This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Tammy and Justin Murphy, the mother–son duo behind VIP Travel Experience. Over the past decade, they’ve built a thriving, referral-based luxury travel business rooted in trust, creativity, and shared passion. What started as Tammy taking over a small agency from her brother has evolved into a multi-million-dollar company with a team of seven, top producer status, and clients who return year after year.

In this episode, Tammy and Justin reflect on the lessons of building a family-run business, from balancing roles and responsibilities to navigating growth and hiring. They share how Tammy’s early passion for Italy shaped their brand, how Justin brought fresh energy and detail-oriented expertise, and why their group trips have become a signature part of their success.

They also explore:

1. What it really takes to grow from solo advisor to thriving team

2. The challenges and rewards of running a business with family

3. Why referrals and long-term client relationships drive sustainable growth

4. The evolution of group travel and how to make it a profitable niche

5. Their most meaningful “pinch me” travel moments

Whether you’re dreaming of bringing family into your business or curious about scaling beyond solo, Tammy and Justin’s story is a candid look at what it means to build a business that lasts.

🔗VIP Travel Experience: https://www.viptravelexperience.com/

Behind every travel advisor’s success is an organization fighting for the profession. Meredith chats with ASTA President & CEO, Zane Kerby, about why ASTA matters, how it’s protecting advisors at every level, and the real stories of wins that keep this industry thriving.

Learn more: https://www.asta.org/

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Travel MBA alum, longtime GTN mentor, and cruise expert, Celeste Auger Munshi of Indulgent Voyages. In this episode, Celeste shares how she moved from corporate structure to entrepreneurship, why cruises are one of the most versatile and lucrative products for advisors to sell, and how she has built a successful business while navigating the realities of being a caregiver.

Topics covered in this episode include:

1. Dispelling common cruise misconceptions and finding the right fit for every traveler

2. How to grow a business through referrals, repeat clients, and deep relationships

3. Designing a sustainable business model around your capacity and priorities

4. The unique flexibility of travel advising for different life stages and needs

From multi-generational vacations to once-in-a-lifetime expeditions, Celeste’s story shows how you can create meaningful travel experiences for clients while building a business that works for your unique life circumstances.

🔗Indulgent Voyages: https://www.indulgentvoyages.com/

What happens when you blend a deep love for travel, a calling for community, and a background in ministry? This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Stacey and Fred Baker of Dogwood Travel Designs. In this episode, you’ll hear how the Bakers went from Disney family vacations to full-time travel entrepreneurship, carving out a niche in luxury faith-based group travel. They share how their son’s unique needs inspired Stacey’s start, how Fred’s pastoral background shapes their business vision, and how they’ve grown into a powerful team with complementary strengths. They also unpack mindset shifts around money and faith, the long game of growing group travel, and how the right community makes all the difference, especially when life throws you a curveball. Whether you're a solo advisor or building something with a partner, this conversation offers thoughtful insight into what it really takes to build a meaningful, sustainable travel business.Website: https://www.dogwoodtravel.com/Instagram: www.instagram.com/dogwoodtraveldesigns/

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Erin Camin of Brilliant Escapes. After a decade in the New York ad world, Erin Camin took a six-month sabbatical that turned into ten months of slow travel and soul searching, ultimately leading her to build her own boutique travel business.

In this episode, Erin shares her journey from burnout to business owner, how she navigated a pandemic-era pause, and the patient growth it took to find her niche in luxury dive trips.

They also explore:

• How to align your travel business with your personal values and lifestyle
• Strategies for destination matching and creating tailored client experiences
• The realities of running a travel business while working full-time
• Redefining luxury travel through personalization, connection, and thoughtful pacing

Whether you’re just starting out or figuring out your next chapter, Erin’s story will inspire you to trust your instincts, take the leap, and design a business that fits the life you want.

🔗Brilliant Escapes: https://brilliantescapes.com/

After 30 years in IT, Alex Worlow made a bold career pivot into luxury travel -and never looked back. In this episode, he shares how a foundation in business helped him build a travel company with staying power, why support and mentorship were critical to his growth, and how shifting his mindset transformed his client base and revenue. We explore:

- Why the right host agency can accelerate your success - The transition from selling travel to designing experiences - How to stop chasing volume and start increasing value - How Alex and his wife divide strengths to run their business - ...And lessons learned from a travel mishap in BarcelonaFollow Alex and Storyline Travel: Website: https://www.storylinetravel.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyline_travel/

In this inspiring episode of Travel Business Unpacked, host Meredith Calloway sits down with Dianna Hetzel, founder of Mer Bleue Travel, to explore how a former educator and mom turned her love for healing travel into a luxury brand rooted in purpose.

Dianna shares how a deeply personal trip helped her process grief, how travel shaped her children into globally-minded changemakers, and how launching a travel business gave her new identity and freedom as an empty nester.

From building a brand that “makes everything feel beautiful” to overcoming mindset hurdles around pricing and self-worth, this conversation is packed with honesty, clarity, and vision.

Whether you're dreaming of starting your own travel business or looking for deeper meaning in the one you’ve built, this episode is a must-listen.

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Host Meredith Calloway welcomes Tracy Husted of Legacy Travel Designs for a heartfelt conversation about building a travel business with intention.

Tracy shares how she balanced part-time teaching with co-founding a successful agency, why she finally resigned from a 30-year education career, and how her grandmother’s legacy continues to shape her vision. Whether you’re side-hustling or standing at the edge of a big leap, Tracy’s story is a powerful reminder that success isn’t always fast—but it is worth it.

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