The Travel Agent Guide is a podcast created for travel advisors at every stage of their journey.
Each episode shares practical tips, real-world experiences, and honest conversations about building a successful travel advisor business—from client boundaries and workflows to marketing, growth, and sustainability.
Whether you’re new to the industry or looking to refine how you work, this podcast is here to help you work smarter, feel more confident, and grow with intention.
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Need More Repeat Clients? Add a Memory Maker to EVERY Trip!
mercredi 30 septembre 2026 • Durée 33:07
In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, we talk about how travel advisors can turn a great trip into something clients remember, talk about, and come back for.
Repeat bookings and referrals do not happen by accident. They are built through the way you listen to your clients, understand why they are traveling, and create thoughtful experiences they may never have considered on their own. Sometimes, all it takes is one unforgettable moment to turn a client into someone who cannot stop telling others about their trip and the advisor who made it happen.
We call these moments “Memory Makers.” They can be meaningful surprises, unique experiences, creative twists on familiar destinations, or even small personal touches that show your clients you were truly paying attention. The goal is not necessarily to spend more it is to think differently and create something personal to them.
Join us as we discuss how to intentionally build these moments into your itineraries and use exceptional service to create stronger client relationships, repeat bookings, and referrals.
Key Topics Covered:
• Why repeat bookings and referrals begin with the experience you create for your very first client. • What a “Memory Maker” is and why every itinerary should have at least one. • How listening closely during consultations can reveal opportunities for meaningful experiences. • Why understanding the real reason behind a client’s trip helps you personalize their itinerary. • How to add creative twists to familiar destinations and experiences. • Why memorable experiences do not always need to be expensive. • How handwritten notes, complimentary amenities, sunsets, and other simple touches can still make clients feel special. • How working with your team, suppliers, DMCs, guides, and local partners can help you uncover unique ideas. • Why documenting your best Memory Makers can make future trip planning easier and more efficient. • How intentional service can help turn one client into repeat business—and potentially several new referrals.
Whether you are building your client base or looking for ways to strengthen relationships with the travelers you already serve, this episode is a reminder to look at every itinerary and ask: What will they come home talking about?
You do not need to make every moment extraordinary. You just need to create something thoughtful enough that when someone asks, “How was your trip?” your client has a story they cannot wait to tell—and remembers exactly who helped make it happen.
🎧 Subscribe to The Travel Agent Guide Podcast for practical strategies and honest conversations to help you grow your travel business.
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Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-travel-agent-guide/id1867119101
Why Your Clients Should Remember You, Not Just the Trip
mercredi 23 septembre 2026 • Durée 29:33
In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, we talk about what makes a client remember their travel advisor long after they return home. A wonderful trip matters, but so does the person who listened, understood what they wanted, and guided them through every decision.
Your value goes beyond finding flights and hotels. It shows up in the research you do, the experiences you recommend, the time you save your clients, and the care you bring to each conversation. When clients understand that value, they can tell others why they loved working with you.
Join us as we discuss how to communicate your process, build genuine client relationships, and create an experience that leads to repeat bookings and referrals.
Key Topics Covered:
• How to explain the value of a travel advisor during the initial consultation. • Why learning about your clients’ lives and reasons for traveling leads to more personal recommendations. • How to show clients the thought and research behind your proposals. • Why walking clients through your process helps them know what to expect. • How video calls and personal conversations can strengthen your connection. • Why pre-departure and welcome-home calls are valuable parts of the client experience. • How to ask for referrals in a natural, genuine way. • Why remembering a client’s future travel plans can lead to lasting relationships. • How focusing on service and value helps you move beyond conversations about the lowest price.
Whether you are refining your consultation or looking for ways to stay connected after a trip, this episode offers practical ideas you can use throughout the client journey. The goal is for clients to come home with great memories—and to remember the advisor who helped make them possible.
🎧 Subscribe for practical strategies and honest conversations to help you grow your travel business.
Become an Advisor now: https://savatravel.com/become-an-advisor/
What Travel Advisors Don't Say Out Loud
mercredi 9 septembre 2026 • Durée 41:09
In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, we talk about something many travel advisors experience but do not always say out loud: the doubts, insecurities, and behind-the-scenes challenges that can affect how confidently they run their businesses.
