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 effectively train — and, subsequently, trust — your new people? All that and more is covered in this week’s Trade Secrets, when co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada talk business expansion with Julie Lanham, president of Vacations to Remember in Augusta, Ga.

This episode was sponsored by the Globus family of brands. 

Further resources

Julie Lanham on Instagram 

Mentioned in this episode:
From TravelAge West: Why you should consider hiring an international virtual assistant
From TravelAge West: Travel agencies are struggling to hire qualified advisors, according to a new survey
Lucia

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 holiday break but will return with new episodes in early 2026. For now, enjoy some old favorites.
When it&rsquo;s time to expand your business, what&rsquo;s the best way to do it? Should you hire independent contractors, employees or assistants? Then, once they&rsquo;re onboarded, how do you effectively train &mdash; and, subsequently, trust &mdash; your new people? All that and more is covered in this week&rsquo;s Trade Secrets, when co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada talk business expansion with Julie Lanham, president of Vacations to Remember in Augusta, Ga.
This episode was sponsored by the <a href="https://www.globusandcosmos.com/">Globus family of brands</a>.&nbsp;
<hr>
Further resources
Julie Lanham <a href="https://www.instagram.com/julie_the_travel_guru">on Instagram</a>&nbsp;
Mentioned in this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">From TravelAge West: Why you should consider <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Industry-Insight/Opinion/why-hire-a-virtual-assistant">hiring an international virtual assistant</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">From TravelAge West: Travel agencies are struggling to hire qualified advisors, <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Industry-Insight/Business-Features/travel-advisor-career">according to a new survey</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.letslucia.com/">Lucia</a></li>
</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.

Welcome to Trade Secrets, a podcast from the editors of Travel Weekly, 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 brings more than a decade of reporting and editing experience to her role as Features Editor at Travel Weekly, where she covers destinations and retail travel and contributes to social media, podcast and multimedia initiatives. Before joining Travel Weekly, Emma served as Editor-in-Chief of AGENTatHOME and Executive Editor of TravelAge West and hosted the Humans of Travel podcast. She also helped create and produce the Future Leaders in Travel event for early-career travel advisors.


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, 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 brings more than a decade of reporting and editing experience to her role as Features Editor at Travel Weekly, where she covers destinations and retail travel and contributes to social media, podcast and multimedia initiatives. Before joining Travel Weekly, Emma served as Editor-in-Chief of AGENTatHOME and Executive Editor of TravelAge West and hosted the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Podcasts/Humans-of-travel">Humans of Travel</a> podcast. She also helped create and produce the Future Leaders in Travel event for early-career travel advisors.
<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: How do you grow your travel agency — and trust your new advisors?

Recorded live from the CruiseWorld stage, this episode of Trade Secrets features the latest cruise booking research from Travel Weekly’s sister company, Phocuswright, and its manager of research and special projects, Madeline List. List joined Trade Secrets co-host Jamie Biesiada and Mandee Migliaccio, CEO of Stepping Out Travel Services, for a discussion about how the latest booking trends are relevant to travel advisors.

This episode was sponsored by Princess Cruises. 

Need advice?

 

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.

Recorded live from the CruiseWorld stage, this episode of Trade Secrets features the latest cruise booking research from Travel Weekly&rsquo;s sister company, Phocuswright, and its manager of research and special projects, Madeline List. List joined Trade Secrets co-host Jamie Biesiada and Mandee Migliaccio, CEO of Stepping Out Travel Services, for a discussion about how the latest booking trends are relevant to travel advisors.
This episode was sponsored by <a href="https://www.princess.com/">Princess Cruises</a>.&nbsp;
<hr>
Need advice?
&nbsp;
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.

Trade Secrets on the Road: How can travel advisors capitalize on the latest cruise booking trends? (recorded live at CruiseWorld)

What happens when a client’s trip is met with a geopolitical crisis, a natural disaster or unexpected danger on the ground? This week, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada dive into the specialized, high-stakes world of high-risk travel with Michael and Joshua Beagelman. The Beagelmans — CEO and managing director, respectively, of London-based MB Private Clients — break down how they manage extreme travel scenarios and what all advisors, regardless of their specialty, need to know.

