TIQUE Talks: The Business Podcast for Travel Advisors

Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors: Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisors Travel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCs Not every FAM trip, conference, or industry event deserves a spot on your calendar. Shannon Lamarche, founder of Premiere Luxury Travel, joins this episode to discuss how she evaluates educational opportunities based on alignment, cost, client demand, and potential ROI. She shares her process for choosing the right events, organizing supplier knowledge, following up strategically, and avoiding the entitled behavior that can quickly damage your reputation. Before you accept another invitation because the destination looks fun, listen to this episode! About Shannon Lamarche: Shannon specializes in designing high-touch, custom international journeys for travelers who care deeply about how they travel—not just where they go. Her ideal clients are seasoned travelers who value exceptional food, wine, culture, and history, and who want their trips thoughtfully paced, intelligently routed, and handled end-to-end by an expert. Shannon's background is rooted in producing complex logistics and details (as a former film & television producer), which translates naturally into travel design that feels seamless, intentional, and calm—especially for trips with many moving parts. premiereluxurytravel.com @premiereluxurytravel Today we will cover: (03:30) How to determine whether an educational opportunity aligns with your business (09:00) Calculating the true cost and potential ROI of FAM trips and conferences (13:00) Balancing trade shows, destination experience, and time away from your business (25:00) Organizing supplier information and turning new connections into opportunities (37:05) The FAM trip etiquette every travel advisor needs to follow Resources Mention In This Episode: ClickUp Business Hub Template NICHE is Tique’s membership community for travel advisors who want support refining their business, strengthening their positioning, and learning alongside other advisors who are serious about growth. Shannon is a member herself, and many of the strategies discussed in this episode are the kinds of conversations happening inside the community. Learn More and Pick Your Membership Tier → NICHE COMMUNITY FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Jennifer and Robin torch the idea that every agency needs its own homemade curriculum, pointing out that IATA rules and DMC basics don't change agency to agency no matter how "unique" you think your brand is. They call out the ego and scarcity mindset behind DIY training, explain why refusing to invest $500 in proper onboarding may be a sign you’re not ready to hire, and reveal the hidden cost of maintaining your own curriculum. If you want to scale, retain great advisors, and escape the hiring hamster-wheel, it’s time to invest in education that already works. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Tique’s Course Suite Buying for an Agency or Team? Explore Enterprise Pricing Have A Question → Email hello@tiquehq.com or Submit a Contact Form FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors: Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisors Travel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCs You may think collecting a client’s payment is simply another step in the booking process, but how that money moves could dramatically change your responsibility when something goes wrong. Megan Mack, founder of Heirloom Adventures, talks about the critical difference between receiving a credit card authorization and collecting a direct payment. She explains when an advisor may unknowingly begin operating like a tour operator, what becoming the merchant of record means for your business, and why your host agency’s insurance may not offer all the protection you assume it does. From PCI compliance and supplier terms to chargebacks, travel insurance, and client agreements, this conversation will make you take a much closer look at every point where money changes hands in your business. If you collect client funds, process payments, or rely on a platform to protect sensitive information, this is one episode you cannot afford to skip! This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult the appropriate professionals about your specific business, contracts, and state requirements. About Megan Mack: Megan was drawn to travel from a young age. Never one to sit still, she dreamed of seeing the world and connecting with people along the way. She discovered the world of travel advising after a friend told her, “I would totally hire you to plan a trip for my family.” Inspired by that moment and by her desire to help other families explore the world with their children, Megan set out to learn everything she could about travel advising. heirloom-adventures.com Today we will cover: (02:40) Meet Megan; what made her question how she collected payments (05:55) Vetting your technology for PCI compliance (09:10) Credit card authorizations versus direct payments (17:55) When collecting funds makes you a tour operator (27:10) Building liability protection into client agreements (35:45) Retainers versus flat planning fees (38:50) Auditing every point of liability in your payment process Resources Mention In This Episode: #150. What Every Advisor Needs To Know About Protecting Client Data with Kacie Darden #216. Don’t Assume A DMC Will Break Your Client's Budget with Jonathan Epstein The Legal Paige - Travel Advisor Templates NICHE is Tique’s membership community for travel advisors who want support refining their business, strengthening their positioning, and learning alongside other advisors who are serious about growth. Vanessa is a member herself, and many of the strategies discussed in this episode are the kinds of conversations happening inside the community. Learn more and Pick Your Membership Tier → NICHE COMMUNITY FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Jennifer and Robin introduce Niche’s new community manager, Maddy