Trade Secrets Podcast
By: Travel Weekly and TravelAge West
Language: en-US
Categories: Society, Culture, Places, Travel, Leisure, Aviation, News
Welcome to Trade Secrets, a podcast from the editors of Travel Weekly and TravelAge West, where travel advisors ask -- and answer -- questions. On each podcast, our editors will ask a veteran travel advisor to join them and field listeners’ questions. Topics will range from business advice to industry trends, history and more — as long as it’s travel-related, we want to address it! Find Trade Secrets wherever you get your podcasts, or at travelweekly.com/podcasts. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS: Jamie Biesiada is a senior editor with Travel Weekly. She is an award-winning journalist, including being named the American Societ...
Episodes
Trade Secrets Tech Summit: Travelport (feat. Andrew Jordan)
Oct 27, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a five-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is Travelport, represented by Andrew Jordan, chief product and technology officer for Travelport.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a tech...
Duration: 00:24:51Beyond the algorithm: Keeping travel personal in a tech-driven world (2025 HAR*Wired Week)
Oct 20, 2025With AI, automation and new platforms emerging every day, how can travel advisors ensure their businesses remain personal, authentic and human? Explore that question and more during this episode of the Trade Secrets Tech Summit, which is a recording of a panel moderated by Trade Secrets co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada. During the panel, which features Jenn Lee of Travel Planners International and Vacation Planners, Tern’s David Shull, and Travefy’s David Chait, panelists tackle practical ways to blend high tech with high touch.
Note: This panel was originally livestreamed during Host Agency Reviews’ HAR*Wired...
Duration: 00:57:25Trade Secrets After Dark: Expedition cruising, morning hikes and the best travel movies (Feat. Lindblad’s Rachel Woodward)
Oct 13, 2025This week on Trade Secrets After Dark, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada dig into expedition cruising with Rachel Woodward, Lindblad Expeditions’ vice president of field sales. They’ll also share their favorite travel movies (“Titanic,” anyone?), who’s getting up early to go for a hike and what caffeinated beverage they’re drinking. While the Trade Secrets Tech Summit is still ongoing, enjoy the occasional “After Dark” episode, featuring casual chats — and drinks — with guests from around the travel industry.
This episode was sponsored by Europe Express.
Further resources
Rachel Woodward on LinkedIn and Facebook...
Duration: 00:42:57Trade Secrets Tech Summit: Viator (feat. Sarah Dines)
Oct 06, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a five-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is Viator, represented by Chief Commercial Officer Sarah Dines.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have a...
Duration: 00:23:51Trade Secrets Tech Summit: TravelJoy (feat. Dayo Esho)
Sep 29, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a five-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is TravelJoy, represented by CEO Dayo Esho.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have a profil...
Duration: 00:25:52Trade Secrets Tech Summit: FamGuru (feat. Carrie Wallace)
Sep 22, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is FamGuru, represented by founder Carrie Wallace.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have a profil...
Duration: 00:25:14Trade Secrets Tech Summit: LUXPages (feat. Dora Karanikas)
Sep 15, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is LUXPages, represented by Dora Karanikas.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have a profile, adviso...
Duration: 00:24:36Trade Secrets Tech Summit: Expedia TAAP (feat. Robin Lawther)
Sep 08, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is Expedia’s Travel Agent Affiliate Program (Expedia TAAP), represented by vice president Robin Lawther.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a te...
Duration: 00:24:16Trade Secrets Tech Summit: Tres Technologies (feat. Lee Rosen)
Sep 01, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is Tres Technologies, represented by founder and CEO Lee Rosen.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have...
Duration: 00:24:18Trade Secrets Tech Summit: Brava (feat. Jeremy Sulek)
Aug 25, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is Brava, represented by founder Jeremy Sulek.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have a profil...
Duration: 00:36:21Trade Secrets After Dark: Travel advisor resilience, mai tais and upgrades gone wrong (Feat. Northstar Travel Group’s Mary Pat Sullivan)
Aug 18, 2025This week on Trade Secrets After Dark, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada tackle the evolution of the travel agency community, the best mai tais in Hawaii and more with Northstar’s Mary Pat Sullivan, executive vice president of marketing and partnerships. While the Trade Secrets Tech Summit is still ongoing, enjoy the occasional “After Dark” episode, featuring casual chats — and drinks — with guests from around the travel industry.
This episode was sponsored by Travel Insured International.
Further resources
Mentioned on this episode:
Pinter Digital copies of Travel Weekly, TravelAge West and Agent At H... Duration: 00:50:47Trade Secrets Tech Summit: The Trip Boutique (feat. Fernanda Barrence Mutz)
Aug 11, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is The Trip Boutique, represented by CEO and co-founder Fernanda Barrence Mutz.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology comp...
Duration: 00:22:47Trade Secrets Tech Summit: Magic Made Simple (feat. Christina Vieira)
Aug 04, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is Magic Made Simple, represented by co-founder Christina Vieira.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have a...
Duration: 00:23:34Trade Secrets Tech Summit: TravelWits (feat. Arman Bimatov)
Jul 28, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is TravelWits, represented by CEO Arman Bimatov.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have a profil...
Duration: 00:37:36Trade Secrets After Dark: Travel advisor advocacy, travel mishaps and favorite cocktail recipes (Feat. ASTA’s Jessica Klement)
Jul 21, 2025Welcome to Trade Secrets After Dark, a new series from Trade Secrets co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada. While the Trade Secrets Tech Summit is still ongoing, enjoy the occasional “After Dark” episode, featuring casual chats — and drinks — with guests from around the travel industry. This week, ASTA’s vice president of advocacy, Jessica Klement, joins the show. Find out her beverage of choice, hear a cautionary travel tale and learn all about ASTA’s advocacy efforts (plus, get the ins and outs of lobbying; it isn’t about coyly passing out money to congressional staffers in a Washington, D.C. alleyway...
Duration: 00:46:41Trade Secrets Tech Summit: Approach Guides (feat. Jennifer Raezer)
Jul 14, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is Approach Guides, represented by founder and chief marketing officer Jennifer Raezer.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology comp...
Duration: 00:24:21Trade Secrets Tech Summit: FyndTravel (feat. Lisa Watson)
Jul 07, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is FyndTravel, represented by founder and owner Lisa Watson.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have a...
