Emma Weissmann: Managing Editor of TravelAge West

Coming from a family that valued travel as an education tool, Emma shares how this foundation naturally led to her pursuit to meet and interview fascinating humans, write about enchanting places and encourage future leaders in travel via an annual retreat.  

Follow Emma’s life and work here: https://www.emmaweissmann.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-weissmann-51923545/
Email: eweissmann@travelagewest.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_enroute/  

Society of American Travel Writers: https://satw.org/ 
TravelAge West: https://www.travelagewest.com/Emma-Weissmann
Travel Weekly: https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann
Trade Secrets Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trade-secrets-podcast/id1555272051
Jamie Biesiada: https://www.travelweekly.com/Jamie-Biesiada
Northstar Travel Group: https://www.northstartravelgroup.com/
TravelAge West Guidelines: https://www.travelagewest.com/Write-for-us
Mt Kilimanjaro for a Cause: https://www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Adventure-Travel/Up-for-the-Challenge-Climbing-Mount-Kilimanjaro-for-a-Cause
Humans of Travel podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/humans-of-travel/id1496726460
Kristine Karst: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amawaterways-kristin-karst-shares-how-growing-up-behind/id1496726460?i=1000622908501
AmaWaterways: https://www.amawaterways.com/
JR Harris: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/explorers-club-member-j-r-harris-on-living-life-as/id1496726460?i=1000632262042
Explorers Club: https://www.explorers.org/
American Society of Travel Advisors: https://www.asta.org/
Virtuoso: https://www.virtuoso.com/
Family Travel Association: https://familytravel.org/
Adventure Travel Trade Association: https://www.adventuretravel.biz/
Future Leaders in Travel: https://www.futureleadersintravel.com/               
                                                                   
Thank you for listening!  Please take a moment to rate, review and subscribe to the Media in Minutes podcast here or anywhere you get your podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/media-in-minutes/id1555710662  

Transcript

Angela Tuell: 0:05

Welcome to Media in Minutes. This is your host Angela Tuell. This podcast features in-depth interviews with those reports on the world around us. They share everything from their favorite stories to what happened behind the lens and give us a glimpse into their world. From our studio here at Communications Redefined. This is Media in Minutes. Today we are talking with Emma Weissmann. She is an award winning travel writer podcaster and the managing editor of TravelAge West as the host of the Humans of Travel podcast, Emma highlights the success of exceptional individuals within the travel industry. She was recently named a finalist in the category of Best Travel podcast for her work as co-host of Trade Secrets, and received an honorable mention from the Society of American Travel Writers in the category of coverage of diverse communities for TravelAge West, she also produces the annual Future Leaders in Travel retreat and event for the next generation of leaders in the travel industry. Welcome, Emma. I'm looking forward to talking with you today.

Emma Weissmann: 1:11

Hi, Angela. I'm so happy to be here.

Angela Tuell: 1:14

Yes. So I'd like to start with you wear many different hats is managing editor of TravelAge West. Editor of the magazine to podcast hosts on two different podcasts, and you work with the next generation of travel leaders. Let's start with your role as editor of TravelAge West. I just would love if you could walk us through your career briefly and how you ended up there.

Emma Weissmann: 1:37

Sure, so I'm part of a small but mighty team at the publication. We have an editor-in-chief, executive editor, and then I'm managing editor and we also have a senior editor. And we've all been with a magazine for several years, really enjoy our jobs. So TravelAge West is a trade publication for the travel industry and our readers are actually travel agents or we call them now travel advisors. Okay, more like new term for agents.

Angela Tuell: 2:08

Good to know.

Emma Weissmann: 2:08

And I ended - Yes, I know. It's confusing. You know, they say advisor agent, we're talking about the same thing. And I started actually, I was kind of born into the travel industry. So my parents started a travel textbook company in the 1980s called Weissmann travel reports.

Angela Tuell: 2:27

Oh wow.

Emma Weissmann: 2:28

And that was yeah, it's goes way back. That was a subscription service for travel agents who wanted to learn more about what was available for tourism in every country in the world. So they would go travel around, they would update each entry for countries and then they would sell subscriptions to travel agents. So wow, that was happening in the 80s and the 90s. And I grew up, you know, going on press trips with my dad. He's still in the industry. He's over at Travel Weekly, actually. And so I kinda I kind of grew up in the travel space in the travel journalism space, and came to TravelAge West through way of interning at Travel Weekly and National Geographic and doing some freelance writing for travel pubs, but eventually landed at TravelAge West, and I've been there now almost nine years.

