Travel Trends with Dan Christian
Travel Trends with Dan Christian is a B2B global travel podcast for professionals shaping the future of travel. Hosted by Dan Christian, the show features candid conversations with global travel leaders, startup founders, tourism boards, hospitality executives, and technology innovators. Together they explore the ideas, innovations, and strategies driving the next era of travel. Listeners gain actionable insights and real-world perspectives from leaders redefining the global travel economy.
Episodes
The Evolution of Travel Distribution: 10 Years of Change with RateHawk
Send us Fan MailThe travel industry loves to talk about innovation, but Felix Shpilman brings a sharper lens: what has actually changed in travel distribution over the past decade, and what challenges still remain unsolved.Felix is the President and CEO of Emerging Travel Group and the driving force behind RateHawk. Joining Dan from Dubai, he shares an inside look at what it takes to build and sca
State of Loyalty in Travel with Loyalty Status Co
Send us Fan MailPrice used to win bookings. In 2026, elite status is quietly winning loyalty and it may be the most underleveraged ancillary revenue opportunity in travel.In the first episode of our Loyalty Series, Dan is joined by Loyalty Status Co. CEO Mark Ross-Smith and CTO Stuart Melim to unpack why “status currency” is emotional, identity-driven, and far more powerful than traditional points
The Evolution of Timeshare: Exclusive Experiences
Send us Fan MailRecorded live from the Bellagio at ARDA’s Spring Conference in Las Vegas, Dan sits down with the leaders reshaping vacation ownership into something far more flexible, experience-led, and dynamic than most travelers realize. This conversation explores why the industry is having a real moment and how shifting traveler priorities around access, identity, and unforgettable experiences
Why Tour Operators Matter More In 2026
Send us Fan MailTravel feels more unpredictable than it did a few years ago, and that’s exactly why guided travel is winning again. In this Captains of Industry episode, Dan sits down with Terry Dale, President and CEO of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), to unpack what’s really driving the surge in tour operators, packaged tours, and high-touch planning in 2026. Terry explains
Connecting People to Iconic Places: The Pursuit Approach to Experience-Led Travel
Send us Fan MailTravel is being rewritten in real time, and it’s not being led by hotels or airlines. It’s being led by experiences that create real connection to place.Dan sits down with David Barry, President and CEO of Pursuit, to unpack how a true “category of one” company gets built. With a 40-year career across hospitality, aviation, and travel, David shares how Pursuit has evolved into a gl
The Rise of Sports Travel
Send us Fan MailA jersey can do what a guidebook cannot: it gets you welcomed. That single idea opens the door to a much bigger trend, the rise of sports tourism as one of the most powerful forces in experiential travel today. With the FIFA World Cup 2026 set to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and cities like Toronto preparing to take center stage, the momentum behind spor
The Evolution of Timeshare: Today’s Timeshare Owner
Send us Fan MailThe “timeshare” stereotype is officially outdated.Recorded live from the Bellagio at ARDA’s Spring Conference in Las Vegas, Dan sits down with the leaders redefining vacation ownership into something far more flexible, digital, and experience-led than most travelers realize. This conversation explores how the category is evolving, what’s driving growth, and what today’s owners expe
The Hidden Problem Costing Travel Companies Millions with Repayd
Send us Fan MailPayments are where travel brands quietly win or lose trust, often only becoming visible after something goes wrong: a declined card, a messy refund, a spike in chargebacks, or a drop in checkout conversion that’s hard to explain. In this episode, we dig into one of the most overlooked parts of the travel business, even though it directly impacts revenue, cash flow, and the ability
The Rise of Agentic AI Part 3
Send us Fan MailAgentic AI is quickly becoming the difference between a travel experience that feels generic and one that adapts to you in real time. In the final episode of our Agentic AI Series, Dan sits down with three builders deep in the work: Jeff Kischuk, CEO of Tripian, Jessie Fischer, Founder and CEO of GuestOS, and Marius Nigond, CEO of iWander. Together, they break down what “agentic” r
The Rise of Rail Part 3: Travel, Tech, and Why Trains Are Back with Frank Marini
