Trade Secrets
Trade Secrets
Welcome to Trade Secrets, a podcast from the editors of Travel Weekly and TravelAge West, where travel advisors ask -- and answer -- questions. On each podcast, our editors will ask a veteran travel advisor to join them and field listeners’ questions. Topics will range from business advice to industry trends, history and more — as long as it’s travel-related, we want to address it! Find Trade Secr…Social links:
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Succession planning for travel agencies, part 1 (feat. Stacey and Sami Ray)
What’s your plan for your business when you retire, or you’re unable to run it anymore? In this episode, hear from mother-and-daughter duo Stacey and Sami Ray of Sisterhood Travels as they discuss their personal paths on the vital, albeit often overlooked, process of succession planning within a s…
51:25
Don’t get burned: Navigating host agency red flags (feat. Marcie Muensterman)
How closely have you read your contract with your host agency? Does it have a non-compete clause? How about a detailed plan for termination? In the season seven premiere of Trade Secrets, we’re digging into the fine print that every travel advisor needs to watch out for. We’re joined by Marcie Mue…
55:57
Encore: How can new travel advisors build a successful career? (Feat. Bill Coyle of KHM Travel)
Trade Secrets is on a winter break but will return with new episodes in just two weeks, on Monday, Feb. 16. Until then, please enjoy this old favorite. New travel advisors, look no further than this episode of Trade Secrets for advice on everything from setting up your business, to finding clients…
47:09
Encore: Travel advisors, what’s your elevator pitch? (feat. Jackie Friedman)
Trade Secrets is on a winter break but will return with new episodes in early 2026. For now, enjoy some old favorites. Welcome to season five of Trade Secrets. In this episode, hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada welcome Nexion Travel Group president Jackie Friedman on the show to talk about t…
47:31
Encore: How do you grow your travel agency — and trust your new advisors?
Trade Secrets is on a holiday break but will return with new episodes in early 2026. For now, enjoy some old favorites. When it’s time to expand your business, what’s the best way to do it? Should you hire independent contractors, employees or assistants? Then, once they’re onboarded, how do you e…
44:32
Encore: Oh, the places you’ll go! Destination weddings, honeymoons & beyond, feat. Jennifer Donscesz
Trade Secrets is on a holiday break but will return with new episodes in early 2026. For now, enjoy some old favorites. This week, Trade Secrets takes on the world. Jennifer Doncsecz of VIP Vacations returns to the podcast to discuss her specialty: destination weddings and honeymoons. She talks ab…
59:37
Event-based travel, ‘kidfluence’ and beyond: What’s in store for 2026?
What does the new year have in store for travel advisors? On this week’s episode of Trade Secrets, the last of season six, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada give an overview of 2025 trends and break down their predictions for 2026. Will 2025’s bumpy road continue? Who will most influence t…
39:24
Trade Secrets Tech Summit: Travel Industry Solutions (feat. Sheila Folk)
This is the final episode of the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a five-minute elevator pitch to tell advisor…
26:58
Trade Secrets Tech Summit: VacationCRM (feat. Stephen Kelly)
This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a five-minute elevator pitch t…
24:28
Trade Secrets Tech Summit: VacationPort (feat. Sarah Bauman)
This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a five-minute elevator pitch t…
23:24