The Travel Business Unpacked

Veronica Gonzalez spent years promoting tourism in McAllen, Texas, and working in her father's pharmacy before she let herself build a business around what she loved most: planning travel. In this episode, Veronica joins Meredith Calloway to talk about how Delighted Designs grew from a destination event business into a luxury travel practice that does both. That growth started with a villa owner in Turks and Caicos who asked why she wasn't already doing this for a living, and continued with a referral from another host agency that led her to GTN's Travel MBA program in the October 2022 cohort.<...

Sylvia Sulkes knew for years that her work wasn't fulfilling her anymore, but it took a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro with her husband to make the decision clear. A month after coming down the mountain, she joined GTN's Travel MBA program and launched Sol Kiss Escapes, a luxury travel business built around soul-stirring journeys that give clients what they actually need, whether that's rest, a reset, or more time with family. Before even finishing her first year in the program, she crossed seven figures in sales.In this episode, Sylvia joins Meredith to talk about how she got there...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, Meredith Calloway is joined by Laura Gonzalez, founder of Vacation Artisans Travel Agency, to talk about knowing when it's time for a change and starting fresh after a decade in the industry.

Laura shares her journey from nonprofit event planning to ten years as a travel advisor, including the slump that made her decide whether to recommit to her business or step away. She talks about choosing to double down, what told her she had outgrown her previous host, and why she approached her search for...

Julie and Alex Ott are the mother-son team behind Triple Play Vacations. In this episode, they join Meredith Calloway to talk about what it looks like to build a business together while specializing in one of travel's fastest-growing niches: sporting events.

Julie's path into travel started during the pandemic, right after wrapping up 25 years in the apparel and footwear industry, including years living abroad in Hong Kong, Switzerland, and France with her family. She went through GTN's Travel MBA program in 2020, and Alex followed a year later in 2021 before eventually leaving his corporate job...

Lucie McLaughlin spent over two decades as what she calls the "family CEO," and when her kids grew up and life took an unexpected turn, she found herself searching for a new sense of purpose. In this episode, Lucie joins host Meredith Calloway to talk about trading the family-planner role for a career as a luxury travel advisor, and how a conversation with her mother-in-law led her to research host agencies and ultimately choose Gifted Travel Network.Lucie opens up about the emotional side of building her brand, Lucie's Luxury Travel, and how the process brought her back to...

Nicholas Dintelmann spent over a decade in corporate retail before he let himself pursue the international, travel-focused career he'd wanted since childhood. In this episode, Nicholas joins Meredith to talk about the deliberate process of unraveling his corporate life before joining GTN's Travel MBA program in the February 2026 cohort and launching CARTE ATLAS, his luxury travel business built for servant leaders who've built full lives but haven't made space to explore them.Nicholas is honest about what those first few months in the program actually look like: building a brand from scratch, navigating the gap between booking travel and...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Pam Smithgall, owner of South Shore Travel and a longtime Gifted Travel Network member.Pam began her career as a music teacher before discovering a way to turn her love of travel into a business. Today, she brings the same attention to detail, sequencing, and storytelling that she learned through music into the way she designs travel experiences for her clients. She shares how she creates meaningful moments clients never knew to ask for, builds trusted relationships with travel partners, and has learned to see...

Shawn Lamphear and Jon Malpass of LM Authentic Travel went from corporate careers to a seven-figure producing, six-figure-earning travel business in under two years. In this episode, Shawn and Jon join Meredith Calloway to break down exactly how they did it: why referrals (not cold outreach) drove every client they've landed, how their software backgrounds shaped the systems and workflows behind their business, and where AI is filling in the gaps as they scale.Shawn and Jon also get real about what surprised them most, including how much more "sales" the job turned out to be, and share the...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Lisa VanBuhler of XOOM Tours, a longtime Gifted Travel Network member who has built a thriving luxury travel business from an unconventional start in student and group travel.

Lisa shares how her background in education led her to planning trips for students, eventually serving groups of up to 250 people, and how that experience became the foundation for her transition into luxury travel. At the heart of her approach is a simple but powerful belief: every client’s trip is a bl...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, Meredith Calloway is joined by Keely Culpepper, founder of Blue Venture Travel, to talk about building a travel business around exceptional client experiences and lasting relationships.

