Humans of Travel

Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff of Humans of Travel, is running a 10-part mini-series on the 2026 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which recognize some of the most forward-thinking and impactful travel advisors in the U.S. The Trendsetter Awards celebrate outstanding advisors across five unique categories: Best Targeted Marketing Idea Best Group Booking Effort Upward Bound: Rockstar Advisor Under 40 Saving the Day Best Use of Social Media This episode features Katy Caldwell-Cole, founder of Touring Folk, who was nominated in the Saving the Day category. Episode sponsor: Brendan Vacations RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE TravelAge West Wave Awards TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards Also From TravelAge West: In 3 Years, This Travel Advisor Built a $9 Million Business With Just 6 Clients. Here’s How. ABOUT YOUR HOST  Chelsee Lowe is Senior Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She’s an avid reader, writer, interviewer and traveler. Los Angeles is her home base. The TravelAge West team also produces travel industry events, including Future Leaders in Travel, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. ABOUT THE SHOW  TravelAge West’s award-winning podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As chief revenue officer for WorldVia Travel Network, Joshua Harrell guides travel advisors through the twists and turns of running a business. But his own entrepreneurial journey — including stints in the cosmetics, retail and entertainment industries — wasn’t always easy. In this episode, Harrell reflects on his early career, sharing the achievements, missteps and lessons learned along the way (ex: “Don’t become a branding expert before making a sale!” and “Don’t abandon an idea the moment it gets tough!”). Listeners will hear Harrell speak candidly about the excitement and challenges of building and supporting multiple businesses, why mentorship and continuous learning have shaped his leadership style and what it takes to succeed as a travel advisor. He also breaks down the concept of “travel marketeering,” along with WorldVia’s robust suite of support tools designed to help advisors thrive. This episode is sponsored by Air France - KLM. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Travel Marketeering: A Complete Guide for Starting (or Refreshing) Your Travel Agency Travel Marketeering Live on YouTube WorldVia Travel Network Harrell on Instagram ABOUT YOUR HOST  Emma Weissmann is the Executive Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly, and the Editor-in-Chief of print publication AGENTatHOME.TravelAge West also produces events including Future Leaders in Travel, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala ad the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.  ABOUT THE SHOW  TravelAge West’s award-winning podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey everyone, it's Emma Weissmann, the host of Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series from Humans of Travel. This episode features Tom Ho, luxury travel advisor at Protravel International and Global Travel Collection (GTC), who was recently cast in the newest season of "1st Look Presents: Extra Mile Club” on NBC.  During this episode, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at the audition, filming and production process of the reality television show, where GTC advisors compete to win the business of celebrity clients. Ho's episodes air on Dec. 13 (part one) and Dec. 20 (part two) following Saturday Night Live on NBC, and can be streamed via Peacock and YouTube. This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE 1st Look Presents: Extra Mile Club Protravel International Global Travel Collection Contact Ho on Instagram: @ThomsTravel ABOUT YOUR HOST  Emma Weissmann is the Executive Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly, and the Editor-in-Chief of print publication AGENTatHOME.TravelAge West also produces events including Future Leaders in Travel, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala ad the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.  ABOUT THE SHOW  TravelAge West’s award-winning podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey everyone, it's Emma Weissmann, the host of Humans in the Hot Seat. During this episode, you'll hear from Malia Asfour, managing director of the Jordan Tourism Board in North America. Right now, Jordan is — as my friend Brinley Hineman at Travel Weekly says — a casualty of the war next door. The country is coming off of hosting the GX Summit a few weeks ago with G Adventures, and I wanted Malia to come on the podcast to explain what the state of Jordan tourism is right now, how travel advisors can learn more and how they can best educate their clients about the situation on the ground.  This episode is sponsored by Europe Express. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Jordan Tourism Board Contact JTB: Omar@visitjordan.com, malia@visitjordan.com Tourism Cares' Meaningful Travel Map of Jordan ABOUT YOUR HOST  Emma Weissmann is the Executive Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly, and the Editor-in-Chief of print publication AGENTatHOME.TravelAge West also produces events including Future Leaders in Travel, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala ad the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.  