Travel Trends with Dan Christian
- Episodes
- 284
- Released
- several times a week
- Latest episode
- Nov 13, 2026
About the podcast
Welcome to our Travel Trends Podcast, the #1 B2B global travel podcast for professionals shaping the future of travel.
Hosted by Dan Christian, this 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.
Whether you're building a travel startup, leading a destination, scaling a hospitality brand, or new to the industry, you’ll gain actionable insights and real-world perspectives from the leaders redefining the global travel economy.
Contributors
Episodes 284
Event Spotlight: Kaptio Unite 2026
Send us Fan MailReplacing the technology at the heart of a travel business is no small undertaking, especially when that business has been operating for more than 100 years. Recorded live from Kaptio Unite 2026 …
Show notes
Replacing the technology at the heart of a travel business is no small undertaking, especially when that business has been operating for more than 100 years. Recorded live from Kaptio Unite 2026 in Reykjavik, Dan sits down with Tauck’s Jonathan Franco and Jared Zech to discuss the challenges, decisions, and lessons learned from modernizing the reservation system behind one of the industry's most established tour operators.
From choosing the right technology partner and navigating the build-versus-buy decision to managing complex cruise inventory, John and Jared share what it takes to replace a legacy system without disrupting the business. They walk us through Tauck’s approach to data migration, system integrations, employee training, and the decision to schedule a four-day shutdown to ensure a smooth transition. The conversation also explores how modern reservation technology is improving the booking experience for travel advisors and customers, with faster workflows, live availability, and greater e-commerce capabilities.
Later, Kaptio CEO Vidar Svansson and co-founder and CTO Ragnar Fjölnisson join Dan to explore what's next for travel technology and the growing role of AI. They discuss Kaptio’s Edge platform, what it means to become an AI-native business, and how AI teammates like Kai and Rúna are helping reduce repetitive tasks and streamline daily operations. They also share their perspectives on agentic AI and how it could change the way travel companies operate and make decisions.
Together, these conversations offer a fascinating look at how travel technology is evolving, from the challenges of replacing decades-old systems to the opportunities emerging with AI. It's a reminder that successful digital transformation isn't just about adopting new technology. It's about giving people the tools to work smarter, serve customers better, and build a business that's ready for whatever comes next.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
Chapters (17)
Travel Trends Monthly Report - November 2026
Send us Fan MailSearch engines, social media, and word of mouth have long shaped how travelers discover and book their trips. But generative AI is quickly changing that, becoming a new starting point for travel …
Show notes
Search engines, social media, and word of mouth have long shaped how travelers discover and book their trips. But generative AI is quickly changing that, becoming a new starting point for travel inspiration, research, and planning. Recording live from Vancouver following World Travel Market (WTM), in this month’s Travel Trends Report, Dan and Marius reflect on the conversations, insights, and emerging trends shaping the future of travel marketing, and why the industry is changing faster than ever.
Drawing on findings from our latest report, we explore a key shift: AI is becoming the front door to travel, but it's not yet where bookings happen. With fewer US travelers starting their trip planning on traditional search engines and more turning to generative AI, what does this mean for travel brands? We discuss the implications for SEO, AI visibility, customer acquisition, and the future of booking, including the growing potential of agentic AI. We also share insights from live demonstrations and industry conversations that show how travel companies are moving beyond AI experimentation and starting to put these technologies to work.
But as AI becomes more capable, the human side of travel remains just as important. One particularly revealing statistic caught our attention: when given the choice between speaking with an AI phone agent or waiting for a human, only 2% of callers chose AI. We explore what this tells us about consumer trust, the importance of keeping humans involved, and where personal service continues to make a difference.
We wrap up with a look ahead to Season 8 of the Travel Trends Podcast, including our upcoming DMC series, and share how our advisory work is evolving to help travel businesses navigate AI through practical strategies, prototypes, and new technology development.
Download the full November Travel Trends Report, for a closer look at how generative AI is reshaping travel discovery, the rise of agentic booking, and why the human touch still matters. We break down the latest research, industry insights, and emerging trends to help you understand what's changing and what it means for your business heading into 2027.
👉 Listen to Travel Trends Monthly Report - November 2026 Now
🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 8 Title Sponsors for their Support: Quark Expeditions, Intrepid, Kaptio, Propellic, Repayd, and Holafly.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
Chapters (10)
Queenstown's Next Adventure: Building a Travel Tech Hub in New Zealand with Technology Queenstown
Send us Fan MailQueenstown is the kind of destination many of us dream of visiting. With its breathtaking mountains, stunning lakes, and world-class adventure experiences, tourism has long been at the heart of …
Show notes
Queenstown is the kind of destination many of us dream of visiting. With its breathtaking mountains, stunning lakes, and world-class adventure experiences, tourism has long been at the heart of the local economy. But when COVID closed international borders and visitors disappeared almost overnight, the community faced a major challenge. It also sparked an ambitious idea: what if Queenstown could become a global hub for travel and hospitality technology, creating new opportunities beyond tourism?
In this Company Spotlight episode, Dan sits down with Roger Sharp, Chair of Technology Queenstown, to explore how that vision is becoming a reality. Roger brings decades of experience in travel technology, from building and selling lastminute.com in Australia and New Zealand to chairing Webjet and now WebBeds. He shares how Queenstown is working to attract startups, develop local talent through a partnership with the University of Otago, secure long-term private funding, and position itself as a real-world testing ground where travel technology companies can develop and trial new products with hotels, operators, and travelers.
The conversation also explores what it takes to turn an ambitious idea into something the entire community can get behind. Drawing inspiration from destinations like Bend and Bozeman, Roger discusses the importance of local support, investment, and collaboration, along with the role of WiT (Web in Travel) in putting Queenstown on the global innovation map. From economic resilience and remote work to venture capital and the growing influence of AI, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how destinations can build more diverse economies and become centres for innovation.
Learn more at technologyqueenstown.com.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
Chapters (7)
Event Spotlight: Arival 360 Spokane 2026
Send us Fan MailRecorded live at Arival 360 in Spokane, this special Event Spotlight episode brings together leaders from across the tours, activities, attractions, and multi-day travel sectors to explore the …
Show notes
Recorded live at Arival 360 in Spokane, this special Event Spotlight episode brings together leaders from across the tours, activities, attractions, and multi-day travel sectors to explore the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the industry heading into 2027.
Dan returned as MC of Arival’s Multi-Day Stream, following successful editions in Washington, DC, and Valencia, Spain. This year’s program turned its attention to the United States, the world’s largest travel market, and the growing opportunities for multi-day tour operators. The Multi Day stream kicked off with with a main-stage panel discussion featuring Dan Berger, the new US General Manager at WeRoad, Katy Rockett, Regional Director, Explore Worldwide and Tingting Guo, Global VP Tours4fun, exploring the rise of small-group travel and the new players reshaping the market.
Throughout the event, Dan connected with industry leaders, tour operators, technology providers, and destination experience specialists to hear what’s driving growth across the sector. From changing traveler expectations and the growing demand for small-group adventures to smarter distribution, product innovation, and the practical applications of AI, these conversations offer a firsthand look at how businesses are adapting to a rapidly evolving travel landscape.
