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

Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Register for the Plan Your Year Workshop: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1196435 Get your numbers with the Lead Generation Calculator:  https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1138259 Join us for the marketing reset your travel agency needs: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ If looking at your numbers makes your stomach drop a little, just know that we've all been there.  I'm walking you through why you need to stop "shoulding" on yourself and start making decisions from data instead of drama.  You'll get the 5 core numbers I want every travel advisor tracking, what those numbers might be telling you about your leads, sales, and seasonality, and a simple decision filter to run before you add, change, or quit anything in your business.  Learn how to read your numbers with confidence so you can plan smarter, spot slow months before they hit, and second-guess yourself a whole lot less :)  FAQ: What numbers should travel advisors track in their business? Travel advisors should track five core numbers: bookings and commissions by month, where clients come from, discovery call conversion rate, average commission per booking, and time spent per booking. Together they show your busy and slow seasons, which marketing brings in clients, and which trips are worth your time. How do you calculate your discovery call conversion rate? Divide the number of discovery calls that became paying clients by the total number of discovery calls you had. If 6 out of 10 calls turned into clients, your conversion rate is 60%. A lower rate usually points to a sales or qualifying issue, so recording your calls or practicing with a peer can help. What does it mean if you have lots of leads but few bookings? Lots of leads with few bookings usually means you have a sales or qualifying problem, so more leads won't fix it. The wrong people may be getting on your calls, or something on your call, landing page, or inquiry form isn't helping them take the next step. Add filters before calls and check your messaging for industry jargon. 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: [email protected]

Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Register for the Plan Your Year Workshop: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1196435 Get your numbers with the Lead Generation Calculator:  https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1138259 Join us for the marketing reset your travel agency needs: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ You made a HUGE bet on yourself when you registered your business, chose a host agency, and handed over your credit card, so why are so many travel agents running that business without a written plan?  About 60% of you told me in my Prep for Wave Week survey that your plan lives in your head or doesn't exist yet, and I'm on a mission to change that number.  I'm sharing the 5 reasons I'm so passionate about planning, with a little help from Jack Skellington, Kevin McCallister, and a few stats that surprised even me.  Learn how to build a simple plan you'll actually use, so you can trade busy for strategic and run your travel agency with way more intention :)  FAQ: How much more likely are you to reach your goals with a written business plan? Having a written plan increases your likelihood of reaching your goals by 42%. Sharing your progress on that plan weekly pushes it up to 76%. Businesses with plans also grow 30% faster than businesses without one, which is a general business stat, not one specific to travel agencies. What should a simple travel agency business plan include? A simple plan has three pillars: your numbers, your sales goals, and your marketing plan. Start with the income you need based on your expenses. Next, decide exactly what you'll sell and how many. Then build a marketing plan around those specific trips and clients, using both relationship-building and content marketing. Why do most business plans fail? Most plans fail because people don't act on them. Creating the plan is only the first step. You also need a to-do list and a schedule of activities that put the plan into action. Keep the plan simple, because a complicated plan is much harder to follow through on. 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: [email protected]

Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Register for the Plan Your Year Workshop: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1196435 Forgot to register for this year's Prep for Wave Week?  https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/prep-for-wave-week/ Join us for the marketing reset your travel agency needs: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ Everyone wants to feel seen and understood, and your sales process is where clients decide whether you're really listening.  I replayed Whitney Shindelar's Sales Day session from last year's Prep for Wave Week because it was such an advisor favorite :)  She shares how she leads with curiosity from the very first inquiry and why she saves the budget question for the end of the discovery call.  She also explains how she frames hotel choices as pros and considerations, and the Loom video and custom Google Map combo she uses to deliver every proposal.  Learn how to ask better questions, talk less, and close sales faster without the endless back and forth.  Questions this episode answers: What should a travel advisor ask when a client doesn't know where they want to go?What single question can reveal how a client likes to spend their time and money?How do you get answers from a client who isn't giving you much in conversation?Why does it matter whether a client is a first-time or repeat visitor to a destination?How should you approach repeat clients when they come back to plan a new trip?How do you help cruise clients decide between focusing on the ship or the itinerary?What should a travel advisor research before a discovery call for an unfamiliar destination?What should a proposal email include to get a client to decide quickly?When should a travel advisor turn down a trip request?How do discovery questions set a travel advisor apart from AI and booking sites? Connect with Whitney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-shindelar-a5376886/ Learn more about The Hive on the Travel Tech Audio Summit: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/travel-tech-audio-summit/ 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: [email protected]

Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Save your spot at Prep for Wave Week this year:  https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/prep-for-wave-week/ Join us for the marketing reset your travel agency needs: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ Sell the ships you haven't sailed on, like you have: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1166776 Luxury travel is less about a giant bank account and more about how you plan and who you plan with.  I replayed Belvin Baldwin II's session from last year's Prep for Wave Week, where he breaks down what actually separates a luxury trip from an expensive one and why chasing deals repels the exact clients you want.  We get into where busy professionals actually look before they book, how to network without the ick, and why your content needs to work for both Google and AI now.  Learn how to position yourself as the problem solver luxury travelers come looking for, so the booking becomes the easy part.  Questions this episode answers: What are the three criteria that make a vacation truly luxury?What are travel advisors getting wrong when they try to market to luxury clients?Where do luxury travel advisors actually find high end clients?How do you network for travel clients without coming across as salesy?What are the green flags and red flags when choosing a networking event?How often should a travel advisor publish content or get out to network?How do LinkedIn newsletters and YouTube videos help you show up in Google search?How do you optimize your travel content to get found in AI search?How can you tell if someone is a good fit for a luxury vacation?Why do open-ended questions help you uncover a client's real pain points? Connect with Belvin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/belvin-baldwin-ii-6726032a/ 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: [email protected]

Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Save your spot at Prep for Wave Week this year:  https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/prep-for-wave-week/ Join us for the marketing reset your travel agency needs: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ Sell the ships you haven't sailed on, like you have: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1166776 Insurance might be one of the most boring topics in the travel industry, and it's also the one that can wipe out your business if you get it wrong.  I brought Miguel Campos of Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection back on to walk through what your host's E&O policy actually covers, and why the answer is probably less than you've been told.  We get into the real difference between E&O and travel insurance, the cyber scams draining small travel businesses right now, and the wire fraud costing advisors five and six figures.  Learn how to protect your travel business with coverage that holds up before you ever have to file a claim.  Questions this episode answers: Does a travel advisor need their own E&O insurance if they work under a host agency?What is the difference between errors and omissions insurance and professional liability?Can a host agency's E&O policy run out of coverage before it protects you?What is the difference between general liability and professional liability for a travel business?Do travel advisors need general liability insurance for bridal shows, Christmas markets, and vendor events?How much does cyber insurance cost for a home-based travel agent?What proactive steps reduce the risk of wire transfer fraud and social engineering?Can a travel advisor be sued if a client is injured or killed on a trip?Does a signed insurance decline waiver protect a travel advisor from a lawsuit?Why do legal defense costs matter more when they're covered outside your limit of liability? Email Miguel at [email protected]  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: [email protected]

Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Save your spot at Prep for Wave Week this year:  https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/prep-for-wave-week/ Join us for the marketing reset your travel agency needs: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/ Sell the ships you haven't sailed on, like you have: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1166776 One of my favorite places in Orlando has some of the best hospitality I've ever experienced. I turned that customer service, as well as how I audit my own client experience, into a full breakdown of how you can audit your own client experience. This includes your website and inquiry form all the way through to how you follow up after someone gets home.  I get into the pre-trip, during-trip, and post-trip touchpoints that make clients feel seen, plus the four things people actually want when they work with a professional.  I also walk through how to run a real audit on yourself, from feedback forms and focus groups to one-on-one interviews and quick social media polls, including the exact starter questions I've used.  Learn how to create a magical client experience that will have your travelers raving. Questions this episode answers: What touchpoints make up a client experience in a travel business?How do you make travel clients feel seen, heard, and cared for?How can travel advisors compete against AI, OTAs, and big-box booking sites?What should a client experience self-audit include?How do you check if your website is hurting your client experience?What questions should you ask on a client feedback form?When is the right time of year to run a feedback form or focus group?How do you run a focus group or one-on-one interview for client feedback?How do you use client feedback to improve your marketing copy and SEO?How should you thank clients who give you feedback? Get the Marketing Scorecard: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1187247 Watch Rita's Original Presentation: https://youtu.be/8QSxkBD7MCE 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: [email protected]

Send Rita a text with your thoughts! Save your spot 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 AI is everywhere in the travel industry right now, and a lot of advisors are grabbing the shiny new tool before stopping to ask whether we're actually allowed to use it in certain ways.  I sat down with travel attorney and agency owner Tom Carpenter to sort out what's safe, what's risky, and what could even get you sued.  We talk about why uploading legal documents or client info into open source AI can eliminate your attorney-client privilege and expose sensitive data, the difference between open and closed source tools, and the one court case that proves you're on the hook for whatever your chatbot tells a client.  If you're using AI in your business and you want to keep your booty protected, give this one a listen.  Questions this episode answers: Can travel advisors legally use AI to draft their own terms and conditions or contracts?Is it legal to upload a document you didn't write into an AI tool?Why can free AI end up costing you more than a paid closed source toolShould travel agents add the AI tools they use to their data privacy policy?Can recording an AI chat on your website violate Florida wiretapping laws?Should you trust a host agency whose support answers come from ChatGPT?What is the difference between privileged and confidential client information?Does putting a copyright on your itinerary stop clients from booking without you? Connect with Tom on FB: https://www.instagram.com/travelprotheory/ Tom's Email Address: [email protected]  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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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 toolHow 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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]