Jamie Biesiada

Manasquan

Senior Editor at Travel Weekly

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Articles

How CTA certification boosts travel advisors' xuccess: Travel Weekly

5 days ago | travelweekly.com | Jamie Biesiada

That's the message of a study released by the Travel Institute last month. CTA Graduate Insights was designed to follow the experiences of graduates of the institute's Certified Travel Associate (CTA) program. The stat that most stood out to me was this: 81% report measurable business growth after earning their CTA certification. In other words, four out of five advisors who complete the CTA program see a positive impact on their bottom line.
Travel advisor survey shows bookings decline, but not across the board

5 days ago | travelweekly.com | Jamie Biesiada

A Travel Weekly survey fielded last month found that 27.8% of respondents reported a significant decrease in bookings so far in 2025, while 29.9% reported a slight decrease. That adds up to 57.7% who are reporting some kind of decrease. Ten percent reported no change in bookings, 18.5% reported a slight increase, and 12.8% reported a significant increase. Travel Weekly's survey, fielded online from May 12 to 25, had 358 respondents who are either travel advisors or travel agency owners/managers.
Trade Secrets Tech Summit: Travel Pro Theory

5 days ago | travelweekly.com | Emma Weissmann |Jamie Biesiada

Subscribe now using your favorite service: This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a 5-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
Exploring the enchanting details in Epic Universe

6 days ago | travelweekly.com | Jamie Biesiada

But the park's creators hope that guests will explore beyond the headliners and take the time to appreciate the details. "People talk about our 11 rides at this park, our two shows, which are spectacular," said Steve Tatham, executive creative director of Epic Universe.
ASTA launches branded Swag Shop

1 week ago | travelweekly.com | Jamie Biesiada

The online shop features a variety of apparel, like shirts and pullovers, as well as hats, bags and water bottles.
ASTA and Travefy partner on new award for advisors

1 week ago | travelweekly.com | Jamie Biesiada

ASTA members under 45 who have been working in the industry for two or more years are eligible for the new award. It was designed to recognize the industry's future, the Society said in a release. "At Travefy, we've always been committed to empowering travel professionals," said Travefy founder and CEO David Chait.
Revisiting the advisor class of 2024

1 week ago | travelweekly.com | Jamie Biesiada

Last week, we caught up with 10 newcomers to the industry. This week, we tap travel educators for insights on what newer advisors like them can expect. While the oft-used idiom “drinking from a fire hose” might seem cliche, it’s the perfect way to describe what a travel advisor’s first few years in the business can feel like. That’s how Diane Petras, president of the Travel Institute, described year one and two of being in the business.
Beth Butzlaff returns to Virtuoso

1 week ago | travelweekly.com | Jamie Biesiada

Butzlaff was most recently Ensemble's senior vice president of partner relations. She also had been Global Travel Collection's vice president and partner liaison. Prior to that, she spent 14 years with Virtuoso, including as vice president of global partner relations. Her position at Virtuoso is a new one. "The U.S. is our largest and most complex market, and having the right leadership in place here is absolutely vital," Virtuoso COO Brad Bourland said.
Trade Secrets Tech Summit: Tique

1 week ago | travelweekly.com | Emma Weissmann |Jamie Biesiada

Subscribe now using your favorite service: This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a five-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts.
Waiting in line at Epic Universe: Which attraction has the best queue experience?

2 weeks ago | travelweekly.com | Jamie Biesiada

Then I rode Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry on Thursday. Queues are just the precursors to attractions, but especially in periods of high demand (which Epic Universe is sure to experience), riders spend the most time there, waiting to board. A good queue can make all the difference, staving off boredom by entertaining and informing riders during wait times that climb from minutes to more than an hour.