Podcasts about dmcs

Chris TorresDirectorThe Marketing Coach & TourprenuerI started at 16 illustrating children's books and never looked back.After that, I spent years learning on the job—working in design studios and marketing agencies as an art-worker, designer, web developer, and eventually a marketing strategist.I didn't go to university. Truth is, I hated school. I was told I'd never amount to much. That doubt didn't discourage me—it fuelled me. I've spent my whole career proving people wrong, building a path on grit, self-teaching, and real-world results.In 2008, I launched a marketing agency from scratch and built it into a global force, working with travel brands and service-based businesses in over 50+ countries. The Tourism Marketing Agency still thrives today.A huge middle finger to all those teachers that did not believe in me.Along the way, I've helped launch products, crack new markets, and grow small, local businesses into major players. My approach blends storytelling with data, creativity with clarity—making sure your marketing connects emotionally and converts commercially.You won't get recycled “funnel hacks” or empty jargon here. What I offer is real-world strategy that delivers. That's how we helped Gray Line Iceland generate €2M+ in direct bookings. Overland Ireland? Another €2M and a 6000% ROI. And in the wilds of Alaska, a remote operator saw a 463% sales increase year-on-year using the same methods.My deep sector knowledge, especially in travel and tourism, comes from nearly two decades of hands-on work. Tour operators, DMCs, travel tech firms, hotels—I've helped them all refine their messaging, attract the right customers, and grow sustainably.I'm also part-owner of Tourpreneur, the global community of nearly 20,000 tour operators. I contribute regularly to the podcast and help lead the charge on educational content, mentorship, and strategy guidance for operators looking to level up. Whether it's through speaking, writing, or behind-the-scenes coaching, my goal is always to help people in this industry thrive.I also wrote the book How to Turn Your Online Lookers into Bookers, with a follow-up now published: Lookers into Bookers: The Tourism Marketing Blueprint. I speak at tourism events worldwide, running practical workshops that give attendees tools they can use the next day.summaryIn this episode, Jason Elkins interviews Chris Torres, a marketing coach specializing in the tourism industry. They discuss the importance of direct bookings for tour operators, the journey of Chris from art to marketing, and the significance of storytelling in tourism. Chris shares insights on building trust through personal connections, the role of video content, and the impact of reviews and social proof. They also explore the future of marketing with AI, the importance of community support, and advice for aspiring tour operators. Chris introduces his Strategy Builder tool, designed to help operators create effective marketing strategies.takeawaysChris Torres emphasizes the importance of direct bookings for tour operators.The journey into marketing often starts from a creative background.Niche focus can lead to greater success in the tourism industry.Delegation is key for tour operators to focus on what they love.Understanding the needs of tour operators is crucial for effective marketing.Storytelling enhances the customer experience in tourism.Video content is a powerful tool for engagement. Learn more about Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Marketing and join our private community to get episode updates, special access to our guests, and exclusive adventure travel offers on our website.

One of the most overlooked parts of the client experience actually happens after they say yes to the proposal. In this episode, Robin and Jennifer break down what to do the moment a client gives the green light. From confirming bookings and managing approvals to protecting your business and setting up a strong nurture sequence, they share how to create a smooth, streamlined journey all the way to departure day. You'll hear how they built a system that blends automation with personalization, so clients feel genuinely cared for without you being glued to your inbox. They also discuss must-dos like travel insurance education, real-time communication with DMCs, and the importance of structured workflows and documentation. Whether you're refining your backend systems or elevating your client touchpoints, this episode is packed with strategies to keep clients informed, excited, and ready to book with you again! Download the 5 Plug-And-Play Email Templates: https://www.tiquehq.com/emails?utm_source=Podcast+Episode+137&utm_medium=Podcast+Shownotes&utm_campaign=5+Free+Emails Today we will cover: (01:55) The client approval process: balancing flexibility with urgency (12:40) Travel insurance: how to educate and inform your clients (21:00) Best practices for secure deposits (27:30) What to include in a strong booking confirmation email (32:20) Managing client approvals and setting clear expectations (36:40) Creating structured workflows for smoother operations (46:30) Final thoughts on keeping clients happy from “yes” to takeoff Also mentioned in the episode: Client Communication Templates Episode 53. Demystifying Selling Travel Insurance with Susan Barbanel Episode 99. Creating Invoices That Protect Your Business JOIN THE NICHE COMMUNITY VISIT THE TEMPLATE SHOP EXPLORE THE PROGRAMS FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors: Check out Moxie & Fourth: Email marketing for travel advisors Stay cool this summer with Cozy Earth! Cozy Days Discount: Get 45% off with code COZYTIQUE from July 22-29

In this episode, we explore the Australasian market as an emerging strong key Source market for African destinations. A market Expert and Co-Director of Luxury Travel Marketing Lauren McAlpine beliefs the Africa showcase platform is opening new frontiers for African destination management companies (DMCs) as the continent expands its tourism footprint into Australasia. She takes a deep dive into this high value market. Luxury Travel Marketing (LTM) is a boutique representation agency based in Australia, specialising in sales and marketing for luxury and experiential travel brands across Africa as well as the rest of the world. With a long-standing commitment to promoting Africa's most inspiring travel experiences—from high-end safari operators, luxury trains and remote lodges to conservation-led tourism initiatives—LTM connects African suppliers with the Australian and New Zealand trade. As long-time facilitators of Africa Showcase in Australia, LTM plays a key role in driving awareness, education, and fostering meaningful trade engagement across the region's dynamic travel sector.

All we hear about is AI this, AI that. And yet trying to keep up with all the changes can be overwhelming. Many operators are simply rejecting it outright, or knowingly keeping their heads buried in the sand.So Mitch Bach sat down with Janette Roush, the "Chief AI Officer" for Brand USA, to ask a fundamental question: what are some practical ways a tour operator can get started using AI effectively for their tour business? This isn't a technical, advanced conversation, but rather a clear-eyed overview of the benefits of just getting started and a practical approach to do just that. It's a great first step for those wondering where to begin.Janette is a master communicator on this topic, and everyone should follow her on LinkedIn!

The Trade Secrets Tech Summit (season six of the podcast) is taking a quick summer break. In the meantime, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are sharing some of their favorite past episodes. Join them this week for an update on the Tech Summit — which will return toward the end of June — then a look back at last season’s episode all about destination management companies (DMCs). Enjoy! This episode was sponsored by Globus family of brands. – What’s the difference between a tour operator and a DMC? How can advisors find DMCs to work with, and what are the top dos and don’ts of working with them? What if a contact at a DMC ghosts a travel advisor? Hear the answers to these questions and more in this week’s episode of Trade Secrets, featuring Andrea Grisdale, CEO and founder of I.C. Bellagio in Italy. Further resources IC Bellagio on the web Andrea Grisdale’s email Mentioned in this episode: Death of a Travel Advisor by Dori Saltzman From TravelAge West: The ultimate travel advisor guide to destination management companies Conde Nast’s travel specialists Travel + Leisure’s A List Wendy Perrin’s WOW List 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back, everyone!  So excited to have this guest join me today!Joe Fijol is a visionary thought leader with an unparalleled attention to detail, reshaping the landscape of event management. Hailing from Florida, Joe is the Founder and Principal of ETHOS Event Collective, boasting over three decades of experience in the DMC  industry. His journey began on cruise ships, where he crafted unforgettable experiences before transitioning to various roles within hotels, incentive houses and DMCs, from operations to sales, and everything in between. Driven by a passion to elevate the standard of event management, Joe established ETHOS to set a new benchmark for excellence and best practices in ROI within the industry. He empowers teams to reimagine event planning, execution, and experiences, leveraging his keen insight to secure positive outcomes and garner enthusiastic responses.  Grounded in a strong work ethic and faith, Joe is passionate about teaching and connecting people, fueling his hunger for sales and philanthropy. Joe's unwavering work ethic, coupled with his deep faith, forms the foundation of his approach. He thrives on teaching and connecting people, fueled by an insatiable hunger for sales and a commitment to philanthropy.   With a knack for thinking long-term and and transforming business relationships into lasting friendships, his superpower lies in connecting the dots, transforming concepts into cohesive, impactful experiences that leave a lasting impression. In Joe's world, event management transcends logistics—it becomes a platform for fostering meaningful connections and driving positive change!Contact & Follow Cindy! Follow on Instagram at cindy_novotny, Facebook and LinkedIn for every day inspirational posts.Email at cindynovotny@masterconnection.com

Dana White, founder of Lead Explorers, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how joining Traveller Made in 2018 transformed her business by connecting her with a global network of vetted DMCs, hoteliers and fellow travel designers. She explains how the supplier-funded, no-cost luxury network supports creativity, collaboration and international reach for boutique creators of travel. Based in New York, Lead Explorers specializes in highly customized, experience-driven itineraries for sophisticated travelers. For more information, visit www.travellermade.com.  All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our Youtube channel  (youtube.com/insidertravelreport), and as podcasts with the same title on: Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean,  iHeartRadio,  Google, Amazon Music/Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox.  

Zach Rabinor, founder and CEO of Journey Mexico, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how Traveller Made—a supplier-funded luxury travel network that is free to qualified travel advisors—helped his business grow into a leading DMC. A charter member since 2013, Rabinor explains how the Traveller Made network's artisan focus and selective membership make it a top source of high-end clients and an ideal match for his custom travel offerings in Mexico, Colombia and Costa Rica. For more information, visit www.travellermade.com or www.journeymexico.com.  All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our Youtube channel  (youtube.com/insidertravelreport), and as podcasts with the same title on: Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean,  iHeartRadio,  Google, Amazon Music/Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox.  

In this conversation on DMCs, Whitney flips the script and chats with Hicham Mhammedi Alaoui, co-founder of Experience Morocco and The Travel Collection, to shine a light on the DMC side of working with travel advisors. They unpack how DMCs can create unique and memorable experiences without breaking the bank, how global expansion works behind the scenes, and what travel advisors should know to build successful partnerships. Hicham shares candid advice on communication, budgets, and the ever-evolving landscape of destination management, offering invaluable insights for both new and seasoned travel entrepreneurs.

