TIQUE Talks: The Business Podcast for Travel Advisors

Robin Bradley and Jennifer Jacob
  • 4.9 (153)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to TIQUE Talks Podcast - a live-workshop style travel business podcast packed with actionable step-by-step tips that are helping hundreds of travel advisors redefine success, grow their bottom line, and find balance in their business. Join us, Florida-based business partners Robin Bradley and Jennifer Jacob, for value-packed, hilarious conversations and impactful interviews with other industry leaders. With every episode, our mission is to empower you with information, expand what you think is possible for your travel business, and hopefully make you laugh along the way! We are honest, open, and above all, human. We are committed to learning right alongside of you so that we can all find more balance, joy, and peace while pursuing those big, scary business goals. Whether you are brand new to the industry, have a side-hustle, or you are growing a travel booking empire, this is the show for you. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday!

  1. 1d ago

    250. Vetting Educational Opportunities with Shannon Lamarche

    Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors: Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisorsTravel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCs Not every FAM trip, conference, or industry event deserves a spot on your calendar. Shannon Lamarche, founder of Premiere Luxury Travel, joins this episode to discuss how she evaluates educational opportunities based on alignment, cost, client demand, and potential ROI. She shares her process for choosing the right events, organizing supplier knowledge, following up strategically, and avoiding the entitled behavior that can quickly damage your reputation. Before you accept another invitation because the destination looks fun, listen to this episode! About Shannon Lamarche: Shannon specializes in designing high-touch, custom international journeys for travelers who care deeply about how they travel—not just where they go. Her ideal clients are seasoned travelers who value exceptional food, wine, culture, and history, and who want their trips thoughtfully paced, intelligently routed, and handled end-to-end by an expert. Shannon's background is rooted in producing complex logistics and details (as a former film & television producer), which translates naturally into travel design that feels seamless, intentional, and calm—especially for trips with many moving parts. premiereluxurytravel.com @premiereluxurytravel Today we will cover: (03:30) How to determine whether an educational opportunity aligns with your business(09:00) Calculating the true cost and potential ROI of FAM trips and conferences(13:00) Balancing trade shows, destination experience, and time away from your business(25:00) Organizing supplier information and turning new connections into opportunities(37:05) The FAM trip etiquette every travel advisor needs to follow Resources Mention In This Episode: ClickUp Business Hub Template NICHE is Tique’s membership community for travel advisors who want support refining their business, strengthening their positioning, and learning alongside other advisors who are serious about growth. Shannon is a member herself, and many of the strategies discussed in this episode are the kinds of conversations happening inside the community. Learn More and Pick Your Membership Tier → NICHE COMMUNITY FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

  2. 5d ago

    249. Hot Take: Stop Making Training Programs

    Jennifer and Robin torch the idea that every agency needs its own homemade curriculum, pointing out that IATA rules and DMC basics don't change agency to agency no matter how "unique" you think your brand is. They call out the ego and scarcity mindset behind DIY training, explain why refusing to invest $500 in proper onboarding may be a sign you’re not ready to hire, and reveal the hidden cost of maintaining your own curriculum. If you want to scale, retain great advisors, and escape the hiring hamster-wheel, it’s time to invest in education that already works. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Tique’s Course Suite Buying for an Agency or Team? Explore Enterprise Pricing Have A Question → Email hello@tiquehq.com or Submit a Contact Form FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

