Are you a Travel Agent trying to build your niche in the destination wedding and group travel space? Are you looking for guidance and support, but not sure where to turn? Welcome to Flights, the podcast where we uncork the secrets to running a successful Destination Wedding Travel business.
Join respected experts Mario Lopez and Ashley Morris of Destination Wedding University as they bring you the good, bad and ugly of the Destination Wedding and Group segment of the travel industry. Each week, they will dive into the most exciting (and sometimes controversial!) topics facing today’s modern travel advisor. You can expect encouragement, honesty, a dash of tough love now and then, but it will always be served with a side of kindness and laughter. Warning: We keep it real, so this podcast may not always be suitable for little ears!
Don’t forget, if you’re ready to take the next step in your Travel career, one where you can focus on Developing your Niche, Attracting leads, Converting them into new clients, and Automating your systems you can build the business of your dreams. If you’re ready, join us in the Playbook Inner Circle at JoinThePlaybook.com. We can’t wait to see you inside!
Join us for a 3-part series of Episode 7 as we sit down with Dorthy Johnson, Melissa Esposito & Stephanie Kilson-Thomas. During this series, we speak to the agents directly as they tell us their stories of how they got into the business, why they chose to Join the Playbook and how it helped them to leave their full-time positions to follow their passions and find that elusive work/life balance.
13 May 2024
Playbook Success Stories - Melissa Esposito
Join us for a 3-part series of Episode 7 as we sit down with Dorthy Johnson, Melissa Esposito & Stephanie Kilson-Thomas. During this series, we speak to the agents directly as they tell us their stories of how they got into the business, why they chose to Join the Playbook and how it helped them to leave their full-time positions to follow their passions and find that elusive work/life balance.
13 May 2024
Playbook Success Stories - Dorothy J
Join us for a 3-part series of Episode 7 as we sit down with Dorthy Johnson, Melissa Esposito & Stephanie Kilson-Thomas. During this series, we speak to the agents directly as they tell us their stories of how they got into the business, why they chose to Join the Playbook and how it helped them to leave their full-time positions to follow their passions and find that elusive work/life balance.
1 May 2024
BDMs: Tell All!
Mario and Ashley covertly interview hotel and tour operator Business Development Managers to learn what drives them crazy... name have been changed to protect identities! This is a great episode for anyone BDM curious.
Go behind the scenes as we learn about travel agent bad habits that make our supplier partners crazy. This episode is also full of tips on how to partner effectively and how to be the travel advisor your BDMs love to hear from!
Speaking of curiosity, are you interested in learning how to grow your Group Travel business through Destination Weddings? Look no further! Class begins on May 28, 2024 so secure your spot now at JoinThePlaybook.com (https://www.jointheplaybook.com).
24 Apr 2024
Assistants That Work!
It's time for a guest! In this episode, Mario and Ashley chat with Mary Beth Lynn, of Your Vacation Plan and Assistants That Work.
It's a great discussion about the myth of work-life balance, the importance of asking for help, how to know when it's time for an assistant and the most important question -how to afford it. "Zone of Genius" is a big topic here, which is knowing what you're great at and how to eliminate what you hate doing.
Also - as with any guest, the lightning round is back! Are you ready to Niche down and take your travel business to the next level? The Destination Wedding University Playbook is launching live again May 28, 2024! Join us in the Inner Circle at JoinThePlaybook.com (https://www.willmedina.us/join-now)!
17 Apr 2024
Quotes & Proposals
Catch up on Ashley & Mario's dream jobs (outside of travel, obviously), chatter about tequila and follow as they finally get down to business and talk about Quoting and new client Proposals. Mario reveals that he loves it, while Ashley confesses that it's her most hated task.
Learn about how to be more efficient with quotes, how to handle client objections and questions and how to ensure that the couple chooses the resort that works best for them.
PS - The tequila that Ashley was trying to remember is Tesoro Maya.
10 Apr 2024
Working with DMCs (Destination Management Companies)
In this episode, Mario & Ashley talk about DMCs (Destination Management Companies) and how they can make or break your destination wedding travel business.
The decision to use the supplier DMC vs. booking separate transfers can have a HUGE impact on your guest experience ... as well as a group's profitability and bottom line.
We talk about the importance of forming your own transportation relationships, how to efficiently work with suppliers and the three questions a travel advisor should ask any potential DMC partner.
3 Apr 2024
Having a Fam-Tastic Time
Mario & Ashley debate recent wedding trends and what makes them feel old as Destination Wedding travel advisors. This episode jumps right into FAMs and how to make sure you're having a FAM-tastic time and getting the most out of your travel experience. What is a FAM? How do you get invited to one? Who pays? How does it help your business? Mario discuss all of the above and more, including some tips on what NOT to do as you travel with BDMs and other advisors.
STAY TUNED: We will be launching the SIXTH chapter of Destination Wedding University in May - keep listening for more details!
27 Mar 2024
Being Efficient in Engagement Season
We are back for season 2! Mario and Ashley jump into Engagement season, the most important time of the year for Destination Wedding travel advisors! Did you know that half of all engagements happen between Christmas and Valentine's Day? The couples are coming, whether we are ready or not. Mario & Ashley discuss fine-tuning their systems to make the most of the busy season. Ashley talks about a recent family loss and how automation, systems & the Playbook community helped her get through it. This episode is all about finding your brand voice - what it is, how to refine it, and how to create a brand identity that speaks to prospective couples. If you're a travel advisor who wants to break into the world of destination wedding groups, this episode is for you.
STAY TUNED: We will be launching the SIXTH chapter of Destination Wedding University in May - keep listening for more details!
