Get ready for a cruise-filled episode of Trade Secrets. This week, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada welcome Royal Caribbean's Vicki Freed, senior vice president of sales and trade support and service, and Nick Weir, senior vice president of entertainment, onto the show. Hop aboard as we dive into everything from the brand-new Icon of the Seas — billed as the largest cruise ship at sea — to what it takes to entertain Royal’s millions of cruisers. This is the first of a two-part series featuring Freed; join us next time for a discussion on creating a strong advisor-supplier relationship.

This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises. 

Further resources

Contact Vicki Freed by email or her personal cell phone, 305-458-0463

Follow Nick Weir on X (formerly Twitter)

Royal’s trade marketing hub (also home to the link to register for Vicki’s Coffee Talk)

Vicki Freed on Humans of Travel: Royal Caribbean’s Vicki Freed on breaking into the cruise industry _ and meeting the boss who helped shape her

Icon of the Seas coverage
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas takes thrills to the max
Royal Caribbean sets a new cruise benchmark with Icon of the Seas

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.

Get ready for a cruise-filled episode of Trade Secrets. This week, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada welcome Royal Caribbean's Vicki Freed, senior vice president of sales and trade support and service, and Nick Weir, senior vice president of entertainment, onto the show. Hop aboard as we dive into everything from the brand-new Icon of the Seas — billed as the largest cruise ship at sea — to what it takes to entertain Royal’s millions of cruisers. This is the first of a two-part series featuring Freed; join us next time for a discussion on creating a strong advisor-supplier relationship.
This episode is sponsored by <a href="https://www.windstarcruises.com/">Windstar Cruises</a>. 
<hr>
Further resources
Contact Vicki Freed <a href="mailto:vickilovestravelagents@rccl.com">by email </a>or her personal cell phone, 305-458-0463
Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/nickweirshowbiz">Nick Weir</a> on X (formerly Twitter)
Royal’s<a href="https://loyaltoyoualways.com/"> trade marketing hub</a> (also home to the link to register for Vicki’s Coffee Talk)
Vicki Freed on <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Podcasts/Humans-of-Travel/humans-of-travel-podcast-vicki-freed">Humans of Travel</a>: Royal Caribbean’s Vicki Freed on breaking into the cruise industry _ and meeting the boss who helped shape her
Icon of the Seas coverage
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Roya-Icon-of-the-Seas-takes-thrills-to-the-max?ct=cruise">takes thrills to the max</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Royal Caribbean <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-sets-new-benchmark-with-Icon?ct=cruise">sets a new cruise benchmark</a> with Icon of the Seas</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>
 
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’ 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

Icon of the Seas: How big can a cruise ship get?

When the State Department upgrades its travel advisory for a destination, or updates an advisory with new information, it can make clients a little jumpy. How should travel agents navigate the situation? Get the answer on this week’s episode of Trade Secrets, when co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are joined by travel advisor Brittany Shuford of Darling Destinations in Birmingham, Ala.

Thanks to our friends at OutsideAgents.com for helping us solicit travel advisor questions this season. 

This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International. 

Further resources

Find Brittany Shuford on Instagram and Facebook

Mentioned in this episode:
The State Department’s travel site, Travel.State.Gov
The State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
Emma’s Humans of Travel podcast
Travel attorney Mark Pestronk’s free resources, including disclaimer and release forms
A travel agent guide to selling high-risk travel

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.

When the State Department upgrades its travel advisory for a destination, or updates an advisory with new information, it can make clients a little jumpy. How should travel agents navigate the situation? Get the answer on this week’s episode of Trade Secrets, when co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are joined by travel advisor Brittany Shuford of Darling Destinations in Birmingham, Ala.
Thanks to our friends at <a href="https://outsideagents.com/">OutsideAgents.com</a> for helping us solicit travel advisor questions this season. 
This episode is sponsored by <a href="https://www.travelinsured.com/">Travel Insured International</a>. 
<hr>
Further resources
Find Brittany Shuford on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shupowski">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/brittany.shuford">Facebook</a>
Mentioned in this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">The State Department’s travel site, <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html">Travel.State.Gov</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">The State Department’s <a href="https://step.state.gov/">Smart Traveler Enrollment Program</a> (STEP)</li>
<li aria-level="1">Emma’s Humans of Travel <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Podcasts/Humans-of-travel">podcast</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Travel attorney Mark Pestronk’s <a href="https://pestronk.com/resources/">free resources</a>, including disclaimer and release forms</li>
<li aria-level="1">A travel agent guide to <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Trending/A-Travel-Agent-Guide-to-Selling-High-Risk-Travel">selling high-risk travel</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>
 
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 should travel agents address travel advisories?