Send us Fan MailRail is having a real moment, and not for the reasons most people think. The tracks haven’t changed, but how travelers see them has. In 2026, rail is no longer the alternative to flying or driving. It’s becoming the experience itself. To close out our Rise of Rail Series with Railbookers and Rail Month itself, Dan sits down with Railbookers CEO Frank Marini to unpack what’s really
Sell More Experiences: Why the Best Operators Are Getting Connected with Bokun
Send us Fan MailIf you’re still managing tours through email threads, spreadsheets, or a “Contact Us to book” form, you’re not just adding admin, you’re likely leaving revenue on the table. In this Company Spotlight, Dan sits down with Sam Jeffries, Senior Growth Marketing Manager at Bokun, to break down what it really takes to sell more tours and activities in 2026: instant booking, smarter distr
The Rise of Agentic AI Part 2
Send us Fan MailFilters, dropdowns, and endless tabs are starting to feel like the old internet, and travel is right at the center of that shift. In the second episode of our Agentic AI Series, Dan speaks with Ben Manzi, Co-founder and COO of Maya, Michelle Denogean, CMO of Mindtrip, and Brianna MacNeil, Director of AI Products and Personalization, TravelAI, to unpack what “agentic AI” really mean
The Rise of Rail Part 2 - Luxury Rail Travel: The New Golden Age
Send us Fan MailRail is having a moment and not just as a way to travel, but as a way to experience the world differently. As part of Rail Month, we are diving deeper into the category in this second episode of our The Rise of Rail Series with Railbookers, this time focusing on the return of luxury rail.Luxury rail travel is back, and it is no longer just about getting from point A to point B. Dan
Event Spotlight: Arival 360 Valencia 2026
Send us Fan MailRecorded live from Valencia, Spain, this episode brings together insights from 14 industry leaders across technology, distribution and marketing, capturing what’s actually working in travel in 2026 at Arival 360.Multi-day tours take center stage with Dan moderating sessions with leaders from TourRadar, G Adventures, WeRoad, Contiki, The Travel Corporation, Exoticca, kimkim, Evaneos
The Rise of Agentic AI in 2026
Send us Fan MailAI that writes is no longer the headline. AI that acts is.In the first episode of our Agentic AI Series, we sit down with Gilad Berenstein of Brook Bay Capital, Tahnee Perry, AI Expert Consultant, and Christian Watts of Magpie to break down agentic AI in plain terms. We unpack how it differs from generative AI, and why this next phase is less about single tools and more about syste
The Rise of Rail Part 1: The Most Iconic and Scenic Journeys with Railbookers
Send us Fan MailMay marks Rail Month, a celebration of train travel and the growing demand for more relaxed, immersive ways to explore the world. With 31 days of festivities, including Rail Week (May 11–17), there’s no better time to spotlight why rail is having a global resurgence.In this first episode of our 3-part Rail series, we sit down with Railbookers leaders Jim Marini (SVP, Strategic Part
All-Access on the Slopes: The Future of Luxury Ski Travel with Picabo Street
Send us Fan MailThis Captains of Industry episode explores what really goes into elite alpine skiing, beyond what you see on TV. You can watch the sport for years and still miss what actually decides a race: the travel grind, the equipment rituals, the recovery work, and the mental tunnel vision it takes to deliver one perfect run. That’s why getting time with Picabo Street feels so rare. She’s an
Beyond Airport Transfers: How Daytrip Is Rethinking Travel Between Cities
Send us Fan MailThe most stressful part of a trip often isn’t the flight or the hotel, it’s everything in between. After a long journey, you arrive tired, navigating a new place, juggling luggage, and trying to figure out how to get from point A to point B. That “simple transfer” can quickly become overwhelming and often sets the tone for the entire trip. That’s why we sat down with Alexandra Mamr
The Evolution of Sun Destinations with TUI with Phillip Iveson
Send us Fan MailA sun holiday may look simple on the surface, but the best ones are carefully engineered. In this episode, we’re joined by Phillip Iveson, Director of Accommodation Product and Sourcing at TUI Group, to unpack how one of the world’s most vertically integrated travel companies designs package holidays that seamlessly connect flights, resorts, experiences, and distribution. If you’ve
The New American Road Trip: Blacksford’s Luxury RV Adventures in the National Parks
