Strategic Travel Entrepreneur: Business Tips for Travel Agents/Advisors, Travel Agency Owners, and Travel Business Owners

Rita M. Perez
  • 4.9 (27)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Each week I share, along with featured guests, tangible and practical business strategies for travel entrepreneurs.We discuss foundations, marketing, sales, client experience, systems, supplier relations, and everything in between to empower you to run an effective and profitable travel business, and not just another travel hobby.For travel agents, travel advisors, travel suppliers, tour operators, tourism professionals, travel coaches, travel creators, travel business owners, travel agency owners, host agency owners, and travel industry support partners.

  1. 4D AGO

    Ep 240 The Complete Marketing Matrix for Growing Your Travel Business

    Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Get me as your personal photographer at Summer Camp at Sea: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ Join Korrine and I on Feb 10th at 3pm EST: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/offers/view/1192150 Most travel advisors are doing the connecting part of business with emails and social media, but completely missing the meeting part where you actually get clients.  The marketing matrix shows you exactly where to focus your energy across four phases, and I'm breaking down specific tactics for each one, including which activities only you can do versus what you might outsource.  You'll hear real talk about why not everyone in your network should be a client, how to get featured on podcasts and media as a guest expert, and why your discovery calls need better questions.  If you need more clients and less busywork, grab your notebook for this one.  Questions this episode answers: What is the marketing matrix for travel advisors? Why is social media not getting me travel clients? How do travel advisors get more clients proactively?What networking strategies work best for travel advisors? Should travel advisors attend networking events or focus on social media? How do I convert leads into paying travel clients? What is the difference between attracting clients and meeting clients? Can I outsource my travel business marketing? How do travel advisors stay top of mind with past clients? What marketing activities should travel business owners do themselves? Whitney's Session on Prep for Wave Week: https://youtu.be/H4FwXgpls2k Tee McNeill's Session on Host Week: https://www.youtube.com/live/7gWMn_BMbdk?si=Wqbr82ZhW4vuNGiV&t=18268 Enjoy (and take action)! --------------------------------------------------------------- Rita M. Perez (Host) first began in the travel industry as a travel advisor in 2010. She only fully realized her role as a travel entrepreneur in 2018, and embarked on a mission to support her fellow travel advisors in 2021 when she began the Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast. She now consults and strategizes with travel entrepreneurs, so they, too, can be empowered in travel entrepreneurship. She's on a mission to help travel advisors grow profitable travel businesses that are sustainable to their individual lifestyles and needs. Check out EVERYTHING I offer to support your travel business journey: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/everything/ Say HI on Social: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaperez19/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbs FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL: rita@steeryourmarketing.com

    39 min

  2. JAN 30

    Ep 239 What I Would Do to Get Clients in February as a Travel Advisor

    Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Get me as your personal photographer at Summer Camp at Sea: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ Crunch your numbers on the Lead Generation Calculator: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/calculator If you need travel clients this month, stop talking about everything and start selling something specific.  I'm sharing the exact steps I'd take to book clients in February, including how to use your numbers to create a crystal-clear sales target, where to show up (online and in-person), and how to leverage promotions with personal outreach that doesn't sound desperate.  This is your permission slip to put on your business owner hat and get out of your comfort zone.  The stuffy treat is waiting, you just have to keep moving forward :) Questions this episode answers: How do I get travel clients in February when I need sales now?What should I do first when I need to book more travel clients fast?How do I calculate how many trips I need to sell each month as a travel advisor?Should I focus on marketing multiple trip types or just one when I need clients?What are the best networking events for travel advisors to attend in February?How do I reach out to past clients who haven't booked in a while?What should I say when re-engaging travel inquiry leads who ghosted me?How can I use social media to get travel clients without sounding desperate?Should I host my own event as a travel advisor to get more clients?How do I choose which trips to market when I have limited time and need sales? Enjoy (and take action)! --------------------------------------------------------------- Rita M. Perez (Host) first began in the travel industry as a travel advisor in 2010. She only fully realized her role as a travel entrepreneur in 2018, and embarked on a mission to support her fellow travel advisors in 2021 when she began the Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast. She now consults and strategizes with travel entrepreneurs, so they, too, can be empowered in travel entrepreneurship. She's on a mission to help travel advisors grow profitable travel businesses that are sustainable to their individual lifestyles and needs. Check out EVERYTHING I offer to support your travel business journey: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/everything/ Say HI on Social: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaperez19/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbs FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL: rita@steeryourmarketing.com

