Gather and Go with Brian Jewell: Recent Episodes
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Helping you plan, sell and lead better trips. Each episode features insider travel tips and conversations with some of the most innovative, creative and engaging people in tourism.
Researchers Lew Myers and Omneya Fahmy join the podcast to share the results of their groundbreaking study of group travel's economic impact.
Remote culture guru Ryan Kramer of GroupCollect joins the podcast to share how to build dynamic travel teams that can succeed from anywhere.
In 1951, Barbara Johns missed the school bus. That started a chain of events that made her a hero of the Civil Rights Movement.
Johns was a student at Robert Russa Moton High School, a Black school in segregated Farmville, Virginia. When a passing white school bus driver refused to help her get to class, Johns decided to start a student boycott to protest school segregation. Her protest and subsequent lawsuit became one of the important actions leading to the Supreme Court decision overturning segregation in schools.
On this special bonus edition of Gather and Go, we’re sharing a preview of an upcoming episode of the U.S. Civil Rights Trail podcast that tells the stories of Barbara Johns and how her bravery changed history in the United States and beyond. Subscribe to the U.S. Civil Rights Trail podcast to hear the whole story when it debuts early in 2026.
This episode is brought to you by Virginia Tourism.
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeLearn about the U.S. Civil Rights Trail and explore more podcast episodes at civilrightstrail.com.
Learn more about visiting historic sites in Virginia at virginia.org.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Is taking credit card payments — or using the wrong cards when you travel — costing your business more than it should?
Greg Bottenhorn thinks travel business owners need to keep a close eye on the way they use and process cards, both to keep their clients’ funds safe and to keep their costs low. As chief marketing officer at fintech company Jassby, he specializes in helping tour operators leverage payment technology to meet their needs in innovative ways. He joins this episode of the podcast to walk you through the world of travel payments and show you how to save time and money.
Greg discusses the basics how credit and debit card processing fees work. He explains the secrets of foreign transaction fees and shares how new card technology allows tour companies to offer trips that are both flexible and fully inclusive. Plus, we have news about an impending “hotel recession” in the U.S.; a Road Tip about dealing with excess travel swag; and a Hot Minute about the relationship between AI and the travel industry.
Insights from Greg BottenhornGreg had a lot of interesting ideas about the best way to handle funds and payments in the context of travel. Here’s what he had to say about the benefits of using debit cards on the road:
“A debit card links directly to your funds, but that means you can control how many funds are accessible via that card. You can keep that amount lower or move money to that card every day…. I’ve always found that challenging purchases with my bank, who I have relationship with, has been far easier than when I try to challenge a credit card transaction… I would much rather have that conversation with my local bank than a credit card 800 number.”
Plus, he had great perspectives on:
- The risks of traveling with cash
- Reducing your credit card processing costs
- Keeping your financial data secure when you travel Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeFind Jassby online at jassby.com.
Learn more about GroupCollect at groupcollect.com/gatherandgo.
Sign up for our OnSite familiarization tour list at https://grouptravelleader.com/fams/.
Key Moments From This Episode1:16 — Travel News: A “hotel recession” in the U.S.?
2:41 — Road Tip: What to do with your tourism swag
8:54 — Your source for great FAMs
12:43 — Is cashless the future of travel?
14:42 — When fintech meets tourism
16:43 — Who gets a cut of your credit card fees?
20:26 — Can you reduce your company’s processing costs?
23:20 — Beware foreign transaction fees
27:37 — Credit vs. Debit: Which is better for travel?
30:04 — How secure are credit cards today?
32:41 — How tour companies are using prepaid cards on trips
47:42 — Hot Minute: Does AI understand tourism?
Watch the Full InterviewSee the full interview with Greg on our YouTube channel.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Your personal passions might just be the launchpad for a fantastic travel company. Anna McKitrick is proof.
After building a following as a vegan influencer on social media, Anna stumbled into group travel — and leveraged her following to build a tour company operating 17 trips a year. Anna joins the podcast to discuss her journey from Instagram to tourism and share secrets of how she has built her operation without spending any money on digital marketing.