McCutchen, and reveal what’s changing inside the community. Maddy shares how she went from listening to Tique Talks as a travel advisor to helping shape the future of Niche through weekly office hours, improved member support, recognition programs, and more opportunities for advisors to learn from one another. They also preview the new AI training series designed to help advisors streamline their workflows, strengthen their systems, understand their finances, and turn their 2026 metrics into meaningful momentum for 2027. There’s no doubt about it - you need Niche! Join today and get the education, resources, and no-gatekeeping support you need to build a stronger travel business. Learn more and Pick Your Membership Tier → NICHE COMMUNITY FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors: Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisors Travel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCs What changes when you stop trying to appeal to everyone and start building a brand designed to attract the clients you actually want? Vanessa Cromer had already spent years building a successful travel business when she decided to go all in on luxury branding. She elevated her imagery, tightened her messaging, and became much more intentional about what she was putting in front of potential clients. And people started paying attention. Suddenly, luxury clients were reaching out, brands and magazines were taking her more seriously, speaking opportunities were landing in her inbox, and she had the confidence to turn down business that no longer fit where she was headed. In this episode, Vanessa shares what shifted when she stopped trying to market everything she could book and started building a brand around the business she truly wanted. If your current brand doesn’t reflect the level of client you’re trying to attract, this conversation might make you rethink what you’re putting out there! About Vanessa Kromer: Award-winning luxury travel advisor, Italy specialist, publisher of Maison Voyage Magazine, and creator of The Private Edit. For more than 16 years, Vanessa has designed unforgettable journeys across Europe and beyond, blending insider expertise, trusted relationships, and personalized service to create seamless, one-of-a-kind travel experiences for discerning travelers. theelegantexplorers.com instagram.com/vanessakromermmv Today we will cover: (04:00) From a “hot mess” brand to finding her niche (08:10) The post-COVID shift toward Europe and Italy (14:00) Going all in on her travel business; investing in branding and professional photography (17:25) Creating a client experience that matches your branding (24:20) Advice for newer travel advisors; why your brand should speak to your dream client NICHE is Tique’s membership community for travel advisors who want support refining their business, strengthening their positioning, and learning alongside other advisors who are serious about growth. Vanessa is a member herself, and many of the strategies discussed in this episode are the kinds of conversations happening inside the community. Learn more and Pick Your Membership Tier → NICHE COMMUNITY FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Don't miss the Travel Business Intensive, happening August 24-26! Learn more and grab your ticket here → RESERVE MY SPOT! Saying yes might feel like good business, but the wrong yes can cost you more than you realize. In this Hot Take, Robin and Jennifer break down why travel advisors need to get more comfortable saying no; to misaligned clients, FAMs, meetings, expenses, and opportunities that look exciting but don’t actually support where you’re trying to go. They share how to gut-check opportunities against your bigger vision, protect your time and client experience, and recognize when a “great opportunity” might be pulling you off track. Plus, they share how they use AI and the Crucial Conversations framework to make clearer decisions and communicate a no without over-explaining or burning the relationship. FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors: Travel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCs Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisors Kat Morga, founder of Adventure Smarter, talks about creating a travel business that feels authentic to you and naturally attracts clients who value the same things. She shares how her own travel experiences shaped her “splurge when it makes sense” philosophy, why she stopped trying to fit into the industry's version of luxury, and how she found a profitable niche without limiting herself to one destination. She also talks about why she loves local networking, finding your “cheerleaders,” using your website and email list to generate stronger leads, and knowing when to lean on other advisors and trusted DMC partners. This conversation is a reminder that growth doesn't have to mean becoming a different kind of advisor. Sometimes the smartest strategy is getting clearer about who you already are and building your business around it. About Kat Morga: Kat is the founder of Adventure Smarter, a travel advisory based outside of Nashville, Tennessee, specializing in FIT travel, safaris, river cruises, and multigenerational family travel - "Trips Done Right." She built her business from scratch, with no inherited client list and no background in luxury travel, which meant figuring out early on that she'd have to find clients the industry wasn't already handing her. Along the way she realized the field's default script - sell aspirational, sell ultra-luxury - didn't match the kind of travel she actually believed in or the clients she actually wanted. So she built her own positioning instead: direct, specific, grounded in firsthand experience rather than imagery. Kat is married with 2 young kids and has a Rick Steves autograph on her bookshelf. AdventureSmarter.org @AdventureSmarter Today we will cover: (04:30) Why “splurge when it makes sense” became Kat’s travel philosophy (07:20) Building a client base when you don’t have a wealthy network (13:30) Why your niche doesn’t have to