Ali Raymer: Unscripted Small Business

I joined Jeremy Rivera on the Unscripted Small Business podcast during launch week for Peace & Pearl Travel Co., perfect timing for a real conversation about building a business from scratch.

Why did it take me longer than most to launch my own agency?

Most people in this industry go independent within three to five years. For me it took closer to nine, mostly because COVID destroyed my business right around year three and I had to rebuild before I could even think about founding my own thing.

Why did I choose a host agency instead of going fully independent?

I know exactly where my weaknesses are, and financial back-office work is one of them. A host agency handles the administrative side I'm not built for, which let me focus entirely on the creative, client-facing parts of the business.

Why do I think the travel industry needs more regulation?

Unlike realtors, travel advisors don't need individual licensing or continuing education. I think there should be more oversight, and I always tell people to interview any advisor carefully before trusting them with a trip.

Do you even need a travel advisor anymore with AI and booking apps everywhere?

Technically no, you can book anything yourself. But what you actually need is an advisor, someone who listens, redirects you when what you think you want doesn't match what you'll actually enjoy, and advocates for you when things go wrong, the way I did constantly during COVID refund chaos.

Why don't more travel advisors post about their own trips?

It genuinely blows my mind. I turn every single trip I take into a marketing moment, thinking about what my audience wants to know about a destination or product. People love talking about travel, it's one of the easiest things in the world to sell, and so many advisors are leaving that content completely on the table.