Anna discusses the many opportunities for vegan travel in 2025 and why even meat-lovers enjoy her trips. She also shares how she leverages the power of a niche audience to build a travel travel experiences that align with her values and thrill her customers. Plus, we have news about changing U.S. travel statistics; a road tip about avoiding travel bloat; and a Hot Minute about the the dumbest thing happening in America.
Insights from Anna McKitrickAnna had lots of great insights about how she builds trips to align closely with a niche set of values and interests. Here’s what he had to say about how a small audience helps her develop great product:
“About half the people signed up for our trips now are past travelers. In many ways, it makes it kind of easy to scout and create the perfect trip for that person. Those repeat travelers are in my mind when I’m in a new destination.”
Plus, she had insightful thoughts on:
- Creating a compelling social media strategy
- Transitioning from trip leader to CEO
- Creating authentic local experiences for special interests Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeFollow Anna McKitrick on on Instagram and TikTok.
Find Vegan AF on Instagram and TikTok, or visit the website at veganaftravel.com.
Learn more about GroupCollect at groupcollect.com/gatherandgo.
Key Moments From This Episode1:36 — Travel News: U.S. Travel has downgraded its 2025 forecast
3:00 — Road Tip: The perfect trick for avoiding stomach bloat on the road
14:07 — How an Instagram career led Anna McKitrick to tourism
16:06 — What makes a vegan trip different?
18:10 — How serving a niche audience is a pro, not a con
21:15 — Building a social following without ads
24:08 — Organic social tips for boosting sales
29:14 — Transitioning from solopreneur to CEO
32:59 — How content creators can make money on group travel
38:06 — Curating authentic local experiences for special interests
38:45 — How Brent finds great young employees
50:18 — Hot Minute: The dumbest thing about America
Watch the Full InterviewSee the full interview with Anna, including content not in the regular episode, on our YouTube channel.
Thanks to our sponsor Louisville Tourism for making this episode possible. Learn more about group travel to the Bourbon City at gotolouisville.com/travel-professionals.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Are people problems holding your travel business back?
As a tour operator or travel entrepreneur, you likely have to work with team members or contractors to make your trips happen. But if your team isn’t working well, can cause major problems. Rebekah Snider feels your pain. Through many years of trial and error she has become a respected tourism leader — and has learned through experience how to find good team members and lose bad ones. She joins this episode of the podcast to share her insights on hiring and leading great tourism teams.
Rebekah shares her secrets for finding great employees and the questions she always asks herself before having difficult conversation with struggling teammates. She also provides insights about how to lead multi-generational teams and what core workplace wishes everyone has in common. Plus, we have news about America’s top travel inspiration source and a thought-provoking question about the role of social media in all our lives.
Insights from Rebekah SniderRebekah shared lots of great wisdom about how she builds high-functioning tourism teams. Here’s what she had to say about the top characteristics she looks for in employees:
“We’re really looking first and foremost for somebody that has a kindness to them and a relatability. I think people do business with people they like. Those things are important to our brand and to hospitality…. I have found that if we have someone who is a good communicator and has a kindness and warmth to them, we can usually teach them the skill set they’re going to need.”
Plus, she had great perspectives on:
- The importance of finding quality mentors
- Setting expectations for team members
- How to dismiss an employee with dignity Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeEmail Rebekah at rebekah@visitmilledgeville.com.
Read our Buyer’s Guide for the Group Travel Industry here.
Key Moments From This Episode2:14 — Travel News: Social media becomes America’s top source of travel inspiration
3:37 — Your best source for group travel insight and intelligence
9:17 — How Rebekah Snider became a tourism leader
10:12 — Key traits of great mentors
12:45 — Dealing with imposter syndrome
14:57 — Leading a multi-generational team
20:31 — Setting expectations for team members
21:50 — Navigating difficult conversations with employees
27:04 — How to find great employees for your travel business
29:45 — Exercising influence in your community
44:15 — Hot Minute: Is using social media still morally acceptable in 2025?
