Carol McKee on Building Successful Travel Groups Without the Headaches

Carol McKee on Building Successful Travel Groups Without the Headaches

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, and how to avoid common pitfalls that can derail even the best ideas. They also explore destination wedding logistics, choosing the right suppliers, setting clear expectations with clients, understanding financial responsibilities, and why advisors don't need to travel with every group they organize.Throughout the conversation, Carol emphasizes the importance of preparation: researching suppliers before opportunities arise, learning the policies that matter, and using slower seasons to build the knowledge that leads to future bookings. She also shares why not every group inquiry will become a booking—and how every experience, successful or not, becomes an opportunity to grow. Whether you're planning your first group or looking to expand an established business, this episode offers practical advice that will help you approach group travel with greater confidence and a stronger strategy.📖 Free Chapter: https://tinyurl.com/GTN-freechapter🎓 Travel Business University: https://tinyurl.com/yz462bhx-🔗 Carol's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckeetravel🖥️ Carol's Website: https://www.mckeetravel.com/

Katina Athanasiou on Calibrating Your Life, Career, and Leadership

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 lead with empathy, embrace your authentic self, and recognize that every challenge is an opportunity for growth. They also discuss how adapting your leadership style to the people around you creates stronger relationships, why understanding how others communicate can transform the way you lead, and how finding work that genuinely excites you changes everything. Whether you're leading a team, serving clients, or building your own travel business, this conversation offers valuable perspective on creating meaningful success without sacrificing yourself along the way. If you've ever wondered how to become a stronger leader while staying true to who you are, this episode will leave you with a fresh perspective on leadership, personal growth, and building a business and life you genuinely love. - 📖 Free Chapter: https://tinyurl.com/GTN-freechapter 🎓 Travel Business University: https://tinyurl.com/yz462bhx - 🔗 Katina's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katinaathanasiou

How Angie Corry Discovered Her Niche One Adventure at a Time

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 power to build confidence, connection, and community. In this conversation, Angie shares how living abroad changed her perspective on travel, why she initially resisted becoming a travel advisor, and how a single women's trip helped her discover the niche that would become the foundation of her business. She also discusses the importance of listening to what comes naturally, creating experiences that truly serve your ideal clients, and building a business that aligns with the life you want to live. Whether you're still searching for your niche or looking for the confidence to lean into your own story, Angie's journey is a reminder that your greatest business opportunity may already be hiding in your own experiences. Sometimes the path to building a successful travel business begins with simply saying yes to your next adventure. - 📖 Free Chapter: https://tinyurl.com/GTN-freechapter 🎓 Travel Business University: https://tinyurl.com/yz462bhx - 🔗 Angie's Website: https://adventurouslyyours.com/ 🔗 Angie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angiecorrycsp/

From Teacher to Entrepreneur: Lessons in Building a Luxury Travel Business with Ashley Carlson

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 in the classroom continue to influence the way she serves her clients today. If you've ever wondered whether you're ready to take the leap, this conversation is a reminder that confidence isn't something you wait for. It's something you build by taking action. 📖 Free Chapter: https://tinyurl.com/GTN-freechapter 🎓 Travel Business University: https://tinyurl.com/yz462bhx - 🔗 Ashley's Website: https://carlsontravelco.com/ 🔗 Ashley's LinkedIn: https://tinyurl.com/mtpdjk9c

From Day Trader to Luxury Travel Entrepreneur: John Rees on Building a Business He Loves

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, and creating a company culture that allows both the business and the people within it to thrive. They also discuss the realities of scaling a travel business, the importance of focusing on your strengths, and why helping others grow has become one of the most rewarding parts of John's entrepreneurial journey. John's story offers valuable insight for advisors looking to build a business that is not only successful, but also sustainable, fulfilling, and aligned with the life they want to create. 📖 Free Chapter: https://tinyurl.com/GTN-freechapter 🎓 Travel Business University: https://tinyurl.com/yz462bhx 🔗 John's Website: https://www.j5travel.com/ 🔗 John's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/j5travel