259. Hot Take: Don't Wait to Hire

Your client is expecting an invoice. A hacker sends one from your email account. And just like that, their vacation money is gone. Jennifer and Robin share a recent fraud incident that has travel advisors rethinking their security habits. From setting clear payment policies to securing team passwords and exploring cyber insurance, they discuss ways to protect your clients and your business. “I’m pretty tech savvy” only gets you so far!Mark your calendar for TIQUE’s Black Friday Sale! → 25% off everything in the TIQUE shop, Nov 23 to Nov 30 at midnight ET. Discount applies automatically with code BLACKFRIDAY. Excludes services and Niche memberships.TIQUE Resources Mentioned• Join The Niche CommunityAdditional Resources Mentioned• 1Password• LastPass• CoalitionRelated Listening• 150. What Every Advisor Needs To Know About Protecting Client Data with Kacie DardenConnect with TIQUE• tiquehq.com• instagram.com/tiquehq• facebook.com/tiquehq• Inquire About Speaking• TIQUE Contact Form

Thank You To Our Sponsors:Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisorsTravel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCsYou were great at your last job. So why does starting a travel business make you feel like you know nothing? Jennifer sits down with Derek Moreno, founder of TGH Travel, for an honest conversation about becoming a newer advisor after decades working in film, television, and Broadway. Derek shares what happened when his built-in network became a quiet home office, why staying busy wasn’t bringing in clients, and the realization that success in a past career doesn’t guarantee immediate confidence in a new one. Together, they work through practical ways to build confidence, ask for support, and reconnect with people who already know and trust him.In This Episode:• Starting a travel business after an established career in another industry• Recognizing the difference between busy work and activities that bring in clients• Building confidence through workflows, mock bookings, and supplier relationships• Navigating quiet lead periods without comparing yourself to established advisors• Using your existing relationships and personal experience to create new opportunitiesTIQUE Resources Mentioned• Join The Niche Community• Client Communication TemplatesAdditional Resources Mentioned• The Legal Paige - Travel Advisor Contract• Smeuse Studio• Impact Media House• Host Agency Reviews• Moxie & fourthRelated Listening• Tique Talks’ Summer SeriesAbout Derek Moreno:Derek grew up in Las Vegas, the land of fake destinations, which may be exactly why the real ones stuck with him. He spent over 30 years working in film, television, and on Broadway in New York City, a career that took him all over the world and turned travel planning into an off-hours obsession. Friends and coworkers started approaching him like he was their personal travel concierge long before it was official, so becoming a travel advisor was the natural career transition to make the unofficial thing official.tghtravel.comMark your calendar for TIQUE’s Black Friday Sale! → 25% off everything in the TIQUE shop, Nov 23 to Nov 30 at midnight ET. Discount applies automatically with code BLACKFRIDAY. Excludes services and Niche memberships.Connect with TIQUE• tiquehq.com• instagram.com/tiquehq• facebook.com/tiquehq• Inquire About Speaking• TIQUE Contact Form

Your clients don’t need five ways to reach you. They need one reliable way to get a response. Jennifer and Robin discuss why handing out your personal cell phone number can create more opportunities for missed requests, scattered communication, and expectations you never meant to set. From redirecting longtime clients to keeping urgent travel support separate from everyday inquiries, they share how to stay accessible without being constantly available. Great service means following through, and that’s harder when the details are spread across texts, DMs, and emails.Mark your calendar for TIQUE’s Black Friday Sale! → November 23-30 | Get 25% off everything in the shop! TIQUE Resources Mentioned• How We Work & Investment Guide • Scaling With Systems• Join The Niche Community Additional Resources Mentioned• WhatsApp: Private messaging and calling, available all over the world.Related Listening• 238: Summer Series: Phone Boundaries• 243: Hot Take: How to Get Clients to Read Your EmailsConnect with TIQUE• tiquehq.com• instagram.com/tiquehq• facebook.com/tiquehq• Inquire About Speaking• TIQUE Contact Form