Watch the Full InterviewSee the full interview with Rebekah on our YouTube channel.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
What’s your biggest struggle as a travel entrepreneur?
No matter what you’re wrestling with, Andrea Ross has been there. Over the course of 12 years, she started a tour company from the ground up, grew it to profitability and eventually sold it. She’s now a business advisor who helps other travel company owners through the same process, and she joins this episode of the podcast to share her insights.
Andrea discusses the good decisions — and the bad mistakes — she made in her time as a tour operator. She shares the most common challenges travel entrepreneurs face and how you can measure and grow the value of business. Plus, we have news about free Wi-Fi on Southwest Airlines; a Road Tip about dealing with sick travelers; and a Hot Minute about the reality of struggling travel businesses.
Insights from Andrea RossAndrea had lots of hard-won insights from her time in the trenches as a tour operator. Here’s what she had to say about the common pain that almost all travel entrepreneurs feel:
“Across the spectrum, the challenges are the same. How do I duplicate myself? I’m working 80 hours a week, I’m exhausted. How do I force myself to work on my business so I can grow some of the processes and procedures and some of the training, when really I’m just holding a fire extinguisher putting out fires?”
Plus, she had great perspectives on:
- Growing your tour company beyond yourself
- How to know when it’s time to sell your business
- Dealing with post-pandemic PTSD that still haunts travel professionals Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeEmail Andrea Ross at andrea@cultivateadvisors.com.
Browse our catalog of more than 250 free group tour itineraries here.
Key Moments From This Episode1:49 — Travel News: Southwest launching Free Wi-Fi fleetwide
3:07 — Road Tip: You need a sick policy
7:48 — Your best source for group travel itineraries
12:35 — How Andrea Ross launched, grew and sold a tour company
18:15 — The pain every tourism entrepreneur feels
20:09 — Growing your company beyond yourself
22:18 — Problems that come with a growing tour company
24:00 — How to know when it’s time to sell your travel business
32:13 — Overcoming pandemic PTSD as a tourism professional
49:13 — Hot Minute: Do you have a travel business or a travel hobby?
Watch the Full InterviewSee the full interview with Andrea on our YouTube channel.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
A bad logo could be costing you business.
Ross Evans has seen all manner of wild and weird logos. A longtime branding expert and vice president at Redpoint Marketing PR, he has worked with many travel companies to create logos and branding that transform their identity and make a big impact on their bottom lines. He joins this episode of the podcast to share insights on why your branding isn’t working and how you can make it better.
Ross discusses the basics of a strong visual brand and how you can leverage them to increase your company’s profits. He explains why travel companies need to put more emphasis on visual branding than other organizations and gives tips for how to achieve great brand design on a budget. Plus, we have news about a new tour concept for travelers in their 40s and 50s; a Road Tip about the best shoes for travel; and a Hot Minute about the most important ingredient your trips are missing.
Insights from Ross EvansRoss had lots of insights about how your visual branding impacts customer decisions — without them even realizing it. Here’s what he had to say about why visual branding is so important:
“A visual brand is the language a company uses to articulate its brand pillars, its brand values, how it treats its customers…. They’re important because they make a first impression. We process color and texture and shape before we read a single word.”
Plus, he had great perspectives on:
- How bad branding holds businesses back
- How to avoid the dreaded “design by committee”
- Leveraging a great visual brand to sell more trips Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeFind Redpoint online and subscribe to Tickled Red at redpointmarketingpr.com.
Hear our interview How The Pandemic Changed Travelers with Dan Christian here.
Register to attend Dan’s Travel Trends AI Summit with this link and use the code TTGATHER at checkout to save $100 on registration.
Key Moments From This Episode1:10 — Travel News: Tauck launching a brand for younger travelers
2:30 — Road Tip: The ideal travel shoes
7:37 — Save big on the Travel Trends AI Summit
11:42 — How Ross Evans discovered the importance of visual branding
14:05 — The basics of visual branding
15:30 — How fonts and colors communicate your values
17:28 — How bad branding holds travel businesses back
18:55 — Why visual branding is more important in travel than in other businesses
21:22 — The essentials of a travel company brand
24:16 — What kind of design support do small travel businesses need?