This episode starts with Intrepid’s President North American, Leigh Barnes and closes with Bruce Rosard, Arival Co-Founder and CCO and is filled with insights from both established industry leaders and emerging companies, discussing where the biggest opportunities are and what travel businesses should be thinking about as they plan for 2027 and beyond.Highlights & Timestamps
5s - Leigh Barnes, US General Manager, Intrepid Travel
17m04s - Kristin Dorsett, GM, Experiences, Tripadvisor
34m45s - Heather MacDonald, President, Gibbons Whistler
52m26s - Sahara Rose De Vore, CEO & Founder, The Travel Coach Network
1hr00m15s - Caitlin Montgomery, Group Director of Revenue, Magnicity
1hr11m02s - Tingting Guo, Global VP, Tours4fun
1hr27m31s - Dan Berger, General Manager, United States, WeRoad
1hr50m41s - Katy Rockett, Regional Director, Explore Worldwide
2hr03m37s - Christian Watts, CEO, Magpie Travel
2hr24m45s - Sean Hebert, VP, The Americas, Goway
2hr38m41s - Sarah Sprague, COO, Batch
2hr54m01s - Bastien Delapré, COO, Secret Food Tours
3hr06m55s - Susan Sanderson, Rezometry
3hr19m40s - Dan Moore, COO, The Adventure Hub
3hr29m35s - Tom Monroe, Owner, Tom's Christian Tours
3hr48m25s - Dale Schober, Founder & CEO, RADventures Canada
4hr04m57s - Stephanie Piano, Trade Partnerships Manager, By Iris Co.
4hr15m33s - Sara Margulis, Co-founder & CEO, Honeyfund
4hr28m01s - Louis Juergens, Co-owner, Alaska Galore
4hr38m48s - Lauren Shannon, Partner/General Manager, Arigato Japan
4hr57m00s - Asgeir Baldurs, CEO, Arctic Adventures
5hr15m24s - Ben Holz, Founder, AnyKai
5hr28m14s - Katrina Demers, VP, Pursuit
5hr44m17s - Jessica Johns, Head of Sales, Sojern
5hr54m53s - Bruce Rosard, Co-founder & COO, Arival
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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Why Pet Travel Is Booming and What Hotels Are Getting Wrong with PetsVivo
Send us Fan Mail“Pet-friendly” is a term we see everywhere in travel, but what does it actually mean? For many travelers, it still comes with frustrating restrictions, unexpected fees, and limited options. In …
Show notes
“Pet-friendly” is a term we see everywhere in travel, but what does it actually mean? For many travelers, it still comes with frustrating restrictions, unexpected fees, and limited options. In this episode, Dan sits down with Luis Zamora, Co-Founder and CMO of PetsVivo, to explore the growing pet travel market, what pet owners really want, and why hotels and destinations could be missing out on a major opportunity.
Luis shares insights into the rise of pet travel, including how changing attitudes toward pets are influencing travel decisions and spending habits. We discuss why travelers are willing to spend more with businesses that genuinely welcome their pets, and what hotels can do to create a better experience. From clearer pet policies and more transparent fees to thoughtful amenities that make a real difference, Luis explains how small changes can help properties attract more guests and encourage repeat bookings.
We also explore some of the biggest opportunities in pet travel, from RV adventures and national parks to wellness retreats designed for people and their pets. As more travelers look to include their four-legged companions in their vacations, destinations and travel businesses have an opportunity to rethink how they cater to this growing audience.
Finally, we look at how AI and search are changing the way travelers discover pet-friendly accommodations. Luis shares why clear information, relevant content, and authentic guest reviews are becoming increasingly important for hotels looking to stand out online.
For hotels, destinations, travel advisors, and anyone looking to better serve this growing market, this conversation offers practical insights into what it takes to move beyond simply allowing pets to creating experiences that make travelers and their companions feel genuinely welcome.
👉 Listen to Why Pet Travel Is Booming and What Hotels Are Getting Wrong Now
🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 8 Title Sponsors for their Support: Quark Expeditions, Intrepid, Kaptio, Propellic, Repayd, and Holafly
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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Tern's Vision for the Travel Industry
Send us Fan MailBooking travel shouldn’t mean entering the same client details over and over, chasing commissions months after a trip, or juggling multiple platforms just to book a hotel. In this Company …
Show notes
Booking travel shouldn’t mean entering the same client details over and over, chasing commissions months after a trip, or juggling multiple platforms just to book a hotel. In this Company Spotlight episode, Dan sits down with David Shull, CEO and co-founder of Tern, to explore how the company is simplifying the way travel advisors and host agencies run their businesses.
David shares the challenges that inspired Tern, including the behind-the-scenes administrative work that can take up 80 to 90% of an advisor’s day. From client management and itinerary planning to payments, compliance and commission tracking, Tern brings the tools advisors need into one platform. The goal is simple: less time spent on admin and more time building relationships, serving clients and growing their businesses.
One of the biggest announcements is the launch of Hotels by Tern, a new hotel booking platform taking aim at one of the travel industry’s most persistent headaches: getting advisors paid. With guaranteed commissions automatically reconciled and paid to agencies and host agencies within seven days of checkout, Tern is changing the way hotel bookings work, making the process faster, simpler and more financially predictable for travel advisors.
David also discusses how Tern handles payment processing, disputes and chargebacks, along with its approach to 24/7 hotel reservation support. We look at how the company is using AI to manage routine requests, support personalized email marketing and give advisors more time to focus on what matters most.
As technology continues to reshape the travel industry, this conversation offers a look at what happens when innovation is built around the people actually using it, and how removing everyday frustrations can help travel advisors build stronger, more profitable businesses.
Learn more at tern.travel.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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The 2027 Travel Marketing Playbook Part 3: AI Visibility
Send us Fan MailAI is changing how travelers discover, compare and book trips, and travel brands need to rethink how they get found. In the final episode of our Marketing Series sponsored by Propellic, Dan sits …
Show notes
AI is changing how travelers discover, compare and book trips, and travel brands need to rethink how they get found. In the final episode of our Marketing Series sponsored by Propellic, Dan sits down with Brennen Bliss, Founder and CEO of Propellic, and John Lyotier, Co-Founder and CEO of TravelAI, to explore what AI visibility means for travel businesses heading into 2027 and beyond.
As platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity become part of the travel planning process, the rules of online visibility are changing. Brennen and John break down Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), how it builds on traditional SEO, and why showing up in AI-generated recommendations is becoming increasingly important for travel brands.
Brennen shares how Propellic studies real traveler behavior to better understand how people use AI to research and plan trips, and what marketers can learn from those insights. John brings the perspective of building AI-powered travel technology, explaining the growing role of connectors, plugins and proprietary data in shaping which businesses get recommended.
The conversation also tackles one of the biggest questions facing the industry: Will AI agents eventually handle the entire booking process, or will travelers still want to be involved in planning their trips? From trust and transparency to attribution challenges and the changing relationship between travelers and suppliers, Dan, Brennen and John explore what these developments could mean for the future of travel.
For tour operators, hotels, destinations and travel technology companies, this episode offers a practical look at where AI-powered discovery is heading and what businesses should be paying attention to today.
The way travelers find and book trips is changing. The opportunity now is to understand those changes, rethink how your business gets discovered, and make sure you're part of the conversation when AI starts making recommendations.
👉 Listen to The 2027 Travel Marketing Playbook Part 3: AI Visibility Now
🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 8 Title Sponsors for their Support: Quark Expeditions, Intrepid, Kaptio, Propellic, Repayd, and Holafly
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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95% Execution, 5% Magic: How The Travel Collection Is Building the DMCs of the Future
Send us Fan MailIf ChatGPT can build a two-week travel itinerary in seconds, where does that leave destination management companies (DMCs)?In this Spotlight Episode, Dan sits down with Hicham Alaoui, co-founder …
Show notes
If ChatGPT can build a two-week travel itinerary in seconds, where does that leave destination management companies (DMCs)?
