Passports, Profits and Pixie Dust | Business Systems, Coaching & Marketing for Travel Agents

Hosted by Lindsay Dollinger

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Nov 2026

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Welcome to the Passports, Profits and Pixie Dust podcast! Host Lindsay Dollinger shares tips, strategies, stories, and inspiring interviews from women entrepreneurs who are doing the things that will help you grow your purpose-driven business you want without burnout...with some pixie dust (FUN) sprinkled in! On this show we talk building a community on and off line, social media strategies, productivity methods, emails and funnels, and so much more! Are you ready to be empowered to start or up-level your business so you can earn the income you deserve to live the life of your dreams? It's time to create and own your magic! About Lindsay: Lindsay is a women’s lead generation coach, podcast host, high school Spanish teacher, dog mama to Bella, and Disney lover! She lives in Ohio with her younger sister and their rescue dog (from Puerto Rico), Bella. She's obsessed with all things Disney (the parks, movies, studying the business model, and RunDisney races). She started in business in network marketing in 2016. Needing an outlet to feel fulfilled after her mom passed away from a nearly 17 year battle with breast cancer in 2015, she quickly found that she was obsessed with helping other women also grow their businesses, and her coaching business very organically grew from her success in her own business and helping others on her team. She started this podcast in 2020 to share not only her own business advice and tips as she's on the journey herself, but also to interview other motivational women to share with YOU ! Additionally, she has always loved Disney, and one of the things she does “on the side” is work as a travel advisor specializing in Disney and cruising. So, it was very natural for her to add her Disney-inspired branding into her business coaching, and the rest is history! Ways to work with Lindsay: Join the Travel Agent Marketing Studio, a monthly membership for travel advisors who want social media marketing checked off their list. Get on the waitlist for 1:1 coaching or her next retreat! Looking for a host agency? Join her team at At Last I See The World Travel. https://www.lindsaydollinger.com **The opinions expressed by Lindsay Dollinger on this podcast, her website, or her social media accounts are those of her own and are not those of any other company she partners with.

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November 2, 2026Episode 47636 min

476. Become the CEO of the Business You Actually Want | October Series Ep 4

Are you actually making decisions that support the travel business you SAY you want? Or are you just making pretty vision boards and hoping for the best? 👀😂 In this final episode of The Business You Actually Want series on Passports, Profits, and Pixie Dust , we're talking about what it really takes to become the CEO of your travel business—without hustling harder, working longer hours, or chasing someone else's definition of success. Because building a profitable, sustainable travel agency isn't just about setting goals. It's about making intentional decisions that support your income, freedom, and lifestyle. In This Episode: How to shift from reactive business owner to intentional CEO Why knowing your travel business goals isn't enough What to stop doing to make room for business growth How to trust yourself and stop seeking everyone's approval Why your Q4 business plan should support your bigger vision How to start making CEO-level decisions before January Your Weekly Challenge: The Future CEO Letter ✍️ Write a letter from your future self dated October 2027. Describe your dream travel business, ideal workweek, income, clients, and what you've stopped doing. Then identify three decisions you need to make TODAY to start building that future. Remember: You don't become the CEO of your dream business when you hit a certain revenue milestone. You become her when you start making intentional decisions! Links & Resources 🎉 Join the 2027 Planning Party! November 7, 9–11:30 AM ET. Let's map out your goals, priorities, and action plan for a profitable, intentional 2027. Includes a planning workbook, live Q&A, and replay! https://lindsaydollinger.myflodesk.com/2027planningparty 🎧 Listen to More Episodes of Passports, Profits, and Pixie Dust: https://www.lindsaydollinger.com/podcast ✈️ Interested in Becoming a Travel Advisor? https://atlastiseetheworldtravel.com/become-a-travel-agent/ 🎯 Take the Travel Advisor Quiz: https://atlastiseetheworldtravel.com/quiz/ 🌎 Explore At Last I See The World Travel: https://atlastiseetheworldtravel.com/ If this episode inspired you, share it with a fellow travel advisor who's ready to stop dreaming about her ideal business and start building it! 💕