Duration: 00:24:28Trade Secrets Tech Summit: Travel42 (feat. Larissa Worley)
Jun 30, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is Travel42, represented by senior customer support and relationship coordinator Larissa Worley.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology comp...
Duration: 00:24:54Encore: How do I find and maintain work-life balance as a travel advisor? (Feat. Stephanie Lee)
Jun 23, 2025The Trade Secrets Tech Summit (season six of the podcast) is taking a quick summer break. In the meantime, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are sharing some of their favorite past episodes. Join them this week for a look back at last season’s episode about finding and maintaining a good work-life balance. Enjoy!
This episode was sponsored by Globus family of brands.
--
Balancing work responsibilities with the needs of personal life has become exponentially more difficult for travel advisors as workloads have increased. But it’s also critically important to find...
Duration: 00:57:43Bonus: Inside Tern’s acquisition of Lucia, plus an encore episode about finding your brand identity
Jun 16, 2025The Trade Secrets Tech Summit (Season 6 of the podcast) is taking a brief summer break, but we're partially interrupting that pause to bring you a special episode highlighting some of the latest tech news in the travel industry: Tern’s acquisition of Lucia.
Co-host Jamie Biesiada sits down with Tern’s David Shull and Lucia’s Grace Van Hollebeke to discuss what led to the acquisition, what travel advisors can expect moving forward, and more.
Then, stick around for one of Jamie’s favorite episodes from last season, featuring travel advisor Christina Viera in a deep div...
Duration: 00:55:05Encore: Demystifying DMCs: What are destination management companies, and how can travel advisors best work with them?
Jun 09, 2025The Trade Secrets Tech Summit (season six of the podcast) is taking a quick summer break. In the meantime, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are sharing some of their favorite past episodes. Join them this week for an update on the Tech Summit — which will return toward the end of June — then a look back at last season’s episode all about destination management companies (DMCs). Enjoy!
This episode was sponsored by Globus family of brands.
–
What’s the difference between a tour operator and a DMC? How can advisors find DMCs to work wi...
Duration: 00:41:47Trade Secrets Tech Summit: Travel Pro Theory (feat. Kate Thomas)
Jun 02, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is Travel Pro Theory, represented by founder Kate Thomas.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have a...
Duration: 00:25:46Trade Secrets Tech Summit: Tique (feat. Jennifer Jacob)
May 26, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a five-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is Tique, represented by COO and co-founder, Jennifer Jacob.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have a...
Duration: 00:25:28Trade Secrets Tech Summit: TripSuite (feat. Jacey Jones)
May 19, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is TripSuite, represented by cofounder and CEO Jacey Jones.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have a...
Duration: 00:24:24Trade Secrets Tech Summit: Safari Portal (feat. Rachel West)
May 12, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is Safari Portal, represented by founder and CEO Rachel West.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have...
Duration: 00:26:47Trade Secrets Tech Summit: AtlasGuru (feat. Kim Bennett)
May 05, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is AtlasGuru, represented by CEO Kim Bennett.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have a profile...
Duration: 00:24:34Trade Secrets Tech Summit: Travefy (feat. Stephanie Gries)
Apr 28, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is Travefy, represented by senior education manager Stephanie Gries.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have a...
Duration: 00:26:03Trade Secrets Tech Summit: Lucia (feat. Grace Van Hollebeke)
Apr 21, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is Lucia, represented by founder and CEO Grace Van Hollebeke.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have...
Duration: 00:24:29Trade Secrets Tech Summit: WeTravel (feat. Ted Clements)
Apr 14, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is WeTravel, represented by CEO Ted Clements.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have a profil...
Duration: 00:25:03Trade Secrets Tech Summit: Axus (feat. Gregory Wilshire)
Apr 07, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is Axus, represented by Gregory Wilshire. Axus, Travel Weekly and TravelAge West have the same parent company, Northstar Travel Group.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a ba...
Duration: 00:25:28Trade Secrets Tech Summit: Sabre (feat. Kathy Morgan)
Mar 31, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is Sabre, represented by senior vice president of product management and distribution experience Kathy Morgan.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a...
Duration: 00:25:07Trade Secrets Tech Summit: VAX VacationAccess (feat. Josef Shomperlen)
Mar 24, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is VAX VacationAccess, owned by Trisept Solutions and represented by Josef Shomperlen.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology comp...
Duration: 00:23:51Trade Secrets Tech Summit: Sion (feat. Irving Betesh)
Mar 17, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is Sion, represented by founder and CEO Irving Betesh.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have a...
Duration: 00:24:05Trade Secrets Tech Summit: The Hive (feat. Whitney Shindelar)
Mar 10, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a five-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is the Hive, represented by founder and CEO Whitney Shindelar.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have...
Duration: 00:25:20Trade Secrets Tech Summit: Tern (feat. David Shull)
Mar 03, 2025This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week’s featured company is Tern, represented by co-founder and CEO David Shull.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have a...
Duration: 00:25:25Guess what’s coming on March 3? A brand-new season of Trade Secrets!
Feb 17, 2025Trade Secrets is back for its sixth season, but with a twist: Welcome to the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every week — you read that right, Trade Secrets is going weekly in season six — co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will invite a travel agency technology provider on the show. They’ll discuss their tech and how it can help travel advisors’ businesses.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of travel agency software as a jumping-off point for the companies to feature, but listeners are invited to submit any other companies by emailing tradesecrets@travelweekly.com.
The n...
Duration: 00:03:16Trading social media for Substack: Using content to build a brand (Feat. SmartFlyer’s Kayla Douglas)
Feb 10, 2025In this special bonus episode, Trade Secrets is all about content — and why travel advisors should get theirs off social media and into an email newsletter. Kayla Douglas, director of content for SmartFlyer in New York, delves into the world of Substack with co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada. And, stay tuned after the episode for some exciting announcements about season six of Trade Secrets.
This episode was released in conjunction with a Humans in the Hot Seat episode (part of TravelAge West’s Humans of Travel podcast), featuring Erina Pindar, COO and managing partner at SmartFlyer.
<... Duration: 00:39:32Encore: How should travel advisors manage client expectations?
Jan 27, 2025Trade Secrets is on a winter break. We're sharing some of our favorite episodes until we return.
