Trade Secrets Podcast

Welcome to Trade Secrets, a podcast from the editors of Travel Weekly, where travel advisors ask -- and answer -- questions. On each podcast, our editors will ask a veteran travel advisor to join them and field listeners’ questions. Topics will range from business advice to industry trends, history and more — as long as it’s travel-related, we want to address it! Find Trade Secrets wherever you get your podcasts, or at travelweekly.com/podcasts.ABOUT YOUR HOSTS:Jamie Biesiada is a senior editor with Travel Weekly. She is an award-winning journalist, including being named the American Society of Travel Advisors’ 2019 Travel Journalist of the Year. Her roots are in community journalism, where she was the editor of several local newspapers and a regional entertainment magazine.Emma Weissmann brings more than a decade of reporting and editing experience to her role as Features Editor at Travel Weekly, where she covers destinations and retail travel and contributes to social media, podca

Trade Secrets Podcast is a society podcast hosted by Travel Weekly, with 100 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Travel Weekly hosts Trade Secrets Podcast, a society show with 100 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #17

  The newbie travel advisor’s playbook: Education, organization and selling the unknown (feat. Fora’s Henley Vazquez)

  Sep 28, 202635 minS7

  Starting a career as a travel advisor is exciting, but it can also feel like drinking from a fire hose. From picking the right education programs and mastering daily organization to sending clients to a destination you’ve never set foot in — where do you even begin? On this episode of Trade Secrets, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada sit down with Henley Vazquez, co-founder of host agency Fora, to break it all down. Thanks to our friends at Travefy for helping us solicit travel advisor questions this season.  This episode was sponsored by Travel Insured International .  Further resources Fora on the web Fora on Instagram: Travel and community Need advice?   Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098 Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com   Theme song: Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Episode #16

  Trade Secrets on the road: Ask a lawyer at Future Leaders in Travel (feat. Stephanie Hankins of Ment Law Group)

  Sep 14, 202641 minS7

  As a travel advisor or supplier, what are your most pressing legal questions? That was the question posed to attendees at Future Leaders in Travel, an event for young travel advisors and suppliers powered by Travel Weekly’s sister publication, TravelAge West. Co-host Emma Weissmann was on-site at the event, held in late August in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, and sat down during the general session with Stephanie Hankins, an attorney and travel advisor at Fora, to tackle attendees’ legal questions. Hankins addresses the importance of creating iron-clad terms and conditions, how to properly classify independent contractors, how to protect yourself against fraud, the ethics of using AI and the question she most frequently receives from suppliers. This episode was recorded live, on-site, at Future Leaders in Travel, during the event’s general session on August 26. This episode was sponsored by Travel Insured International .  Further resources Ment Law Group Hankins on Instagram Future Leaders in Travel TravelAge West Need advice? Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098 Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com   Theme song: Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Episode #14

  Is fall the new summer? Unpacking luxury travel trends with Virtuoso (feat. David Kolner & Misty Belles)

  Aug 17, 202636 minS7

  This week, Trade Secrets is coming to you from the halls of the Aria Resort & Casino at Virtuoso Travel Week. Co-host Jamie Biesiada is joined by guest host Johanna Jainchill, Travel Weekly’s editor in chief, and Virtuoso’s own David Kolner and Misty Belles. They cover the latest luxury travel trends, from the hot fall season to “maxxing” and beyond. This episode was sponsored by Travel Insured International .  Further resources Virtuoso on the web , on Instagram and on TikTok Email Virtuoso’s public relations department Mentioned in this episode: Johanna Jainchill on Trade Secrets After Dark The Bedford by Martha Stewart Brené Brown Travel Weekly’s Virtuoso Travel Week 2026 coverage: Virtuoso forecasts 2026 sales will be up nearly 21% Virtuoso unveils AI-powered intelligence tool The Takeaway: Let’s end these travel trends At Virtuoso Travel Week, word of another banner year Need advice?   Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098 Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com   Theme song: Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Episode #13

  “Breaking the glass:” From family-owned Valerie Wilson Travel to a new homegrown initiative (feat: Kimberly Wilson Wetty)

  Aug 3, 202656 minS7

  This week on Trade Secrets, Kimberly Wilson Wetty discusses her transition from being the longtime co-owner and co-president of Valerie Wilson Travel (VWT) to her newest venture, Keep Wondering Why. Wetty reflects honestly on the decision to sell VWT – which was first acquired by another family-owned business before transitioning to ownership by Chase Travel Group – and making the choice to branch out on her own. This episode also delves into Wetty’s passion for ensuring that all travelers feel welcomed and respected. This episode was sponsored by Travel Insured International.  https://www.travelinsured.com/ Further resources Kimberly Wilson Wetty on LinkedIn Keep Wondering Why on the web , LinkedIn , Instagram and Facebook Mentioned in this episode: Valerie Wilson on Humans of Travel Wilson Wetty’s LinkedIn posts   Breaking the glass Don’t crush the butterfly Need advice? Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098 Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com   Theme song: Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Episode #12

  Are travel bookings slowing down right now? (feat. Michelle Fee and Ryan Ranahan)

  Jul 20, 202642 minS7

  Inspired by a listener question from travel advisor Megan Vatnsdal, owner of Onyx & Evergreen Travel, Trade Secrets explores what’s going on with travel agency bookings. Join co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada in conversation with Cruise Planners’ Michelle Fee and Oasis Travel Network’s Ryan Ranahan, who offer a birds-eye view of what their advisors are experiencing right now, for the rest of the year and even into 2027 and 2028. This episode was sponsored by  National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions . Further resources Cruise Planners Oasis Travel Network Ryan Ranahan on LinkedIn Need advice? Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com   Theme song: Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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