Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff of Humans of Travel, is running a 10-part mini-series on the 2026 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which recognize some of the most forward-thinking and impactful travel advisors in the U.S.

The Trendsetter Awards celebrate outstanding advisors across five unique categories:
Best Targeted Marketing Idea
Best Group Booking Effort
Upward Bound: Rockstar Advisor Under 40
Saving the Day
Best Use of Social Media

This episode features Derek and Amanda Phillips of Island Time Travel, who were nominated in the Best Use of Social Media category.

Episode sponsor: Brendan Vacations

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Island Time Travel on YouTube

Island Time Travel on Facebook

TravelAge West Wave Awards

TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards

 

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Chelsee Lowe is Senior Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She’s an avid reader, writer, interviewer and traveler. Los Angeles is her home base.

The TravelAge West team also produces travel industry events, including Future Leaders in Travel, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.

ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s award-winning 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.

Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff of Humans of Travel, is running a 10-part mini-series on the 2026 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which recognize some of the most forward-thinking and impactful travel advisors in the U.S.
The Trendsetter Awards celebrate outstanding advisors across five unique categories:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Best Targeted Marketing Idea</li>
<li aria-level="1">Best Group Booking Effort</li>
<li aria-level="1">Upward Bound: Rockstar Advisor Under 40</li>
<li aria-level="1">Saving the Day</li>
<li aria-level="1">Best Use of Social Media</li>
</ul>
This episode features Derek and Amanda Phillips of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@IslandTimeTravel">Island Time Travel</a>, who were nominated in the Best Use of Social Media category.
Episode sponsor: <a href="https://www.brendanvacations.com/en-us">Brendan Vacations</a><a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/wave"></a>
<hr>
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@IslandTimeTravel">Island Time Travel on YouTube</a>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/IslandTimeCruising">Island Time Travel on Facebook</a><a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/wave"></a>
<a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/wave">TravelAge West Wave Awards</a>
<a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/wave-awards/trendsetters">TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards</a>
&nbsp;
<hr>
ABOUT YOUR HOST&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Chelsee-Lowe">Chelsee Lowe</a> is Senior Editor of&nbsp;TravelAge&nbsp;West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She&rsquo;s an avid reader, writer, interviewer and traveler. Los Angeles is her home base.
The TravelAge&nbsp;West team also produces travel industry events, including Future Leaders in Travel, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.
<hr>
ABOUT THE SHOW&nbsp;
TravelAge West&rsquo;s award-winning podcast, &ldquo;Humans of Travel,&rdquo; features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry&rsquo;s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.

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.

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.

Humans of Travel

TravelAge West&rsquo;s podcast, &ldquo;Humans of Travel,&rdquo; features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry&rsquo;s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the experiences &mdash; the highs and the lows &mdash; that make them human.

Humans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetters Derek and Amanda Phillips (Best Use of Social Media)

On this episode of Humans of Travel, Matias Lira, senior vice president of trade sales, the Americas, at Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group and Crystal Cruises, discusses his path from cruise ship bellboy to top sales executive.

A “horrible student” but long determined to climb the proverbial professional ladder, the Miami native credits his mother for helping him understand the value of a dollar and the hard work required to earn one. As a young adult, Lira even delivered bread in the Florida Keys to establish his financial independence. 

In the second half of the show, Lira highlights the new Abercrombie & Kent x Crystal Cruises product — an exclusive cruise offering that blends the deep land tour expertise of Abercrombie & Kent with the luxury cruise experience of Crystal. The first Abercrombie & Kent x Crystal Cruises trip departed this past summer and received much praise from guests, about 60% of whom were new to both brands, Lira notes. Listen in to learn more.

This episode is sponsored by Oceania Cruises.

Enjoying Humans of Travel? Follow the podcast!

Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts

Listen and follow on Spotify

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Abercrombie & Kent

Crystal Cruises

Abercrombie & Kent x Crystal Cruises

A&K x Crystal Cruises: Europe’s Atlantic Shores

A&K x Crystal Cruises: An Epic Voyage Around South East Asia

A&K x Crystal Cruises: Autumn in New York and Canada

From TravelAge West: These Are the Trends Driving Luxury Travel, According to Abercrombie and Kent Travel Group

From TravelAge West: Preview: Crystal’s Crystal Grace

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Chelsee Lowe is Senior Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She’s an avid reader, writer, interviewer and traveler. Los Angeles is her home base.

The TravelAge West team also produces travel industry events, including Future Leaders in Travel, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.

ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s award-winning 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.

On this episode of Humans of Travel, Matias Lira, senior vice president of trade sales, the Americas, at <a href="https://www.abercrombiekent.com/">Abercrombie &amp; Kent Travel Group</a> and <a href="https://www.crystalcruises.com/">Crystal Cruises</a>, discusses his path from cruise ship bellboy to top sales executive.
A &ldquo;horrible student&rdquo; but long determined to climb the proverbial professional ladder, the Miami native credits his mother for helping him understand the value of a dollar and the hard work required to earn one. As a young adult, Lira even delivered bread in the Florida Keys to establish his financial independence.&nbsp;
In the second half of the show, Lira highlights the new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.abercrombiekent.com/cruises/ak-crystal-cruises">Abercrombie &amp; Kent x Crystal Cruises</a> product &mdash; an exclusive cruise offering that blends the deep land tour expertise of Abercrombie &amp; Kent with the luxury cruise experience of Crystal. The first Abercrombie &amp; Kent x Crystal Cruises trip departed this past summer and received much praise from guests, about 60% of whom were new to both brands, Lira notes. Listen in to learn more.
This episode is sponsored by <a href="https://www.oceaniacruises.com/">Oceania Cruises</a>.
Enjoying Humans of Travel? Follow the podcast!
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/humans-of-travel/id1496726460">Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts</a>
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/7w8Ki7aVjhzPHA9CNx4fcJ">Listen and follow on Spotify</a>
<hr>
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
<a href="https://www.abercrombiekent.com/">Abercrombie &amp; Kent</a>
<a href="https://www.crystalcruises.com/">Crystal Cruises</a>
<a href="https://www.abercrombiekent.com/cruises/ak-crystal-cruises">Abercrombie &amp; Kent x Crystal Cruises</a>
<a href="https://www.abercrombiekent.com/journeys/expedition-cruises/ak-x-crystal-cruises-europes-atlantic-shores">A&amp;K x Crystal Cruises: Europe&rsquo;s Atlantic Shores</a>
<a href="https://www.abercrombiekent.com/journeys/expedition-cruises/ak-x-crystal-cruises-an-epic-voyage-around-southeast-asia">A&amp;K x Crystal Cruises: An Epic Voyage Around South East Asia</a>
<a href="https://www.abercrombiekent.com/journeys/expedition-cruises/ak-x-crystal-cruises-autumn-in-new-york-and-canada">A&amp;K x Crystal Cruises: Autumn in New York and Canada</a>
From TravelAge West: <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Events/2026-aktg-100-club">These Are the Trends Driving Luxury Travel, According to Abercrombie and Kent Travel Group</a>
From TravelAge West: <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Cruise/crystal-grace-cruise-ship">Preview: Crystal&rsquo;s Crystal Grace</a>
<hr>
ABOUT YOUR HOST&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Chelsee-Lowe">Chelsee Lowe</a> is Senior Editor of&nbsp;TravelAge&nbsp;West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She&rsquo;s an avid reader, writer, interviewer and traveler. Los Angeles is her home base.
The TravelAge&nbsp;West team also produces travel industry events, including Future Leaders in Travel, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.
<hr>
ABOUT THE SHOW&nbsp;
TravelAge West&rsquo;s award-winning podcast, &ldquo;Humans of Travel,&rdquo; features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry&rsquo;s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.

Matias Lira on the Power of Professional Drive and the Launch of Abercrombie & Kent by Crystal Cruises

On this episode of Humans of Travel, Janet Wygert joins host Chelsee Lowe to discuss her nearly 40-year career with Carnival Cruise Line, her life as a wife and mother and her love of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Serendipitously, the foundation of Wygert’s career was laid in college, when a cruise line recruited students from her Midwestern university to lead onboard children’s programming during school breaks. After graduating college, Wygert moved to Miami, applied for a job at Carnival and joined the inside sales team. Today, she is senior vice president of sales and trade marketing, where she spends her days forging strong relationships with travel advisors and developing innovative ways to help them build their businesses. Listen in to hear more.

This episode is sponsored by Oceania Cruises.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Carnival Cruise Line

Funnel Faves

Celebration Key

From TravelAge West: Getting to Know Janet Wygert, Carnival’s New SVP of Sales and Trade Marketing

From TravelAge West: Preview: Carnival Festivale and Carnival Tropicale

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Chelsee Lowe is Senior Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She’s an avid reader, writer, interviewer and traveler. Los Angeles is her home base.

The TravelAge West team also produces travel industry events, including Future Leaders in Travel, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.

ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s award-winning 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.