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.

Thanks to our friends at WorldVia for helping us solicit travel advisor questions this season.  

This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International. 

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.

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.
Thanks to our friends at <a href="http://www.worldvia.com">WorldVia</a> for helping us solicit travel advisor questions this season.  <a href="http://www.worldvia.com"></a>
This episode is sponsored by <a href="https://www.travelinsured.com/">Travel Insured International</a>. <a href="https://www.travelinsured.com/"></a>
<hr>
Further resources
Nexion Travel Group <a href="http://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’s <a href="https://bookitboxtravel.com/">bookitbox Travel</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Christine Potthoff’s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/travelbeCAUSE/">travel beCAUSE</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Courtnie Nichols’ <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>
 
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.

Travel advisors, what’s your elevator pitch? (feat. Jackie Friedman)

How is the Trade Secrets podcast made? Find out all the behind-the-scenes details in this special episode with co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada. From the show’s origin, to scripting, to editing and posting, take a peek behind the Trade Secrets curtain.

This is a special episode of Trade Secrets between seasons four and five. Season five will return in two weeks, on April 8.

This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International. 

Further resources

Email Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada

Follow us on Instagram
Travel Weekly
TravelAge West
Emma Weissmann
Jamie Biesiada

Mentioned in this episode:
Slate’s Dear Prudence
“Tiny Beautiful Things,” by Cheryl Strayed
Auphonic
Omny Studio
PodBean

Some previous episodes we mention:
When is it time to leave your host agency and join a consortium?
Top travel pros and their best advice for advisors
On the ground in Maui: Should travel agents send clients to the island right now?
Icon of the Seas: How big can a cruise ship get?
Why can’t we be friends? Forming productive travel advisor-supplier relationships
How do I use generative AI to improve my travel agency’s workflow?
Travel advisors, are you using the right tech stack?

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 is the Trade Secrets podcast made? Find out all the behind-the-scenes details in this special episode with co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada. From the show’s origin, to scripting, to editing and posting, take a peek behind the Trade Secrets curtain.
This is a special episode of Trade Secrets between seasons four and five. Season five will return in two weeks, on April 8.
This episode is sponsored by <a href="https://www.travelinsured.com/">Travel Insured International</a>. 
<hr>
Further resources
Email <a href="mailto:eweissmann@travelagewest.com">Emma</a> Weissmann and <a href="mailto:jbiesiada@travelweekly.com">Jamie</a> Biesiada
Follow us on Instagram
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/travelweeklyus">Travel Weekly</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/travelagewest">TravelAge West</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/emma_enroute">Emma Weissmann</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thusjamiesaw">Jamie Biesiada</a></li>
</ul>
Mentioned in this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Slate’s <a href="https://slate.com/human-interest/dear-prudence">Dear Prudence</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">“<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tiny-Beautiful-Things-Advice-Sugar/dp/0307949338">Tiny Beautiful Things</a>,” by Cheryl Strayed</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://auphonic.com/">Auphonic</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://omnystudio.com/">Omny Studio</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.podbean.com/">PodBean</a><a href="https://www.podbean.com/"></a></li>
</ul>
Some previous episodes we mention:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">When is it time to leave your host agency and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/when-is-it-time-to-leave-your-host-agency-and-join/id1555272051?i=1000596018636">join a consortium</a>?</li>
<li aria-level="1">Top travel pros and their <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/top-travel-pros-and-their-best-advice-for-advisors/id1555272051?i=1000613030222">best advice for advisors</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-ground-in-maui-should-travel-agents-send/id1555272051?i=1000629042626">On the ground in Maui</a>: Should travel agents send clients to the island right now?</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/icon-of-the-seas-how-big-can-a-cruise-ship-get/id1555272051?i=1000646845121">Icon of the Seas</a>: How big can a cruise ship get?</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-cant-we-be-friends-forming-productive-travel-advisor/id1555272051?i=1000648727945">Why can’t we be friends</a>? Forming productive travel advisor-supplier relationships</li>
<li aria-level="1">How do I use generative AI to <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-do-i-use-generative-ai-to-improve-my-travel-agencys/id1555272051?i=1000623650286">improve my travel agency’s workflow</a>?</li>
<li aria-level="1">Travel advisors, are you using <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/travel-advisors-are-you-using-the-right-tech-stack/id1555272051?i=1000645009223">the right tech stack</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>
 
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.

Icon of the Seas: How big can a cruise ship get?

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