Keely shares her journey from the corporate world to travel entrepreneurship and how focusing on thoughtful, personalized service has helped her build a business driven by repeat clients and referrals. She talks about the importance of creating an experience that goes beyond simply planning a great trip, with the goal of leaving clients excited about where they’ll go next. Meredith and Keely al...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway welcomes back Meghann Bjarnesen, co-owner of Besté Travel Design and Lead Mentor & Programs Manager for Gifted Travel Network's Travel Business University.After first joining the podcast as a successful travel business owner, Meghann returns with a new perspective as she steps into a leadership role focused on mentoring travel advisors. Together, Meredith and Meghann explore why mentorship is one of the most valuable investments advisors can make, and why building a successful travel business requires far more than learning how to book travel. They discuss the importance of b...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked, Meredith Calloway sits down with Kay Fahlberg, owner of Ippo Travel, to discuss how finding your niche doesn't have to mean limiting your business. Drawing on her Japanese heritage and passion for travel, Kay shares how she built a reputation as a Japan expert while creating a brand that allows her to serve clients traveling all over the world.Along the way, Meredith offers valuable coaching on branding, client attraction, and the importance of building a business around your unique perspective rather than a single destination. They also discuss why Japan is...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked, Meredith Calloway welcomes back Carol McKee of McKee Travel for a practical conversation about one of the biggest growth opportunities for travel advisors: group travel. From destination weddings and milestone celebrations to hosted tours and educational conferences, Carol shares the lessons she's learned after planning groups of all shapes and sizes, and why success starts long before you ever collect the first deposit.Together, Meredith and Carol discuss how to identify the right type of group for your network, why understanding the group leader is just as important as understanding the destination...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway welcomes Katina Athanasiou, Senior Vice President of Sales and Services at Celebrity Cruises, for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, authenticity, and building a career that truly fulfills you.

Katina's journey to executive leadership has been shaped by curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to continually evolve. Rather than chasing the idea of perfect work-life balance, she shares why she believes in "calibration" instead, adjusting to life's changing seasons while staying grounded in what matters most. Together, Meredith and Katina explore what it means to...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Angie Corry, founder of Adventurously Yours Travel Design.

After moving to the Netherlands for her husband's job, Angie found herself navigating an unexpected season of life. What started as planning weekend adventures for her own family soon turned into organizing trips for fellow expats, eventually revealing a passion for creating meaningful travel experiences for women. Today, as a Travel MBA alum, Angie has built a business that reflects both her love of exploration and her belief that travel has the...

Making the leap into entrepreneurship is never easy, especially when you're leaving behind a career you've known for years. In this episode, Meredith welcomes Travel MBA graduate Ashley Carlson, founder of Carlson Travel Co., to share how she transitioned from elementary school teacher and stay-at-home mom to luxury travel entrepreneur.

Ashley reflects on the mindset shifts, branding decisions, and uncomfortable moments that helped shape her business, from investing in a professional brand and website to speaking at local events and attracting clients beyond her personal network. She also shares how the skills she developed...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by returning guest John Rees, founder of J5 Luxury Travel Tailors.

After leaving a successful career in day trading, John built a thriving luxury travel business centered around his passion for travel and a commitment to exceptional client experiences. In this conversation, he reflects on how his role has changed as the business has grown, from handling nearly every aspect himself to building a talented team he trusts to deliver at a high level. He shares lessons learned about leadership, delegation...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway welcomes back Nicole Shipper, founder of TBN Travel Curators, for her second appearance on the podcast.

Since her last conversation with Meredith, Nicole has navigated a major rebrand, continued growing her team, and faced the new challenges that come with scaling a business beyond herself. Together, they discuss what it really takes to grow a travel business while maintaining the personal service clients expect.

They also explore:

• The decision to rebrand and how to know when yo...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, guest host Sandy Saburn sits down with David Shull, co-founder and CEO of Tern.

When David first discovered the travel advisor industry, he saw a profession filled with talented entrepreneurs who were navigating their businesses with disconnected systems and outdated technology. Rather than assuming he knew the solution, he spent years listening to advisors, learning how they worked, and building technology around their real-world needs.

In this conversation, Sandy and David discuss the evolution of Tern, the challenges advisors face when...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Laura Young, founder of Laura Young Travel and a 2026 Gifted Travel Network Momentum Award winner.

After more than 20 years in financial services, Laura made the decision to leave behind a stable corporate career and build a travel business that aligned more closely with the life she wanted. In this conversation, she shares what it looked like to start over while raising three kids, working full time, and learning an entirely new industry from the ground up.