Send us Fan MailThe American road trip is getting a luxury upgrade, and it’s happening faster than most travelers realize. In this Company Spotlight episode, Dan sits down with David Greenberg and Becky Goodell of Blacksford to explore why premium RV travel is emerging as one of the most compelling ways to experience the United States in 2026, especially as demand grows around Route 66, major spor
How Club Med Created All-Inclusive Holidays and Continues to Lead the Way with Carolyne Doyon
Send us Fan MailClub Med is one of those travel brands people think they understand until they hear the full story. In the second episode of our Sun Destinations Series, Carolyne Doyon, President and CEO of Club Med North America and the Caribbean, shares how a bold idea launched in 1950 built around sport, nature, and human connection went on to pioneer the all-inclusive concept that has since sh
When Bad Sh*t Happens to Good People on Holiday: Legal Lessons for the Travel Industry
Send us Fan MailA single incident can turn a “dream trip” into a legal and operational nightmare, and most travel businesses don’t realize where they’re exposed until it’s too late.We kick off the 2026 Travel Trends and Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) Adventure Travel Series with an honest look at the legal risks behind every itinerary. Dan, alongside co-host Shannon Stowell, CEO of ATTA
Trust Your Compass: Leadership, Marketing, and AI in Adventure Tourism with Liquid Spark
Send us Fan MailA career that starts on Wall Street and shifts into whitewater guiding sounds like a movie plot, but for Julie Thorner it became the foundation for building Liquid Spark, one of the most trusted names in adventure travel marketing. We talk about the moment she realized life is short, why she chose to walk away from “safe” roles, and how she built her agency as a single mom who need
Beyond The Beach with St. Maarten
Send us Fan MailA Caribbean sun holiday becomes something truly unforgettable when it includes two countries on one island, world-class cuisine on both sides, and an airport runway so iconic travelers plan entire trips just to experience it.In the first episode of our Sun Destinations Series, we’re joined by May-Ling Chun, Director of Tourism for St. Maarten, to explore what makes this destination
How HotelPORT is Streamlining Hospitality with Fred Bean, CEO
Send us Fan MailHotel listings are supposed to be the easy part of distribution. Then you look closer and realize how often the basics are wrong: amenities, room details, policies, photos, outlet hours, phone numbers, and even where that information appears across OTAs, GDSs, maps, and review platforms. In this Captains of Industry episode, we’re joined by Fred Bean, CEO and founder of HotelPORT,
Travel with Meaning: Rethinking Purpose-Driven Travel with Mike Schibel
Send us Fan MailHe got fired, bought a one-way ticket to Australia, and accidentally built a travel media brand. In this episode, we’re joined by Mike Schibel, founder and host of Travel With Meaning and one of the early voices in travel podcasting.Mike shares how his background in Los Angeles and a decade in the entertainment industry shaped his approach to storytelling and interviewing. What sta
Global Luxury Hotel Trends Part 3 with Stuart Greif
Send us Fan MailFive-star luxury has a secret most travelers never see. It’s not the lobby, the suite, or the amenities. It’s the consistency behind the scenes, delivered by teams who feel supported enough to show up with genuine warmth every single time. That’s what we explore in the last episode of our Luxury Hotel Series with Stuart Greif, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Forbes Travel
Event Preview: Phocuswright Europe 2026
Send us Fan MailBarcelona is calling, and not just for the beaches. From the floor of ITB Berlin, we sit down with Pete Comeau and Florence Kaci to preview Phocuswright Europe 2026 and why it has become a must attend event for travel leaders who are driving real decisions. We break down what sets it apart, from the venue and energy to its focus on meaningful insights and dealmaking over sheer scal
Global Luxury Hotel Trends Part 2 with Emily Goldfischer and Marlene Poynder
Send us Fan MailLuxury hotels don’t win by doing more. They win by noticing more and by building teams with the time and confidence to act on what they see.In this episode, we’re joined by Emily Goldfischer, founder of Hertelier, and Marlene Poynder, Managing Director of The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel in New York City. Emily shares the inspiration behind Hertelier, a platform dedicated to elevating
Shaping the Future of Urban Tourism with GetYourGuide