Travel advisors, how do you handle it when a client has unrealistic expectations? What if they ask to stay at a property you wouldn’t recommend (especially if they serve truly lackluster midnight hotdogs)? What do you do when their budget is unrealistic for the trip they want? Or, what if they have a really bad experience while they’re in-destination? Get advice on all that and more in this week’s episode of Trade Secrets, where co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Ja...
Duration: 00:43:01Encore: How can new travel advisors build a successful career? (Feat. Bill Coyle)
Jan 13, 2025Trade Secrets is on a winter break. We're sharing some of our favorite episodes until we return.
This week, we're featuring one of our most popular episodes from season five. New travel advisors, look no further than this episode of Trade Secrets for advice on everything from setting up your business, to finding clients, to prioritizing fam trip destinations. Co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are joined by KHM Travel Group’s Bill Coyle, vice president of agent engagement, to tackle listener questions on that and more.
Trade Secrets will return with season six in ear...
Duration: 00:45:05Encore: Travel advisors, what’s your elevator pitch? (feat. Jackie Friedman)
Dec 30, 2024Trade Secrets is on a holiday break. We're sharing some of our favorite episodes until we return.
This week, we're featuring our first episode of season five. Hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada welcome Nexion Travel Group president Jackie Friedman on the show to talk about the value of travel advisors. They discuss the modern history of the profession and the evolution from “agent” to “advisor,” then answer listener questions about standing out from the crowd, how advisors can sell their own value and what makes a good elevator pitch.
Trade Secrets will return with season s...
Duration: 00:44:20Encore: Why can't we be friends? Forming productive travel advisor-supplier relationships
Dec 16, 2024Trade Secrets is on a holiday break. We're sharing some of our favorite episodes until we return.
This week, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada welcome Royal Caribbean’s Vicki Freed, senior vice president of sales and trade support and service, and Jamie Margolis, owner of the Dream Vacations franchise Moms at Sea. During the episode, Freed and Margolis talk about the importance of forming — and maintaining — a good agent-supplier relationship, the “unicorn” cabins onboard Royal Caribbean ships that offer more space for less money, the value proposition of cruising and more.
Trade Secrets will return with...
Duration: 00:49:16Season 5 finale: Emma and Jamie’s top 25 predictions for travel in 2025
Dec 02, 2024In the season finale of Trade Secrets, co-hosts Jamie Biesiada and Emma Weissmann share their top 25 travel predictions for 2025, covering everything from trends in the travel agency and tech landscape to destinations and travel styles they have their eyes on for the coming year. They also share some exciting news – Trade Secrets recently took home an award for Best Travel/Leisure Podcast in the annual Eddie and Ozzie Awards!
The sixth season of Trade Secrets will debut in early 2025.
Further resources
Mentioned on the show:
From TravelAge West, The top 5 trends fo...
Duration: 00:42:112024 rewind: What trends shaped the travel industry — and impacted agents — this year
Nov 18, 2024From ASTA’s fight against American Airlines’ distribution strategy to the Taylor Swift effect on the travel industry, 2024 was bursting with headlines that affected travel advisors. This week on Trade Secrets, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada talk about the major travel trends and events that shaped the agency landscape.
Further resources
Mentioned on the show:
Trade Secrets episode featuring Andrea Grisdale and a discussion on Italy
Trade Secrets episode featuring David Kolner and a discussion on generational travel
Emma on the Taylor Swift cruise
SNAP, an air book... Duration: 00:47:21How do I find and maintain work-life balance as a travel advisor? (Feat. Stephanie Lee)
Nov 04, 2024Balancing work responsibilities with the needs of personal life has become exponentially more difficult for travel advisors as workloads have increased. But it’s also critically important to find time for friends, family and hobbies outside of work, and to develop systems at work that improve efficiency and allow you to step away. What kind of boundaries should you set, and how can you enforce them? What can you automate to take more things off your plate? Hear all about this and more on this episode of Trade Secrets, featuring Host Agency Reviews founder Stephanie Lee.
Further re...
Duration: 00:55:35Demystifying DMCs: What are destination management companies, and how can travel advisors best work with them?
Oct 21, 2024What’s the difference between a tour operator and a destination management company (DMC)? How can advisors find DMCs to work with, and what are the top do’s and don’ts of working with them? What if a contact at a DMC ghosts a travel advisor? Hear the answers to these questions and more in this week’s episode of Trade Secrets, where co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada chat about all things DMCs with Andrea Grisdale, CEO and founder of I.C. Bellagio in Italy.
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways.
Further resources
I...
Duration: 00:37:13Oh, the places you’ll go! Destination weddings, honeymoons and beyond, feat. Jennifer Doncsecz
Oct 07, 2024This week, Trade Secrets takes on the world. Jennifer Doncsecz of VIP Vacations returns to the podcast to discuss her specialty: destination weddings and honeymoons. She talks about everything from getting started selling destination weddings and honeymoons, to turning those travelers into clients for life. Then, she answers a number of listener questions about destinations, ranging from the benefits of visiting a spot before selling it, qualifying for fam trips and where to send clients headed to Europe for the first time.
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways.
Further resources
VIP Vacations on...
Duration: 00:59:23Trade Secrets at Virtuoso Travel Week, part 3: How can travel advisors get ‘commissions with a comma'? (Feat. Dondra Ritzenthaler)
Sep 23, 2024In this episode, the final in a three-part series of Trade Secrets recorded on the road at Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada welcome Azamara CEO Dondra Ritzenthaler. She discusses leaving her retirement to helm the small-ship luxury cruise line, the importance of suppliers listening to trade partners, luxury travel sales techniques and what sets luxury cruise lines like Azamara apart.
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways.
Further resources
Dondra Ritzenthaler’s email
Mentioned in this episode:
Azamara World Academy From Travel Weekly, Azamara intr... Duration: 00:30:10Trade Secrets at Virtuoso Travel Week, part 2: As a travel advisor, how do I break into the world of luxury travel sales?
Sep 09, 2024Trade Secrets is on the road again, this time at Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas. In the second episode of a three-part series recorded on-site in Las Vegas, Megan Vatnsdal, owner of Onyx & Evergreen Travel and affiliate of Four Hundred, talks about how she’s spent the past few years building her luxury-focused agency. She and co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada cover everything from building a book of business, to getting in front of luxury clients, to using events to network.
