April, 2022 | Duco Corriere
Brownell Travel mentors select up-and-coming independent travel advisors to create experiences beyond expectations. Sarah Groen shares her experience and how she quickly rose to the top tier of Brownell’s advisors, Pages 20-21 Read More >>
March 16, 2022 | Washington Post
The Russia-Ukraine conflict threatens travel far beyond Eastern Europe. Gas prices are rising, and there’s a growing sense of unease about the upcoming travel season. So how do you protect your vacation from a distant war? Read More >>
March 21, 2022 | TravelAge West
Being a travel advisor is the best career for a working mother. Or, is it actually the worst? Read More >>
March 8, 2022 | AARP
Expedia, Vrbo and others see big interest in Florida and Tennessee, plus other trends. Read More >>
February 18, 2022 | AFAR
Demand for spring break 2022 is high, but travel advisors say there are still plenty of vacation opportunities, provided you’re willing to be flexible. Read More >>
December, 2021 | Condé Nast Traveler
Mimi Lichtenstein, owner and custom travel advisor of Truvay Travel, an affiliate of Brownell, has seen all sorts of changes in the ways women are prioritizing their travels—with some actually choosing to forego their budgets after being grounded for so long. Read More >>
November 15, 2021 | Travel Age West
Groen reflects on the moments she fell in love with traveling (during a trip to Germany at age 15, and then again during two study abroad tours in college), and what it was like paving the way as a female entrepreneur in largely male-dominated industries prior to her career in travel. Read More >>
November 15, 2021 | Travel Market Report
As demand for multigenerational vacation surges, experienced Brownell Travel Advisor, Catherine Parkin, offers insight on designing a trip that satisfies the needs of all family members. Read More >>
August 14, 2021 | Forbes
The latest COVID surge is sending shock waves across the travel industry, prompting many people with vacation plans to have second thoughts. Brownell’s Insurance Desk Manager, Laura Heidt explains the most important steps to consider when buying travel insurance. Read More >>
May 26, 2021 | The New York Times
Shifting flight schedules, varying hotel flexibility, and new tech: A lot has changed since the last time anyone packed a passport. Louisa Gehring, the owner of Gehring Travel, an affiliate of Brownell, shares her insights on hotel fees and flexibility for travelers planning a trip to Europe this summer. Read More >>
April 27, 2021 | Business Insider (India)
Learn how Brownell’s Independent Travel Advisor, Sarah Groen, turned her love of travel into a successful luxury travel business. What started as a side hustle for friends and family became a million-dollar business. Read More >>
April 19, 2021 | Travel Weekly
Travel insurance has always been a topic of interest, but the Covid-19 pandemic really propelled it into the forefront in the last 13 months. Coincidentally, just before the pandemic hit, Brownell Travel brought Laura Heidt on board as its insurance desk manager. Internally, she answers travel advisors’ questions about insurance, but she will also work directly with clients. When she does the latter, she has an incredible 90% to 95% close rate. Read More >>
April 15, 2021 | Veranda
Brownell Travel Vice President Beth Flowers was checking up on the company’s partners and guides in Africa during January 2020 and started noticing many people wearing masks across larger cities, like Johannesburg, by the time she flew back to the U.S. Read More >>
April 10, 2021 | Forbes
No one in their right mind would take a vacation this summer without a little protection. And I’m not talking about sunscreen, either. Read More >>
April 5, 2021 | Travel Weekly
One advisor started her career in the best of times, albeit at the very tail end. One started her agency in what many would consider the worst of times. But both are optimistic about what the future holds. Read More >>
March 8, 2021 | Travel Weekly
As coronavirus vaccines continue to roll out in the United States, advisors have reported some confusion among clients as to whether they will need the vaccine to travel going forward. While others said clients aren’t yet asking about vaccination requirements, that is likely to change as consumers increasingly look to book travel. Read More >>
February 2021 | D Magazine
To go alongside our February cover story, we asked Dallas-based travel agent Sam Murphy for some of her top tips to help plan your first post-pandemic getaway. Read More >>
February 4, 2021 | Travel Weekly
Las Vegas-based Modern Family Travels specializes in travel for LGBTQ individuals. At least, it does if a client needs that specialty, but its owners — partners Sarah Lee and Elizabeth Belcher — hope to see a world where that kind of specialization becomes unnecessary. Read More >>
January 27, 2021 | The Washington Post
Finding a good travel adviser used to be easy. Plenty of qualified and experienced travel agents were out there. But then covid-19 happened. No one knows how many travel agencies closed during the pandemic. But last year, the American Society of Travel Advisors predicted that a stunning 72 percent of agents would go out of business within six months if they didn’t receive government aid. Read More >>
January 19, 2021 | Forbes
