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!

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

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

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/

Join us for the Summer Camp at Sea Open House: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/offers/view/1195596

Register for WITS 2027: https://witsummit.com/annarbor

I just got back from the Women in Travel Summit (WITS) in Chattanooga and I have SO much to share with you.

From building an irreplaceable brand to owning your lane and stop trying to be better than everyone else, the takeaways from this event are ones you're gonna wanna scribble down.

I am spilling all the notes I took straight from a Pinterest insider on trends, boards, Gen Z travel behavior, and why your pins need a good strategy behind them.

If you have been sleeping on Pinterest as a marketing tool for your travel business, this one is going to wake you up, like it did for me.

Questions this episode answers:

• What is the Women in Travel Summit and is it worth attending?
• How can travel advisors use Pinterest to get more clients?
• What are the biggest Pinterest trends for travel in 2026?
• How do travel advisors find their niche and stand out from the competition?
• What content should travel advisors be creating to attract their ideal clients?
• How far in advance should travel advisors be planning their Pinterest content?
• Why is Gen Z an important audience for travel advisors on Pinterest?
• What do retreat planners need to know before selling group travel experiences?
• How can travel advisors use storytelling to market their business on social media?
• What are the best Pinterest board strategies for travel advisors?

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/

Take Host Agency Reviews' Travel Advisor Survey: https://har.news/survey2026

Join Host Agency Review's Tech Week: https://hostagencyreviews.com/har-wired

Ya'll loved the first version so much that you requested a cruise specific version, so here we are!

I'm breaking down exactly how many cruises you need to sell at every price point to hit $50,000 as a travel agent, from a Royal Caribbean balcony in Alaska all the way up to a world cruise on Oceania.

We're talking mass market, premium, luxury, and expedition cruises, as well as selling suites versus balconies, and how that changes how many bookings you actually need.

I think these numbers are going to make you rethink where you're spending your time and who you're marketing to, so grab a pen and let's do some math together.

Questions this episode answers:

• How many cruises does a travel agent need to sell to make $50,000 a year?
• How much commission do travel agents make selling cruises?
• Is it more profitable to sell cruise suites or balcony cabins as a travel agent?
• What is the difference in commission between mass market, premium, and luxury cruise lines?
• How much do travel agents make selling world cruises?
• Should travel agents charge fees on cruise bookings?
• How many cruise bookings does a travel agent need per week to reach their income goal?
• What cruise lines pay the most commission to travel agents?

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/

Take Host Agency Reviews' Travel Advisor Survey: https://har.news/survey2026

Etsy store where I bought my stickers: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1581100221/custom-vinyl-stickers-die-cut-stickers

If you have ever thought about setting up a travel table at a vendor event but talked yourself out of it, time to think again.

I am pulling back the curtain on everything I did to prep for my first travel agent trade show, including the budget-friendly booth materials I grabbed at CVS, Walgreens, and Etsy, the QR code and giveaway strategy I used to grow my email list right from the table, and how I started real conversations without feeling salesy or awkward.

Then I came back after the event and recorded what actually happened, what worked, what I would change, and why I am already looking for the next one.

Whether you are a total beginner or just need a little push to finally get in the room, I am sharing everything so you can show up confident, strategic, and ready to make it count.

Questions this episode answers:

• How do travel advisors set up a vendor table at a trade show on a small budget?
• What should travel advisors bring to their first vendor event?
• How do travel advisors grow their email list at a trade show?
• What booth materials work best for service based travel businesses?
• How do travel advisors start conversations at a trade show without being salesy?
• Is being a vendor at a travel industry event worth it for a small travel business?
• How do travel advisors use QR codes and giveaways at vendor events?
• What is the ROI of a vendor table at a travel agent trade show?
• How do travel advisors get new clients through in-person marketing events?

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/

Save your spot at the Travel Tech Audio Summit: https://strategictravelentrepreneurpodcast.com/travel-tech-audio-summit/

Take Host Agency Reviews' Travel Advisor Survey: https://har.news/survey2026

Whitney Shindelar's Prep for Wave Week Presentation: https://youtu.be/H4FwXgpls2k

Get the Networking Logbook: https://amzn.to/4uOZXca

If the thought of selling makes you feel a little icky... you are not alone (and you're also probably not the problem).

The gross part of sales isn't the selling itself; it's pitching to somebody without knowing anything about them.

So let's flip the script.

You are no longer just the salesperson; you are THE travel matchmaker.

I'm walking you through how to show up at networking events with genuine curiosity instead of desperation, what to actually say when you meet somebody new, and exactly when it IS time to make the hard pitch and how to close it with confidence.

If you are a travel advisor who has been overthinking every sales conversation, definitely tune in.

Questions this episode answers:

• How do I sell my travel services without coming across as pushy?
• What should I say when I meet someone new at a networking event as a travel advisor?
• What is the difference between a networking event and a sales event?
• How do I introduce myself as a travel advisor without using an elevator pitch?
• When is it okay to make a hard sales pitch as a travel advisor?
• How do I close a discovery call as a travel advisor?
• How do I follow up with a potential client without feeling like a pest?
• What tools can travel advisors use to track networking contacts and leads?

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