The Travel Business Unpacked

Host Meredith Calloway welcomes Tracy Husted of Legacy Travel Designs for a heartfelt conversation about building a travel business with intention. Tracy shares how she balanced part-time teaching with co-founding a successful agency, why she finally resigned from a 30-year education career, and how her grandmother’s legacy continues to shape her vision. Whether you’re side-hustling or standing at...

In this inspiring episode of Travel Business Unpacked, host Meredith Calloway sits down with Erica Davies, founder of The Well Traveled Soul, to explore her journey from corporate life to luxury travel entrepreneurship. Erica shares how becoming a mother shaped her professional path, why branding with heart is non-negotiable, and how honoring her father’s passion for travel gave her business its s...

In this inspiring episode of Travel Business Unpacked, host Meredith Calloway sits down with Matthew Upchurch, CEO and Chairman of Virtuoso, to explore the evolving world of luxury travel. Matthew shares his insights on what it means to truly deliver value as a trusted travel advisor, why now is the perfect time to lean into selling luxury, and how human connection remains the ultimate differentia...

In this heartwarming and wisdom-filled episode, Meredith Calloway sits down with GTN's beloved Lisa Fletcher — affectionately known as “Mama Bear” — to unpack her incredible journey through the travel industry. From her early days in medical technology to a life-changing trip to Hawaii that ignited her career in travel, Lisa shares how she followed her intuition, built a thriving business, and...

In this inspiring episode of Travel Business Unpacked, Meredith Calloway sits down with Kerry Mooneyham of Midwest Travel Solutions to explore her unique journey from a 25-year career as a litigation paralegal to becoming a successful travel advisor. Kerry shares the pivotal moments that led her to turn her passion for travel into a thriving business, the importance of continuing travel education,...

From classroom to concierge—Bryant Wood’s journey into the travel industry is anything but traditional. In this episode, we sit down with the founder of The Travel Boutique to explore how she made the leap from teaching and direct sales to launching a thriving luxury travel business that blends flexibility, personal growth, and deep client connection. Bryant opens up about what it really took to s...

What do doll sculpting, million-dollar sales, and helicopter landings on glaciers have in common? Cathy Rowland. In this inspiring episode of Travel Business Unpacked, host Meredith Calloway sits down with Cathy, the powerhouse behind Amore Travel Design, to unpack her incredible journey from running a doll-making business to becoming a top-producing luxury travel advisor generating over $3 millio...

In this inspiring episode of Travel Business Unpacked, we sit down with Brittani Robertson, the powerhouse behind B Luxe Escapes. From growing up in a military family to raising four young kids and building a beautifully branded travel business, Brittani shares how she’s carved out a fulfilling career that blends passion, purpose, and plenty of planning. She opens up about how her early travel exp...

In this special episode of Travel Business Unpacked, host Meredith Calloway sits down with GTN’s Director of Engagement, Shannon Cunningham, to celebrate the heart and soul of the industry: the travel advisor. As we kick off Travel Advisor Appreciation Week, Meredith and Shannon unpack what it really means to be a travel advisor—not just an agent, but a designer, project manager, and relationship...

In this episode of Travel Business Unpacked, Meredith sits down with the powerhouse duo behind Travel Business University—Amy Pearson-Jensen and Amy Kaufman Relihan. Together, they unpack what it really takes to go from aspiring travel advisor to successful entrepreneur. From navigating fear to scaling a six-figure business, they share real stories, breakthroughs, and the importance of coaching, c...

What does it really take to succeed in luxury travel? In this episode of Travel Business Unpacked, host Meredith Callaway sits down with Robin Hutson — luxury travel advisor, publisher of Luxe Recess, and lifelong hotel obsessive — for an unfiltered conversation about building a thriving business rooted in trust, emotional intelligence, and expertise. Robin shares how she transitioned from publish...

In this episode of Travel Business Unpacked, Meredith sits down with Stephanie Goldberg Glazer—aka SGG—the 2024 #1 Top Producer at Gifted Travel Network. From her early days as a "travel hobbyist" to building a thriving business (and bringing her husband into it), Stephanie shares her candid story, the turning points that changed everything, and her biggest mindset shift that led to majo...