    41 min

  3. JAN 23

    Ep 238 6 Marketing Trends I Noticed at Podfest for Travel Advisors

    Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Get me as your personal photographer at Summer Camp at Sea: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ Fresh off of PodFest 2026, I'm sharing the 6 biggest marketing trends that kept coming up and they apply directly to growing your travel business.   We're talking LinkedIn, the power of relationships over vanity metrics, getting paid what you're worth, and why you absolutely need a website in 2026.  Plus, I'm calling out the busy-work trap that's keeping you invisible and sharing why being a small fish doesn't mean you can't land big opportunities.  If you're ready to stop spinning your wheels and start building real visibility and revenue in your travel business, this one's for you. Questions this episode answers: Why should travel advisors be using LinkedIn in 2026? How do I grow my travel business without a large following? What's more important than follower count for travel advisors? Do I need a website for my travel agency? How can I get paid more as a travel advisor? Why am I busy but not making money in my travel business? How do I find clients as a new travel advisor? What networking strategies work best for travel businesses? How can small travel advisors compete with larger agencies? Why isn't my travel business growing despite all my effort? Enjoy (and take action)! --------------------------------------------------------------- Rita M. Perez (Host) first began in the travel industry as a travel advisor in 2010. She only fully realized her role as a travel entrepreneur in 2018, and embarked on a mission to support her fellow travel advisors in 2021 when she began the Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast. She now consults and strategizes with travel entrepreneurs, so they, too, can be empowered in travel entrepreneurship. She's on a mission to help travel advisors grow profitable travel businesses that are sustainable to their individual lifestyles and needs. Check out EVERYTHING I offer to support your travel business journey: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/everything/ Say HI on Social: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaperez19/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbs FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL: rita@steeryourmarketing.com

    39 min

  4. JAN 16

    Ep 237 Your Complete Guide to Travel Advisor Conferences and Events

    Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Get me as your personal photographer at Summer Camp at Sea: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ By popular demand, I'm breaking down the ultimate travel industry events calendar because I know you're trying to figure out which conferences actually deserve your time and money.  From ASTA's big conference in San Diego to Summer Camp at Sea in Alaska, I'm walking you through host agency events, consortium gatherings, supplier showcases, and those invitation-only luxury events like ILTM that you need on your radar.  Plus I'm sharing where to actually find these events beyond just stumbling across them in Facebook groups, including some free resources that'll save you hours of Googling.  Questions this episode answers: When is ASTA Travel Advisor Conference 2026?What is Host Week and when does it happen?When is CLIA Cruise360 2026?What are the best networking events for travel advisors?Where can travel advisors find supplier events and FAM trips?What is the difference between host agency events and consortium events?When is National Travel Advisor Day 2026?What travel conferences happen in Florida for travel agents?When is the ASTA River Cruise Expo 2026?What is ILTM and how do luxury travel advisors get invited?Are there virtual events for travel advisors in 2026?What is Seatrade and should travel advisors attend?When is Summer Camp at Sea 2026?What are Peninsula Shows for travel agents?Where can new travel advisors find educational conferences?What is GTM West for travel advisors?When is National Plan for Vacation Day 2026?What travel blogging conferences should travel advisors know about?What is ASTA Legislative Day and how can travel advisors participate?Are there travel industry events for cruise specialists?What is the Women in Travel Summit?When is the Romance Travel Forum 2026?What networking events exist for Black travel professionals?Where can travel advisors find local ASTA chapter events?What is FyndTravel and how does it help travel advisors find events?Should travel advisors attend tourism trade shows like ITB Berlin? Enjoy (and take action)! --------------------------------------------------------------- Rita M. Perez (Host) first began in the travel industry as a travel advisor in 2010. She only fully realized her role as a travel entrepreneur in 2018, and embarked on a mission to support her fellow travel advisors in 2021 when she began the Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast. She now consults and strategizes with travel entrepreneurs, so they, too, can be empowered in travel entrepreneurship. She's on a mission to help travel advisors grow profitable travel businesses that are sustainable to their individual lifestyles and needs. Check out EVERYTHING I offer to support your travel business journey: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/everything/ Say HI on Social: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaperez19/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbs FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL: rita@steeryourmarketing.com