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways.
Further resources
Megan Vatnsdal on...
Duration: 00:38:04Trade Secrets at Virtuoso Travel Week, part 1: What are the latest trends in luxury travel? (Feat. David Kolner)
Aug 26, 2024Trade Secrets is on the road again, this time at Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas. In the first episode of a three-part series recorded on site, Virtuoso executive vice president David Kolner shares updates on Virtuoso’s annual event, how advisors are selling so much right now, the different habits of each generation and what the term “luxury” means to him. Kolner also talks about Maui recovery and what travel advisors can do to help the island.
This episode is sponsored by Allianz Partners.
Further resources
Virtuoso’s website
David Kolner on...
Duration: 00:41:22Inside the Trade Secrets mailbag: Answering your most pressing questions (Feat. Chad Burt of Outside Agents)
Aug 12, 2024This week, Chad Burt of Outside Agents joins Jamie Biesiada and Emma Weissmann of Trade Secrets for our annual “mailbag” episode, featuring travel advisor listener questions on a variety of topics. During the episode, we’ll dig into advanced use cases of generative AI, airline loyalty, host agency affiliations, picking a travel advisor specialty and more.
This episode is sponsored by Allianz Partners USA.
Further resources and related readings
Outside Agents on the web
Outside Agents’ blog
More about Outside Agents’ MAGgie technology
Outside Agents’ Power Prompts
Chad’s bo...
Duration: 00:35:54How can new travel advisors build a successful career? (Feat. Bill Coyle of KHM Travel Group)
Jul 29, 2024New travel advisors, look no further than this episode of Trade Secrets for advice on everything from setting up your business, to finding clients, to prioritizing fam trip destinations. Co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are joined by KHM Travel Group’s Bill Coyle, vice president of agent engagement, to tackle listener questions on that and more.
This episode is sponsored by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts.
Further resources
Connect with KHM Travel Group online, on Facebook, on Instagram, on YouTube and on LinkedIn
Encompass the World Travel, Bill Coyle’s family agency
How should travel advisors manage client expectations?
Jul 15, 2024Travel advisors, how do you handle it when a client has unrealistic expectations? What if they ask to stay at a property you wouldn’t recommend (especially if they serve truly lackluster midnight hotdogs)? What do you do when their budget is unrealistic for the trip they want? Or, what if they have a really bad experience while they’re in-destination? Get advice on all that and more in this week’s episode of Trade Secrets, where co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are joined by Abbey Meyer, CEO of Sky High Travel in St. Louis, Missouri.
This e...
Duration: 00:42:54Trade Secrets on the road, part 3: How does Europe’s travel agency landscape compare to the U.S.?
Jul 01, 2024Trade Secrets is on the road for a special, three-episode series recorded on the ground at the ASTA Travel Advisor Conference in Dallas. In this episode, the final in the series, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada welcome Eric Dresin, the secretary general of the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations (ECTAA), onto the show. They chat about the travel agency landscape in Europe, the phenomenon of Europe’s travel “planners” (who don’t actually book travel) and more. Then, hear from Thekla Kammenou of the Greece-based tour operator Four Ways Travel, about the tourism scene in Greece and some of...
Duration: 00:39:03Trade Secrets on the road, part 2: From pitch to prime time, how travel advisors can — and should — get on TV (feat. Jenn Lee, Vanessa McGovern and Erika Richter)
Jun 17, 2024Trade Secrets is on the road for a special, three-episode series recorded on the ground at the ASTA Travel Advisor Conference in Dallas. In this episode, part two in the series, travel advisors can learn all about how to get on TV, and why it’s the best marketing tactic a small business can employ. Vacation Planners International’s Jenn Lee, Gifted Travel Network’s Vanessa McGovern and ASTA’s Erika Richter — all experts in media relations — offer tips, advice and beyond.
This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands.
Further resources
Email Jenn Le... Duration: 00:51:52Trade Secrets on the road, part 1: ASTA’s Zane Kerby on American Airlines and the importance of education
Jun 03, 2024Trade Secrets is on the road for a special, three-episode series recorded on the ground at the ASTA Travel Advisor Conference in Dallas. In this episode, part one in the series, hear ASTA CEO Zane Kerby’s take on American Airlines’ decision to change course on its NDC implementation after listening and responding to the travel agency community, as well as why ATSA is making changes to its Verified Travel Advisor (VTA) certification program. Then, hear from two advisors on their own journeys to become VTAs.
This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands.
Fu...
Duration: 00:49:43How do you grow your travel agency — and trust your new advisors?
May 20, 2024When it’s time to expand your business, what’s the best way to do it? Should you hire independent contractors, employees or assistants? Then, once they’re onboarded, how do you effectively train — and, subsequently, trust — your new people? All that and more is covered in this week’s Trade Secrets, when co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada talk business expansion with Julie Lanham, president of Vacations to Remember in Augusta, Ga.
Thanks to our friends at Jetset World Travel for helping us solicit travel advisor questions this season.
This episode is sponsored by All-Inclusiv...
Duration: 00:44:46Travel advisors, what’s your brand identity? (feat. Christina Vieira)
May 06, 2024Marketing is an important part of most travel advisors’ businesses. This week on Trade Secrets, Christina Vieira of Showcase the World Travel discusses finding your “why,” identifying ideal clients and reaching those clients on the platforms that make sense. She also discusses the importance of a good email marketing plan, automation and more with co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada.
Thanks to our friends at Key to the World Travel for helping us solicit travel advisor questions this season.
This episode is sponsored by All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy.
Further resources
Christina Vieira...
Duration: 00:38:50How should travel agents address travel advisories?
Apr 22, 2024When the State Department upgrades its travel advisory for a destination, or updates an advisory with new information, it can make clients a little jumpy. How should travel agents navigate the situation? Get the answer on this week’s episode of Trade Secrets, when co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are joined by travel advisor Brittany Shuford of Darling Destinations in Birmingham, Ala.
Thanks to our friends at OutsideAgents.com for helping us solicit travel advisor questions this season.
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International.
Further resources
Find Brittany Shuf...
