Articles

In the world of travel entrepreneurship, success stories come in all forms, but few are as inspiring as that of Merry Jennifer “MJ” Markham. A practicing oncologist, MJ discovered that travel was more than just a personal passion - it was a necessity for balance and well-being.

Gifted Travel Network (GTN) distinguishes itself by its deep-rooted commitment to education and mentorship, a philosophy powerfully demonstrated at its third annual Symposium, held March 26 – April 1, 2025. This year's immersive experience took place aboard the Avalon Poetry II river cruise along the Rhône River, beginning and ending in Arles, France.

Motherhood and entrepreneurship—two of life's most demanding yet rewarding paths. For many women, the thought of combining these two paths may seem overwhelming. But for those who take the leap, the rewards can be life-changing.

What happens when a 20-year veteran of the banking industry takes a leap of faith to follow her heart? For Heather Parker, the answer is a successful career as a luxury travel entrepreneur.

At Gifted Travel Network, we believe in the power of collaboration, connection, and continuous growth. That’s why we’re thrilled to bring our Top Producers Club (TPC) together for our Virtual Mastermind Meeting (February 11-12, 2025).

Jen shares her inspiring journey from corporate finance to becoming a top travel advisor. Let’s dive into how she transitioned from managing finances to managing dream vacations for families, and how her passion for travel became a thriving business.

In celebration of January's National Mentoring Month, we’re thrilled to take a moment to express heartfelt gratitude to the incredible mentors of Travel Business University. Week after week, they generously dedicate their time and expertise to support Gifted Travel Network advisors, guiding our members through the ever-changing currents of the travel industry.

The Top Producers Club (TPC) recognizes the network's highest-performing agencies. Million Dollar Advisor (MDA) is a recognition to acknowledge and celebrate the GTN advisors who have surpassed $1 million in 2024 sales.

Trevello World Holdings Inc., parent company of Trevello Canada, the leading host agency in Canada, today announced its acquisition of Gifted Travel Network (GTN), a host agency renowned for its dominance in the luxury travel sector.

In this episode of The Travel Business Unpacked, Meredith Calloway sits down with Emer Coughlin and Dervila Stivers of Celtic Hearts Travel. These inspiring entrepreneurs share how they transformed their passion for travel into a thriving business, becoming top producers in the industry.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to turn your passion for travel into a lucrative career? For Deana King, founder of King Travel Design, that dream is now her reality. After more than 30 years in the corporate world, Deana found herself longing for something more fulfilling, and that's where her journey with Gifted Travel Network began.

As an extraordinary year comes to a close, we reflect on the incredible milestones and defining achievements that made 2024 a standout year for Gifted Travel Network!

Taking the time now to anticipate and plan for 2025 can make a significant difference in how your business thrives throughout the year.

This past month, two of our Gifted Travel Network advisors were invited to attend a customized Familiarization (FAM) trip to Turkey hosted by Northstar Travel Group and Turkish Airlines.

Print advertising remains a powerful tool in luxury marketing, especially for travel advisors looking to connect with high-end clients.

As travel advisors, the decision to change your business name often comes down to staying relevant, standing out in a competitive market, and modernizing your brand image.

Let's journey through some common entrepreneurial fears and explore how they can transform into opportunities with the right guidance and support.

Here are some essential steps travel advisors can take to support their clients when natural disasters strike.

Gifted Travel Network (GTN) proudly announces its latest achievements, winning two Magellan Awards, recognizing excellence and innovation in the travel industry.

Gifted Travel Network (GTN) is pleased to announce its annual Conference will take place September 7 – 11, 2025 in Orlando, Florida at the Conrad Orlando Hotel.

This year, our strong alliance with luxury event company International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) allowed us to send a greater number of our travel advisors to ILTM North America, held in Nassau, Bahamas.

Let's explore what a host agency is and how finding the perfect match is crucial for your business success.

This year’s Gifted Travel Network Conference took place at the Ballantyne Hotel in Charlotte, NC, bringing together 200 guests, including advisors, partners, and team members. The theme was Inspire, Innovate, and Integrate.

This dynamic networking group is specifically designed for GTN advisors, partners, and staff under the age of 40, offering unique opportunities for personal and professional growth, collaboration, and fun.

Whether it's the breathtaking fall foliage, crisp outdoor adventures, or unique seasonal events, these destinations offer the perfect blend of beauty and excitement

The travel industry is bustling with various exciting conferences and events, and every year, the list continues to grow. As thrilling as it is to attend these industry events, there is often a big reality check when an advisor returns home and must not only do all the follow-up to maximize their experience but also catch up after several days of being out of the office...

Inc. revealed this week that with a three-year revenue growth of 631 percent, Gifted Travel Network (GTN), the premier host agency for luxury travel advisors, ranks No. 773 on the 2024 Inc. 5000 list.

Gifted Travel Network (GTN), the premier host agency for luxury travel advisors, is thrilled to announce a strategic partnership with Tern, the all-in-one platform revolutionizing the travel industry

In a strategic collaboration within the Gifted Travel Network (GTN), Sandy Lipkowitz of We Make Travel Easy has joined forces with Lise-Marie Wertanzl and her daughter Sterling Wertanzl of Sterling Journeys.