Angela Tuell: 3:23

So you grew up getting to go on all of those adventures?

Emma Weissmann: 3:27

Yes, I have been so so lucky, because I was born into a family that really valued travel as an education tool. And I've been able to, you know, kind of step outside my comfort zone at a more earlier age than most, but it's like, anybody who wants to catch the travel bug, you just you can't go back.

Angela Tuell: 3:47

Yeah, I don't think it goes away. So as managing editor, what exactly is your role and responsibilities?

Emma Weissmann: 3:53

So I touched pretty much every part of the TravelAge West brand. So in addition to a print publication, which I write for, and I edit for, we have a pretty robust website where we're uploading stories every day. So I help to manage the editorial calendar for that, assigning out stories to freelancers. In addition to the website and the print version, we produce two podcasts. So I host both of the podcasts. And then I help assist our team with social media and E newsletters and our custom research and our events, which I think we'll get more into. So ya know, it when I say small but mighty, it really is a small but mighty team, because we have a lot on our plates.

Angela Tuell: 4:35

That is a lot. How many freelancers do you think you work with?

Emma Weissmann: 4:38

You know, on any given day, it varies. We have a few that we work with pretty regularly, I'll say maybe five to 10. But, um, I was actually just looking through our exhaustive list the other day and it's, it's at about 75, 75 to 100. And we are always looking for new writers. So if anyone is listening and they are a freelance writer and they have experience in travel and tourism, we're open to pitches, so we can't do it all. So we really depend heavily on our writers.

Angela Tuell: 5:08

Yes. And that's such, there's so many now of freelancers. Could you tell us more about your readers and what you look for in stories?

Emma Weissmann: 5:16

Sure, sure. So, so our readers, are travel advisors, like I mentioned. The majority of them live in the western US, we actually started as a regional publication, but now are a little bit more nationally minded. So travel advisors, and they're kind of coming to us because they're looking for articles that are going to help them do their business better. So professional development pieces, or travel industry news, we're writing to a group of people who are already pretty well versed in the travel industry. And maybe they want to be able to get that next leg up so that when a client walks through the door, they're able to tell them not just the most touristed place in, you know, Paris, for example. But maybe those hidden gems are those under the radar experiences that really elevate a trip. So when we're looking for stories, we want that kind of that extra special edge to the story that's going to take it from just a consumer travel piece that you might read about in you know, an airport magazine or a consumer publication. And what's going to kind of elevate that for someone who's already working in the travel industry, and how can it help their business. Because you think, you know, if you're a Travel Advisor, you're the pro. So their, your clients are coming to you, and they're expecting that you offer something a little bit more than what they can just readily find online. So we're trying to be the liaison to kind of find those stories and find those things, to share it with the agents so that they in turn can share it with their clients.

Angela Tuell: 6:47

Right. And you mentioned, you know, originally, mostly West Coast readers. Does that shape the coverage at all? Or the coverage is really national international now. So that, you know, are there certain places that the West Coast readers tend to favor more? Or, you know, what is what is that like?

Emma Weissmann: 7:07

That's a great question. So, I mean, most of our bread and butter, really, it used to be hotel reviews, cruise reviews, and destination guides. And we find that people who live in the western US if they're selling travel, their clients are mainly heading to Hawaii, Mexico, more adventurous destinations, Asia, and a lot of that has to do with Airlift. Those locations are just closer to the West Coast of the US. So we did a lot of Hawaii, especially and adventure travel, Mexico, all those places I mentioned. But now with the pandemic, we've shifted our editorial strategy a bit to apply to a wider audience. So we are looking at destinations that maybe Western agents aren't selling so much yet, but like are on the horizon or could be trending. So it's really more for a national audience, I would say at this point, and the world has opened up so much and it's become travels become so much more accessible, that we're not really limited to certain destinations, we really are throwing a wide net.

Angela Tuell: 8:10

Yes, yes. So would you consider one of your biggest, I guess I would say, competitors, Travel Weekly?

