Trade Secrets Podcast Travel Weekly and TravelAge West
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- Society & Culture
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 Society of Travel Advisors’ 2019 Travel Journalist of the Year. Her roots are in community journalism, where she was the editor of several local newspapers and a regional entertainment magazine.
Emma Weissmann is a Senior Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the host of the Humans of Travel podcast, where she interviews notable individuals in the travel industry about their lives — the highs and lows that make them human.
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information
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Trade 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)
Trade 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 Lee and ask for her step-by-step process for pitching the media
Connect with Vanessa McGovern on LinkedIn
Email Erika Richter, join the ASTA Member Lounge on Facebook and find ASTA’s educational opportunities online
Need advice?
Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098
Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
Trade Secrets on the road, part 1: ASTA’s Zane Kerby on American Airlines and the importance of education
Trade 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.
Further resources
From TravelAge West:
Travel Advisor Conference: ASTA celebrates AA win, pushes VTA certification
From Travel Weekly:
ASTA says its advocacy factored into American’s NDC reversal
A victory for travel advisors was cause for celebration at the ASTA conference
ASTA stiffens certification requirements for Verified Travel Advisor program
Need advice?
Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098
Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
How do you grow your travel agency — and trust your new advisors?
When 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-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy.
Further resources
Julie Lanham on Instagram
Mentioned in this episode:
From TravelAge West: Why you should consider hiring an international virtual assistant
From TravelAge West: Travel agencies are struggling to hire qualified advisors, according to a new survey
Lucia
Need advice?
Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098
Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
Travel advisors, what’s your brand identity? (feat. Christina Vieira)
Marketing 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 on Instagram and Facebook
Magic Made Simple, which helps travel agents set up systems, online and on Instagram
From Magic Made Simple, just for Trade Secrets listeners: Six workflows to automate
From TravelAge West: Gifted Travel Network’s luxury travel symposium on the rivers
Christina Vieira’s five Rs:
Recognize
Recommendation
Relate
Respond
Request
Mentioned in this episode:
Simon Sinek’s TED Talk
“Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen,” by Donald Miller
ActiveCampaign
Zapier
LeadPages
Need advice?
Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098
Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
How should travel agents address travel advisories?
When 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 Shuford on Instagram and Facebook
Mentioned in this episode:
The State Department’s travel site, Travel.State.Gov
The State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
Emma’s Humans of Travel podcast
Travel attorney Mark Pestronk’s free resources, including disclaimer and release forms
A travel agent guide to selling high-risk travel
Need advice?
Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098
Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
Travel advisors, what’s your elevator pitch? (feat. Jackie Friedman)
Welcome 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 International.
Further resources
Nexion Travel Group on the web
Reach out to Jackie Friedman via email
Mentioned in this episode:
Erica Carr’s bookitbox Travel
Christine Potthoff’s travel beCAUSE
Courtnie Nichols’ client gifting strategy
Need advice?
Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098
Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.