26:20 — How you know it’s time to rebrand
31:41 — Getting a great brand design on a budget
36:12 — How to avoid design by committee
37:19 — Leveraging your brand to sell more trips
47:54 — Hot Minute: The most important ingredient your trips are missing
Watch the Full InterviewSee the full interview with Ross on our YouTube channel.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Travel is better when you don’t drink.
That’s what Darci Murray believes. A longtime travel professional, Darci realized years ago that she had developed an unhealthy relationships with alcohol — and that it was negatively impacting her travel experience. She joins this episode of the podcast to share the journey that led her to start the alcohol-free tour company Hooked.
Darci discusses the explosion of interest in “sober curious” and “sober supportive” travel. She gives us an inside look at how she builds thrilling alcohol-free trips to destinations around the world shares secrets of helping travelers connect in deep and meaningful ways. Plus, we have news about a tourism coalition pushing back on trade policy; a Road Tip about making non-drinkers feel special on your trips; and a Hot Minute about the way your trips might be making your customers better people — or worse.
Insights from Darci MurrayDarci had a lot of hard-won insights into the ways alcohol dependency has infused the tourism industry. Here’s what she had to say about why she thinks travel is better without booze:
“There are so many hours lost in the itinerary that are just sitting around looking for the happy hour. At hooked, we start early and see way more than the average tour company. We focus on what I call full sensory experiences. When you’re not drinking, all your senses are intact, so I try to play off that.”
Plus, she shared really helpful perspectives on:
- The rise of mocktail culture
- The demographics of alcohol-free travel groups
- The incredible travel opportunities available to non-drinkers Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeFollow Hooked on Instagram.
Learn more about Hooked and upcoming tours on their website.
Apply to attend our Alabama FAM tour here.
Key Moments From This Episode1:52 — Travel News: Tourism coalition calls for trade policy changes
3:11 — Road Tip: Accommodating alcohol-free travelers
6:41 — Reserve your spot on our Alabama FAM tour
13:30 — How a young-adult group trip sent Darci Murray down a bad road
14:44 — How alcohol negatively impacts the travel experience
17:05 — Transitioning to alcohol-free living and traveling
20:56 — Sober-curious, sober-supportive, gray-area drinking?
24:14 — The incredible rise of mocktails
27:00 — Who joins an alcohol-free group trip?
28:28 — Where Hooked travelers go
29:55 — How alcohol-free travel supercharges relationship building
35:43 — Is alcohol-free travel poised to grow in the future?
36:39 — How to make alcohol-free travelers feel special on your trips
46:31 — Hot Minute: Do your trips make travelers better or worse people?
Watch the Full InterviewSee the full interview with Darci on our YouTube channel.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Adventure travel is for everyone — no matter their age or fitness level.
That’s what Shannon Stowell believes. As the CEO of the Adventure Travel Trade Association, Shannon is on a mission to help more people discover the joy of adventure tourism and learn how to do so responsibly. He joins this episode of the podcast to bust common myths around adventure travel and help you discover the adventure style that will thrill and delight your travelers..
Shannon discusses how you might be leading adventure travel without even realizing it. He puts to rest the misconception that older travelers don’t like adventure and shares a framework for traveling like respectful guests in the places we visit. Plus, we have news about dozens of cancellations from a major cruise line; a Road Tip about making your devices and appliances work well abroad; and a Hot Minute about the unprofessional habits of some travel pros.
Insights from Shannon StowellShannon had lots of ideas about how planners can seek out and deliver enriching adventure activities for travelers of all kinds. Here’s what he had to say about what adventure travel really means:
“We did this deep dive study and found that three themes came out clearly to define the core of adventure: nature, culture and activity.