Building confidence does not mean knowing everything. It means trusting your ability to research, lean on your network, find the right answers, and confidently guide your clients—even when you are still growing. The confidence you need today can come from the capable and experienced advisor you are becoming.
Join us as we discuss how showing up authentically, communicating with confidence, protecting your time, and allowing clients to see your enthusiasm can strengthen your professional presence and help you become a more effective travel advisor.
Key Topics Covered:
• Why uncertainty and self-doubt are normal, especially during your first few years in the travel industry.
• Why travel advisors do not need to know everything to serve their clients well.
• How a strong professional network and effective research skills can help you approach unfamiliar destinations and requests.
• Why advisors should draw confidence from the professional they are becoming—not only from their current level of experience.
• How showing your face during virtual meetings can create a stronger connection with clients.
• Why authenticity is more valuable than appearing perfectly polished.
• How your energy, enthusiasm, tone, and nonverbal communication can influence a client’s trust and buying decisions.
• Why presenting recommendations with confidence can help clients feel more excited and secure about their choices.
• How fear of judgment can prevent advisors from being visible and fully present.
• Why thoughtful and caring feedback can help other advisors grow professionally.
Stop Waiting, Start Leading: How to Sell More Group Travel
jeudi 3 septembre 2026 • Durée 44:49
In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, we break down one of the most exciting and often intimidating opportunities in the travel industry: selling and managing group travel.
Group trips can lead to larger bookings, stronger client relationships, repeat business, and valuable referrals. But without the right systems, contracts, fees, communication, and expectations, they can also become overwhelming and time-consuming.
Join us as we discuss how to identify profitable group opportunities, confidently lead travelers through the planning process, protect your time, work effectively with suppliers and destination management companies, and create group experiences your clients will remember long after they return home.
Episode Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction 04:38 – What Travel Advisors Can Learn About Group Travel 05:01 – Why Group Travel Can Be Profitable 05:25 – Different Types of Group Trips 44:12 – Protecting Your Time When Travelers Cancel 44:50 – Working With a Destination Management Company (DMC) 45:09 – Emergency Contacts and On-Site Support 45:29 – Why an Advisor Should Accompany the Group 45:50 – Creating “Surprise and Delight” Moments 46:09 – Choosing the Right Tour Director 46:51 – Interviewing Your Tour Director Before the Trip 47:45 – Final Group-Travel Advice 48:13 – Turning Group Travelers Into Repeat Clients and Referrals 48:58 – Closing and About SAVA Travel
Whether you’re a new travel advisor considering your first group or an experienced advisor looking to improve your process, this episode offers practical strategies to help you approach group travel with greater confidence, organization, and profitability.
The goal isn’t simply to book more people on one trip. It’s to create an experience that feels organized, personal, and fully supported from beginning to end. When travelers feel connected to you not only to the group leader they are more likely to return for future trips, recommend your services, and become long-term clients.
🎧 Subscribe for more practical strategies, honest conversations, and actionable advice to help you build a stronger and more profitable travel business.📱 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY:Become an Advisor now: https://savatravel.com/become-an-advisor/
The Pre-Departure Call Every Travel Advisor Should Make
jeudi 27 août 2026 • Durée 36:43
In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, we break down one of the most important—and often overlooked—parts of creating a smooth travel experience: the pre-departure call.
If your clients are constantly calling you while they’re traveling, reaching out on weekends, or waking you up in the middle of the night when something goes wrong, the problem may start before they ever leave. A strong pre-departure process helps prepare travelers for what could happen, shows them exactly where to find the information they need, and gives them the confidence to handle common travel problems on their own.
Join us as we discuss how to structure an effective pre-departure call, set clear expectations with your clients, prepare them for common travel hiccups, and give them the tools they need to self-rescue—without sacrificing the level of service that makes a great travel advisor.
