This week, Chad Burt of Outside Agents joins Jamie Biesiada and Emma Weissmann of Trade Secrets for our annual “mailbag” episode, featuring travel advisor listener questions on a variety of topics. During the episode, we’ll dig into advanced use cases of generative AI, airline loyalty, host agency affiliations, picking a travel advisor specialty and more. 

This episode is sponsored by Allianz Partners USA. 

Further resources and related readings

Outside Agents on the web

Outside Agents’ blog

More about Outside Agents’ MAGgie technology

Outside Agents’ Power Prompts

Chad’s book of prompts - password: oastrong

Mentioned in this episode and related reading:
Canva
Trade Secrets episode on generative AI 
Some recent Travel Weekly coverage on consolidators
Trade Secrets episode on switching host agencies 

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.

This week, Chad Burt of Outside Agents joins Jamie Biesiada and Emma Weissmann of Trade Secrets for our annual “mailbag” episode, featuring travel advisor listener questions on a variety of topics. During the episode, we’ll dig into advanced use cases of generative AI, airline loyalty, host agency affiliations, picking a travel advisor specialty and more. 
This episode is sponsored by <a href="https://allianzadvantage.com/">Allianz Partners USA</a>. 
<hr>
Further resources and related readings
Outside Agents <a href="https://outsideagents.com/">on the web</a> 
Outside Agents’ <a href="https://outsideagents.com/blog/">blog</a>
More about Outside Agents’ <a href="https://outsideagents.com/twinkles/">MAGgie technology</a>
Outside Agents’ <a href="https://outsideagents.com/ai-prompts-landing/">Power Prompts</a>
Chad’s <a href="https://go.outsideagents.com/250">book of prompts</a> - password: oastrong
Mentioned in this episode and related reading:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.canva.com/">Canva</a> </li>
<li aria-level="1">Trade Secrets <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-do-i-use-generative-ai-to-improve-my-travel-agencys/id1555272051?i=1000623650286">episode</a> on generative AI </li>
<li aria-level="1">Some recent Travel Weekly <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Air-ticket-consolidators-still-going-strong">coverage</a> on <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Air-consolidators-embracing-NDC">consolidators</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Trade Secrets <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/should-i-break-up-with-my-host-agency/id1555272051?i=1000559337142">episode</a> on switching host agencies </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

Inside the Trade Secrets mailbag: Answering your most pressing questions (Feat. Chad Burt of Outside Agents)

From ASTA’s fight against American Airlines’ distribution strategy to the Taylor Swift effect on the travel industry, 2024 was bursting with headlines that affected travel advisors. This week on Trade Secrets, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada talk about the major travel trends and events that shaped the agency landscape.

Further resources

Mentioned on the show:


Trade Secrets episode featuring Andrea Grisdale and a discussion on Italy


Trade Secrets episode featuring David Kolner and a discussion on generational travel


Emma on the Taylor Swift cruise
SNAP, an air booking tooldeveloped by Internova Travel Group and Sabre
Omar Banihani's TravelAge West op-ed about the evolution of home-based advisors
Some reading on American Airlines and its distribution strategy, including the fallout

A win for travel advisors: American Airlines scraps controversial NDC strategy
A victory for travel advisors was cause for celebration at the ASTA conference
Alienating travel agencies could cost American Airlines $1.5 billion
American Airlines unveils revised NDC plans, returns fares to GDSs
American rebuilds sales staff, trying to win back agencies and corporates
American Airlines says it is gradually winning back corporate business
Travel Weekly's 2024 Power List
Some reading (and listening) on Jenn Lee's Vacation Planners

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.

From ASTA’s fight against American Airlines’ distribution strategy to the Taylor Swift effect on the travel industry, 2024 was bursting with headlines that affected travel advisors. This week on Trade Secrets, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada talk about the major travel trends and events that shaped the agency landscape.
<hr>
Further resources
Mentioned on the show:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Trade-Secrets/Season-five-episode-fifteen-Demystifying-DMCs">Trade Secrets episode</a> featuring Andrea Grisdale and a discussion on Italy
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Trade-Secrets/Season-five-episode-eleven-Virtuoso-1">Trade Secrets episode</a> featuring David Kolner and a discussion on generational travel
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Experiencing-Taylor-Swift-affinity-cruise">Emma on</a> the <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Cruise/marvelous-mouse-travels-taylor-swift">Taylor Swift cruise</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">SNAP, an <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/TLN-begins-rolling-out-simplified-Sabre-GDS">air booking tool</a> <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Lindsay-Pearlman-Seth-Burton-Internova-Travel-Group">developed by</a> Internova Travel Group and Sabre</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Industry-Insight/Opinion/home-based-agents">Omar Banihani's TravelAge West op-ed</a> about the evolution of home-based advisors</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">Some reading on American Airlines and its distribution strategy, including the fallout
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/American-Airlines-reverses-course-punitive-NDC-strategy">A win for travel advisors</a>: American Airlines scraps controversial NDC strategy</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Celebratory-mood-at-ASTA-conference">A victory for travel advisors</a> was cause for celebration at the ASTA conference</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/American-Airlines-earnings-Q2-2024">Alienating travel agencies</a> could cost American Airlines $1.5 billion</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/American-returns-fares-GDSs">American Airlines unveils</a> revised NDC plans, returns fares to GDSs</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/American-Airlines-rebuilds-sales-staff">American rebuilds sales staff</a>, trying to win back agencies and corporates</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/American-Airlines-earnings-Q3-2024">American Airlines says</a> it is gradually winning back corporate business</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">Travel Weekly's 2024 <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/power-list-2024">Power List</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">Some <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Travel-Planners-franchising-entry-makes-sense">reading</a> (and <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Podcasts/Humans-of-Travel/jenn-lee-returns-to-humans-of-travel-podcast">listening</a>) on Jenn Lee's Vacation Planners</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.

2024 rewind: What trends shaped the travel industry — and impacted agents — this year

Balancing work responsibilities with the needs of personal life has become exponentially more difficult for travel advisors as workloads have increased. But it’s also critically important to find time for friends, family and hobbies outside of work, and to develop systems at work that improve efficiency and allow you to step away. What kind of boundaries should you set, and how can you enforce them? What can you automate to take more things off your plate? Hear all about this and more on this episode of Trade Secrets, featuring Host Agency Reviews founder Stephanie Lee.

Further resources

Host Agency Reviews on the web

Steph Lee’s email and LinkedIn page

Mentioned on this episode:
Host Agency Reviews' guide to writing job descriptions
From Travel Weekly, Dispatch, Disney World: The day after Milton's visit


From Travel Weekly, Dispatch, Wondrous moments from a Taylor Swift affinity cruise


From TravelAge West, HAR launches travel advisor tech software directory
From Travel Weekly, Host Agency Reviews starts listing technology providers
Steph Lee’s previous appearance on Trade Secrets


Trade Secrets episode on dealing with travel advisor burnout


Host Agency Reviews’ software profiles


Calendly


Text Blaze

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.

Balancing work responsibilities with the needs of personal life has become exponentially more difficult for travel advisors as workloads have increased. But it’s also critically important to find time for friends, family and hobbies outside of work, and to develop systems at work that improve efficiency and allow you to step away. What kind of boundaries should you set, and how can you enforce them? What can you automate to take more things off your plate? Hear all about this and more on this episode of Trade Secrets, featuring Host Agency Reviews founder Stephanie Lee.
<hr>
Further resources
Host Agency Reviews <a href="https://hostagencyreviews.com/">on the web</a>
Steph Lee’s <a href="mailto:stephanie@hostagencyreviews.com">email</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamstephly/">LinkedIn page</a>
Mentioned on this episode:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">Host Agency Reviews' <a href="https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/a-guide-travel-agency-job-descriptions-that-aren-t-a-snooze-fest-free-workbook-download">guide to writing job descriptions</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">From Travel Weekly, Dispatch, Disney World: <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Hurricane-Milton-impact-on-Disney-World-Orlando">The day after Milton's visit</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
From Travel Weekly, Dispatch, Wondrous moments from a <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Experiencing-Taylor-Swift-affinity-cruise">Taylor Swift affinity cruise</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
From TravelAge West, HAR launches travel advisor <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Industry-Insight/Business-Features/travel-advisor-tech-comparisons">tech software directory</a>
</li>
<li>From Travel Weekly, Host Agency Reviews starts <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Host-Agency-Reviews-starts-listing-technology-providers">listing technology providers</a></li>
<li>Steph Lee’s previous <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Trade-Secrets/How-do-I-get-started-as-a-travel-advisor">appearance on Trade Secrets</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Trade Secrets episode on dealing with <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Trade-Secrets/travel-advisor-burnout">travel advisor burnout</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Host Agency Reviews’ <a href="https://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-agency-software">software profiles</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<a href="https://calendly.com/">Calendly</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<a href="https://blaze.today/">Text Blaze</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 do I find and maintain work-life balance as a travel advisor? (Feat. Stephanie Lee)

What’s the difference between a tour operator and a destination management company (DMC)? How can advisors find DMCs to work with, and what are the top do’s 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, where co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada chat about all things DMCs with Andrea Grisdale, CEO and founder of I.C. Bellagio in Italy.

This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways.

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.

What’s the difference between a tour operator and a destination management company (DMC)? How can advisors find DMCs to work with, and what are the top do’s 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, where co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada chat about all things DMCs with Andrea Grisdale, CEO and founder of I.C. Bellagio in Italy.
This episode is sponsored by <a href="amawaterways.com/agent-home">AmaWaterways</a>.
<hr>
Further resources
IC Bellagio <a href="https://icbellagio.com/">on the web</a>
Andrea Grisdale’s <a href="mailto:andrea@icbellagio.com">email</a>
Mentioned in this episode:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" 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 dir="ltr" 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 dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Conde Nast’s <a href="https://www.cntraveler.com/travel-specialists">travel specialists</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Travel + Leisure’s <a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/a-list/a-list-travel-advisors">A List</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Wendy Perrin’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>
 
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.

Inside the Trade Secrets mailbag: Answering your most pressing questions (Feat. Chad Burt of Outside Agents)

Trade Secrets Podcast

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