Articles

Master holiday travel with ease! Tips for stress-free journeys in our ultimate guide so you can navigate the season smoothly.

Naming your travel business involves more than just brainstorming creative ideas. It's a strategic decision that requires careful consideration. In this article, we'll explore five essential tips to help you choose the perfect name for your travel business.

From the colorful fall scenery of New England to the charming streets of European cities, this season the GTN staff traveled near and far...

Are you looking to escape or embrace the cold winter weather ahead? No matter your final choice, we've got you covered with the top 12 must-visit U.S. cities for winter travel in 2023. Starting with...

The last month at Gifted Travel Network has been nothing short of spectacular. After celebrating our 10-Year Anniversary Gala just last week, we're back with more thrilling news to share. Drum roll, please...

If you have been keeping up with "all things" Gifted Travel Network (GTN), then you already know what a memorable day October 11, 2023, was for our host agency. We celebrated our 10-Year Anniversary Gala, where we welcomed staff (both past & present), preferred partners, advisors, and industry colleagues to Mooresville, NC , for an evening filled with celebrations.

Gifted Travel Network (GTN) is pleased to announce a strategic reorganization with the promotion and expansion of multiple staff members' roles and responsibilities

Gifted Travel Network is thrilled to announce its 10-Year Anniversary Gala on October 11, 2023, at The Venues at Langtree located in Mooresville, NC. This event will bring together GTN advisors, staff, and preferred partners from across the United States for an evening of camaraderie, celebration, and recognition...

The purpose of this Inside Scoop Presentation was to share our tips and tricks for planning ahead, attending, and following up on a major industry event like this to maximize your experience!

We asked our expert travel advisors what cities they would advise their clients to visit during the off-season and why? Here is what they said:

Our most recent August Travel MBA Cohort just completed their three-day in-person Jumpstart Orientation. So we wanted to take the time to tell you what to expect during these three days and why they are so critical to your success as a new GTN travel advisor.

When it comes to social media, there are two types of people; those who just “get it,” and there are those who would rather just steer clear....However, for a modern business, it is important to have a social media presence. So, where do you start?

Becoming a luxury travel advisor can promise incredible rewards and upsides and lead to tremendous financial satisfaction. It IS possible to establish yourself as a luxury travel advisor even if you don’t have a client base. What you do need is a success mindset which rarely is inherited but can be cultivated.

As you set your sights on that ultimate vacation, the timing of your planning can make all the difference. So, when's the ideal moment to begin? We asked our network of luxury travel advisors what client trips they are currently planning over a year in advance, and why?

Gifted Travel Network (GTN) is excited to announce the appointment of five distinguished individuals to its Board. As a thriving and rapidly growing host agency, GTN recognizes the value of diverse perspectives to complement the GTN executive team with strategic initiatives.

So, you put together a group trip, and although there was a lot of interest when you started planning it, now you can’t get people to commit when the time comes to put a deposit down. What strategies should you use to fill this group trip?

Recently there has been a lot of buzz centered around the popular subject of AI (Artificial Intelligence), particularly within the travel industry. The question is, "Will AI replace travel advisors entirely?" Well, we are here to tell you...

Welcome to our new monthly series: Advice from our Advisors. Each month, our network of luxury travel advisors will answer your questions on all things travel, sharing their expertise and personal experiences to help make your travel dreams come true.In this inaugural article, we dive into a topic that often arises: the role of travel advisors in today's digital age.

Navigating the travel industry can sometimes feel like deciphering a secret code. With a plethora of abbreviations and jargon floating around, it's easy to get lost in a sea of unfamiliar terms. That's why we've put together this handy glossary of travel industry abbreviations to help demystify the language of the trade.

Welcome to another edition of our Inside Scoop Youtube Live Series! Today you will hear from GTN’s Travel Business University Mentors on their travel advisor start-up strategies and success stories...

Gifted Travel Network is pleased to announce and recognize that two of its members have achieved Virtuoso Cruise Icon Status for 2023. In further highlighting the agency’s commitment to excellence, Gifted Travel Network has been nominated for a prestigious award by Virtuoso as an agency. Additionally, two GTN advisors have been nominated for individual Virtuoso awards representing their outstanding contributions to the industry:

We’re officially halfway through Pride month! Last week, a group of our advisors traveled to Los Angeles for PROUD Experiences, a three-day conference centered around how companies and destinations can do their part to not just make LGBTQ+ travelers feel safe, but also accepted and celebrated.

Some call her mama bear, and others call her the Georgia Bulldogs' football team's biggest fan. Meet Lisa Fletcher, Gifted Travel Networks' first-ever Independent Contractor.

