TIQUE Talks: The Business Podcast for Travel Advisors

Waiting for the “right time” to fix your broken processes, document workflows, review your fees, or finally get organized? Spoiler: it’s not coming. Jennifer and Robin explain why the same chaos follows travel advisors from one busy season to the next, and how discipline, time blocking, and the right systems can break the cycle. It’s time to stop operating on vibes and prayers! If you need the accountability, structure, and resources to tackle what keeps getting deprioritized, join Niche today. Learn More and Pick Your Membership Tier → NICHE COMMUNITY

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
#173. Hot Take: Should You Change Your CRM
5 Plug-And-Play Email Templates
Seven Figure Sales: The travel agent sales training to raise rates & close confidently

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Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors:
Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisors
Travel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCs

Not every FAM trip, conference, or industry event deserves a spot on your calendar. Shannon Lamarche, founder of Premiere Luxury Travel, joins this episode to discuss how she evaluates educational opportunities based on alignment, cost, client demand, and potential ROI. She shares her process for choosing the right events, organizing supplier knowledge, following up strategically, and avoiding the entitled behavior that can quickly damage your reputation. Before you accept another invitation because the destination looks fun, listen to this episode!

About Shannon Lamarche:
Shannon specializes in designing high-touch, custom international journeys for travelers who care deeply about how they travel—not just where they go. Her ideal clients are seasoned travelers who value exceptional food, wine, culture, and history, and who want their trips thoughtfully paced, intelligently routed, and handled end-to-end by an expert. Shannon's background is rooted in producing complex logistics and details (as a former film & television producer), which translates naturally into travel design that feels seamless, intentional, and calm—especially for trips with many moving parts.

premiereluxurytravel.com
@premiereluxurytravel

Today we will cover:
(03:30) How to determine whether an educational opportunity aligns with your business
(09:00) Calculating the true cost and potential ROI of FAM trips and conferences
(13:00) Balancing trade shows, destination experience, and time away from your business
(25:00) Organizing supplier information and turning new connections into opportunities
(37:05) The FAM trip etiquette every travel advisor needs to follow

Resources Mention In This Episode:
ClickUp Business Hub Template

NICHE 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. Shannon is a member herself, 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 COMMUNITY

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Jennifer and Robin torch the idea that every agency needs its own homemade curriculum, pointing out that IATA rules and DMC basics don't change agency to agency no matter how "unique" you think your brand is. They call out the ego and scarcity mindset behind DIY training, explain why refusing to invest $500 in proper onboarding may be a sign you’re not ready to hire, and reveal the hidden cost of maintaining your own curriculum. If you want to scale, retain great advisors, and escape the hiring hamster-wheel, it’s time to invest in education that already works.

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
Tique’s Course Suite
Buying for an Agency or Team? Explore Enterprise Pricing
Have A Question → Email hello@tiquehq.com or Submit a Contact Form

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Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors:
Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisors
Travel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC’s DMCs

You may think collecting a client’s payment is simply another step in the booking process, but how that money moves could dramatically change your responsibility when something goes wrong. Megan Mack, founder of Heirloom Adventures, talks about the critical difference between receiving a credit card authorization and collecting a direct payment. She explains when an advisor may unknowingly begin operating like a tour operator, what becoming the merchant of record means for your business, and why your host agency’s insurance may not offer all the protection you assume it does. From PCI compliance and supplier terms to chargebacks, travel insurance, and client agreements, this conversation will make you take a much closer look at every point where money changes hands in your business. If you collect client funds, process payments, or rely on a platform to protect sensitive information, this is one episode you cannot afford to skip!

This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult the appropriate professionals about your specific business, contracts, and state requirements.

About Megan Mack:
Megan was drawn to travel from a young age. Never one to sit still, she dreamed of seeing the world and connecting with people along the way. She discovered the world of travel advising after a friend told her, “I would totally hire you to plan a trip for my family.” Inspired by that moment and by her desire to help other families explore the world with their children, Megan set out to learn everything she could about travel advising.

heirloom-adventures.com

Today we will cover:
(02:40) Meet Megan; what made her question how she collected payments
(05:55) Vetting your technology for PCI compliance
(09:10) Credit card authorizations versus direct payments
(17:55) When collecting funds makes you a tour operator
(27:10) Building liability protection into client agreements
(35:45) Retainers versus flat planning fees
(38:50) Auditing every point of liability in your payment process

Resources Mention In This Episode:
#150. What Every Advisor Needs To Know About Protecting Client Data with Kacie Darden
#216. Don’t Assume A DMC Will Break Your Client's Budget with Jonathan Epstein
The Legal Paige - Travel Advisor Templates

NICHE 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. Vanessa is a member herself, 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 COMMUNITY

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Jennifer and Robin introduce Niche’s new community manager, Maddy McCutchen, and reveal what’s changing inside the community. Maddy shares how she went from listening to Tique Talks as a travel advisor to helping shape the future of Niche through weekly office hours, improved member support, recognition programs, and more opportunities for advisors to learn from one another. They also preview the new AI training series designed to help advisors streamline their workflows, strengthen their systems, understand their finances, and turn their 2026 metrics into meaningful momentum for 2027. There’s no doubt about it - you need Niche! Join today and get the education, resources, and no-gatekeeping support you need to build a stronger travel business.

Learn more and Pick Your Membership Tier → NICHE COMMUNITY

FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