7 Dec 2023
The Art of the Complimentary Consultation
In Part 2 of our Prepping for Engagement Season series, Mario & Ashley tackle everyone's favorite topic: Consultation Skills. As a destination wedding travel advisor, it's critical to have a clear and defined process for your new client consultations.
As we gear up for 2024, we talk about our tips for staying organized, common mistakes and also ways to "sneakily investigate your couples while explaining your services. This episode is great for new and experienced advisors alike - consultations are one of our favorite topics!
29 Nov 2023
Preparing for Engagement Season
Brace yourselves! It's engagement season! Mario and Ashley talk about the steps they are taking to get ready for new couples looking to start planning their destination weddings. Did you know that 40% of couples get engaged during the holidays? That creates a brand new audience of prospective couples who need guidance from a professional travel advisor. This is the time for travel agents to audit their website and social presence, make any needed changes and set goals for the coming year. In this episode, we talk about the average timeline for a destination wedding and how that led Ashley to finally quit her advertising job. We also discuss why it’s important to prepare a pipeline of new couples and Mario sings a jingle. Don't forget to do your research this engagement season! The Knot Real Wedding Survey https://www.theknot.com/content/wedding-data-insights/real-weddings-study (https://www.theknot.com/content/wedding-data-insights/real-weddings-study)
22 Nov 2023
Meet Lynne Chomicz of Classic Vacations
As a travel-industry veteran, Lynne Chomicz of Classic Vacations shares her travel origin story. We talk about how she got started (assisting in a brick-and-mortar travel agency!) all the way up to her years living in Hawaii while supporting event & group travel. With several years at Classic Vacations under her belt, Lynne is uniquely qualified to share upcoming 2024/2025 travel trends and how hotels are (still!) adjusting after the pandemic. There is a healthy debate about the role of a tour operator vs. booking direct and how TOs are evolving for the future. Lightning round: We hear about Lynne's dream bucket list vacation and what she looks for in a 5 5-star hotel. https://www.classicvacations.com/contact-us (https://www.classicvacations.com/contact-us)
15 Nov 2023
Meet Amanda Shuman of Carrylove Designs!
Known for her "strategy first" way of thinking, Amanda chats with us about the importance of branding in your small business.
Amanda is the owner of Carrylove Designs, a Texas-based design and marketing agency focused on web design and rebranding for service-focused businesses. We talk about the struggle of building your personal brand while you're still learning & growing and the importance of being true to yourself in life and in business. Finally, we discuss the marketing mistakes Amanda sees over and over and how to avoid them. Lightning round: Amanda tells the story of a harrowing night stuck on a mountain pass in a Colorado winter, you won't want to miss it!
https://carrylovedesigns.com/resources (https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/ce23974137e3a4e62a2cf4133f94836297c3957e?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcarrylovedesigns.com%2Fresources&userId=805876&signature=900474e26fbf52b2) – Free resources https://carrylovedesigns.com/application (https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/904dd66bc9d73e3a2b405f3e1fb690760fb69c25?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcarrylovedesigns.com%2Fapplication&userId=805876&signature=cd626a77b2c8d849) – Apply to work with CLD https://www.instagram.com/carrylovedesigns/ (https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/bd7e38b1e71479be5185b65fc49567b372bbdeb3?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fcarrylovedesigns%2F&userId=805876&signature=a828fb07960d69a1) – Talk to Amanda
10 Nov 2023
Meet our very first guest, Melissa Lisell, Current Playbook Student!
Melissa is a 2018 playbook graduate and shining star of Lisell Travel. We'll talk about Melissa's pre-travel life as an elementary school teacher and how she transitioned to be a key part of her family's Texas-based travel agency. Melissa explains why she joined the Playbook, even after being an experienced advisor with several years under her belt. She also goes into detail about how the Playbook isn't just about weddings - she successfully applies the learnings to Europe FITs, honeymoons and lots of non-wedding groups each year. Finally, we talk about what it's like to work with your mom AND sister and how boundaries get blurred when your entire family is in the industry. Lightning round: Don't miss the two cities where Melissa would split her time if money were no object, and feel free to comment on our quick dip into sexism in the travel industry. Can't wait for you to listen!
1 Nov 2023
Meet Ashley Morris, Alpaca Your Bags Travel and Destination Wedding University
Episode 2: Meet Ashley Morris, Alpaca Your Bags Travel and Destination Wedding University Continuing from our first episode, Mario turns the tables and interviews Ashley about her new role within Destination Wedding University. We'll talk about Ashley's own history in advertising and how she & Mario "orbited around each other for years" before teaming up under unusual circumstances. Ashley will share more about how she manages Alpaca Your Bags Travel and how her experience as a legacy, OG DWU student changed her business. In a serious moment, Mario and Ashley reflect on why she decided to join DWU in an "official" capacity after Will's passing. Tune in to hear more about Ashley and why she believes in the importance of community, why she's tired of Mario being introduced as "Will's husband" and what cocktail she orders to test a bartender.
1 Nov 2023
Meet Mario Lopez, Destination Weddings Expert and Destination Wedding University
Episode 1: Meet Mario Lopez, Destination Weddings Expert and Destination Wedding University What a wild year 2023 has been. In the premiere episode, join Ashley as she interviews Mario about his unexpected life change and how he's handling the transition at DWE and DWU. We'll talk about Mario growing up in Wisconsin and later moving to Florida as well as his background in advertising and the meandering path he took to get there. Mario will also share the story he and Will met (it's a cute one!) and the leap of faith they took when Mario quit his full-time advertising career to lead Operations at DWE. We also discuss the importance of legacy and what the world can expect from Destination Wedding University moving forward. Tune in to hear more about Mario's world and how it has changed this year, but make sure to listen until the very end ... you won't want to miss Mario's favorite swear word.
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