Trade Secrets is on a quick break this week, so please enjoy this encore episode. Here’s the article Jamie mentions in her updated intro, “How Substack became the hottest social media platform.”

In this episode, Trade Secrets is all about content — and why travel advisors should get theirs off social media and into an email newsletter. Kayla Douglas, director of content for SmartFlyer in New York, delves into the world of Substack with co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada.

This episode was sponsored by AmaWaterways. 

Further resources

Kayla Douglas’ email, Instagram and Substack

SmartFlyer Core coverage
From TravelAge West: Five things we learned at SmartFlyer’s 2025 Core Conference
From Travel Weekly: Will luxury travel slow down? One expert expects a dip in hotel rates

Mentioned on this episode:
Substack
Emma’s substack
Flodesk
Mailchimp
Stephanie Lee’s most recent appearance on Trade Secrets
Host Agency Reviews’ travel agency software profiles

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 quick break this week, so please enjoy this encore episode. Here&rsquo;s the article Jamie mentions in her updated intro, &ldquo;<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/how-substack-became-hottest-social-media-platform-11702877">How Substack became the hottest social media platform</a>.&rdquo;
In this episode, Trade Secrets is all about content &mdash; and why travel advisors should get theirs off social media and into an email newsletter. Kayla Douglas, director of content for SmartFlyer in New York, delves into the world of Substack with co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada.
This episode was sponsored by <a href="https://advisors.amawaterways.com/agent-login">AmaWaterways</a>.&nbsp;
<hr>
Further resources
Kayla Douglas&rsquo; <a href="mailto:kayla@smartflyer.com">email</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/curatedbykayla">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.curatedbykayla.com/">Substack</a>
SmartFlyer Core coverage
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">From TravelAge West: <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Industry-Insight/Business-Features/smartflyer-core-2025">Five things we learned</a> at SmartFlyer&rsquo;s 2025 Core Conference</li>
<li aria-level="1">From Travel Weekly: <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Will-luxury-travel-slow-down-in-2025">Will luxury travel slow down</a>? One expert expects a dip in hotel rates</li>
</ul>
Mentioned on this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://substack.com/about">Substack</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://amioknewsletter.substack.com/subscribe">Emma&rsquo;s substack</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://flodesk.com/">Flodesk</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://mailchimp.com/">Mailchimp</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://mailchimp.com/"></a><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-do-i-find-and-maintain-work-life-balance-as/id1555272051?i=1000675581281">Stephanie Lee&rsquo;s most recent appearance on Trade Secrets</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-agency-software">Host Agency Reviews&rsquo; travel agency software profiles</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, 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: Trading social media for Substack: Using content to build a brand (Feat. SmartFlyer’s Kayla Douglas)

Six months into the year, Trade Secrets co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada look at the trends dominating 2026 so far, including shorter booking windows, a younger demographic for all-inclusives and the state of domestic travel. Plus, the hosts share a sneak peek at what’s in store for the rest of season seven.

This episode was sponsored by Brendan Vacations. 

Further resources

The Travel Weekly team

Articles mentioned in this episode:
Travel Weekly’s top stories in the last six months:
Updated: U.S. issues an alert urging caution worldwide for American travelers
Mexico updates: Embassy says cities ‘returned to normal;’ advisors help clients
Norwegian Cruise Line eliminates NCFs, with no strings attached
U.S. considers revised approach to social media screening of foreign travelers
Advisors predict Egypt tourism will suffer due to mixed messages on safety
From Travel Weekly, Global unrest is now clients’ No. 1 concern, travel advisors say
From TravelAge West, Five forces affecting travel choices — including more trust in AI bookings
From Travel Weekly, Travel agencies report a tale of two booking patterns

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.