Thank You To Our Sponsors:Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisorsTravel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCsWhat you needed from a host agency when you started may look different from what you need today. Jennifer talks with Jay Johnson of Coastline Travel Advisors to discuss how advisors can evaluate the support, technology, and relationships behind their commission split. Jay explains why one-size-fits-all models fall short, how to get more from your existing tools, and what to address with your current host before considering a move. Plus, he shares why a simple post-trip conversation can lead to better client experiences and future bookings!In This Episode:• Looking beyond commission splits when evaluating a host agency• Finding operational support that gives you more time to serve clients• Maximizing your current technology before switching platforms• Using post-trip conversations to improve recommendations and encourage future bookings• Recognizing when your host agency no longer fits your business needsTIQUE Resources Mentioned• Join The Niche Community Additional Resources Mentioned• Automate to Accelerate with Callan FaulknerRelated Listening• 79. Host Agency Culture: Finding the Perfect Fit for Your Travel Business with Stephanie Lee• 116. How to Handle Changing Host Agencies with Ashley Theis• 140. Behind the Scenes of a Host Agency with Keith WaldonAbout Jay Johnson:Jay began working at his family’s travel agency while in college. What started as a part-time job to help pay his way through school became a long and rewarding career. About 10 years ago, Jay recognized that continuing in the industry meant scaling the business or risking being left behind. When COVID shut down the world, he used that time to strengthen the company’s foundation. Coastline invested in TravelPro 365, a booking technology that helped advisors work more efficiently, opened new storefront offices, and acquired several agencies within a short period. Jay is deeply proud of Coastline’s employees and advisors and credits the team with driving the company’s continued growth. He believes the best is still to come.coastlinetravel.com@jayjohnson_cta Connect with TIQUE• tiquehq.com• instagram.com/tiquehq• facebook.com/tiquehq• Inquire About Speaking• TIQUE Contact Form

Your clients are excited about their vacation. Your inquiry form? Probably less exciting. Jennifer and Robin discuss how to get the information you need without making the first step feel like an administrative chore. From giving the talkers a chance to talk to asking questions that actually tell you something, they share ways to make your inquiry process feel like the beginning of a personalized travel experience. Luxury service starts well before the itinerary!TIQUE Resources Mentioned• Client Communication Templates• Join The Niche Community Additional Resources Mentioned• Wispr Flow: A voice dictation tool for talking through your answers instead of typing them• Calendly: A scheduling tool discussed as an option for combining appointment booking with a few initial questions• Oprah Winfrey on The Mel Robbins Podcast: The conversation that inspired Jennifer’s take on serving clientsRelated Listening• Tique Talks’ 2025 Client Experience Series• Hot Take: How To Get Clients To Read Your EmailsConnect with TIQUE• tiquehq.com• instagram.com/tiquehq• facebook.com/tiquehq• Inquire About Speaking• TIQUE Contact Form

Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors:Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisorsTravel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCsMoving back to your hometown can feel like going backward, but for Emily Hegenberger, it opened new doors. Jennifer chats with the founder of GCG Travel to discuss how trading Los Angeles for Chicago’s North Shore helped her find balance and grow her travel business. From turning personal connections into referrals to setting clear fees with friends and family, she talks about how putting down roots can help you grow a business while making room for a life you love.About Emily Hegenberger:Emily is the founder of GCG Travel, a luxury travel advisory specializing in culturally immersive, experience-rich travel for families, couples, and milestone celebrations. A lifelong traveler who has visited 37 countries and 45 states, Emily has split much of her life between South Bay Los Angeles, where she and her husband raised their two children, and Chicago’s North Shore, where she grew up and returned four years ago. Today, she’s a mom of two teens, one in high school and one studying in Paris, and a devoted pet mom. Emily is also part of the founding team at URLife Media. Today, she brings together decades of personal travel, travel-industry experience, storytelling, and curiosity to create highly personalized journeys for her GCG Travel clients.instagram.com/globecoloredglassesToday we will cover:(04:00) How putting down roots can create new opportunities for your travel business(09:00) Building trust and referrals within your existing network(13:00) Setting clear fees and boundaries with friends and family(17:30) Offering paid itinerary reviews as an introduction to your services(26:30) Using AI to refine workflows and lighten your mental loadJOIN NICHE → Join the Niche community and get access to the prompts and tools to map your client experience, build SOPs, and tailor your process to your brand voice! FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Your bank balance may look healthy, but that doesn’t mean every dollar is yours to spend. Jennifer and Robin talk about budgeting, client funds, and setting aside money for upcoming expenses so a future bill doesn’t catch you off guard. They also share how AI can help you make sense of your business numbers, even if you’re starting with bank statements and a lot of questions.Want help making sense of your business numbers? Be sure to attend the November 5th AI session inside the Niche community! → JOIN NICHEFOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors:Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisorsTravel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCsWhat changes when you don’t just sell a destination, you live there? Jennifer talks with Brittany Pigorini, founder of Unfolded Travels, about how living in Lake Como shapes the way she plans and sells travel. Brittany shares how firsthand knowledge, site visits, and local relationships help her set expectations, recommend the right destinations, and elevate client experiences. She also talks about building a Europe-focused niche and navigating the seasonal rhythms of a travel business.About Brittany Pigorini:Brittany is the founder of Unfolded Travels, a luxury travel advisory based in Lake Como. After producing nearly 750 events a year in Austin, she closed her business and moved to Italy with her husband and two sons. Now she plans firsthand-informed trips across Europe and Africa and co-runs La Dolce Guida, a vintage Fiat tour company on Lake Como. When she’s not planning travel, she’s putting the finishing touches on her Italian villa.Today we will cover:(04:00) How living in a destination shapes the way you sell it(11:00) Finding a niche through your expertise and the clients you attract(24:00) Preparing for busy seasons and managing slow periods(38:00) Using automation, social media support, and saved resources to protect your timeEnjoyed the conversation? Subscribe to Tique Talks and leave a quick rating or review to help more travel advisors find the show!FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

That inquiry sitting in your inbox? You don’t have to say yes just because you could figure it out. In this Hot Take, Robin and Jennifer unpack why booking outside your specialty can eat into your profits and put client trust on the line. Learn when to expand your expertise, when to refer out, and how to build referral partnerships that let you say “not my specialty” without making your client feel like “not my problem.”Before busy season hits, identify one type of inquiry you’d love to refer out, then start a conversation with an advisor who specializes in it. Want a community to make those connections? Join the Niche Community! Learn More and Pick Your Membership Tier → NICHE COMMUNITYFOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors:Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisorsTravel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCsYour RSVP isn’t just a dinner reservation, and ghosting that supplier event costs more than an empty seat. Jennifer chats with Yina Munoz, founder of ALLabout Representation, about why roadshows deserve a spot on your calendar, how to get on the invite list, and what suppliers invest to meet you. From showing up prepared to following up afterward, they unpack how to turn a few hours together into relationships that support your travel business for years.Don’t wait for the next invitation to magically land in your inbox. Pick three suppliers you’d love to know, introduce yourself, and ask to join their event lists. Connect with Yina’s team at allaboutreps.com to explore their portfolio and upcoming opportunities.About Yina Munoz:Yina is the Founder and Owner of ALLabout Representation, a luxury boutique sales representation company connecting travel advisors with exceptional boutique, family-owned, and sustainable hotels and DMCs across Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa. Acting as an extension of her partners' sales teams, Yina has built a portfolio of properties known for soul as much as style — including Chablé Yucatán and Colima 71 in Mexico. Raised in the Dominican Republic, Yina’s early love for hospitality led her to Cornell University and eventually to founding ALLabout, based in the New York City metro area. Celebrating five years in 2026, the company introduced a refreshed brand and a partnership with AVANCE Collective, donating for every advisor inquiry submitted. At its heart: meaningful advisor relationships and creative storytelling that brings hotels and destinations to life.linkedin.com/in/yinamunozallaboutreps.comToday we will cover:(04:00) How roadshows differ from trade shows and FAM trips(08:00) Getting on suppliers’ invite lists without waiting for your host agency(19:30)The planning, expense, and lost opportunities behind an RSVP no-show(28:00) Preparing for a roadshow, asking better questions, and practicing good event etiquette(32:00) Turning supplier introductions into lasting relationships through thoughtful follow-upFOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