On this episode of Humans of Travel, Janet Wygert joins host Chelsee Lowe to discuss her nearly 40-year career with <a href="https://www.carnival.com/">Carnival Cruise Line</a>, her life as a wife and mother and her love of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Serendipitously, the foundation of Wygert&rsquo;s career was laid in college, when a cruise line recruited students from her Midwestern university to lead onboard children&rsquo;s programming during school breaks. After graduating college, Wygert moved to Miami, applied for a job at Carnival and joined the inside sales team. Today, she is senior vice president of sales and trade marketing, where she spends her days forging strong relationships with travel advisors and developing innovative ways to help them build their businesses. Listen in to hear more.
This episode is sponsored by <a href="https://www.oceaniacruises.com/">Oceania Cruises</a>.
<hr>
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
<a href="https://www.carnival.com/">Carnival Cruise Line</a>
<a href="https://www.goccl.com/accounts/login">Funnel Faves</a>
<a href="https://www.carnival.com/celebration-key">Celebration Key</a>
From TravelAge West: <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Cruise/janet-wygert-carnival-cruise-line">Getting to Know Janet Wygert, Carnival&rsquo;s New SVP of Sales and Trade Marketing</a>
From TravelAge West: <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Cruise/carnival-festivale-tropicale">Preview: Carnival Festivale and Carnival Tropicale</a>
<hr>
ABOUT YOUR HOST&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Chelsee-Lowe">Chelsee Lowe</a> is Senior Editor of&nbsp;TravelAge&nbsp;West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She&rsquo;s an avid reader, writer, interviewer and traveler. Los Angeles is her home base.
The TravelAge&nbsp;West team also produces travel industry events, including Future Leaders in Travel, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.
<hr>
ABOUT THE SHOW&nbsp;
TravelAge West&rsquo;s award-winning podcast, &ldquo;Humans of Travel,&rdquo; features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry&rsquo;s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.

Janet Wygert on 40 Years at Carnival, Baseball and Supporting Travel Advisors

Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff of Humans of Travel, is running a 10-part mini-series on the 2026 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which recognize some of the most forward-thinking and impactful travel advisors in the U.S.

The Trendsetter Awards celebrate outstanding advisors across five unique categories:
Best Targeted Marketing Idea
Best Group Booking Effort
Upward Bound: Rockstar Advisor Under 40
Saving the Day
Best Use of Social Media

This episode features Kieran and Sherri Murry of Ignite-U Travel by Dream Vacations. The duo was nominated in the Best Targeted Marketing Idea category.

Episode sponsor: Travel Insured International

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Ignite-U Travel by Dream Vacations

Ignite-U Travel on Facebook

TravelAge West Wave Awards

TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Chelsee Lowe is Senior Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She’s an avid reader, writer, interviewer and traveler. Los Angeles is her home base.

The TravelAge West team also produces travel industry events, including Future Leaders in Travel, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.

ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s award-winning 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.

Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff of Humans of Travel, is running a 10-part mini-series on the 2026 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which recognize some of the most forward-thinking and impactful travel advisors in the U.S.
The Trendsetter Awards celebrate outstanding advisors across five unique categories:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Best Targeted Marketing Idea</li>
<li aria-level="1">Best Group Booking Effort</li>
<li aria-level="1">Upward Bound: Rockstar Advisor Under 40</li>
<li aria-level="1">Saving the Day</li>
<li aria-level="1">Best Use of Social Media</li>
</ul>
This episode features Kieran and Sherri Murry of&nbsp;<a href="https://kmurry.dreamvacations.com/home-page?fbclid=IwY2xjawUXW8RwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMWtUYUdTb1dVcUc2dEVtQllzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeCDMtOptGemAocaNtvwsfzwdv9XG4npOpSOXkwKmY4929KkEcV9jtYR15qWs_aem_kpNGi9fF0jaELTErJg-3og">Ignite-U Travel by Dream Vacations</a>. The duo was nominated in the Best Targeted Marketing Idea category.
Episode sponsor: <a href="https://www.travelinsured.com/">Travel Insured International</a><a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/wave"></a>
<hr>
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
<a href="https://kmurry.dreamvacations.com/home-page?fbclid=IwY2xjawUXW8RwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMWtUYUdTb1dVcUc2dEVtQllzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeCDMtOptGemAocaNtvwsfzwdv9XG4npOpSOXkwKmY4929KkEcV9jtYR15qWs_aem_kpNGi9fF0jaELTErJg-3og">Ignite-U Travel by Dream Vacations</a>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/igniteutravel/">Ignite-U Travel on Facebook</a>
<a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/wave">TravelAge West Wave Awards</a>
<a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/wave-awards/trendsetters">TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards</a>
<hr>
ABOUT YOUR HOST&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Chelsee-Lowe">Chelsee Lowe</a> is Senior Editor of&nbsp;TravelAge&nbsp;West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She&rsquo;s an avid reader, writer, interviewer and traveler. Los Angeles is her home base.
The TravelAge&nbsp;West team also produces travel industry events, including Future Leaders in Travel, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.
<hr>
ABOUT THE SHOW&nbsp;
TravelAge West&rsquo;s award-winning podcast, &ldquo;Humans of Travel,&rdquo; features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry&rsquo;s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.

Humans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetters Derek and Amanda Phillips (Best Use of Social Media)

Humans of Travel

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