The Lounge by Travefy

Hosted by Travefy

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Episodes

104

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-US

About the show

The podcast by Travefy designed for travel advisors who want to grow their business with real stories, strategies, and actionable tips. Whether you’re a Travel Advisor, Tour Operator, or other travel professional, growing your travel business can be difficult! At Travefy, we recognize this, but also see the incredible experiences and transferable knowledge that exists among members of our industry. As a part of Travefy’s commitment to power the success of travel professionals, we launched The Lounge to provide educational resources to expand your understanding of the travel industry, share best practices, and ultimately grow your business.

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60 recent

October 25, 2026Episode 10253 min

The Future of Travel: Mentorship, AI and the Next Wave of Advisors with Asia Lantz

Where is the travel industry headed, and how do we bring more great advisors along with it? In this episode, we sit down with Asia Lantz, founder and luxury travel advisor at Travel with Asia, 2025 ASTA Travel Advisor of the Year and TravelPulse 40 Under 40 honoree. Asia shares how a Groupon trip to Ireland launched her career, why she almost didn’t come back after COVID, and what she’s learned building a team and a group travel business. In this episode: - What newer advisors struggle with most, and why community and mentorship matter - How to find a mentor (hint: just ask) - What suppliers and veteran advisors can do to support newer advisors - How a ChatGPT search led a $45K honeymoon client straight to Asia - How Travefy’s AI Smart Import and flight tracking save her hours - Her best habit for new advisors: the weekly CEO day Plus: nominations for the ASTA Emerging Leaders Award, presented by Travefy, are open until November 3, 2026 at EmergingLeaders.ASTA.org . 🔗 Connect with Asia: - https://www.chartedwithasia.com - Facebook: Charted with Asia Collective | Support for New & Growing Travel Advisors https://www.facebook.com/groups/chartedwithasia - Facebook: Travel Agents Hosting Group Trips | FIT & Custom Group Travel https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelagentshostinggroups - Instagram: @chartedwithasia https://www.instagram.com/chartedwithasia

September 21, 2026Episode 10149 min

Take Your AI for a Walk, Then Build the Business with ASTA Emerging Leaders Award Recipient Kristin Hancock

Before you automate anything, take a walk. That's Kristin Hancock's advice for advisors who want to use AI without losing the personal touch. Kristin is the owner of Bright Life Travel Co. and a 2026 ASTA Emerging Leaders Award recipient presented by Travefy. She spent 10 months building systems before bringing on her first advisor. Today she leads a team of nine, growing largely on referrals and repeat clients. In this episode: building a team through relationships, how AI and automation fit into Bright Life's workflows, and where travel is headed next (anyone ready for a trip to space?). Kristin is one of eight 2026 recipients of the ASTA Emerging Leaders Award, presented by Travefy . Nominations for the next class close November 3, 2026. Nominate yourself or someone you know at emergingleaders.asta.org . Show Notes: Visit Bright Life Travel Co. website Follow Kristin on Instagram Follow Bright Life Co. on Instagram Learn more + Nominate for 2027 ASTA Emerging Leader Award ✨ Listen to more episodes of The Lounge Podcast at https://lp.travefy.com/the-lounge

September 14, 2026Episode 10034 min

Finding Your Travel Advisor Why (And What to Do With It) with Sahara Rose De Vore

We're celebrating our 100th podcast episode! In this episode, we're joined by Sahara Rose De Vore, founder of the The Travel Coach Network for a full-circle conversation five years after her first appearance on The Lounge. Sahara breaks down the exercise she uses to help advisors find their real "why" beyond surface-level answers, then shows how to translate that into marketing that actually stands out, plus where AI fits in without losing the human touch that makes advisors valuable in the first place. Show notes: Where to find Sahara Rose De Vore: Facebook , Instagram , Linkedin The Travel Coach Network's website: https://thetravelcoachnetwork.com Free Beginner's Guide to Travel Coaching: https://thetravelcoachnetwork.mykajabi.com/main-email-series-and-workbook The Travel Coach Certification Program: https://thetravelcoachnetwork.mykajabi.com/the-travel-coach-program ✨ Listen to more episodes of The Lounge Podcast at https://lp.travefy.com/the-lounge