Have you or do you feel stress? What is stress and how can we deal with it? Our guest this time is Rachelle Stone who discusses those very questions with us. Rachelle grew up in a very small town in Massachusetts. After attending community college, she had an opportunity to study and work at Disney World in Florida and has never looked back.   Rachelle loved her Disney work and entered the hospitality industry spending much of 27 years working for or running her own destination management company. She will describe how one day after a successful career, at the age of 48, she suffered what today we know as burnout. She didn't know how to describe her feelings at the time, but she will tell us how she eventually discovered what was going on with her.   She began to explore and then study the profession of coaching. Rachelle will tell us about coaches and clients and how what coaches do can help change lives in so many ways.   This episode is full of the kind of thoughts and ideas we all experience as well as insights on how we can move forward when our mindsets are keeping us from moving forward. Rachelle has a down-to-Earth way of explaining what she wants to say that we all can appreciate.       About the Guest:   “As your leadership consultant, I will help you hone your leadership, so you are ready for your next career move. As your executive coach, I will partner with you to overcome challenges and obstacles so you can execute your goals.”     Hi, I'm Rachelle. I spent over 25 years as an entrepreneur and leader in the Special Event industry in Miami, building, flipping, and selling Destination Management Companies (DMCs).  While I loved and thrived in the excitement and chaos of the industry, I still managed to hit a level of burnout that was wholly unexpected and unacceptable to me, resulting in early retirement at 48.   Now, as a trained Leadership Consultant and Executive Coach, I've made it my mission to combine this hard-won wisdom and experience to crack the code on burnout and balance for others so they can continue to thrive in careers they love. I am Brené Brown Dare to Lead ™ trained, a Certified Positive Intelligence ® Mental Fitness coach, and an accredited Professional Certified Coach by the ICF (International Coaching Federation, the most recognized global accreditation body in the coaching industry).   I continue to grow my expertise and show my commitment to the next generation of coaches by serving on the ICF-Central Florida chapter board of directors. I am serving as President-Elect and Chapter Liaison to the global organization. I also support those new to the coaching industry by mentoring other coaches to obtain advanced coaching credentials.   I maintain my well-being by practicing Pilates & Pvolve ® a few days a week, taking daily walks, loving on my Pug, Max, and making time for beach walks when possible.   Ways to connect Rachel:   www.rstoneconsulting.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/rstoneconsulting/ Instagram: @even_wonderwoman_gets_tired   About the Host:   Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/   https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening!   Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast   If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset .   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review   Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.       Transcription Notes:   Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. Well, hi and welcome to unstoppable mindset where inclusion diversity and the unexpected meet. But you know, the more fun thing about it is the unexpected. Unexpected is always a good thing, and unexpected is really anything that doesn't have anything directly to do with inclusion or diversity, which is most of what we get to deal with in the course of the podcast, including with our guest today, Rachelle Stone, who worked in the hospitality industry in a variety of ways during a lot of her life, and then switched to being a coach and a leadership expert. And I am fascinated to learn about that and what what brought her to that? And we'll get to that at some point in the course of the day. But Rachelle, welcome to unstoppable mindset. We're glad you're here. Thank   Rachelle Stone ** 02:08 you, Michael. I'm honored to be here. Excited to be talking to you today.   Michael Hingson ** 02:12 Well, it's a lot of fun now. You're in Florida. I am. I'm in the Clearwater   Rachelle Stone ** 02:16 Dunedin area. I like to say I live in Dunedin, Florida without the zip code.   Michael Hingson ** 02:22 Yeah. Well, I hear you, you know, then makes it harder to find you that way, right?   Rachelle Stone ** 02:28 Physically. Yeah, right, exactly. Danita, without the zip code, we'll stick with that. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 02:33 yeah, that works. Well, I'm really glad you're here. Why don't we start by maybe you talking to us a little bit about the early Rachelle growing up and some of that stuff.   Rachelle Stone ** 02:43 Yeah, I was lucky. I grew up in rural Western Massachusetts, little po doc town called Greenfield, Massachusetts. We were 18 miles from the Vermont border, which was literally a mile and a half from the New Hampshire border. So I grew up in this very interesting area where it was like a tri state area, and our idea of fun growing up, well, it was, we were always outdoors, playing very much outdoors. I had three siblings, and I was the youngest, and it was one of those childhoods where you came home from school, and mom would say, go outside, don't come back in the house until you hear the whistle. And every house on the street, every mother had a whistle. There were only seven houses because there was a Boy Scout camp at the end of the road. So as the sun was setting and the street lights would come on, you would hear different whistles, and different family kids would be going home the stone kids up, that's your mom. Go home, see you next time that was it was great. And you know, as I got older and more adventurous, it was cow tipping and keg parties and behind and all sorts of things that we probably shouldn't have been doing in our later teen years, but it was fun. Behind   Michael Hingson ** 04:04 is it's four wheeling,   Rachelle Stone ** 04:08 going up rough terrain. We had these. It was very, very hilly, where I was lot of lot of small mountains that you could conquer.   Michael Hingson ** 04:17 So in the winter, does that mean you got to do some fun things, like sledding in the snow. Yeah, yeah.   Rachelle Stone ** 04:24 We had a great hill in the back of our yard, so I learned to ski in my own backyard, and we had three acres of woods, so we would go snowshoeing. We were also close to a private school called Northfield Mount Hermon, which had beautiful, beautiful grounds, and in the winter, we would go cross country skiing there. So again, year round, we were, we were outdoors a lot.   Michael Hingson ** 04:52 Well, my time in Massachusetts was three years living in Winthrop so I was basically East Boston. Yeah. Yes and and very much enjoyed it. Loved the environment. I've been all over Massachusetts in one way or another, so I'm familiar with where you were. I am, and I will admit, although the winters were were cold, that wasn't as much a bother as it was when the snow turned to ice or started to melt, and then that night it froze. That got to be pretty slippery,   05:25 very dangerous, very dangerous.   Michael Hingson ** 05:29 I then experienced it again later, when we lived in New Jersey and and I actually our house to take the dogs out. We had no fenced yards, so I had to take them out on leash, and I would go down to our basement and go out and walk out basement onto a small deck or patio, actually, and then I had to go down a hill to take the dogs where they could go do their business. And I remember the last year we were in New Jersey, it snowed in May, and the snow started to melt the next day, and then that night, it froze, and it and it stayed that way for like about a day and a half. And so it was as slick as glass is. Glass could be. So eventually I couldn't I could go down a hill, it was very dangerous, but going back up a hill to come back in the house was not safe. So eventually, I just used a very long flex leash that was like 20 feet long, and I sent the dogs down the hill. I stayed at the top.   Rachelle Stone ** 06:33 Was smart, wow. And they didn't mind. They just wanted to go do their business, and they wanted to get back in the house too. It's cold, yeah?   Michael Hingson ** 06:41 They didn't seem to be always in an incredible hurry to come back into the house. But they had no problem coming up the hill. That's the the advantage of having claws,   Rachelle Stone ** 06:51 yes. Pause, yeah, four of them to boot, right? Yeah, which   Michael Hingson ** 06:54 really helped a great deal. But, you know, I remember it. I love it. I loved it. Then now I live in in a place in California where we're on what's called the high desert, so it doesn't get as cold, and we get hardly any of the precipitation that even some of the surrounding areas do, from Los Angeles and Long Beach and so on to on the one side, up in the mountains where the Snow is for the ski resorts on the other so Los Angeles can have, or parts of La can have three or four inches of rain, and we might get a half inch.   Rachelle Stone ** 07:28 Wow. So it stays relatively dry. Do you? Do you ever have to deal like down here, we have something called black ice, which we get on the road when it rains after it hasn't rained in a long time? Do you get that there in California,   Michael Hingson ** 07:41 there are places, yeah, not here where I live, because it generally doesn't get cold enough. It can. It's already this well, in 2023 late 2023 we got down to 24 degrees one night, and it can get a little bit colder, but generally we're above freezing. So, no, we don't get the black ice here that other places around us can and do. Got it. Got it. So you had I obviously a fun, what you regard as a fun childhood.   Rachelle Stone ** 08:14 Yeah, I remember the first day I walked into I went to a community college, and I it was a very last minute, impulsive, spontaneous decision. Wow, that kind of plays into the rest of my life too. I make very quick decisions, and I decided I wanted to go to college, and it was open enrollment. I went down to the school, and they asked me, What do you want to study? I'm like, I don't know. I just know I want to have fun. So they said, you might want to explore Recreation and Leisure Services. So that's what I wound up going to school for. And I like to say I have a degree in fun and games.   Michael Hingson ** 08:47 There you go. Yeah. Did you go beyond community college or community college enough?   Rachelle Stone ** 08:53 Yeah, that was so I transferred. It took me four years to get a two year degree. And the reason was, I was working full time, I moved out. I just at 17, I wanted to be on my own, and just moved into an apartment with three other people and went to college and worked. It was a fabulous way to live. It was wonderful. But then when I transferred to the University, I felt like I was a bit bored, because I think the other students were, I was dealing with a lot of students coming in for the first time, where I had already been in school for four years, in college for four years, so the experience wasn't what I was looking for. I wanted the education. And I saw a poster, and it was Mickey Mouse on the poster, and it was Walt Disney World College program now accepting applications. So I wrote down the phone number, email, whatever it was, and and I applied. I got an interview again. Remember Michael? I was really bored. I was going to school. It was my first semester in my four year program, and I just anyway. I got a call back and. And I was accepted into the Disney College Program. So, um, they at that time, they only took about 800 students a year. So it was back in 1989 long time ago. And I was thrilled. I left Massachusetts on january 31 1989 in the blizzard of 89 Yeah, and I drove down to Orlando, Florida, and I never left. I'm still here in Florida. That was the beginning of my entire career. Was applying for the Disney College Program.   Michael Hingson ** 10:36 So what was that like, being there at the Disney College, pro nominal, phenomenal. I have to ask one thing, did you have to go through some sort of operation to get rid of your Massachusetts accent? Does   Rachelle Stone ** 10:50 it sound like it worked? No, I didn't have well, it was funny, because I was hoping I would be cast as Minnie Mouse. I'm four foot 10. I have learned that to be Mini or Mickey Mouse, you have to be four, eight or shorter. So I missed many by two inches. My second choice was being a lifeguard, and I wound up what I they offered me was Epcot parking lot, and I loved it, believe it or not, helping to park cars at Epcot Center. I still remember my spiel to the letter that I used to give because there was a live person on the back of the tram speaking and then another one at the front of the tram driving it to get you from the parking lot to the front entrance of the gate. But the whole experience was amazing. It was I attended classes, I earned my Master's degree. I picked up a second and third job because I wanted to get into hotels, and so I worked one day a week at the Disney Inn, which is now their military resorts. And then I took that third job, was as a contractor for a recreation management company. So I was working in the field that I had my associates in. I was working at a hotel one day a week, just because I wanted to learn about hotels. I thought that was the industry I wanted to go into. And I was I was driving the tram and spieling on the back of the tram five days a week. I loved it was phenomenal.   Michael Hingson ** 12:20 I have a friend who is blind who just retired from, I don't know, 20 or 25 years at Disneyland, working a lot in the reservation centers and and so on. And speaks very highly of, of course, all the experiences of being involved with Disney.   Rachelle Stone ** 12:38 Yeah, it's really, I'm It was a wonderful experience. I think it gave me a great foundation for the work in hospitality that I did following. It was a great i i think it made me a better leader, better hospitality person for it well,   Michael Hingson ** 12:57 and there is an art to doing it. It isn't just something where you can arbitrarily decide, I'm going to be a successful and great hospitality person, and then do it if you don't learn how to relate to people, if you don't learn how to talk to people, and if you're not having fun doing it   Rachelle Stone ** 13:14 exactly. Yes, Fun. Fun is everything. It's   Michael Hingson ** 13:18 sort of like this podcast I love to tell people now that the only hard and fast rule about the podcast is we both have to have fun, or it's not worth doing.   Rachelle Stone ** 13:25 That's right. I'm right there with you. Gotta Have fun,   Michael Hingson ** 13:30 yeah? Well, so you So, how long were you with Disney? What made you switched? Oh, so   Rachelle Stone ** 13:36 Disney College Program. It was, at that time, it was called the Magic Kingdom college program, MK, CP, and it's grown quite significantly. I think they have five or 7000 students from around the world now, but at that time it was just a one semester program. I think for international students, it's a one year program. So when my three and a half months were up. My semester, I could either go back. I was supposed to go back to school back in Massachusetts, but the recreation management company I was working for offered me a full time position, so I wound up staying. I stayed in Orlando for almost three and a half years, and ultimately I wound up moving to South Florida and getting a role, a new role, with a different sort of company called a destination management company. And that was that was really the onset destination management was my career for 27 years. 26   Michael Hingson ** 14:38 years. So what is a destination management company. So   Rachelle Stone ** 14:41 a destination management company is, they are the company that receives a group into a destination, meetings, conventions, events. So for instance, let's say, let's say Fathom note taker. Wants to have an in person meeting, and they're going to hold it at the Lowe's Miami Beach, and they're bringing in 400 of their top clients, and and and sales people and operations people. They need someone on the receiving end to pick everybody up at the airport, to put together the theme parties, provide the private tours and excursions. Do the exciting restaurant, Dine Around the entertainment, the amenities. So I did all the fun. And again, sticking with the fun theme here, yeah, I did all of the auxiliary meeting fun add ons in the destination that what you would do. And I would say I did about 175 to 225, meetings a year.   Michael Hingson ** 15:44 So you didn't actually book the meetings, or go out and solicit to book the meetings. You were the person who took over. Once a meeting was arranged,   Rachelle Stone ** 15:53 once a meeting was booked in the destination, right? If they needed a company like mine, then it would be then I would work with them. If I would be the company. There were several companies I did what I do, especially in Miami, because Miami was a top tier destination, so a client may book the lows Miami Beach and then reach out to two to three different DMCs to learn how can they partner with them to make the meeting the most successful. So it was always a competitive situation. And it was always, you know, needing to do our best and give our best and be creative and out of the box. And, yeah, it was, it was an exciting industry. So what makes   Michael Hingson ** 16:41 the best destination management company, or what makes you very successful? Why would people view you as successful at at what you do, and why they would want to choose you to be the company to work with? Because obviously, as you said, it's competitive.   Rachelle Stone ** 16:59 Everybody well, and there's choice. Everybody has choice. I always believed there was enough business to go around for everybody. Very good friends with some of my my hardiest competitors. Interestingly, you know, although we're competing, it's a very friendly industry. We all network together. We all dance in the same network. You know, if we're going to an industry network, we're all together. What? Why would somebody choose me over somebody else? Was really always a decision. It was sometimes it was creativity. Sometimes it was just a feeling for them. They felt the relationship just felt more authentic. Other times it was they they just really needed a cut and dry service. It just every client was always different. There were never two programs the same. I might have somebody just wanting to book a flamenco guitarist for three hours, and that's all they need. And another group may need. The transportation, the tours, the entertainment, the theme parties, the amenities, the whole ball of Fox, every group was different, which is, I think, what made it so exciting, it's that relationship building, I think, more than anything. Because these companies are doing meetings all over the country, sometimes some of them all over the world. So relationships were really, really important to them to be able to go into a destination and say to their partner in that destination, hey, I'm going to be there next May. This is what I need. Are you available? Can you help? So I think on the initial front end, it is, when it's a competitive bid, you're starting from scratch to build a relationship. Once that's relationship is established, it is easier to build on that relationship when things go wrong. Let's talk about what worked, what didn't, and how we can do better next time, instead of throwing the entire relationship out with the bathwater and starting from scratch again. So it was a great industry. I loved it, and   Michael Hingson ** 19:00 obviously you must have been pretty successful at it.   Rachelle Stone ** 19:04 I was, I was lucky. Well, luck and skill, I have to give myself credit there too. I worked for other DMCs. I worked for event companies that wanted to expand into the DMC industry. And I helped, I helped them build that corporate division, or that DMC division. I owned my own agency for, I think, 14 years, still alive and thriving. And then I worked for angel investors, helping them flip and underperforming. It was actually a franchise. It was an office franchise of a global DMC at the time. So I've had success in different areas of Destination Management, and I was lucky in that I believe in accreditation and certification. That's important to me. Credibility matters. And so I. Involved in the association called the association of Destination Management executives international admei I know it's a mouthful, but I wound up serving on their board of directors and their certification and accreditation board for 14 years, throughout my career, and on the cab their certification accreditation board, my company was one of the first companies in the country to become a certified company, admc certified. I was so proud of that, and I had all of my staff. I paid for all of them to earn their certification, which was a destination management Certified Professional. That's the designation. I loved, that we could be a part of it. And I helped write a course, a university level course, and it was only nine weeks, so half a semester in teaching students what destination management is that took me three years. It was a passion project with a couple of other board members on the cab that we put together, and really glad to be a part of that and contributing to writing the book best practices in destination management, first and second edition. So I feel lucky that I was in this field at a time where it was really growing deeper roots. It had been transport the industry. When I went into it was maybe 20 years young, and when I left it, it been around for 40 plus years. So it's kind of exciting. So you so you   Michael Hingson ** 21:41 said that you started a company and you were with it for 4014 years, or you ran it for 14 years, and you said, it's still around. Are you involved with it at all? Now, I   Rachelle Stone ** 21:51 am not. I did a buyout with the I had two partners at the time. And without going into too much detail, there were some things going on that I felt were I could not align with. I felt it was unethical. I felt it was immoral, and I struggled for a year to make the decision. I spoke to a therapist, and I ultimately consulted an attorney, and I did a buyout, and I walked away from my this was my legacy. This was my baby. I built it from scratch. I was the face of the company. So to give that up my legacy, it was a really tough decision, but it really did come full circle, because late last year, something happened which brought me back to that decision, and I can, with 100% certainty, say it was a values driven decision for me, and I'm so happy I made that decision. So I am today. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 22:57 and, and let's, let's get to that a little bit so you at some point, you said that you had burnout and you left the industry. Why did you do that?   Rachelle Stone ** 23:08 So after I did, sold my my business, I worked for angel investors for about three and a half years. They brought me in. This was an underperforming office that the franchisee, because they had owned it for 10 years, had done a buyout themselves and sold it back to the angel investors or the private equity so they brought me in to run the office and bring it from surviving to thriving again. And it took me about 18 months, and I brought it from under a million to over 5.3 million in 18 months. So it's quite successful. And I had said to the owners, as they're thanking me and rewarding me, and it was a great first two years, I had said to them, please don't expect this again. This was a fluke. People were following me. There was a lot of curiosity in the industry, because this was a really big move for me to sell my company and then go work for this one. It was big news. So it was a great time. But the expectation for me to repeat, rinse and repeat, that kind of productivity was not realistic. It just wasn't realistic. And about a year and a half later, I just, I was driving from the Lowe's Miami Beach. It's funny, because I used that as an example before, to the breakers in Palm Beach. And if you know South Florida at all, it's, it's, you're taking your life in your hands every time you get on 95 it's a nightmare. Anyway, so I'm driving from the lows to the breakers, and I just left a kind of a rough meeting. I don't even remember what it was anymore, because that was back in 2014 and I'm driving to another meeting at the breakers, and I hang up the phone with somebody my. Son calls about something, Mom, this is going on for graduation. Can you be there? And I'm realizing I'm going to be out of town yet again for work, and I'm driving to the breakers, and I'm having this I just had this vision of myself in the middle of 95 slamming the brakes on in my car, coming to a full stop in the middle of the highway. I did not do this this, and I don't recommend you do this. And I opened up my car door, and I literally just walked away from my car. That was the image in my mind. And in that moment, I knew it was time for me to leave. I had gone as high as I could go. I'd done as much as I could do. I'd served on boards, contributed to books, spoken on panels. I wanted to go back to being an entrepreneur. I didn't want to work for angel investors anymore. I wanted to work for myself. I wanted to build something new, and I didn't want to do it in the DMC world. So I went home that night thinking I was going to just resign. Instead, I wrote a letter of retirement, and I retired from the industry, I walked away two and a half weeks later, and I said I was never going to return.   Michael Hingson ** 26:09 And so I burnt out, though at the time, what? What eventually made you realize that it was all burnt out, or a lot of it was burnt out. So I   Rachelle Stone ** 26:17 didn't know anything about burnout at that time. I just knew I was incredibly frustrated. I was bored. I was over in competence, and I just wanted out. Was just done. I had done well enough in my industry that I could take a little time. I had a lot of people asking me to take on consulting projects. So I did. I started doing some consulting in hospitality. And while I was doing that, I was kind of peeling away the layers of the onion, saying, What do I want to do next? I did not want to do DMC. That's all I knew. So I started this exploration, and what came out of it was an interest in exploring the field of coaching. So I did some research. I went to the coachingfederation.org which is the ICF International coaching Federation, is the leading accreditation body for coaches in the world. And through them, I researched Who were some of the accredited schools. I narrowed it down. I finally settled on one, and I said, I'm going to sign up for one course. I just want to see what this coaching is all about. So I signed up for a foundations course with the with the school out of Pennsylvania, and probably about three weeks into the course, the professor said something which was like a light bulb moment for me, and that I realized like, oh my   Speaker 1 ** 27:40 god, I burnt out. And I was literally, at this   Rachelle Stone ** 27:46 time, we're in school, we're on the phone. It was not zoom. We didn't have all this yet. It was you were on the phone, and then you were pulling up documents on your computer so the teacher couldn't see me crying. I was just sobbing, knowing that this is i i was so I was I was stunned. I didn't say anything. I sat on this for a while. In fact, I sat on it. I started researching it, but I didn't tell anybody for two years. It took me two years before I finally admitted to somebody that I had burnt out. I was so ashamed, embarrassed, humiliated, I was this successful, high over achiever. How could I have possibly burnt out?   Michael Hingson ** 28:34 What? What did the teacher say   Rachelle Stone ** 28:37 it was? I don't even remember what it was, but I remember that shock of realization of wellness, of it was, you know what it was that question, is this all? There is a lot of times when we were they were talking about, I believe, what they were talking about, midlife crisis and what really brings them on. And it is that pivotal question, is this really all there is, is this what I'm meant to be doing? And then in their conversation, I don't even remember the full conversation, it was that recognition of that's what's happened to me. And as I started researching it, this isn't now. This is in 2015 as I'm researching it and learning there's not a lot on it. I mean, there's some, mostly people's experiences that are being shared. Then in 2019 the World Health Organization officially, officially recognizes burnout as a phenomenon, an occupational phenomenon.   Michael Hingson ** 29:38 And how would you define burnout? Burnout is,   Rachelle Stone ** 29:43 is generally defined in three areas. It is. It's the the, oh, I always struggle with it. It's that disconnect, the disconnect, or disassociation from. Um, wanting to succeed, from your commitment to the work. It is the knowing, the belief that no one can do it well or right. It is there. There's that. It's an emotional disconnect from from from caring about what you're doing and how you're showing up, and it shows up in your personal life too, which is the horrible thing, because it your it impacts your family so negatively, it's horrible.   Michael Hingson ** 30:39 And it it, it does take a toll. And it takes, did it take any kind of a physical toll on you?   