be a destination (21:00) Where Kat gets her best travel leads (24:30) Rejecting the travel industry’s obsession with ultra-luxury (35:00) Creating messaging that attracts clients who travel like you Don't miss the Travel Business Intensive, happening August 24-26! Learn more and grab your ticket here → RESERVE MY SPOT! FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Don't miss the Travel Business Intensive, happening August 24-26! Learn more and grab your ticket here → RESERVE MY SPOT! You can’t force your clients to read your emails. But you can make it a whole lot more likely. In this week’s Hot Take, Robin and Jennifer chat about why clients skim, skip, and straight-up ignore important information. From punchier subject lines and TLDRs to giving every email one clear job, they’re sharing how to communicate in a way your clients will actually consume. Turns out, getting clients to pay attention might have less to do with them and more to do with how you communicate. FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors: Travel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCs Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisors A great client experience shouldn’t require a travel advisor to be available 24/7. In the final episode of their summer series on boundaries, Robin and Jennifer break down the systems that allow travel advisors to deliver exceptional service without making themselves the center of every client interaction. From guides and forms to email templates, terms and conditions, and CRM automation, they share the systems they’ve implemented in their own businesses to create a more consistent client experience, reduce reactive communication, and protect their time. Because clients aren’t hiring a travel advisor for unlimited access. They’re hiring them for their expertise and a seamless travel experience. Today we will cover: (03:30) Why a structured client experience creates stronger boundaries (09:25) How forms can reduce back-and-forth communication and better organize important client information (18:20) Why travel advisors should have templated client emails (23:50) The role terms and conditions play in protecting a travel business (30:35) Why a CRM should serve as the central hub for client communication and documentation (35:00) Why clear processes can help filter out clients who aren’t aligned with the way a business operates Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Scaling With Systems – Learn the systems Jennifer and Robin use to create boundaries, streamline operations, and scale a travel business without sacrificing client experience. How We Work & Investment Guide – Set clear expectations before discovery calls and help qualified leads understand your process before they book. What To Do When Guide – Give clients a single resource that explains what to do before, during, and while traveling to reduce unnecessary emails. Client Onboarding Guide – Create a seamless onboarding experience and answer common questions before they arise. Client Experience Templates – Ready-to-use email templates, forms, workflows, and client touchpoints designed to create a consistent, scalable client experience. 5 Free Email Templates – 5 plug-and-play email templates that are totally customizable to your travel business Travel Advisor Contract from The Legal Paige Don't miss the Travel Business Intensive, happening August 24-26. Learn more and grab your ticket here → RESERVE MY SPOT! FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Don't miss the Travel Business Intensive, happening August 24-26! Learn more and grab your ticket here → RESERVE MY SPOT! Forget the " just start. " While waiting for perfection will keep you stuck, jumping in before your business is ready can cost you far more than lost time. In this Hot Take, Jennifer and Robin challenge the idea that taking action without preparation is always the right move. They discuss what being "ready" really means, from building repeatable systems and pricing with intention to creating a client experience that earns trust from day one. If you're building a business designed to last, this episode will help you start smarter…not just sooner. FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors: Travel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCs Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisors "Charge fees, please." That's the entire episode in one sentence, according to Robin. But if it were that simple, every travel advisor would already be doing it. In this third episode of the Summer Boundaries Series, Jennifer and Robin dig into the money conversation many advisors avoid: minimum budgets, planning fees, and the contracts that back them up. They break down why a per-day minimum protects your profit margin better than a flat trip minimum, why "deal" and "discount" quietly train clients to negotiate you down, and how your marketing sets budget expectations before a client ever fills out an inquiry form. Plus, the math behind a sustainable minimum and how to word an inquiry form so low-budget leads self-select out. If you've ever resented a client for how little they spent, or you're not sure how to introduce fees without losing longtime clients, this episode gives you the framework and the exact language to fix it! Today we will cover: (03:25) Why set a minimum budget (11:35) How to find your starting minimum budget (16:05) Structuring inquiry form questions (22:35) Planning fees vs. minimum budgets: which matters more (29:30) Service suites and itemized packages to prevent scope creep (36:30) Why contracts matter; making promises mutual and enforceable Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Scaling With Systems – Learn the systems Jennifer and Robin use to create boundaries, streamline operations, and scale a travel business without sacrificing client experience. Don't miss the Travel Business Intensive, happening August 24-26. Learn more and grab your ticket here → RESERVE MY SPOT! FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Don't miss the Travel Business Intensive, happening