Timestamp: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:07 The Perfect Pre-Departure Call 00:02:09 Building a Pre-Departure Call Into Your Process 00:04:18 Do Pre-Departure Calls Really Reduce Client Calls? 00:06:04 Teaching Your Clients to Self-Rescue 00:06:50 Setting Boundaries With Your Clients 00:10:19 What If a Client Skips the Pre-Departure Call? 00:12:49 Walking Through the Itinerary 00:14:12 Preparing Clients for Flight Problems 00:15:45 Preparing for Delays, Cancellations & Transfers 00:18:01 Setting Destination Expectations 00:19:15 Currency, ATMs & Travel Essentials 00:20:12 Creating Destination-Specific Pre-Departure Emails 00:21:42 Discussing Payments Before the Trip 00:22:43 Dining Reservations, Tipping & Expectations 00:24:17 Setting Hotel & Room Expectations 00:25:56 Creating Your Pre-Departure Checklist 00:26:20 Cruises, Resorts & Future Bookings 00:26:51 Preparing Clients for Timeshares 00:28:32 Traveling Internationally With Kids 00:29:26 Setting Realistic Destination Expectations 00:30:44 Packing Tips for Travelers 00:32:02 What Clients Should Pack in Their Carry-On 00:34:03 Final Travel Preparation Reminders 00:34:54 Building a Strong Pre-Departure Process00:36:07 Final Thoughts
5 Ungoogleable Upscale Gems in Greece with Kosta Sourvanos
mercredi 19 août 2026 • Durée 37:19
In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, we’re heading to Greece with special guest Kostas Sourvanos from Travelive to explore a side of the destination that goes beyond the places your clients already know.
Greece may immediately bring Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini to mind, but there is so much more to discover. From meaningful local connections and heritage experiences to incredible landscapes and lesser-known islands, this conversation is all about helping travel advisors confidently sell Greece through experiences that feel personal, authentic, and unforgettable.
Join us as Kosta shares his destination expertise, five "ungoogleable" upscale gems, and practical insights advisors can use to create more customized Greece itineraries for their clients.
Timestamp:
00:00:00 – Opening Preview
00:00:36 – Travel Agent Guide Intro
00:00:57 – Meet Costa & Travelive
00:02:13 – Costa’s Background & Love for Travel
00:04:08 – Planning a First Trip to Greece
00:06:15 – Athens & the Private Acropolis Experience
00:08:25 – Athens as a Base for Exploring Greece
00:08:58 – Mykonos: More Than Nightlife
00:09:50 – Santorini: Avoiding the Crowds & Authentic Experiences
00:13:01 – Why Travel Advisors Should Work With a DMC
00:14:36 – Hidden Gem #1: The Peloponnese
00:16:21 – Creating a Meaningful Heritage Trip
00:18:33 – The “Memory Maker” Every Trip Needs
The Numbers Every Travel Advisor Should Know
mercredi 12 août 2026 • Durée 37:40
In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, we break down one of the most important—and often overlooked—parts of building a sustainable travel business: knowing your numbers and understanding what it actually takes to become profitable.
Booking more trips doesn't automatically mean making more money. If you're not paying attention to your commission percentage, fees, hours invested, and overall profitability, you could be doing a lot of work without building the income you deserve.
Join us as we discuss practical strategies for increasing your earning potential, protecting your commission, and approaching your travel business with a more intentional, numbers-driven mindset.
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:43 The Numbers Travel Advisors Need to Know 00:01:23 Setting Your Commission Goal 00:03:03 Why You Should Aim for 15–20% Commission 00:03:45 Stop Waiting Until the End to Calculate Your Earnings 00:04:09 How to Build Commission Into a Trip 00:06:03 Building a Profitable FIT Itinerary 00:08:31 Making Lower-Commission Cruises More Profitable 00:09:19 Adding Pre- & Post-Cruise Travel 00:10:04 Why Full-Service Travel Planning Matters 00:12:06 Using Planning Fees to Increase Profitability 00:13:51 Adding Commission Without Getting Price Checked 00:15:25 Why Packaging Makes Price Comparisons Harder 00:16:42 Why You Shouldn't Feel Guilty About Charging More 00:18:49 Understanding Take-Home Pay as a Travel Advisor 00:19:28 Tracking Monthly & Projected Commissions 00:20:25 Working Backward From Your Income Goals 00:21:47 Calculating the Hours You Invest in Each Trip 00:23:19 Client Red Flags That Can Hurt Profitability 00:24:30 When to Charge a Higher Fee—or Walk Away 00:25:39 Learning From Low-Commission Bookings 00:26:33 Choosing Products That Support Your Income Goals 00:26:56 A $40,000 Booking With No Commission 00:27:52 Using a Spreadsheet to Protect Your Profit Margin 00:29:44 Making the Numbers Work for Every Trip
How to get every client to pay your fee
mercredi 5 août 2026 • Durée 44:46
Why do some travel advisors confidently charge consultation fees while others struggle to get clients to say yes?