Rachelle Stone ** 30:45 Well, what I didn't realize when I when I took this time, I was about 25 pounds overweight. I was on about 18 different medications, including all my vitamins. I was taking a lot of vitamins at that time too. Um, I chronic sciatica, insomnia. I was self medicating. I was also going out, eating rich dinners and drinking, um, because you're because of the work I was doing. I had to entertain. That was part of that was part of of my job. So as I was looking at myself, Yes, physically, it turns out that this weight gain, the insomnia, the self medication, are also taught signs of of risk of burnout. It's how we manage our stress, and that's really what it comes down to, that we didn't even know. We don't even know. People don't no one teaches us how to process our stress, and that that's really probably one of the biggest things that I've through, everything that I've studied, and then the pandemic hitting it. No one teaches us how to manage our stress. No one tells us that if we process stress, then the tough stuff isn't as hard anymore. It's more manageable. No one teaches us about how to shift our mindsets so we can look at changing our perspective at things, or only seeing things through our lizard brain instead of our curious brain. These are all things that I had no idea were keeping me I didn't know how to do, and that were part of contributing to my burnout. Right?   Michael Hingson ** 32:43 Is stress more self created, or is it? Is it an actual thing? In other words, when, when there is stress in the world? Is it something that, really, you create out of a fear or cause to happen in some way, and in reality, there are ways to not necessarily be stressful, and maybe that's what you're talking about, as far as learning to control it and process it, well,   Rachelle Stone ** 33:09 there's actually there's stresses. Stressors are external. Stress is internal. So a stressor could be the nagging boss. It could be your kid has a fever and you're going to be late for work, or you're going to miss a meeting because you have to take them to the doctor. That's an external stressor, right? So that external stressor goes away, you know, the traffic breaks up, or your your husband takes the kid to the doctor so you can get to your meeting. Whatever that external stress, or is gone, you still have to deal with the stress that's in your body. Your that stress, that stress builds up. It's it's cortisol, and that's what starts with the physical impact. So those physical symptoms that I was telling you about, that I had, that I didn't know, were part of my burnout. It was unprocessed stress. Now at that time, I couldn't even touch my toes. I wasn't doing any sort of exercise for my body. I wasn't and that is one of the best ways you can process stress. Stress actually has to cycle out of your body. No one tells us that. No one teaches us that. So how do you learn how to do that?   Michael Hingson ** 34:21 Well, of course, that's Go ahead. Go ahead. Well, I was gonna   Rachelle Stone ** 34:24 say it's learning. It's being willing to look internally, what's going on in your body. How are you really getting in touch with your emotions and feelings and and processing them well?   Michael Hingson ** 34:37 And you talk about stressors being external, but you have control. You may not have control directly over the stressor happening, but don't you have control over how you decide to deal with the external stress? Creator,   Rachelle Stone ** 34:55 yes, and that external stress will always. Go away. The deadline will come and go. The sun will still rise tomorrow in set tomorrow night. Stressors always go away, but they're also constantly there. So you've got, for instance, the nagging boss is always going to bring you stress. It's how you process the stress inside. You can choose to ignore the stressor, but then you're setting yourself up for maybe not following through on your job, or doing   Michael Hingson ** 35:29 right. And I wouldn't suggest ignoring the stressor, but you it's processing that   Rachelle Stone ** 35:34 stress in your body. It's not so let's say, at the end of the rough day, the stressors gone. You still, whether you choose to go for a walk or you choose to go home and say, Honey, I just need a really like I need a 62nd full on contact, bear hug from you, because I'm holding a lot of stress in my body right now, and I've got to let it out So that physical contact will move stress through your body. This isn't this is they that? You can see this in MRI studies. You see the decrease in the stress. Neuroscience now shows this to be true. You've got to move it through your body. Now before I wanted to kind of give you the formal definition of burnout, it is, it is they call it a occupational phenomenal, okay, it by that they're not calling it a disease. It is not classified as a disease, but it is noted in the International Classification of Diseases, and it has a code now it is they do tie it directly to chronic workplace stress, and this is where I have a problem with the World Health Organization, because when they added this to the International Classification of diseases in 2019 they didn't have COVID. 19 hybrid or work from home environments in mind, and it is totally changed. Stress and burnout are following people around. It's very difficult for them to escape. So besides that, that disconnect that I was talking about, it's really complete exhaustion, depletion of your energy just drained from all of the stressors. And again, it's that reduced efficiency in your work that you're producing because you don't care as much. It's that disconnect so and then the physical symptoms do build up. And burnout isn't like this. It's not an overnight thing. It's a build up, just like gaining 25 pounds, just like getting sick enough that I need a little bit more medication for different issues, that stuff builds up on you and when you when you're recovering from burnout, you didn't get there overnight. You're not going to get out of it overnight either. It's I worked with a personal trainer until I could touch my toes, and then she's pushed me out to go join a gym. But again, it's step by step, and learning to eat healthy, and then ultimately, the third piece that really changed the game for me was learning about the muscles in my brain and getting mentally fit. That was really the third leg of getting my health back.   Michael Hingson ** 38:33 So how does all of that help you deal with stress and the potential of burnout today? Yeah,   Rachelle Stone ** 38:43 more than anything, I know how to prevent it. That is my, my the number one thing I know when I'm sensing a stressor that is impacting me, I can quickly get rid of it. Now, for instance, I'll give you a good example. I was on my the board of directors for my Homeowners Association, and that's always   Michael Hingson ** 39:03 stressful. I've been there, right? Well, I   Rachelle Stone ** 39:06 was up for an hour and a half one night ruminating, and I I realized, because I coach a lot of people around burnout and symptoms, so when I was ruminating, I recognized, oh my gosh, that HOA does not deserve that much oxygen in my brain. And what did I do the next day? I resigned. Resigned, yeah, so removing the stressors so I can process the stress. I process my stress. I always make sure I schedule a beach walk for low tide. I will block my calendar for that so I can make sure I'm there, because that fills my tank. That's self care for me. I make sure I'm exercising, I'm eating good food. I actually worked with a health coach last year because I felt like my eating was getting a little off kilter again. So I just hired a coach for a few months to help me get back on track. Of getting support where I need it. That support circle is really important to maintain and process your stress and prevent burnout.   Michael Hingson ** 40:10 So we've talked a lot about stress and dealing with it and so on. And like to get back to the idea of you went, you explored working with the international coaching Federation, and you went to a school. So what did you then do? What really made you attracted to the idea of coaching, and what do you get out of it?   Rachelle Stone ** 40:35 Oh, great question. Thanks for that. So for me, once I I was in this foundations course, I recognized or realized what had happened to me. I i again, kept my mouth shut, and I just continued with the course. By the end of the course, I really, really enjoyed it, and I saw I decided I wanted to continue on to become a coach. So I just continued in my training. By the end of 2015 early 2016 I was a coach. I went and joined the international coaching Federation, and they offer accreditation. So I wanted to get accredited, because, as I said, from my first industry, a big proponent for credit accreditation. I think it's very important, especially in an unregulated industry like coaching. So we're not bound by HIPAA laws. We are not doctors, we are coaches. It's very different lane, and we do self regulate. So getting accredited is important to me. And I thought my ACC, which my associate a certified coach in 2016 when I moved to the area I'm living in now, in 2017 and I joined the local chapter here, I just continued on. I continued with education. I knew my lane is, is, is burnout. I started to own it. I started to bring it forward a little bit and talk about my experiences with with other coaches and clients to help them through the years and and it felt natural. So with the ICF, I wanted to make sure I stayed in a path that would allow me to hang my shingle proudly, and everything I did in the destination management world I'm now doing in the coaching world. I wound up on the board of directors for our local chapter as a programming director, which was so perfect for me because I'm coming from meetings and events, so as a perfect person to do their programming, and now I am their chapter liaison, and I am President Elect, so I'm taking the same sort of leadership I had in destination management and wrapping my arms around it in the coaching industry,   Michael Hingson ** 42:56 you talk about People honing their leadership skills to help prepare them for a career move or their next career. It isn't always that way, though, right? It isn't always necessarily that they're going to be going to a different career. Yep,   Rachelle Stone ** 43:11 correct. Yeah. I mean, not everybody's looking for trans transition. Some people are looking for that to break through the glass ceiling. I have other clients that are just wanting to maybe move laterally. Others are just trying to figure it out every client is different. While I specialize in hospitality and burnout, I probably have more clients in the leadership lane, Senior VP level, that are trying to figure out their next step, if they want to go higher, or if they're content where they are, and a lot of that comes from that ability to find the right balance for you in between your career and your personal life. I think there comes a point when we're in our younger careers, we are fully identified by what we do. I don't think that's true for upcoming generations, but for our generation, and maybe Jen, maybe some millennials, very identified by what they do, there comes a point in your career, and I'm going to say somewhere between 35 and 50, where you recognize that those two Things need to be separate,   Michael Hingson ** 44:20 and the two things being   Rachelle Stone ** 44:23 your identity, who you are from what you do, got it two different things. And a lot of leaders on their journey get so wrapped up in what they do, they lose who they are.   Michael Hingson ** 44:39 What really makes a good leader,   Rachelle Stone ** 44:42 authenticity. I'm a big proponent of heart based leadership. Brene Brown, I'm Brene Brown trained. I am not a facilitator, but I love her work, and I introduce all my clients to it, especially my newer leaders. I think it's that. Authenticity that you know the command and control leadership no longer works. And I can tell you, I do work with some leaders that are trying to improve their human skills, and by that I mean their emotional intelligence, their social skills, their ability to interact on a human level with others, because when they have that high command and control directive type of leadership, they're not connecting with their people. And we now have five generations in the workforce that all need to be interacted with differently. So command and control is a tough kind of leadership style that I actually unless they're willing to unless they're open to exploring other ways of leading, I won't work with them. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 45:44 and the reality is, I'm not sure command and control as such ever really worked. Yeah, maybe you control people. But did it really get you and the other person and the company? What what you needed.   Rachelle Stone ** 46:01 Generally, that's what we now call a toxic environment. Yes, yes. But that, you know, this has been, we've been on a path of, you know, this work ethic was supposed to, was supposed to become a leisure ethic in the 70s, you know, we went to 40 hour work weeks. Where are we now? We're back up to 6070, hour work week. Yeah, we're trying to lower the age that so kids can start working this is not a leisure ethic that we were headed towards. And now with AI, okay, let's change this conversation. Yeah, toxic environments are not going to work. Moving forward that command and control leadership. There's not a lot of it left, but there's, it's lingering, and some of the old guard, you know, there it's, it's slowly changing.   Michael Hingson ** 46:49 It is, I think, high time that we learn a lot more about the whole concept of teamwork and true, real team building. And there's a lot to be said for there's no I in team, that's right, and it's an extremely important thing to learn. And I think there are way to, still, way too many people who don't recognize that, but it is something that I agree with you. Over time, it's it's starting to evolve to a different world, and the pandemic actually was one, and is one of the things that helps it, because we introduced the hybrid environment, for example, and people are starting to realize that they can still get things done, and they don't necessarily have to do it the way they did before, and they're better off for it.   Rachelle Stone ** 47:38 That's right. Innovation is beautiful. I actually, I mean, as horrible as the pandemic was it, there was a lot of good that came out of it, to your point. And it's interesting, because I've watched this in coaching people. I remember early in the pandemic, I had a new client, and they came to the they came to their first call on Zoom, really slumped down in the chair like I could barely see their nose and up and, you know, as we're kind of talking, getting to know each other. One of the things they said to me, because they were working from home, they were working like 1011, hours a day. Had two kids, a husband, and they also had yet they're, they're, they're like, I one of the things they said to me, which blew my mind, was, I don't have time to put on a load of laundry. They're working from home. Yeah? It's that mindset that you own my time because you're paying me, yeah, versus I'm productive and I'm doing good work for you. Is why you're paying for paying me? Yeah? So it's that perception and trying to shift one person at a time, shifting that perspective   Michael Hingson ** 48:54 you talked before about you're a coach, you're not a doctor, which I absolutely appreciate and understand and in studying coaching and so on, one of the things that I read a great deal about is the whole concept of coaches are not therapists. A therapist provides a decision or a position or a decision, and they are more the one that provides a lot of the answers, because they have the expertise. And a coach is a guide who, if they're doing their job right, leads you to you figuring out the answer. That's   Rachelle Stone ** 49:34 a great way to put it, and it's pretty clear. That's, that's, that's pretty, pretty close the I like to say therapy is a doctor patient relationship. It's hierarchy so and the doctor is diagnosing, it's about repair and recovery, and it's rooted in the past, diagnosing, prescribing, and then the patient following orders and recovering. Hmm, in coaching, it's a peer to peer relationship. So it's, we're co creators, and we're equal. And it's, it's based on future goals only. It's only based on behavior change and future goals. So when I have clients and they dabble backwards, I will that's crossing the line. I can't support you there. I will refer clients to therapy. And actually, what I'm doing right now, I'm taking a mental health literacy course through Harvard Medical Center and McLean University. And the reason I'm doing this is because so many of my clients, I would say 80% of my clients are also in therapy, and it's very common. We have a lot of mental health issues in the world right now as a result of the pandemic, and we have a lot of awareness coming forward. So I want to make sure I'm doing the best for my clients in recognizing when they're at need or at risk and being able to properly refer them.   Michael Hingson ** 51:04 Do you think, though, that even in a doctor patient relationship, that more doctors are recognizing that they accomplish more when they create more of a teaming environment? Yes,   51:18 oh, I'm so glad you   Rachelle Stone ** 51:20 brought that up, okay, go ahead. Go ahead. Love that. I have clients who are in therapy, and I ask them to ask their therapist so that if they're comfortable with this trio. And it works beautifully. Yes,   Michael Hingson ** 51:36 it is. It just seems to me that, again, there's so much more to be said for the whole concept of teaming and teamwork, and patients do better when doctors or therapists and so on explain and bring them into the process, which almost makes them not a coach as you are, but an adjunct to what you do, which is what I think it's all about. Or are we the adjunct to what they do? Or use the adjunct to what they do? Yeah, it's a team, which is what it should be.   52:11 Yeah, it's, I always it's like the Oreo cookie, right?   Michael Hingson ** 52:16 Yeah, and the frosting is in the middle, yeah, crying   Rachelle Stone ** 52:19 in the middle. But it's true, like a therapist can work both in the past and in the future, but that partnership and that team mentality and supporting a client, it helps them move faster and further in their in their desired goals. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 52:37 it's beautiful, yeah, yeah. And I think it's extremely important, tell me about this whole idea of mental fitness. I know you're studying that. Tell me more about that. Is it real? Is it okay? Or what? You know, a lot of people talk about it and they say it's who cares. They all roll   Rachelle Stone ** 52:56 their eyes mental fitness. What are you talking about? Yeah, um, I like to say mental fitness is the third leg of our is what keeps us healthy. I like to look at humans as a three legged stool, and that mental fitness, that mental wellness, is that third piece. So you have your spiritual and community wellness, you have your physical wellness, and then you have your mental wellness. And that mental wellness encompasses your mental health, your mental fitness. Now, mental fitness, by definition, is your ability to respond to life's challenges from a positive rather than a negative mindset. And there's a new science out there called positive it was actually not a new science. It's based on four sciences, Positive Intelligence, it's a cognitive behavioral science, or psychology, positive psychology, performance psychology, and drawing a bank anyway, four sciences and this body of work determined that there's actually a tipping point we live in our amygdala, mostly, and there's a reason, when we were cavemen, we needed to know what was coming that outside stressor was going to eat us, or if we could eat it. Yeah, but we have language now. We don't need that, not as much as we did, not in the same way, not in the same way, exactly. We do need to be aware of threats, but not every piece of information that comes into the brain. When that information comes in our brains, amplify it by a factor of three to one. So with that amplification, it makes that little, little tiny Ember into a burning, raging fire in our brain. And then we get stuck in stress. So it's recognizing, and there's actually you are building. If you do yoga, meditation, tai chi, gratitude journaling, any sort of those practices, you're flexing that muscle. You talk to somebody who does gratitude journaling who just started a month in, they're going to tell. You, they're happier. They're going to tell you they're not having as many ruminating thoughts, and they're going to say, I'm I'm smiling more. I started a new journal this year, and I said, I'm singing more. I'm singing songs that I haven't thought of in years. Yeah, out of the blue, popping into my head. Yeah. And I'm happier. So the the concept of mental fitness is really practicing flexing this muscle every day. We take care of our bodies by eating good food, we exercise or walk. We do that to take care of our physical body. We do nothing to take care of our brain other than scroll social media and get anxiety because everybody's life looks so perfect,   Michael Hingson ** 55:38 yeah, and all we're doing is using social media as a stressor.   Rachelle Stone ** 55:42 That's right, I'm actually not on social media on LinkedIn. That's it.   Michael Hingson ** 55:48 I have accounts, but I don't go to it exactly. My excuse is it takes way too long with a screen reader, and I don't have the time to do it. I don't mind posting occasionally, but I just don't see the need to be on social media for hours every day.   Rachelle Stone ** 56:05 No, no, I do, like, like a lot of businesses, especially local small businesses, are they advertise. They only have they don't have websites. They're only on Facebook. So I do need to go to social media for things like that. But the most part, no, I'm not there. Not at all. It's   Michael Hingson ** 56:20 it's way too much work. I am amazed sometimes when I'll post something, and I'm amazed at how quickly sometimes people respond. And I'm wondering to myself, how do you have the time to just be there to see this? It can't all be coincidence. You've got to be constantly on active social media to see it. Yeah,   Rachelle Stone ** 56:39 yeah, yeah. Which is and this, this whole concept of mental fitness is really about building a practice, a habit. It's a new habit, just like going to the gym, and it's so important for all of us. We are our behaviors are based on how we interpret these messages as they come in, yeah, so learning to reframe or recognize the message and give a different answer is imperative in order to have better communication, to be more productive and and less chaos. How   Michael Hingson ** 57:12 do we teach people to recognize that they have a whole lot more control over fear than they think they do, and that that really fear can be a very positive guide in our lives. And I say that because I talked about not being afraid of escaping from the World Trade Center over a 22 year period, what I realized I never did was to teach people how to do that. And so now I wrote a book that will be out later in the year. It's called Live like a guide dog, stories of from a blind man and his dogs, about being brave, overcoming adversity and walking in faith. And the point of it is to say that you can control your fear. I'm not saying don't be afraid, but you have control over how you let that fear affect you and what you deal with and how you deal it's all choice. It is all choice. But how do we teach people to to deal with that better, rather than just letting fear build up   Rachelle Stone ** 58:12 it? Michael, I think these conversations are so important. Number one is that learner's mind, that willingness, that openness to be interested in finding a better way to live. I always say that's a really hard way to live when you're living in fear. Yeah, so step number one is an openness, or a willingness or a curiosity about wanting to live life better,   Michael Hingson ** 58:40 and we have to instill that in people and get them to realize that they all that we all have the ability to be more curious if we choose to do it.   Rachelle Stone ** 58:49 But again, choice and that, that's the big thing so many and then there's also, you know, Michael, I can't wait to read your book. I'm looking forward to this. I'm also know that you speak. I can't wait to see you speak. The thing is, when we speak or write and share this information, we give them insight. It's what they do with it that matters, which is why, when I with the whole with the mental fitness training that I do, it's seven weeks, yeah, I want them to start to build that habit, and I give them three extra months so they can continue to work on that habit, because it's that important for them to start. It's foundational your spirit. When you talk about your experience in the World Trade Center, and you say you weren't fearful, your spiritual practice is such a big part of that, and that's part of mental fitness too. That's on that layers on top of your ability to flex those mental muscles and lean into your spirituality and not be afraid.   Michael Hingson ** 59:55 Well, I'd love to come down and speak. If you know anybody that needs a speaker down there. I. I'm always looking for speaking opportunities, so love your help, and   1:00:03 my ears open for sure and live like   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:06 a guide dog. Will be out later this year. It's, it's, I've already gotten a couple of Google Alerts. The the publisher has been putting out some things, which is great. So we're really excited about it.   Rachelle Stone ** 1:00:16 Wonderful. I can't wait to see it. So what's   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:19 up for you in 2024   Rachelle Stone ** 1:00:22 so I actually have a couple of things coming up this year that are pretty big. I have a partner. Her name's vimari Roman. She's down in Miami, and I'm up here in the Dunedin Clearwater area. But we're both hospitality professionals that went into coaching, and we're both professional certified coaches, and we're both certified mental fitness coaches. When the pandemic hit, she's also a Career Strategist. She went she started coaching at conferences because the hospitality industry was hit so hard, she reached out to me and brought me in too. So in 2024 we've been coaching at so many conferences, we can't do it. We can't do it. It's just too much, but we also know that we can provide a great service. So we've started a new company. It's called coaches for conferences, and it's going to be like a I'll call it a clearing house for securing pro bono coaches for your conferences. So that means, let's say you're having a conference in in LA and they'd like to offer coaching, pro bono coaching to their attendees as an added value. I'll we'll make the arrangements for the coaches, local in your area to to come coach. You just have to provide them with a room and food and beverage and a place to coach on your conference floor and a breakout. So we're excited for that that's getting ready to launch. And I think 2024 is going to be the year for me to dip my toe in start writing my own story. I think it's time   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:02 writing a book. You can say it. I'm gonna do it.   Rachelle Stone ** 1:02:05 I'm gonna write a book Good. I've said it out loud. I've started to pull together some thoughts around I mean, I've been thinking about it for years. But yeah, if the timing feels right,   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:21 then it probably is, yep, which makes sense. Well, this has been fun. It's been wonderful. Can you believe we've already been at this for more than an hour? So clearly we   1:02:33 this went so fast. Clearly we   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:35 did have fun. We followed the rule, this was fun. Yeah, absolutely. Well, I want to thank you for being here, and I want to thank you all for listening and for watching, if you're on YouTube watching, and all I can ask is that, wherever you are, please give us a five star rating for the podcast. We appreciate it. And anything that you want to say, we would love it. And I would appreciate you feeling free to email me and let me know your thoughts. You can reach me at Michael H, I m, I C, H, A, E, L, H i at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, I, B, e.com, would love to hear from you. You can also go to our podcast page, www, dot Michael hingson.com/podcast, and it's m, I C, H, A, E, L, H, I N, G, s, O, N, and as I said to Rochelle just a minute ago, if any of you need a speaker, we'd love to talk with you about that. You can also email me at speaker@michaelhingson.com love to hear from you and love to talk about speaking. So however you you reach out and for whatever reason, love to hear from you, and for all of you and Rochelle, you, if you know anyone else who ought to be a guest on unstoppable mindset, let us know we're always looking for people who want to come on the podcast. Doesn't cost anything other than your time and putting up with me for a while, but we appreciate it, and hope that you'll decide to to introduce us to other people. So with that, I again want to say, Rochelle, thank you to you. We really appreciate you being here and taking the time to chat with us today.   Rachelle Stone ** 1:04:13 It's been the fastest hour of my life. I'm gonna have to watch the replay. Thank you so much for having me. It's been my pleasure to join you.   **Michael Hingson ** 1:04:24 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

