The Trade Secrets Tech Summit (season six of the podcast) is taking a quick summer break. In the meantime, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are sharing some of their favorite past episodes. Join them this week for an update on the Tech Summit — which will return toward the end of June — then a look back at last season’s episode all about destination management companies (DMCs). Enjoy!

This episode was sponsored by Globus family of brands.

–

What’s the difference between a tour operator and a DMC? How can advisors find DMCs to work with, and what are the top dos and don’ts of working with them? What if a contact at a DMC ghosts a travel advisor? Hear the answers to these questions and more in this week’s episode of Trade Secrets, featuring Andrea Grisdale, CEO and founder of I.C. Bellagio in Italy.

Further resources

IC Bellagio on the web

Andrea Grisdale’s email

Mentioned in this episode:
Death of a Travel Advisor by Dori Saltzman
From TravelAge West: The ultimate travel advisor guide to destination management companies
Conde Nast’s travel specialists
Travel + Leisure’s A List
Wendy Perrin’s WOW List

Need advice?

Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098

Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com 

 

Theme song:

Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trade Secrets Tech Summit (season six of the podcast) is taking a quick summer break. In the meantime, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are sharing some of their favorite past episodes. Join them this week for an update on the Tech Summit &mdash; which will return toward the end of June &mdash; then a look back at last season&rsquo;s episode all about destination management companies (DMCs). Enjoy!
This episode was sponsored by <a href="https://globusandcosmos.com/">Globus family of brands</a>.
&ndash;
What&rsquo;s the difference between a tour operator and a DMC? How can advisors find DMCs to work with, and what are the top dos and don&rsquo;ts of working with them? What if a contact at a DMC ghosts a travel advisor? Hear the answers to these questions and more in this week&rsquo;s episode of Trade Secrets, featuring Andrea Grisdale, CEO and founder of I.C. Bellagio in Italy.
<hr>
Further resources
IC Bellagio <a href="https://icbellagio.com/">on the web</a>
Andrea Grisdale&rsquo;s <a href="mailto:andrea@icbellagio.com">email</a>
Mentioned in this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Death-Travel-Advisor-Best-Mystery/dp/B0D6J9BVH7?ref_=ast_author_dp">Death of a Travel Advisor</a> by Dori Saltzman</li>
<li aria-level="1">From TravelAge West: The <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Industry-Insight/Business-Features/what-is-a-destination-management-company">ultimate travel advisor guide</a> to destination management companies</li>
<li aria-level="1">Conde Nast&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.cntraveler.com/travel-specialists">travel specialists</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Travel + Leisure&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/a-list/a-list-travel-advisors">A List</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Wendy Perrin&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.wendyperrin.com/wow-list/">WOW List</a></li>
</ul>
<hr>
Need advice?
Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098
Email us: <a href="mailto:tradesecrets@travelweekly.com">tradesecrets@travelweekly.com </a>
&nbsp;
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
&nbsp;
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Secrets wherever you get your podcasts, or at travelweekly.com/podcasts.

ABOUT YOUR HOSTS:

Jamie Biesiada is a senior editor with Travel Weekly. She is an award-winning journalist, including being named the American Society of Travel Advisors’ 2019 Travel Journalist of the Year. Her roots are in community journalism, where she was the editor of several local newspapers and a regional entertainment magazine.

Emma Weissmann is a Senior Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the host of the Humans of Travel podcast, where she interviews notable individuals in the travel industry about their lives — the highs and lows that make them human.


Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information

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&rsquo; questions. Topics will range from business advice to industry trends, history and more &mdash; as long as it&rsquo;s travel-related, we want to address it! Find Trade Secrets wherever you get your podcasts, or at <a href="http://travelweekly.com/podcasts">travelweekly.com/podcasts</a>.
<hr>
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS:
Jamie Biesiada is a senior editor with Travel Weekly. She is an award-winning journalist, including being named the American Society of Travel Advisors&rsquo; 2019 Travel Journalist of the Year. Her roots are in community journalism, where she was the editor of several local newspapers and a regional entertainment magazine.
Emma Weissmann is a Senior Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the host of the Humans of Travel podcast, where she interviews notable individuals in the travel industry about their lives &mdash; the highs and lows that make them human.
<hr>
 Theme song: Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod Link: <a href="https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop">https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop</a> License: <a href="https://filmmusic.io/standard-license">https://filmmusic.io/standard-license</a>
<hr>
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information

Trade Secrets Podcast

Trade Secrets

Encore: Demystifying DMCs: What are destination management companies, and how can travel advisors best work with them?

