This year, Meredith Calloway is kicking off The Travel Business Unpacked podcast with a conversation every travel advisor needs - whether you’re brand new, years in, or reconsidering your current setup. She’s joined by Shayna Zand, Managing Director of Host Agency Reviews, to break down what host agencies actually do, the most common misconceptions advisors still have, and how to choose the right “business home” for the long game.

And if you’re actively exploring hosts—or just want to learn how to evaluate your options more strategically—Shayna gives a full preview of Host Week, Host Agency Reviews’ free virtual event designed to help advisors compare models, get clarity, and ask smarter questions.

Register for Host Week (free): https://hostweek.hostagencyreviews.com/en/host-week(Host Week runs January 26–30, 2026.)

HAR: https://hostagencyreviews.com/

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Angela Isherwood, founder of Olive & Atlas Travel, for an honest conversation about what it really looks like to grow from passionate advisor to confident travel entrepreneur.

Angela shares her journey from a corporate, analytics-driven career into travel, how the disruption of the pandemic became a catalyst for redefining her business, and why learning how to run a business mattered just as much as learning how to sell travel. Together, Meredith and Angela unpack the less visible side of success, including hiring mistakes, building systems from scratch, letting go of control, and stepping fully into the role of owner instead of operator.

They also explore:

• The mindset shift from travel advisor to travel entrepreneur

• Hiring lessons learned the hard way, and what she would do differently now

• Why systems and processes are essential for scaling without burnout

• Balancing motherhood, boundaries, and business growth

• Positioning a brand intentionally in the luxury and ultra-luxury space

Angela’s story is a powerful reminder that growth is rarely linear, confidence is built through action, and sustainable success comes from clarity, community, and the willingness to evolve. This episode is especially resonant for advisors who know they want more freedom, better systems, and a business that supports the life they are building, not the other way around.

https://oliveandatlastravel.com/

This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway sits down with Patti Mills-Roy, founder of Mills-Roy Luxury Travel, longtime GTN community member, and a Top Producer who never set out to build a “big” business — she just wanted something meaningful (and fun) in her next chapter.After working as a international buyer, Patti eased into travel advising thinking it would be a small side project. Instead, through community, referrals, and a powerful “come with me” approach to group travel, she discovered a business that brought freedom, fulfillment, and surprising financial results.Whether you’re considering group travel, rebuilding momentum, or simply needing a reminder that this business can be deeply enjoyable, Patti’s story shows what’s possible when you combine intention, courage, and a whole lot of fun.https://www.millsroyluxurytravel.com/