October 26, 2026Episode 47530 min

475. Did You Start a Travel Business for Freedom—or Just Give Yourself Another Job? | October Series 3

Did You Start a Travel Business for Freedom—or Just Give Yourself Another Job? | Travel Advisor Work-Life Balance You started your travel business for freedom, flexibility, and financial opportunity… so why are you answering client emails at 10 p.m. and working every weekend? 👀 In Episode 3 of The Business You Actually Want series on Passports, Profits, and Pixie Dust , we're talking about travel advisor burnout, work-life balance, setting client boundaries, and creating systems that give you your time back. Because running a successful travel agency shouldn't mean being available 24/7! In This Episode: Why travel advisors struggle with work-life balance and burnout How to set professional boundaries without sacrificing excellent client service Why being constantly available doesn't make you a better travel advisor How CRM systems, travel agency workflows, and automation can save hours every week When to delegate, simplify, or eliminate tasks How to build a profitable travel business that supports your lifestyle Your Weekly Challenge: Design your ideal workweek! Decide how many hours you want to work, when you're available to clients, and what you can automate or delegate to create more freedom. Remember: Freedom doesn't magically appear when your travel business becomes successful. You have to intentionally build it into your business! Links & Resources 📅 Join my 2027 Planning Party! Let's map out your business goals, priorities, and action plan for 2027. Join me live November 7, 9–11:30 AM ET. Replay and planning workbook included! https://lindsaydollinger.myflodesk.com/2027planningparty ✈️ Interested in becoming a travel advisor? Learn more about joining At Last I See The World Travel: https://atlastiseetheworldtravel.com/become-a-travel-agent/ 🎯 Take the Travel Advisor Quiz: https://atlastiseetheworldtravel.com/quiz/ 🌎 Explore At Last I See The World Travel: https://atlastiseetheworldtravel.com/ 🎙️ Subscribe to Passports, Profits, and Pixie Dust for weekly travel advisor business tips, marketing strategies, productivity systems, and entrepreneurial mindset shifts. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow travel advisor who needs permission to close the laptop and enjoy her life! 💕

October 19, 2026Episode 47432 min

474: Revenue vs. Profit: Is Your Travel Business Actually Making Money? | October Series 2

Episode 474: Revenue vs. Profit: Is Your Travel Business Actually Making Money? The Business You Actually Want Series | Part 2 Are you booking more travel but actually making more money? Big sales numbers don't always equal a profitable travel business! In this episode of Passports, Profits, and Pixie Dust , Lindsay Dollinger breaks down why travel advisors need to look beyond revenue and focus on profitability, efficiency, and building a business that supports the life they want. In this episode, we're talking about: Why high travel sales don't always mean high profits Calculating what you're actually earning per booking Charging planning fees and valuing your time Choosing profitable clients and saying no to the wrong opportunities Finding your "enough number" and setting realistic income goals Why more bookings aren't always better Your challenge: Calculate your desired take-home income, business expenses, average commission per booking, and how many bookings you actually need to reach your goals. Remember: Don't build a six-figure business that pays you like a part-time employee and stresses you out like a CEO! Links & Resources ✨ 2027 Planning Party: November 7 – Join us to map out your business goals! Sign up here. ✨ Lead Generation Quiz: https://lindsaydollinger.com/quiz ✨ Become a Travel Advisor Quiz: https://atlastiseetheworldtravel.com/quiz ✨ Connect with Lindsay: https://lindsaydollinger.com Subscribe and share this episode with a fellow travel advisor who's ready to build a more profitable, sustainable business! Go out there, create and own your magic! ✨

October 12, 2026Episode 47321 min

473: The Business You Actually Want | October Series, 1

Are You Building YOUR Dream Travel Business—or Someone Else's? Are you building the travel business you actually want —or chasing someone else’s definition of success? In the first episode of my new October series, The Business You Actually Want , we’re taking a step back from sales strategies, systems, and bookings to ask a bigger question: What does success actually look like for YOU? It’s easy to look around the travel industry and think success means million-dollar sales, huge teams, constant travel, hosted groups, supplier awards, or leaving your full-time job. But just because someone else wants those things doesn’t mean you have to. In this episode, we’re talking about: Why it’s so easy to adopt someone else’s definition of success The difference between growing bigger and growing better Why you’re allowed to keep your travel business small—or dream MUCH bigger How to determine whether your current goals are actually yours The hidden cost and trade-offs behind the business you say you want Why your definition of success is allowed to change How to start designing a travel business that supports your life instead of consuming it Your Challenge: The Dream Business Audit Take some time this week to answer: 1. Why did I originally start my travel business? 2. If I stopped worrying about what everyone else was doing, what would I want my business to look like? 3. What are three things I absolutely do NOT want my business to become? Because the goal isn’t to build the travel business that looks the most impressive from the outside. The goal is to build a profitable, sustainable business that gives YOU the life you actually want. 🎧 Coming next: Part 2 of The Business You Actually Want — why more bookings don’t necessarily mean more success and how to think differently about revenue, profit, and your “enough” number. Connect With Lindsay ✈️ Connect: https://www.lindsaydollinger.com https://www.instagram.com/lindsaydollinger 🎙️ Subscribe to Passports, Profits, and Pixie Dust so you don’t miss the rest of The Business You Actually Want series.