Gifted Travel Network (GTN) is pleased to announce its third annual Symposium will take place March 26 – April 1, 2025 aboard the fully chartered Avalon Poetry II.

From welcoming a new Travel MBA cohort in April to attending the Virtuoso Symposium in Dubai, our team was constantly on the move this quarter. Here are some of the highlights...

Gifted Travel Network is pleased to announce its host agency was listed in the Travel Weekly 2024 Power List, ranking the industry’s top retail travel agencies.

In this masterclass, Meredith answers the four pressing questions that may be holding you back from turning your passion for travel into a legitimate, thriving career.

GTN's CEO Jen Cochrane visited the first SIRO One Za’abeel Hotel in Dubai. So, we asked her to give us all the details and share her honest review of her stay and why advisors should consider SIRO for their clients.

We are honored to announce that Gifted Travel Network (GTN) has been nominated for a 2024 Virtuoso Award in the category of Respected Agency Culture. This recognition highlights the true strength and value of the GTN community.

For the third year in a row, Gifted Travel Network (GTN) attended PROUD Experiences, an LGBTQ+-focused luxury travel show held each year during Pride month.

Gifted Travel Network (GTN) is proud to recognize its Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Vanessa McGovern, for being awarded the Barbara O’Hara Advocacy Award at the 2024 American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) Annual Conference in Dallas, TX.

Learn all about expedition cruising! Get answers to your questions on the best destinations, what to expect on board, and how these adventurous journeys redefine travel

What to do when your dream destination is sold out or seems overrated. The solution? A travel advisor! These experts can help you discover alternative destinations that offer the same, if not better, experiences.

Gifted Travel Network is excited to announce its partnership with Voyager Social, known for its innovative artificial intelligence engine Toby AI.

The Charlotte Business Journal's Most Admired CEO Awards program recognizes established leaders in the Charlotte region who have demonstrated a strong vision for their companies and a commitment to the community.

As a host agency, we accept travel advisors who are both new to the industry and those who are already established in their businesses. Last year, we were excited to welcome Robin Hutson, Founder of Luxe Recess, to Gifted Travel Network (GTN).

Welcome to another edition of our Inside Scoop Youtube Live Series! Today you will hear from six GTN advisors who were most recently named 2024 Conde Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialists!

From deductions to deadlines, this article offers essential insights to help travel entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of tax season with confidence and ease.

From exclusive FAMs to our newest Travel MBA cohort, here's what GTN has been up to in Q1 of 2024!

Unveil the allure of luxury travel with our latest blog post! Delve into the highlights and insights from Symposium 2024, hosted aboard the AmaWaterways' AmaMora river cruise ship.

GTN celebrates Women's History Month with heartfelt tributes to industry "Sheroes"— women who inspire, lead, and empower.

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.

In honor of March being International Women’s Month, we celebrate the significance of working at Gifted Travel Network (GTN), a women-owned and women-led company.

Gifted Travel Network (GTN) is pleased to announce that Erica Whitaker, Director of Partner Relations will be representing Gifted Travel Network at the Forbes Travel Guide Summit at Resort World in Las Vegas, Nevada, this week.

Entrepreneurship offers the promise of freedom to do what you want, when you want, how you want, etc. It also offers the satisfaction of building an outlet for one’s passions and the fulfillment of making a positive difference in the lives of others.

This Mastermind meeting is a unique opportunity for our TPC members to come together to work ON their business vs. IN their business. As a result, here are some of the key takeaways our advisors and staff shared from attending this meeting...

Mooresville, NC - February 15, 2024 — Gifted Travel Network (GTN), the premier host agency for luxury travel advisors, is excited to announce the launch of its new Partner Resource Guide.

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. After all, the travel advisor is the one who serves the clients, making the bookings that bring in the money!

GTN travel advisors now have best-in-class technology to support their client engagements

Everyone who decides to start a career as a travel agent usually shares this common denominator: a love for travel. Close behind that is the desire for entrepreneurship. Most often, you are the go-to person among your friends and family to book all trips and vacations. Then there's a realization...

Mooresville, NC (February 1, 2024) – Gifted Travel Network (GTN) is proud to announce its 2024 Top Producers Club (TPC) while also unveiling a new designation within the network: Million Dollar Advisor (MDA).

Discover success in travel entrepreneurship with Gifted Travel Network's Travel Business University's expanded mentor lineup.

Embarking on a journey as a travel advisor is exhilarating, but sustainable success hinges on more than just crafting itineraries. Dive into our latest blog, where we show you the transformative power of mastering your message.

From Mykonos, Greece, to Mooresville, NC, discover the triumphs and milestones that defined our journey at Gifted Travel Network in 2023.

Unveiling the top luxury hotels of 2023! Explore handpicked elite hotels recommended by our advisors for a lavish escape you won't forget!

Gifted Travel Network (GTN) proudly announces its ranking as #10 on the Charlotte Business Journal's 2023 "Fast 50" List of Fastest Growing Private Companies.

Site inspections allow travel advisors the opportunity to qualify and evaluate a specific hotel, resort, attraction, etc, to ensure it is the perfect fit for their clientele. Chances are you're familiar with the term, but what exactly do they entail?

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.