In this episode, the final in a three-part series of Trade Secrets recorded on the road at Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada welcome Azamara CEO Dondra Ritzenthaler. She discusses leaving her retirement to helm the small-ship luxury cruise line, the importance of suppliers listening to trade partners, luxury travel sales techniques and what sets luxury cruise lines like Azamara apart.

This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways. 

Further resources

Dondra Ritzenthaler’s email

Mentioned in this episode: 
Azamara World Academy
From Travel Weekly, Azamara introduces advisor training with incentives
From TravelAge West: Azamara launches travel advisor celebration with enhanced incentives
Dondra Ritzenthaler on Humans of 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.

In this episode, the final in a three-part series of Trade Secrets recorded on the road at Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada welcome Azamara CEO Dondra Ritzenthaler. She discusses leaving her retirement to helm the small-ship luxury cruise line, the importance of suppliers listening to trade partners, luxury travel sales techniques and what sets luxury cruise lines like Azamara apart.
This episode is sponsored by <a href="amawaterways.com/agent-home">AmaWaterways</a>. 
<hr>
Further resources
Dondra Ritzenthaler’s <a href="mailto:dritzenthaler@azamara.com">email</a>
Mentioned in this episode: 
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://connect.azamara.com/world-academy">Azamara World Academy</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">From Travel Weekly, <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Azamara-introduces-advisor-training-with-incentives">Azamara introduces</a> advisor training with incentives</li>
<li aria-level="1">From TravelAge West: <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Cruise/azamara-cruises-travel-advisor-celebration">Azamara launches</a> travel advisor celebration with enhanced incentives</li>
<li aria-level="1">Dondra Ritzenthaler on <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Podcasts/Humans-of-Travel/humans-of-travel-podcast-dondra-ritzenthaler">Humans of 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.

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

Trade Secrets at Virtuoso Travel Week, part 3: How can travel advisors get ‘commissions with a comma'? (Feat. Dondra Ritzenthaler)

Trade Secrets is on a holiday break. We're sharing some of our favorite episodes until we return.

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 Jamie Margolis, owner of the Dream Vacations franchise Moms at Sea. During the episode, Freed and Margolis talk about the importance of forming — and maintaining — a good agent-supplier relationship, the “unicorn” cabins onboard Royal Caribbean ships that offer more space for less money, the value proposition of cruising and more.

Trade Secrets will return with season six in early 2025.

Trade Secrets is on a holiday break. We're sharing some of our favorite episodes until we return.
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 Jamie Margolis, owner of the Dream Vacations franchise Moms at Sea. During the episode, Freed and Margolis talk about the importance of forming — and maintaining — a good agent-supplier relationship, the “unicorn” cabins onboard Royal Caribbean ships that offer more space for less money, the value proposition of cruising and more.
Trade Secrets will return with season six in early 2025.

Encore: Why can't we be friends? Forming productive travel advisor-supplier relationships

In the season finale of Trade Secrets, co-hosts Jamie Biesiada and Emma Weissmann share their top 25 travel predictions for 2025, covering everything from trends in the travel agency and tech landscape to destinations and travel styles they have their eyes on for the coming year. They also share some exciting news – Trade Secrets recently took home an award for Best Travel/Leisure Podcast in the annual Eddie and Ozzie Awards!

The sixth season of Trade Secrets will debut in early 2025.

Further resources

Mentioned on the show:


From TravelAge West, The top 5 trends for 2025


From TravelAge West, This cruise expert reached $3 million in annual sales using TikTok


From Travel Weekly, Women-only tours: A niche that is going mainstream


From Travel Weekly, Summer of the destination ‘dupes’


From Travel Weekly, A host of problems


Host Agency Reviews’ Travel Agency Software Profiles


Tern


Approach Guides


Epic Universe


From Travel Weekly, more about Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas


Travel Weekly’s 2024 Travel Industry Survey


From Travel Weekly, some reading on different aircraft designs being developed


The new autonomous wheelchairs at Miami Airport

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.

In the season finale of Trade Secrets, co-hosts Jamie Biesiada and Emma Weissmann share their top 25 travel predictions for 2025, covering everything from trends in the travel agency and tech landscape to destinations and travel styles they have their eyes on for the coming year. They also share some exciting news – Trade Secrets recently took home an award for Best Travel/Leisure Podcast in the annual Eddie and Ozzie Awards!
The sixth season of Trade Secrets will debut in early 2025.
<hr>
Further resources
Mentioned on the show:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
From TravelAge West, <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Industry-Insight/Business-Features/2025-travel-trends">The top 5 trends for 2025</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
From TravelAge West, <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Industry-Insight/Business-Features/travel-advisor-on-tiktok">This cruise expert reached $3 million in annual sales using TikTok</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
From Travel Weekly, <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/The-growth-of-women-only-tours">Women-only tours</a>: A niche that is going mainstream
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
From Travel Weekly, <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Summer-of-the-destination-dupes">Summer of the destination ‘dupes’</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
From Travel Weekly, <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/A-host-of-problems">A host of problems</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Host Agency Reviews’ <a href="https://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-agency-software">Travel Agency Software Profiles</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<a href="https://www.tern.travel/">Tern</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<a href="https://approachguides.com/">Approach Guides</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<a href="https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/theme-parks/epic-universe">Epic Universe</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
From Travel Weekly, more about <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/new-detail-Universal-Horror-Unleashed-Las-Vegas">Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Travel Weekly’s <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/For-Travel-Agents/Travel-Industry-Survey">2024 Travel Industry Survey</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
From Travel Weekly, <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Airbus-reveals-hydrogen-powered-aircraft-designs">some reading</a> on <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Alaska-Airlines-invests-JetZero">different</a> aircraft <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Airbus-develops-zero-emission-concept-planes-but-experts-doubt-idea-will-fly">designs</a> being <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/V-shaped-plane-is-one-step-closer-to-reality">developed</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
The new <a href="https://news.miami-airport.com/miami-dade-mayor-and-american-airlines-announce-new-autonomous-wheelchairs-at-mia/">autonomous wheelchairs</a> at Miami Airport
</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.

Season 5 finale: Emma and Jamie’s top 25 predictions for travel in 2025

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.

Trade Secrets at Virtuoso Travel Week, part 3: How can travel advisors get ‘commissions with a comma'? (Feat. Dondra Ritzenthaler)

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