August 21, 202648 min

Creating unforgettable client experiences with Roslyn Ranse (Bonus Episode)

Roslyn Ranse has spent 17 years building her travel business in Australia and now coaches advisors through Travel Agent Achievers. In this episode, she and Stephanie dig into what actually separates a forgettable trip from an unforgettable one, starting with her case against client intake forms: the details that matter, like a client's drink of choice or the real reason they're booking a trip, only come out in conversation, not a checkbox. She also shares how she uses technology to handle the background work so she can stay fully present on client calls, why she believes advisors are the actual luxury clients are paying for, and the story of a middle-of-the-night phone call that turned a client's travel emergency into one of her proudest moments as an advisor. Plus, why she thinks conferences and community matter more than most advisors realize, and why she'd rather have fun running her business than burn out chasing perfection. If you've ever wondered what really makes clients come back and refer their friends, this one's for you. Show Notes: Visit Travel Agent Achiever's Website Find Roslyn on Social: Instagram , Linkedin , Facebook , YouTube 🌟 Want more tips and ideas on how to surprise and delight your clients? Check out a past Travefy webinar on this topic: https://academy.travefy.com/upcoming-webinar-creating-unforgettable-moments-ideas-to-surprise-delight-your-clients ✨ Listen to more episodes of The Lounge Podcast at https://lp.travefy.com/the-lounge

July 29, 2026Episode 9947 min

What it takes to build the right team with Ali Raymer

Ali Raymer spent nine years building her business at Picture This Travel before launching her own agency, Peace & Pearl Travel Co. In this episode, she breaks down what it actually takes to find, hire, and train the right people, starting with her very first hire (a former student) and the unconventional paths several of her other advisors took to get there. She also shares the harder lessons: the traits she actually looks for before bringing someone on, why giving away the leads she wasn't passionate about ended up growing her business, and how she built an onboarding system that lets new advisors ramp up without her having to be in the room for every conversation. Plus, how her team stays connected day to day, and why the right tools (including Travefy) matter more once you're not the only one running the show. If you've ever thought about building a team, whether that means growing where you are or eventually starting your own agency, this one's for you. Show Notes: Website: peaceandpearltravel.com Instagram: @alipeaceandpearltravel Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alipeaceandpearltravel/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AliPeaceandPearl YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@alipeaceandpearltravel ✨ Listen to more episodes of The Lounge Podcast at https://lp.travefy.com/the-lounge

July 17, 2026Episode 9839 min

How to slow down to speed up with Jonathan Morris

Every advisor remembers that first inquiry. The excitement, then the quiet panic of realizing you have a customer now and no system for what comes next. Jonathan Morris spent years as a retail agent before building Legato, a host agency built around an agent-first philosophy. In this conversation he shares what he's learned coaching hundreds of agents through the foundation stage, including a story about an advisor who sold out cruise groups within days and still nearly burned out because the systems weren't there to support the growth. We get into the first 90 days, how to actually build a relationship with a BDM, why quarterly business checkups matter more than most agents think, and what led Legato to become the first host agency to integrate with Travefy. Show Notes: Learn more about Legato Find Legato on social: Instagram , Facebook , & Linkedin Learn more about Travefy's partnership with Legato and see how your host agency can become the next integration: https://travefy.com/blog-post/legato-integration ✨ Listen to more episodes of The Lounge Podcast at https://lp.travefy.com/the-lounge