To tip or not to tip, that does seem to be the question. More and more businesses are offering the option for customers to add gratuity to their bill, and while most Americans seem to agree that it’s getting out of hand, this isn’t something that will be cleared up anytime in the near future.

We recently wrapped up the 2023 GTN Elevate Conference in Mykonos, Greece! This was an extraordinary event that left our advisors inspired and motivated to continue pursuing their travel business dreams. Don't worry, we will have a full conference recap coming your way in the next couple of weeks. As we carry forward the momentum of inspiration and motivation, we are eager to delve deeper into the topic that fuels the entrepreneurial spirit. Today, we pose a question to you: What is your dream for your travel business?

You are a successful travel advisor who has worked hard, built up your client list by providing exceptional service, and are continuously getting repeat business and new referrals. However, as your business continues to flourish, you are starting to feel like you’re reaching your limit and can no longer balance your existing clients, new inquiries, and your own travels (both business and personal). So what do you do now? The answer, hire help.

Gifted Travel Network is excited to announce its recent achievement as one of ASTA's Host Partners of the Year. This recognition is a testament to GTN's unwavering commitment to...

In this article, we will focus on the criticality of attending FAMs and hosted experiences in fostering strong connections. So lets begin!

We asked our network of expert travel advisors: If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice when starting your own business, what would you say?

Gifted Travel Network (GTN) is excited to announce that it has been named one of the first Forbes Travel Guide endorsed agencies. Through this endorsement, Forbes Travel Guide will partner with GTN for their upcoming 2024 Symposium: The Business of Selling Luxury Travel.

Meet GTN's Partner Relations Coordinator, Ashlyn Treadaway. Today, we had the chance to ask Ashlyn a few questions about her role, experience in the industry thus far, and how exactly the partner relations team supports GTN and its members.

Are you entrepreneurial-minded? Do you have a passion for travel? Well, it's time for you to hear the inside scoop on becoming a successful luxury travel advisor! Join Chief Visionary Officer, Meredith Calloway for this exclusive presentation designed to focus on the key principals to building and growing a successful luxury travel business.

Group Travel Symposium is the first event of its kind in the travel industry. Learn more about this GTN-exclusive event designed to educate advisors on the business of group travel.

The Condé Nast Travelers annual list of Top Travel Specialists is a highly coveted accolade that recognizes the best luxury travel advisors across the globe. These advisors pull off the impossible and spare you the logistics by providing unparalleled luxury travel experiences through their extensive knowledge, passion for travel, and dedication to the travel industry.

This article discusses the top transferable skills that can help individuals transition into a successful career as a travel advisor. You may be surprised that you already possess most of these skills from your previous or current career and that it may be time for you to explore your next career as a travel advisor!

Whether you're a nature lover, a history buff, or simply seeking a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, here are 10 trending destinations that will make you want to start planning your next adventure now!

Gifted Travel Network (GTN) announced the tenth anniversary of the company's founding during its celebratory network-wide Zoom call onFriday, February 24. GTN plans to celebrate this decade-long milestone all yearlong, culminating in their Gala event on October 11 in Mooresville, NC.

Your Host Agency Conference and education-based learning events are crucial to your overall success and the success of your business! Why? Well, here at GTN...

Here at GTN we are approaching a major business milestone, our 10-year anniversary! With more to come on our anniversary, we decided to begin this celebration by asking our members and partners to share the reasons why they love GTN. There was no shortage of overwhelming support and appreciation for our host agency, partners, and industry as a whole, so let's get into it.

When it comes to your travel business, how do you really know when the time is right to breakup with your host agency? In most cases, you hear advisors say something like “it was just the right time, I knew it was coming and there were so many instances that lead up to this point.” There are many factors that come into play when making this decision, and it is important to recognize what exactly those factors are,

This week, we asked our expert travel advisors what they “must have” in their carry-on bags when they travel. And trust me, their answers did not disappoint! So, let's get into it. What is really worth packing in your carry-on, and what should you skip and leave behind?

Gifted Travel Network is pleased to announce that its 2023 Top Producers Club consists of 40 GTN advisors, all of whom had over $1 million dollars in sales in the 12 month period ending December 31, 2022.

One of the most essential parts of starting a luxury travel business (or any business, for that matter) is creating a unique and professional logo to represent your brand. To ensure your logo is strong, original, and something you won’t have to worry about rebranding in a year or two, we have provided several important do’s and don'ts to keep in mind...

It has been three months since Mallory Cline decided to join the Travel MBA program here at Gifted Travel Network. We took time to speak with her regarding her experience in the program thus far, what she has learned, and accomplished, and what the future holds for her and her business.