October 5, 2026Episode 47258 min

472: How to Sell the Mexican Caribbean: Lori Gold on Niching, Resorts & Becoming a Destination Expert

Selling the Mexican Caribbean is about a LOT more than finding a pretty all-inclusive resort. In this episode of Passports, Profits, and Pixie Dust , I’m joined by Lori Gold , creator of Mexperts and a travel industry veteran who has spent more than 10 years living in the Mexican Caribbean. We’re talking about what travel advisors really need to know to confidently sell Mexico—from qualifying clients and understanding resort areas to getting firsthand destination experience and choosing a niche you’re genuinely passionate about. In this episode: How Lori became a Mexican Caribbean specialist Why Mexico can be more complicated to sell than advisors realize Questions to ask before recommending an all-inclusive resort How different areas of the Mexican Caribbean compare Common mistakes advisors make when matching clients with resorts How to get the most from resort site inspections Talking to clients about safety, weather, and hurricane season Why firsthand destination experience matters How passion can help you choose—and succeed in—a travel niche What Lori offers travel advisors through Mexperts One of my favorite takeaways? If you want to become known as an expert, you have to be willing to become obsessed with what you sell. Learn it. Experience it. Stay current on it. And become the person your clients trust because you know the details they can't find in a quick Google search. Connect with Lori Mexperts: https://www.exploremoremexico.com/a/2147513843/EJeoAttn Free Mexican Caribbean 101 Training: https://www.exploremoremexico.com/a/2147740282/EJeoAttn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explorewithlor More from Lindsay: Ready to grow your travel business? Subscribe to the podcast for more travel advisor sales, marketing, systems, and business strategies. Thinking about becoming a travel advisor? Grab my FREE 7-video Become a Travel Agent Mini-Course: https://atlastiseetheworldtravel.com/becoming-a-travel-agent/

September 28, 2026Episode 47129 min

471. Your Profitable Q4 Plan: Finish the Year Strong AND Set Up Your 2027 | Success September Part 4

Your Profitable Q4 Plan: Finish the Year Strong AND Set Up Your 2027 Q4 isn't just about squeezing in a few more bookings before December 31. The work you do now is also building the pipeline that will carry you into 2027. In this final episode of the Success September series, we're creating a simple, profitable Q4 plan that helps you focus on what actually moves your travel business forward—without trying to do ALL the things. We're talking about how to define what a successful Q4 actually looks like for you , reverse engineer your revenue goals into actionable marketing activities, and prepare for Wave Season before January arrives. Plus, we're redefining what it means to scale your travel business. Spoiler: it doesn't have to mean building a massive agency or working more hours. Sometimes scaling simply means getting more from what's already working. In this episode: How to define your version of a successful Q4 The Goal → Bookings → Inquiries → Leads → Marketing Activities formula Why your Q4 marketing is building your Q1 pipeline How to prepare your audience and business for Wave Season now Why January 2 is too late to start thinking about January How to identify what's already working and do more of it The five pieces of your Q4 Success Plan Your Success September Challenge Create a one-page Q4 Success Plan with: ONE revenue goal ONE primary offer or focus ONE audience-growth goal ONE system to improve ONE weekly sales activity Keep it simple. Keep it visible. And most importantly—actually use it. You don't need 47 new strategies to finish the year strong. You need clarity, consistency, and a plan that helps you focus on the activities that actually grow your business. Because Q4 isn't just the end of 2026. It's your runway into 2027. Ready to grow your travel business? Love these strategies and want more support building a profitable travel business? Be sure to subscribe to Passports, Profits and Pixie Dust so you don't miss upcoming episodes. And if you're thinking about becoming a travel advisor—or you're ready to learn what getting started actually looks like—check out my free 7-video Become a Travel Agent Mini-Course to learn how travel advisors make money, choose a niche, find clients, and start building their business. https://www.lindsaydollinger.com/quiz https://www.atlastiseetheworldtravel.com