In this episode, Jared reflects on two high-end gigs—one at a Wyoming governor's gala and another at the luxurious Broadmoor Hotel—and the lessons they offer for musicians looking to break into elite events. From the power of repeat bookings and sound engineering tips to nurturing relationships with destination management companies (DMCs), Jared shares actionable insights to help you elevate your gigging game in 2025.

Brian SchonCo-Founder and PresidentTrue Colombia Travel and CannúaWith ten years of experience leading travelers around Colombia, Brian is an expert in Colombian tourism and hospitality. He is focused on True Colombia Travel's commercial and administrative departments, and is also one of a small number of internationally certified rummeliers (rum sommeliers) in Colombia. Brian grew up in the United States and earned an MBA and an MPP from Brandeis University.summaryIn this episode of the Big World Made Small podcast, host Jason Elkins speaks with Brian Schon, co-founder and president of True Colombia Travel and Cannua. They discuss the beauty and diversity of Colombia, the importance of authentic travel experiences, and the challenges and opportunities in the Colombian tourism industry. Brian shares insights on the role of destination management companies (DMCs), the significance of building trust with travel agents, and the mission of promoting sustainable tourism in Colombia. The conversation highlights the cultural richness of Colombia and the need for travelers to embrace the local experience while navigating the complexities of the travel industry.takeawaysColombia is a biodiverse country with unique travel experiences.True Colombia Travel focuses on authentic and custom travel itineraries.Building trust with travel agents is crucial for success in the travel industry.Sustainable tourism can be luxurious and responsible at the same time.Cannua is Colombia's first high-end sustainable ecolodge.Travelers should be open to cultural differences and expectations.The Colombian countryside is integral to understanding the culture.Cooperation among travel operators can enhance the tourism experience.Travelers should explore beyond major cities to truly experience Colombia.The perception of Colombia has changed significantly over the years. Learn more about Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Marketing and join our private community to get episode updates, special access to our guests, and exclusive adventure travel offers on our website.