June 18, 2026Episode 9735 min

What You're Not Tracking Is Costing Your Travel Agency with Stephanie Cannon

Your agency's financial story is already written. The question is whether you're reading it. Most travel advisors got into this business because they love travel, not because they love spreadsheets. But ignoring the financial side of your agency isn't just stressful. It's costing you money you've already earned. In this episode, we sit down with Stephanie Cannon, a licensed CPA, small business accountant, and 20-year travel advisor, for a candid conversation about the financial blind spots that affect advisors at every stage — from solo practitioners to agencies with 30+ advisors. We cover what you should actually be tracking and how often, why "I'll deal with it at tax time" is quietly hurting your business, how to figure out what you need to earn to pay yourself what you're worth, the real cost of commissions you never reconcile, and why your numbers are telling you a story, you just have to be willing to read it. Show Notes: Visit Stephanie Cannon's Website Join Stephanie Cannon's Facebook Group: "First Class Profit Lounge" Stephanie's Real Pay Calculator Find Stephanie Cannon on Social: Instagram Linkedin Learn more about tracking and reconciling booking commissions through Travefy at https://travefy.com/solutions/building-for-agencies & start your free trial today! ✨ Listen to more episodes of The Lounge Podcast at https://lp.travefy.com/the-lounge

June 4, 2026Episode 9634 min

The Price Shopper, the Ghoster, and the "I'll Get Back to You": Real Sales Conversations with Harish Shroff

Every travel advisor knows the feeling: you've pitched a trip, poured time into the details, and the client either disappears, says they found it cheaper somewhere else, or hits you with the dreaded "I'll get back to you." So what do you actually say? In this episode, we sit down with Harish Shroff, VP of Sales at Indus Travels and author of Mastering the Art of Sales , for a conversation built around the real moments that trip up even experienced advisors. We dig into why jumping to price is a signal you haven't built enough value yet, how to use a recap strategy when a client stalls, the follow-up mistake most advisors don't realize they're making, and why the best thing you can do after a client returns from a trip isn't wait for them to call you. This one's practical, honest, and worth sharing with anyone on your team who talks to clients. Show Notes: Get the Book: Mastering the Art of Sales Connect with Harish Shroff on Linkedin Learn more about Indus Travels

March 5, 2026Episode 9540 min

Wave Season Without Burnout: Habits That Sustain Your Business Year-Round with Stacey Cabell

Wave Season can bring a surge of inquiries and bookings. It can also bring long hours, constant notifications, and a pace that is hard to sustain. In this episode of The Lounge by Travefy, we sit down with Stacey Cabell, a 14-year travel industry veteran, to explore how advisors can maintain peak performance without burning out. We cover how to recognize the early signs of burnout, why protecting your energy improves both your business and your client experience, and simple habits you can implement right away to stay consistent during Wave Season and beyond. You’ll also hear practical ideas for setting healthy client boundaries, building confidence through small wins, and using systems that reduce daily mental load. Because a sustainable travel business is not built in chaos. Show Notes: Visit Stacey's Website at http://staceycabell.com ✨ Listen to more episodes of The Lounge Podcast at https://lp.travefy.com/the-lounge

February 20, 2026Episode 9434 min

Are Conferences Worth It? How to Choose the Ones That Grow Your Business with Travel Show Marketing Group

Are conferences actually worth the time and money, especially with so much virtual education available now? In this episode, we sit down with Kelley Wright (Travel Agent Recruitment) and Stephanie McCracken (Director of Marketing) from Travel Show Marketing Group, the team behind Travel Agent Forum, to break down how advisors can approach events strategically. You’ll learn how attendees can get the most ROI from conferences, when it may not make sense to attend, how to choose the right event for your business stage, and how to avoid burnout while maximizing networking and follow-up. Plus, we share details on Travefy Live, Travefy’s user conference happening May 12, 2026 in Las Vegas — and why it’s the perfect add-on to Travel Agent Forum. Show Notes: Learn More + Register for Travefy Live Learn More + Register for Travel Agent Forum in Las Vegas Check out Travel Show Marketing Groups' other events Join Kelley's "Travel Show Marketing Group 2026 Events and Application Process" webinars: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regis... (Happening on Feb. 23, 2026) and https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regis... (Happening on Feb. 24, 2026)