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Jessica Klement, Vice President of Advocacy for American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA).Jessica shares how she built a career in advocacy, starting on Capitol Hill before eventually finding her place in the travel industry. Together, Meredith and Jessica unpack the work happening behind the scenes to protect travel advisors at the state and federal levels, work that many advisors benefit from every day without even realizing it.From proposed legislation that could directly impact advisor businesses to the importance of grassroots involvement, this conversation...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Kim Weas, founder of MoonTide Travel. Kim shares her journey from accidental travel advisor to established business owner, and the pivotal moment she realized her business needed something different to keep growing.From navigating a host agency transition to redefining her vision for the future, Kim offers an honest look at what business evolution really looks like for travel advisors.They also explore:• When it’s time to rethink your host agency• Why the right advisor community makes a difference• Moving from booking trips to building...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Nancy Gany, founder of Inspired Steps Luxury Travel and a Travel MBA alum who has quickly built a thriving, referral-driven luxury travel business based in relationships, trust, and elevated service.

With a background in consulting and project management, Nancy shares how she transitioned into the travel industry during the uncertainty of the pandemic and discovered that many of the same skills that made her successful in corporate life, listening well, building relationships, and solving problems, became the foundation of her...

In this special bonus episode of The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Shannon Cunningham, Director of Engagement at Gifted Travel Network, to celebrate Global Travel Advisor Day and GTN’s Travel Advisor Appreciation Week.

Together, Meredith and Shannon shine a light on the heart, resilience, and behind-the-scenes work that make travel advisors so valuable. They reflect on the entrepreneurial journey advisors navigate every day, the importance of celebrating both small and big wins, and the role community plays in making this career feel less isolating and more fulfilling.

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This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Carol McKee of McKee Travel, a Travel MBA alum, GTN mentor, and seven-figure travel entrepreneur.

Carol shares how her background as a CFO and business owner shaped the way she approached building a travel business, and why so many advisors miss the mark when they focus only on trip planning instead of the business behind it. From understanding your numbers to creating systems that support growth, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build something sustainable.

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This week on The Travel Business Unpacked, Meredith Calloway is joined by Sarah Key, founder of The Keys to Travel.

Sarah shares her journey from corporate life to building a travel business that supports both her professional growth and personal life. From taking the leap into entrepreneurship to switching host agencies and navigating motherhood with two young kids, she offers an honest look at what it really takes to grow a business that evolves with you.

They also talk about building a brand that attracts the right clients, the...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Roseann Coyle of Sun Drenched Travel. A travel advisor, mentor inside Gifted Travel Network, and former insurance industry leader, Roseann brings a perspective most advisors never get access to, but absolutely need.

In this conversation, she breaks down why travel insurance should never be an afterthought. From common misconceptions to the risks of supplier plans versus third-party coverage, Roseann shares how a clearer understanding of insurance helps advisors better serve their clients while also creating an additional stream of revenue.<...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Robin Cline, founder of Cline & Co Travel Consulting. A former entrepreneur turned luxury travel advisor, Robin has built a highly successful, referral-driven business rooted in clarity, service, and strong client relationships.

Robin shares what it really looked like to launch her travel business just before the world shut down in 2020, and how she used that unexpected time to build a strong foundation. With a background working alongside high-net-worth clients in previous industries, she brought a unique perspective into travel, one...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Jennifer Jacob, Co-Founder of Tique HQ and host of the Tique Talks podcast. After scaling a multi-million dollar travel agency, Jennifer shifted her focus to helping advisors build more structured, sustainable businesses.In this conversation, Jennifer shares how her journey in travel evolved and why so many advisors struggle to grow without the right systems in place. As her business expanded, she saw firsthand how quickly success can turn into overwhelm when operations are not built to support it.Together, Meredith and Jennifer unpack what...

This week we had a special live recording of The Travel Business Unpacked podcast where we got to dive into one of the most powerful growth strategies in luxury travel: river cruise groups.

In this dynamic, candid panel conversation, host Meredith Calloway was joined by Gifted Travel Network advisors Carol Mckee (Mckee Travel), Patti Mills-Roy (Mills-Roy Luxury Travel), Emer Coughlin (Celtic Hearts Travel), and Sandy Lipkowitz (Sterling Journeys) where they shared how they have successfully built and filled profitable river cruise groups within their businesses.