Simon GroveCompany OwnerSimon Grove TravelHaving travelled extensively across Europe Simon embarked on an epic overland journey from London to Kathmandu via Nairobi in the mid-90s. Upon his return, he found his calling in the travel industry and joined Explore Worldwide as a tour leader.Over the past three decades, he's worked in adventure, luxury, tailor-made, small group tour operators and has even planned, built and operated a luxury yurt camp in Iceland. His focus has always been to build sustainable travel experiences that forge meaningful connections between travellers and their destinations, uncovering the authentic side of each country. The majority of his career was at Explore Worldwide, where he became Product Director leading a team responsible for the planning, contracting, and operations of all trips.Always looking for the next challenge - Simon recently set up his own travel consultancy and now works with worldwide DMCs helping them gain access to tour operators and increase sales.summaryIn this episode of the Big World Made Small podcast, host Jason Elkins speaks with Simon Grove, a seasoned travel expert and owner of Simon Grove Travel. Simon shares his journey from a small town in Northeast England to becoming a tour leader and travel industry professional. He discusses the transformative experiences of overland truck travel, the evolution of adventure tourism, and the importance of shared experiences in travel. Simon emphasizes the privilege and responsibility of traveling, the changing perceptions of the travel industry, and the impact of family support on his career. The conversation highlights the value of group travel, the psychology behind tour leading, and the lessons learned from diverse travel experiences.takeawaysTravel can be a life-changing experience.The overland truck journey opened Simon's eyes to the world.Group travel fosters shared experiences and connections.Traveling provides a deeper understanding of different cultures.Family support is crucial in pursuing a travel career.Adventure tourism has evolved significantly over the years.The travel industry has changed perceptions and opportunities.Tour leading requires earning trust and respect from the group.Travel is a privilege that should be appreciated.Shared experiences enhance the travel journey. Learn more about Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Marketing and join our private community to get episode updates, special access to our guests, and exclusive adventure travel offers at bigworldmadesmall.com.

How can travel advisors create partnerships with DMCs that feel more like collaborations and less like transactions? Joining Whitney for Part 2 of a two-part convo are seasoned travel advisor Kate Sullivan and newer advisor Anna Tretter to explore the intricacies of working with DMCs. They talk about the role DMCs play in the travel industry, especially in crafting experiences that go beyond the traditional "greatest hits." And they share tips on effective communication with DMCs, the benefits of using technology and collaborative platforms,. and pursuing transparency that builds trust with both the DMC partner and clients.

Sometimes you love them, sometimes they drive you crazy...this week, we're talking all about Destination Management Companies (DMCs)! Seasoned advisor Kate Sullivan and newer advisor Anna Tretter join Whitney to share their personal experiences, frustrations, and strategies when working with DMCs. Plus, they talk about the importance of transparency, effective communication, and how to build strong partnerships with DMCs to enhance client experiences. This is Part 1 of a two part conversation!

JOIN THE NICHE COMMUNITY Enrollment ends on January 16th, 2025! As a travel advisor, the key to delivering unforgettable client experiences often lies in the partners you choose to collaborate with. Jessica Woods of Woods Luxury Travel joins this episode to discuss selecting the right industry supplier or partner for each client proposal. Jessica walks through the process of evaluating the best partners, the importance of building and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers, and the differences in services offered by direct bookings, DMCs, and wholesalers. She also touches on aspects like proposal timelines, financial considerations, and the flexibility required in different travel scenarios. If you've ever wondered how to strategically select the right partner for each proposal, this episode is packed with advice to help you fine tune that process! About Jessica Woods: Jessica is the owner of Woods Luxury Travel, based in Metro Detroit. She lives with her husband, two dogs, and two cats. A cocktail enthusiast and passionate reader, Jessica loves spending a quiet day curled up with a good book. With a strong commitment to providing luxury travel experiences, Jessica's personal interests in refined tastes and relaxation help guide her approach to curating exceptional travel itineraries. jessicawoodstravel.myflodesk.com/subscribe instagram.com/jessicawoods.travel Today we will cover: (04:20) Jessica's journey into the travel industry;  Virgin Voyages (06:25) Utilizing partners when you aren't familiar with a destination (12:00) Leveraging supplier relationships; overcoming intimidation when approaching DMCs (17:10) Questions to ask when choosing between a DMC, wholesaler, or direct; Classic Vacations, UJV, Curated Greece,   Authenticus Italy (29:30) Managing expectations concerning proposal turnaround times (36:45) The importance of initial consult calls; providing detailed information to suppliers (47:00) Combining wholesalers and DMCs for optimal service (56:00) Putting yourself out there and building strong relationships with trusted suppliers; Index Select and Experience Morocco (59:45) Financial considerations in supplier selection (01:03:00) Being transparent with clients when working with a DMC or wholesaler SUPPLIER COMMUNICATION TEMPLATES A collection of 9 email templates and a direct invoice template to ensure clarity and professionalism in all your supplier communications. SEMI CUSTOM BRAND KITS Browse our collection of pre-designed brand kits that are customized to your brand's unique personality by our talented Creative Director! _____ FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/tiquehq CHECK OUT OUR SERVICES & PROGRAMS: tiquehq.com

This episode is going to inspire and surprise you. Rodrigo Atuesta is the CEO of Impulse Travel. From humble beginnings as a guide and Couch Surfer, Rodrigo and his partners have built a DMC in Colombia that has now served over 30,000 travelers. But the way he's built it has been extraordinary, challenging assumptions about how DMCs should work, and understanding the responsibility and power that a travel company has to transform destinations.In this far-reaching conversation, Tourpreneur's Mitch Bach talks a variety of topics with Rodrigo:What he learned about hospitality and “meaningful interactions” from his days of Couch Surfinghow he participates in and hosts FAM trips with agents to promote his business and countryhow to challenge and change global stereotypes about Colombiahis approach to the “co-creation” process as a DMC working with tour operatorsthe surprising lessons learned from his experience with Booking.com's Booking Booster accelerator programwhat true leadership … soft skills, good leadership is the capacity to reinvent yourself. Learning to be vulnerable in leadership perspectives.the importance of thinking intentionally about company culture as you build your company, not after.his discovery of how developing tourism in a community, and fostering local leadership brought change and impact to a community… watching the murder rate drop.how you can build a company as a response to a need within a community, rather than imposing your vision on a place.His team's HEART design process for product development: (Human Encounters & Connection, Economic Opportunity, Authenticity, Regenerative Narratives, Top Notch)his thinking around how to tell the story of Colombia and develop tourism in a way that improves communities and changes narrativeshow Impulse takes travelers' assumptions about what they want to do (see Pablo Escobar sights) and changes those intentions into something positivehow his DMC builds bridges with other tour operators through partnerships, creating an association, and supporting each other to grow the whole pie.Impulse's surprising “total transparency” model, in which they disclose everything down to the penny to the client!My favorite quote from the episode:"A true leader is anyone who is aware of their impact on other people, and acts on this awareness.”For more information, visit tourpreneur.com.And don't forget great upcoming TP events!the Tourpreneur California Road Show starting December 8, 2024 thanks to our partnership with GetYourGuideTourpreneurCONNECT:NYC sales & operations conference in FebruaryTourpreneur Shindigs — global small group meetups in dozens of countries around the worldVisit our global events calendar here.

Beth Pelleteri from Rhode to Travel joins Jennifer to share her expert advice on building customized itineraries without the need for Destination Management Companies (DMCs) or wholesalers. Together, they discuss the benefits of direct booking methods, when to consider partnering with a DMC, and best practices for handling last-minute requests and remote destinations. The conversation also dives into managing client expectations, understanding cost considerations, and the importance of having a solid workflow. Whether you're new to planning FIT travel or looking to enhance your skills, this episode is packed with insights to help you confidently design bespoke travel experiences! About Beth Pelleteri: Beth has been an advisor for over 13 years. She started as a retail advisor for a large brick + mortar company, and finally took the leap to open her own agency in 2020! Her focus is on couples, unique FIT vacations with lots of food + local experiences. Beth has spent her entire career traveling all over the world. COUNTLESS FAM trips, personal vacations, conferences, and more. She is currently a part of the Upannaway team with Departure Lounge, and has surrounded herself with the smartest, savviest, coolest advisors on the planet. rhodetotravel.com Today we will cover: (01:15) Beth's background and experience as a travel advisor (05:10) When to use a DMC or wholesaler (10:50) Planning travel in familiar destinations (16:55) The role of DMCs in complex itineraries (25:30) Gaining experience and learning from mistakes (28:15) Quick turnaround and last-minute planning (31:00) Balancing commissions and client satisfaction (38:35) Leveraging workflows for efficiency (45:45) Collaborating with concierges and suppliers (53:50) Common mistakes and lessons learned SHOP THE WORKFLOW TEMPLATES tiquehq.com/shop The Legal Paige - Travel Advisor Contract Use code TIQUE10 for 10% off! _____ JOIN OUR NICHE COMMUNITY: tiquehq.com/niche FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/tiquehq CHECK OUT OUR SERVICES & PROGRAMS: tiquehq.com

In this episode, Jared dives into the world of destination management companies (DMCs) and how they connect musicians to high-end corporate gigs. He shares his experience playing a corporate event in Denver and discusses the power of networking in the events industry. Jared also talks about upgrading his sound equipment to enhance his performances and provides a behind-the-scenes look at how he's preparing for his biggest gig yet.