In this Spotlight Episode, Dan sits down with Hicham Alaoui, co-founder of The Travel Collection, a network of 16 locally led DMCs operating across 22 countries, to explore why local expertise and personal connections matter more than ever. Hicham shares how a Harvard Business School trip to Morocco that sold out in minutes helped launch a business built around delivering exceptional travel experiences.
At the heart of the conversation is Hicham's philosophy that great travel comes down to 95% execution and 5% magic. From quick response times and seamless logistics to thoughtful budgeting and attention to detail, he explains what it takes to be a trusted DMC partner. But it's that final 5% that makes an experience truly memorable: understanding what travellers want, drawing on local relationships, and creating moments they wouldn't find on their own.
The conversation also turns to AI and how it's changing the way trips are planned. With more travelers and advisors arriving with AI-generated itineraries, Hicham explains why local knowledge is still essential for turning those plans into experiences that actually work. He also shares how The Travel Collection is using AI behind the scenes, where he sees the biggest opportunities for automation, and why the human side of travel remains so important.
As AI makes travel planning faster and more accessible, this episode explores what technology can't replace: trusted relationships, local insight, and the ability to turn a good itinerary into an unforgettable experience.
Learn more at travelcollection.co.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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The 2027 Travel Marketing Playbook Part 2: Performance Marketing & Data Attribution
Send us Fan MailMeasuring marketing performance in travel has never been straightforward, and it's only getting more complicated. With evolving privacy regulations, changing attribution models, and …
Show notes
Measuring marketing performance in travel has never been straightforward, and it's only getting more complicated. With evolving privacy regulations, changing attribution models, and travelers researching trips across multiple platforms over weeks or even months, how can marketers really know what's driving bookings and where to invest their budgets?
In the second episode of our three-part Marketing Series, sponsored by Propellic, Dan sits down with John Matson, Chief Revenue Officer at Propellic, and Nicole Robinson, CMO at andBeyond, to explore what effective performance marketing looks like in today's travel industry.
From understanding key metrics like ROAS, CPA, and conversion rates to tackling the challenges of attribution for high-value, long-consideration trips, the conversation looks at why traditional measurement models don't always tell the full story. John and Nicole share their perspectives on first-party data, CRM integration, and incrementality testing, including how marketers can better distinguish between campaigns that generate new demand and those that simply capture existing interest.
The discussion also turns to marketing budgets for 2027. If you had an additional $100,000 to spend, where would you invest it? Paid search, social media, retargeting, content, or something entirely different? And as AI-powered search and agentic booking continue to evolve, how should travel brands rethink the way they attract, engage, and convert travelers?
For travel marketers looking to make smarter investment decisions, better understand what's working, and build a strategy that delivers measurable results, this episode offers practical insights from both sides of the industry.
👉 Listen to The 2027 Travel Marketing Playbook Part 2: Performance Marketing & Data Attribution
🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 8 Title Sponsors for their Support: Quark Expeditions, Intrepid, Kaptio, Propellic, Repayd, and Holafly.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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Event Spotlight: WiT Singapore 2026
Send us Fan MailThe travel industry is changing fast, and there's no better place to hear what's happening than WiT Singapore 2026. For the first time, Dan was on the ground at this leading travel …
Show notes
The travel industry is changing fast, and there's no better place to hear what's happening than WiT Singapore 2026. For the first time, Dan was on the ground at this leading travel technology conference, connecting with the people driving change across the industry. Recorded live from the conference floor, this special Event Spotlight episode brings you conversations with the founders, innovators, and industry leaders shaping the future of travel.
As Asia Pacific's leading travel technology conference, WiT Singapore brings together hundreds of decision-makers, entrepreneurs, and investors from more than 30 countries to explore what's next for the industry. This year's theme, "21: A New Beginning," focuses on a new era of travel driven by generative AI, changing consumer expectations, and fresh opportunities for innovation.
Across these conversations, we explore everything from payments and metasearch to hotel technology, AI-powered discovery, and the behind-the-scenes systems that make travel bookings possible. Hear firsthand how businesses are adapting, where they're investing, and what they believe will have the biggest impact on the industry in the years ahead.
Highlights & Timestamps:
0m05s - Brian Dass, CEO, One Journey
14m16s - Jacinta Lim, CEO, Seek Sophie
30m57s - Atsumi Araki, VELTRA
50m48s - Brian Batista, CEO, Skyscanner
1h04m02s - John Seaton, HotelREZ
1h15m16s - Romy Abbrederis, CEO & Co-founder, Lobby AI
1h31m36s - Alex Veka, Founder, CEO & CMO, Vibe Adventures
1h45m30s - Roger Sharp, Founder & Chair, North Ridge Partners
2h03m53s - Stephen Joyce, Global Strategy Lead- Travel, Tours & OTA’s, Protect Group
2h28m42s - Nana Kankam, Founder, BookAfrica
20h50m19s - Jason van Esso, Founder & CEO, Crewfare
3h00m34s - Mikayla Allen, Founder & CEO, dnd video
3h07m45s - Astha Kalbag, Founder, Talk to Magpie AI
3h23m01s - Timothy O’Neill–Dunne, Principal, T2 Impact
3h44m40s - Christa Sabathaly, Co-founder & CEO, Spun Global
3h59m09s - Cara Whitehill, Venture Partner, Thayer Ventures
4h15m16s - Pete Comeau, Managing Director, Phocuswright
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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Inside Airbnb’s Growing Experiences Business
Send us Fan MailThe tours and activities sector is one of the fastest-growing and most competitive areas of travel. With so many platforms offering similar experiences, what does it take to stand out? And how …
Show notes
The tours and activities sector is one of the fastest-growing and most competitive areas of travel. With so many platforms offering similar experiences, what does it take to stand out? And how do you bring together iconic attractions, authentic local experiences, and the personal connections that make travel memorable?
In this Company Spotlight episode, Dan sits down with Doug Weiss, Global Head of Airbnb Experiences, to explore how Airbnb is reimagining the way travelers discover and book experiences around the world.
Doug shares the strategy behind Airbnb Experiences' evolution, from embracing the famous landmarks travelers want to see to creating unique, host-led experiences they can't find anywhere else. They discuss what makes a great experience, why the quality and passion of local hosts are so important, and how Airbnb is helping travelers connect with both their destinations and each other. Doug also shares practical advice for tour operators and local experts looking to bring their experiences onto the platform.
The conversation also explores the growing demand for food tours and culinary experiences, Airbnb's expanding partnerships with tour operators and reservation technology providers, and how AI is changing the way travelers discover and book things to do. Looking ahead, Doug shares what's next for Airbnb Experiences, including plans to expand into new markets, grow its global offering, and explore new booking options for travelers.
As Airbnb continues to invest in experiences and strengthen its relationships with the travel industry, the opportunities for operators, hosts, and suppliers are growing. This conversation offers a fascinating look at the strategy behind that growth, the role of local expertise, and why the experiences we have along the way are often the most memorable part of any trip.
Learn more at airbnb.ca/experiences.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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The 2027 Travel Marketing Playbook Part 1: Brand, PR & the Human Advantage
Send us Fan MailAs the travel industry looks ahead to 2027, standing out is becoming harder than ever. Performance marketing is more competitive and expensive, AI is flooding the market with content, and …
Show notes
As the travel industry looks ahead to 2027, standing out is becoming harder than ever. Performance marketing is more competitive and expensive, AI is flooding the market with content, and travellers have more choices at their fingertips than ever before. So what makes someone choose your brand, trust it and keep coming back?
