With AI woven into almost everyone's workflow now, I’ve seen three groups emerge: people who want nothing to do with it, people using it well, and people who think they're using it well... but don't take the time to check that the output actually makes sense. If you are worried you may be falling into that last group, this one’s for you.

This five-day immersive learning experience will be hosted aboard the fully-chartered AmaWaterways' AmaSonata, sailing from Budapest, Hungary to Vienna, Austria, March 5–10, 2027. By popular demand, this year's Symposium returns to the theme that launched the event back in 2023, selling group travel.

We talk a lot in this industry about building a business around your life. But what does it look like when your life and your business are intertwined in a way that sustains both?

That's what I kept coming back to in my conversation with Tammy Murphy and Justin Murphy of VIP Travel Experience when they joined me on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast.

There's something about spring that makes us want to clear the clutter and start fresh, and it’s a good idea to apply some of that energy to your business. If you’re feeling motivated to block off some time this month and clear out some cobwebs, here are some places where your travel business could probably use some attention.

When I invited Céleste Auger-Munshi, founder of Indulgent Voyages and Travel MBA mentor at Gifted Travel Network, to join me on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, I expected a masterclass in cruise sales. What I got was something more useful: a look at what it actually means to build a sustainable travel business around a life that doesn't follow a predictable plan.

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend Canva Create in Los Angeles for the first time. I've watched the keynote virtually every year, but there's a depth to this event you can only experience in person, and spending the full day immersed in it did not disappoint.

There is a point in almost every travel advisor’s career where the question shifts.

Early on, we're consumed with the basics. How do I find clients? How do I grow my business? Those are the right questions for that season, but as you grow your business past the break-even phase and continue to build, a deeper question starts to surface:

What am I actually building, and does it fit the life I want?

Charlotte, NC — April 13, 2026 — Gifted Travel Network (GTN), a luxury host agency and professional development platform for travel entrepreneurs, is proud to announce the official launch of Ascend, a new growth-focused program designed specifically for experienced travel advisors ready to elevate their businesses into the luxury market.

There's a question I find myself asking travel advisors more often than almost any other: Are you booking trips, or are you running a business?

It sounds like a subtle distinction, but it truly isn't.

What's the only thing better than a fun fact? A fun fact about marketing. Hear me out…

We're all familiar with Febreze — the magical spray that eliminates odors and instantly freshens your home. It's been around since the late nineties, expanded into dozens of products, and earned enough credibility that cat litters and fabric softeners proudly feature its logo as a signal of trust.

So, you can imagine my surprise when I learned that the initial launch was a total flop.

Gifted Travel Network (GTN), a luxury host agency and professional development platform for travel entrepreneurs, announced that 17 advisors from its network have been named as 2026 Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialists. This list is one of the travel industry’s most respected recognitions, highlighting advisors who demonstrate exceptional expertise in luxury travel planning and the ability to design highly personalized travel experiences for their clients.

Starting a travel business is a brave and often scary step for so many reasons.

You have to learn the industry. You have to learn your clientele. And you have to learn everything that comes with running a business: systems, sales, marketing, finances, and problem-solving, all while showing up fully for people who are trusting you with their most meaningful moments.

When Host Agency Reviews (HAR) launched more than a decade ago, it filled a gap that was causing real damage in our industry. Advisors were making major business decisions based on Facebook chatter, recruiter pitches, or whoever had the shiniest commission split—with almost no way to compare hosts on factors that actually determine long-term success. There was no centralized, unbiased source of information. No transparency around fees, support structures, technology, culture, or what happens after year one.

If you have an insatiable appetite for traveling the world; if friends constantly ask you for travel advice; if you lose hours researching destinations for fun, and creating meticulously planned itineraries lights you up, you’ve probably wondered if this natural gift could become something more.