What's the difference between a tour operator and a destination management company (DMC)? How can advisors find DMCs to work with, and what are the top do's and don'ts of working with them? What if a contact at a DMC ghosts a travel advisor? Hear the answers to these questions and more in this week's episode of Trade Secrets, where co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada chat about all things DMCs with Andrea Grisdale, CEO and founder of I.C. Bellagio in Italy. This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways. Further resources IC Bellagio on the web Andrea Grisdale's email Mentioned in this episode: Death of a Travel Advisor by Dori Saltzman - From TravelAge West: The ultimate travel advisor guide to destination management companies Conde Nast's travel specialists Travel + Leisure's A List Wendy Perrin's WOW List 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Healing energy only! The girlies got another Kiswahili challenge and you won't be disappointed! Booty call? The girlies discuss how that should go. Nimzy needs a hearing aid while Ash breaks down DMCs. The girlies address event ticket prices and surprises!

Find us on social media: Facebook & InstagramEmail us: hello@thetinlounge.com Discussion:The State of Hotel Guest Satisfaction in 2024Ask-An-Advisor: Why Would I Use a DMC Instead of a Tour Operator? As heard on Excess Baggage:The Travel Corporation To Be Acquired by Asset Management FundCould Delta Air Lines Add a ‘Basic Business' Fare?Travel Prices Are Declining for the Second Consecutive MonthSeabourn Unveils New Hands-On Photography Program for Select Expedition CruisesVirgin Voyages Announces New Partnership With SoulCycleOceania Cruises Collaborates With the American Cancer SocietyAruba Introduces Sustainability Fee for Those Arriving by AirTravel Planners creates director of innovation roleThis Instagram page has luxury travel advisors in stitchesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hive is changing the way advisors can research cruises, DMCs, wholesalers, hotels, and so much more. The platform provides a centralized database of suppliers, facilitating easier searches and better organization of travel resources; helping advisors save time by offering detailed supplier profiles and search filters. Whitney Schindler, founder of The Hive, joins this episode to share the backstory and the pain points that led to the platform's creation. She also explains how The Hive aims to consolidate the travel industry's fragmented information, making it easier for advisors to find the best suppliers and organize their notes. Learn about the features and potential to revolutionize travel planning by saving time and leveraging relationships. From the inception of The Hive to its functionalities and impact on the industry, the conversation covers the challenges advisors face and how The Hive aims to address them! Connect with Whitney Schindelar: undiscoveredsunsets.com Today we will cover: (04:15) How The Hive came to be; it's mission and vision (08:50) The role of technology in travel (14:10) The importance of DMCs in travel planning (19:55) User experience on The Hive (25:50) Challenges in payment processing for advisors (33:15) Booking direct and ensuring commissions (38:10) Managing client expectations (38:35) Understanding DMC requirements; using filters when searching (44:00) The Hive platform overview; supplier/advisor interactions (48:15) Success stories and future vision (55:20) Who should join The Hive JOIN OUR NICHE COMMUNITY: tiquehq.com/niche TONIC: tonicsiteshop.com Get 15% off your purchase when you use the code, TiqueSentMe _____ FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/tiquehq CHECK OUT OUR SERVICES & PROGRAMS: tiquehq.com

Hi everyone, it's Emma Weissman, the host of Humans of Travel from Travel Age West. We've decided to re release a few of our favorite Humans of Travel interviews on the weeks where we aren't dropping new episodes. And you're listening to one of those encore presentations right now. In addition to being an author, a TedX speaker and a frequent media contributor, Sahara Rose De Vore is the founder of The Travel Coach Network (TCN). Now, you may be wondering — what is a travel coach? What types of clients do they work with, and what's the difference between a travel coach and a travel advisor, or a traditional travel agent? In the latest episode of Humans of Travel, De Vore breaks down the specifics of her travel career. Travel coaches, like De Vore, help individuals or companies — such as tour operators, DMCs, travel agencies or corporate meeting planners — hone in on the psychology of travel, and how they can best alter their marketing or improve their company's culture based on a human-centric approach, one that takes into account their consumers' unique mindsets, fears, obstacles, professional goals and unique personal experiences.  In addition to being a travel coach who focuses specifically on wellness, De Vore helps budding travel coaches develop their businesses through TCN and through her Travel Coach Certification Program, an accredited program from the International Coaching Federation.  Listeners will also hear about De Vore's own travel experiences, which include going solo to 84 countries across the world, and how she pushes herself out of her comfort zone while living with an anxiety disorder. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The Travel Coach Network De Vore on Instagram The Travel Coach Network on Instagram De Vore on Linkedin De Vore on Facebook The Travel Coach on Facebook The Travel Coach Network Podcast Free Beginner's Guide to Travel Coaching Women Thrive Through Travel MasterFind Virtual Event 2023 INSIDE THIS EPISODE 2:30: Meet Sahara Rose De Vore, a wellness travel coach and the founder of The Travel Coach Network 3:00: What is a travel coach, and who would generally use them? 5:15: De Vore breaks down the differences between a travel coach and a travel advisor. 7:00: De Vore explains the significance of TCN's accreditation from the International Coaching Federation. 9:25: De Vore shares the most common challenges that travel coaches have when beginning their businesses. 14:09: De Vore reflects on her childhood growing up with a single mom, and how she navigates her public-facing persona as an introvert who is living with anxiety. 18:50: De Vore talks about what it was like traveling solo to 84 countries. 24:00: De Vore speaks on why she hopes to reshape how people view travel. 29:30: As a wellness coach, what trends is De Vore seeing in the wellness space? 32:45: Weissmann asks De Vore a round of rapid-fire questions. ABOUT YOUR HOST  Emma Weissmann is the Managing Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.  ABOUT THE SHOW  TravelAge West's podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry's notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Struggling to find enough hours in the day? Learn how to tackle time management and find out which items are creating inefficiencies within your day! Robin and Jennifer share their thoughts on effective time management, including reviewing your schedule ahead of time and creating a game plan for each day. They discuss the benefits of using tools like Calendly and TravelJoy for automation and delegation, as well as the value of leaning on concierges and DMCs. In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and like there's never enough time to accomplish your to-do list. However, the key to optimizing your time is not about having more hours, but rather about how you manage the hours you do have. Don't miss out on these tips for increasing productivity and finding the right balance in your business! Today we will cover: (01:00) Planning ahead for productive days (03:05) Prioritizing tasks: rocks, pebbles, and sand (05:15) Setting boundaries in client communication (09:15) Eliminating distractions and task batching (16:50) Maximizing productivity with Focus; managing digital distractions (21:00) Balancing business tasks with creative preferences (25:45) Being more efficient with your time (29:45) Leveraging concierge knowledge for enhanced travel experiences (32:50) Business automations; Calendly and Traveljoy (37:55) Efficiency and productivity in the age of social media CLIENT COMMUNICATION TEMPLATES tiquehq.com/client-communication-templates GUSTO - Get $100 off when you join! https://gusto.com/r/robin4469 Listen to Episode 18: Controlling The Chaos Of Managing Concierge-Level Travel Details with Kaytee Fisher Listen to Episode 47: How To Batch Your Tasks & Manage Your Time As A Travel Advisor _____ JOIN OUR NICHE COMMUNITY: tiquehq.com/join-niche FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/tiquehq CHECK OUT OUR SERVICES & PROGRAMS: tiquehq.com

Liam Dunch, product manager-Europe for Abercrombie & Kent, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at the A&K 100 Club held earlier this month in Chicago about how his luxury tour operator delivers incredible travel experiences in almost every part of Europe, using its network of dedicated DMCs. For more information, visit www.abercrombiekent.com. If interested, the original video of this podcast can be found on the Insider Travel Report Youtube channel or by searching for the podcast's title on Youtube.

Stefanie Schmudde, senior vice president-global product strategy for Abercrombie & Kent, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about all the new tours, cruises, river cruises, private jet journeys and other experiences that A&K is developing with its dedicated DMCs. Schmudde previews all the destinations her luxury operator has on tap for this year and beyond. For more information, visit www.abercrombiekent.com. If interested, the original video of this podcast can be found on the Insider Travel Report Youtube channel or by searching for the podcast's title on Youtube.

Marett Taylor, chief sales officer for A&K Travel Group, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about all the different types of luxury products you can sell from Abercrombie & Kent's vast lineup of tours, cruises and private jet journeys. Taylor also details the synergies A&K has with sister cruise line Crystal, as well as the benefits of having DMCs in nearly every corner of the world. For more information, visit www.abercrombiekent.com. If interested, the original video of this podcast can be found on the Insider Travel Report Youtube channel or by searching for the podcast's title on Youtube.

Area/TopicSoutheast Asia, Vietnam, Myanmar, ThailandElodie CourzadetSenior Business Development ManagerVivu Journeys part of TMGHi ! My name is Elodie. I was born and raised in France, got a BA in foreign applied languages and a Master's degree in tourism management.Having difficulties finding a job in the tourism industry right after uni, I decided to look for something in Asia and left a few months later (I did an internship in Thailand prior to that so I thought this could be a pretty decent place to live in!).I dedicated myself to Destination Management Companies (DMC) and spent many years in Asia working for several companies in Thailand and in Myanmar. I started in the leisure side of the business for the French market before moving into the corporate side. I specialized myself into incentives' spaces for different markets such as the Australian one. After nearly 10 years in Asia, I took a break to explore the world for most of 2019. Far away from Asia, I discovered Mexico, Belize and Guatemala for the last piece of the trip and this was just extraordinary. I returned to France with a job in hand and happily started working for Vivu Journeys DMC, part of TMG group, in a purely commercial role.Initially, I was responsible for business development for the French-speaking markets for Vivu Journeys. Today, I am not only working on the DMC part of TMG but I also support all the assets of the group such as hotels, cruises just to name a few.https://tmgroup.vn/SummaryElodie Courzadet, a travel industry professional, shares her experiences working for Vivo Journeys, a Destination Management Company (DMC) in Asia. She discusses the role of DMCs in the travel industry and the importance of building relationships with tour operators and travel agents. Elodie also reflects on her personal journey and connection with Asia, as well as the challenges and cultural differences she encountered while working abroad. She emphasizes the need for trust, connection, and collaboration in the workplace, and highlights the desire of French travelers for unique and local experiences. Elodie concludes by discussing the impact of COVID-19 on the travel industry and the future of travel in Asia.TakeawaysDestination Management Companies (DMCs) play a crucial role in the travel industry, working with tour operators and travel agents to create unique and tailored experiences for travelers.Building trust, connection, and collaboration are essential in the workplace, especially when working with local teams and tour operators in different countries.French travelers have a strong desire for unique and local experiences, and value immersion in the local culture and interaction with locals.The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the travel industry, but there is optimism for the future as travel gradually resumes and safety measures are implemented.The need for connection and interaction has become even more important in a post-pandemic world, and travelers are seeking meaningful experiences and connections with locals. Learn more about the Big World Made Small Podcast and join our private community to get episode updates, special access to our guests, and exclusive adventure travel offers at bigworldmadesmall.com.

In this weeks episode Terrie and David talk about the real reason they moved back from Australia and difficulties that brought.Tune in every week on Sundays to hear more on the madness and don't be afraid to share your hilarious life stories with us on @tendownpodcast on instagram see links below!!Follow us on: https://www.instagram.com/tendownpodcast/ Terrie: https://www.instagram.com/terriemcevoy/ David : https://www.instagram.com/davidfitz1986/

Area/TopicSouth America, Destination Management, CareerDalia GibuRegional Sales and Marketing DirectorAbercrombie & Kent Latin AmericaBorn and raised in Lima, with grandparents from Peru and from Okinawa. Dalia always had a love for geography and arts. She studied Tourism management in Lima's San Martin University and afterwards two Master Degrees -one from the University of Alicante in Spain. She has over 20 years of experience in the fascinating field of tourism, including working in Mexico as a wedding planner for a five-star resort and later as Sales Manager for top luxury lodges and Amazon boats in Peru. She has been with A&K for over 13 years as their Regional Sales Director, but what she loves the most is creating new experiences along with her teams in Latin America. She is an adventurous traveler who loves hiking in the mountains, trying every local dish and new flavor and who loves blending with locals and more so if that involves music. In her free time, she loves singing, dancing and riding her bike around her hometown Lima.https://www.akdmc.com/Here the link to watch all the University videos (6) A&K South America University 2023 - 2024 | 15-Minute Instant-Expert Webinars | English - YouTubeSummaryIn this episode, Dalia Gibu, the regional sales and marketing director for Abercrombie and Kent, Latin America, shares her journey in the adventure travel industry. She discusses her early interest in travel and hospitality, her passion for learning languages through music, and the impact of technology on language learning. Dahlia emphasizes the importance of different personalities in a team and the role of destination management companies (DMCs) in ensuring smooth operations and providing expert knowledge of the destination. She also introduces the University program, a series of webinars and informational sessions that educate travel agents and operators about South America. Dalia highlights the charm and resilience of Medellin, Colombia, and the generational perspective on travel and safety. In this conversation, Dalia Gibu shares her insights and experiences about Latin culture, dancing, and her passion for travel.  Dalia also highlights the beauty of South America and the experiences she recommends, such as hiking in El Chalten and exploring the culinary scene in Lima. She emphasizes the empowerment of women in the tourism industry and the positive impact they can make. Dalia concludes by discussing the diverse and delicious food experiences in Latin America, particularly in Lima, Buenos Aires, and Bogota.TakeawaysLearning languages through music can be an effective and enjoyable way to practice and improve language skills.The role of destination management companies (DMCs) is to provide expert knowledge of the destination, ensure smooth operations, and work closely with travel agents and operators.The University program by Abercrombie and Kent offers educational resources and inspiration for travel agents, operators, and anyone interested in learning more about South America.Medellin, Colombia, is a vibrant city with a resilient and welcoming community, offering a wide range of cultural, culinary, and natural experiences. Latin culture is rich and diverse, with a strong emphasis on dancing and community.South America offers a wide range of experiences, from hiking in El Chalten to exploring the culinary scene in Lima.Women play a significant role in the tourism Learn more about the Big World Made Small Podcast and join our private community to get episode updates, special access to our guests, and exclusive adventure travel offers at bigworldmadesmall.com.