Send us Fan MailSeventy five percent of travelers visit just four percent of Italy. That statistic alone explains why Europe is rethinking tourism and why simply attracting more visitors can no longer be the only goal. Following a live panel at GetYourGuide headquarters, Dan sat down with Francesca de Falco, Regional Manager Italy at GetYourGuide, Miguel Sanz, President of the European Travel Comm
Luxury Hotel Trends in 2026 with Jonathan Raggett, CEO, Red Carnation Hotels
Send us Fan MailLuxury travelers are becoming harder to impress, not because they want more “stuff,” but because they expect less friction and more recognition. In the first episode of our Luxury Hotel Series, Jonathan Raggett, CEO of Red Carnation Hotels, joins us to explore the trends shaping luxury hospitality in 2026. From deeper personalization and emotional service to the growing expectation
Guided, Personal, Anywhere: How Pintours Is Creating Experiences Worldwide by Empowering Guides
Send us Fan MailWhat if your best friend in every city could design your perfect day and get paid for it whether they are with you or not? That is the idea behind Pintours. In this episode, Dan speaks with founder and CEO Lou Chatta about how human storytelling combined with AI can scale the magic of a great guide while preserving the personality and authenticity that make guided experiences speci
How the Art of Mentalism Can Elevate Travel Experiences with David Stryker
Send us Fan MailWe're incredible thrilled to launch Season 7 with a full video interview featuring an LA Based Celebrity Mentalist and Magician, David Stryker, who show us how to apply his techniques to enhance our travel experiences. We wanted to try something a little different and have some fun with our season opener. Both Katherine and Zach from Travel Trends join the discussion with Dan
Event Spotlight: Optimizing and Innovating Canadian Luxury at Virtuoso Forum Canada 2026
Send us Fan MailLuxury travel is evolving quickly, and Virtuoso is leading that transformation with Canada playing a pivotal role in its global expansion.At Virtuoso’s Canada Forum in Calgary, Dan sat down with GM, Canada Karen Hardie, Senior VP Global Markets Michael Londregan, Senior VP Global Events Jennifer Campbell, Executive VP Strategic Communications David Kolner, and Chairman & CEO Ma
Solving Global Payments in Travel with Airwallex with Erich Ko, Senior GTM Partnerships Manager
Send us Fan MailMoney movement is the hidden engine powering travel and too often the root cause of stalled bookings, compressed margins, and delayed supplier payouts. In this episode, we sit down with Erich Ko, Senior GTM Partnerships Manager at Airwallex, to break down the full financial journey from traveler checkout to final supplier settlement and outline practical ways travel brands can repl
Event Preview: Arival 360 Valencia with Bruce Rosard
Send us Fan MailReady to meet the leaders driving the next phase of multi-day tour growth?In this Event Preview Episode we’re taking you inside the plans for Arival 360 Valencia, a focused three-day gathering where operators, distributors, and travel tech leaders come together to talk tours, activities, attractions and this year, a significantly expanded Multi-Day Tour Program.Building on the mult
Rethinking Travel Distribution: How Travelier Is Connecting the World
Send us Fan MailMost travel stories skip the middle. The ferries, buses, and trains that actually move us between major gateways and the places we are dreaming about rarely get the spotlight. In this episode, we focus on that overlooked backbone of the travel ecosystem with Travelier CEO and cofounder Noam Toister, whose company is digitizing ground and sea transport across more than 100 countries
Travelzoo Best Bets: Where to Go in 2026 with Susan Catto
Send us Fan MailReady for a clear eyed look at how to travel smarter in 2026? Dan and Travelzoo’s Senior Editor and co-host Gabe Saglie close our 10-part Best Bets series with Susan Catto, Head of Publishing and Production at Travelzoo Canada, for a forward looking conversation on the future of travel deals and the trends shaping how we book.This episode connects the dots between destinations, mem
Why Experiences Are the New Currency of Gifting with Spur Experiences
Send us Fan MailPeople don’t just want to go somewhere anymore, they want to feel something. That emotional shift is powering the experience economy and changing how we celebrate love, milestones, and meaningful moments. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we sit down with Cody Sudmeier, co founder and CEO of Spur Experiences, to explore why gifting moments is quickly overtaking gifting things and h
Travelzoo Best Bets: Where to Go in 2026 with Chile Travel