September 21, 2026Episode 47028 min

470: Your Fall Travel Sales Game Plan | Success September Part 3

Take my quiz here: https://www.lindsaydollinger.com/quiz to find out the best way for YOU to get more clients Want more travel clients this fall? Posting “Book your vacation with me!” over and over isn't a travel advisor marketing strategy. In this episode of Passports, Profits, and Pixie Dust , we're talking about how to create an intentional fall travel sales plan that helps you market the right trips at the right time—and turn your audience into actual clients. You'll learn why travel advisors should focus less on what's happening in travel right now and more on what clients need to book right now . We're also talking about creating a simple fall sales calendar, following up with your warm audience, and using educational content to sell without constantly feeling salesy. In this episode: What your travel clients should be booking now How to create a focused fall sales calendar Why your warm audience is one of your best sales opportunities How to follow up with past clients and old travel leads How to sell travel through education instead of constant promotion Why choosing ONE travel experience to promote can simplify your marketing Your challenge: Choose one travel product or experience you want to sell for the next 30 days and build your marketing around it. Stop waiting for clients to magically appear. Give them a reason to come to you. Ready for your next step? 🎧 Subscribe to Passports, Profits, and Pixie Dust so you don't miss the next episode. Want to build your travel business with support, training, systems, and mentorship? Learn more about joining At Last I See The World Travel . 📲 Follow me on social media for more travel advisor business, marketing, and sales tips. https://www.facebook.com/Lindsay.dollinger https://www.instagram.com/lindsaydollinger

September 14, 2026Episode 46928 min

469: Systemize: Stop Running Your Travel Business the Hard Way | Success September (Part 2)

Before you try to sell more travel in Q4, there’s one very important question you need to ask: Can your business actually HANDLE more clients? Because getting more leads and bookings sounds great…until you’re manually sending every email, forgetting to follow up on quotes, scrambling to remember final payment dates, and running your entire travel business out of your brain and seventeen Post-it notes. Welcome to Systems September , the next episode in my Success September series! In this episode of Passports, Profits, and Pixie Dust , we’re talking about how to create simple systems that make your travel business easier to run—and give you the capacity to actually GROW. And no, I’m not giving you a list of 47 automations you need to set up by tomorrow. Instead, I’m breaking your travel business into five core systems and showing you where to look for the friction that is costing you time, energy, and probably a little bit of your sanity. In this episode, you'll learn: The simple question that can uncover where you most need a system The five core systems every travel advisor needs How to create a smoother path from lead → inquiry → booking → travel → repeat/referral client Why your marketing needs to be a repeatable system—not something you reinvent every morning The important difference between systemizing and automating Why a checklist, template, calendar block, or CRM workflow ALL count as systems How I use automation, templates, batching, delegation, and systems to run my travel business while also having another career Why sometimes the best system is simply deciding to stop doing something How better systems create the capacity to take on more clients without creating more chaos Why you should build the infrastructure for growth before you actually need it Links & Resources Connect with Lindsay: https://www.lindsaydollinger.com https://www.instagram.com/lindsaydollinger 💼 Curious about becoming a travel advisor? https://www.atlastiseetheworldtravel.com/quiz Try Tern: http://try.tern.travel/7fQCVH