“The beauty of that is it’s accessible to everyone. So an 18-year-old who’s climbing a mountain in Nepal, that’s adventure for them. Somebody up there in years who would love to walk from inn to inn in Ireland — that’s an adventure too. They’re just a little bit different…. I think everyone should have access to adventure.”
Plus, he had insightful thoughts on:
- Domestic adventure destinations
- The booming growth of the adventure travel industry
- Visiting the national parks in uncertain times Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeConnect with Shannon Stowell on LInkedIn.
Purchase Shannon’s Book “Riding the Hulahula to the Arctic Ocean” on Amazon.
Learn more about the Adventure Travel Trade Association on their website.
Sign up for our FAM trip notifications here.
Key Moments From This Episode1:08 — Travel News: Norwegian cancels 40 cruises
2:20 — Road Tip: Using your electronics abroad
8:08 — FAM tour opportunities you don’t want to miss
13:11 — Shannon Stowell’s journey from e-commerce to adventure travel
15:09 — Defining adventure travel for the 21st century
18:04 — Adventure opportunities for older travelers
21:31 — How adventure travel providers are adjusting to today’s marketplace
24:11 — The incredible growth of the adventure travel industry
26:32 — Adventure travel opportunities in the United States
28:52 — Visiting the national parks in uncertain times
31:55 — Enjoying adventure travel responsibly
39:21 — Training people to become the “right” kind of travelers
52:24 — Hot Minute: Character traits tourism professionals must develop
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
What’s the most important part of your travel business? Lauren Rilling believes it’s profit.
For more than a decade, Lauren has been helping small business owners solve their companies’ financial problems. And she believes that most business owners get into trouble by not prioritizing profit. She joins the podcast today to help you understand how to create and maximize profit in your travel company — and why this is essential to every other element of your business.
Lauren discusses how tour operators can ensure that every trip is profitable from day one. She gives tips about how to turn a travel hobby into a travel business and offers essential strategies for managing the seasonality and cash flow irregularities of the tourism business. Plus, we have news about the Big Beautiful Bill’s tourism implications; a Road Tip about selecting the best travel snacks; and a Hot Minute about the skyrocketing costs of tourism conferences.
Insights from Lauren RillingLauren had lots of ideas about how travel business owners can improve their companies’ financial performance. Here’s what she had to say about paying attention to profit from the very beginning of a company:
“You can really figure out what your expected profit will be ahead of time. You don’t have to take big financial risks. You don’t need a lot of capital to get started…. Know what your profit margins are. Start calculating your costs… And then know what you’re charging people. Then, the remaining amount is your gross profit.
“Gross profit is everything when it comes to tour companies. Knowing your gross profit for each trip will help you know how much you need to charge.”
Plus, she had insightful thoughts on:
- Why you shouldn’t manage the books for your own travel business
- Whether you should operate tours that don’t make money
- How travel business owners should pay themselves Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeLearn more about Lauren Rilling at savvystewardship.com.
Contact Lauren at lauren.savvystewardship@gmail.com.
Apply to attend our OnSite familiarization trip in Alabama here.
Key Moments From This Episode1:13 — Travel News: The Big Beautiful Bill’s impact on tourism
2:44 — Road Tip: What makes the perfect road trip snack?
8:12 — Join us for a trip to Alabama
11:52 — Lauren Rilling’s roots in travel
14:54 — How to know when to turn a travel hobby into a travel business
18:40 — When should you hire a professional accountant for your travel business?
21:20 — Why tourism entrepreneurs should put profit first
23:30 — Planning for profit when your travel business’ income is variable
25:24 — Should you operate tours that don’t make money?
27:45 — Managing cash flow in a seasonable business
30:48 — How travel business owners should pay themselves
35:27 — Don’t spend customer deposits until you have “earned” them
51:06 — Hot Minute: Are tourism conferences getting too expensive?
Watch the Full InterviewSee the full interview with Lauren on our YouTube channel.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Legendary broadcaster Peter Greenberg is optimistic about the future of travel.
