Strategic Travel Entrepreneur: Business Tips for Travel Agents/Advisors, Travel Agency Owners, and Travel Business Owners

Hosted by Rita M. Perez

Business Marketing Education

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Episodes

270

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Each week I share, along with featured guests, tangible and practical business strategies for travel entrepreneurs. We discuss foundations, marketing, sales, client experience, systems, supplier relations, and everything in between to empower you to run an effective and profitable travel business, and not just another travel hobby. For travel agents, travel advisors, travel suppliers, tour operators, tourism professionals, travel coaches, travel creators, travel business owners, travel agency owners, host agency owners, and travel industry support partners.

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60 recent

August 21, 2026Episode 26844 min

Ep 268 Creative Ways Travel Advisors Can Use AI to Save Time in Their Business with Kate Thomas

Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Join us at Prep for Wave Week this year: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/prep-for-wave-week/ Join us for the ultimate content and marketing camp in 2027: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ Stop wasting hours hunting for cruise content: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1166776 Kate from Travel Pro Theory is here to nerd out with me about all the creative ways travel advisors can use AI. We walked through the whole lay of the land, from chatting with AI to setting up projects, building skills, and letting Cowork run scheduled tasks that do the tedious work for you. Kate shares how she uses connectors to analyze her email data, target her most engaged people, and pull destination research automatically every single week. We got into building branded lead magnets, sales pages, and quizzes without heavy tech skills, and why judgment is the one skill you need to use AI well. This conversation will show you just how much time you can get back while keeping the human parts of your business fully human. Questions this episode answers: What are the different ways travel advisors can use AI in their business? What is the difference between AI chat, projects, skills, and Cowork? What are AI connectors and MCPs, and how do travel advisors use them? How do you build a skill in AI, and what should the instructions include? How do you use AI without making your content sound AI-generated? Which Claude AI models are best for different business tasks? Connect with Kate on IG: https://www.instagram.com/travelprotheory/ 35 things you didn't know AI could do in your travel biz: https://travelprotheory.kit.com/35-things-ai Enjoy and take action! --------------------------------------------------------------- Rita M. Perez (Host) first began in the travel industry as a travel advisor in 2010. She only fully realized her role as a travel entrepreneur in 2018, and embarked on a mission to support her fellow travel advisors in 2021 when she began the Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast . She now strategizes with travel entrepreneurs, so they too can build sustainable travel agencies and market effectively. She's a maven when it comes to content photography and videography, and as such founded the Cruise Content Library and leads retreats and partners on FAMs where advisors get top notch content and education for their marketing efforts. Website: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/everything/ Socials: LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaperez19/ IG: http://www.instagram.com/steeryourmarketing FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/strategictravelentrepreneurs/ Email: rita@steeryourmarketing.com

August 14, 2026Episode 26731 min

Ep 267 How Travel Agents Can Tell Better Stories on Social Media with Bianca Alba

Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Join us at Prep for Wave Week this year: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/prep-for-wave-week/ Fill out Rita's 2026 Feedback Form: https://forms.gle/3zuchVKZ817RvGyk9 Join us for the ultimate content and marketing camp in 2027: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ Stop wasting hours hunting for cruise content: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1166776 Storytelling is where so many travel advisors get stuck, especially when marketing doesn't come naturally. So I brought on my friend Bianca, founder of This Latina Travels, to break down the exact framework she uses to create Reels that actually connect with her audience and grew her following to 10,000+. We get into how to write hooks that stop the scroll, why an imperfect story beats perfect content every time, and how to figure out the "what's in it for me" that keeps people watching. She also shares her repurposing process for stretching one Reel across platforms, and unrelated, a beautiful way you and your clients can pay it forward while visiting Puerto Rico. If your content has been feeling a little flat, you're going to walk away with real ideas you can use today. Questions this episode answers: How can travel agents tell better stories on social media? What should you do when you have great footage but no story to tell? How do you edit a voiceover Reel from start to finish? Why shouldn't travel agents rely on social media as their only marketing tool How can travel advisors and their clients volunteer with the Flight Angels program in Puerto Rico? Connect with Bianca on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thislatinatravels/ Get 20% off Bianca's merch with code podcast: https://www.thislatinatravels.com/shop/ Learn more about helping get pets to their forever homes from Puerto Rico: https://flightangels.org/ Enjoy and take action! --------------------------------------------------------------- Rita M. Perez (Host) first began in the travel industry as a travel advisor in 2010. She only fully realized her role as a travel entrepreneur in 2018, and embarked on a mission to support her fellow travel advisors in 2021 when she began the Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast . She now strategizes with travel entrepreneurs, so they too can build sustainable travel agencies and market effectively. She's a maven when it comes to content photography and videography, and as such founded the Cruise Content Library and leads retreats and partners on FAMs where advisors get top notch content and education for their marketing efforts. Website: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/everything/ Socials: LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaperez19/ IG: http://www.instagram.com/steeryourmarketing FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/strategictravelentrepreneurs/ Email: rita@steeryourmarketing.com