    49 min

  5. JAN 9

    Ep 236 Why Instagram Isn't Working for Travel Advisors and How to Fix It

    Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Get me as your personal photographer at Summer Camp at Sea: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ If Instagram isn't working for your travel business, you might not doing it wrong. You might just be using it for the wrong thing.  The truth bomb is that Instagram isn't meant to find clients, it's for nurturing the ones you've already met. (Blanket statement with nuance, I know.) I'm breaking down the biggest mistakes I see travel advisors making on social media (like using supplier graphics and promoting free services - please stop), and giving you a framework for what actually works.  If you've been frustrated with low engagement, no leads, and wondering why you're not getting results despite posting consistently, this one's for you.  Time to stop spinning your wheels and start using Instagram the right way. Questions this episode answers: Why isn't Instagram working for my travel business?Should travel advisors use Instagram to find new clients?What's the difference between Instagram for lead generation vs nurturing?Why should travel advisors stop using supplier graphics on social mediaShould I promote free services on my Instagram as a travel advisor?What's the biggest mistake travel advisors make on Instagram?How often should travel advisors post sales content on social media?Do I need to show my face on Instagram as a travel advisor?How can travel advisors use Instagram Stories effectively?What's the best way for travel advisors to use social media in 2026?Should travel advisors hire a virtual assistant for social media?What should travel advisors post about besides travel on Instagram? Enjoy (and take action)! --------------------------------------------------------------- Rita M. Perez (Host) first began in the travel industry as a travel advisor in 2010. She only fully realized her role as a travel entrepreneur in 2018, and embarked on a mission to support her fellow travel advisors in 2021 when she began the Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast. She now consults and strategizes with travel entrepreneurs, so they, too, can be empowered in travel entrepreneurship. She's on a mission to help travel advisors grow profitable travel businesses that are sustainable to their individual lifestyles and needs. Check out EVERYTHING I offer to support your travel business journey: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/everything/ Say HI on Social: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaperez19/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbs FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL: rita@steeryourmarketing.com

    48 min

  6. JAN 2

    Ep 235 Where to Find Your Ideal Travel Clients in 2026

    Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Get at least 6 months of content with YOU in it at Summer Camp at Sea: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ If you're wondering where to find clients who don't micromanage, actually value your expertise, and are ready to book, buckle in.  I'm sharing the exact communities, organizations, and lifestyle groups where high-value travelers naturally gather, think beyond the obvious and get ready for some seriously creative ideas.  Plus, I'll help you figure out if your current niche is specific enough or if you need to get way more targeted.  Questions this episode answers: What's the difference between demographic and psychographic niching for travel advisors? Where do high-value travel clients hang out? What professional organizations should travel advisors join to find clients? How can travel advisors use wine clubs to find clients? Should travel advisors attend networking events or join communities instead?What are the best places to find luxury travel clients in 2026? Can book clubs be a source of travel clients for advisors? What types of fitness and wellness communities attract travel buyers? How can travel advisors partner with local businesses to find clients? What professions need continuing education credits that travel advisors can leverage? Where should B2B travel advisors look for corporate clients? How do I find group travel clients through existing communities?  What online forums and communities have potential travel clients? How can travel advisors leverage hobby-based groups like astronomy or DND? Join us for the Project Management Webinar: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/off Enjoy (and take action)! --------------------------------------------------------------- Rita M. Perez (Host) first began in the travel industry as a travel advisor in 2010. She only fully realized her role as a travel entrepreneur in 2018, and embarked on a mission to support her fellow travel advisors in 2021 when she began the Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast. She now consults and strategizes with travel entrepreneurs, so they, too, can be empowered in travel entrepreneurship. She's on a mission to help travel advisors grow profitable travel businesses that are sustainable to their individual lifestyles and needs. Check out EVERYTHING I offer to support your travel business journey: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/everything/ Say HI on Social: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaperez19/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbs FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL: rita@steeryourmarketing.com