After decades reporting on travel and hundreds of travel shows for CBS News, PBS, Amazon and more, Peter has seen a lifetime’s worth of change and evolution in tourism — and he’s still excited about the industry’s future. In fact, he still travels 300 days a year and loves telling people his secrets for finding deals and inspiring wonder in the American public. He joins this episode of the podcast to help you do the same.
Peter discusses some of the biggest changes that have taken place in travel and how today’s tourism professionals can make the most of them. He explains why he’s optimistic about the future of cruising and how tour operators can become more profitable by pursuing specialization. Plus, we have news about a new tour company using the Pan Am brand; a Road Tip about hotel snack shops; and a Hot Minute about the new challenges facing the travel industry.
Insights from Peter GreenbergPeter had lots to say about the mindset of the American traveler — and the Americans who don’t travel. Here’s his take on why too many people tend to stay home:
“It’s a sad state of affairs that only 38% of Americans have a passport. That means 62% have made a conscious decision not to see anything. That’s a continued sadness, because we live in a global village. I think so much of America has made a conscious choice to be uneducated…. There’s this problem of a lack of curiosity and an overwhelming amount of fear. That combination is lethal.”
Plus, he had insightful thoughts on:
- How to get the best deals on hotel rooms
- Why COVID made cruising better for everyone
- Why travel prices may start coming down soon Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeLearn more about Peter Greenberg and sign up for his free newsletter at petergreenberg.com.
Apply to attend our OnSite familiarization trip in Alabama here.
Key Moments From This Episode1:23 — Travel News: Pan Am brand takes flight again
2:49 — Road Tip: Why we love the hotel snack shop
7:50 — Meet us on the road this fall
13:05 — Peter Greenberg reflects on a life in travel
16:21 — Inspiring wonder among American travelers
22:17 — The most important travel changes in the last 30 years
28:39 — Are travel prices about to come down?
35:10 — Why specialization is great for tour operators
37:35 — Traveling with heads of state
47:53 — Hot Minute: Should you be panicked about challenges facing tourism?
Watch the Full InterviewSee the full interview with Peter, including content not in the regular episode, on our YouTube channel.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Could the right technology platforms put your travel products in front of the customers who want them?
Greg Fisher believes they can. The founder of numerous online travel agency (OTA) and reservation technology (restech) platforms, and author of “Mastering OTAs: The Definitive Guide for Tour Operators,” Greg literally wrote the book on how tour operators can use technology to grow their businesses. He joins this episode of the podcast to help you understand the changing travel tech landscape and how it can benefit your business.
Greg introduces tech tools that will help you extend your reach and streamline your operations. He also gives tips on how to make OTAs work for you and insight on why the rise of AI might be great news for small tour companies. Plus, we have news New York’s falling tourism forecast; a Road Tip about increasing socializing among your tour groups; and a Hot Minute about the silver linings of decreased tourism.
Insights from Greg FisherGreg had lots of insights about what kind of relationship multiday tour companies should have with OTAs and other travel distribution platforms. Here’s one thing he had to say about how to optimize your listings for maximum visibility:
“Make sure you have the absolute best photos. Your primary image should have something called a key moment. It’s that perfect, candid photo of the tour. Capturing those key moments, with people having the time of their lives. And the rest of your photos should tell the story of that experience from start to finish.”
Plus, he had insightful thoughts on:
- Picking the OTAs that are right for your travel business
- How much commission OTAs charge to tour operators
- Why every tour business needs a great restech system Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeFind Greg’s Book “Mastering OTAs” at masteringotas.com.
Follow Greg on LinkedIn.
Apply to attend our OnSite familiarization trip in Alabama here.
Key Moments From This Episode1:53 — Travel News: Hawaii is increasing tourism tax because of climate change
3:14 — Road Tip: Eliminating annoying lights in hotel rooms
8:48 — The travel newsletter you can’t afford to miss
14:05 — Why river cruising is booming in popularity
15:17 — How much does river cruising actually cost?
18:54 — How river cruise demographics are changing
21:45 — Are river cruises better than land tours?
22:54 — Can river cruise demand keep up with supply?
