Alex Smirnov came to the United States from Russia in November 2019, just months before the pandemic kept him here for good. Alongside his wife and dance partner Daria, he spent over a decade as a competitive ballroom dancer, traveling to nearly 30 states for competitions before retiring from competing this June. In this episode, Alex joins Meredith to talk about how a family reunion in Dubai, and watching his parents experience travel for the first time, led him to join Gifted Travel Network’s (GTN) Travel MBA program in the February 2026 cohort and launch AD Luxe Escapes.Alex and Meredith explore what choreography and itinerary design have in common: pacing, rhythm, and the understanding that no single move, or hotel, works for everyone. Alex explains why the best advisors listen for what clients actually want, not just what they say, and how that mindset shaped his business. He also shares how he and Daria built their brand with help from Motive through GTN’s branding lab, why Thumbtack has become their biggest source of new clients, and how defining a clear avatar helped them focus on couples 50 and older who travel multiple times a year.

📖 Free Chapter: https://tinyurl.com/GTN-Chap7

🎓 Travel Business University: https://tinyurl.com/Learn-More-TBU

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🖥️ AD Luxe Escapes: https://adluxeescapes.com/

👤 Alex's LinkedIn: https://tinyurl.com/3ju5883f