  3. Sep 1

    248. Understanding Your Liability in Transactions with Megan Mack

    Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors: Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisorsTravel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCs You may think collecting a client’s payment is simply another step in the booking process, but how that money moves could dramatically change your responsibility when something goes wrong. Megan Mack, founder of Heirloom Adventures, talks about the critical difference between receiving a credit card authorization and collecting a direct payment. She explains when an advisor may unknowingly begin operating like a tour operator, what becoming the merchant of record means for your business, and why your host agency’s insurance may not offer all the protection you assume it does. From PCI compliance and supplier terms to chargebacks, travel insurance, and client agreements, this conversation will make you take a much closer look at every point where money changes hands in your business. If you collect client funds, process payments, or rely on a platform to protect sensitive information, this is one episode you cannot afford to skip! This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult the appropriate professionals about your specific business, contracts, and state requirements. About Megan Mack: Megan was drawn to travel from a young age. Never one to sit still, she dreamed of seeing the world and connecting with people along the way. She discovered the world of travel advising after a friend told her, “I would totally hire you to plan a trip for my family.” Inspired by that moment and by her desire to help other families explore the world with their children, Megan set out to learn everything she could about travel advising. heirloom-adventures.com Today we will cover: (02:40) Meet Megan; what made her question how she collected payments(05:55) Vetting your technology for PCI compliance(09:10) Credit card authorizations versus direct payments(17:55) When collecting funds makes you a tour operator(27:10) Building liability protection into client agreements(35:45) Retainers versus flat planning fees(38:50) Auditing every point of liability in your payment process Resources Mention In This Episode: #150. What Every Advisor Needs To Know About Protecting Client Data with Kacie Darden #216. Don’t Assume A DMC Will Break Your Client's Budget with Jonathan Epstein The Legal Paige - Travel Advisor Templates NICHE is Tique’s membership community for travel advisors who want support refining their business, strengthening their positioning, and learning alongside other advisors who are serious about growth. Vanessa is a member herself, and many of the strategies discussed in this episode are the kinds of conversations happening inside the community. Learn more and Pick Your Membership Tier → NICHE COMMUNITY FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

  4. Aug 28

    247. Hot Take: You Need Niche

    Jennifer and Robin introduce Niche’s new community manager, Maddy McCutchen, and reveal what’s changing inside the community. Maddy shares how she went from listening to Tique Talks as a travel advisor to helping shape the future of Niche through weekly office hours, improved member support, recognition programs, and more opportunities for advisors to learn from one another. They also preview the new AI training series designed to help advisors streamline their workflows, strengthen their systems, understand their finances, and turn their 2026 metrics into meaningful momentum for 2027. There’s no doubt about it - you need Niche! Join today and get the education, resources, and no-gatekeeping support you need to build a stronger travel business. Learn more and Pick Your Membership Tier → NICHE COMMUNITY FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

  5. Aug 25

    246. What Shifted When I Went All In on Luxury Branding with Vanessa Kromer

    Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors: Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisorsTravel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCs What changes when you stop trying to appeal to everyone and start building a brand designed to attract the clients you actually want? Vanessa Cromer had already spent years building a successful travel business when she decided to go all in on luxury branding. She elevated her imagery, tightened her messaging, and became much more intentional about what she was putting in front of potential clients. And people started paying attention. Suddenly, luxury clients were reaching out, brands and magazines were taking her more seriously, speaking opportunities were landing in her inbox, and she had the confidence to turn down business that no longer fit where she was headed. In this episode, Vanessa shares what shifted when she stopped trying to market everything she could book and started building a brand around the business she truly wanted. If your current brand doesn’t reflect the level of client you’re trying to attract, this conversation might make you rethink what you’re putting out there! About Vanessa Kromer: Award-winning luxury travel advisor, Italy specialist, publisher of Maison Voyage Magazine, and creator of The Private Edit. For more than 16 years, Vanessa has designed unforgettable journeys across Europe and beyond, blending insider expertise, trusted relationships, and personalized service to create seamless, one-of-a-kind travel experiences for discerning travelers. theelegantexplorers.com instagram.com/vanessakromermmv Today we will cover: (04:00) From a “hot mess” brand to finding her niche(08:10) The post-COVID shift toward Europe and Italy(14:00) Going all in on her travel business; investing in branding and professional photography(17:25) Creating a client experience that matches your branding(24:20) Advice for newer travel advisors; why your brand should speak to your dream client NICHE is Tique’s membership community for travel advisors who want support refining their business, strengthening their positioning, and learning alongside other advisors who are serious about growth. Vanessa is a member herself, and many of the strategies discussed in this episode are the kinds of conversations happening inside the community. Learn more and Pick Your Membership Tier → NICHE COMMUNITY FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