The answer isn't simply how you present your fee—it's everything you do before you ever ask for it.
In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, Byrd and Haley share the strategies they use to build trust before the consultation, create meaningful client connections, communicate their process with confidence, and position themselves as trusted travel advisors clients are excited to invest in. From pre-consultation preparation to explaining your value, they reveal practical techniques that can dramatically increase client confidence and make paying your fee feel like a natural next step.
Whether you're just starting to charge consultation fees or looking to improve your consultation process, this episode is packed with actionable strategies you can implement immediately.
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
01:08 Why Clients Pay Consultation Fees
03:26 Building Trust Before the Consultation
07:23 Why Video Calls Build Stronger Client Relationships
10:43 Creating Repeat Clients Through Personalization
12:21 Preparing for Every Consultation
14:19 Building Trust During the First Few Minutes
17:42 Explaining Your Planning Process
21:55 Leveraging Your Team to Build Credibility
24:12 How to Introduce Consultation Fees
26:16 Explaining How Travel Advisors Get Paid
29:01 Setting Clear Next Steps for Better Conversions
👍 Enjoyed this episode? Be sure to Like, Subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.
Watch it on YouTube:
How Better Consultations Lead to More Bookings
mercredi 29 juillet 2026 • Durée 57:02
How Better Consultations Lead to More Bookings
Why are potential clients ghosting you, booking direct, or choosing another travel advisor?
The answer might not be your pricing, it could be your consultation process.
In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, Byrd and Haley break down the strategies that help travel advisors build trust, ask better questions, create urgency without pressure, handle objections, and confidently guide clients toward booking. They also share practical follow-up techniques that can significantly improve your close rate and help you turn more leads into loyal clients.
Whether you're a new travel advisor or looking to refine your sales process, this episode is packed with actionable tips you can start using immediately.
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Introduction 00:58 Why Travel Advisors Lose Sales 03:06 Building Trust First 04:45 Asking Better Questions That Matter 10:45 Creating a Sales Process That Converts 13:41 Presenting Like a Professional 21:39 Creating Urgency Without Pressure 30:23 Handling Common Client Objections 38:43 Asking for the Booking with Confidence 41:39 Why Follow-Up Wins More Sales 54:38 Travel Agent Guide Live Event 56:03 Final Takeaways
👍 Enjoyed this episode? Be sure to Like, Subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.
Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/h3OPqlasokg?si=7BaCK1HKQfQGH6gE
Listen on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-travel-agent-guide/id1867119101
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💬 Question: What's the biggest challenge you face during client consultations? Let us know in the comments!#TravelAgentGuide #TravelAdvisor #TravelSales #TravelBusiness #SalesTraining #ClientConsultation #BusinessGrowth #TravelAdvisorLife #TravelIndustry #TravelPodcast
The Conversation That Could Save Your Clients Thousands
mercredi 22 juillet 2026 • Durée 33:04
In this episode of The Travel Agent Guide Podcast, Byrd and Haley dive into one of the most important conversations every travel advisor should have with their clients, travel insurance.
Many travelers see travel insurance as an optional expense, but knowing how to confidently educate clients about coverage, respond to objections, and build insurance into your booking process can protect your clients from unexpected financial losses while protecting your business as well.
Join us as we share practical strategies, real client stories, and proven techniques for presenting travel insurance with confidence, without feeling pushy or salesy.
00:00 Why travel insurance should never be optional
00:52 Why "I don't need travel insurance" should concern every advisor
01:43 Building travel insurance into your client workflow
03:04 Protecting yourself legally with insurance acceptance and declination forms
04:31 What travel insurance doesn't always cover
06:53 Why advisors should never answer policy-specific questions
08:51 Following up after clients initially decline insurance
10:24 Why documenting every insurance decision matters
12:39 Introducing travel insurance during the consultation process
13:45 Handling the "We're young and healthy" objection
15:17 Explaining trip interruption and travel delay coverage
15:47 Why medical emergencies abroad can become extremely expensive
17:16 Lost baggage claims and real-life travel insurance success stories
18:37 Using assistants and automation to quote travel insurance
19:19 Protecting your cancellation fees with insurance
• The importance of understanding what happens behind the scenes of the business.