August 7, 2026Episode 26629 min

Ep 266 Are You Using AI Legally In Your Travel Business?

Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Join us at Prep for Wave Week this year: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/prep-for-wave-week/ Fill out Rita's 2026 Feedback Form: https://forms.gle/3zuchVKZ817RvGyk9 Join us for the ultimate content and marketing camp in 2027: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ Stop wasting hours hunting for cruise content: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1166776 I don't know about you, but AI has been big on my brain this summer. Coincidentally, The Legal Paige just came out with a reel talking about using AI legally. I'm sharing the four big things Paige mentioned, and translating them to how they would affect travel advisors like you. Things like why you can't just upload other people's work into AI to who actually owns the content AI creates for you. I'll share what I've been rethinking about my own courses and content, plus some GPT ideas I'm excited about for helping you get the most out of what you've already got. I'm not a lawyer, but Paige is, and I've been following her long enough to know that she knows her stuff and then some. Come think through these topics with me, as we're all figuring this out this new world together. Questions this episode answers: Is it legal to upload client itineraries into AI tools or a CRM's AI? Can you copyright a blog post or website that AI wrote? Is it a copyright violation to upload someone else's course or digital product into AI? Should travel advisors use AI to write their contracts? What should you never paste into AI? Do you need an AI clause in your travel agency terms and conditions? Can a client legally run your itinerary through AI and use it themselves? How can travel advisors use AI and GPTs to get more out of the content they already own? The Legal Paige Reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbqlAc_yw8o/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== The Legal Paige Templates *affiliate link*: https://thelegalpaige.com?aff=847 Enjoy and take action! --------------------------------------------------------------- Rita M. Perez (Host) first began in the travel industry as a travel advisor in 2010. She only fully realized her role as a travel entrepreneur in 2018, and embarked on a mission to support her fellow travel advisors in 2021 when she began the Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast . She now strategizes with travel entrepreneurs, so they too can build sustainable travel agencies and market effectively. She's a maven when it comes to content photography and videography, and as such founded the Cruise Content Library and leads retreats and partners on FAMs where advisors get top notch content and education for their marketing efforts. Website: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/everything/ Socials: LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaperez19/ IG: http://www.instagram.com/steeryourmarketing FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/strategictravelentrepreneurs/ Email: rita@steeryourmarketing.com

July 31, 2026Episode 26538 min

Ep 265 Why Your Travel Agency Social Media Posts Aren't Working (And How to Fix Them)

Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Join us at Prep for Wave Week this year: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/prep-for-wave-week/ Join us for the ultimate content and marketing camp in 2027: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ Stop wasting hours hunting for cruise content: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1166776 If your social media posts aren't working, it's probably because every single one is trying to sell. I learned this the hard way back in my baby travel advisor days, and I saw it happen all over again at a recent workshop where advisors kept turning warm-up posts into sales posts. So let's talk about why that pushes the right people away, because nobody hands a complete stranger $10,000 to plan their trip, amiright?? I'm walking you through the three jobs your posts should actually be doing, Meet, Connect, and Convert, so you can stop yelling "book with me" into the void and start building the kind of trust that leads to real bookings. Your feed is a place to build relationships, not a billboard, and once that clicks, everything about your marketing gets easier. Questions this episode answers: Why isn't my social media selling as a travel advisor? Should every social media post be a sales post? How often should travel advisors post on social media? What types of social media posts should travel advisors make? How do I build trust with clients on social media? What's the best call to action for a social media post? Why do my salesy social media posts push clients away? How do I sell travel on social media without being sleazy? Enjoy and take action! --------------------------------------------------------------- Rita M. Perez (Host) first began in the travel industry as a travel advisor in 2010. She only fully realized her role as a travel entrepreneur in 2018, and embarked on a mission to support her fellow travel advisors in 2021 when she began the Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast . She now strategizes with travel entrepreneurs, so they too can build sustainable travel agencies and market effectively. She's a maven when it comes to content photography and videography, and as such founded the Cruise Content Library and leads retreats and partners on FAMs where advisors get top notch content and education for their marketing efforts. Website: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/everything/ Socials: LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaperez19/ IG: http://www.instagram.com/steeryourmarketing FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/strategictravelentrepreneurs/ Email: rita@steeryourmarketing.com

