Ep 257 Shop Talk: Inbox Chaos, Client Fit, and Choosing Joy in Your Travel Business

In this month’s Shop Talk, Brianna and Whitney kick off the new year by getting real about inbox overwhelm, coming back from time off, and what it actually feels like to start fresh after the holidays. They explore the idea of using “fun” as a decision making filter in your travel business, from which inquiries you say yes to, to how you define success day to day. Whitney shares how reframing niching as “does this sound fun?” has shifted how she approaches client work. Brianna reflects on scarcity mindset, people pleasing, and the importance of protecting her time and energy. They unpack what it looks like to curate your book of business intentionally instead of reacting from habit or fear. Tune in for a reminder that building a profitable travel business does not have to mean sacrificing joy, boundaries, or yourself in the process.

What if familiarization stays didn’t require waiting for an invitation or hoping the timing worked out? In this episode, Whitney sits down with Lotte Gossage, founder of Hotel FAM Club, to challenge the way travel advisors think about FAMs and hotel partnerships, offering practical insight into positioning yourself as a professional partner rather than a passive participant. Lotte shares how her background in hospitality and sales shaped a more proactive, business-first approach to creating familiarization opportunities. They unpack why travel advisors should stop being grouped with influencers, how hotels actually evaluate ROI, and what decision-makers on properties really care about. If you’re ready to take control of your FAM strategy, this episode delivers a fresh and empowering perspective.

AI is everywhere right now, but the question on most travel advisor’s minds is how to actually use it in a way that feels practical, personal, and aligned with client expectations. In this episode, Brianna sits down with Dayo Esho, co-founder of TravelJoy, to explore how AI is quietly transforming advisor workflows without replacing the human-first service clients value. Dayo shares how his background in engineering, entrepreneurship, and growing up inside his mother’s travel agency shaped the lens through which he builds advisor-focused technology. Together, they dig into advisor adoption trends, creative ways AI is being used behind the scenes, and the mindset that leads to confident, intentional implementation. This conversation offers a grounded look at what it truly means for AI to act as your newest and most supportive team member inside your travel business.

If you’ve ever reached the end of a year and wondered how so much happened so fast, you’re in good company. In this December Shop Talk, Brianna and Whitney look back on a whirlwind year and unpack the wins, challenges, and ‘aha’ moments that shaped both their lives and their travel businesses. They dig into how AI has become a game-changing partner in everything from client experience to team operations, and why building stronger workflows has opened up space for more strategic thinking. The conversation also explores shifting goals around profitability, capacity, and lifestyle as they plan for a sustainable year ahead. It’s an honest, energizing reflection that invites every travel advisor to reconsider what’s working, what’s not, and what possibilities lie ahead.

What if selling travel wasn’t just about itineraries, but about identity, connection, and the stories travelers carry home? In this episode, Brianna sits down with AmaWaterways’ Director of National Accounts, Jazzmine Douse, to explore how purpose-driven, culturally rooted experiences are reshaping luxury travel. Jazzmine shares the evolution of AmaWaterways’ soulful experience sailings and why intentional inclusion has become both a meaningful mission and a powerful growth strategy. They also discuss how luxury has shifted to personalization and immersion, and what travelers are truly seeking beneath the surface of their requests. Tune in for a refreshing, heartfelt look at how travel advisors can sell with soul and create experiences that matter.

What would we do differently if we started our travel agency all over again today? In this episode, Whitney sits down with industry veteran Julie Lanham, President of Vacations to Remember, to explore that question. Julie brings 40 years of perspective, having built her agency from the ground up long before host agencies, online bookings, or social media existed. Together, she and Whitney unpack what they’d repeat, what they’d absolutely change, and how new advisors can learn from decades of experience. From boundaries and mentorship to CRMs and hiring support, this conversation is both reflective and refreshingly real about the evolution of running a travel business.

Join systems-specialist and travel industry veteran Erin Faith Erdos to demystify how travel advisors and travel business owners can stop relying on hustle and start building support, systems, and automations that actually work. Erin shares her journey of moving from being a full-service travel planner to designing streamlined workflows that free up your time and scale your impact. Plus, she covers where advisors typically get stuck, how to bring in smart automation (without sacrificing personal touch), and how to set up your team and tech so everything fits together instead of fighting each other.

In this month’s Shop Talk, Brianna and Whitney open up about the realities of travel, delegation, and growth as a travel entrepreneur. Whitney shares highlights from her recent trip to Greece and the honest challenges of creating content while managing client work on the go. Together they talk about what it really takes to balance marketing, travel, and team leadership without burning out. Their conversation unfolds into lessons from mastermind retreats, the importance of profit and wealth-building, and how both are reimagining what growth looks like in this next season of business. It’s a candid conversation about building success that’s sustainable, flexible, and aligned with the kind of life and business they actually want.

If your travel business is thriving on paper but you sometimes feel like you are barely holding it together, tune into this episode where Brianna shares the real signs that you’re ready to hire and what it looks like to step into leadership with intention. Explore the financial and mindset shifts that turn hiring from a scary leap into a strategic next step. Walk away after this episode knowing exactly how to prepare for growth and what it means to build a business that runs for you, not because of you.

When it comes to hotel knowledge, it’s not about knowing which property is “the best”—it’s about understanding the differences and trade-offs that help you guide each client to the right fit. In this special crossover episode from The Hivemind Podcast, Whitney models how to have smarter, more strategic hotel conversations with fellow travel advisors Michelle Orr of Master Travel and Andrea Duvall of Andrea Duvall Travel Design.They compare six hotels in Grand Cayman—from the design-forward Hotel Indigo and lively Palm Heights to the classic luxury of the Ritz-Carlton—sharing what truly exceeds expectations, where the trade-offs lie, and which clients each property serves best. This conversation is a masterclass in how thoughtful hotel comparisons can elevate your credibility, strengthen client trust, and transform the way you sell destinations.Explore more hotel comparison and destination deep-dive episodes on The Hivemind Podcast at thehive.travel/podcast