Modern Travel Agent Podcast

About Modern Travel Agent Podcast

The Modern Travel Agent Podcast is designed to educate, inspire, and elevate today’s travel professional. Hosted by Chris Dehner of Modern Travelworks, each episode explores the business side of travel, from supplier insights and destination trends to marketing, sales, and agency leadership, through honest conversations with people shaping the industry. If you’re serious about building a sustainable, profitable travel business, this podcast is for you.

Publisher

Modern Travel Agent

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Jan 2021

Latest episode

8 Jan 2026

Latest episodes

55 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Jan 2026

   Mountain Travel Is Booming: The $85 Billion Trend Travel Advisors Can’t Ignore | Robin Lawther, VP of Expedia TAAP

   In this episode of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast, Chris Dehner sits down with Robin Lawther, Vice President of Expedia TAAP, to explore why mountain travel is quickly becoming one of the most compelling growth opportunities for travel advisors. Drawing from Expedia Group’s Summit Seekers research report, the conversation breaks down the scale of the mountain travel market, traveler booking behaviors, and why this category is uniquely well-suited for advisors. With a significant portion of travelers not destination-decided, booking within shorter windows, and taking multiple trips per year, mountain travel presents a powerful opportunity for advisors to influence decisions, add value, and build long-term, repeat business. Chris and Robin also discuss how mountain travel’s inherent complexity, from seasonality and activities to access and accommodations, creates the ideal environment for advisors to demonstrate expertise, reduce decision fatigue, and give travelers confidence that they’re making the right choices. The episode highlights how mountain travel is no longer limited to winter sports, with summer demand growing rapidly and average daily rates increasing faster than in the winter season, opening the door to new alternatives to traditional beach vacations. The conversation also dives into where mountain travelers are researching trips, including Google, online travel agencies, and social media, and why advisors should proactively market this expertise through content, newsletters, and client education. From boutique hotels and vacation rentals to large group mountain retreats, Chris and Robin outline the accommodation types travelers are prioritizing and why having broad inventory matters. Beyond mountain travel specifically, the episode connects this trend to broader shifts in luxury and consumer behavior, as travelers increasingly prioritize experiences over goods. Robin shares practical next steps for advisors, including leveraging research, client conversations, webinars, and destination education to build credibility and stay ahead of trends. The episode closes with a candid look at the evolving advisor landscape, from side-hustle agents to host agency growth, and why travel continues to show remarkable resilience, even in uncertain times. For advisors looking to expand beyond beach travel, deepen relationships with existing clients, and tap into a high-value, repeat-booking segment, this episode offers both strategic insight and actionable guidance. https://partner.expediagroup.com/en-us/resources/research-insights/mountain-travel-research (https://partner.expediagroup.com/en-us/resources/research-insights/mountain-travel-research) https://partner.expediagroup.com/content/dam/unified/partner/documents/reports/2025-reports/expedia-group-mountain-traveler-research-report_en-us.pdf (https://partner.expediagroup.com/content/dam/unified/partner/documents/reports/2025-reports/expedia-group-mountain-traveler-research-report_en-us.pdf)

2. 

   13 Mar 2025

   The Ultimate Follow-Up Strategy | Turning Leads into Loyal Clients

   Many travel agents lose potential sales simply because they don’t have a structured follow-up system. In this episode, I’ll share why follow-up is essential, the biggest mistakes agents make, and a step-by-step system to turn more leads into booked clients. cale your agency, simplify your workflow, and delight your clients with the industry's newest travel advisor CRM, visit https://www.trazel.com/ (https://www.trazel.com/). This episode is proudly brought to you in partnership with the Dominican Republic Tourism Board. Discover why the Dominican Republic remains the Caribbean’s top tourist destination, welcoming over 11 million visitors in 2024. Learn more at GoDominicanRepublic.com (https://godominicanrepublic.com).

3. 

   2 Dec 2024

   Expedia TAAP & The Future of Luxury Travel | Robin Lawther

   Expedia TAAP Vice President Robin Lawther shares expert insights on how luxury travel is evolving and how travel advisors can meet rising expectations through strategic partnerships and cutting-edge technology.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

17 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 57 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

79

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

85

Contact Modern Travel Agent Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.