Happy New Year, and welcome to 2023! As you take the time to reflect on 2022 and establish new goals for 2023, we want to help! Our network of GTN advisors shared their tips, tricks and best practices to setting themselves (and their businesses) up for success in the new year.‍

The second leg of this trip, Botswana, is complete. Below we want to share Membership Development Coordinator, Heather Kuhlman's journal entries from the second part of her adventure.

This is the second year, Gifted Travel Network has been invited to attend ILTM. The presence from GTN is strong, with 12 advisors, GTN’s Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Vanessa McGovern, and Director of Partner Relations, Erica Whitaker, in attendance.

Gifted Travel Network's Travel MBA Alumn, Bianka Salvador was one of 85 U.S. travel advisors invited to attend the K-Contents Travel Fair in Seoul, South Korea. So how did this amazing opportunity transpire? We spoke directly with Salvador to hear her story.

Gifted Travel Network's Membership Development Coordinator, Heather Kuhlman, shares her journal entries from the first leg of this Hosted Experience to Tanzania.

Gifted Travel Network (GTN) officially announced the launch of their company's strategic rebrand. This rebrand was based on two major factors. The first is the growth Gifted Travel Network has seen post-pandemic. Growth in advisors, overall sales, and staff.

Discover Botswana and Tanzania with a professional photographer. Gifted Travel Network’s (GTN) Membership Development Coordinator Heather Kuhlman will co-lead this 27 day trip with...

This is not the first article about marketing funnels, nor the last. So, let’s do a quick recap...

DUCO France is an invitation-only boutique travel summit in Paris. This exclusive event focuses on one destination itself to promote comprehensive networking surrounding the best of France

This invitation-only event consists of highly curated meetings and incredible networking opportunities with some of the world’s finest luxury hospitality brands. This amazing event will be held at the Fairmont Mayakoba in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, from September 19-22, 2022

We talk about showing love to clients in business, but how often do we think about how a travel agency’s owners and leaders show how much they love YOU? At the heart of every travel agency – whether it is a brick-and-mortar agency, a host agency, or a franchise – is the travel advisor.

Travel advisors are often in "problem-solving" or "research" modes. Are you supported by a group of travel advisors – large or small – who regularly exchange information and ideas? Do you have people who can help and support you on various topics?

There are many reasons to be thankful for working in the travel industry. These are our top 7 reasons to be thankful you work in travel:

Let’s face it: We are a society that judges. We judge businesses based on the elements of their brand. From their website to social media, the way your brand reflects your business is extremely important.

Pioneering education organization the Global Institute for Travel Entrepreneurs (GIFTE) is shutting its doors after nearly 11 years spent helping travel advisors achieve their business and life goals. The GIFTE leadership team—and all of its employees—will now solely focus on serving advisors through GIFTE’s sister company Gifted Travel Network (GTN), an award-winning host agency.

The 2022 PROUD Experiences are a travel industry event like no other. Director of Partner Relations , Erica Whitaker said, "The opportunity to network and have meaningful conversations with destinations and properties on how they are supporting the LGBTQ+ community was so enlightening."

Gifted Travel Network is pleased to announce that three of its own have been nominated for the distinguished 2022 Virtuoso Travel Week Luminaries, Legends, and Leaders Awards.

Gifted Travel Network is excited to announce the promotion and expansion of new roles and responsibilities to seven team members.

Gifted Travel Network is officially a member of the Belmond Bellini Club. This exclusive hotel program only accepts less than 200 travel agencies globally annually.

Gifted Travel Network is excited to announce they are now a member of the Hilton Impresario program. Hilton Impresario is the elite travel industry recognition program that offers exclusive amenities and benefits to its top partners globally.

Tooley has always possessed a love for travel. She officially joined the travel industry at Gifted Travel Network in 2019 as a commission analyst. In three short years, Tooley is now managing all financial accounts at Gifted Travel Network.

Marriott STARS & LUMINOUS is Marriott’s proprietary travel agency program designed to present the highest level of service, experience, and amenities to drive loyalty for the most engaged travel agencies and their valued customers.

Gifted Travel Network is excited to officially announce its membership in the Four Seasons Preferred Partner program! The Four Seasons Preferred Partner program is an exclusive, invitation-only program comprised of high-end travel consultants worldwide.

Hollar, at the time, was the sixth member to join the Gifted Travel Network team. Starting as a Marketing Associate, her creativity, dedication, and willingness to learn promoted her to Digital Marketing Manager. Now, she is the youngest director at Gifted Travel Network and oversees the entire marketing department.