Free travel insurance is without question the top travel insurance trend of 2021. Airlines, destinations and hotels are offering “insurance included” vacations in the hopes of attracting more post-pandemic visitors. Read More >>
January 8, 2021 | Wall Street Journal
After nearly a year of vacation deprivation, frustrated globe-trotters are starting to dream about traveling freely again. Read More >>
December 30, 2020 | Wall Street Journal
Coronavirus cabin fever is inspiring some big-trip plans for 2021; ‘a little hopefulness’ Read More >>
December 11, 2020 | USA Today
Here’s a trick question: Where’s the safest place to travel during the pandemic surge? Is it somewhere nearby? Or a squeaky-clean destination that takes its disinfecting really seriously? Read More >>
December 4, 2020 | Travel Weekly
Brownell Travel’s insurance desk has become invaluable to independent travel advisors as insurance sales become more complicated. For advisors taxed with focusing on COVID restrictions and requirements, having a travel industry veteran with more than 20 years experience has been a game-changer. Read More >>
December 2, 2020 | Conde Nast Traveler
Brownell Independent Travel Advisor, Linda Speer, shares her insight on how the cruise industry will have to appeal to and attract a younger clientele in the new year. Read More >>
December 1, 2020 | Travel Weekly
As airlines ready their Boeing 737 Max aircraft for a long-awaited return to the skies, travel advisors must decide whether to handle bookings on Max-operated flights differently than they handle bookings for all other flights. Read More >>
November 30, 2020 | Travel Weekly
Brownell Travel in Birmingham, Ala., is home to a community of 115 independent contractors. With dozens of ICs on the books, the agency has come up with an interesting way to make sure they all have a proverbial seat at the table with Brownell: The Independent Contractor Advisory Board. Read More >>
November 12, 2020 | Independent
From contactless service to politeness and new cleaning policies, 2020 may leave a good as well as bad legacy for travel. Read More >>
November 11, 2020 | The Washington Post
The conventional wisdom is that 2020 has nearly destroyed travel. And though it’s true that covid-19 ruined our vacations and took a wrecking ball to a large part of the industry, the conventional wisdom is wrong. Read More >>
November 8, 2020 | Robb Report
These new nomads are making the best of a bad situation. Read More >>
October 31, 2020 | Forbes
These days, almost every conversation about leisure travel feels like an exercise in heartache. With the global pandemic closing borders, cancelling journeys, and shuttering hotels, every part of the travel industry is being confronted with existential challenges. Yet while the future might feel bleak for the industry and for the all of the individuals whose livelihood depends on it, there nonetheless remains reason not only for hope, but reason for optimism as well. Read More >>
Around the world, cities are taking a pounding from Covid-19 as travelers are avoiding visiting large conurbations during the global pandemic. In turn, tourism numbers in metropolises have plummeted. In Madrid, tourist arrivals dropped by 63.8% during the first half of 2020. Read More >>
Most travel insurance lasts only as long as your vacation. So if you want to extend your trip, you might be out there without any coverage. How do you buy travel insurance for extended trips? Read More >>
September 26, 2020 | Barron’s
While the world continues to battle Covid-19 and scramble for an effective vaccine, many of us long to jet around the globe safely again. As we slowly dip our toes back in, we’re likely to see some worldwide shifts, as people are more inclined to travel responsibly and consider their impact on a destination before booking a trip. Read More >>
September 24, 2020 | Travel Weekly
For years, the relationships between travel agencies and the scores of private suppliers that make up much of their travel ecosystems have hummed along, operating largely on seals of approval from consortia and trade associations, a history of fair dealing and often, personal relationships. Read More >>
August 26, 2020 | Conde Nast Traveler
If you hope to cruise in 2021, word in the industry is: Book now. Between the passengers who bumped 2020 sailings because of the pandemic and general interest in getting out to sea again, cabins on ships both small and large, river and ocean, are filling up fast. “Already, availability is limited,” says Linda Allen-Speer of Cruises by Linda Read More >>
When it comes to travel insurance, one size does not fit all. At least that’s what Hanna Thomas discovered when she planned a recent trip across Asia. It turns out that buying travel insurance based on your destination isn’t easy. Read More >>
August 14, 2020 | Travel Weekly
Consistency, transparency, flexibility and price integrity will be key to travel’s comeback from the coronavirus crisis. That was the message from suppliers and agency executives during Virtuoso Travel Week, which this year was held virtually for the first time. Read More >>
August 2020 | Luxury Travel Advisor
Marion McDonald, an independent advisor at Brownell Travel, goes exploring to discover some gems out west. Read More >>
August 2020 | Luxury Travel Advisor
Helen Jordan of Jordan Luxury Travel, an affiliate of Brownell, tries camping and a visit to a luxury resort for her domestic vacations. Read More >>