    38 min

  7. 12/26/2025

    Ep 234 My Biggest Failures (and Wins!) of 2025 as Travel Business Owner

    Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Get at least 6 months of content with YOU in it at Summer Camp at Sea: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ I don't know about you, but 2025 was a dumpster fire in so many ways. It also had some incredible wins I didn't see coming.  I'm pulling back the curtain on everything from major health struggles and revenue misses to Summer Camp at Sea success and hitting that 1,000+ attendee goal for Prep for Wave Week.  You'll hear the unfiltered truth about what worked in my travel education business, what flopped hard, and why my word for 2026 is all about craving stability after this chaotic year.  If you're tired of the highlight reel BS and want honest insights on building a travel business through the messy stuff, grab your bevvie and let's chat.   Questions this episode answers: How do you handle major health challenges while running a travel business?What are the biggest lessons from running travel industry events in 2025? How early should you promote a group trip or travel event? Why is specificity important when marketing to travel clients? How can travel advisors use networking to grow their business? What makes Summer Camp at Sea different from other travel advisor eventsHow do you recover from missing Black Friday sales goals? Why do face-to-camera reels matter for travel marketing in 2026? How do you know when it's time to rebrand your travel business? What are the signs you need professional branding for your business?How can AI tools help travel advisors with content marketing?  Enjoy (and take action)! --------------------------------------------------------------- Rita M. Perez (Host) first began in the travel industry as a travel advisor in 2010. She only fully realized her role as a travel entrepreneur in 2018, and embarked on a mission to support her fellow travel advisors in 2021 when she began the Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast. She now consults and strategizes with travel entrepreneurs, so they, too, can be empowered in travel entrepreneurship. She's on a mission to help travel advisors grow profitable travel businesses that are sustainable to their individual lifestyles and needs. Check out EVERYTHING I offer to support your travel business journey: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/everything/ Say HI on Social: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaperez19/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbs FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL: rita@steeryourmarketing.com

    54 min

  8. 12/19/2025

    Ep 233 I Tried Writing a Blog Post Every Day for 30 Days and Here's What Happened

    Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Get at least 6 months of content with YOU in it at Summer Camp at Sea: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ Join us for the Business Maintenance Webinar: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/offers/view/1190839 So I did something a little crazy in November...I challenged myself to write a blog post every single day.  Spoiler alert: I didn't hit my goal of 30 posts, but what I gained was way more valuable than just checking off a to-do list.  I'm sharing all the messy details about keyword research struggles, using AI to speed up my workflow, and why I had to give myself grace when life decided to life.  Plus, you'll get the real numbers on how blogging has already doubled my website traffic even with fewer posts than I planned.  Questions this episode answers: How long does it take to write a blog post using AI? What is keyword research and why does it take so long? How many blog posts do you need before your website gains traction? What tools are best for keyword research for bloggers? How do you use AI to write blog posts faster? What is the difference between main keywords and supplementary keywordsHow many times should you use your main keyword in a blog post? What happens when you blog every day for a month? What are long tail keywords and how do they help small bloggers? How can blogging help travel advisors grow their business? What is keyword competition and how does it affect blog rankings? How do you overcome blogging inconsistency? Link to Nina Clapperton's Blogging and AI Resources: https://ritaventures--ninaclapperton.thrivecart.com/sheknowsseo/ (affiliate link) I have purchased and used: 6 Months to 50K Sessions, SEO Spreadsheets, and Group Growth Accelerator.   I'm also part of Profitable Part Time Blogger ( --------------------------------------------------------------- Rita M. Perez (Host) first began in the travel industry as a travel advisor in 2010. She only fully realized her role as a travel entrepreneur in 2018, and embarked on a mission to support her fellow travel advisors in 2021 when she began the Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast. She now consults and strategizes with travel entrepreneurs, so they, too, can be empowered in travel entrepreneurship. She's on a mission to help travel advisors grow profitable travel businesses that are sustainable to their individual lifestyles and needs. Check out EVERYTHING I offer to support your travel business journey: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/everything/ Say HI on Social: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaperez19/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbs FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL: rita@steeryourmarketing.com

    45 min
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Each week I share, along with featured guests, tangible and practical business strategies for travel entrepreneurs.We discuss foundations, marketing, sales, client experience, systems, supplier relations, and everything in between to empower you to run an effective and profitable travel business, and not just another travel hobby.For travel agents, travel advisors, travel suppliers, tour operators, tourism professionals, travel coaches, travel creators, travel business owners, travel agency owners, host agency owners, and travel industry support partners.

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