Send us Fan MailA country this slender shouldn’t hold so much, yet Chile layers entire worlds end to end: a cosmopolitan capital set against the Andes, a desert where the night sky feels close enough to touch, vast Patagonian parks that safeguard wild silence, and a Pacific island where living tradition matters more than spectacle. In episode nine of our 10-part Travelzoo Best Bets Series, Dan and
Event Preview: ITB Berlin 2026 with Deborah Rothe
Send us Fan MailBig rooms. Bigger ideas. And a roadmap for what’s next in global tourism. In this event preview episode, we’re joined once again by Deborah Rothe, Director of ITB Berlin, to unpack what’s coming when more than 100,000 travel professionals from 170 countries converge in Berlin this March. From Angola’s host-country spotlight to Thailand’s major presence, we highlight the regions gai
Why 2026 Is the Year of Transformative Travel with Jake Haupert and Joe Pine
Send us Fan MailThe moment a guide stops narrating a place and starts guiding a person, everything changes. That idea anchors this season finale with Joe Pine, the visionary behind The Experience Economy and his latest book The Transformation Economy, alongside Jake Haupert, Co-founder of the Transformational Travel Council (TTC). Together, they lay out a clear and practical roadmap for turning gr
Travelzoo Best Bets: Where to Go in 2026 with Niagara-on-the-Lake
Send us Fan MailHistory lovers, wine enthusiasts, and weekend escape artists will feel right at home in Niagara on the Lake. In episode eight of our 10-part Travelzoo Best Bets Series, Dan and Travelzoo Senior Editor and co-host Gabe Saglie travel to Niagara-on-the-Lake, selected as part of Travelzoo’s Canada Best Bets for 2026, alongside Brianne Hawley from Tourism Niagara-on-the-Lake to explore
Making the Modern Travel Agency: Humans, Hospitality & AI with Jake Peters, Fora
Send us Fan MailThe biggest surprise in travel tech right now isn’t a model, it’s a movement. From a 20 page memo to a Series C and $1.5B in annual sales, Fora’s rise has been powered by a community of 11,000 advisors, a product organization that ships fast, and a deep belief that hospitality is fundamentally human. Dan sat down with Co-founder and Chief Product & Technology Officer, Jake Pete
The Next Generation of Flight with Oliver Christian
Send us Fan MailA 14-hour flight with nothing but coloring books sparked a lifelong fascination. In a special episode closing out our Aviation Series, Dan sits down with his son Oliver Christian, the kid who once built LAX in the garage and could identify aircraft by silhouette, to trace the path from childhood plane-spotting to future pilot, and to explore where aviation is headed next.We break d
Travelzoo Best Bets: Where to Go in 2026 with ProColombia
Send us Fan MailWhat if one trip could deliver six different adventures without crossing a border? In episode seven of our 10-part Travelzoo Best Bets Series, Dan and Travelzoo Senior Editor and co-host Gabe Saglie head to Colombia - selected as part of Travelzoo’s Canada Best Bets for 2026 - with ProColombia’s, Leisure Tourism Manager, María José Silvato unpack why 2026 is the right moment to go
A New Era for High-end Travel: National Geographic Signature with G Adventures
Send us Fan MailLuxury is changing fast and we wanted to know what it looks like when comfort, curiosity, and real local impact meet. Luxury is entering a new era, one defined less by thread counts and more by access, education, and meaningful impact. In this episode, we sit down with Yves Marceau, VP of Product at G Adventures, to explore the launch of National Geographic Signature with G Adventu
Why Flexibility Is the New Fare: Inside Airline Innovation with Hopper
Send us Fan MailFlight canceled, heart rate rising, clock ticking. Now imagine a single tap that rebooks you on any airline in minutes or delivers a full refund without lines, calls, or frustration. In this episode, we sit down with Patrick Steadman, VP of Disruption at Hopper and Hopper Technology Solutions (HTS), to unpack the new playbook for certainty in an increasingly unpredictable sky.We br
Travelzoo Best Bets: Where to Go in 2026 with Choose Chicago
Send us Fan MailChicago isn’t just back, it’s surging. In episode six of our 10-part Travelzoo Best Bets Series, Dan and Travelzoo Senior Editor and co-host Gabe Saglie sit down with Lisa Nucci of Choose Chicago to map out the experiences and local insights that turn a short visit into a lasting memory.We explore the South Side’s moment in the spotlight, from the Obama Presidential Center as a pow
How Heys Luggage Became a Global Travel Icon with Emran Sheikh, CEO, Heys
