Send Rita a text with your thoughts!

Join us for the ultimate content and marketing camp in 2027: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/

Stop wasting hours hunting for cruise content: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1166776

I cannot believe we are already at the halfway point of 2026!

In this mid year business review, I'm pulling back the curtain on what January through June actually looked like for me as a travel industry educator and podcaster, including the wins, the not so great moments, and the pattern I finally noticed.

We're talking branding transformations, a business name change, health hiccups, revenue gaps in the first half of the year, and why Q2 ended up being my favorite quarter so far.

If you've ever wondered what running a solo travel business actually looks like behind the scenes, this one is for you.

The second half of 2026 is about to be incredible and I cannot wait to share what's coming.

Questions this episode answers:

• How do you do a mid year business review as a solo business owner?
• What does running a travel business really look like behind the scenes?
• How do you create stability in a travel business when revenue is inconsistent?
• How do you know when it is time to rebrand your travel business?
• What is the value of attending in person events as a travel industry entrepreneur?
• How do you use a word of the year to make better business decisions?
• How do you niche down in the travel industry and why does it make your marketing easier?

Enjoy and take action!

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Rita M. Perez (Host) first began in the travel industry as a travel advisor in 2010. She only fully realized her role as a travel entrepreneur in 2018, and embarked on a mission to support her fellow travel advisors in 2021 when she began the Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast. She now strategizes with travel entrepreneurs, so they too can build sustainable travel agencies and market effectively.

She's a maven when it comes to content photography and videography, and as such founded the Cruise Content Library and leads retreats and partners on FAMs where advisors get top notch content and education for their marketing efforts.

Website: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/everything/

Socials:
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaperez19/
IG: http://www.instagram.com/steeryourmarketing
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/strategictravelentrepreneurs/

Email:
rita@steeryourmarketing.com

Send Rita a text with your thoughts!

Stop wasting hours hunting for cruise content: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1166776

Join us for the ultimate content and marketing camp in 2027: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/

Y'all, I brought the WHOLE team for this one!!

A panel of some of the most brilliant marketing minds in the travel industry, and we went ALL the way in on what's actually working on social media for travel advisors in 2026.

We're talking yapping, episodic content, why supplier graphics are hurting you, and why the most powerful marketing tool you have is literally just your face and your personality.

Spoiler alert: the over-polished, perfectly curated content era is out, and good riddance!

If you've been hiding behind brand graphics and generic captions, this is your sign to step out from behind the curtain and start showing up as YOU.

Pull up a chair, because this conversation is giving you permission to stop stressing and start connecting :)

Questions this episode answers:

• What social media trends should travel advisors focus on in 2026?
• What is yapping and how can travel advisors use it to grow on social media?
• Should travel advisors use supplier graphics on social media?
• How do travel advisors create authentic content that actually converts?
• What is episodic content and how can travel advisors use it to build an audience?
• How do travel advisors stand out on social media without going viral?
• What type of content performs best for travel advisors on Instagram in 2026?
• How do travel advisors stop chasing vanity metrics and build real community on social media?
• What storytelling frameworks can travel advisors use to create engaging social media content?
• How do travel advisors show up consistently on social media without burning out?

Connect with Wendy: https://www.instagram.com/redgrapesocial/

Connect with Kyla: https://www.instagram.com/thesocial.passport/

Connect with Kelli: https://www.instagram.com/kellihayessmith/

Connect with Krystle: https://www.instagram.com/krystle_straub/

Enjoy and take action!

---------------------------------------------------------------

Rita M. Perez (Host) first began in the travel industry as a travel advisor in 2010. She only fully realized her role as a travel entrepreneur in 2018, and embarked on a mission to support her fellow travel advisors in 2021 when she began the Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast. She now strategizes with travel entrepreneurs, so they too can build sustainable travel agencies and market effectively.

She's a maven when it comes to content photography and videography, and as such founded the Cruise Content Library and leads retreats and partners on FAMs where advisors get top notch content and education for their marketing efforts.

Website: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/everything/

Socials:
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaperez19/
IG: http://www.instagram.com/steeryourmarketing
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/strategictravelentrepreneurs/

Email:
rita@steeryourmarketing.com

Send Rita a text with your thoughts!

Stop wasting hours hunting for cruise content: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1166776

Join us for the ultimate content and marketing camp in 2027: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/summer-camp-at-sea/

Closed mouths don't get fed, and neither do travel advisors who keep marketing their features instead of their outcomes.

Courtnie Nichols and Lary Néron joined me to break down the difference between what you do and what your clients are actually buying when they hand you their trust and their credit card.

From air-only retainers to the difference between wealthy and high net-worth, we talked pricing confidence, client profiling, and why the biggest block between you and better clients might not be your strategy at all.

Questions this episode answers:

• What do travel clients actually pay for when they hire a travel advisor?
• How do travel advisors stop undercharging and start pricing with confidence?
• What is the difference between feature selling and outcome selling in a travel business?
• How do retainer models work for travel advisors?
• Why are supplier awards and top producer rankings misleading metrics for travel advisors?
• What does friction removal mean in a travel business and why do clients pay for it?
• How do travel advisors attract high net worth clients without paid advertising?
• What is the right niche for a travel advisor and how does niching down increase referrals?
• Why do travel advisors struggle to articulate their value and how can they fix it?
• How do you build a profitable travel business around fewer clients and higher fees?

Connect with Lary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lary-n%C3%A9ron/

Connect with Courtnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtnienichols/

Enjoy and take action!

---------------------------------------------------------------

Rita M. Perez (Host) first began in the travel industry as a travel advisor in 2010. She only fully realized her role as a travel entrepreneur in 2018, and embarked on a mission to support her fellow travel advisors in 2021 when she began the Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast. She now strategizes with travel entrepreneurs, so they too can build sustainable travel agencies and market effectively.

She's a maven when it comes to content photography and videography, and as such founded the Cruise Content Library and leads retreats and partners on FAMs where advisors get top notch content and education for their marketing efforts.

Website: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/everything/

Socials:
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaperez19/
IG: http://www.instagram.com/steeryourmarketing
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/strategictravelentrepreneurs/

Email:
rita@steeryourmarketing.com