Humans of Travel TravelAge West - Hosted by Emma Weissmann

Hello everyone. And welcome to humans in the hot seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. Today, we're speaking with travel advisor Erica Carr, founder of BookitBox Travel and a member of Gifted Travel Network.

Carr has a unique business model and takes client gifting to the next level — we'll hear all about her creative approach to marketing, and her best piece of marketing advice for travel advisors who are hoping to set themselves apart from the crowd.

This episode was sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands.


ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is the Managing Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. 


ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hi everyone, it's Emma Weissman, the host of Humans of Travel from Travel Age West. We've decided to re release a few of our favorite Humans of Travel interviews on the weeks where we aren't dropping new episodes. And you're listening to one of those encore presentations right now.

In addition to being an author, a TedX speaker and a frequent media contributor, Sahara Rose De Vore is the founder of The Travel Coach Network (TCN).

Now, you may be wondering — what is a travel coach? What types of clients do they work with, and what’s the difference between a travel coach and a travel advisor, or a traditional travel agent?

In the latest episode of Humans of Travel, De Vore breaks down the specifics of her travel career. Travel coaches, like De Vore, help individuals or companies — such as tour operators, DMCs, travel agencies or corporate meeting planners — hone in on the psychology of travel, and how they can best alter their marketing or improve their company’s culture based on a human-centric approach, one that takes into account their consumers’ unique mindsets, fears, obstacles, professional goals and unique personal experiences. 

In addition to being a travel coach who focuses specifically on wellness, De Vore helps budding travel coaches develop their businesses through TCN and through her Travel Coach Certification Program, an accredited program from the International Coaching Federation. 

Listeners will also hear about De Vore’s own travel experiences, which include going solo to 84 countries across the world, and how she pushes herself out of her comfort zone while living with an anxiety disorder.


RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

The Travel Coach Network

De Vore on Instagram

The Travel Coach Network on Instagram

De Vore on Linkedin

De Vore on Facebook

The Travel Coach on Facebook

The Travel Coach Network Podcast

Free Beginner's Guide to Travel Coaching

Women Thrive Through Travel MasterFind Virtual Event 2023


INSIDE THIS EPISODE

2:30: Meet Sahara Rose De Vore, a wellness travel coach and the founder of The Travel Coach Network

3:00: What is a travel coach, and who would generally use them?

5:15: De Vore breaks down the differences between a travel coach and a travel advisor.

7:00: De Vore explains the significance of TCN’s accreditation from the International Coaching Federation.

9:25: De Vore shares the most common challenges that travel coaches have when beginning their businesses.

14:09: De Vore reflects on her childhood growing up with a single mom, and how she navigates her public-facing persona as an introvert who is living with anxiety.

18:50: De Vore talks about what it was like traveling solo to 84 countries.

24:00: De Vore speaks on why she hopes to reshape how people view travel.

29:30: As a wellness coach, what trends is De Vore seeing in the wellness space?

32:45: Weissmann asks De Vore a round of rapid-fire questions.


ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is the Managing Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. 


ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello everyone, and welcome to Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. Today, we are joined by Dr. Gene Delaune, senior medical consultant for Allianz Travel Insurance. 

During this episode, listeners will hear about Dr. Delaune's past as an ER doctor, what it means to be a medical consultant for a travel insurance company, and advice on what to look for in a travel insurance policy. 

This episode is sponsored by All-Inclusive By Marriott Bonvoy. 


RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Allianz Travel Insurance


ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is the Managing Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. 


ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greg Mortimer, the founder of cruise line Aurora Expeditions, is a pioneer in the adventure and exploration space — he’s  traveled to many of the world's most remote and untouched regions, and has led more than 80 expeditions to Antarctica. In 1984, Mortimer made history by being part of the first Australian team to summit Mount Everest via its northeast ridge route without the use of supplemental oxygen, and he’s also summited several other peaks, such as Antarctica's Mount Minto and K2 in Asia.

In 1991, Mortimer founded Aurora Expeditions, which has a fleet of two expedition ships — Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle — and another on the way. During the episode, Mortimer will reflect on some of his most thrilling journeys. Listeners will also hear about his advocacy for environmental conservation and sustainability in the travel industry.

This episode is sponsored by Marriott Bonvoy. 


RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Aurora Expeditions

About Greg

Mount Minto Documentary: The Loneliest Mountain

From TravelAge West:

Review: Antarctica Onboard Aurora Expeditions' Sylvia Earle

Review: Greg Mortimer from Aurora Expeditions

New ship announcement: Douglas Mawson


ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is the Managing Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. 


ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello everyone, and welcome to Humans in the Hot Seat. Today, we are joined by Richard Lebowitz, who oversees a team at Forbes Travel Guide that aims to bring awareness to star-rated hotels across the global luxury travel advisor community.

Lebowitz is no newbie in the travel industry; he’s had over 30 years of experience in travel and hospitality, 25 of them with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts in various leadership positions, including as Regional Vice President of Luxury Lifestyle and Leisure of North America for the global sales office.

He was also Senior Vice President of the Hotel and Resort Program at Signature Travel Network and, at the onset of the pandemic, he took a role as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Sharecare, which is a digital health and wellness company. While at Sharecare, Lebowitz rolled out Verified with Forbes Travel Guide initiative, a health security verification program for the hotel and travel industry.

During this episode, you’ll hear about Forbes Travel Guide’s global rating system for luxury hotels, and the tools available to travel advisors who are sending their clients to these properties. We’ll also touch on The Forbes Travel Guide verification program for advisors. 

This episode is sponsored by All Inclusive By Marriott Bonvoy. 


RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Forbes Travel Guide (For more information on award-winners, articles and more)

Travel Advisor Portal

support@forbestravelguide.com  


ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is the Managing Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. 


ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kristy Durso, owner of Incredible Memories Travel, is a passionate advocate that everyone should be able to travel, regardless of an individual’s unique disability. A full-time wheelchair user since 2019, she has used her own travel experiences (and those of her husband and three children, who also live with disabilities) to dig deeper into the world of accessible travel.

Now known as an expert in this niche, Durso has made it her goal to educate other travel advisors and inspire and advocate for travelers from every walk of life. In this episode of Humans of Travel, listeners will hear about Durso’s own journey as the wife of a military veteran and mother to three children living with disabilities; her path toward becoming Miss Wheelchair Texas in 2022; and her views on the accessible travel landscape (including what the industry does right, and what it does very, very wrong).

Listeners will also hear about Durso’s sales process, including the questions she asks clients with accessibility needs, the conversations she has with supplier partners, and the changes she makes to her trip-planning process depending on the type of disability a client has (mobility, cognitive, hearing- or vision-related limitations and more). She also gives advice to other travel advisors who are interested in marketing to clients within the disability community (which encompasses one-fourth of U.S. adults), and the importance of using person-first language and inclusive marketing materials and tactics for reaching this group.

Want to learn more about this travel niche? Check out our Travel Agent Guide for Planning Accessible Travel. 


RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Miss Wheelchair Texas

Incredible Memories Travel

kristy@incrediblememoriestravel.com   

Durso on Instagram: @Kristygoes 

Durso on Facebook: Kristy Durso  

Accessible Travel Network on Facebook 

TravelAbility (creator of the Accessibility Playbook)

Durso’s Video with Wheel the World

A recent movie that Durso likes: The Upside


ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is the Managing Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. 


ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.