24:58 — Can Europe’s rivers sustain the growing level of cruise traffic?
30:50 — River cruising in exotic destinations
34:01 — Should you consider a river cruise in the U.S.?
35:31 — Is river cruising feasible for groups?
48:19 — Hot Minute: Can tourism taxes really affect climate change?
Watch the Full InterviewSee the full interview with Greg, including content not in the regular episode, on our YouTube channel.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
In 1961, a group of travelers boarded a motorcoach, and their journey changed the world.
The Freedom Rides were among many important demonstrations and activities that took place in Alabama during the Civil Rights Movement. On this special bonus edition of Gather and Go, we’re sharing an episode of the Alabama Civil Rights Trail Podcast that tells the stories of the brave men and women who took the first Freedom Ride and how their courage continues to resonate today.
This episode is brought to you by the Alabama Tourism Department.
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeHear more of the Alabama Civil Rights Trail Podcast and learn more about visiting Alabama’s Civil Rights sites at alabama.travel/civilrights.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Cruise Critic editor-in-chief Colleen McDaniel joins the podcast to explain why river cruising in the travel experience everyone wants.
Tour guide turned company owner Lorna Holland joins the podcast to share her perspective on operating tourism enterprises as a mom.
SurfYogaBeer founder Mantas Zvinas joins to podcast to share how he built a fitness-and-fun tour company for burnt-out professionals.
David Jackson of The Group Book Experience joins the podcast to tell stories of Black travel's historic pioneers — and why they still matter.
Student tour operator Gaurav Namit joins the podcast to explain why youth travel is thriving in 2025 and how you can be part of it.
Anna Cashman of GetYourGuide joins the podcast to share exciting new data on how to identify and sell to the best group travel customers.
Veteran tour director and tech enthusiast Micky Kandola joins the podcast to share how AI is making life better for him and his customers.
Plus-size travel personality Jeff Jenkins joins the podcast to share how to grow business by embracing travelers of all sizes.
Travel entrepreneurs fail to tell their brand stories. Communications pro Justin Brady shares solutions on this episode of the podcast.
Video storyteller Tony Gnau joins the podcast to share how travel promoters can boost their businesses with smart video strategies.
Gen X tour operator Brent Dalrymple joins the podcast to share how adult group travel has changed and why his companies are thriving.
Travel Scope India founder Mohan Narayaswamy joins the podcast to share the secrets of planning group trips to this fascinating country.
If you run ads for your travel organization online, there’s a good chance you’ve been wasting your money.
Marica Mackenroth Brester has seen it firsthand. As a tourism marketing veteran and founder of the Von Mack Agency, she has helped companies throughout the travel industry combine smart advertising with time-tested, relationship-based selling strategies. She joins this episode of the podcast to discuss what travel marketers should be doing to get their message out in 2025 and beyond.
Marica tells us why digital-only strategies fall short and why old-school advertising is making a comeback. She gives examples of how create advertising campaigns that serve customers and boost sales at the same time. Plus, we have news about the booming Millennial cruise segment; a road tip about saving yourself from back pain when traveling; and a Hot Minute about how much you should — or shouldn’t — rely on social media to market your travel business.
Insights from Marica Mackenroth BrewsterMarica had lots of great insights on the changing world of advertising and how small companies can succeed in it. Here’s a surprising take she had on the resurgence of traditional advertising:
“The old-fashioned stuff is coming back. In the marketing and advertising community nationally, it’s a big, documented movement to go back to creative and back to the old school…. [This] means your creative has to be good. You have to know your unique selling points. You have to know why you’re different from the guy down the street. You need to know why someone would take your tour over the tour next to you…. And then you have to have that human element in your ads.”
Plus, she had insightful thoughts on:
- How to measure the return on your marketing spend
- How tour operators should approach their marketing strategies
- What you need to know to run your own marketing campaigns… and when to enlist a pro Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeLearn more about the Von Mack Agency and explore their free marketing resources at vonmackagency.com.
Follow the Von Mack Agency on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok
Sign up to receive The Group Travel Minute here.