Emma Weissmann: 8:17

So it's funny because we're actually sister publications. So we work like, for example, a podcast that we produce Trade Secrets, I co host that with a reporter at travel weekly, Jamie Biesiada. So we were like friendly competitors, I would say but we really are, you know, under the same parent company Northstar Travel Group. So we try to help each other out where we can. They are definitely hard news like more of I like to say a New York Times of the travel industry, whereas we might be considered the Travel + Leisure of the travel industry. So a little bit of a different voice. Audience - there is some overlap, its travel advisors, people who work in the travel industry, but they're the ones who are going to be providing your breaking news, you're up to the minute, you know, travel industry pieces on all segments of the industry, whereas we're really kind of honing in on that travel advisor. And we focus a little bit more on features and human interest, I'll say.

Angela Tuell: 9:16

Yeah, those go really well together. So I'm sure you have a lot of the same readers.

Emma Weissmann: 9:21

Yes, yes, definitely.

Angela Tuell: 9:23

Do you have any advice for PR pros reaching out with story ideas?

Emma Weissmann: 9:28

You know, the one thing I'll say because I get about 200 press releases a day.

Angela Tuell: 9:33

Wow.

Emma Weissmann: 9:35

I can tell who knows TravelAge West. Have they taken the time to go on our website? Have they taken the time to read some of my stories to know what I'm writing about and what interests you know, the readers of the magazine? Sometimes we get these pitches where I can just tell that, you know, they don't know TravelAge West is a trade publication. So they're like trying to promote deals for consumers and direct bookings. or maybe they're sending us some, you know, makeup trials or you know, like it has nothing to do even with travels. So it's like I can spot it from a mile away. And if a PR person hasn't taken the time to kind of research the outlet that they're pitching, or they just haven't taken the time to realize this types of stories that we take, it's a, it's so clear from, from the second, I read the first sentence of the press release. So I would say, my advice is just, you know, do your due diligence when you're reaching out to publications to kind of know what they're looking for and their particular angle.

Angela Tuell: 10:35

Yes, and I'm sure that same goes for freelance writers that are wanting to write for the publication, of course.

Emma Weissmann: 10:41

Very true. And we do have guidelines for freelancers that are found on our website, but I can also send anyone interested some something in a PDF format, that's easier that just kind of, you know, hones in on what kind of stories we're looking for.

Angela Tuell: 10:53

Yeah. And we could include that in the show notes. So that would be great.

Emma Weissmann: 10:56

Oh, great, perfect.

Angela Tuell: 10:58

You mentioned that, you know, you write some articles as well. And with the editor role, you have many other other responsibilities. How often are you writing?

Emma Weissmann: 11:06

Oh, that's, that's a good question. So it's, it kind of varies. I mean, I would say, based on my own personal travels, I probably go on between, you know, five and seven trips a year, international trips. So like, I'm kind of, you know, always working with, what have I done? How can I retool this into an interesting article for my readers? But on any given day, if news breaks, or there's a great story angle that works for a travel agent, I'm going to scoop it up and try to schedule some interviews, just you know, on a regular day. So I would say like, it kind of depends. But one to two stories a week, and then the podcasts they come out. One of them comes out every week. The other one comes out every other week. So it's it's always interesting over here. I'm never bored.

Angela Tuell: 11:52

I'm sure. We'll talk about the podcasts more in a minute as well. But as far as the trips, you're open to hosted trips, right? And if so, do you have any advice or pet peeves when it comes to those trips?

Emma Weissmann: 12:06

It's interesting, because I think that my pet peeves, actually more come from sometimes other journalists on a trip, I think. You know, we're being hosted, right? So it's like one of those things where like, you're going to a property and you're there to do a job. If a journalist is treating this, like a vacation, if they're not really tuned in, if they're not, I kind of spot it. And I just feel like this is kind of a job. And there's this misperception that if you're a travel writer, you just get to go on vacation all the time. And that's really not the case. Like, these itineraries are exhausting, but like, you need to be at work when you're on those trips. So I would say like, that's a little bit of a pet peeve in terms of just maybe some other journalists who who have this job. But in terms of like, from a PR perspective, I really appreciate it when somebody who's a public relations professional reaches out to me ahead of time to see if there's a specific angle I'm interested in working with or someone that I want to interview. I don't necessarily like it when they say this is the angle that we want you to take. Because, you know, I know my readers, and I know that we need to be of service to them. So leave leave that to me. But I really do appreciate it when the when somebody is taking that extra step to make sure that I'm getting everything I need.

