The Travel Agent Guide

Planning Peru and Machu Picchu: What Every Travel Advisor Should Know Before Sending Clients In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, Byrd Bergeron and Haley DeCarlo share their firsthand experiences exploring Peru, from the breathtaking landscapes of Machu Picchu to the unforgettable cultural experiences of the Sacred Valley. More importantly, they discuss the lessons they learned about...

In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, we talk about how travel advisors can turn a great trip into something clients remember, talk about, and come back for. Repeat bookings and referrals do not happen by accident. They are built through the way you listen to your clients, understand why they are traveling, and create thoughtful experiences they may never have considered on their own....

In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast , we talk about what makes a client remember their travel advisor long after they return home. A wonderful trip matters, but so does the person who listened, understood what they wanted, and guided them through every decision.  Your value goes beyond finding flights and hotels. It shows up in the research you do, the experiences you recommend, the...

In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, we talk about something many travel advisors experience but do not always say out loud: the doubts, insecurities, and behind-the-scenes challenges that can affect how confidently they run their businesses.  Building confidence does not mean knowing everything. It means trusting your ability to research, lean on your network, find the right answers...

In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, we break down one of the most exciting and often intimidating opportunities in the travel industry: selling and managing group travel. Group trips can lead to larger bookings, stronger client relationships, repeat business, and valuable referrals. But without the right systems, contracts, fees, communication, and expectations, they can also become...

In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, we break down one of the most important—and often overlooked—parts of creating a smooth travel experience: the pre-departure call. If your clients are constantly calling you while they’re traveling, reaching out on weekends, or waking you up in the middle of the night when something goes wrong, the problem may start before they ever leave. A stron...

In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, we’re heading to Greece with special guest Kostas Sourvanos from Travelive to explore a side of the destination that goes beyond the places your clients already know. Greece may immediately bring Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini to mind, but there is so much more to discover. From meaningful local connections and heritage experiences to incredible l...

In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, we break down one of the most important—and often overlooked—parts of building a sustainable travel business: knowing your numbers and understanding what it actually takes to become profitable. Booking more trips doesn't automatically mean making more money. If you're not paying attention to your commission percentage, fees, hours invest...

Why do some travel advisors confidently charge consultation fees while others struggle to get clients to say yes? The answer isn't simply how you present your fee—it's everything you do before you ever ask for it. In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, Byrd and Haley share the strategies they use to build trust before the consultation, create meaningful client connections, co...

How Better Consultations Lead to More Bookings  Why are potential clients ghosting you, booking direct, or choosing another travel advisor? The answer might not be your pricing, it could be your consultation process. In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, Byrd and Haley break down the strategies that help travel advisors build trust, ask better questions, create urgency without pressur...

In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast , Byrd and Haley dive into one of the most important conversations every travel advisor should have with their clients, travel insurance . Many travelers see travel insurance as an optional expense, but knowing how to confidently educate clients about coverage, respond to objections, and build insurance into your booking process can protect your cl...

In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, we tackle one of the most important conversations every travel advisor will have with their clients—budget. Discussing money can feel uncomfortable, but understanding your client's priorities, setting realistic expectations, and recommending the right experience is what separates a booking agent from a trusted travel advisor. Join us as we di...

In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, we tackle a fundamental truth about running a successful travel business, the undeniable power of firsthand experience. You can read every brochure and attend every webinar, but nothing transforms your authority like getting out from behind your laptop and seeing the world. 00:00:00 - Why travel matters as a travel advisor 00:01:24 - Travel where...

In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, we tackle one of the most challenging parts of running a travel business—responding to negative feedback. Every travel advisor will eventually receive a complaint or less-than-perfect review, but how you respond can either strengthen your reputation or damage it. Join us as we discuss practical strategies for handling difficult client situations w...

In this episode, Byrd and Haley dive into one of Byrd's favorite topics: the sales process, specifically tailored for travel advisors. With six years of experience running my travel agency and generating over $20 million in travel sales this year, Byrd developed a proven sales process that I believe can significantly enhance success in the industry. They kick off the discussion by addressing...

As travel advisors grow and specialize, not every client will continue to be the right fit—and that's okay. Join Byrd and Haley for a candid conversation about recognizing when a client no longer aligns with your business goals, expertise, or ideal customer profile. They discuss how specialization can transform your business, why setting boundaries matters, and how confidently saying "no...

In this episode of the Travel Agent Guide, Byrd and Haley dive deep into a topic that often sparks debate among travel agents: the importance of booking flights. I kick off the conversation by sharing a personal success story, highlighting how I made $800 in just 15 seconds by booking a flight. This sets the stage for their discussion on why many travel advisors shy away from flight bookings and h...

Are you tired of losing potential clients to objections? Feeling frustrated when prospects question your pricing or drag their feet on bookings? This power-packed episode of the Travel Agent Guide podcast is your roadmap to confidently handling every objection that comes your way. Join us as we dive deep into the psychology of client hesitation and reveal time-tested strategies that successful tra...

Success in the travel industry doesn’t happen overnight — and it definitely doesn’t happen in isolation. In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast , we’re joined by Byrd Bergeron and co-host Haley DeCarlo to unpack the real power of networking and relationship-building for travel advisors. From local community groups to hobby-based meetups, we discuss how getting involved in activities you...

Is AI replacing travel agents? Or is this the moment travel advisors become more valuable than ever? In this episode of the Travel Agent Guide Podcast , we unpack how the travel industry is evolving in the age of AI, Google searches, and online booking platforms — and why human connection is still the ultimate competitive advantage. We dive into the powerful shift from being a transactional travel...

In this episode, we dive into the very real experience of imposter syndrome in the travel industry and how self-doubt can show up at every stage of business. From feeling nervous on consultation calls to questioning your expertise when selling destinations you haven’t personally visited, we share honest experiences and practical ways to build confidence. We talk about the importance of leading cli...

What happens when a travel advisor stops trying to sell everythin and starts becoming known for one thing?  In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, we sit down with Cam to talk about the power of niching down, building authority, and how specializing completely transformed his business. From leaving a 20+ year career in sales and marketing to becoming one of the top sellers in his niche...

🎙️ New Episode: What If You Could Double Your Sales Without Doubling Your Hours Most travel agents think growth means working more—but this episode challenges that. They break down how every task you do falls into a different “bucket.” Some are $20/hour tasks, others are $200/hour tasks—and if you’re doing everything yourself, you’re slowing down your own growth. The real shift happens when you st...

Most travel agents think the job ends after the trip—but that’s the mistake, because the real growth doesn’t happen before the trip, it happens after. The simple “welcome home” call is where you understand what actually mattered to your client, what needs to be better next time, and what they want to do next, and when you skip it, you lose the relationship, but when you do it right, you create rep...

What if your next client is already in your everyday life? In this episode, we talk to Monica Bowen , a travel advisor generating nearly $1M a year—mostly through referrals and her personal network. From her kids’ school community to social circles, she shares how she turned real relationships into consistent bookings—without being “salesy.” In this episode: • How to find your ideal client natural...