July 24, 2026Episode 26442 min

Ep 264 How Travel Advisors Can Manage Stress and Burnout with Dr. Amanda White

Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Get your ticket to Client Callout: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/client-callout/ Join us for the ultimate content and marketing camp in 2027: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ Stop wasting hours hunting for cruise content: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1166776 You know that feeling when the phone rings and your whole body kind of shudders? Yeahhhh, that's exactly what Dr. Amanda White and I are unpacking, because burnout in your travel business usually isn't as much a systems problem, as it's a stress response you may not have dealt with yet. We talk about why your body keeps score long after the busy season ends, what actual boundaries look like when your clients are in three different time zones, and the mindfulness tools that go way beyond bubble baths. Amanda brings her doctorate in workplace trauma plus her own experience as a travel advisor, so this is research-backed and industry-specific advice. If you have been wondering how long you can keep going like this, start here. Get Amanda's Catalyst Reset and use code STEER for 15% off (affiliate link) : https://ritaventures--adwcatalyststrategies.thrivecart.com/catalyst-reset-travel-advisors/ Visit Amanda's website: https://adwcatalyststrategies.com/ Questions this episode answers: Why do travel advisors burn out? Is burnout a trauma response? Can workplace stress cause physical health problems? How do I set boundaries as a travel advisor? What boundaries should I set with travel clients? How do I stop working 24/7 in my travel business? When is it okay to bend your business boundaries? What are mindfulness techniques for stressed business owners? Should travel advisors refer business to other advisors? How do I know if I'm charging enough as a travel advisor? Enjoy and take action! --------------------------------------------------------------- Rita M. Perez (Host) first began in the travel industry as a travel advisor in 2010. She only fully realized her role as a travel entrepreneur in 2018, and embarked on a mission to support her fellow travel advisors in 2021 when she began the Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast . She now strategizes with travel entrepreneurs, so they too can build sustainable travel agencies and market effectively. She's a maven when it comes to content photography and videography, and as such founded the Cruise Content Library and leads retreats and partners on FAMs where advisors get top notch content and education for their marketing efforts. Website: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/everything/ Socials: LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaperez19/ IG: http://www.instagram.com/steeryourmarketing FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/strategictravelentrepreneurs/ Email: rita@steeryourmarketing.com

July 17, 2026Episode 26338 min

Ep 263 Figuring Out Your Right Fit Client as a Travel Advisor

Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Get your ticket to Client Callout: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/client-callout/ Join us for the ultimate content and marketing camp in 2027: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ Stop wasting hours hunting for cruise content: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1166776 You don't need to market to everybody, and trying to is why your marketing feels so hard right now. I'm walking you through exactly how to figure out your right fit client as a travel advisor, from my own journey landing on cruise retreats to the onion layer exercise I use to peel back what your ideal client actually values. We're talking about why niching down makes your discovery calls easier, your lead magnets write themselves, and your referrals stronger. Plus I'm sharing details on my upcoming Client Callout workshop, where you'll walk away with social media posts built around the client you actually want to work with. If your marketing has been trying to please everyone, this one's going to change how you show up online. Questions this episode answers: Why isn't my travel marketing working even though I'm active on social media? How do I niche down without losing potential clients? What is the onion layer exercise for finding your ideal client? How do I figure out what type of trips I should specialize in selling? Why does niching down make discovery calls and proposals easier? What questions should I ask to define my ideal travel client? How do I use my own personality and interests to find my travel niche? Can I still book other types of trips if I niche down my marketing? Enjoy and take action! --------------------------------------------------------------- Rita M. Perez (Host) first began in the travel industry as a travel advisor in 2010. She only fully realized her role as a travel entrepreneur in 2018, and embarked on a mission to support her fellow travel advisors in 2021 when she began the Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast . She now strategizes with travel entrepreneurs, so they too can build sustainable travel agencies and market effectively. She's a maven when it comes to content photography and videography, and as such founded the Cruise Content Library and leads retreats and partners on FAMs where advisors get top notch content and education for their marketing efforts. Website: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/everything/ Socials: LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaperez19/ IG: http://www.instagram.com/steeryourmarketing FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/strategictravelentrepreneurs/ Email: rita@steeryourmarketing.com