Angela Tuell: 13:25

Yeah, that's great. And I love I know, sometimes it's not feasible, but we love hosting individual press trips where it can really be tailored to exactly what what is of interest to the journalist or at least, um...

Emma Weissmann: 13:38

Oh those are the best.

Angela Tuell: 13:39

Yeah, and then you can really do think that will be what you're going to write about. Yeah.

Emma Weissmann: 13:45

Absolutely.

Angela Tuell: 13:46

Do you have any - you've traveled so much, and this is a really hard question. But do you have any favorite destinations or places that may have surprised you?

Emma Weissmann: 13:57

You know, I heard somebody say the answer to this question that their favorite places the place they're going next and I really loved that. I am feeling so grateful to have the opportunity to go to Antarctica in February so that -

Angela Tuell: 14:10

Oh wow.

Emma Weissmann: 14:11

I am so excited. So so excited about that. I've wanted to see Antarctica my whole life. But favorite destination that I've been to the most meaningful for me it was a trip actually right before the pandemic and 2020 I climbed Kilimanjaro with my dad and one of my brothers.

Angela Tuell: 14:30

Wow.

Emma Weissmann: 14:31

Oh it was Angela I'm telling you like trip of a lifetime. I, Antarctica might top it. But like I truly felt on top of the world no pun intended when when you do something that is so mentally and physically taxing. Yeah, and then it's in such a beautiful environment like that was just a once in a lifetime trip and probably my favorite and might hold the crown as my favorite for my life.

Angela Tuell: 14:59

How many days did it take to climb?

Emma Weissmann: 15:01

So it was eight days. So it's really, it is a commitment. And I will say anyone can do it, it's it's one of those, it's not a technically challenging mountain, it's, you know, you if you're pretty fit, you can do it. It's altitude, that's really going to get you. But I did train for it. And I, you know, worked with a trainer who specialized in mountain climbing, and he really, really helps me out. So I guess my biggest advice to someone considering it is, you know, make sure that you're prepared physically, make sure that you have your altitude medication, if you're able to have that if you're not allergic to it. And just enjoy the experience. It is unlike anything and and I think a lot of people are intimidated by something like that. But you know, it's it's accessible. It's acceptable. If you're relatively relatively fit and have an interest in it, I would highly recommend it.

Angela Tuell: 15:52

That's amazing. Did you write a story about it?

Emma Weissmann: 15:55

I did. I did. And the angle actually is we did it on a fundraising climb. So we raised money for Tourism Carers is a travel industry nonprofit that promotes sustainable and responsible travel. So we ended up raising, I think it was a little bit over $30,000 for that, and that made it you know, even more special and meaningful to us.

Angela Tuell: 16:15

Yes. And we'll put the link in our show notes definitely to that article.

Emma Weissmann: 16:20

Oh, thank you. Thank you.

Angela Tuell: 16:21

So we can all read more about it if if we haven't yet. I also saw that you are actually a California transplant and from, with Midwestern roots, where did you grow up?

Emma Weissmann: 16:32

Yes. So I grew up outside of Chicago in a suburb called Naperville. And -

Angela Tuell: 16:37

Yes.

Emma Weissmann: 16:38

Yeah. Are you familiar with Naperville?

Angela Tuell: 16:39

I'm very familiar. I live in Indianapolis. And I grew up in northern Indiana. So we went to Chicago quite often.

Emma Weissmann: 16:46

I knew I liked you. I feel like the Midwesterners, you know, it's kindred spirits.

Angela Tuell: 16:51

Right?

Emma Weissmann: 16:51

No, I grew up outside there. And actually TravelAge West brought me out to Los Angeles, where I live now. And it's funny because I still like consider myself like a Midwesterner and when people ask me where I'm from I almost want to say Chicago, even though I've been here for almost a decade. But -

Angela Tuell: 17:10

Oh, wow.

Emma Weissmann: 17:10

It's like, I don't know if I can go back to that.

Angela Tuell: 17:13

Right. Right. It's bad. We're already down to I think 16 degrees as the low today.

Emma Weissmann: 17:20

Oh, my gosh, and it's 70 here. So I'm like this is just...