Six months into the year, Trade Secrets co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada look at the trends dominating 2026 so far, including shorter booking windows, a younger demographic for all-inclusives and the state of domestic travel. Plus, the hosts share a sneak peek at what&rsquo;s in store for the rest of season seven.
This episode was sponsored by <a href="https://www.brendanvacations.com/en-us/travel-advisors">Brendan Vacations</a>.&nbsp;
<hr>
Further resources
<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Contact-Us">The Travel Weekly team</a>
Articles mentioned in this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Travel Weekly&rsquo;s top stories in the last six months:</li>
<ul>
<li aria-level="2"><a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Middle-East-Africa-Travel/us-issues-caution-alert-for-american-travelers">Updated: U.S. issues an alert urging caution worldwide for American travelers</a></li>
<li aria-level="2"><a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Americans-shelter-in-place-in-Puerto-Vallarta-embassy-alert">Mexico updates: Embassy says cities &lsquo;returned to normal;&rsquo; advisors help clients</a></li>
<li aria-level="2"><a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Norwegian-Cruise-Line-eliminates-NCFs">Norwegian Cruise Line eliminates NCFs, with no strings attached</a></li>
<li aria-level="2"><a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/US-considers-revised-social-media-screening">U.S. considers revised approach to social media screening of foreign travelers</a></li>
<li aria-level="2"><a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Middle-East-Africa-Travel/travel-to-egypt-following-iran-war-outbreak">Advisors predict Egypt tourism will suffer due to mixed messages on safety</a></li>
</ul>
<li aria-level="1">From Travel Weekly, <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Global-unrest-is-now-clients-No-1-concern">Global unrest is now clients&rsquo; No. 1 concern, travel advisors say</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">From TravelAge West, <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Industry-Insight/Business-Features/key-forces-influencing-travel-choices">Five forces affecting travel choices &mdash; including more trust in AI bookings</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">From Travel Weekly, <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/A-tale-of-two-booking-patterns-for-travel-advisors">Travel agencies report a tale of two booking patterns</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.

Checking in on 2026’s top travel trends

The hantavirus outbreak onboard MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, has been in the headlines for the past few weeks. Should travel advisors be talking to their cruising clients about the outbreak? How should they address concerns, and should they be worried about a real threat to public safety?

Find out all of this – plus, why cruise lines in particular tend to get an increasing amount of media coverage, and why expedition cruises may be more likely to have an outbreak – during our conversation with travel advisor Urvshi Marwah of The Suite Sojern.

This episode was sponsored by Tourism Cares. 

Further resources

The Suite Sojourn on the web and Instagram

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.

The hantavirus outbreak onboard MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, has been in the headlines for the past few weeks. Should travel advisors be talking to their cruising clients about the outbreak? How should they address concerns, and should they be worried about a real threat to public safety?
Find out all of this &ndash; plus, why cruise lines in particular tend to get an increasing amount of media coverage, and why expedition cruises may be more likely to have an outbreak &ndash; during our conversation with travel advisor Urvshi Marwah of The Suite Sojern.
This episode was sponsored by <a href="https://www.tourismcares.org/">Tourism Cares</a>.&nbsp;
<hr>
Further resources
The Suite Sojourn <a href="https://thesuitesojourn.com/">on the web</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/THESUITESOJOURN">Instagram</a>
<hr>
Need advice?
Email us:&nbsp;<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.

Should travel advisors be worried about hantavirus? (Feat. Urvshi Marwah)

In this episode, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada chat with Jim Augerinos of Perfect Honeymoons (aka Mr. Honeymoon) about his start in travel, keeping up with the latest on agentic AI and being a SMIT (IYKYK).

While Trade Secrets usually invites listeners to ask questions that are answered on the show by industry experts, enjoy the occasional “After Dark” episode, featuring casual chats — and drinks — with guests from around the travel industry.

This episode was sponsored by Tourism Cares. 

Further resources

Jim Augerinos on Facebook and Instagram

Mentioned in this episode:
Batman’s Lamborghini 
The infamous pickle milkshake

Get in touch!

Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com 

 

Theme song:

"Sweeter Vermouth" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada chat with Jim Augerinos of Perfect Honeymoons (aka Mr. Honeymoon) about his start in travel, keeping up with the latest on agentic AI and being a SMIT (IYKYK).
While Trade Secrets usually invites listeners to ask questions that are answered on the show by industry experts, enjoy the occasional &ldquo;After Dark&rdquo; episode, featuring casual chats &mdash; and drinks &mdash; with guests from around the travel industry.
This episode was sponsored by <a href="https://www.tourismcares.org/">Tourism Cares</a>.&nbsp;
<hr>
Further resources
Jim Augerinos on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jim.augerinos.3">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mrhoneymoon">Instagram</a>
Mentioned in this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Bruce_Wayne%27s_Lamborghini">Batman&rsquo;s Lamborghini</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Review-of-pickle-milkshake-at-Epcot">The infamous pickle milkshake</a></li>
</ul>
<hr>
Get in touch!
Email us: <a href="mailto:tradesecrets@travelweekly.com">tradesecrets@travelweekly.com </a>
&nbsp;
Theme song:
"Sweeter Vermouth" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
&nbsp;
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Encore: Trading social media for Substack: Using content to build a brand (Feat. SmartFlyer’s Kayla Douglas)

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