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.

Laura opens up about the uncomfortable parts of entrepreneurship, including learning patience, defining her ideal client, and figuring out how to trust herself through the transition. She also reflects on how relationships, referrals, and clarity around who she wanted to serve became the foundation for her rapid growth.

They also explore:

• Building a travel business while balancing full-time corporate work and motherhood

• Why defining an ideal client changes everything in luxury travel

• The mindset shift from employee to entrepreneur

• Creating a relationship-driven business instead of relying heavily on social media

• How referrals became the biggest driver of growth in Laura’s second year

• The connection between entrepreneurial success, freedom, and fulfillment.

Laura’s story is an honest look at what it takes to reinvent yourself professionally and personally. For advisors navigating growth, career transitions, or the desire for more freedom, this episode offers both practical insight and meaningful perspective.

Free Chapter: https://tinyurl.com/4pbvtr8f

Laura's Website: https://laurayoungtravel.com/

Laura's LinkedIn: / laura-young-travel

TBU Live Tickets: https://www.giftedtravelnetwork.com/event

Promocode: PODCAST

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 offers a deeper look at why advocacy matters for every travel advisor, not just industry leaders. Jessica also shares how ASTA works alongside advisors across the country to ensure lawmakers understand the real impact their decisions have on travel businesses and their clients.This episode is a reminder that advocacy is not separate from the day-to-day work of being a travel advisor. It plays a direct role in protecting the future of the industry and the businesses advisors work so hard to build.Free Chapter: https://tinyurl.com/4pbvtr8fASTA Website: https://asta.org/Jessica Klement's LinkedIn: https://tinyurl.com/JessicaKlementLITBU Live Tickets: https://www.giftedtravelnetwork.com/e...Promocode: PODCAST

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 a true business• Mindset shifts around growth, fees, and confidence• What established advisors should consider before making a changeA thoughtful conversation for advisors navigating growth and change.Free Chapter: https://tinyurl.com/4pbvtr8fKim's website: https://www.moontidetravel.com/TBU Live Tickets: giftedtravelnetwork.com/eventPromocode: PODCAST

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 success as a luxury travel advisor.

Meredith and Nancy unpack what luxury travel advising actually looks like behind the scenes, from cultivating hotel partnerships and creating personalized VIP experiences to confidently narrowing your niche and knowing when to say no. Nancy also shares how focusing on Europe and luxury hotel bookings helped her create a business that aligns with both her expertise and the lifestyle she wants to build.

The conversation also explores the value of preferred partner programs, the difference between being a “booker” and a true advisor, and why strong client relationships continue to fuel Nancy’s business almost entirely through referrals.

Whether you’re new to the industry or refining your own luxury niche, Nancy’s story is a thoughtful look at how clarity, professionalism, and genuine care can create a sustainable and fulfilling travel business.

Nancy's website: https://inspiredstepsluxurytravel.com/

Sign up for TBU LIVE with promocode PODCAST for $20 off your ticket: https://www.giftedtravelnetwork.com/event

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.

This episode is a heartfelt reminder that travel advisors are not just planning trips. They are building businesses, advocating for clients, creating meaningful experiences, and helping move the travel industry forward. Whether you’re a new advisor or a seasoned business owner, this conversation is a celebration of you and the work you do.

📖 Free Chapter: https://tinyurl.com/4pbvtr8fTBU

Live Tickets: giftedtravelnetwork.com/event

Promocode: PODCAST

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.

They also explore:

• Why many advisors stay stuck in the break-even phase

• How to think about revenue, expenses, and real profitability

• The impact of sales yield and where money is often left on the table

• Why systems and processes matter more than most realize

• What to consider before scaling or building a team

Carol’s perspective is both practical and direct, offering a clear reminder that success in this industry is not just about selling travel, it’s about running a business.

If you’ve been busy but not seeing the financial results you expected, this episode will challenge how you think about growth and help you refocus on what actually moves your business forward.

Sign up for TBU LIVE with promocode PODCAST for $20 off your ticket: https://www.giftedtravelnetwork.com/eventCarol's website: http://mckeetravel.com/

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 role of community in long-term success, and how Sarah is creating more meaningful experiences through long-term travel planning for her clients.

If you’ve ever wondered how to create more flexibility, grow with intention, and build a business that fits your life, this episode will give you a grounded and practical perspective.

The Keys to Travel website: https://thekeystotravel.com/

Sarah's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahrosekey

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.

Beyond insurance, this episode explores how thoughtful touches like gifting can strengthen client relationships, what it really looks like to scale before you feel ready, and why many advisors get stuck when they don’t know their next step.

This episode is a reminder that building a successful travel business is not just about booking trips. It is about protecting your clients, creating meaningful experiences, and making decisions that support long-term growth.

🔗Roseann's website: https://www.sundrenchedtravel.com/