August 13, 2020 | Luxury Travel Advisor
We’ve heard it before. “No crystal ball could have predicted the year we are currently having,” Albert Herrera, Virtuoso, SVP, partnerships, said during a Virtuoso Travel Week virtual event. “Coming into 2020, luxury was poised to have the most successful year on record, but the global pandemic brought the world to a halt.” But what will the industry look like once the world starts moving again? Read More >>
August 10, 2020 | Travel Weekly
Luxury travel advisor Irving Betesh says that although many of his clients are eager to travel, he has convinced some not to because he just can’t offer the pre-Covid-19 experience they’d be anticipating. Another advisor, responding anonymously to a recent Travel Weekly survey, said their agency wasn’t selling any travel at all, feeling it wasn’t right to “encourage anyone to risk their lives for commission in our pockets.” Read More >>
August 2020 | Travel Weekly
Many travel agencies are using the Covid-19 shutdown to rethink compensation models, supplier relations, marketing strategies and more. Businesses that survive the crisis will look different than they did before the pandemic. Read More >>
When it comes to travel insurance, everyone makes mistakes. After all, policies are filled with jargon and exclusions. And that’s particularly true for vacations planned after the pandemic. Read More >>
July 28, 2020 | New York Times
In the travel lull induced by the pandemic, many people are planning ambitious, once-in-a-lifetime trips. Optimists are targeting 2021. For others, their next big trip will be in 2022. Read More >>
While it’s clear that the pandemic hasn’t put an end to the desire to travel, how clients book and the priorities they now hold have undoubtedly shifted. This modified attitude towards travel has manifested in a variety of ways, not least of all in creating a new dimension of discourse between brands, advisors and their clients. Read More >>
June 30, 2020 | hospitalitynet
Yes, you read that right! There is no grammatical error in the heading. To overcome and outdo the challenges brought to our threshold by the novel Coronavirus, we need to, henceforth, work with and not just in the Pandemic. Read More >>
June 26, 2020 | Travel Market Report
In TMR’s 7th MasterAdvisor session, Kerry Dyer, the vice president of talent development at Brownell Travel, joined Daniel McCarthy to talk about how travel agencies can hire ICs and what other positions might be a better fit for some agencies. Read More >>
June 2020 | Travel Weekly
Though few doubt the value of the luxury market, its estimated might come as a surprise: a 2020 report from Barton and the International Luxury Travel Market valued the “global luxury travel ecosystem” at $2.05 trillion. Read More >>
Many of us are starting to think about a vacation, and now matter how nice our homes, there is strong desire to go someplace different.Chances are you will start seeing deals and discounts, if you haven’t already. Free nights, credits to use the spa or at restaurants, and of course 60% off are all standard tools for travel marketers. Read More >>
Aspirational is a term often used to describe the desire to indulge in luxury travel. For agents, selling luxury travel is aspirational as well—an appealing goal, but with challenges involved because by definition, luxury travel sellers are an exclusive group. Read More >>
May 20, 2020 | Cruising Journal
There is no doubt that luxury cruising has taken a crushing blow in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, there is strong evidence that the industry will rebound, as avid cruisers won’t give up their favorite obsession. The question used to be, are they worth the money. And to that I give you an unequivocal yes! Here’s why Read More >>
May 7, 2020 | Conde Nast Traveler
Brina S., a 41-year-old mom in Florida, has a family cruise booked with Royal Caribbean next year: It departs in late May 2021 out of Barcelona with stops in Italy and France. Read More >>
April 29, 2020 | Forbes
When it comes to buying travel insurance, there are important new rules after the pandemic — and troubling new ways to lose money. But they are expensive travel insurance errors that you can easily avoid. Read more >>
March 23, 2020 | Travel Pulse
If there’s any silver lining to the coronavirus outbreak, it’s that more travelers will recognize that professional travel advisors are worth their weight in gold – especially during a crisis. Read more >>
March 5, 2020 | The Scout Guide
Meet Megan Winslett, owner of MEGAN WINSLETT TRAVEL, an independent affiliate of BROWNELL TRAVEL, a luxury travel consultancy. Megan’s professional background includes stints as executive director of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce’s foundation, and in executive-level leadership development partnered with the Center for Creative Leadership. Read More >>
February 24, 2020 | Travel Weekly
At last count, at least 27 cruise ships in Asia have had to cancel or modify not only single itineraries but in some cases entire seasons in response to the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak in China. Read More >>
February 18, 2020 | Studio 4