August 24-26! Learn more and grab your ticket here → RESERVE MY SPOT! Think having processes makes your business feel too rigid? Think again! In this Hot Take, Jennifer and Robin explain why clear workflows, written policies, and firm boundaries create a better client experience while protecting your time, profitability, and sanity. They share real-world examples of planning fees, cancellation policies, inquiry forms, and business boundaries to show how having a standard makes your exceptions meaningful instead of expected. Plus, they discuss why documenting exceptions, communicating them clearly, and resisting the urge to make decisions based on "vibes" are essential for building a business that scales without sacrificing the personal touch. FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors: Travel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCs Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisors If you're constantly answering calls, responding to texts, and making yourself available 24/7, you're probably losing more time and money than you realize. Jennifer and Robin continue their Summer Boundaries Series with a deep dive into phone habits. Building on the email boundaries conversation from the last episode, they make the case that being accessible and being constantly available are two different things, and that real growth requires protecting your time from an always-on phone. They walk through scheduling systems, voicemail scripts, call pricing, and where agentic AI is already starting to change how advisors capture and manage phone inquiries. Today we will cover: (02:30) Meetings that should have been emails (09:00) The voicemail script every travel advisor needs (15:10) How AI can qualify leads and schedule inquiries (22:55) Protecting your deep work time (29:00) When and how to charge for additional calls (33:30) Setting clear expectations with every client Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Scaling With Systems – Learn the systems Jennifer and Robin use to create boundaries, streamline operations, and scale a travel business without sacrificing client experience. How We Work & Investment Guide – Set clear expectations before discovery calls and help qualified leads understand your process before they book. What To Do When Guide – Give clients a single resource that explains what to do before, during, and while traveling to reduce unnecessary emails. Sales Call Roadmap Freebie – A 15-page roadmap to rock your next intake call with niche specific questions & more. Episode 209. Hot Take: Stop Avoiding Loom Don't miss the Travel Business Intensive, happening August 24-26. Learn more and grab your ticket here → RESERVE MY SPOT! FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Would you rather spend $35 a month on a CRM, or $3,000 on a FAM for the one Turkey lead you'll get in four years? If you flinched at the CRM number, we need to talk. In this Hot Take, Jennifer and Robin call out one of the travel industry's favorite delusions: advisors happily investing in FAMs but hesitating to invest in the systems, education, and expertise that grow their businesses. They share the biggest investments they've made (including a whopping $20,000 website and $10,000+ in AI education), why those purchases have paid for themselves many times over, and the simple question you should ask before spending another dollar on your business. Ready to actually invest in your business instead of your carry-on? Don't miss the Travel Business Intensive, happening August 24-26! Three days, nine sessions, and practical strategies you can implement immediately to build a more profitable, efficient travel business. Learn more and grab your ticket here → RESERVE MY SPOT! FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors: Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisors Travel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCs In this first episode of the Summer Boundaries Series , Jennifer and Robin explain why your inbox might be running your business instead of supporting it. They share strategies for setting office hours, creating autoresponders that improve the client experience, using email signatures to reinforce boundaries, and building forms and automations that eliminate unnecessary back-and-forth. They also discuss the mindset shift every business owner needs to make: being constantly available isn't the same as delivering exceptional service. When your communication systems create clarity, your clients feel more confident, your business becomes more scalable, and you finally have the space to work on your business instead of spending every day reacting to your inbox. Today we will cover: (02:45) Why your inbox shouldn't be your task manager (09:15) What every travel advisor should include in an autoresponder (16:15) Using your email signature to reinforce boundaries and reduce liability (26:35) Simple automations that save time without sacrificing personalization (35:15) How proactive communication dramatically reduces incoming emails (42:50) Why CEOs prioritize deep work over constant inbox management Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Scaling With Systems – Learn the systems Jennifer and Robin use to create boundaries, streamline operations, and scale a travel business without sacrificing client experience. How We Work & Investment Guide – Set clear expectations before discovery calls and help qualified leads understand your process before they book. What To Do When Guide – Give clients a single resource that explains what to do before, during, and while traveling to reduce unnecessary emails. Client Onboarding Guide – Create a seamless onboarding experience and answer common questions before they arise. Client Experience Templates – Ready-to-use email templates, forms, workflows, and client touchpoints designed to create a consistent, scalable client experience. Don't miss the Travel Business Intensive, happening August 24-26. Learn more and grab your ticket here → RESERVE MY SPOT! FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Don't miss the