They unpacked the real...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, Sandy Saburn, Chief Communications Officer at Gifted Travel Network, steps in as host and is joined by Kristin Matthews, Vice President of Professional Development.

Together, they unpack one of the most overlooked but essential parts of running a travel business: crisis management.

From flight disruptions to global uncertainty, Kristin shares how advisors can prepare for the unexpected, communicate with confidence, and support clients through stressful situations. The conversation also explores the emotional side of navigating challenges as a solopreneur, and why having a strong community matters more...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Gifted Travel Network’s Chief Communications Officer, Sandy Saburn, to unpack how travel advisors can make the most of industry events. From deciding which events are worth the investment to building meaningful relationships on-site and following up in a way that drives revenue, Sandy shares her practical 3R framework: Research, Relationships, and Revenue.Together, Meredith and Sandy talk through how to approach conferences, expos, and industry gatherings with a clear plan before you go, while you’re there, and after you get home. They also disc...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Lange Taylor, founder of Taylor Luxury Travel. A former advertising executive turned luxury travel advisor, Lange shares how he built a seven-figure business by combining business acumen, a love of food and wine, and a willingness to start before he had everything figured out.

In this conversation, Lange reflects on what it looked like to leave a successful corporate career and step into an entirely new industry during a season of uncertainty. He opens up about the early learning curve, the temptation to...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is flying solo for a new style of episode centered around your most frequently asked questions. The theme is simple: starting from scratch.

If you’re still in the discovery phase, researching host agencies, wondering whether this is a legitimate career path, or quietly asking yourself if you could actually make real money doing this, this episode was created for you.

Meredith unpacks what a modern travel advisor truly does today and why the role looks very different th...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Margaret Critz, founder of For the Good Times Travel and a current Travel MBA student. After working 25 years in corporate IT for the insurance industry, Margaret made the bold decision to leave stability behind and reinvent her career through travel. 

In this episode, she shares what that leap really looked like. From becoming nomadic to spending months immersed in Ireland, Margaret didn’t just start a travel business, she built one rooted in storytelling, slow travel, and intentional growth. She opens up about the dif...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Julien Nolan, founder of Husseau, a travel advisory business dedicated to ultra-high-net-worth clients. A recent graduate of the Travel MBA program, Julien is already delivering extraordinary experiences rooted in elegance, discretion, and deep personal connection.With a background in luxury hospitality, Julien entered the industry knowing exactly who he wanted to serve and how he wanted to show up. From private Cartier rooftop celebrations in Paris to special spiritual pilgrimages, his stories reflect not only exceptional service but a deep understanding of what matters most...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Lee Lennon, founder of Travel by Design and longtime Gifted Travel Network member. After years creating high-touch programs for luxury cruise lines, Lee stepped into entrepreneurship and built a thriving, referral-only business.

She shares how her industry background shaped her client care philosophy, how she approaches support in her business, and what it takes to design a business that truly fits your life.

They also explore:

• Transitioning from corporate to independent

• What luxury means beyo...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Rachael O’Brien, founder of How Far Adventures, for a deeply honest conversation about what happens when life shifts unexpectedly and travel becomes more than just a career choice. 

Rachael shares how a major personal transition reshaped her priorities and led her to build a travel business that could flex with real life. From starting out independently and building her business through high-volume client work, to world schooling her children in Costa Rica, her story reflects the evolution many advisors experience as th...

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Melissa Nagelberg, founder of MN Signature Escapes and a standout student in GTN’s Travel MBA program.

Melissa shares how she went from stay-at-home mom to thriving travel entrepreneur in under a year, building a business rooted in client care, intentional branding, and strategic support. With a natural ability to connect, she approached the industry with curiosity and commitment—leaning into GTN’s structure, community, and luxury partnerships from day one.

In this episode, Melissa reflects on the mindset shifts...

This year, Meredith Calloway is kicking off The Travel Business Unpacked podcast with a conversation every travel advisor needs - whether you’re brand new, years in, or reconsidering your current setup. She’s joined by Shayna Zand, Managing Director of Host Agency Reviews, to break down what host agencies actually do, the most common misconceptions advisors still have, and how to choose the right “business home” for the long game.

And if you’re actively exploring hosts—or just want to learn how to evaluate your options more strategically—Shayna gives a full preview of Host Week, Host Age...