As a travel advisor, unpredictable situations are bound to happen. While handling frustrations or an emergency is never ideal, with the right preparation and mindset, you can handle these situations like a pro! Ashlyn Puckett, Tique's workflow guru and former client experience manager, joins this conversation to discuss how to stay calm and collected when things go sideways during travel. Learn tips for handling common travel disruptions, de-escalating client emotions, and how to prepare clients for potential travel issues, including providing a walkthrough call and creating a "what to do when" guide. Ashlyn also shares personal anecdotes, tough experiences, and how she handled those situations as they occurred. So buckle up and enjoy the ride of handling unexpected challenges and finding solutions on the go! Today we will cover: (0 Preparing clients for unexpected travel situations Handling common travel disruptions and the importance of travel insurance Providing emotional support and de-escalating client emotions Assisting clients with insurance claims and providing guidance Utilizing technology to prevent travel issues Problem-solving and flexibility in resolving issues; staying calm in difficult situations The role of a client experience manager in handling client issues The impact of DMCs and importance of working with trusted partners Trusting your gut and avoiding compromising client trust Offering solutions and maintaining a good client relationship Listen to Episode 61: Auditing Trip Details To Minimize Errors And Enhance Client Experience with Ashlyn Puckett THE NICHE COMMUNITY: tiquehq.com/niche Join Niche - An interactive community membership for travel advisors wanting to grow their business! CUSTOM CLIENT EXPERIENCE: tiquehq.com/custom-client-experience We build magnetic client experiences that help you create more super fans! _____ FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/tiquehq/ CHECK OUT OUR SERVICES & PROGRAMS: https://www.tiquehq.com/

Tell us what you like or dislike about this episode!! Be honest, we don't bite!Welcome to 'Stripping Off with Matt Haycox,' where we bare it all on the intricacies of business, money, and life. Join host Matt Haycox, known as the Funding Guru, as he unveils the stories behind success with industry titans, celebrities, and thriving entrepreneurs. Prepare for steamy conversations as guests strip down their journeys, revealing the highs, lows, and unfiltered realities of their paths to the top. With Matt leading the way, expect DMCs to soar to new heights as we peel back the layers of success together.—Thanks for watching!SUBSCRIBE NOW FOR MORE TIPS—WebsiteInstagramTik TokFacebookTwitterLinkedIn—LISTEN TO THE PODCAST!SpotifyApple—Who Is Matt Haycox? - Click for BADASS TrailerAs an entrepreneur, investor, funding expert and mentor who has been building and growing businesses for both myself and my clients for more than 20 years, my fundamental principles are suitable for all industries and businesses of all stages and size.I'm constantly involved in funding and advising multiple business ventures and successful entrepreneurs.My goal is to help YOU achieve YOUR financial success! I know how to spot and nurture great business opportunities and as someone who has ‘been there and got the t-shirt' many times, overall strategies and advice are honest, tangible and grounded in reality.

Crafting custom, high touch trips around the world most often includes collaboration with a DMC partner in destination. These partners have their pulse on everything that's going on in their destination, from hotel openings and management changes, to creating new and unique experiences for clients, and knowing who's who in the bar and restaurant industry in their top cities, among so many additional details. So, in a "new to us" destination, how do we as travel advisors gather a list of DMCs that we can potentially work with? And once we have a short list, what questions do we ask and how do we decide who is ultimately the best fit for our trip design style and for the client's specific interests and preferences? Join me to learn how we can source, vet, and collaborate with DMCs around the world in a way that leads to the wow factor trips for clients and repeat and referral inquiries for us that push our travel businesses to new heights. We'll dive into 8 questions you should ask all DMCs prior to working with them on a new trip design and so much more! Take away: - How to gather a list of DMCs that operate in a destination - How to organize these research notes in a way that will support your business today and in the future - What questions to ask to narrow down a potentially long list of partners we can work with - How to collaborate with a DMC to lead to the best possible outcome for clients and for your travel business - How to most effectively share your experience with fellow travel advisors to support the advisor community and learn from colleagues along the way Host Week 2024 Landing Site: https://har.news/hostweek View Host Week Magazine: https://har.news/2024HWmagazine Host Week Specials: https://har.news/deals Register for Host Week 2025: https://har.news/signupHW2025 7-Day Setup Course with HAR: https://har.news/7DScourse Host Week 2024 Survey: https://har.news/hwsurvey

Unlock the secrets to building supplier relationships that aren't just transactions – they're unforgettable collaborations! Hicham Mhammedi Alaoui, the founder of Experience Morocco, joins this episode to share the key elements of a successful supplier-advisor relationship, such as trust, open communication, and mutual support. From creating positive impressions to avoiding common pitfalls, learn how to strengthen partnerships and enhance your ability to create memorable travel experiences for your clients! About Hicham Mhammedi Alaoui: Hicham is the founder of Experience Morocco, a leading destination management company (DMC) specializing in creating unique and immersive travel experiences in Morocco. With a passion for his country and a dedication to providing exceptional service, Hicham has built Experience Morocco into a go-to partner for travel advisors around the world. With over 10 years of experience in the travel industry, Hicham continues to innovate and create memorable experiences for clients. experiencemorocco.com/#team. cntraveler.com/contributor/hicham-mhammedi-alaoui/ wendyperrin.com/reviews/hicham-mhammedi-alaoui-radia-tehitahe/ partners@experiencemorocco.com Today we will cover: (02:15) Hicham's background and how Experience Morocco was founded (07:10) Creating positive relationships and viewing one another as links in a chain (11:45) Understanding the why behind each person in the travel industry (13:15) Ways an advisor can create a positive impression (25:25) Things to avoid when working with a supplier partner (29:45) Converting a good trip to a great trip (32:35) Collaborating with DMCs during high season (39:10) Cultural sensitivity and avoiding assumptions when working with DMCs (42:00) The value of overcoming challenges and regaining trust in a relationship REGISTER FOR THE NICHE OPEN HOUSE! tiquehq.com/nch-open-house FREE CLIENT WELCOME GUIDE: https://tique.thrivecart.com/free-sample-welcome-guide-service-suite/ _____ JOIN OUR NICHE COMMUNITY: tiquehq.com/join-niche FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/tiquehq CHECK OUT OUR SERVICES & PROGRAMS: tiquehq.com

Creating a seamless client experience in the travel industry requires effective communication, collaboration, and attention to detail. By sharing comprehensive information with DMCs, travel advisors enable them to craft personalized itineraries that meet the client's expectations. In this episode, George Eliades of Seez Travel discusses the importance of creating consistent client experiences and shares insights on what information is helpful for a supplier to have in order to create unforgettable itineraries. Learn about the significance of setting boundaries, effective communication with DMCs, and the importance of managing client expectations. By following these best practices and fostering strong partnerships with DMCs, travel advisors can elevate their client offerings and contribute to an exceptional travel experience for their clients. About George Eliades: George is currently the Managing Director at Seez Travel, a luxury DMC specializing in Greece. He brings experience from previous roles at ALGEAN GROUP, OMNI APIQO, Alpha Finance and Kappa Securities. George Eliades holds a 1988 - 1991 BA in Business Administration @ The American Intercontinental University. With a robust skill set that includes Investment Banking, Equities, Investment Advisory, Investments, Business Planning and more, George Eliades contributes valuable insights to the industry. seeztravel.com/#/our-team Today we will cover: (03:35) George's background in finance and the story behind the name "Seez" (10:50) How boundaries can enhance professionalism and improve client experiences (16:10) The proposal process and its impact on suppliers (22:00) Essential details to include in a proposal (24:50) Questions to ask to understand the logistics of the destination, including transportation, walkability, and managing client expectations (29:30) Why you should check flight availability before moving forward with the proposal (31:50) Best practices for communication with DMCs (39:45) Providing hotels with client information in order to create a luxury experience (47:10) The need for good communication; Uncertainty leads to a breakdown in trust CLIENT COMMUNICATION TEMPLATES: tiquehq.com/client-communication-templates All of the email, form, & task list templates you need to deliver a high-end booking experience for your travel clients! SEMI CUSTOM BRAND KITS: tiquehq.com/semi-custom-brands Browse our collection of pre-designed brand kits that are customized to your brand's unique personality by our talented Creative Director! _____ JOIN OUR NICHE COMMUNITY: www.tiquehq.com/niche FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/tiquehq CHECK OUT OUR SERVICES & PROGRAMS: www.tiquehq.com

In episode 138 we chat with the lovely Lindsay Taylor of Travel Leaders 365 as they tackle three questions from an astute listener named Tim M. Thanks, Tim! Thanks to you all for your great questions from week to week. 1) How to navigate clients' loyalty programs: what are the logistics of ensuring they receive loyalty benefits, qualifying nights, miles/points? 2) Being an Agent vs. an Operator: If I want to book FIT travel, how can I safely curate customized itineraries as a travel agent and not stray into accidentally being considered a tour operator? 3) Project Management Platforms! Do agents typically manage their workflow with their host agency provided CRM program only, or are there other project management platforms that are popular with travel agents? We do this every week! If you have travel industry questions, HAR likely has an answer :) Submit your burning question here: https://har.news/Friday15 and join us this Friday (and every Friday!) at 12CT for travel agent tips! TODAY'S RESOURCES: https://www.mastersintravelpod.com/ (Whitney's podcast, Masters in Travel) https://www.thehive.travel/ (The Hive: Global directory of suppliers, properties and DMCs) tcarpenter@carpentertaylor.com (Thomas Carpenter's email) https://www.carpentertaylor.com/ (Thomas Carpenter's law firm's website) https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-industry-lawyer-list (Complete list of travel industry specific attorneys)

Welcome to episode 51 as Season 3 of DMC comes to a close! It's time for a little recap of our year as we reflect on our experiences as the hosts of Deep Meaningful Conversations. We released 23 episodes this year and have had over 120k downloads. We've had on average 4000 listeners per episode. So thank you to all our loyal DMC listeners! Here's to continued growth and many more DMCS in 2024! On this episode, we discuss: Stats and listener demographics Our top-rated episodes What we're most looking forward to next season Favorite feedback from listeners “Celebrity” sightings Our favorite episodes Our most personally meaningful episodes The episodes we felt most impactful for our audience We'd love to hear from you, especially if you'd like to join us in reflecting on any of our episodes this past season! You can find Deep Meaningful Conversations on Facebook and Instagram, and you can email us at dmcthepodcast@gmail.com. Join our Whatsapp Group - https://chat.whatsapp.com/IjG33sXCYgFGJSdncnN4nX DMC YEARLY SPONSOR: Town Appliance https://www.townappliance.com/ 1-866-309-8119 https://www.townappliance.com/pages/contact-us

00:00 - Merry Christmas + Jesus is Indy's Mama + Chache Union01:28 - Shaheedi Remembrance 02:50 - Early adopters + Mainstream listeners + those that go back to the beginning of time05:15 - Indy's moustache evolution + Indy-isms08:20 - Cot set up + babycare upselling + Dr's sales tactics11:44 - Swaddle the baby + pink noise for sleep15:23 - Babies and ladies are not logical things17:11 - People are polarised on breastfeeding18:20 - When do the pipes get replenished with milk?20:15 - How do you go from expressing to not expressing?22:15 - Breastmilk, butter and bread in the freezer24:48 - Reabsorbing milk26:05 - Wife annoying you while you're asleep27:22 - Why do babies need so much stuff?30:33 - Shooting at Gippy Grewal's house32:51 - Canada is not as safe as you think35:32 - Does hiring security mean they will take a bullet for you?37:04 - DMC: deep meaningful conversations39:06 - Meeting Friends: School of Life40:56 - Why do DMCs happen at night?43:57 - Dr and Shindy are Max and Stacy from Eastenders46:35 - What colour emoji do you use?48:33 - WhatsApp is cultural appropriation ?!50:55 - The Koh-i-noor is purple….52:10 - 50 shades of brown53:10 - My dad keeps reaching PBs in the gym55:14 - Why do guys send progress pictures of themselves to their friends?56:53 - Dr has so much hair58:37 - Confrontation with racist uncle01:01:50 - Back down big man01:04:33 - Buying PERSONALISED A5 paper?! Follow Us On: Tik Tok - https://bit.ly/indy-and-dr-tik-tokInstagram - http://bit.ly/indy-and-dr-instaFacebook - http://bit.ly/indy-and-dr-facebookSpotify - http://bit.ly/indy-and-dr Also available at all podcasting outlets.

