Ep 260 Shop Talk: Honesty, Boundaries, and Getting Real About Profitability

What if the key to growing your travel business isn't about doing more, but about getting clearer on what you're actually saying? In this Ask Us Anything episode, Whitney and Brianna respond to a listener who's ready to pivot away from high-volume, promotion-driven marketing toward a quieter, more strategic approach. They tackle five questions: how to market without urgency or deals, what destination intelligence looks like in practice, how to educate without over-explaining, how to block out industry noise, and what signals separate high-consideration clients from bargain hunters. This conversation offers a reset on how to move from noise to nuance in the way you position and communicate your value as a travel advisor.

In this month's Shop Talk, Brianna and Whitney get real about navigating a chaotic start to the year while balancing the mental load of running a travel business. From January wave season overwhelm to learning when to walk away from inquiries that don't fit, they explore what it means to lead with honesty in client conversations. Whitney shares her journey toward being more transparent about pricing, profitability, and what it actually takes to create the level of experience clients are asking for. Together they unpack the importance of time studies, working backwards from budget or priorities, and refusing to people-please their way into unprofitable bookings. It's a candid conversation about setting boundaries, educating clients through honesty, and building trust by ripping back the curtain on what truly makes a travel business sustainable.

What if selling more travel still isn’t translating into the paycheck you actually want? In this episode, Brianna challenges travel advisors to stop chasing revenue for the sake of it and start designing profit on purpose. She breaks down the five numbers that matter most in your travel business and explains why owners pay should always come before top line goals. Through simple math and relatable examples, Brianna shares from her ten years of owning a travel business a realistic path to paying yourself a six figure salary without working more or burning out. 

What if staying with a host agency as an experienced travel advisor isn’t about settling, but about scaling smarter? In this episode, Whitney is joined by Margaret Haas Wolf of Brownell to explore what true mutual investment can look like between a host agency and an established travel business. They discuss why support should evolve as advisors grow, not disappear, and how strategic partnership can impact margins, confidence, and quality of life. Margaret shares how engaged host agencies can help experienced travel advisors make more intentional decisions, from refining fees to simplifying operations. This conversation offers a thoughtful reframe on what success can look like beyond commission splits and why the right support at the right stage can change everything.

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.