Duration: 00:34:45Travel advisors, what’s your elevator pitch? (feat. Jackie Friedman)
Apr 08, 2024Welcome to season five of Trade Secrets. In this episode, hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada welcome Nexion Travel Group president Jackie Friedman on the show to talk about the value of travel advisors. They discuss the modern history of the profession and the evolution from “agent” to “advisor,” then answer listener questions about standing out from the crowd, how advisors can sell their own value and what makes a good elevator pitch.
Thanks to our friends at WorldVia for helping us solicit travel advisor questions this season.
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured Internati...
Duration: 00:46:05Mic check, one, two: How do we create Trade Secrets?
Mar 25, 2024How is the Trade Secrets podcast made? Find out all the behind-the-scenes details in this special episode with co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada. From the show’s origin, to scripting, to editing and posting, take a peek behind the Trade Secrets curtain.
This is a special episode of Trade Secrets between seasons four and five. Season five will return in two weeks, on April 8.
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International.
Further resources
Email Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada
Follow us on Instagram
Travel Weekly TravelAge Wes... Duration: 00:30:15Why can't we be friends? Forming productive travel advisor-supplier relationships (feat. Vicki Freed and Jamie Margolis)
Mar 11, 2024Welcome to the season four finale of Trade Secrets. This week, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada welcome Royal Caribbean’s Vicki Freed, senior vice president of sales and trade support and service, and Jamie Margolis, owner of the Dream Vacations franchise Moms at Sea, during the second installment of a two-part series with Freed (listen to part one here).
During the episode, Freed and Margolis talk about the importance of forming — and maintaining — a good agent-supplier relationship, the “unicorn” cabins onboard Royal Caribbean ships that offer more space for less money, the value proposition of cruising and more.<...
Duration: 00:49:59Icon of the Seas: How big can a cruise ship get?
Feb 26, 2024Get ready for a cruise-filled episode of Trade Secrets. This week, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada welcome Royal Caribbean's Vicki Freed, senior vice president of sales and trade support and service, and Nick Weir, senior vice president of entertainment, onto the show. Hop aboard as we dive into everything from the brand-new Icon of the Seas — billed as the largest cruise ship at sea — to what it takes to entertain Royal’s millions of cruisers. This is the first of a two-part series featuring Freed; join us next time for a discussion on creating a strong advisor-supplier relationship.
...
Duration: 00:42:08Travel advisors, are you using the right tech stack?
Feb 12, 2024Travel advisors, are you stuck in the technological past? In this episode of Trade Secrets, Brian Shultz, chief information officer for Cruise Planners, joins hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada to talk about the latest in tech offerings for advisors, game-changing generative AI use cases and tools that can save you both time and money.
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises.
Further resources and related reading:
Meet Cruise Planners’ Brian Shultz
Cruise Planners’ website and franchise site
Trade Secrets episode on generative AI: How do I use generative AI to im...
Duration: 00:45:49Decoding 2024: What trends will shape the travel advisor landscape?
Jan 29, 2024This week on Trade Secrets, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada gaze into their crystal balls to reveal what 2024 might hold for the travel agency community. They share what’s in and what’s out for this year, along with major trends that will shape the advisor landscape. They’ll even share some resolutions for themselves and for the podcast.
Here’s a preview of what’s in and what’s out, according to our hosts.
Emma’s “in for 2024” list:
Using a travel advisor! High prices for both accommodations and airfare. Europe: Italy, Greece and Portugal... Duration: 00:29:57Encore: Top travel pros and their best advice for advisors
Jan 15, 2024Trade Secrets is on a break right now, but will be back starting Jan. 29 with brand-new episodes. In the meantime, we wanted to share one of our favorite episodes from season four. It’s also one of the most popular.
This episode was recorded at the ASTA Global Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on May 2, 2023. Co-hosts Jamie Biesiada and Emma Weissmann rounded up some of the industry’s finest to offer their best advice to travel advisors. They touch on everything from sustainability, to entering the luxury market, and beyond.
Further resources:
The...
Duration: 00:37:37Trade Secrets presents Humans of Travel: Kristin Karst of AmaWaterways
Jan 01, 2024Trade Secrets is on a holiday break, but in the meantime, we wanted to share some of Travel Weekly and TravelAge West’s other podcasts with our listeners. This week’s episode is Humans of Travel, hosted by Trade Secrets co-host Emma Weissmann, featuring AmaWaterways’ Kristin Karst.
If you’ve worked in the travel industry for any length of time, you’re probably familiar with Karst. The co-owner and executive vice president of river cruise line AmaWaterways, Karst is a staple at most travel industry conferences, perhaps best known for her bubbly personality, welcoming demeanor and close, personal r...
Duration: 00:45:42Trade Secrets presents The Folo: A wish list for Disney’s $60 billion parks plan
Dec 18, 2023Trade Secrets is on a holiday break, but in the meantime, we wanted to share some of Travel Weekly and TravelAge West’s other podcasts with our listeners. This week’s episode is The Folo, hosted by Travel Weekly’s Rebecca Tobin. Each week, The Folo digs deep into a topic of interest in the travel industry.
On this episode, Tobin talks to Trade Secrets co-host Jamie Biesiada, also a senior editor at Travel Weekly covering retail travel sales and theme parks, about Disney’s planned $60 billion investment in its parks, experiences and products division over the next 10...
Duration: 00:46:17Trade Secrets presents The Last Resort: 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay
Dec 04, 2023Trade Secrets is on a holiday break, but in the meantime, we wanted to share some of Travel Weekly and TravelAge West’s other podcasts with our listeners. This week’s episode is The Last Resort, hosted by Travel Weekly’s Christina Jelski. The Last Resort is a monthly hospitality-focused podcast where travel advisors share their first impressions of the last resort they visited.
On this episode, Jelski talks to SmartFlyer-affiliated travel advisor Sarah Lopez and Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin about their recent visits to the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.
...
Duration: 00:38:24The fast lane to success: Travel advisor Christy Menzies’ million-dollar start
Nov 20, 2023How did Christy Menzies, the owner of Menzies Luxe Retreats, achieve $1 million in sales in her first six months in business as a travel advisor? Find out the answer to that question and many more in this week’s episode of Trade Secrets, where Menzies shares her journey in the industry and offers sage advice on explaining the value of travel advisors, finding clients as a new advisor, rapidly growing sales and more.