July 10, 2026Episode 26233 min

Ep 262 What to Pack and Film on a Cruise Ship Inspection

Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Join us for the ultimate content and marketing camp in 2027: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ Stop wasting hours hunting for cruise content: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1166776 Getting ready for your first or next ship inspection and not totally sure what to bring, film, or expect? I'm breaking down exactly how to prep for a ship inspection, from comfortable shoes and battery packs to the content strategy that'll help you actually use that footage after you're home. I'm covering the must-get shots like public spaces, cabins, and pool decks, plus tips for smooth panning, protecting kids' privacy on camera, and squeezing every bit of value out of your stories and posts. You'll also get insider honest logistics like security check-in, tipping servers, and what happens if you run out of time before you've gotten everything on your list. Whether this is your first ship inspection or your fiftieth, you'll walk away with a game plan for gathering content that actually helps you sell more travel. Questions this episode answers: What should I pack for a cruise ship inspection? What content should I film during a ship inspection? How do I prepare for my first ship inspection as a travel advisor? What footage should I prioritize on a cruise FAM? How do I get smooth, non-shaky video footage on a ship? How do I use Instagram stories during a ship inspection? How do I repurpose content after a ship inspection? Enjoy and take action! --------------------------------------------------------------- Rita M. Perez (Host) first began in the travel industry as a travel advisor in 2010. She only fully realized her role as a travel entrepreneur in 2018, and embarked on a mission to support her fellow travel advisors in 2021 when she began the Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast . She now strategizes with travel entrepreneurs, so they too can build sustainable travel agencies and market effectively. She's a maven when it comes to content photography and videography, and as such founded the Cruise Content Library and leads retreats and partners on FAMs where advisors get top notch content and education for their marketing efforts. Website: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/everything/ Socials: LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaperez19/ IG: http://www.instagram.com/steeryourmarketing FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/strategictravelentrepreneurs/ Email: rita@steeryourmarketing.com

July 3, 2026Episode 26144 min

Ep 261 My 2026 Mid Year Business Review

Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Join us for the ultimate content and marketing camp in 2027: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ Stop wasting hours hunting for cruise content: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1166776 I cannot believe we are already at the halfway point of 2026! In this mid year business review, I'm pulling back the curtain on what January through June actually looked like for me as a travel industry educator and podcaster, including the wins, the not so great moments, and the pattern I finally noticed. We're talking branding transformations, a business name change, health hiccups, revenue gaps in the first half of the year, and why Q2 ended up being my favorite quarter so far. If you've ever wondered what running a solo travel business actually looks like behind the scenes, this one is for you. The second half of 2026 is about to be incredible and I cannot wait to share what's coming. Questions this episode answers: How do you do a mid year business review as a solo business owner? What does running a travel business really look like behind the scenes? How do you create stability in a travel business when revenue is inconsistent? How do you know when it is time to rebrand your travel business? What is the value of attending in person events as a travel industry entrepreneur? How do you use a word of the year to make better business decisions? How do you niche down in the travel industry and why does it make your marketing easier? Enjoy and take action! --------------------------------------------------------------- Rita M. Perez (Host) first began in the travel industry as a travel advisor in 2010. She only fully realized her role as a travel entrepreneur in 2018, and embarked on a mission to support her fellow travel advisors in 2021 when she began the Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast . She now strategizes with travel entrepreneurs, so they too can build sustainable travel agencies and market effectively. She's a maven when it comes to content photography and videography, and as such founded the Cruise Content Library and leads retreats and partners on FAMs where advisors get top notch content and education for their marketing efforts. Website: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/everything/ Socials: LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaperez19/ IG: http://www.instagram.com/steeryourmarketing FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/strategictravelentrepreneurs/ Email: rita@steeryourmarketing.com

