This season, the aptly named Trade Secrets Tech Summit is all about technology. But this week, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada delve into how Brownel in Birmingham, Ala., completely modernized its tech stack with Chief Operating Officer Rene Alldredge. Learn about identifying the gaps that technology can fill, the “pit of despair” many agencies face and coming out on the other side of a major tech overhaul.

This episode was sponsored by Windstar Cruises. 

Further resources

Visit Brownell on the web

Email Rene Alldredge

Trade Secrets Tech Summit episodes with Sabre, TripSuite and TravelWits

Get in touch!

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.

This season, the aptly named Trade Secrets Tech Summit is all about technology. But this week, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada delve into how Brownel in Birmingham, Ala., completely modernized its tech stack with Chief Operating Officer Rene Alldredge. Learn about identifying the gaps that technology can fill, the &ldquo;pit of despair&rdquo; many agencies face and coming out on the other side of a major tech overhaul.
This episode was sponsored by <a href="https://www.windstarcruises.com/">Windstar Cruises</a>.&nbsp;
<hr>
Further resources
Visit Brownell <a href="https://www.brownelltravel.com/">on the web</a>
Email <a href="mailto:renea@brownelltravel.com">Rene Alldredge</a>
Trade Secrets Tech Summit episodes with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Trade-Secrets/Tech-Summit-episode-five-Sabre">Sabre</a>, <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Trade-Secrets/Tech-Summit-episode-eleven-TripSuite">TripSuite</a> and <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Trade-Secrets/Tech-Summit-episode-seventeen-TravelWits">TravelWits</a>
<hr>
Get in touch!
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

How did Brownell, America’s oldest travel agency, modernize its tech stack? (feat. Rene Alldredge)

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 travel decisions? What type of travel will continue to explode in popularity? Find out the answers to those questions — and more — on this week’s episode.

Trade Secrets will take a break after this episode, sharing some old favorites until season seven begins in early 2026. Happy holidays!

This episode was sponsored by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

Further resources

From Travel Weekly: Travel that spans the generations

From Travel Weekly: A gift that keeps on giving (Signature’s family travel magazine)

DMCs:
DMCs help bring the ‘wow’ (story)
DMCs: Your travel advisor’s (not-so-secret) travel-planning partner (podcast)
Demystifying DMCs (Trade Secrets podcast)

Brand USA’s America’s 250 events

Phocuswright social media panel with representatives from Reddit, TikTok and YouTube

Family Travel Association research on “kidfluence”

Get in touch!

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 the new year have in store for travel advisors? On this week&rsquo;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&rsquo;s bumpy road continue? Who will most influence travel decisions? What type of travel will continue to explode in popularity? Find out the answers to those questions &mdash; and more &mdash; on this week&rsquo;s episode.
Trade Secrets will take a break after this episode, sharing some old favorites until season seven begins in early 2026. Happy holidays!
This episode was sponsored by <a href="https://www.afkl.biz/s/?language=en_US">KLM Royal Dutch Airlines</a>.
<hr>
Further resources
From Travel Weekly: <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Travel-that-spans-the-generations">Travel that spans the generations</a>
From Travel Weekly: <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Jamie-Biesiada/A-gift-that-keeps-on-giving">A gift that keeps on giving</a> (Signature&rsquo;s family travel magazine)
DMCs:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/DMCs-help-bring-the-wow">DMCs help bring the &lsquo;wow&rsquo;</a> (story)</li>
<li aria-level="1">DMCs: <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/DMCs-travel-advisor-in-destination-planner">Your travel advisor&rsquo;s (not-so-secret) travel-planning partner</a> (podcast)</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Trade-Secrets/Season-five-episode-fifteen-Demystifying-DMCs">Demystifying DMCs</a> (Trade Secrets podcast)</li>
</ul>
Brand USA&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.thebrandusa.com/media/newsroom/brand-usa-partners-america250-promote-nations-semiquincentennial-globally">America&rsquo;s 250 events</a>
<a href="https://www.phocuswire.com/phocuswright-conference-2025-social-search-influencing-future-travel">Phocuswright social media panel</a> with representatives from Reddit, TikTok and YouTube
Family Travel Association <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Family-Travel/the-kidfluence-effect-on-travel">research on &ldquo;kidfluence&rdquo;</a>
<hr>
Get in touch!
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.

Event-based travel, ‘kidfluence’ and beyond: What’s in store for 2026?

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 advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts. Trade Secrets used Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season.

This week’s featured company is Travel Industry Solutions, represented by CEO and founder Sheila Folk.

Trade Secrets will be back next week with a look back on 2025 and 2026 predictions before taking a holiday break. Season seven will return in early 2026 with Trade Secrets’ traditional question-and-answer format.

This episode was sponsored by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

Further resources

Travel Industry Solutions on the web

Travel Industry Solutions on Host Agency Reviews

Get in touch!

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.

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 advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts. Trade Secrets used Host Agency Reviews&rsquo; <a href="https://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-agency-software">list of technology providers</a> as a basis for this season.
This week&rsquo;s featured company is Travel Industry Solutions, represented by CEO and founder Sheila Folk.
Trade Secrets will be back next week with a look back on 2025 and 2026 predictions before taking a holiday break. Season seven will return in early 2026 with Trade Secrets&rsquo; traditional question-and-answer format.
This episode was sponsored by <a href="https://www.afkl.biz/s/?language=en_US">KLM Royal Dutch Airlines</a>.
<hr>
Further resources
Travel Industry Solutions <a href="https://travelindustrysolutions.com/">on the web</a>
Travel Industry Solutions on <a href="https://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-agency-software/travel-industry-solutions">Host Agency Reviews</a>
<hr>
Get in touch!
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 Tech Summit: Travel Industry Solutions (feat. Sheila Folk)

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 to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.

This week’s featured company is VacationCRM, represented by general manager Stephen Kelly.

Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have a profile, advisors are encouraged to send a link to the hosts to be added to the list. 

This episode was sponsored by Windstar Cruises. 

Further resources

Email VacationCRM

VacationCRM on Host Agency Reviews

Get in touch!

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.

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 to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
This week&rsquo;s featured company is VacationCRM, represented by general manager Stephen Kelly.
Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews&rsquo;&nbsp;<a href="https://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-agency-software">list of technology providers</a> as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn&rsquo;t have a profile, advisors are encouraged to send a link to the hosts to be added to the list.&nbsp;
This episode was sponsored by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.windstarcruises.com/">Windstar Cruises</a>.&nbsp;
<hr>
Further resources
<a href="mailto:sales@vacationcrm.com">Email</a> VacationCRM
<a href="https://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-agency-software/vacationcrm">VacationCRM</a> on Host Agency Reviews
<hr>
Get in touch!
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.

How did Brownell, America’s oldest travel agency, modernize its tech stack? (feat. Rene Alldredge)

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