Send us Fan MailA family basement isn't where you’d expect a global luggage brand to begin, but that’s exactly where the Heys story took flight. In this episode, we sit down with CEO Emran Sheikh to unpack four decades of innovation, bold design choices, and a proudly Canadian identity that now spans 75 countries. From candy-coloured hard shells that broke up a sea of black bags to Bluetooth-
How oneworld Is Shaping the Future of Global Aviation with Roger Blackburn
Send us Fan MailThe aviation story is bigger than fares and aircraft, it’s about how global alliances quietly choreograph your entire journey. In the our kickoff episode of our Aviation series, we sit down with Roger Blackburn, VP Commercial & Loyalty at oneworld Alliance, to reveal how 15+ member airlines coordinate routes, lounges, data, and service so travelers can move across continents wi
Travelzoo Best Bets: Where to Go in 2026 with Visit Savannah
Send us Fan MailSavannah never makes you choose between ease and depth; it delivers both the moment you start exploring. In episode five of our 10-part Travelzoo Best Bets Series, Dan and Travelzoo Senior Editor and co-host Gabe Saglie sit down with Supriya Christopher of Visit Savannah to map out how America’s first planned city blends oak-shaded squares, layered history, and a surprisingly moder
The Mind Behind Investing in the Experience Economy With Michael Zeisser, FMZ Ventures
Send us Fan MailExperiences - not things - are becoming the world’s most powerful growth market, and investor Michael Zeisser, Managing Partner, FMZ Ventures joins us to explain why. In this Captains of Industry episode, we explore how the shift from goods to meaning is reshaping the entire travel and experiences economy and what it means to play the long game in a world where travelers increasing
Travelzoo Best Bets: Where to Go in 2026 with Visit Finland
Send us Fan MailReady to trade crowds for clarity and noise for nature? In episode four of our 10-part Travelzoo Best Bets Series, Dan and Travelzoo Senior Editor (and co-host) Gabe Saglie head to Finland with Visit Finland’s Tarja Koivisto to map out a year-round escape shaped by wellness, design, and wild beauty. Think 188,000 lakes, 3 million saunas, and four regions that make trip-planning eff
Climate Leadership in Action: Inside Intrepid’s Decarbonization Journey with Dr. Susanne Etti
Send us Fan MailStart the new year with a clear-eyed plan for transformational travel. In the final episode of our Sustainability Series, we sit down with Dr. Susanne Etti, Intrepid’s Global Environmental Impact Manager, to explore how one of the world’s leading adventure brands is moving sustainability from promises to proof-phasing out offsets, investing directly in decarbonization, and expandin
Where Sustainable Travel Meets Impact Investing with Jonathan Coleman, CEO, UnTours
Send us Fan MailImagine a travel company where the business itself fuels impact, not just through donations but through ownership. That is the UnTours story. In this episode, CEO Jonathan Coleman shares how the world’s first certified B Corp tour operator became part of a foundation that invests every dollar into small businesses creating meaningful change in destinations.Jonathan walks us through
Travelzoo Best Bets: Where to Go in 2026 with Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona
Send us Fan MailA century-old highway is about to steal the spotlight again. In episode three of our 10-part Travelzoo Best Bets Series, Dan and Travelzoo Senior Editor (and co-host) Gabe Saglie head to Arizona’s storied stretch of Route 66 with guest Nikki Terlesky, Director of Operations for the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. Together, they explore why the Mother Road still embodies f
The RenAIssance of Rail with Railbookers
Send us Fan MailThe rails are buzzing for a reason: travelers want flexible journeys, city-center convenience, and window-seat scenery without the stress. At the Railbookers Global Summit, we sat down with CEO Frank Marini and three of his senior leaders to explore how a remote-first culture, deep trade partnerships, and an ambitious AI strategy are powering the renaissance of rail travel.Frank br
Leadership Lessons in Sustainability that Matter with Shannon Guihan
Send us Fan MailThe rules of “green travel” have changed. We’re moving beyond feel-good labels to a world where travelers, advisors, and investors expect real proof, data, targets, and measurable benefits for the places we visit. To open our Sustainability Series, Shannon Guihan, Chief Sustainability Officer at The Travel Corporation, joins us to unpack what credible impact looks like in 2026 and
Travelzoo Best Bets: Where to Go in 2026 with Andrew Young
