TIQUE Talks: The Business Podcast for Travel Advisors

Thinking about hiring because you’re drowning in inquiries? That’s usually a sign you needed to start months ago. Jennifer and Robin get real about how long it takes to hire and train someone, why “I’ll just hand this off” rarely works, and what to do now if a new team member isn’t in the cards. Ready to get ahead of your next hire? Explore Agency Expansion Academy for a hiring framework, and join the Niche Community for AI trainings and tools to streamline your workflow. Learn More and Pick Your Membership Tier → NICHE COMMUNITYWeremoto → Connecting top-tier talent in Latin America with life-changing remote work opportunities.FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

The right listeners are what create opportunities beyond the downloads.Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors:Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisorsTravel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCsAfter burning out in a high-level corporate career, Sarah Magnoni took a leap into entrepreneurship and built Cobblestones & Castles, a travel business offering immersive, history-focused European group trips for women. Sarah shares how she turned a personal passion into a profitable niche, why she refuses to create cookie-cutter itineraries, and how embracing a little “delusion” helped her sell out trips and build a business entirely her own.About Sarah Magnoni:After decades in advertising technology and moving up the corporate ladder, Sarah walked away from a high-paying leadership role to create her own path. As the founder of Cobblestones and Castles, Sarah helps women travel solo, within a group. With a focus on European history, specifically women's history, her small-group trips include exclusive experiences and private access to authors, historians, and castles. Sarah is also an author and writer and is currently working on her second book.instagram.com/cobblestonesandcastlescobblestonesandcastles.comToday we will cover:(01:30) Transitioning from corporate burnout to full-time travel entrepreneurship(05:00) Building and selling small-group trips for solo women travelers(10:00) Creating distinctive itineraries through strong DMC relationships(18:30) Why niching down makes marketing, supplier selection, and growth easier(29:00) Taking calculated risks and leaning into what is already workingNICHE is Tique’s membership community for travel advisors who want support refining their business, strengthening their positioning, and learning alongside other advisors who are serious about growth. Sarah is a member himself, and many of the strategies discussed in this episode are the kinds of conversations happening inside the community. Learn More and Pick Your Membership Tier → NICHE COMMUNITYFOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

If your calendar is already filling up for next year, when are you going to step back and look at the business you’re building? In this week’s Hot Take, Jennifer and Robin make the case for blocking time now to review your numbers, reset your capacity, and re-fill your cup. They share how to pause discovery calls without leaving inquiries unanswered, and how to tell clients what to expect before you’re out of office.Block the time you need on your calendar now, then tell your current clients and future leads when you’ll be available! Want more conversations and resources like this? Join the Niche community! Learn More and Pick Your Membership Tier → NICHE COMMUNITYFOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors:Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisorsTravel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCsWhen Mer Bleue started growing, founder Dianna Hetzel thought she had everything under control. However, the client inquiries multiplied, her workdays stretched to 15 hours, and costly mistakes began affecting the experience she had built her business around. Dianna joins this episode to talk about the changes that helped her get her time back. She shares how she decided which parts of the business needed her attention, why her first hire was a bigger step than she had planned, and how giving team members ownership of outcomes made delegation work. If your inbox runs your day and you keep telling yourself you can take on just one more trip, this conversation will help you see where support could make a difference!About Dianna Hetzel:Dianna founded Mer Bleue, a luxury travel design studio, with no client list, industry contacts, or sales background. Drawing on 15 years in education and a love of connecting with people, she grew it into a small team creating highly personalized trips. Client relationships remain her favorite part of the job—though finding the perfect hotel comes close.merbleuetravel.cominstagram.com/merbleuetravelToday we will cover:(04:00) The warning signs that growth is stretching you too thin(11:00) How Dianna chose her first hire(17:30) Delegating outcomes instead of individual tasks(24:30) Keeping the client relationship while handing off the details(35:00) Planning time for work that moves the business forwardResources Mention In This Episode:Buy Back Your Time by Dan MartellThe ClickUp Business HubNICHE is Tique’s membership community for travel advisors who want support refining their business, strengthening their positioning, and learning alongside other advisors who are serious about growth. Dianna is a member himself, and many of the strategies discussed in this episode are the kinds of conversations happening inside the community. Learn More and Pick Your Membership Tier → NICHE COMMUNITYFOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Big sales numbers might earn you an industry award, but they don’t necessarily mean your business is healthy. Robin and Jennifer share the four financial metrics every travel advisor should track to understand what’s profitable, what’s sustainable, and where the real opportunities are hiding.Curious what your numbers are actually telling you? Join Robin and Jennifer for the November 5th training inside the Niche community, where they’ll help you analyze your financial metrics and make smarter decisions for 2027! Learn More and Pick Your Membership Tier → NICHE COMMUNITYFOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