Discover the power of working with a Destination Management Company (DMC). Crothúr Murphy, Owner and Managing Director of Crafted Ireland, provides insight into the immense value that DMCs bring to the travel industry. Learn the role of a DMC and how they can create unique and personalized experiences for clients. From helicopter rides to private lunches and exclusive access to historical sites, Crafted Ireland goes above and beyond to create extraordinary moments. Crothúr explains the multitude of benefits of working with a DMC, the challenges they face, the importance of trust and communication between the DMC and the travel advisor, and much more. Tune in to learn all about the world of DMCs from the perspective of a quintessential example of a specialized DMC! About Crothúr Murphy: Crothúr Murphy, Owner and Managing Director of Crafted Ireland, embarked on his career in hospitality as a driver guide, laying the foundation for his profound connection with Ireland's landscapes and culture. Drawing from this invaluable experience, he envisioned and established Crafted Ireland, a luxury Destination Management Company (DMC). Crothúr's unwavering passion for his homeland shines through as he curates bespoke travel adventures that showcase Ireland's rich culture and natural beauty. Committed to responsible tourism, he creates lasting memories for travelers seeking authentic Irish experiences. Craftedireland.com Today we will cover: (03:15) Crothúr's background in the hospitality industry and Crafted Ireland (07:20) The role of a destination management company (DMC) (13:45) Leveraging creativity and enhancing Googleable experiences (16:00) How a DMC can advocate for the client's experience (19:30) Building trust between advisors and DMCs (22:35) The value of having a DMC in emergency situations (25:55) Working with difficult clients and red flag behavior (31:45) Reasons for declining a client (34:15) Turnaround time for itineraries (37:20) Understanding the pressure on both sides of the industry (42:45) How to communicate desired luxury touches to a DMC (47:15) Thoughts on DMCs charging fees (53:20) Trusted FIT Services and financial health of DMCs COMING SOON → Black Friday Sale: www.tiquehq.com/blackfriday (code: BLACKFRIDAY) TIQUE x Solstice Collective: Get $250 off your initial service commitment https://www.solstice-collective.com/tique _____ JOIN OUR NICHE COMMUNITY: https://www.tiquehq.com/join-niche FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/tiquehq/ CHECK OUT OUR SERVICES & PROGRAMS: https://www.tiquehq.com/

Welcome to Shop Talk, a new monthly series where we (Whitney and Brianna) chat about what's going on in our businesses right now - what's exciting and what's challenging. In this first Shop Talk episode, we are discussing the importance of analyzing data in our travel businesses to track and analyze numbers to make informed decisions and set realistic goals. Whitney shares how she compiled and analyzed data from her trips in 2023, leading her to set new goals for 2024, such as increasing the number of trips and implementing a minimum spend requirement. We're also sharing our experiences with DMCs, challenge client relationships, and… we're hosting a free workshop! Get all the information in this episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mastersintravel/message

In the world of travel, there are many moving parts and players that work together to create unforgettable experiences for clients. One important player in this ecosystem is the representation firm, also known as a rep firm or company. These firms act as a liaison between travel advisors and their clients, and the various suppliers and partners around the world. They help to bridge the gap and ensure that the right connections are made, resulting in seamless and exceptional travel experiences. Danielle Dormand, Co-Founder of Index Select (a rep company that has been in the travel industry for eight years and has built a reputation for their exceptional service and portfolio of partners), shares insights into what a rep company does, how they support travel advisors, and provides details on the challenges and rewards of their work! Connect with Danielle Dormand: https://www.indexselect.com/ Today we will cover: (05:30) The role of a rep company and how Index Select supports advisors (14:30) Index Select's reputation in the industry, and their focus on experiential travel and brand alignment (19:00) Networking, building relationships and creating exceptional experiences (27:40) Evaluating ROI of shows and events, and learning about high-performing advisors (36:05) Utilizing partners and DMCs for support and expertise (39:10) Creating personal connections and providing a unique client experience (45:10) Everything that goes into hosting fam trips Take your systems from scary to streamlined with the Elevated Experience Workflow! https://www.tiquehq.com/elevated-experience-workflow Tonic: Get 15% off your purchase when you use code: TiqueSentMe https://tonicsiteshop.com/ _____ JOIN OUR NICHE COMMUNITY: https://www.tiquehq.com/join-niche FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/tiquehq/ CHECK OUT OUR SERVICES & PROGRAMS: https://www.tiquehq.com/

On this episode of Masters in Travel's Master Hour, host Whitney Shindelar and guest Brunilda De Jesus discuss the importance of managing expectations in the travel industry. They dive into the nuances of different tour operators and DMCs, providing valuable insights for travel advisors. From understanding the different types of tours and clarifying group sizes, to proactive measures taken by certain tour operators and the role of representation companies, this podcast offers practical advice for creating unforgettable travel experiences. This podcast is a must-listen for anyone looking to navigate the complexities of managing expectations in the travel industry. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mastersintravel/message

As travel advisors, we understand the importance of personalized service and attention to detail in creating extraordinary travel experiences for our clients. Ashlyn Puckett, the amazing community manager for TiqueHQ, joins this conversation to discuss the secrets of VIPing your clients through hotels, exploring how to communicate special occasions effectively, coordinate seamless transportation, and leverage your industry connections for exclusive access. Also learn why advocating for priority services is so important, as well as how you can coordinate unique experiences that go above and beyond. By following these insider strategies, you can create extraordinary travel experiences that will leave a lasting impression on your clients and keep them coming back for more. Whether you're a seasoned travel advisor or an aspiring professional in the industry, you won't want to miss this episode! Today we will cover: (01:21) The importance of coordinating seamless transportation and working with vetted transfer companies (11:20) How building relationships with the hotel management and staff can enhance the client experience (20:20) The role of DMCs in providing exclusive experiences (28:40) Asking for priority services and special treatment (39:50) Understanding that not every client is a VIP (43:00) How rep companies come into play (45:30) Personalized gifts and surprises from hotels SEVEN FIGURE SALES For the advisor ready to close more sales & boost their revenue with confidence! ONLY available August 9-16! Click here to purchase Seven Figure Sales! Click here to learn more about Seven Figure Sales! ELEVATED EXPERIENCE WORKFLOW Take your systems from scary to streamlined! https://www.tiquehq.com/elevated-experience-workflow _____ JOIN OUR NICHE COMMUNITY: https://www.tiquehq.com/join-niche FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/tiquehq/ CHECK OUT OUR SERVICES & PROGRAMS: https://www.tiquehq.com/

We've joined forces with SEN to bring you All Talk, an interview series where we chat with a different sporting legend each week. This week we're joined by a legendary dual-code international footballer who played for the Sharks, Titans, Waratahs, Kangaroos & Wallabies, Mat Rogers. Listen to All Talk with Hello Sport live on SEN Tuesday nights at 8pm, replayed on Sundays at midday. 00:00 - Career Reflection 4:40 - Steve Rogers 9:00 - Origin 15:23 - Moving To Rugby Union 20:30 - Super League 36:33 - Wallabies 54:00 - DMCs

In this episode, Jared shares his exciting experience of getting his first gig booked through a destination management company (DMC). He explains the power of building a network in the private events industry and how his involvement with the National Association for catering and events led to connections with a DMC. Jared discusses the process of quoting his services to the DMC and successfully securing the gig. He emphasizes the importance of face-to-face interactions and building relationships in the industry. Jared also mentions his decision to invest in in-ear monitors for his performances and encourages listeners to research DMCs in their areas for potential high-paying gigs. He concludes the episode by announcing the relaunch of the Gig Vault, a directory of venues and event contacts that can help musicians connect with hidden gigs and high-end clientele. As always, Jared reminds his audience that they are just one gig away from success.

In addition to being an author, a TedX speaker and a frequent media contributor, Sahara Rose De Vore is the founder of The Travel Coach Network (TCN). Now, you may be wondering — what is a travel coach? What types of clients do they work with, and what's the difference between a travel coach and a travel advisor, or a traditional travel agent? In the latest episode of Humans of Travel, De Vore breaks down the specifics of her travel career. Travel coaches, like De Vore, help individuals or companies — such as tour operators, DMCs, travel agencies or corporate meeting planners — hone in on the psychology of travel, and how they can best alter their marketing or improve their company's culture based on a human-centric approach, one that takes into account their consumers' unique mindsets, fears, obstacles, professional goals and unique personal experiences.  In addition to being a travel coach who focuses specifically on wellness, De Vore helps budding travel coaches develop their businesses through TCN and through her Travel Coach Certification Program, an accredited program from the International Coaching Federation.  Listeners will also hear about De Vore's own travel experiences, which include going solo to 84 countries across the world, and how she pushes herself out of her comfort zone while living with an anxiety disorder. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The Travel Coach Network De Vore on Instagram The Travel Coach Network on Instagram De Vore on Linkedin De Vore on Facebook The Travel Coach on Facebook The Travel Coach Network Podcast Free Beginner's Guide to Travel Coaching Women Thrive Through Travel MasterFind Virtual Event 2023 INSIDE THIS EPISODE 2:30: Meet Sahara Rose De Vore, a wellness travel coach and the founder of The Travel Coach Network 3:00: What is a travel coach, and who would generally use them? 5:15: De Vore breaks down the differences between a travel coach and a travel advisor. 7:00: De Vore explains the significance of TCN's accreditation from the International Coaching Federation. 9:25: De Vore shares the most common challenges that travel coaches have when beginning their businesses. 14:09: De Vore reflects on her childhood growing up with a single mom, and how she navigates her public-facing persona as an introvert who is living with anxiety. 18:50: De Vore talks about what it was like traveling solo to 84 countries. 24:00: De Vore speaks on why she hopes to reshape how people view travel. 29:30: As a wellness coach, what trends is De Vore seeing in the wellness space? 32:45: Weissmann asks De Vore a round of rapid-fire questions. ABOUT YOUR HOST  Emma Weissmann is the Managing Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.  ABOUT THE SHOW  TravelAge West's podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry's notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angie Licea, president of Global Travel Collection (GTC), talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at a GTC press event where the luxury travel agency giant unveiled plans for a new magazine for clients of its travel advisors; a new GTC website; a new TV pilot show on NBC on luxury agencies; GTC's Select preferred partners in hotels, DMCs and cruises; and The Path Forward, a new strategic direction for GTC, its travel agency brands and its travel advisors. For more information, visit www.globaltravelcollection.com. If interested, the original video of this podcast can be found on the Insider Travel Report Youtube channel or by searching for the podcast's title on Youtube.

Here's a listener requested topic. You're NOT an owner...but a pseudo single-op who gets booked out by booking agents and DMCs. You've done the work to improve who you are and operate differently than when you were first added to the roster. How do you go about having that conversation about the "new you" and your "new rate" with new prospective agents/DMCs as well as the older ones who are booking you now and are used to the "old you" and "old rate"?I'm on YOUTUBE!  Please subscribe and share. Thanks in advance.Check out my podcast website and my premium podcast content community page.DJs: Are you not using VIBO, the music request and planning app? Let's fix this for you! Go to https://vibodj.com. For my podcast listeners only, enter promo code: DJBRIANB - it gets you $10 off your first month's subscription. DJs: This is applicable whether you are a single op or a mult-op. and boy do I wish this was around a few years ago when I really needed it.  Broc Barton Lifestyle Leadership Coaching is offering a free 1 hour coaching session - this is for my podcast listeners ONLY. Mention BRIAN B when you sign up at https://www.brocbarton.com to claim this amazing offer.DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to https://heavyhits.com/For my podcast listeners only, enter promo code: BRIANB - it gets you a 30 day trial for $5. Try it now.Have a topic you want covered? Drop me a DM at @thetraveldjblend. Has this podcast helped you? Share your thoughts by leaving a review on the Apple Podcast App.

“It's not enough to say, okay, yes, as women we can do it. We need sometimes to push each other into the water. Because no matter how much we repeat to ourselves we can do it, we don't believe we can. It's not until someone throws us into the water and then we'll realize we can swim. ” ​​​​​​~ Juliana MedinaIn this episode, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Juliana Medina. Juliana is the founder and CEO of Impulse Travel, Colombia's most innovative DMC. Impulse Travel's purpose is to mesh travel with the creative and social sectors in order to create meaningful trips that are a part of the peace process and social transformation of Colombia.Christine and Juliana discuss:Learning as much as we can about the rich and complex history of every destination when we travelThe role of tour guides and DMCs in sharing destinations' stories Columbia's history and progress toward peaceColumbia's exciting position as a destination poised to embrace sustainability and regenerative travelGrowth management for travel industry leaders in sustainabilityHow to embrace difficult conversations about culture and place as a tour guideExpanding our understanding of happiness, wealth, and stabilityEncouraging other women business owners and entrepreneurs to take the leapJoin Christine now for this soulful conversation with Juliana Medina.LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on PayPal.  Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don't miss the latest episodes!Listener reviews help expand our reach and help us rise up the ranks! Rate and review your favorite episodes on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast app.