In the first episode of our three-part Marketing Series, sponsored by Propellic, Dan is joined by Laurel Greatrix, Chief Communications Officer at Tripadvisor; Roman Townsend, Managing Director at Belvera Partners; and Fabio Bin, Co-Founder and CMO of WeRoad, to explore why brand, PR and human connection matter more than ever.
The conversation explores how AI is changing the way travellers discover brands, why reputation is increasingly shaped by everything from Reddit and social media to podcasts and AI-generated recommendations, and what it really takes to earn trust in a crowded marketplace.
Laurel shares how Tripadvisor builds trust through authentic traveller reviews, real photos and experiences that make planning and booking easier. Roman explains why effective PR is about much more than promoting products, and how thought leadership, credibility and genuinely interesting stories help travel brands stand out with both media and customers.
Fabio takes us behind the scenes of WeRoad's community-driven approach to marketing, sharing how the company has built a distinctive brand around bringing people together rather than simply selling destinations. From its recognizable visual identity to its organic social strategy, WeRoad offers a compelling example of what happens when customers become part of a brand's story.
We also explore the growing role of AI in marketing, where it can make teams more efficient, where it risks making brands sound the same, and why the experiences people have with a company still matter more than any marketing campaign.
As travel marketers plan for 2027, this conversation is a timely reminder that getting noticed is only half the challenge. Building a brand people remember, trust and genuinely want to be part of is what makes the difference.
And this is just the beginning. Stay tuned for the next two episodes in our Marketing Series, where we'll explore Performance Marketing & Data Attribution and AI Visibility in Travel, with more industry leaders sharing their perspectives on what's next for travel marketing.
👉 Listen to The 2027 Travel Marketing Playbook Part 1: Brand, PR & the Human Advantage Now
🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 8 Title Sponsors for their Support: Quark Expeditions, Intrepid, Kaptio, Propellic, Repayd, and Holafly.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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Event Spotlight: Can Travel Change the World? Live Recording from GX Cambodia on World Tourism Day
Send us Fan MailCan travel do more than take us somewhere new? Can it actually change the way we see the world?Recorded live on stage at G Adventures' GX Summit in Cambodia, this special episode brings Dan …
Show notes
Can travel do more than take us somewhere new? Can it actually change the way we see the world?
Recorded live on stage at G Adventures' GX Summit in Cambodia, this special episode brings Dan together with Bruce Poon Tip, Founder of G Adventures, for an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation about the power of travel to change lives, strengthen communities and make a real difference in the places we visit.
Bruce shares the story behind GX, which was created following the pandemic to bring travelers, creators, media and local communities together to experience the impact of community tourism firsthand. With Cambodia as the backdrop, the conversation explores what happens when tourism benefits the people who call a destination home, creating economic opportunities, supporting local businesses and helping communities thrive.
We also explore Bruce's philosophy of transformative travel, why he believes there's an important difference between being a tourist and an explorer, and how stepping outside our comfort zones can challenge our perspectives and bring us closer to people from different cultures. Bruce makes a compelling case for travel as a force for peace, connection and greater understanding.
The conversation also takes an honest look at some of the industry's biggest challenges, from overtourism and private equity to the pressure for constant growth, and what it will take to build a more responsible and sustainable future for travel.
Recorded in front of a live audience in Cambodia, this is a conversation about why we travel, the impact we leave behind and the responsibility we have to make that impact a positive one.
What's one trip that changed the way you see the world?
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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The Evolution of Timeshare: Tech in Timeshare
Send us Fan MailAI is rewriting the rules of timeshare, and the biggest shift is simpler than it sounds: we are finally fixing communication. Recorded live at ARDA’s Spring Conference in Las Vegas, Dan sits …
Show notes
AI is rewriting the rules of timeshare, and the biggest shift is simpler than it sounds: we are finally fixing communication. Recorded live at ARDA’s Spring Conference in Las Vegas, Dan sits down with two leaders working at the intersection of technology and vacation ownership, and we get concrete about what’s working right now and what’s about to change next.
This is the final episode in our 3-part series exploring the evolution of timeshare.
First, Jason Tremblay, CEO of One Agency, explains how AI moves from “cool idea” to practical application in sales and marketing. We dig into real-world use cases like turning social media comments into two-way conversations, handling skepticism at scale, and using persistent memory so a prospect’s context follows them from platform to platform. The takeaway is clear: better conversations mean better conversions, and AI makes one-to-one personalization possible without burning out teams.
Then Mike Norton, Director of Sales and Marketing at TimeShareWare, breaks down the foundation side of the equation: modern resort platforms, APIs, and the decisions resorts must make when choosing technology partners. We talk security concerns around guest and owner data, how AI can support call centers with live transcription and quality assurance, and why assigning a real internal project owner often matters more than the tool itself. If you care about timeshare technology, resort software, AI in travel, and the future of vacation ownership, this one is built for you.
Learn more at arda.org.And if you like to be a part of those conversations in person, then you should absolutely be at ARDA's 2027 Spring Conference, which takes place April 4-7 at the Hilton Bonnet Creek in Orlando, Florida.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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From the Front Lines to Founder: Reinventing Travel Technology with Aderra Solutions
Send us Fan MailA CRM system is supposed to make life easier, but for many travel companies, implementing one becomes a costly and frustrating experience. So why do so many Salesforce and CRM projects fall …
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A CRM system is supposed to make life easier, but for many travel companies, implementing one becomes a costly and frustrating experience. So why do so many Salesforce and CRM projects fall short, and what does it take to get them right?
In this Company Spotlight episode, Dan sits down with Amber Halliday, Founder and Principal Consultant at Aderra Solutions, to explore the common mistakes travel companies make when implementing CRM technology and how to avoid them. With more than 15 years of experience in the travel industry, including hands-on roles in reservations, sales and operations, Amber understands the challenges from both sides.
From unrealistic timelines and budgets to overlooking frontline employees during the planning process, Amber shares where implementations tend to go wrong and why understanding how a travel business actually operates is so important. We also discuss how to approach a new implementation, when to simplify existing processes rather than carry old problems into a new system, and what to do when a project isn't going to plan.
We also look at the growing role of AI in CRM, including how it can help teams work more efficiently and why proper oversight is essential to avoid creating new problems. Whether you're considering Salesforce, improving an existing CRM or trying to get a struggling project back on track, Amber offers practical advice to help you make better technology decisions and build a system your team will actually use.
Learn more at aderrasolutions.com.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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Travel Trends Monthly Report - October 2026
Send us Fan MailBooking patterns are moving in two directions at once. Some travelers are locking in premium, high-value trips months or even years ahead, while others are waiting until much closer to …
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Booking patterns are moving in two directions at once. Some travelers are locking in premium, high-value trips months or even years ahead, while others are waiting until much closer to departure, particularly for shorter trips. It’s what we’re calling travel’s two booking clocks, and it has major implications for tour operators heading into 2027.
In this month’s Travel Trends Report episode, Dan sits down with Travis Pittman, CEO and Co-founder of TourRadar, to unpack what TourRadar’s proprietary booking data tells us about the multi-day market. Travis shares how booking windows change based on trip length, price, age and party size, including why shorter trips are being booked later while higher-value and capacity-constrained experiences are selling much further ahead. We also look at the rise of solo travel and small groups, and why flexibility and free time are becoming increasingly important to travelers.
