Ready for Takeoff…
In an exclusive LMS Inner Circle Interview, we caught up with travel industry expert, Melanie Brandman of The Brandman Agency. Brandman is originally from Australia where she got her start in the travel industry thanks to her sister deciding to not attend an interview opportunity and instead sending Brandman along. Her lucky break! From that interview, she became the 13th employee of the InterContinental Hotel in Sydney, where she worked the next 15 years in various capacities and in several countries. Her last position with InterContinental was VP of Global Communications, based in London. Since then, Brandman has gone on to launch her own agency and travel site, pushing even more envelopes in the name of travel and luxury. Check out the interview below:
LMS: It seems you are always on the go and working on multiple projects. How do you stay organized and on top of it all?
MB: I love to multi-task. Anyone who knows me know that I love having my lists and ticking them off. I’m extremely organized from an administration perspective and have distinct project files at all time. Plus, I am a strong delegator and trust my team to execute without micromanaging.
LMS: You’ve lived in some amazing cities around the world, where was your favorite and why?
MB: I have been extremely fortunate in this aspect. I think it would have to be New York because I love the energy and the opportunities to do great things and create wonderful partnerships both professionally and personally. I love the multi-cultural aspect of the city and the access to easy weekend getaways. 
LMS: Tell me about the Travel Curator. How do you find and choose the destinations you feature? What makes it different than other travel sites?
MB: I started Travel Curator 5 years ago as a passion project to share all the great travel intel that I have gathered over the years. People are always asking me for my favorite hotels, shops, restaurants, must see and do, in just about any city in the world. I wanted to build a site where I could put all this in one place and be a great reference for people. I also knew when I started it that the growth in original content would be key for future endeavors and today we have 250,000 opted-in subscribers and a robust social following. We are launching the newly designed site this week.
LMS: As a travel expert, what are your top travel must-haves?
MB: Without doubt, invest in great luggage – anything that keeps it light and takes the strain off me getting in and out of cabs, hotels, planes, trains, etc… is a blessing. As well, make sure you have some top travel apps and social feeds at the ready that will help you navigate the cities you visit and ensure you get a true and authentic experience.
LMS: What are your favorite travel based social media accounts?
MB: I would put them into two categories. The first being inspiration. They would be @beautifuldestinations, @doyoutravel, @tommy.clarke, @jacob, @nomadic_habit, @sennarelax, and @cerealmag. The second category would be for travel intel and finds, they would be @austtraveller, @cntraveler, @afarmedia, @indagaretravel, @fathomwaytogo and a new one I’m watching @travelessentialist.
LMS: You seem to have a dream job and have worked hard to get there! What advice would you give to young influencers and professionals trying to break into the travel industry?
MB: First, you must be passionate about what you do and really love to travel. Always go the extra mile to research, read and explore outside your immediate environment. Travel partnerships be they social or offline, resonate the best when they are authentic and connect with the traveling public in a way that is memorable and sometimes life changing.
LMS: As part of the Brandman Agency, have you worked with any social media influencers for marketing purposes? Do you have any tips for how influencers hoping to work with travel companies can stand out in the crowd? What do you look for in these partnerships?
MB: Hotels want genuine connections that speak to their DNA. Don’t try to be all things to all people – – hone in on what is a good match with your brand. Ensure you are bringing value to a travel partner and not just offering to ‘post’ as this doesn’t really resonate anymore as a standalone offering. Really get to know the brand you are pitching and approach them with a proposal that makes sense and reaches beyond just the social channels if possible. I would stay to start small and grow a mutual trust and reward relationship which will have a longer shelf life.
Your Inner Circle Invite
LMS Inner Circle, it is a private network for established people in the influencer industry. We are the go-to group to connect with your peers, discover new opportunities, and share projects you’re working on- while also providing you unique one-on-one access to some of the most well-known Career Influencers in the industry. Each month we will discuss a relevant topic, invite a Career Influencer to answer questions and offer advice, and give you the opportunity to “Ask the Agency” (that’s us). As owners and moderators of the group we will share opportunities, host giveaways, and drop thought-starters. Our goal is simple and that is to connect & converse. If you’re an influencer and would like to join our Inner Circle. You can request your membership here. We look forward to welcoming you to the LMS Inner Circle!