  6. Aug 21

    245. Hot Take: When To Say "No"

    Don't miss the Travel Business Intensive, happening August 24-26! Learn more and grab your ticket here → RESERVE MY SPOT! Saying yes might feel like good business, but the wrong yes can cost you more than you realize. In this Hot Take, Robin and Jennifer break down why travel advisors need to get more comfortable saying no; to misaligned clients, FAMs, meetings, expenses, and opportunities that look exciting but don’t actually support where you’re trying to go. They share how to gut-check opportunities against your bigger vision, protect your time and client experience, and recognize when a “great opportunity” might be pulling you off track. Plus, they share how they use AI and the Crucial Conversations framework to make clearer decisions and communicate a no without over-explaining or burning the relationship. FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

  7. Aug 18

    244. Attracting Clients Who Travel Like You with Kat Morga

    Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors: Travel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCsSmeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisors Kat Morga, founder of Adventure Smarter, talks about creating a travel business that feels authentic to you and naturally attracts clients who value the same things. She shares how her own travel experiences shaped her “splurge when it makes sense” philosophy, why she stopped trying to fit into the industry's version of luxury, and how she found a profitable niche without limiting herself to one destination. She also talks about why she loves local networking, finding your “cheerleaders,” using your website and email list to generate stronger leads, and knowing when to lean on other advisors and trusted DMC partners. This conversation is a reminder that growth doesn't have to mean becoming a different kind of advisor. Sometimes the smartest strategy is getting clearer about who you already are and building your business around it. About Kat Morga: Kat is the founder of Adventure Smarter, a travel advisory based outside of Nashville, Tennessee, specializing in FIT travel, safaris, river cruises, and multigenerational family travel - "Trips Done Right." She built her business from scratch, with no inherited client list and no background in luxury travel, which meant figuring out early on that she'd have to find clients the industry wasn't already handing her. Along the way she realized the field's default script - sell aspirational, sell ultra-luxury - didn't match the kind of travel she actually believed in or the clients she actually wanted. So she built her own positioning instead: direct, specific, grounded in firsthand experience rather than imagery. Kat is married with 2 young kids and has a Rick Steves autograph on her bookshelf. AdventureSmarter.org @AdventureSmarter Today we will cover: (04:30) Why “splurge when it makes sense” became Kat’s travel philosophy(07:20) Building a client base when you don’t have a wealthy network(13:30) Why your niche doesn’t have to be a destination(21:00) Where Kat gets her best travel leads(24:30) Rejecting the travel industry’s obsession with ultra-luxury(35:00) Creating messaging that attracts clients who travel like you Don't miss the Travel Business Intensive, happening August 24-26! Learn more and grab your ticket here → RESERVE MY SPOT! FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

  8. Aug 14

    243. Hot Take: How To Get Clients To Read Your Emails

    Don't miss the Travel Business Intensive, happening August 24-26! Learn more and grab your ticket here → RESERVE MY SPOT! You can’t force your clients to read your emails. But you can make it a whole lot more likely. In this week’s Hot Take, Robin and Jennifer chat about why clients skim, skip, and straight-up ignore important information. From punchier subject lines and TLDRs to giving every email one clear job, they’re sharing how to communicate in a way your clients will actually consume. Turns out, getting clients to pay attention might have less to do with them and more to do with how you communicate. FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

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4.9
out of 5
153 Ratings

About

Welcome to TIQUE Talks Podcast - a live-workshop style travel business podcast packed with actionable step-by-step tips that are helping hundreds of travel advisors redefine success, grow their bottom line, and find balance in their business. Join us, Florida-based business partners Robin Bradley and Jennifer Jacob, for value-packed, hilarious conversations and impactful interviews with other industry leaders. With every episode, our mission is to empower you with information, expand what you think is possible for your travel business, and hopefully make you laugh along the way! We are honest, open, and above all, human. We are committed to learning right alongside of you so that we can all find more balance, joy, and peace while pursuing those big, scary business goals. Whether you are brand new to the industry, have a side-hustle, or you are growing a travel booking empire, this is the show for you. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday!

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