A vast and highly diverse continent full of fascinating cultures, dramatic scenery, and extraordinary animals, Africa offers some of the most amazing travel experiences in the world. Traveling to the world’s second-largest continent feels a little overwhelming, which is why having a travel advisor can certainly help. Our own personal travel guru, Susan Teeple is in today, having just returned from Africa. Read More >>
February 7, 2020 | The Points Guy
As miles-and-points-wielding travelers, we may not immediately think of using a travel agent to book our getaways. But, there are times that warrant consulting an expert. Read More >>
February 5, 2020 | Sonoran News
Remember the excitement your children shared when you took them to Disney, traveled to a family-friendly resort, and cheered them on at a sports tournament far from home? If your children have left the nest, those vacations may be in the past for you. While those experiences are surely cherished memories, you may find new experiences with your adult children even more meaningful. Read More >>
January 15, 2020 | Studio 4
AMARILLO, Texas — Susan Teeple is back with us this afternoon to take us on a trip of a lifetime to Chile! Read More >>
January 15, 2020 | Sonoran News
Welcome the new roaring 20’s with a passion to refresh your outlook on travel and make this the year for new travel destinations and experiences. Exploring a destination for the first time? Fantastic! Returning to a city or country that you absolutely love? Great – I suggest you commit to experiencing it in a fresh new way. Here are five ways to put an exciting spin on your travels in 2020. Read More >>
For many, the idea of taking a year off to travel with family is a pipe dream. But as paid leave policies and remote education become more prevalent, it’s becoming a reality for a growing number of people. Interested in taking your family on an around-the-world adventure? Read this first. Read More >>
November 20, 2019 | Studio 4
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — You will experience culture, luxury, even adventure as you admire some of the world’s most notable landmarks and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the white beaches of UAE. Read More >>
October 2, 2019 | Studio 4
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Greece is a beautiful country full of history, culture, and unique buildings. Susan Teeple recommends this country for a great getaway! Read More >>
September 30, 2019 | Reader’s Digest
Looking for somewhere to go during the months of December, January, and February? From snow-capped ski resorts to sunny islands, these are the hottest travel destinations to visit this winter. Read More >>
September 30, 2019 | Travel Market Report
Let’s be blunt. When it comes to the quality of your clients’ travel experience, travel advisors are in many ways at the mercy of the suppliers who deliver the end product. Read More >>
September 16, 2019 | Travel Weekly
Hurricane Dorian is firmly set in the rearview mirror, but the Atlantic hurricane season extends through the end of November, leaving plenty of time for another storm system to disrupt travel and affect vacation plans. Read More >>
August 29, 2019 | Travel Market Report
Looking for a profession that lets you work from home, be your own boss, earn a good living, and see the world — and while you are at it, build understanding and human relationships? This year, many travel advisors say, their chosen career is more lucrative and rewarding than ever, and there is more support and training available from reputable host agencies to help newcomers learn the basics. Read More >>
August 21, 2019 | Studio 4
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Are you looking for a vacation full of culture, art, and architecture? Susan Teeple says San Miquel de Allende, Mexico is the place! Read More >>
July 31, 2019 | Studio 4
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — There is so much to do when visiting Italy that you might need to visit twice! Travel advisor, Susan Teeple has details on what to do and how to navigate Italy like a pro. Read More >>
June 9, 2019 | Forbes
There’s no shortage of expert tips for buying travel insurance online. But where’s a pro when you really need one? That’s what Mike Mehta wanted to know when he contacted me recently. “Is travel insurance worth buying?” he asked. “Do you have any recommendations for reasonably priced travel insurance providers?” Read More >>
June 7, 2019 | Travel Market Report
This week, approximately 160 travel professionals convened at the nation’s capital to discuss issues and concerns regarding the travel industry with their state and local representatives, during the American Society of Travel Advisors’ (ASTA) annual Legislative Day event. Read More >>
June 3, 2019 | Travel Weekly
Not too long ago, the travel industry had a pretty big, collective concern: that it would age out. “By and large, I think it’s a problem that we’ve largely solved,” said Troy Haas, president and CEO of Birmingham, Ala.-based Brownell Travel. “I think we benefit from the fact that the younger generation wants to do work that means something to them, and we do work that means something to people. These are careers that are enjoyable.” Read More >>
May 22, 2019 | Studio 4
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – North of San Francisco, California’s Napa Valley wine country is one of the world’s great destinations, especially for lovers of great wine, fantastic food, and beautiful views. Travel Advisor Susan Teeple calls a trip to Napa Valley, “the Mother ship trip.” Read More >>