Angela Tuell: 17:22

Oh, I do not want to hear that.

Emma Weissmann: 17:24

Yeah. In almost December. So I'm like, Ah, like winter. I don't know. I don't know. I mean, I guess if you have a really good coat it doesn't matter, but

Angela Tuell: 17:33

I don't know. A lot of, a lot of times my husband and I look at each other and we ask why we live here. You know how much nicer it would be to live where it's warmer year round. So

Emma Weissmann: 17:43

Come on over to California anytime.

Angela Tuell: 17:45

Yes, I will. So let's talk a little bit about podcasting. As you mentioned, you're a podcaster through your role of TravelAge West to two podcasts, host of Humans of Travel, co-host of the Trade Secrets podcast. So for those who are not familiar, and we'll definitely include them in the show notes, but please tell us more about both.

Emma Weissmann: 18:05

Sure. So Humans of Travel is just solely produced by TravelAge West. It's our publications, like flagship podcast and what it is, is one on one interviews with people who work in the travel industry. So it's kind of like this podcast like kind of industry specific in a way and, you know, we just want to hear some interesting stories. So it's a little bit like Armchair Expert, if you're familiar with Dax Shepherd's podcast. It's, it's just you kind of get to know somebody on a deeper level. Maybe you've heard their name, maybe you've seen them on stage at a conference, but who are they really? Like, let's peel that back and learn about how they came to be who they are. What was their career, like? What were the challenges they faced, were there any meaningful relationships in their life? So that one is, it's so fun, it's so interesting, it just like, really opens my eyes to just all the amazing people in the travel industry, who all have really incredible stories. So that's Humans of Travel. Trade Secrets, is a professional development podcast for travel advisors. And I mentioned earlier that it's co-produced with Travel Weekly. So it's a Q&A style podcast. My co-host, Jamie and I like to say it's kind of like Dear Abby, but for travel agents. So we have travel agents write in about a business question, like maybe it's, you know, what kind of customer relationship manager do you use? Or how do I break up with a client if something is not working out? Or how do I get new clients if I just started with being a Travel Advisor, and then we'll go and we'll find an expert, a veteran Travel Advisor to come on and answer those questions and we'll just have a conversation based around a specific business topic. And that one is so fun because Jamie is one of my best friends both in work and life, like we just really, really get each other so I love being able to host that podcast with her. And I think it's really resonated with the travel agent community. Like it's, it's, it's really cool to see the download numbers go up and to hear people, you know, writing in and saying I love that episode and it gave me the confidence to, you know, get a mentor or push myself out of my comfort zone and start selling a different type of travel. Like that's so rewarding. So both of these podcasts truly are like, one of my favorite parts of the job for sure.

Angela Tuell: 20:29

Yes, it makes it makes it all worth doing when you hear, when you hear from them and know that you're helping others. But the Humans of Travel, what have been maybe one or a couple of of your most impactful interviews, maybe?

Emma Weissmann: 20:45

Yeah, so there are two that come to mind. And they're both relatively recent. One I interviewed Kristin Karst, who is the co-owner of the river cruise line AmaWaterways. And, you know, I had traveled with Kristin on an Ama ship, and we saw each other over the years at different conferences. But when we talked during the podcast, she shared with me a lot about her childhood growing up behind the Iron Curtain. She lived in Eastern Germany and was there when the wall fell down when the Berlin Wall fell down. And it was so fascinating to hear that part of her life because she is just, if you know her, she's this warm, bubbly, really caring, really, really sweet woman with the most positivity of anyone I think I've ever met. And that's what you see with her. And she is that way, but just to know, kind of where she came from. And to hear her talk about such a completely different environment was just, it was just so interesting. And I think it resonated with the agents as well. Because, you know, we just could just see a new side of a person who we think we know really well. So I love that one. And then the one other that I'll mention is one of my most recent episodes. And that was with JR Harris. He's a member of the Explorers Club. It's like a kind of like a social club for travelers and it's global. And it has a lot of different like members from like James Cameron, you know, his work with the Titanic, to Neil Armstrong, like, it's got all these incredible people in it. But JR, he's in his 70s and he is just a Trekker. And what he does, which is fascinating to me, is he shows up in a really remote environment somewhere, you know, like the country in Mongolia or something like that. He shows up to a village. He they don't know he's coming. And he just kind of brings everything he needs on his back, his tent, his food, everything. And he just observes the culture. And he, you know, participates with the locals. And it's such a unique way of traveling. And I loved hearing hearing about it. So I think those were kind of my two most recent, maybe not favorites, but just like meaningful.