Then we turn to AI and the future of travel distribution. Travis explains why travel products will need to be readable, believable and bookable as AI agents move from helping travelers research trips to actually completing transactions, and why structured content, accurate information and connected booking infrastructure will matter for both AI agents and travel advisors.
Finally, Marius Nigond, CEO & Co-founder of iWander, joins Dan to look at the wider trends shaping travel right now, from the recent pressure on OTA stocks and the rise of personal AI assistants to investment flowing toward scarce, difficult-to-replicate travel experiences. We also explore rising costs, shifting destination demand and what operators should be thinking about as they set pricing and plan for 2027.
Download the full October Travel Trends Report, and join us as we separate the signal from the noise and look at what the latest shifts could mean for the months ahead.
👉 Listen to Travel Trends Monthly Report - October 2026 Now
🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 8 Title Sponsors for their Support: Quark Expeditions, Intrepid, Kaptio, Propellic, Repayd, and Holafly.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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Iceberg Ahead with TourRadar
Send us Fan MailMost travelers judge a tour platform by what they can see: the itinerary, the price, the reviews and the “Book Now” button. But behind every booking is a much more complicated system moving …
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Most travelers judge a tour platform by what they can see: the itinerary, the price, the reviews and the “Book Now” button. But behind every booking is a much more complicated system moving money between travellers, operators and partners around the world.
In the final episode of our three-part Multi-Day Commerce Series with TourRadar, Dan sits down with Shawn Pittman, Co-Founder and SVP of FinTech at TourRadar, to unpack the money flow behind multi-day travel and why payments become especially complex when the average booking is around $3,000.
We get into everything from local payment processing and foreign exchange to deposits, payment plans, trust accounts and operator payouts. Sean explains why structures like FBO accounts matter when you’re holding money on behalf of suppliers, and what it takes to manage bookings where itineraries change, operators have different terms and payments may be spread across months.
Then we look at what’s coming next. Sean shares how AI travel planning, conversational search and user-generated content could make complex trips easier to understand and book, while new social commerce tools are creating opportunities for creators and travel advisors to sell multi-day experiences in entirely new ways.
Multi-day travel may be one of the most complex products in travel, but that complexity is also creating some of the industry’s most interesting opportunities. As technology makes these trips easier to discover, sell and pay for, the question is how much bigger the category can become.
Learn more at tourradar.com.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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Event Spotlight: Adventure Travel World Summit 2026
Send us Fan Mail35+ voices. Seven hours. One extraordinary adventure travel community.There’s something special about a gathering where old friends greet you with a hug, new connections quickly become …
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35+ voices. Seven hours. One extraordinary adventure travel community.
There’s something special about a gathering where old friends greet you with a hug, new connections quickly become friendships, and people genuinely want to help each other succeed. That’s the spirit of the Adventure Travel World Summit, and Quebec City gave us an unforgettable setting for its biggest and best edition yet.
As the official podcast partner, Travel Trends was proud to return for our third ATWS Event Spotlight, recorded September 14–17, 2026. This one breaks a major record for our Event Spotlights: seven hours of conversations featuring more than 35 speakers from across the global adventure travel community, in mostly 15-minute segments you can explore at your own pace.
We kick things off with ATTA CEO Shannon Stowell and Board Chairman Erik Blachford, setting the scene for a remarkable few days. Marie-Hélène Hudon from Bonjour Québec shares the host destination’s perspective, while keynote speakers Leigh Barnes from Intrepid Travel and Aizaz Sheikh bring insights on the industry’s direction.
From there, we meet some of adventure travel’s fastest-growing tour operators, exceptional cycling companies, writers, destination leaders, and the technology and marketing teams helping these businesses thrive. These conversations bring together people building businesses, creating meaningful experiences and working through the challenges facing our industry. They share the trends they’re watching, lessons from their own journeys, and ideas to help you prepare for success in 2027.
Along the way, we reflect on what made Quebec so magical. From the Pre-Summit Adventures to the Day of Adventure, the shared experiences gave people a chance to connect long before they sat down for a meeting. That generosity, curiosity and love of adventure carried through the entire Summit. It’s what makes the ATTA community so special, and why so many of us keep coming back.
We close with ATTA President Gustavo Timo looking ahead to 2027, followed by Magí Castelltort Claramunt of Turespaña announcing next year’s host destination: Almería in Andalucía, Spain.
A heartfelt thank you to the ATTA team, our hosts in Quebec, and everyone who sat down with us and shared their time, stories and ideas. We hope these conversations bring a little of the Summit’s energy to wherever you’re listening, spark something useful for your business, and inspire you to join this incredible community next year.
Choose a conversation, discover someone new, and come along for the adventure. We’d love to see you in Spain!
Timestamps:
0m0s - Shannon Stowell, CEO, Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) & Erik Blachford, Independent Director & Board Chairman | ex-CEO Expedia/IAC Travel
18m48s - Marie-Helene Hudon, Director of Business Development, Trade & PR, Alliance de l'industrie touristique du Québec (Bonjour Quebec)
28m42s - Kimberly Daley, Chief Operating Officer, Transcend Cruises
40m47s - Rodrigo Atuesta, Chief Impact Officer, Impulse Travel Colombia
52m33s - Nina Kokotas Hahn, Chief Strategist, VP of Marketing & Director of Content Strategy, Red Thread Strategy & Storytelling
1hr6m - Aizaz Sheikh, Marketing Leader, Aizaz Ventures Inc
1hr16m - Marcelo Meneses, Owner/CEO, Neotropic Expeditions
1hr32m - Jessica Canelo, Marketing Director, Chile Tourism Board
1hr44m - Rob Holmes, Founder and Chief Strategist, GLP Films
2hr1m - Matthew Newton, CEO, Leatherback Travel
2hr10m - Kay Allen, Manager Regional Marketing & Communications, Japan National Tourism Organization
2hr27m - Leigh Barnes, President North America, Intrepid
2hr55m - Christian Wolters, President for Canada and GM of Marketing for North America, Intrepid
3hr09m - Jessica Haire, Founder Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association
3hr21m - Stacey Funt, Founder, LH Adventure Travel
3hr32m - Isabel Hofman, Founder, Bike Odyssey
3hr44m - Carlos Pizarro Figueroa, Local Guide, ChiliTrip Tours
3hr52m - Marc Giraud, General Manager, Vanuatu Tourism Office
4hr4m - Josh Halpern, Chief Commercial Officer, TourOptima
4hr17m - Todd Smith, Founder & President, and Lis Larson, Senior Content & Marketing Strategist, AdventureSmith Explorations
4hr26m - Maria Elena Price and Monica Price, BikesPlus and ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours
4hr39m - Nic Shaw, Director, South African Tourism Services
4hr54m - Eric Segalstad, VP & Partner, Gondwana Ecotour
5hr04m - Marc Ruffet, Partner & Head of Growth, Go Beyond
5hr13m - Cari Gray, CEO & Founder, Gray & Co
5hr22m - Jared Alster, Chief Strategy Officer & Co-founder, Dune7
5hr38m - Al Check, Co-founder, Odyssey
5hr49m - Dale Schober, Founder & CEO, Radventures
6hr01m - Julie Thorner, President & Founder, LiquidSpark
6hr15m - Raffaele Di Biase, Co-founder, BirdsChile
6hr24m - Paloma Zapata, CEO, Sustainable Travel International
6hr35m - Gustavo Timo, President, Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA)
6hr44m - Magí Castelltort Claramunt, Director, Turespaña
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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What Wellness Travelers Really Want
Send us Fan MailWellness travel is having a moment, but at its core, the idea is simple: travellers want to come home feeling better than when they left.In this episode, Dan sits down with Robin Ruiz, Founder & …
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Wellness travel is having a moment, but at its core, the idea is simple: travellers want to come home feeling better than when they left.
