TPN Chats: The Power of In Person Events and Cruise World 2026 with Cat Brask of Northstar Travel Group

July 6th, 2026 – In this episode of TPN Chat, Andy Ogg sits down with Cat Brask, Senior Director of Marketing for Northstar Travel Group’s retail events, for a candid conversation about why in-person industry events still matter more than ever — and what Cruise World, taking place November 4-6 in Fort Lauderdale, delivers that … Continue reading “TPN Chats: The Power of In Person Events and Cruise World 2026 with Cat Brask of Northstar Travel Group”

Your New Best Employee Never Takes a Lunch Break (or a Vacation) – Part 1

We Were Skeptical Too. Then the Itinerary Came Back and We Stopped Exchanging That Look. Written By: Joanie Ogg, CTC, MCC – Travel Professional NEWS How travel agents can harness artificial intelligence to build stunning itineraries, impress clients, and maybe, just maybe, reclaim their weekends. Let me confess something. When a publicist first pitched us … Continue reading “Your New Best Employee Never Takes a Lunch Break (or a Vacation) – Part 1”

Crafting Your UVP (Unique Value Proposition) in 2026

How to Build a Unique Value Proposition That Stands Out in an AI-Saturated Travel Market Written By: Tom Ogg, Co-Founder and Co-Owner – HomeBasedTravelAgent.com Let’s address the robot in the room. Since the explosion of AI travel tools beginning in earnest around 2023, every armchair traveler now has a pocket-sized digital concierge that can compare … Continue reading “Crafting Your UVP (Unique Value Proposition) in 2026”

7 Surprisingly Awesome Benefits of Being a Home Based Travel Agent in 2026

The Real Advantages of Running a Home-Based Travel Agency in Today’s AI-Driven Landscape Written By: Joanie Ogg, CTC, MCC – Travel Professional NEWS Let’s be honest, the COVID pandemic was terrible. Truly, spectacularly, historically terrible. But if there’s one silver lining buried somewhere in that storm cloud, it’s that millions of people discovered that they … Continue reading “7 Surprisingly Awesome Benefits of Being a Home Based Travel Agent in 2026”

Does It Still Make Sense For a New Travel Agent to Work With a Host Agency in 2026?

Does It Still Make Sense For a New Travel Agent to Work With a Host Agency in 2026? Written By: Tom Ogg, Co-Founder and Co-Owner – Travel Professional NEWS Let’s be honest. When the topic of host travel agencies comes up at industry cocktail parties — and yes, those still happen, though we now argue … Continue reading “Does It Still Make Sense For a New Travel Agent to Work With a Host Agency in 2026?”

Sun, Surf, Sand, and Smarter Prompts: Eight Hawaii Niches That Need Their Own AI Strategy Tomorrow

Niche-Specific Prompt Templates to Elevate Your Hawaii Itineraries from Generic to Unforgettable Written By: Tom Ogg, Co-Founder and Co-Owner – HomeBasedTravelAgent.com   As we discovered in the last article on prompting, prompts are what will ultimately set travel professionals apart from consumers when it comes to generating detailed, personalized AI results. In other words, the … Continue reading “Sun, Surf, Sand, and Smarter Prompts: Eight Hawaii Niches That Need Their Own AI Strategy Tomorrow”

How One Couple Built More Momentum in Their Travel Business

A Look at the Focus, Connection, and Community Behind the Kermallys’ Dream Vacations Growth.   Contributed By: Dream Vacations   For many travel professionals, building momentum comes down to focus, connection, and a clear vision for growth. That’s been the experience of Dream Vacations franchise owners Narmin and Naushad Kermally. Based in Houston, Texas, the … Continue reading “How One Couple Built More Momentum in Their Travel Business”

Aloha, and the Art of Prompting for Paradise

Mastering AI Prompts to Create High-Value, Custom Hawaii Itineraries   Written By: Tom Ogg, Co-Founder and Co-Owner – Travel Professional NEWS    How travel agents are using precisely engineered AI prompts to craft sophisticated, niche-specific Hawaii itineraries that clients simply cannot find anywhere else, and why it’s becoming the sharpest tool in the leisure and … Continue reading “Aloha, and the Art of Prompting for Paradise”

Your Email Address Is a Time Machine
and It’s Stuck in 1999

Written By: Tom Ogg, Co-Founder and Co-Owner – HomeBasedTravelAgent.com   Why travel agents who are still sending proposals from Gmail, Hotmail, AOL, and Yahoo are losing clients before the first word is read, and what to do about it.a A few years ago, I finally did it. I buried my AOL email addresses (all four … Continue reading “Your Email Address Is a Time Machine
and It’s Stuck in 1999”