This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations.
Further resources:
Menzies Luxe Retreats on the web
Christy Menzies on Ins...
Duration: 00:46:43How do I get started as a travel advisor?
Nov 06, 2023Thinking of becoming a travel advisor? This is the Trade Secrets episode for you, featuring the sound advice of Steph Lee, founder of Host Agency Reviews. During this episode, delve into the world of travel advising as a profession, including what to know about starting a business, what challenges you may face and more. Already established in the industry? We’ve got plenty for you to mull on, too, from using host- or consortium-provided marketing materials, advice on moving into a management role and more.
This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations.
Further resources:
S...
Duration: 00:50:40Which travel insurance policy is right for my clients? (part 2)
Oct 23, 2023Travel insurance is an important product for travel advisors and travelers alike, but it’s also an undeniably complex one. What should advisors talk about when selling travel insurance, and what shouldn’t they discuss? Is an annual plan a better deal than per-trip plans? What is a preexisting condition, and what does it mean for advisors? Find out the answers to those questions and more in this week’s episode, the second in a two-part series on travel insurance featuring Richard Aquino, vice president and head of sales for Allianz Partners. Find part one here.
This episode...
Duration: 00:24:41Which travel insurance policy is right for my clients? (part 1)
Oct 09, 2023Travel insurance is an important product for travel advisors and travelers alike, but it’s also an undeniably complex one. How should travel advisors position this product to clients? What insurance provider should they use? How do they parse through complicated plans? Find out the answers to those questions and more in this week’s episode, the first in a two-part series on travel insurance featuring Richard Aquino, vice president and head of sales for Allianz Partners.
This episode is sponsored by Air France-KLM.
Further resources:
Allianz Advantage, Allianz’s website for travel advisor...
Duration: 00:26:03On the ground in Maui: Should travel agents send clients to the island right now?
Sep 25, 2023One month after wildfires devastated Lahaina, Signature Travel Network decided to move forward with its annual Owners’ Meeting at the Grand Wailea, located on an unaffected part of Maui.
This episode of Trade Secrets was recorded from the island. Hear from Signature CEO Alex Sharpe, travel agency owners and supplier representatives from Allianz Partners, Travel Insured International and Pleasant Holidays as they share their thoughts about promoting travel to the island. Listeners will also learn about Signature’s relief efforts, and the resounding takeaway for travel advisors who have visited: Responsible, compassionate tourism is welcome on the Valle...
Duration: 00:46:12Fam trips: How can they help your business, travel advisors?
Sep 11, 2023This week, Trade Secrets is all about the fam — fam, or familiarization, trips, that is! Hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are joined by Theresa Chu-Bermudez, owner of Get Out! Custom Travels, co-host of the Tin Lounge Podcast and the creator of Fam with Intention. They talk about all of the ins and outs of fams: how to find them, how to prepare for them, what to do on a fam, and what to do after the trip is over.
This episode is sponsored by Air France-KLM.
Further resources:
Theresa Chu-Bermudez
Theresa’s agen... Duration: 00:36:52As a travel advisor, how do I encourage my clients to travel more sustainably?
Aug 28, 2023In this episode of Trade Secrets, Indagare’s Melissa Biggs Bradley discusses the company’s sustainability efforts — including how her agency offsets the carbon footprints of all staff and client travel — the end of “fast travel,” and how travel advisors can encourage clients to travel more sustainably.
This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations.
Further resources:
Melissa Biggs Bradley:
Indagare’s website On Instagram Her radio show/podcast, Passport to EverywhereFrom Travel Weekly, “Agent Life: Indagare aims to positively impact clients and the places they visit”
Indagare’s explainer on its car...
Duration: 00:38:12Hawaii wildfires: What travel advisors need to know
Aug 10, 2023In this special episode of Trade Secrets, co-host Jamie Biesiada gets an update on the wildfires in Hawaii from Ilihia Gionson, the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s public affairs officer. Gionson talks about what’s happening on Maui, thanks those visitors who have left the island and asks for patience in the weeks ahead as damage is assessed and recovery begins.
This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations. https://www.vaxvacationaccess.com/suppliers/apple-leisure-group/pages/algv-gives-you-more/
Further resources:
For visitor-specific information, visit the Hawaii Tourism Authority on its website or gohawaii.com
For...
Duration: 00:19:43How do I use generative AI to improve my travel agency’s workflow?
Aug 07, 2023In this episode of Trade Secrets, hosts Jamie Biesiada and Emma Weissmann are joined by Christine Vincent, business technology manager for Travelsavers and NEST. They discuss how generative AI is changing the travel industry, and delve into how travel advisors can use it to improve their workflows. They also chat about how to become an effective “prompt engineer” to get a desired output. And yes, if you were wondering, Google’s Bard wrote this episode’s title and description (but it was, of course, vetted and edited by the hosts).
This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations.
Fu...
Duration: 00:44:32Navigating the expedition cruise boom: Insider insights for travel advisors
Jul 24, 2023Embark on a voyage of discovery into the fast-growing world of expedition cruising on this episode of Trade Secrets. Co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are joined by Rachel Woodward, vice president of sales for Lindblad Expeditions, and Beth Butzlaff, Global Travel Collection’s vice president of partnership. They’ll tackle everything from which clients are best suited for which expedition cruises, to can’t-miss stops in Alaska, to how better Starlink connectivity will affect cruisers in the future.
This episode is sponsored by Lindblad Expeditions.
Further resources:
Rachel Woodward’s email address and cell...
Duration: 00:41:03Unleashing sales superpowers: Sales strategies for travel advisors, part two
Jul 10, 2023In this two-part episode of Trade Secrets, we’ll delve deep into the world of sales strategies for travel advisors, with guests Byrd Bergeron (of the Travel Byrds) and Steven Gould (of Goulds Travel, Luxera Travel and the Travel Advisor Resource Center). They also operate the Facebook group “Sales Strategies for Travel Professionals.”
In part two, we’ll discuss a variety of listener questions, from how to allocate your time and strategies with managing email inboxes, to finding outside help in today’s busy business environment. Tune in now for part two, and if you haven’t, check out pa...
