From Vacation Bills to $50K and Beyond: How TBEX Kickstarted Our Travel Empire

* Thank you to TBEX Community members, Tiffany and Mark Baker, for sharing their TBEX story!

My first TBEX was also my first time in Puerto Rico (TBEX North America 2024, San Juan), and I was immediately hooked on this new life. TBEX was filled with vibrant energy, inspiring speakers, and sheer possibility hanging in the air. My husband and I were there with a burning question: how do you actually monetize travel? We were about to take our family of five on a four-month world cruise and desperately needed to turn our passion into profit. Less than a year later, I’m writing this from our world cruise, with a projected $50,000 in revenue for our travel business, Time Rich Family, and even bigger things on the horizon. TBEX was the catalyst.

Before TBEX, the idea of “travel monetization” felt like a distant dream. We loved exploring the world, but the realities of finances and personal responsibilities always loomed. We were about to trade in our stable lives for a life of nomadic homeschooling with our kids, and the pressure was on. TBEX changed everything.

Puerto Rico wasn’t just a fun getaway; it was an intensive crash course in the business of travel. The workshops were invaluable, but the real magic happened in the hallways, at networking events, and over late-night conversations. We soaked up the knowledge like sponges, learning from seasoned professionals about content creation, brand partnerships, affiliate marketing, and building a sustainable travel business. More importantly, we connected with people – other travelers, industry experts, and potential collaborators. Tomiko and Chris (TBEX North America Conference Directors) made us immediately feel like family. The TBEX community gave us the confidence to take the leap.

We left Puerto Rico armed with a plan and a renewed sense of purpose. After years of investing in real estate, we knew we had the potential to turn our travel dreams into a profitable reality. And we did.

So, how did we go from vacation bills to a thriving travel business? Here’s a glimpse into our multi-faceted approach:

• Remote Travel Agent: I became a remote travel agent, booking travel for family, friends, and ourselves, earning commissions on every trip. Talk about a win-win!
• Brand Partnerships: We learned how to pitch brands and create compelling content that showcases their products and services authentically. These partnerships can provide valuable income while allowing us to share brands we genuinely love with our audience.
• Affiliate Marketing: We strategically use affiliate links to recommend products and services we use and trust, generating passive income while helping our followers plan their own adventures. We created a World Cruise Shopping List. We shared the Emergency Binder we used to prepare our family for extended travel.
• Digital Products: We’ve created and sold digital products. I get a ton of questions about how we homeschool our kiddos all over this beautiful planet, so I shared my Kids Travel Packs. Digital products are a fantastic way to share our expertise and provide valuable resources to fellow travelers.
• Coaching: Perhaps the most rewarding part of our journey has been coaching others to design their dream lives and live on their terms – unapologetically. We’re passionate about helping others achieve the same freedom and flexibility we’ve found.

TBEX provided the foundation, but the real work started after we left Puerto Rico. We poured our hearts and souls into building our brand, creating high-quality content, and nurturing our community. We embraced the challenges, learned from our mistakes, and never stopped hustling.

Now, as we cruise the world for the second month in a row, homeschooling our children and building our business from exotic locations, we can’t help but feel immense gratitude for TBEX. It was so much more than a conference. It was a launchpad. It gave us the tools, the inspiration, and the connections we needed to turn our travel dreams into a thriving business.

If you’re reading this and wondering if TBEX is worth it, my answer is a resounding YES. If you’re serious about monetizing travel, it’s an investment in your future. It’s an opportunity to connect with a supportive community, learn from industry experts, and gain the confidence to pursue your dreams. It’s the chance to transform your passion into a paycheck, and to finally come home from vacation to a check instead of a bill. Just like we did.

Tiffany and Mark Baker started Time Rich Family in September 2024. They removed their three young daughters from traditional public school and began traveling the world as a party of five in December 2024. Time Rich Family has over 50,000 followers. Tiffany and Mark inspire others to truly monetize their passion. Your life is not a trial run. That thing you’ve always wanted to do? Go do that thing. Unapologetically.

Follow Time Rich Family: Instagram: @atimerichfamily, TikTok: @TimeRichFamily, YouTube: @TimeRichFamily, and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiffany.a.baker.3

** Join us at an upcoming TBEX event to get inspired like Tiffany and Mark! TBEX North America * June 16-19 * Quebec City | TBEX Europe * Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland | TBEX Summit America * October 1-4 * Wichita, Kansas