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 Muensterman, travel advisor, coach and host of the No BS Travel Advisor Podcast, to identify host agency red flags. Welcome back to a brand-new season!

Thanks to our friends at Coastline Travel Group for helping us solicit travel advisor questions this season. 

This episode was sponsored by the Globus family of brands. 

Further resources

Marcie Muensterman
On Instagram
On Facebook
The No BS Travel Advisor Podcast
Courses
Freebies, including Marcie’s host agency interview questionnaire

Mentioned in this episode:
WorldVia Travel Network
Travel Planners International
Nexion Travel Group

Need advice?

Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098

Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com 

 

Theme song:

Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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&rsquo;re digging into the fine print that every travel advisor needs to watch out for. We&rsquo;re joined by Marcie Muensterman, travel advisor, coach and host of the No BS Travel Advisor Podcast, to identify host agency red flags. Welcome back to a brand-new season!
Thanks to our friends at <a href="https://coastlinetravelgroup.com/">Coastline Travel Group</a> for helping us solicit travel advisor questions this season.&nbsp;
This episode was sponsored by the <a href="https://www.globusandcosmos.com/">Globus family of brands</a>.&nbsp;
<hr>
Further resources
Marcie Muensterman
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">On <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nobstraveladvisormarcie/">Instagram</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">On <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/maximizeyourtravelagentbusiness">Facebook</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://thetraveladvisormarcie.com/no-bs-travel-advisor-podcast">The No BS Travel Advisor Podcast</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://thetraveladvisormarcie.com/courses">Courses</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://thetraveladvisormarcie.com/free-things">Freebies</a>, including Marcie&rsquo;s host agency interview questionnaire</li>
</ul>
Mentioned in this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://worldviatravelnetwork.com/">WorldVia Travel Network</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.travelplannersinternational.com/">Travel Planners International</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://nexion.com/">Nexion Travel Group</a></li>
</ul>
<hr>
Need advice?
Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098
Email us: <a href="mailto:tradesecrets@travelweekly.com">tradesecrets@travelweekly.com </a>
&nbsp;
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
&nbsp;
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don’t get burned: Navigating host agency red flags (feat. Marcie Muensterman)

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, to prioritizing fam trip destinations. Co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are joined by KHM Travel Group’s Bill Coyle, vice president of agent engagement, to tackle listener questions on that and more.

This episode was sponsored by the Globus family of brands. 

Further resources

Connect with KHM Travel Group online, on Facebook, on Instagram, on YouTube and on LinkedIn

Encompass the World Travel, Bill Coyle’s family agency

Mentioned in this episode and related reading:
From Travel Weekly, stories on card mills and the history of host agencies
Travel Weekly’s Legal Briefs column by industry attorney Mark Pestronk (many articles talk about terms and conditions)
From TravelAge West, an article on terms and conditions by industry attorney Jeffrey Ment
The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) and its educational offerings
The Travel Institute 
The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and its educational offerings
Trade Secrets episode on fam trips

Need advice?