Duration: 00:37:36Unleashing sales superpowers: Sales strategies for travel advisors, part one
Jun 26, 2023In this two-part episode of Trade Secrets, delve deep into the world of sales strategies for travel advisors with guests Byrd Bergeron of the Travel Byrds and Steven Gould of Goulds Travel, Luxera Travel and the Travel Advisor Resource Center. We discuss practical techniques, answer listener questions and offer insights to help up travel advisors’ sales games. Tune in now for part one, and stay tuned for part two in two weeks, where we’ll dive into even more listener questions.
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises. https://www.windstarcruises.com/
Further resources:
By...
Duration: 00:41:50Why is Europe so busy this summer?
Jun 12, 2023Travel to Europe surged last summer after two years of pandemic-related restrictions, and this year is no different. The continent is undeniably busy — even busier than last summer, by many metrics. Travel advisors are grappling with planning travel to sometimes sold-out destinations, difficulty securing airfare, high prices and more.
In this episode, we’ll help navigate European travel this summer with the help of Lindsay Taylor-Lauer, director of luxury and hosting at Travel Leaders 365. We answer listener questions about dealing with sold-out suppliers, getting in touch with luxury operators and more. We’re also starting a new Trade S...
Duration: 00:43:34What’s it like to captain a small-ship cruise?
May 29, 2023Picture it: you’re onboard a Windstar ship after spending the day in Venice. You’re the only cruise ship there, and as you exit the port, the sails unfurl and you literally sail past the city of canals on your way to your next stop. It’s a moment Captain Neil Broomhall, Windstar’s fleet captain, has experienced firsthand.
In this special episode of Trade Secrets, we talk to Captain Neil Broomhall, Windstar Cruises’ fleet captain, about, what a typical day looks like onboard a Windstar ship (and whether he’s ever seen a mermaid or sea monster...
Duration: 00:47:59Top travel pros and their best advice for advisors
May 15, 2023This week’s Trade Secrets episode was recorded at the ASTA Global Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on May 2. Co-hosts Jamie Biesiada and Emma Weissmann rounded up some of the industry’s finest to offer their best advice to travel advisors. They touch on everything from sustainability, to entering the luxury market, and beyond.
This episode was sponsored by Windstar Cruises.
Further resources:
ASTA, the American Society of Travel Advisors
FyndTravel
Amanda Klimak’s Trade Secrets episode, “Making the leap from employee to independent contractor”
Marc Casto’s Trade...
Duration: 00:37:57Should travel-planning fees be the same for every client?
May 01, 2023Fees are a perennial hot topic among the travel agency community. On the season four opener of Trade Secrets, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada delve into many different aspects of planning fees with Tiffany Hines, CEO and president of Global Escapes, and Cali Stein, a luxury advisor with Embark Beyond. They address normalizing fees, different ways to charge, whether every client should be charged the same way and more.
In this episode:
8:22 - An overview on fee data from Travel Weekly’s survey
9:39 - How Cali and Tiffany charge fees
15:43...
Duration: 00:56:48Our biggest and best season is on its way -- new episodes starting May 1
Apr 24, 2023Trade Secrets is returning May 1 with season four. At 20 episodes, this marks the show's longest season yet! Tune in for episodes on everything from fees, to Europe, to best business practices.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration: 00:01:51Encore: How do I build a brand for my travel agency?
Apr 17, 2023Trade Secrets is on a brief hiatus to gather questions for season four, but in the meantime, hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are sharing some of their favorite episodes of the show. We’ll be back with new episodes in May!
This week, Jamie’s pick: Whenever Jennifer Doncsecz, president of VIP Vacations, is traveling, she always wears pink. She started years ago, and since then, she uses pink on VIP’s logo, website, and even the Victorian house where the agency is located. That, combined with a number of other strategic measures, has helped Doncsecz solidi...
Duration: 00:27:18Encore: As a travel advisor, how do I break up with clients?
Apr 03, 2023Trade Secrets is on a brief hiatus to gather questions for season four, but in the meantime, hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are sharing some of their favorite episodes of the show. We’ll be back with new episodes in May!
This week, Emma’s pick: all things client relations with Jennifer Jacob. Jennifer is the COO and co-founder of Tique, a travel advisor brand and systems design studio, and the former founder of Explorateur Travel. They tackle qualifying clients, keeping track of — and using — client data, breaking up with clients and beyond. You’ll also learn abou...
Duration: 00:51:39Who hosts this thing, anyway?
Mar 20, 2023Welcome to the season three finale of Trade Secrets! This episode, hosts Jamie Biesiada and Emma Weissmann are flipping the tables a bit and interviewing each other. Find out if they’ve always envisioned being writers, how they found the travel industry, who’s a Swiftie, who believes in ghosts and more.
This is the season finale, but we’ll share some favorite episodes and moments from Trade Secrets every other week until season four premieres this May.
This episode was sponsored by G Adventures.
Further resources:
Jamie on Instagram
ASTA n...
Duration: 00:47:05How can I find my travel industry mentor?
Mar 06, 2023Julie Patterson, the founder of Wanderfully Planned, attributes a lot of her success in the travel industry to her mentor, Whitney Shindelar, the owner and founder of Undiscovered Sunsets and the host of the Masters in Travel podcast. But asking someone to be your mentor is asking them to commit time and effort that could otherwise be used developing their own business. In short, it’s a big ask, but the rewards can be even bigger on both sides. In this episode of Trade Secrets, learn about how Patterson and Shindelar have made the mentor-mentee relationship work for both of...
Duration: 00:47:01Selling the Mouse: Disney Parks pricing, more Mario to come and Travelmation’s Adam Duckworth on creating and growing the agency’s brand
Feb 27, 2023What is Travelmation? Well, it’s a travel agency for starters, but its name is actually a combination of “travel” and “animation.” In this episode of Selling the Mouse, delve into the agency’s name, strong sense of branding and more with president Adam Duckworth. Adam and host Jamie Biesiada will also delve into the latest theme park news, from pricing and capacity at Disney Parks, to Avatar coming to Disneyland, to the opening of Super Nintendo World in Universal Hollywood. Get in touch to sign Adam and Jamie’s petition to return Soarin’ Over California to the Disneyland Resort.
D...
Duration: 00:57:00What are the do's and don'ts of working with a BDM?
Feb 20, 2023The travel advisor-business development manager (BDM) relationship can be critical to an advisor’s growth with supplier partners. So, how can advisors go about building strong relationships with BDMs, and how do they leverage that partnership to ensure the success of both parties?
This special episode of Trade Secrets was recorded on-site at Hard Rock Los Cabos in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, during ALG Vacations’ Pros in Paradise event. At the event, ALG Vacations brought together a group of travel advisors and social media influencers to network, learn from each other and create content. While there, the advis...
Duration: 00:30:43Travel advisors, stop using these phrases right now
Feb 06, 2023This week on Trade Secrets, friend of the podcast Jenn Lee of Travel Planners International returns to talk about the kind of language travel advisors shouldn’t use when talking to clients. Co-hosts Jamie Biesiada and Emma Weissmann perform a sample dialogue for Jenn, and she takes Jamie, posing as an advisor, to task for all of her negative language (“I add value,” “What’s your budget?”). Jenn talks about why words matter, and the fact that, in her words, “People buy on emotion and justify logically.”
This episode was sponsored by ALG Vacations.
Further resourc...
Duration: 00:39:04Selling the Mouse: Disney100, Universal’s new kid-friendly theme park, and Sara Butruff on charging service fees — even for theme park vacations
Jan 30, 2023Sara Butruff, the owner of Travel Leaders - Galaxy Travel in Apple Valley, Minn., does something a little differently than a lot of agency owners: her agencies charge service fees for theme park vacations. Butruff is a major proponent for service fees in general, but is something of a standout in the Disney agency community with two levels of fees: the Magic Touch Concierge Fee and the White Glove Service. Listen in to hear about both, as well as Butruff’s conversation with host Jamie Biesiada ranging from the latest news (Disney100, Universal’s kid-friendly theme park and more), and...
Duration: 00:48:14When is it time to leave your host agency and join a consortium?
Jan 23, 2023Many travel advisors get their start in the industry by affiliating with a host agency as an independent contractor. But what happens when they outgrow their host, or want to move in a different direction with their business? One possible avenue is becoming an agency member of a consortium. That’s exactly what Lila Fox, owner of Lila Fox Travel Co. in Denver, did. This week on Trade Secrets, we’ll delve into Fox’s journey in the travel industry and how she decided to strike out from a host and join Virtuoso directly. She offers advice to other adviso...
Duration: 00:36:45Lessons learned from acquisitions and setting expectations, plus your listener questions
Jan 09, 2023This week on Trade Secrets, we go inside Epperly Travel’s 2021 acquisition of Jetset World Travel, and subsequent rebranding to Jetset, with founder and CEO Lindsey Epperly. She recounts lessons learned — for instance, her business partner and husband Jeremy Sulek’s mantra “silence breeds insecurity” — and we hear the proof in the pudding about good communication from one of her affiliates, Emma Major, founder of Major Traveler. Then, we open the Trade Secrets mailbag to answer a potpourri of questions from listeners with Lindsey and Emma, ranging from transitioning to travel from a previous career, to converting ocean cruisers to river cru...
Duration: 00:44:51Encore: Why can the travel advisor-supplier relationship be so fraught?
Dec 26, 2022Trade Secrets is on a brief hiatus for the holidays, but we'll be back with brand new episodes in January. In the mean time, enjoy this encore episode on travel advisor-supplier relationships!
The travel advisor-supplier relationship can be key for higher sales on both sides of the coin. It's truly a win-win, but really solid relationships between advisors and their supplier representatives can sometimes be elusive. This week, we get deep into the topic with Kate Thomas and Heather Christopher, a supplier and advisor who have a great, longstanding relationship.
Need advice?
Call...
Duration: 00:41:38Selling the Mouse: Will the Disney Dining Plan return, minions multiplying and Lauren Doyle on why agencies should have Disney specialists
Dec 19, 2022Will Disney bring back the Disney Dining Plan? Travelers sure want to know. Meanwhile, minions are multiplying at Universal Studios Florida, Super Nintendo World is opening at Universal Hollywood and the holidays are in full swing in theme parks. We discuss all that and more on this episode of Selling the Mouse. We also get to know Lauren Doyle and her agency, The Travel Mechanic in Raleigh, N.C., and three of her advisors: Stacie Lowe, and Erin and Aaron Baucom. Find out why Lauren is expanding her agency’s ranks of Disney specialists, what drew Erin and Aaron to...
Duration: 00:39:08How do I plan travel for transgender or gender nonconforming clients?
Dec 12, 2022How can travel advisors best serve clients who are transgender or gender nonconforming? On this episode of Trade Secrets, hosts Jamie Biesiada and Emma Weissmann tackle that question and others related to transgender travelers with Scott Wismont, the owner of Rainbow Getaways in Kissimmee, Fla. Scott provides a number of useful resources, talks about the ‘X’ gender marker that’s now available for U.S. passport-holders and addresses how to serve transgender travelers if you haven’t worked with them before (spoiler: research, research, research!).
Trade Secrets will be going on a brief break for the holidays, but we’ll...
Duration: 00:31:54Selling the Mouse: The tale of two Bobs, Universal’s new escape room and Sue Pisatoro on following your intuition and passions
Dec 05, 2022This episode of Selling the Mouse, host Jamie Biesiada catches up with Sue Pisaturo, the president of Small World Vacations in Washington Township, N.J. They talk about how Sue started and grew her agency, Barbara Corcoran’s role in it (yes, Barbara Corcoran of “Shark Tank” fame), following your intuition and more. Jamie also reviews the news, including the ouster of Bob Chapek and the return of CEO Bob Iger.
Selling the Mouse is a five-part miniseries, brought to you by Trade Secrets, a travel advisor-focused business development podcast. Trade Secrets is in its third season with n...
Duration: 00:42:44As a travel advisor, how do I break up with clients?
Nov 28, 2022This week on Trade Secrets, hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are tackling all things client relations with Jennifer Jacob. Jennifer is the COO and co-founder of Tique, a travel advisor brand and systems design studio, and the former founder of Explorateur Travel. They tackle qualifying clients, keeping track of — and using — client data, breaking up with clients and beyond. You’ll also learn about Jennifer’s “pushback channel,” which often leads to the “bless and release.” Hear about all that and more this week on Trade Secrets.
Further resources:
Tique on Instagram and on the web
J...
Duration: 00:51:19