As the child of a father who was a founder of the US Tour Operators Association, it would come as no surprise for Matthew Upchurch to enter the travel industry and become one of it's iconic leaders.

The founder of Virtuoso in the 1980's, as CEO Matthew has overseen the company become the leading global network of agencies specialising in luxury and experiential travel. Today Virtuoso comprises of more than 20,000 advisors across 58 countries who between them transact in the region of $54 billion AUD.

Among his many accolades, Matthew was named to the American Society of Travel Agents Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Cruise Lines International Association Hall of Fame in 2010.

But aside from all that, perhaps his most meaningful contribution to our industry is that there has been no greater champion of the travel advisor.

In this episode we talk to Matthew about his backstory, along with Virtuoso's growth and how it operates in Australia. We discover the leading profession who are making the switch to become advisors, the increasing prioritisation of expenditure on experiences by travellers, and why the human interaction of a travel advisor can never be replaced by advances in technology.

And a lot more, including some elite-level Offloading.

However we have run out of space and what's left goes to Matthew's Book Club. He mentions the following books for you to consider:

Will Guidara: Unreasonable Hospitality - The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect
Simon Sinek: Start With Why. - Learn how great leaders and organizations inspire action and create a lasting impact
Prof. Scott Galloway: No Mercy, No Malice - (podcast)

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This episode is brought to you buy Rosewood Hotels and Interline Travel. We hope you enjoy, and if you'd like to support us you can sign up for our newsletter at www.offloaded.com.au where you'll receive insider details, first notification on new episodes, occasional competitions and much more.

You can also follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook. We'd like that.

Oh, and if you haven't already, subscribe to the podcast on any podcast platform!

80.5

That's the number of years experience of selling cruises on today's episode, as we invited the icons that are Robyn Sinfield and Megan Caterall into The Room Residence in Sydney, which is a brand new space recently opened by Room Res that Co-Founders James Mooring and Nic Bryant were on hand to explain the space to us.

With an eye towards helping both new and existing travel advisors sell cruise more effectively, it was the perhaps the words of Robyn that captured the interview - "it's the ships of life - the partnerships, the friendships and the relationships".

This episode is essential listening for anyone hoping to learn a thing or two from two of the most celebrated travel sellers in Australia.

You can view photos of The Room Residence and the the interview with Robyn and Megan, here.
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We hope you enjoy, and if you'd like to support us you can sign up for our newsletter at www.offloaded.com.au where you'll receive insider details, first notification on new episodes, occasional competitions and much more.

You can also follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook. We'd like that.

Oh, and if you haven't already, subscribe to the podcast on any podcast platform!

Melanie Whyte is a single parent with two special needs children who also happens to be one of Australia's most successful and highly decorated home-based travel advisors.

In this episode Mel joins Richard and AC to share her story of how helping with the travel arrangements for parents adopting children overseas and those of 'neurospicy' families (her words) became the bedrock of her fledgling business.

"It's not that hard", she says.

We say that if you keep a list of people you admire in this industry, you'll need to dust that off and add another line to it.

We hope you enjoy, and if you'd like to support us you can sign up for our newsletter at www.offloaded.com.au where you'll receive insider details, first notification on new episodes, occasional competitions and much more.

You can also follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Oh, and if you haven't already, subscribe to the podcast on any podcast platform!