Angela Tuell: 22:52

Yeah, well, I'll definitely link to those. And I haven't heard that second one yet. So it sounds very interesting. Definitely be listened to.

Emma Weissmann: 22:58

Yeah, let me know what you think he is a fascinating human.

Angela Tuell: 23:01

Yeah. So are you open to pitches on guests for the podcast?

Emma Weissmann: 23:07

I am. Yeah. So it's a little harder with Trade Secrets because that's really, really, really travel agent focused.

Angela Tuell: 23:14

Right.

Emma Weissmann: 23:14

So we kind of, you know, we're like taking in these travel agent questions. And we have to decide what our topics are based on the questions we receive. And then you know, if there's an expert that someone's pitching, say, like a marketing expert, and someone's pitching us and saying this person is really great at, you know, b2b marketing in the travel industry, if you ever heard doing a topic along the line, and I would like this person to be considered like, we were very open to that. With Humans of Travel, I mentioned when I get a press release, I can tell from a mile away, if they're familiar with travel age West, the same thing goes with Humans of Travel, I get pitched for humans all the time. But Humans of Travel is not a product oriented podcast. So if someone's pitching us for that podcast, and they want them to talk about a specific hotel, or a travel trend, it's not a fit. So it kind of all just depends on if it would be a fit for either of them and the angle that we're taking with them.

Angela Tuell: 24:15

Yeah, that makes sense. I would love to talk a little bit about travel advisors in general. And you know, there is, I don't know how much of a majority it is or minority, but some hesitation for travelers to use them. I would love your insight.

Emma Weissmann: 24:32

Yeah, you know, it is so disappointing when when I hear that. And I hear that you know, people who are millennials or people who like there's, there's a lot of it's it's like this perception that only like retirees use travel agents or you only use them for those big ticket items like that safari, or that honeymoon or that anniversary trip. But travel advisors provide so much value when you hire them. It's taking all the guesswork out of planning travel. So a lot of times I hear why would I pay somebody to plan a trip when I can just do the research myself? Well, the travel advisor has those relationships with suppliers that are able to elevate their offering. Maybe you get an upgraded room, they know the property really well so they'll know exactly which room is going to face, the ocean and not the one that's going to face the party pool. You know, like those kinds of things aren't really online necessarily.

Angela Tuell: 25:30

Right, right.

Emma Weissmann: 25:30

Then if anything goes wrong when you're on the road. Let's say that, you know, your something happens with your flight, and you need to be rebooked or something happens at the hotel, the there's construction or something that you weren't anticipating, you have somebody to call, who already has that relationship with that airline, with that hotel, who's basically just going to be your advocate. I think another kind of a perception is that travel advisors are more expensive to use. They actually save you an average of about $480 per vacation, that figure comes from the American Society of Travel Advisors. A lot of them, some of them do charge fees, planning fees, but it might be $100, it might be $250, you know, we want to pay them for their time for sure. Some of them don't charge any fees at all, but they just take their commission directly from the suppliers. So they all have different business models. And it would behoove you to do some research on a travel advisor before you start to book with them to make sure it aligns with what you need. But I can't think of any time when you're not using a travel advisor is a better idea than using one. I am such an advocate for them. And I just think more people need to know just how much value they provide, especially these days when there's just so many different rules and regulations, routes across countries. Like you just want to have someone in your corner and you want to have someone with the answers. And just to take the guesswork out of everything. So if anything from this podcast, if it inspires one person to use an advisor for their next trip then I'll sleep well tonight.

Angela Tuell: 27:03

Good, good. And I know, you know, reviews are becoming more and more, I don't want to say untrustworthy, but sometimes you don't know and they can be paid for or bought or, or that sort of thing. So I think the lines, there are blurring too. If you're doing your own research, you know.