September 7, 2026Episode 46835 min

468 The Back-to-School Business Reset: Why September Changes Everything | Success September (Part 1)

The Back-to-School Business Reset: Why September Changes Everything | Success September (Part 1) September is basically January with better weather and pumpkin spice. 🍂 There’s something about back-to-school season that makes us want to pull out the planners, get back into routines, organize everything, and decide that THIS is finally going to be the season when we get our lives together. And your travel business deserves that same reset. In Part 1 of my new Success September series, we’re talking about why September is the perfect time to stop, evaluate what’s actually working in your travel business, and decide what deserves your attention for the final four months of the year. As a high school Spanish teacher AND travel agency owner, my routines change dramatically when school starts again. But you don’t have to be a teacher or have kids in school to feel the shift. Your routines change in the fall—and so do your clients’ routines and buying behaviors. Instead of waiting until January to make changes, let's use September as our second chance at a fresh start. In this episode, you'll learn: Why September can be the “second January” for your travel business How to adjust your business routines when your season of life changes Why your business should work around your real life—not the other way around How your clients’ travel-planning habits shift after summer What travelers may already be thinking about for winter, spring break, summer, and 2027 travel How to audit what actually worked in your business from January through August The questions to ask when evaluating your sales, marketing, and lead generation Why you’re allowed to STOP pursuing a goal that no longer makes sense How to choose your Big Three priorities for the rest of the year Why your calendar should reflect what you say your priorities are How to complete a simple KEEP → STOP → START September business reset Your Success September Challenge Schedule a September Reset Meeting with yourself. Give yourself at least 30–60 minutes and look honestly at your business. Ask yourself: KEEP: What’s working that I want to continue? STOP: What’s wasting my time, draining my energy, or simply not producing results? START: What needs to happen between now and December 31 to move my business forward? Then choose your Big Three priorities for the rest of the year. Because four months is a LONG time in business. You don’t need to write off the rest of the year because you haven’t accomplished everything January-you thought you would. And you definitely don't need to wait until January 1 to make changes you already know you need to make. Coming Up in Success September This is just Part 1! Throughout September, we're working through four steps to help you finish the year stronger: RESET → SYSTEMIZE → SELL → SCALE Next week, we're tackling Systems September: Stop Running Your Travel Business the Hard Way. We’ll look at the systems every travel advisor needs, what you can automate, what should stay personal, and where your business might be quietly stealing your time. Because the goal isn't just to get busier in Q4. It's to build a business that can actually handle the business you're trying to create. 🎧 If this episode gave you the back-to-school kick in the pants you needed, share it with another travel advisor who could use a September reset, and make sure you're subscribed to Passports, Profits, and Pixie Dust so you don't miss the rest of the Success September series! Remember: You don't need January 1 to start over. Sometimes all you need is a fresh notebook, a new routine, and a little September energy. 🍂✨ Links & Resources Connect with Lindsay: https://www.lindsaydollinger.com https://www.instagram.com/lindsaydollinger 💼 Curious about becoming a travel advisor? https://www.atlastiseetheworldtravel.com/quiz Try Tern: http://try.tern.travel/7fQCVH

August 31, 2026Episode 46732 min

467: Ask Me Anything! Travel, Teaching, Business & the Stories You Really Want to Hear

Ever wondered how I balance being a full-time teacher while running a travel agency? Curious about my favorite destination, biggest travel mistakes, or what it's really like behind the scenes of my business? This week, I'm answering your questions in a fun, casual Ask Me Anything episode! From travel tips and bucket-list destinations to entrepreneurship, teaching, and a few personal stories along the way, I'm sharing the answers to some of the questions I get asked most often. Whether you've been listening for years or you're brand new to Passports, Profits & Pixie Dust , this is a great episode to get to know me a little better—and maybe learn a few travel hacks while you're here. In this episode, we'll chat about: ✈️ How I became a travel advisor while teaching full-time 🌍 My favorite destination (and why it has my heart) 🧳 The travel tip I wish everyone knew before taking their next vacation 🚢 My favorite types of trips to plan—and why 📚 What a typical day really looks like for me 💼 The biggest misconceptions about being a travel advisor ❤️ The hardest part of building a business ✨ My travel bucket list and dream destinations 🎙️ Advice for anyone thinking about becoming a travel advisor 😂 Plus a fun rapid-fire round of travel favorites! If you've ever wanted to ask me a question, this episode is for you! Links & Resources 🌎 Ready to plan your next vacation? Book with At Last I See The World Travel: https://www.atlastiseetheworldtravel.com Connect with Lindsay: https://www.lindsaydollinger.com https://www.instagram.com/lindsaydollinger 💼 Curious about becoming a travel advisor? Learn more here: https://www.atlastiseetheworldtravel.com/quiz Join Paul Gowder's OTW Pro Membership: https://www.onthewaycommunity.com/checkout/otw-pro?affiliate_code=8d5c36 DM me for the info about Adaptive Marketers that I mentioned! Try Tern: http://try.tern.travel/7fQCVH 📱 Come hang out with me on social media for more travel tips, business strategy, and behind-the-scenes fun! If you enjoyed today's episode, I'd be so grateful if you'd subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. It helps more travel lovers and travel advisors discover the show! Thanks for listening—and until next time, keep chasing those passports, profits, and a little pixie dust. ✨