• Why protecting your time is essential for building a sustainable travel business.
• How acknowledging the feelings advisors often keep hidden can make professional growth feel less isolating.
Whether you are still developing your confidence or looking for ways to elevate and polish your client experience, this episode offers an honest reminder that you do not need to have every answer today. What matters is your willingness to learn, use your resources, remain present, and confidently lead your clients toward the right travel decisions.
The goal is not to appear perfect. It is to show up as a knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and trustworthy advisor who is committed to finding the answers and supporting clients throughout their journey. When clients can see and feel your confidence, they are more likely to trust your recommendations and recognize the value you bring.
🎧 Subscribe for more practical strategies, honest conversations, and actionable advice to help you build a stronger and more profitable travel business.
📱 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY:
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Facebook Group Page: / 1bgxszu6qj
Have questions or want to share your own experiences with pre-departure calls, client emergencies, or setting boundaries while your clients travel? Connect with us in our Facebook group, The Travel Agent Guide, where we provide resources, support, and a community for travel advisors.
Have questions or want to share your own experiences with pre-departure calls, client emergencies, or setting boundaries while your clients travel? Connect with us in our Facebook group, The Travel Agent Guide, where we provide resources, support, and a community for travel advisors.
Whether you're a new travel advisor developing your client process or an experienced advisor tired of being your clients’ 24/7 emergency hotline, this episode provides practical strategies to help you prepare travelers more effectively while protecting your own time.
The goal isn’t to disappear when your clients need you. It’s to make sure they leave home knowing where to find their information, who to contact, and what to do when travel doesn’t go exactly according to plan. When your clients feel prepared and confident, they’re better equipped to navigate the unexpected—and you can provide excellent service without being on call every hour of the day.
🎧 Subscribe for more practical strategies, honest conversations, and actionable advice to help you build a stronger travel business.
Have questions or want to share your own experiences with pre-departure calls, client emergencies, or setting boundaries while your clients travel? Connect with us in our Facebook group, The Travel Agent Guide, where we provide resources, support, and a community for travel advisors.
00:22:08 – Hidden Gem #3: Kefalonia & the Ionian Islands
00:25:06 – Hidden Gem #4: Naxos
00:26:53 – Hidden Gem #5: Epirus & Vikos Gorge
00:27:45 – Why Greece Is a Year-Round Destination
00:30:50 – Recap: 5 Hidden Upscale Gems in Greece
00:32:55 – Key Takeaways for Travel Advisors
00:33:34 – What Makes Travelive Different
00:36:24 – Travel Agent Guide Event Reminder
00:36:53 – Closing & Outro
Whether you’re planning your first Greece itinerary or looking for something new for repeat travelers, this episode will help you go into your next consultation with more confidence, better destination knowledge, and fresh ideas your clients probably haven’t discovered on their own.
Greece is so much more than checking famous islands off a list. It’s about finding the places, people, and experiences that make your clients feel genuinely connected to the destination.
🎧 Subscribe for more destination deep dives, practical strategies, honest conversations, and actionable advice to help you build a stronger travel business.
Have questions about planning Greece or working with a DMC? Connect with us in our Facebook group, The Travel Agent Guide, where we share resources, support, destination education, and conversations designed to help travel advisors grow.
💬 Question: What's been the biggest challenge you've faced when introducing consultation fees or building trust with new clients? Let us know in the comments!
💬 Question: What's been the biggest challenge you've faced when introducing consultation fees or building trust with new clients? Let us know in the comments!
23:06 Staying up to date with changing insurance policies
23:32 Valuable policy add-ons clients appreciate
24:19 Third-party insurance vs. supplier insurance
26:33 Why comprehensive coverage matters more than the cheapest option
28:19 Final takeaways for confidently selling travel insurance
32:15 Travel Agent Guide Summit announcement
Whether you're a new travel advisor or a seasoned professional, this episode will help you confidently educate clients, reduce liability, and make travel insurance a natural part of every booking.
Travel insurance isn't just another product—it's one of the best ways to protect your clients, build trust, and demonstrate your expertise.
🎧 Subscribe for more practical strategies, honest conversations, and actionable advice to help you build a stronger travel business.
Have questions or want to share your own experiences discussing travel insurance with clients? Join our Facebook community, The Travel Agent Guide, where travel advisors connect, learn, and grow together.
