate entrepreneur behind Onyx and Evergreen Travel, to discuss the ins and outs of attracting new clients and crafting value in our sometimes competitive industry. They explore marketing, but with a twist – how to use events as a way to showcase your value and serve as a catalyst for travel business growth. Plus, they also chat about mentors...

Love travel and planning it, but hate the sales part? In this episode, Brianna and guest Glenda from The Art of Selling Travel delve into the art of sales and client relations. Glenda shares her seasoned approach to pricing negotiations and reframing rejection, all while maintaining an authentic human connection. She provides invaluable insights on asking the right questions and building rapport t...

Host agencies...how do you find the right fit for you? Whitney delves into this world with special guest Steph Lee, the founder of Host Agency Reviews. They discuss the importance of transparency in the travel industry, the challenges and opportunities that come with reviewing host agencies, and tips for travel advisors on switching host entities. Steph shares her personal journey from managing a...

Is there a certain part of the world that tugs at your heart strings? If you want to learn more about developing a travel planning niche, this is the episode for you! Brianna chats with Lori Gold, the travel savant behind Mexperts, who has built an impressive career curating personalized trips in the Mexican Caribbean AND as an expert advisor with resources to share. Lori shares her evolution from...

In this episode of Masters in Travel, Whitney dives into the art of marketing with the experienced Kaytee Fisher, founder of Moxie & Fourth, and guru about all things email marketing for travel advisors. They dissect the strategic layers of marketing: the importance of understanding your target audience, the value of consistency, and tools and tricks for upping engagement. Plus, Kaytee shares...

In this insightful episode, Brianna and special guest Kate Sullivan peel back the curtain on the concept of self-fam trips in the travel advisory world. From their personal experiences to the nuances of independent hotel site inspections and strategic relationship building, they offer a deep dive into the professional benefits and challenges of self-organizing familiarization trips. Plus, they dis...