The Travel Business Unpacked

The Travel Business Unpacked
  • 4.6 (9)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL
  • UPDATED DAILY

Welcome to The Travel Business Unpacked, the podcast by Gifted Travel Network, the premier host agency for luxury travel advisors. Hosted by Meredith Calloway, this podcast is your gateway to discovering how to turn a love for travel into a thriving career. Explore inspiring stories, expert insights, and proven strategies for building a sustainable and lucrative travel business. Whether you're dreaming of making a career leap or seeking fresh ideas to grow your existing travel venture, this is the podcast for you! Learn more about Gifted Travel Network: https://www.giftedtravelnetwork.com/

  1. 1D AGO

    From Driver to Designer: How Julien Nolan Became a Trusted Luxury Travel Advisor

    This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Julien Nolan, founder of Husseau, a travel advisory business dedicated to ultra-high-net-worth clients. A recent graduate of the Travel MBA program, Julien is already delivering extraordinary experiences rooted in elegance, discretion, and deep personal connection.With a background in luxury hospitality, Julien entered the industry knowing exactly who he wanted to serve and how he wanted to show up. From private Cartier rooftop celebrations in Paris to special spiritual pilgrimages, his stories reflect not only exceptional service but a deep understanding of what matters most to his clients.They also explore:• The unique mindset shift required to serve ultra high net worth clients• How authenticity builds trust in luxury relationships• What to expect when you're "on call" for high-touch travel• Why visual branding and aesthetic matter more than you thinkWherever you are in your journey, this conversation is a reminder that luxury is built on trust and personal service.

    47 min

  2. FEB 9

    From Cruise Lines to Custom Journeys: Lee Lennon on Crafting a Business Around Luxury Travel

    This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Lee Lennon, founder of Travel by Design and longtime Gifted Travel Network member. After years creating high-touch programs for luxury cruise lines, Lee stepped into entrepreneurship and built a thriving, referral-only business. She shares how her industry background shaped her client care philosophy, how she approaches support in her business, and what it takes to design a business that truly fits your life. They also explore: • Transitioning from corporate to independent • What luxury means beyond the price tag • Building through relationships, not marketing • Hiring support as a solopreneur • Navigating the next generation of travelers For any advisor building with intention, Lee’s journey offers real perspective on what it means to grow well.

    43 min

  3. FEB 2

    Rachael O’Brien: Raising Culturally Conscious Kids, One Country at a Time

    This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Rachael O’Brien, founder of How Far Adventures, for a deeply honest conversation about what happens when life shifts unexpectedly and travel becomes more than just a career choice.    Rachael shares how a major personal transition reshaped her priorities and led her to build a travel business that could flex with real life. From starting out independently and building her business through high-volume client work, to world schooling her children in Costa Rica, her story reflects the evolution many advisors experience as they move from survival mode to intentional growth.    They talk about using travel as a classroom, raising culturally conscious kids, and why stepping outside comfort, both personally and professionally, often leads to the most meaningful transformation. Rachael also reflects on how community, support, and choosing the right business home changed what was possible for her business and her life.  Learn more about How Far Adventures at https://howfaradventures.com/

    52 min

  4. JAN 26

    Building Confidence and Credibility From Day One With Melissa Nagelberg

    This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Melissa Nagelberg, founder of MN Signature Escapes and a standout student in GTN’s Travel MBA program. Melissa shares how she went from stay-at-home mom to thriving travel entrepreneur in under a year, building a business rooted in client care, intentional branding, and strategic support. With a natural ability to connect, she approached the industry with curiosity and commitment—leaning into GTN’s structure, community, and luxury partnerships from day one. In this episode, Melissa reflects on the mindset shifts, systems, and behind-the-scenes work that helped her grow so quickly. From overcoming the fear of starting to confidently planning complex trips, she offers a thoughtful, relatable look at what it really takes to launch a successful luxury travel business. Learn more about MN Signature Escapes at https://mnsignatureescapes.com/

    49 min

  5. JAN 19

    Finding the Right Host for Your Travel Business with Shayna Zand from Host Agency Reviews