This episode was sponsored by Oceania Cruises. 

Further resources

MB Private Clients on the web, LinkedIn and Instagram

Joshua Beagelman on LinkedIn

Find out more about the company’s history here

Mentioned in this episode:
From Travel Weekly: My travel agent saved my life. Really.
From TravelAge West: A travel agent guide to selling high-risk travel
From Travel Weekly: A simple solution to complex problems: Communicate
Stephanie Hankins on Trade Secrets

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.

What happens when a client&rsquo;s trip is met with a geopolitical crisis, a natural disaster or unexpected danger on the ground? This week, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada dive into the specialized, high-stakes world of high-risk travel with Michael and Joshua Beagelman. The Beagelmans &mdash; CEO and managing director, respectively, of London-based MB Private Clients &mdash; break down how they manage extreme travel scenarios and what all advisors, regardless of their specialty, need to know.
This episode was sponsored by <a href="https://www.oceaniacruises.com/">Oceania Cruises</a>.&nbsp;
<hr>
Further resources
MB Private Clients <a href="https://mbprivateclients.com/">on the web</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/mb-private-clients/home/">LinkedIn</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mbprivateclients/">Instagram</a>
Joshua Beagelman <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabeagelman/">on LinkedIn</a>
Find out more about the company&rsquo;s history <a href="https://mbprivateclients.com/built-in-uncertainty/">here</a>
Mentioned in this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">From Travel Weekly: <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/My-travel-agent-saved-my-life">My travel agent saved my life. Really.</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">From TravelAge West: <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Trending/A-Travel-Agent-Guide-to-Selling-High-Risk-Travel">A travel agent guide to selling high-risk travel</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">From Travel Weekly: <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Simple-solution-complex-problems-Communicate-2147323619">A simple solution to complex problems: Communicate</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Stephanie Hankins <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Trade-Secrets/season-seven-episode-fourteen-Ask-a-lawyer-at-Future-Leaders-in-Travel">on Trade Secrets</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.

There is always a way: Navigating the world of high-risk travel (feat. Michael and Joshua Beagelman)

What does it take to build and maintain a thriving and mutually beneficial relationship with travel suppliers? In this episode, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada break it all down with NoteWorthy owner and managing director Nicola Butler, who describes herself as “the travel advisor’s travel advisor.” Hear Butler’s thoughts on curating a portfolio of suppliers and what suppliers are looking for from advisors right now.

This episode was sponsored by Oceania Cruises. 

Further resources

Email Nicola Butler, find her on Instagram or call her at +44 7766 806727

NoteWorthy on Instagram

Mentioned in this episode:
From Travel Weekly, DMCs help bring the ‘wow’
Churchill War Rooms
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style exhibit
The Bayeux Tapestry
The Museum Tavern, home of the “Beereux Tapestry”

Need advice?

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.

What does it take to build and maintain a thriving and mutually beneficial relationship with travel suppliers? In this episode, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada break it all down with NoteWorthy owner and managing director Nicola Butler, who describes herself as &ldquo;the travel advisor&rsquo;s travel advisor.&rdquo; Hear Butler&rsquo;s thoughts on curating a portfolio of suppliers and what suppliers are looking for from advisors right now.
This episode was sponsored by <a href="https://www.oceaniacruises.com/">Oceania Cruises</a>.&nbsp;
<hr>
Further resources
<a href="mailto:nicola@noteworthy.co.uk">Email</a> Nicola Butler, find her on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/noteworthynicola">Instagram</a> or call her at +44 7766 806727
NoteWorthy on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/noteworthy.experiences/">Instagram</a>
Mentioned in this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">From Travel Weekly, <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/DMCs-help-bring-the-wow">DMCs help bring the &lsquo;wow&rsquo;</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms">Churchill War Rooms</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.rct.uk/collection/exhibitions/queen-elizabeth-ii-her-life-in-style">Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style</a> exhibit</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/bayeux-tapestry">The Bayeux Tapestry</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/greater-london/museum-tavern">The Museum Tavern</a>, home of the &ldquo;Beereux Tapestry&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
<hr>
Need advice?
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 do you grow your travel agency — and trust your new advisors?

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