June 26, 2026Episode 26057 min

Ep 260 Social Media Trends for Travel Advisors in 2026: A Social Media Day Panel

Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Stop wasting hours hunting for cruise content: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1166776 Join us for the ultimate content and marketing camp in 2027: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ Y'all, I brought the WHOLE team for this one!! A panel of some of the most brilliant marketing minds in the travel industry, and we went ALL the way in on what's actually working on social media for travel advisors in 2026. We're talking yapping, episodic content, why supplier graphics are hurting you, and why the most powerful marketing tool you have is literally just your face and your personality. Spoiler alert: the over-polished, perfectly curated content era is out, and good riddance! If you've been hiding behind brand graphics and generic captions, this is your sign to step out from behind the curtain and start showing up as YOU. Pull up a chair, because this conversation is giving you permission to stop stressing and start connecting :) Questions this episode answers: What social media trends should travel advisors focus on in 2026? What is yapping and how can travel advisors use it to grow on social media? Should travel advisors use supplier graphics on social media? How do travel advisors create authentic content that actually converts? What is episodic content and how can travel advisors use it to build an audience? How do travel advisors stand out on social media without going viral? What type of content performs best for travel advisors on Instagram in 2026? How do travel advisors stop chasing vanity metrics and build real community on social media? What storytelling frameworks can travel advisors use to create engaging social media content? How do travel advisors show up consistently on social media without burning out? Connect with Wendy: https://www.instagram.com/redgrapesocial/ Connect with Kyla: https://www.instagram.com/thesocial.passport/ Connect with Kelli: https://www.instagram.com/kellihayessmith/ Connect with Krystle: https://www.instagram.com/krystle_straub/ Enjoy and take action! --------------------------------------------------------------- Rita M. Perez (Host) first began in the travel industry as a travel advisor in 2010. She only fully realized her role as a travel entrepreneur in 2018, and embarked on a mission to support her fellow travel advisors in 2021 when she began the Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast . She now strategizes with travel entrepreneurs, so they too can build sustainable travel agencies and market effectively. She's a maven when it comes to content photography and videography, and as such founded the Cruise Content Library and leads retreats and partners on FAMs where advisors get top notch content and education for their marketing efforts. Website: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/everything/ Socials: LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaperez19/ IG: http://www.instagram.com/steeryourmarketing FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/strategictravelentrepreneurs/ Email: rita@steeryourmarketing.com

June 19, 2026Episode 25952 min

Ep 259 What Travel Clients Actually Pay For and Why Travel Advisors Keep Getting It Wrong with Courtnie Nichols and Lary Néron

Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Stop wasting hours hunting for cruise content: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1166776 Join us for the ultimate content and marketing camp in 2027: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ Closed mouths don't get fed, and neither do travel advisors who keep marketing their features instead of their outcomes. Courtnie Nichols and Lary Néron joined me to break down the difference between what you do and what your clients are actually buying when they hand you their trust and their credit card. From air-only retainers to the difference between wealthy and high net-worth, we talked pricing confidence, client profiling, and why the biggest block between you and better clients might not be your strategy at all. Questions this episode answers: What do travel clients actually pay for when they hire a travel advisor? How do travel advisors stop undercharging and start pricing with confidence? What is the difference between feature selling and outcome selling in a travel business? How do retainer models work for travel advisors? Why are supplier awards and top producer rankings misleading metrics for travel advisors? What does friction removal mean in a travel business and why do clients pay for it? How do travel advisors attract high net worth clients without paid advertising? What is the right niche for a travel advisor and how does niching down increase referrals? Why do travel advisors struggle to articulate their value and how can they fix it? How do you build a profitable travel business around fewer clients and higher fees? Connect with Lary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lary-n%C3%A9ron/ Connect with Courtnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtnienichols/ Enjoy and take action! --------------------------------------------------------------- Rita M. Perez (Host) first began in the travel industry as a travel advisor in 2010. She only fully realized her role as a travel entrepreneur in 2018, and embarked on a mission to support her fellow travel advisors in 2021 when she began the Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast . She now strategizes with travel entrepreneurs, so they too can build sustainable travel agencies and market effectively. She's a maven when it comes to content photography and videography, and as such founded the Cruise Content Library and leads retreats and partners on FAMs where advisors get top notch content and education for their marketing efforts. Website: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/everything/ Socials: LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaperez19/ IG: http://www.instagram.com/steeryourmarketing FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/strategictravelentrepreneurs/ Email: rita@steeryourmarketing.com