    This year, Meredith Calloway is kicking off The Travel Business Unpacked podcast with a conversation every travel advisor needs - whether you’re brand new, years in, or reconsidering your current setup. She’s joined by Shayna Zand, Managing Director of Host Agency Reviews, to break down what host agencies actually do, the most common misconceptions advisors still have, and how to choose the right “business home” for the long game. And if you’re actively exploring hosts—or just want to learn how to evaluate your options more strategically—Shayna gives a full preview of Host Week, Host Agency Reviews’ free virtual event designed to help advisors compare models, get clarity, and ask smarter questions. Register for Host Week (free): https://hostweek.hostagencyreviews.com/en/host-week(Host Week runs January 26–30, 2026.) HAR: https://hostagencyreviews.com/

    49 min

  6. JAN 12

    The Difference Between Selling Travel and Running a 7-Figure Travel Business

    This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Angela Isherwood, founder of Olive & Atlas Travel, for an honest conversation about what it really looks like to grow from passionate advisor to confident travel entrepreneur. Angela shares her journey from a corporate, analytics-driven career into travel, how the disruption of the pandemic became a catalyst for redefining her business, and why learning how to run a business mattered just as much as learning how to sell travel. Together, Meredith and Angela unpack the less visible side of success, including hiring mistakes, building systems from scratch, letting go of control, and stepping fully into the role of owner instead of operator. They also explore: • The mindset shift from travel advisor to travel entrepreneur • Hiring lessons learned the hard way, and what she would do differently now • Why systems and processes are essential for scaling without burnout • Balancing motherhood, boundaries, and business growth • Positioning a brand intentionally in the luxury and ultra-luxury space Angela’s story is a powerful reminder that growth is rarely linear, confidence is built through action, and sustainable success comes from clarity, community, and the willingness to evolve. This episode is especially resonant for advisors who know they want more freedom, better systems, and a business that supports the life they are building, not the other way around. https://oliveandatlastravel.com/

    45 min

  7. JAN 5

    Group Trips, Big Results, and Plenty of Fun with Patti Mills-Roy

    This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway sits down with Patti Mills-Roy, founder of Mills-Roy Luxury Travel, longtime GTN community member, and a Top Producer who never set out to build a “big” business — she just wanted something meaningful (and fun) in her next chapter.After working as a international buyer, Patti eased into travel advising thinking it would be a small side project. Instead, through community, referrals, and a powerful “come with me” approach to group travel, she discovered a business that brought freedom, fulfillment, and surprising financial results.Whether you’re considering group travel, rebuilding momentum, or simply needing a reminder that this business can be deeply enjoyable, Patti’s story shows what’s possible when you combine intention, courage, and a whole lot of fun.https://www.millsroyluxurytravel.com/

    48 min

  8. 12/29/2025

    Turning High Professional Standards into a High-Touch Travel Business with Jackie Wammock

    This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Jackie Wammock, founder of Travelera Partners and a graduate of GTN’s Travel MBA program. After a thriving 30-year career in commercial real estate, Jackie made a bold pivot into luxury travel advising, bringing with her a deep respect for client trust, project management expertise, and an unwavering commitment to doing things the right way. In this episode, Jackie shares how a quiet moment on a sailboat in Croatia led to an unexpected career shift, how she brought her real estate background into her travel business, and how she built her business from a place of intention and professionalism. From her early perfection paralysis to leading successful safari groups in Kenya, Jackie’s story is a candid look at how business acumen and passion can come together to create something truly fulfilling. They also explore: Why Jackie delayed early bookings to protect client trustHow Travel MBA helped her build strong systems from the startWhat it looks like to outsource intentionally and protect your timeThe role of social media in building a personal brandHow equestrian experiences are shaping her niche safari offerings Whether you're a career-switcher or a seasoned advisor looking to grow with intention, Jackie’s story is a thoughtful reminder that building a successful travel business isn’t about doing everything; it's about doing the right things, at the right time, for the right clients.

    44 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Travel Business Unpacked, the podcast by Gifted Travel Network, the premier host agency for luxury travel advisors. Hosted by Meredith Calloway, this podcast is your gateway to discovering how to turn a love for travel into a thriving career. Explore inspiring stories, expert insights, and proven strategies for building a sustainable and lucrative travel business. Whether you're dreaming of making a career leap or seeking fresh ideas to grow your existing travel venture, this is the podcast for you! Learn more about Gifted Travel Network: https://www.giftedtravelnetwork.com/

Information

  • Creator
    The Travel Business Unpacked
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    59
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Travel Business Unpacked
  • Show Website
    The Travel Business Unpacked

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