ABOUT THE SHOW  TravelAge West’s award-winning podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff of the Humans of Travel, is currently running a 10-part mini-series on the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which recognizes some of the most forward-thinking and impactful travel advisors in the U.S. Each year, the Trendsetter Awards recognize outstanding travel advisors across five unique categories:  Best Targeted Marketing Idea Best Group Booking Effort Upward Bound: Rockstar Advisor Under 40 Saving the Day Best Use of Social Media Listeners will hear directly from this year's finalists about what makes their work stand out, including the creativity, the dedication, and the stories behind their nomination. This episode features Kaitlyn Metzler of Travelmation, who is nominated in the Best Group Booking Effort, along with colleagues Kelly Kirk and Aurora Brick. This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Travelmation Contact Metzler: kaitlynmetzler@travelmation.net Veterinary CE at Sea on Facebook ABOUT YOUR HOST  Emma Weissmann is the Executive Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly, and the Editor-in-Chief of print publication AGENTatHOME.TravelAge West also produces events including Future Leaders in Travel, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala ad the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.  ABOUT THE SHOW  TravelAge West’s award-winning podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff of the Humans of Travel, is currently running a 10-part mini-series on the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which recognizes some of the most forward-thinking and impactful travel advisors in the U.S. Each year, the Trendsetter Awards recognize outstanding travel advisors across five unique categories:  Best Targeted Marketing Idea Best Group Booking Effort Upward Bound: Rockstar Advisor Under 40 Saving the Day Best Use of Social Media Listeners will hear directly from this year's finalists about what makes their work stand out, including the creativity, the dedication, and the stories behind their nomination. This episode features Mallory Wheeler of Kingdom Luxe Travel, nominated in the Upward Bound, Rockstar Advisor category. This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Contact Wheeler: mallory@kih-llc.com Wheeler on Facebook Kingdom Luxe Travel ABOUT YOUR HOST  Emma Weissmann is the Executive Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly, and the Editor-in-Chief of print publication AGENTatHOME.TravelAge West also produces events including Future Leaders in Travel, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala ad the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.  ABOUT THE SHOW  TravelAge West’s award-winning podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff of the Humans of Travel, is currently running a 10-part mini-series on the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which recognizes some of the most forward-thinking and impactful travel advisors in the U.S. Each year, the Trendsetter Awards recognize outstanding travel advisors across five unique categories:  Best Targeted Marketing Idea Best Group Booking Effort Upward Bound: Rockstar Advisor Under 40 Saving the Day Best Use of Social Media Listeners will hear directly from this year's finalists about what makes their work stand out, including the creativity, the dedication, and the stories behind their nomination. This episode features Beci Mahnken of MEI-Travel, nominated in the Best Targeted Marketing Idea category. This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Beci Mahnken on Instagram ABOUT YOUR HOST  Emma Weissmann is the Executive Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly, and the Editor-in-Chief of print publication AGENTatHOME.TravelAge West also produces events including Future Leaders in Travel, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala ad the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.  ABOUT THE SHOW  TravelAge West’s award-winning podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Smotrys, managing director and senior vice president, commercial for the Americas at HX Expeditions, has decades of experience in the cruise industry — but his first taste of travel came in the form of roadtrips up the California coast. And his first time on a cruise ship? During his senior prom, onboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. In this episode of Humans of Travel, Smotrys reflects on his career journey, his passion for expedition cruising and how a pandemic-era social media post led him to meet his now-wife, Emmy. He also speaks about the evolution of the 130-year-old HX Expeditions (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions), how the company is redefining what it means to explore remote parts of the world and why travel advisors shouldn’t be afraid to sell expeditions — even to clients who don’t consider themselves “adventurous.” This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE HX Expeditions Smotrys on LinkedIn @emmyandstevestravelcravings on Instagram ABOUT YOUR HOST  Emma Weissmann is the Executive Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly, and the Editor-in-Chief of print publication AGENTatHOME.TravelAge West also produces events including Future Leaders in Travel, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala ad the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.  ABOUT THE SHOW  TravelAge West’s award-winning podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.