 

Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098

Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com 

 

Theme song:

Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, to prioritizing fam trip destinations. Co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are joined by KHM Travel Group&rsquo;s Bill Coyle, vice president of agent engagement, to tackle listener questions on that and more.
This episode was sponsored by the <a href="https://www.globusandcosmos.com/">Globus family of brands</a>.&nbsp;
<hr>
Further resources
Connect with KHM Travel Group <a href="https://khmtravel.com">online</a>, on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/khmtravel">Facebook</a>, on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/khmtravel">Instagram</a>, on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@KHMTravelGroup">YouTube</a> and on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/khm-travel-group">LinkedIn</a>
<a href="https://encompasstheworldtravel.com/">Encompass the World Travel</a>, Bill Coyle&rsquo;s family agency
Mentioned in this episode and related reading:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">From Travel Weekly, stories on <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Ghosts-of-card-mills">card mills</a> and the <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Past-present-and-future-of-host-agencies">history of host agencies</a></li>
<ul></ul>
<ul></ul>
<li aria-level="1">Travel Weekly&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Legal-Briefs">Legal Briefs column</a> by industry attorney Mark Pestronk (many articles talk about terms and conditions)</li>
<ul></ul>
<ul></ul>
<li aria-level="1">From TravelAge West, an article on <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Industry-Insight/Opinion/Legal-Lingo-What-Travel-Advisors-Should-Add-to-Their-Terms-and-Conditions-Now">terms and conditions</a> by industry attorney Jeffrey Ment</li>
<ul></ul>
<ul></ul>
<li aria-level="1">The <a href="https://www.asta.org/">American Society of Travel Advisors</a> (ASTA) and its <a href="https://www.asta.org/professional-development">educational offerings</a></li>
<ul></ul>
<ul></ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.thetravelinstitute.com/?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjw74e1BhBnEiwAbqOAjA2eaznFMu5fdaYIpDrbIvWg5RdwaPJxspqnafzw6UY2qbbUe7hLxBoCKccQAvD_BwE">The Travel Institute</a>&nbsp;</li>
<ul></ul>
<ul></ul>
<li aria-level="1">The <a href="https://cruising.org/en/">Cruise Lines International Association</a> (CLIA) and its <a href="https://cruising.org/en/travel-agent-center/professional-development-training">educational offerings</a></li>
<ul></ul>
<ul></ul>
<li aria-level="1">Trade Secrets <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fam-trips-how-can-they-help-your-business-travel-advisors/id1555272051?i=1000627433290">episode on fam trips</a></li>
<ul></ul>
</ul>
<hr>
Need advice?
&nbsp;
Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098
Email us: <a href="mailto:tradesecrets@travelweekly.com">tradesecrets@travelweekly.com </a>
&nbsp;
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
&nbsp;
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 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 the value of travel advisors. They discuss the modern history of the profession and the evolution from “agent” to “advisor,” then answer listener questions about standing out from the crowd, how advisors can sell their own value and what makes a good elevator pitch.

This episode was sponsored by the Globus family of brands. 

Further resources

Nexion Travel Group on the web

Reach out to Jackie Friedman via email

Mentioned in this episode:
Erica Carr’s bookitbox Travel
Christine Potthoff’s travel beCAUSE
Courtnie Nichols’ client gifting strategy

Need advice?

Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098

Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com 

 

Theme song:

Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 the value of travel advisors. They discuss the modern history of the profession and the evolution from &ldquo;agent&rdquo; to &ldquo;advisor,&rdquo; then answer listener questions about standing out from the crowd, how advisors can sell their own value and what makes a good elevator pitch.
This episode was sponsored by the <a href="https://www.globusandcosmos.com/">Globus family of brands</a>.&nbsp;
<hr>
Further resources
Nexion Travel Group <a href="https://www.nexion.com">on the web</a>
Reach out to Jackie Friedman <a href="mailto:jackie.friedman@nexion.com">via email</a>
Mentioned in this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Erica Carr&rsquo;s <a href="https://bookitboxtravel.com/">bookitbox Travel</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Christine Potthoff&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/travelbeCAUSE/">travel beCAUSE</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Courtnie Nichols&rsquo; <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Jamie-Biesiada/Advisor-gifts-that-keep-giving">client gifting strategy</a></li>
</ul>
<hr>
Need advice?
Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098
Email us: <a href="mailto:tradesecrets@travelweekly.com">tradesecrets@travelweekly.com </a>
&nbsp;
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
&nbsp;
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Encore: Demystifying DMCs: What are destination management companies, and how can travel advisors best work with them?

In 1 playlist(s)

Trade Secrets

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips