When the answer is never ‘no’: The world of entertainment travel (Global Travel Collection, part 2)

The world of entertainment travel can be similar to both luxury leisure and corporate travel, but don’t be fooled: it’s really a beast of its own. This week on Trade Secrets, delve into the world of entertainment travel and everything it entails, from multimillion-dollar contracts and high security…

An inside look at Global Travel Collection, the $2.4 billion powerhouse host agency (part 1, feat. Angie Licea)

In this episode of Trade Secrets, recorded in person at Global Travel Collection’s Arrive conference at the Fairmont Austin in June, get an update on all things GTC from president Angie Licea. From the labor of (mostly) love that was the GTC brand unification, uniting several agencies that sell $2.…

Checking in on 2026’s top travel trends

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 r…

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

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…

Trade Secrets After Dark: Growing up in travel and AI competition with Mr. Honeymoon (feat. Jim Augerinos)

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 answer…

Why make $5 when you can make $500? Breaking into the world of ultra-high-net-worth travel (feat. Jack Ezon)

How can advisors break into the world of ultra-high-net-worth travel? Embark Beyond’s Jack Ezon addresses the connection economy, how to speak to this discerning group of clients and why, as he says, “All my success is made up of failure.” This episode was sponsored by AmaWaterways.  Further reso…

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

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 soc…

Honest to blog: How one agency turned blogging into river cruise gold (feat. Hank Schrader)

River cruising is one of the fastest-growing verticals for many travel agencies. In this episode, listeners will hear from Hank Schrader, who owns Dream Destinations with his wife, Anne, about their success in the space — all thanks to blogging. This episode was sponsored by AmaWaterways.  Furthe…

Trade Secrets After Dark: Bourbon, editorial strategy and cross-border incidents (feat. Johanna Jainchill)

This week on Trade Secrets After Dark, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada welcome Travel Weekly’s own Johanna Jainchill, the publication’s newly minted editor in chief. Get to know Jainchill, her vision for Travel Weekly’s editorial strategy and why the Bolivian military once picked her up …

Succession planning for travel agencies, part 2 (feat. attorney Tom Carpenter)

What’s your plan for your business when you retire, or you’re unable to run it anymore? In this episode, the second in a two-part series on succession planning, hear from industry attorney Tom Carpenter. He discusses some of the varying ways agency owners prepare their businesses for the next step…