Emma Weissmann: 27:23

No, completely. And it's kind of like I mean, travel advisors, some of them do this kind of on the side, they're like this is kind of their side hustle with, you know, their corporate job, or whatever it is, but a lot of them are devoted to this as a career choice. They're doing this day in and day out. They're studying products, they're studying companies, they're figuring out different itineraries. And they really take the time to qualify their clients and make sure that whatever trip they're proposing is going to be the right match for the client because they want the client to be happy at the end.

Angela Tuell: 27:55

Right, right.

Emma Weissmann: 27:56

You know, it is true, though, what you said like you don't, you can't always trust what you're reading online. But if you find a Travel Advisor you really connect with, the trust is there and then you'll be loyal to that advisor for life.

Angela Tuell: 28:09

Yeah. Do you have advice on finding the best one?

Emma Weissmann: 28:12

Come to me, I'll set you up. I know a lot of them. No, but I mean it kind of depends what you're looking for. If you are more luxury minded then a Virtuoso travel advisor is probably going to be your best bet. The Family Travel Association has an entire listing of travel advisors who specialize in family travel, the Adventure Travel Trade Association has a whole list of advisor members that specialize in adventure travel. Like it really kind of depends on the trip you're looking for. Most travel advisors do specialize in something whether that's all inclusives, cruising, Caribbean, Europe. So come, yes, come to me if you if you want to. But there's definitely ways and those three resources that I mentioned are three ways to go about it. But there are so many more, it's hard to pick.

Angela Tuell: 29:01

Thank you. That's such great advice. And before we go, I would love to know about the Future Leaders in Travel retreat. Can you tell us more?

Emma Weissmann: 29:10

So it's an event for the next generation of leaders in the travel industry, both advisors and suppliers. We handpick and invite travel advisors between the ages of 22 and 40 to come for three days of networking, educational workshops, general sessions and one on one appointments with travel suppliers, so cruise lines, hotels, consolidators, everyone that you're going to want to meet when you're starting your career in the travel industry to really propel you to that next level. And we've been doing this event for we're going into our seventh iteration of it next year. So we started in 2018 and we've just seen it really grow and you know, the caliber of advisors who attend it's just, it's outstanding. This year, the I want to say 64 advisors that we had represented about $50 million in sales in 2022. But 43% of them had only been in the industry for three years or less.

Angela Tuell: 30:12

Wow.

Emma Weissmann: 30:13

Very impressive, super impressive group. And the editorial team is the one that plans all of the content, the educational content. So if you're interested in learning more, I would encourage you to head to Future Leaders in Travel.com. If you're an advisor or a supplier, and you want to join us next year in the Dominican Republic, the applications will open next year for advisors, and then suppliers. It is a paid opportunity to get in front of these advisors. So happy to provide more information on that.

Angela Tuell: 30:43

That's great. And that kind of goes against a myth of if you haven't been in the industry for very long, or that you would want to only work with someone that's been in the industry for a long time, or you know that they're better if they have more years.

Emma Weissmann: 30:55

It's so funny you say that, because that is definitely a thing. But these advisors, I mean, they are entrepreneurs, and they're savvy, and a lot of them came from former careers. And so they're kind of pivoting and they're, they're hungry to learn. And I'm really seeing a lot of ambition from them. And it's, it warms my heart because you know, the travel industry to succeed, like, we need to all collaborate together and new blood has to be continually entering the industry. So I'm very inspired from what I see from that event.

Angela Tuell: 31:24

That's wonderful. So how can our listeners connect with you online? I know there's many different places.

Emma Weissmann: 31:30

Yes. So you can find me on social media. My handle is EmmaEnroute with an underscore so or if you want to say it the French way, en route. So it can be E-MM-A underscore e-n-r-o-u-t-e. I'm also pretty active on LinkedIn. And then if you want to connect with me via TravelAge West, my email is EWeissmann with two S's and two N's at TravelAgeWest.com.

Angela Tuell: 31:59

Thank you so much, Emma, this was very interesting and very helpful.

Emma Weissmann: 32:03

Angela, thank you so much for having me. It's truly been an honor to join you. And yeah, I hope to hear from some of your listeners.

Angela Tuell: 32:14

That's all for this episode of Media in Minutes, a podcast by Communications Redefined. Please take a moment to rate, review and subscribe to our show. We'd love to hear what you think. You can find more at CommunicationsRedefined.com/podcast. I'm your host, Angela Tuell. Talk to you next time.