In this episode, Dan sits down with Robin Ruiz, Founder & CEO of WITT (Wellness in Travel & Tourism); Lauren Pronger, Founder & CEO of Well Inspired Travels; and David T. Stevens, WITT-AP, Co-Founder and Wellness Architect, to explore what wellness travel really means and how the industry can separate meaningful experiences from clever marketing.
We get practical about what hotels can do to better support travelers, and it doesn’t always require an expensive spa or the latest biohacking technology. Blackout curtains, better sleep environments, healthier food options and opportunities for movement can all make a difference. Robin explains why standards and certification matter as more hotels position themselves around wellness, while Lauren shares what clients are looking for, from burnout recovery to performance-focused travel.
Then we take wellness beyond leisure travel. David makes the business case for bringing it into meetings, conferences and business travel, where better sleep, nutrition and more thoughtfully designed schedules can improve the experience for everyone.
Finally, we get into wearables, AI and wellness technology, and why technology can be useful without replacing the fundamentals.
As wellness becomes a bigger part of travel, the question is no longer whether travellers care about it. It’s how the industry can deliver it in a way that feels genuine, useful and accessible.
👉 Listen to What Wellness Travelers Really Want Now
🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 8 Title Sponsors for their Support: Quark Expeditions, Intrepid, Kaptio, Propellic, Repayd, and Holafly.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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How an Organized Adventure Finds Its Traveler with TourRadar
Send us Fan MailYou can feel a shift happening in multi-day travel. Travellers want the ease of an organized trip without giving up individuality, while tour operators are looking for ways to reach more …
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You can feel a shift happening in multi-day travel. Travellers want the ease of an organized trip without giving up individuality, while tour operators are looking for ways to reach more customers without losing what makes their product unique.
In the second episode of our three part Multi-Day Commerce Series with TourRadar, Dan sits down with Brendan Roberts, Chief Commercial Officer at TourRadar, to explore the distribution side of the business and how the right trip ultimately reaches the right traveller.
Brendan takes us behind the scenes of the TourRadar marketplace, from how the company evaluates new operator partners to what it takes to get tours live. We talk about API integrations, reservation systems and manual onboarding, as well as why structured content matters when travellers are comparing their options.
We also get into what drives conversion. Brendan explains how TourRadar looks at quality across content, service and trust, and why strong reviews, detailed itineraries and clear accommodation information can make a real difference.
Then we look beyond direct-to-consumer sales and how TourRadar is connecting multi-day inventory with travel advisors, host agencies, consortia and retail partners through white label solutions and APIs.
Finally, we explore what AI and social commerce could mean for the category, from helping travellers understand what makes one tour different from another to the growing role of authentic traveller content and hosted trips.
For operators, advisors and anyone interested in the future of travel distribution, this episode offers a practical look at what it takes to get the right multi-day experience in front of the right traveler.
Join us next Tuesday for the third and final episode in our Multi-Day Commerce Series with TourRadar. Listen to the first episode with Travis Pittman, CEO, TourRadar here.
Learn more at tourradar.com.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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How Nezasa Is Building the AI Workforce for Travel
Send us Fan MailA trip doesn’t usually become complicated when it’s booked. The real challenges come later, when flights change, strikes are announced, wildfires disrupt plans, hotels overbook or border delays …
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A trip doesn’t usually become complicated when it’s booked. The real challenges come later, when flights change, strikes are announced, wildfires disrupt plans, hotels overbook or border delays throw an itinerary off course. Suddenly, operations teams are dealing with hundreds of small tasks that take up time, slow down response and eat into margins.
In this Company Spotlight episode, Dan sits down with Manuel Hilty, CEO and Co-founder of Nezasa, the travel technology company behind TripBuilder, to explore how AI could help travel companies manage that complexity.
Manuel shares the story behind Nezasa, from his background as a PhD computer scientist who initially thought travel planning would be relatively straightforward to discovering just how complicated travel distribution, integrations and operations really are. What began with early tour operator clients has grown into a platform used by companies including TUI, supporting everything from complex tailor-made itineraries to dynamic packaging and collaborative planning between travelers and travel professionals.
Then we get into what Nezasa is building next with Tai, its new AI platform designed specifically for travel operations. Manuel explains why simply adding a chatbot isn’t enough and how Tai is being built to work across different AI models while allowing travel companies to create their own no-code agents. The goal is to take on many of the repetitive tasks that consume an operations team’s day, from pre-departure checks and rate sheets to reporting and other routine workflows.
We also look ahead to Tai Guard, which is designed to monitor itineraries from beginning to end, identify potential disruptions early and eventually help teams determine the best response before a small issue turns into a much bigger problem.
For travel companies trying to understand what agentic AI could actually look like in practice, this conversation offers a look at how it could become part of the day-to-day work happening behind every trip.
Learn more at nezasa.com.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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How Food Is Changing the Way We Travel
Send us Fan MailFood has always been part of travel, but increasingly, it’s becoming a reason to travel in the first place. Instead of simply asking what there is to see, travelers are thinking about what they …
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Food has always been part of travel, but increasingly, it’s becoming a reason to travel in the first place. Instead of simply asking what there is to see, travelers are thinking about what they want to eat, where they want to eat it and the people and stories they can discover along the way. That shift is helping fuel the growth of culinary travel and changing what travelers expect from a great trip.
In this episode, Dan sits down with three people who have built their businesses around food and local connection: Annie Sim, Chief Eating Officer of The Table Less Traveled; Daniel Cerda, Founder and CEO of Eating With Carmen; and Kenny Dunn, Managing Director of Eating Europe.
Together, they unpack what makes a great food experience, from choosing the right neighborhoods and balancing iconic dishes with unexpected finds to the role storytelling plays in connecting travelers with the people and culture behind the food. They also explore why smaller groups can create more meaningful experiences and how culinary tourism can put tourism dollars directly into the hands of family-run restaurants, local producers and communities.
We also look at how social media and AI are changing the way travelers discover food. A viral recommendation can introduce people to somewhere they may never have found otherwise, but it can also create the next tourist trap. And when AI can produce a restaurant list in seconds, the value of a great guide, personal connection and access to places travelers wouldn’t find on their own becomes even more important.
Finally, we look at where culinary travel is heading next and ask our guests a deceptively difficult question: if you could travel anywhere in the world for one unforgettable meal, where would you go?
👉 Listen to How Food Is Changing the Way We Travel Now
🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 8 Title Sponsors for their Support: Quark Expeditions, Intrepid, Kaptio, Propellic, Repayd, and Holafly.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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Multi-Day’s Time To Shine with TourRadar
Send us Fan MailMulti-day travel has spent years being misunderstood, often associated with traditional coach tours even as the category evolved into something much broader. Now, as AI changes how travelers …
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Multi-day travel has spent years being misunderstood, often associated with traditional coach tours even as the category evolved into something much broader. Now, as AI changes how travelers discover and plan trips, multi-day travel is getting a fresh look.
In the first episode of our three-part Multi-Day Commerce Series, Dan sits down with Travis Pittman, CEO and Co-Founder of TourRadar, to explore how the category has evolved and why its next chapter could look very different.
Travis takes us back to TourRadar’s beginnings as a London travel magazine featuring tour deals and its 16-year journey to becoming a global marketplace for organized adventures.
