TIQUE Talks: The Business Podcast for Travel Advisors

AI is supposed to save you time, but first, it might send you spiraling down a very productive-looking rabbit hole. Jennifer and Robin discuss why AI feels so overwhelming, what travel advisors should really be using it for, and why automating the human side of travel planning is the wrong place to start. The goal isn’t to master everything or build an app by tomorrow. It’s to give AI one job, train it well, and make your business a little easier to operate.

Ready to stop experimenting with random prompts and start using AI for practical tasks inside your travel business? Join the Niche community for step-by-step trainings on client experience, intake workflows, SOPs, finances, and more! Learn More and Pick Your Membership Tier → NICHE COMMUNITY

If you’re ready for a deeper dive into AI, check out Callan Faulkner’s 12-week course → AUTOMATE TO ACCELERATE

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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

If you’re treating AI like Google, you’re leaving much of its potential on the table. Tern co-founder and CEO David Shull is back on the podcast; this time to unpack why context, frameworks, and better prompts are the keys to generating stronger AI output. He explains how travel advisors can use AI as a business analyst, strategic advisor, client experience assistant, and sales tool, all without sacrificing the human relationships at the heart of the industry.

Want help putting these strategies into practice? Join the Niche Community for the Tern team takeover on October 8, where you can ask questions about using the platform and its AI capabilities. Then, join Robin and Jennifer on November 5 for a live training on the four financial metrics every travel advisor should be watching! Learn More and Pick Your Membership Tier → NICHE COMMUNITY

About David Shull:
David is the co-founder and CEO of Tern, the platform independent travel advisors use to run their businesses. Tern is the fastest growing platform in travel and preferred system for advisor serious about building a business in travel.

http://tern.travel
LinkedIn: @dsshull
Instagram: dsshull

Today we will cover:
(05:00) Why AI needs context
(18:00) How to build AI frameworks using expert roles and advisory boards
(29:00) Combining templates and AI to personalize the client experience
(36:00) Using business data to identify profitable niches and difficult clients
(44:00) Turning client history and supplier offers into personalized sales opportunities

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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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