Send us Fan MailReady to travel smarter in 2026? In episode two of our 10-part Travelzoo Best Bets Series, Dan and Travelzoo Senior Editor (and co-host) Gabe Saglie sit down with Andrew Young, Senior Producer, Content & Tourism Board Lead, to reveal Travelzoo’s Best Bets for the U.S. and Canada and unpack the “why now” behind each destination so you can plan trips that feel timely, meaningful,
Event Spotlight: Phocuswright 2025
Send us Fan MailWe’re wrapping up our 2025 events spotlights with our biggest event episode ever, a 5+ hour special recorded live at Phocuswright San Diego. This landmark episode features 25 exclusive interviews with industry leaders shaping the future of travel, technology, distribution, and the in-destination experience.This year’s Phocuswright was a standout event for Travel Trends, and we’re g
TourRadar’s Social Playbook: How to Turn Followers into Bookings with Travis Pittman, CEO
Send us Fan MailThe way travelers discover and book multi-day adventures is shifting fast, and TourRadar is leaning all the way in. In this episode, TourRadar co-founder and CEO Travis Pittman breaks down how a $200B category is rewriting its playbook around creators, mobile, and practical AI to turn social inspiration into real, bookable demand. From a new social commerce layer that links travele
Travelzoo Best Bets: Where to Go in 2026 with Jonathan Jones, Head of Publishing, Travelzoo
Send us Fan MailWe’re kicking off a 10-part Travelzoo Best Bets Series to explore how smarter and more meaningful travel is taking center stage and how to book it at real value. Dan and Travelzoo’s Senior Editor and co-host Gabe Saglie are joined by Jonathan Jones, Travelzoo’s Head of Publishing, who leads the team behind the brand’s most trusted deals, including the iconic Top 20. A champion of p
Company Spotlight: How Agentic AI Is Transforming the Traveler Journey with Dan Flores, Satisfi Labs
Send us Fan MailWhat happens when your customers stop “visiting” your website because their AI agents visit for them? That’s the future we explore with Dan Flores of Satisfi Labs, who went from helping grow Maverick Helicopters into a tourism powerhouse to pioneering agent-first customer experiences that sell tickets, qualify MICE leads, and streamline service for destinations, attractions, and to
The Power of True Guest Loyalty in Scaling a Global Boutique Hotel Brand with Lennert De Jong, CEO, another star (former citizenM)
Send us Fan MailIn the final episode of our Loyalty Series, we sit down with citizenM’s former CEO and now another star CEO Lennert De Jong to unpack how a boutique hotel brand reinvented loyalty as a product rather than a points program. The result was a paid subscription model, guaranteed room availability, and a bold brand IP sale to Marriott, all of which reshaped citizenM’s growth, distributi
The New Loyalty Playbook: Global Status Commercialization with Loyalty Status Co
Send us Fan MailThink points are the prize? In travel loyalty, status is the real currency - the fast lane, the lounge, the upgrades, and the ease that comes from knowing you’re looked after. In the second episode of our Loyalty Series, we sit down with Erin Murray, CMO of Loyalty Status Co, to explore why many loyalty programs are now more valuable than the airlines that run them and how the smar
How Airlines are Redefining Loyalty for the Modern Traveler with KM Malta Airlines
Send us Fan MailWe’re excited to kick off a new three-part Loyalty Series, where we explore how airlines, hotels, and loyalty status companies are rewriting the rules of traveler engagement. In this first episode, we begin with a refreshingly simple philosophy from KM Malta Airlines: make value clear, make status meaningful, and make the journey smoother. Oliver Piers Ross, Head of Loyalty & C
Event Spotlight: Adventure Travel World Summit 2025
Send us Fan MailRecorded live in Puerto Natales, Chile, this special Event Spotlight takes you inside the Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) — the annual gathering of global adventure leaders hosted by the Adventure Travel Trade Association.From rewilded national parks to the gravel roads of Aysén, from marble caves at sunrise to a tent shaking to the sounds of Los Jaivas, this episode captures
Innovation, Leadership & the Future of Travel with Erik Blachford
Send us Fan MailWant a clear-eyed look at where travel is headed next? Erik Blachford, early Expedia leader turned board member at Zillow, Hipcamp, and Fora, joins us to unpack what the future that actually works looks like — AI behind the scenes, humans up front, and real-world experiences that no screen can replace.We trace Erik’s journey from building one of the first online travel agencies to
Cycle, Hike & Adventure - The New Multi-Day Movement with Active England Tours