We also get into one of multi-day travel’s biggest challenges: distribution. With higher booking values, multiple itinerary components, deposits, payment schedules and different currencies, these trips have traditionally been difficult for major travel platforms to sell at scale. Travis explains why structured data, AI and new technology could change that, making multi-day trips easier to search, compare and book.
Then we look at who is actually booking these trips, from the importance of solo travelers and women in purchasing decisions to why interests and motivations may tell us more about the customer than age alone. Travis also shares where demand is growing and why travel advisors continue to play an important role in a purchase built heavily around trust.
Join us next Tuesday for the second episode in our Multi-Day Commerce Series with TourRadar.
Learn more at tourradar.com.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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AI Teammates for Hospitality: Built by Hoteliers, for Hoteliers with GuestOS
Send us Fan MailYour hotel phone can either help drive revenue or quietly become a source of missed opportunities. Unanswered calls, slow responses and endless back-and-forth can all add up, especially when …
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Your hotel phone can either help drive revenue or quietly become a source of missed opportunities. Unanswered calls, slow responses and endless back-and-forth can all add up, especially when hotel teams are already stretched.
In this Company Spotlight episode, Dan sits down with Jessie Fischer, Founder and CEO of GuestOS, to talk about how AI could change the way hotels communicate with their guests. GuestOS is built around a simple idea: give hotels a 24/7 multilingual AI teammate that can answer the phone, respond to guest questions, support bookings and provide local recommendations, all through a single phone number with no app required.
Jessie’s connection to hospitality goes back long before the current AI boom. She grew up around the industry near Yosemite National Park, working the front desk while her family built and operated hotels. That experience has shaped the way she approaches technology today, with a focus on solving everyday operational problems rather than adding another complicated system for hotel teams to manage.
We talk about where AI can genuinely make life easier for hotel staff, from taking repetitive questions off the front desk to giving guests faster answers at any hour. We also get into one of the bigger questions facing hospitality right now: how do you use more technology without losing the human side of the guest experience?
The conversation takes a more personal turn when Jessie shares what happened after wildfires affected her family’s property and GuestOS became a tool for crisis communication. It highlighted just how important fast, accurate information can be when conditions change quickly, and opened up a much bigger conversation about how voice AI could support not only individual hotels, but tourism organizations and destinations during disruptions.
Finally, we look at the increasingly crowded world of agentic AI and what will separate the companies that last from those that don’t. Jessie shares why she believes deep industry knowledge and distribution will matter more than simply having the latest AI features, and what she sees ahead as GuestOS moves into its next stage of growth.
As AI takes on more of the routine work behind the scenes, could the real opportunity be giving hospitality teams more time to focus on the part technology can’t replace: taking care of their guests?
Learn more at guestos.ai.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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Accessible Travel Isn’t a Niche: Designing Travel for Everyone
Send us Fan MailTravel is still leaving both travellers and money on the table, largely because people aren’t getting the accessibility information they need to book with confidence.In this episode, Dan sits …
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Travel is still leaving both travellers and money on the table, largely because people aren’t getting the accessibility information they need to book with confidence.
In this episode, Dan sits down with Dr. Yvette Pegues, Chief Prevention Officer at Your Invisible Disability Group; Alvaro Silberstein, Co-founder and CEO of Wheel the World; and Lorraine Woodward, CEO and Founder of Becoming rentABLE, to talk about where the travel industry is falling short and what needs to change.
We start with what accessible travel actually means, because it goes far beyond ramps and wheelchair access. From airports and airlines to hotels and short-term rentals, the conversation explores why seemingly small details can make or break a trip. Bed height, door widths, bathroom layouts, thresholds and even the surface between the parking lot and front door can determine whether a traveller can comfortably use a space. Just as important is making that information easy to find before someone books.
We also talk about why meeting accessibility regulations is only the starting point. Yvette explains why some of the biggest barriers are attitudinal rather than physical, while Alvaro and Lorraine share what they’ve learned about giving travellers enough information to decide for themselves whether an experience will work for their individual needs.
Then we look at where technology could help. AI has the potential to make travel planning much more personalized, matching travellers with hotels and experiences based on their specific accessibility requirements. But as Alvaro points out, that only works if the industry has accurate, detailed data to begin with.
Finally, we look at what it would take to reach a point where we no longer need to talk about accessible travel as a separate category at all. From better staff training and stronger leadership to involving people with disabilities much earlier in the design process, the goal is ultimately simple: make accessibility part of what a great travel experience looks like for everyone.
👉 Listen to Accessible Travel Isn’t a Niche: Designing Travel for Everyone
🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 8 Title Sponsors for their Support: Quark Expeditions, Intrepid, Kaptio, Propellic, Repayd, and Holafly.
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Travel’s Next Big Community: Why G Adventures Is Betting on Sports Fans
Send us Fan MailWatching football on TV is one thing. Standing in a packed stadium surrounded by thousands of fans singing the same song is something completely different.Sports tourism is booming, and football …
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Watching football on TV is one thing. Standing in a packed stadium surrounded by thousands of fans singing the same song is something completely different.
Sports tourism is booming, and football is helping drive that growth. In this Company Spotlight episode, Dan sits down with Yves Marceau, VP of Product at G Adventures, and Aly Handler, Product Development and Travel Style Manager, to talk about the launch of Away Games, G Adventures’ new small-group travel style built entirely around football culture.
We get into how the idea went from research to more than 30 departures across some of Europe’s biggest football cities, including London, Manchester, Madrid and Barcelona. Yves and Aly explain why they didn’t want to simply add a match ticket to an existing itinerary. Instead, Away Games was designed around the full experience of being a fan, from supporter pubs and stadium tours to matchday traditions, local food and the neighbourhoods where football culture lives.
Of course, the matches are a big part of it. Trips include premium hospitality and VIP seating at iconic grounds, but they also feature a second live match at the lower-league level. It’s a chance for travellers to experience both sides of the game, from some of the world’s most famous clubs to the grassroots communities where football remains deeply local.
We also talk about why travelling for sport can create such an immediate sense of connection. G Adventures’ research found that fans are surprisingly willing to travel with complete strangers when they share a club or passion for the game. Each trip is led by a football-loving G Adventures Chief Experience Officer, helping turn that shared interest into a ready-made travel community.
Then we get into some of the realities of planning an international football trip. Ticket fraud is a genuine concern, match dates can change because of television schedules and competitions, and something as simple as wearing the wrong jersey in the wrong seating section can create problems. Yves and Aly explain how Away Games handles those complexities and builds flexibility into each itinerary so travellers can focus on the experience rather than the logistics.
Finally, we look at the bigger opportunity behind Away Games. As more people build trips around the things they love, whether that’s food, music, wellness or sport, are we moving toward a future where travellers choose what they want to experience first and the destination second?
Learn more about G Adventures Away Games at gadventures.com.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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Heading to the Poles: Season 8 Begins with Quark Expeditions
Send us Fan MailWe're so excited to launch Season 8, and we’re kicking things off with something our listeners have been asking for: more timely, practical industry data and insights they can actually …
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We're so excited to launch Season 8, and we’re kicking things off with something our listeners have been asking for: more timely, practical industry data and insights they can actually use.
In our Season 8 premiere, we’re launching the Monthly Travel Trends Report, a new recurring feature designed to cut through the headlines and take a closer look at the trends, data and shifts shaping travel right now. For our first edition, Dan is joined by Max Tremaine, CEO of Sherpa, and Marius Nigond, CEO and Co-founder of iWander and a member of the Travel Trends Advisory team.