In this episode of Travel Business Unpacked, host Meredith Callaway is joined by tech-savvy Sandy Saburn, Chief Communications Officer at Gifted Travel Network, to break down the travel advisor’s evolving tech stack. From client management tools and itinerary builders to AI-powered automation and workflow magic—this is your roadmap to running a smarter, more profitable travel business in 2025. Rea...

In this inspiring episode of The Travel Business Unpacked, host Meredith Calloway sits down with Stuart Marra, founder of The Opulent Explorer, who made a bold leap from Wall Street to wanderlust. Stuart shares how he went from a high-stakes career in equity derivatives to building a multi-million dollar luxury travel business—starting from scratch. They unpack everything from navigating major lif...

In this episode of The Travel Business Unpacked, host Meredith Calloway sits down with Anna Harrison of Travel Observations to discuss her incredible journey from international service work to becoming a top-producing luxury travel advisor. Anna shares how she transitioned from a side hustle in travel to running a full-time, highly profitable business while balancing motherhood and entrepreneurshi...

In this episode of The Travel Business Unpacked, host Meredith Calloway sits down with MJ Markham of M Markham Travel to discuss her remarkable transition from oncologist to top-producing travel entrepreneur. MJ shares how her deep love for travel became a lifeline in her demanding medical career and how she skyrocketed to over $1 million in sales within her first year. She opens up about the chal...

In this episode of The Travel Business Unpacked, host Meredith Calloway sits down with Jerzy Poznar of Up Close Travel, a 2025 Top Producers Club inductee. Jerzy shares his remarkable journey from corporate banking to becoming a top luxury travel advisor, specializing in high-end cruises and bespoke travel experiences. He opens up about the challenges of starting a business, the importance of indu...

In this episode of Travel Business Unpacked, host Meredith Calloway sits down with Julia Matheson, founder of Travel Julia’s Way, to explore her remarkable journey from corporate uncertainty to building a thriving luxury travel business. Julia shares how she overcame imposter syndrome, found her niche, and scaled her business to seven figures—all while maintaining a dream work-life balance. Discov...

In this solo episode of The Travel Business Unpacked, host Meredith Calloway reveals The Far From Average Formula—a game-changing approach to building a thriving luxury travel business. Whether you're a new advisor or an experienced professional looking to scale, Meredith shares expert insights on how to attract high-value clients, increase transaction sizes, and create a business that’s both...

What happens when a high-powered corporate professional finds herself at a career crossroads? For Eysa Portugues, the answer was unexpected—but life-changing. In this episode of The Travel Business Unpacked, host Meredith Calloway sits down with Eysa, founder of Splendid Life Travel Designs, to explore her remarkable transition from the corporate world to a thriving luxury travel business. Eysa sh...

In this episode of Travel Business Unpacked, host Meredith Calloway sits down with Soldi Foster, a Travel MBA alum, to explore the healing power of travel and how it goes beyond just a vacation. Soldi shares her journey from a pharmaceutical career to becoming a top luxury travel advisor, her personal connection to travel through family and conservation, and how she built a thriving business from...

In this episode of The Travel Business Unpacked, host Meredith Calloway dives into the world of balancing motherhood with building a successful travel business. Joined by travel entrepreneurs Nicole Shipper and Sarah Key, we explore the highs, the challenges, and the unexpected joys of running a business while raising little ones. From navigating childcare to leveraging flexibility for family trav...

In this episode of Travel Business Unpacked, host Meredith Calloway sits down with Heather Parker of Bliss Travel Experiences. Heather shares her inspiring journey from a 20-year banking career to becoming a top-producing luxury travel entrepreneur. Learn how she navigated the challenges of being a single mom, built a successful business from the ground up, and created a life filled with freedom,...

In this episode of The Travel Business Unpacked, Meredith Calloway welcomes Debbie Ellis of Good Life Travel to discuss her inspiring journey of transforming a local pickleball community into a thriving group travel experience. Debbie shares how she overcame challenges, found the perfect destination, and created a fun-filled, connection-driven adventure for her group in Mexico. Whether you're...

What happens when a hedge fund manager turns his passion for travel into a thriving luxury business? In the latest episode of Travel Business Unpacked, host Meredith Calloway sits down with John Rees of J5 Travel to uncover his remarkable journey. From leaving a career in finance to becoming a top performer in luxury travel, John shares the pivotal moments that shaped his success. Whether you're c...