Travel Business Intensive, happening August 24-26. Learn more and grab your ticket here → RESERVE MY SPOT! Think you're annoying your audience? You're giving yourself way too much credit. Most people aren't seeing your content in the first place. In this Hot Take, Jennifer and Robin explain why the fear of "posting too much" is costing travel advisors potential clients, why confidence converts, and why the businesses that win are the ones willing to show up long after everyone else gets uncomfortable. And don't stop when the episode ends - stick around for the blooper reel, where things go completely off the rails! FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors: Travel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCs Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisors New levels, new devils. The strategies that get you to $1 million in sales aren't necessarily the same ones that will get you to $3 million. Angie Licea of Global Travel Collection shares the mindset shifts, systems, and leadership habits she sees among top-performing advisors, along with advice for building a business that grows with you instead of consuming you. From delegation and team structure to defining your value and avoiding burnout, this episode is full of actionable takeaways for advisors who want to scale with intention. About Angie Licea: Angie is President of Global Travel Collection (GTC), a division of Internova Travel Group and a $2.3 billion travel agency representing more than 1,500 independent advisors. With over 36 years in the travel industry, Angie has held leadership roles at US Airways, American Express/Rosenbluth International, and Travel Leaders Group. Today, she is passionate about helping travel advisors grow thriving businesses while championing the value of personalized service and the human touch in travel. instagram.com/globaltravelcollection joinus.globaltravelcollection.com Today we will cover: (01:30) Meet Angie Licea (03:10) Why the jump from $1M to $3M is different (09:00) Infrastructure, processes, and avoiding shiny objects (20:00) Work-life balance and avoiding burnout (29:20) What Highly Successful Advisors Do Differently (34:50) There is no wrong way to build your business (43:05) Diversifying without diluting your niche Resources Mentioned In This Episode: How We Work & Investment Guide Join the Niche Community → Grab Your Ticket to The Travel Business Intensive! Early bird pricing of $295 available through July 14! FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

You can't build a business around a blurry goal! In this Hot Take, Jennifer and Robin explain why every successful travel advisor needs a long-term vision before setting goals. They share the mistakes they made early in business, unpack the difference between vision and goals, and discuss how your pricing, offers, team, and daily decisions should all support the business (and life) you ultimately want to build. If you're ready to stop making reactionary decisions and start growing your travel business with intention, don't miss Jennifer's closing session at the Travel Business Intensive (August 24-26), where she'll help you turn your vision into a practical plan for growth! → Grab Your Ticket - Early bird pricing of $295 available through July 14! FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors: Travel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCs Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisors Building a successful travel business shouldn't come at the expense of your life. Mimi Lichtenstein, Founder of Truvay Travel, has created a thriving referral-only boutique advisory by putting her health, family, and priorities on the calendar before work ever begins. In this episode, she shares how intentional planning, time blocking, client boundaries, and smarter systems have helped her grow a profitable business without sacrificing the freedom that drew her to entrepreneurship in the first place. If you're ready to stop reacting to your calendar and start designing your business with intention, this episode is full of actionable ideas you can implement immediately! About Mimi Lichtenstein: Mimi didn't set out to become a luxury travel advisor. She set out to live a really good life - and somewhere along the way, helping others do the same became her work. After a year-long family sabbatical in Spain, she founded Truvay Travel, a referral-only boutique advisory based in Hanover, NH - and has been recognized as a Condé Nast Top Travel Specialist for four consecutive years. Her approach is built on real connection, intentional contrast - street food and Michelin stars, refugios and five-star lodges - and a life designed the same way: health, family, and play first. Work built around them. truvaytravel.com linkedin.com/in/mimi-lichtenstein instagram.com/truvaytravel Today we will cover: (02:30) Mimi's journey to becoming a travel advisor (05:10) Why scheduling your priorities first leads to greater productivity (09:00) Time-blocking and weekly planning strategies (14:00) How to reduce decision fatigue and avoid burnout (19:55) The importance of setting boundaries with clients (34:45) Why saying "no" can help you build a more profitable business → Grab Your Ticket to The Travel Business Intensive! Early bird pricing of $295 available through July 14! FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

→ Grab Your Ticket to The Travel Business Intensive! Early bird pricing of $295 available through July 14! Robin and Jennifer are exposing the most expensive marketing mistake of all, the one that never shows up on a credit card statement: doing it all yourself until you burn out. From wasted ad spend to vanity metrics that feel good but pay nothing, they share how shifting from random promotion to a strategic marketing engine transformed their business. Tune in as they discuss measuring ROI, finding the right audience, outsourcing wisely, and why chasing virality is basically the marketing equivalent of running really fast in the wrong direction. FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