The big theme this month is “The Great Repricing.” Travel numbers may be breaking records, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the industry is becoming more profitable. We look at rising costs across flights, hotels, visas and border requirements, why travellers are booking later, how demand is shifting between destinations, and what premium travel tells us about who is still willing to spend.
We also challenge some of the assumptions surrounding major events, including surprising hotel occupancy data around the World Cup and why a huge influx of visitors doesn’t always translate into the results destinations and travel brands expect.
Then, we head somewhere completely different.
Sam Seward, President of Quark Expeditions, joins Dan from Quark’s Toronto office for a closer look at the world of polar travel. Sam explains what expedition cruising is really like, why ship size matters in highly regulated polar regions, and what makes Antarctica and the Arctic such powerful experiences for travellers.
We get into everything from itineraries and onboard programming to photography, cultural experiences in the North, sustainability and citizen science, while exploring what continues to draw travellers to some of the most remote places on the planet.
Season 8 Is About Our Listeners, Too
We’re also introducing a new Most Active Listener segment, giving some of the people who listen, share and engage with the podcast a chance to be part of the show.
First up is Jacqueline Grossman, VP of Partnerships at Kensington Tours, who has been listening since episode one and admits she’s probably reached out to almost every guest we’ve had. Along the way, those introductions have turned into colleagues, collaborators, friends and business partners.
It’s exactly the kind of community we want to celebrate more in Season 8. Have a question, trend or story we should be talking about? We want to hear from you.
👉 Listen to Heading to the Poles: Season 8 Begins with Quark Expeditions Now
🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 8 Title Sponsors for their Support: Quark Expeditions, Intrepid, Kaptio, Propellic, Repayd, and Holafly.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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Building the Backend for Multi-Day Tour Operators with Tourseta
Send us Fan MailYour tour business shouldn’t need a custom-built system just to manage departures, rooming, payments and traveller documents. In this Company Spotlight episode, Dan sits down with Alex Ragin …
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Your tour business shouldn’t need a custom-built system just to manage departures, rooming, payments and traveller documents. In this Company Spotlight episode, Dan sits down with Alex Ragin, Founder of Tourseta and Zoftify, to explore what happens when multi-day and group tour operators finally have technology built around the way they actually work.
Alex shares how his experience building custom software for travel companies eventually led to Tourseta, and why the decision to buy versus build technology looks very different for small and mid-sized operators. He explains how Tourseta has evolved beyond a booking platform into an all-in-one tour management system, bringing together costings, customer records, quotes, itineraries, reminders, forms and many of the everyday workflows that become increasingly difficult to manage as a tour business grows.
We also get into the challenge of building powerful technology without making it complicated, from white labelling and faster onboarding to giving operators the flexibility they need without requiring a heavily customized system.
Then we look at some of the bigger shifts happening across the tour operator landscape. Alex shares what he’s seeing from niche operators building trips around specific destinations, communities and interests, as well as the growing demand for custom FIT travel.
Finally, we talk AI and where it could genuinely make an operator’s job easier. Alex explains how MCP connections could allow teams to ask AI practical questions using their own Tourseta data, and why he believes AI is most valuable when it solves a real problem rather than simply becoming another feature to promote.
For tour operators trying to grow without adding more spreadsheets, systems and manual work along the way, the conversation raises a simple question: how much more could your team accomplish if the technology behind the business actually made things easier?
Learn more and book a demo at tourseta.com
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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How LivTours Is Defining Small Group Travel
Send us Fan MailThere’s one rule LivTours refuses to compromise on: no more than six guests per tour. In this Company Spotlight, Dan sits down with Angelo Carotenuto, Founder and Co-owner, and Kristin …
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There’s one rule LivTours refuses to compromise on: no more than six guests per tour. In this Company Spotlight, Dan sits down with Angelo Carotenuto, Founder and Co-owner, and Kristin Karstendotter, Co-owner of LivTours, to explore how that simple decision helped shape a very different kind of tour company.
Angelo and Kristin explain why six isn’t just a number. Smaller groups remove many of the things travellers have come to associate with traditional sightseeing, from following flags and listening through headsets to being rushed through an attraction on a fixed script. Instead, guides can have real conversations, adjust the experience on the fly, and create the kind of personal connection that travelers remember long after they return home.
We go back to LivTours’ beginnings, when Angelo was guiding on the streets of Rome, and explore how Kristin brought the operational discipline needed to scale that original idea across multiple countries and hundreds of curated experiences. They share the realities of making small-group tours profitable, why guides find the six-person format more demanding but ultimately more rewarding, and how smaller groups can open doors to more intimate experiences, even in incredibly busy places like the Vatican Museums.
The conversation also looks at what’s next for LivTours, from the growth of its family and luxury travel offerings to the upcoming launch of Madrid, all while keeping the same people-first philosophy at the heart of the business.
Sustainability is another big part of the discussion. Kristin shares how LivTours works with eCollective to measure the carbon footprint of more than 350 tours, while Angelo explains how local guides, direct relationships with suppliers, lower-impact transportation, and guest education all play a role in building a more responsible tourism model.
And, of course, we talk technology and AI. For LivTours, the opportunity isn’t to replace the guide or automate away the human side of travel. It’s to use technology behind the scenes so the people delivering the experience can be even better at what they do.
Because as travel becomes more automated, LivTours is making a compelling bet on the opposite: that the experiences we value most will be the ones that still feel genuinely personal, spontaneous, and human.
Learn more at livtours.com.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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Event Preview: Arival 360 Spokane 2026
Send us Fan MailIf you work in tours, activities, attractions, or multi-day travel, you already know the industry is changing fast. Distribution is evolving, the way travellers discover experiences is shifting …
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If you work in tours, activities, attractions, or multi-day travel, you already know the industry is changing fast. Distribution is evolving, the way travellers discover experiences is shifting, and AI is rewriting the playbook. In this Event Preview episode, Dan sits down with Bruce Rosard, Co-founder and COO of Arival, to preview Arival 360 Spokane Oct 12-15 2026 and discuss the trends every experiences business should have on its radar.
Bruce explains what makes Arival different. They discuss why Spokane was selected as this year's host city. And then conversation shifts to this year's agenda, including dedicated sessions on AI, culinary tourism, distribution, and pricing strategies. Bruce shares why discoverability is becoming much more complex than simply ranking on Google, how social commerce platforms like TikTok Go could reshape bookings, and where operators should be focusing their attention as traveler behaviour continues to evolve.
This year, Dan will once again serve as MC for the Multi-Day Stream, which arrives in Spokane after successful editions in Washington, DC, and Valencia, Spain. The program marks an important milestone as the conversation shifts to the largest travel market in the world, putting the spotlight on one of the most important growth opportunities for the multi-day sector. The stream opens with a keynote from Leigh Barnes, US General Manager at Intrepid Travel, followed by a main-stage panel exploring the new entrants and the small-group travel shift reshaping the category, featuring Dan Berger, new US General Manager at WeRoad. Attendees can also expect practical breakout sessions on marketing, technology, and distribution, led by industry leaders including Melissa Krueger (CEO, Classic Vacations), Betsy Harbison (CEO, Softrip), Susan Sanderson (Founder, Rezometry), and Dale Schober (Rad Adventures).
Looking beyond Spokane, Bruce also offers a glimpse into what's ahead for Arival, including Arival Bilbao 2027, themed around transformation, and the anticipated return to Brisbane in July 2027.
Special Offer: Save $100 USD on your Arival 360 Spokane registration with code MCVL-D26. If you register using the code, let us know and we'll feature you in our Travel Trends Event Spotlight.The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/
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