May 16, 2019 | Birmingham Business Journal
In a low unemployment rate environment, the battle for talent is key. That’s particularly true these days, as Birmingham employers in a range of industries are facing challenges finding skilled workers. It’s an employee’s market, and that makes it critical for companies to create a great workplace culture. Today, we’re unveiling a list of companies that have done just that – our 2019 Birmingham’s Best Places to Work. Read More >>
May 15, 2019 | Travel Pulse
When you start your first business, three things are guaranteed to happen—you’ll work harder than you’ve ever worked in your life, your first sale will make you prouder than anything you’ve ever done, and every single person you know will have an opinion on your business. Read More >>
May 1, 2019 | Recommend Magazine
At last year’s USTOA Conference & Marketplace, when the results for the biennial economic impact study, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC (PwC), were released, we learned that overtourism had been newly added to the survey’s potential threats list because it’s a growing concern for USTOA active members. With that in mind, we reached out to travel advisors to get their take on the strategies they use to combat overtourism. Read More >>
Spring 2019 | Travel Advisor Magazine
FOR SOME, THE WINDOW SEAT IS A NIGHTMARE. FOR ME, IT’S MY HAPPY PLACE. The surreal happening of a never ending scroll of landscapes passing me by is one of my favorite memories of a trip. From the flat, cracked jigsaw pieces of the midwest desert, to the highest peaks of the Alps; the transparent, aqua waters of the Caribbean and the lush canopy of Central American jungle, I may have seen more of this world from above than on solid ground. But it’s not just the window seat that gets us these bird’s-eye views. Read More >>
April 12, 2019 | Travel Market Report
Research shows that the jump from $1 million to $2 million in annual sales is among the toughest hurdles for travel advisors. But for those with the fortitude and drive to go for it, the next million is within your grasp, the experts say — and they have the data to back that up. Read More >>
March 26, 2019 | Travel Pulse
With less than a week away, TravelPulse reveals the names of the 14 agents who will be traveling to Los Angeles for the United States debut of travAlliancemedia’s Millennial Travel Forum. Read More >>
February 11, 2019 | Travel Weekly
There are undoubtedly many paths that lead to success, but a panel hosted by ASTA’s director of communications, Erika Richter, at the recent New York Times Travel Show shed some light on some of them. Read More >>
February 6, 2019 | Sonoran News
New York Times writer Susan Heller famously said, “When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.” Read More >>
January 16, 2019 | Studio 4
The Amalfi Coast is a stretch of coastline along the southern edge of Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula. It’s a popular place to vacation. Read More >>
November 15, 2018 | Luxury Travel Advisor
Luxury destination weddings and honeymoons continue to evolve in their style as the bride and groom raise the bar on their expectations. For destination weddings, couples are planning more customized experiences for their guests, and the planning is beginning earlier and earlier. Read More >>
November 14, 2018 | Studio 4
If you’re looking to travel overseas, our friend and travel advisor, Susan Teeple, suggests going to Spain. Read More >>
October 25, 2018 | Forbes
What’s on your travel wish list for 2019? We tapped into some of the world’s top travel experts to find out where they want to go next. From a colorful beach town in Belize that is slowly becoming discovered to an unexpected European country with a vibrant new arts scene, here are the most exciting places to travel in 2019. Read More >>
October 2, 2018 | Insider Travel Report
With North America continuing to be one of the world’s fastest growing luxury travel source markets, something that is expected to continue until at least 2025, ILTM North America last week welcomed 328 travel advisors (buyers) from 152 cities across Mexico, Canada and the U.S. and 328 exhibitors (suppliers) from 60 countries from around the world. Read More >>
September 19, 2018 | Studio 4
It might be fall, but it’s time to start thinking about Spring Break 2019. Our friend and travel advisor, Susan Teeple, offers up her three favorite spots to book now. Read More >>
Summer 2018 | Travel Advisor
A recent ASTA study shows that the number of consumers booking through travel agents is the highest it has been in several years with projected continued growth. As the desire for personalized service and customized travel itineraries increases, what is the profile of Travel Agent 2.0 and how do we find them? Read More >>
August 2018 | Virtuoso Life
Zander Galli’s far-reaching gap year – between middle school and high school – opened his eyes to a world of wonders. Read More >>
August 2018 | Travel Weekly
When Samantha McClure opened Small World Travel in Austin, Texas, in 1999, she wanted to focus only on family travel. But a more experienced agent gave her some advice: “You have to be all things to all people,” McClure recalled. “You have to book air, you have to do corporate, you have to do honeymoons.” Read More >>