Send us Fan MailTravelers think they want Stonehenge - but what they remember is a pint shared with locals, the scent of wild hedgerows, and a guide who brings the landscape to life.In the final episode of our Emerging Multi-day Tour series, we sit down with Will Cairns, Managing Director of Active England Tours, to explore how a soft-adventure brand transforms repeat UK visitors—mostly American r
Event Spotlight: Arival 360 2025
Send us Fan MailRecorded live from Washington, D.C., Arival 360 is the premier gathering for what many call the “1% of the experiences sector.” This meticulously curated event brings together visionary creators, resellers, technologists, and leaders from across the travel ecosystem — from day tour operators and multi-day specialists to innovative startups and global platforms like GetYourGuide and
Uncharted Worlds: Perspective-Shifting Journeys with Crooked Compass
Send us Fan MailCuriosity changes everything. That’s the thread running through our conversation with Crooked Compass founder and CEO Lisa Pagotto, whose frontier-travel philosophy favors depth over dazzle and local impact over checklists. In this second episode of our Emerging Multi-Day Tour Operators series, we explore how she designs perspective-shifting journeys in safe yet overlooked destinat
Girl Gone Global: Building a Bold New Kind of Travel Brand with A Dose of Travel
Send us Fan MailWe’re kicking off our new Emerging Multi-Day Operators series - spotlighting how a new wave of founders is reinventing group travel for modern explorers. The multi-day category is poised for growth in the next 5-10 years an impressive average of 20–30% annually, driven by travelers seeking deeper connection, curated itineraries, and shared experiences.In this episode, we meet Dr. N
The Impact of AI on Destination Marketing featuring Discover Puerto Rico
Send us Fan MailIn the third and final episode of our Mindtrip mini-series, we sit down with Discover Puerto Rico’s CMO, Storm Tussey to see how AI is reshaping trip planning - making it easier, smarter, and more personal while keeping culture and community at the heart of the journey.Our conversation explores how the destination uses AI to turn inspiration into real itineraries - helping traveler
The Impact of AI on Destination Marketing featuring Visit California
Send us Fan MailIn this second episode - part of a 3-part mini-series with Mindtrip exploring how AI is transforming destination marketing - we sit down with Lynn Carpenter, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Visit California, to unpack how a how a $157.3B tourism economy is being reimagined through AI, data, and human storytelling. Lynn shares why engagement now matters more than traffic, taki
Leading the Future of Educational Travel & More with EF World Journeys
Send us Fan MailPurposeful travel is having a moment—and we’re getting to the heart of what’s driving it. From a windswept opening in Patagonia to an inside look at EF’s new active brand, this "Captains of Industry," conversation with Heidi Durflinger, CEO of EF World Journeys USA, explores how learning, community, and movement are reshaping multi-day travel for every generation.We unpac
The Impact of AI on Destination Marketing featuring Brand USA
Send us Fan MailWe're so fascinated on how Destination Marketing is being transformed by AI that we partnered with Mindtrip to bring together this 3-part mini series. We have an incredible line-up of speakers joining us in advance of our AI Summit to exploring how AI is transforming the way travelers dream, plan, and book their journeys.In our first episode, we sit down with Janette Roush, S
Inside GetYourGuide's Journey with Tao Tao
Send us Fan MailA misbooked flight, a lost day in Beijing, and a spark that reshaped how millions discover what to do when they land. In this Captains of Industry episode, we sit down with Tao Tao, Co-Founder and COO of GetYourGuide, to unpack what it really takes to build a global marketplace for experiences—from cold-calling suppliers before the website even existed to mastering SEO when organic
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Turning Destinations into Immersive Storytelling Experiences with Geotourist
Send us Fan MailImagine walking into a distillery and being greeted by the master as a hologram who already knows your questions. That’s the bold vision of Geotourist, and where our conversation with CEO and Founder Shaon Talukder begins. From its start as an “audio map of the world” to hosting community voices, screen tourism, and accessibility routes across 94 countries, GeoTourist is redefining
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