Key Moments From This Episode1:41 — Travel News: Young cruisers are driving growth for Royal Caribbean
2:50 — Road Tip: Save your back with a trolley strap
9:15 — Our best content in your inbox — free
13:37 — How Hurricane Katrina helped Marica Mackenroth Brewster find tourism
16:02 — Lessons learned from real-world tourism sales
20:48 — How to measure return on your marketing spending
23:45 — Why old-school advertising is making a comeback
27:33 — How to advertise online without being creepy
30:49 — Marketing tips for tour operators
35:55 — Can you run a marketing program on your own?
51:45 — Hot Minute: How much should you rely on social media for marketing?
Watch the Full InterviewSee the full interview with Marica, including content not in the regular episode, on our YouTube channel.
Thanks to our sponsor Visit Lincoln for making this episode possible. Learn more about Lincoln’s travel experiences for groups at lincoln.org.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Could one simple oversight bring your entire travel business to a halt?
Sheila Folk has seen it happen. In fact, as an up-and-coming travel advisor, it almost happened to her. So she started Travel Industry Solutions, a company that helps small travel businesses avoid legal and financial fiascos. She joins this episode of the podcast to discuss what travel entrepreneurs should be doing to minimize risk and avoid business nightmares.
Sheila explains why she thinks travel is “the riskiest business in the world” — and how too many travel sellers are leaving themselves dangerously unprepared. She goes into detail about avoiding credit card chargebacks and explains why proper terms and conditions can be a lifesaver for travel businesses. Plus, we have news Biltmore’s reopening after Hurricane Helen; a road tip about new airline refund rules from the Department of Transportation; and a Hot Minute about who should be required to refund travelers when their plans are disrupted.
Insights from Sheila FolkSheila had lots of great insights on why travel can be risky and what tourism entrepreneurs should do about it. Here’s a sample:
““There’s a lot of risk around this industry because we’re expected to know so much about every inch of the earth. I have never been in a job where I have been asked so many crazy questions. What can I say and not say that isn’t going to put my business at risk? How do I fulfill my duty of care without putting my business on the line? … There are lots of crazy things that happen that put our businesses at risk. And many people who are sellers are not thinking about those little nuances to protect their business.”
Plus, she had insightful thoughts on:
- Using your communication flow to reduce risk and increase sales
- Why you must offer travel insurance to every customer
- The biggest risks tour operators don’t know they’re taking
- How to choose a payment processor that protects your interests Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeLearn more about Travel Industry Solutions at travelindustrysolutions.com.
Follow Travel Industry Solutions on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Learn more about the DOT’s new rules on airfare refunds in this article from Travel Weekly.
Apply to attend our Spring 2025 OnSite familiarization trip in Kentucky here.
Key Moments From This Episode1:00 — Travel News: Biltmore reopening on November 2
2:12 — Road Tip: How the DOT’s new airline refund rules could impact you
7:59 — Join us for a familiarization tour in Kentucky
12:09 — How a midlife crisis led Sheila Folk to the travel industry
14:00 — The growing need for risk management help in travel
18:11 — Why travel is “the world’s riskiest business”
21:10 — Avoiding the pain of a credit card chargeback
24:12 — Can you copy and paste terms and conditions from a friend?
25:21 — Special risks that come with packaging tours
29:20 — Using email communications to reduce risk and increase sales
30:34 — Why you must offer travel insurance to every customer
32:48 — The biggest risk tour operators don’t know they’re taking
35:27 — How to choose a payment processor that protects your interests
50:52 — Hot Minute: Should travel sellers be responsible for airfare refunds?
Watch the Full InterviewSee the full interview with Sheila, including content not in the regular episode, on our YouTube channel.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
“Tourist” isn’t a dirty word. Or at least it doesn’t have to be.
Paige McClanahan is redefining the word “tourist” and the ideas that go with it. As a travel journalist and the author of “The New Tourist: Waking Up to the Power and Perils of Travel,” she is on a mission to help people understand how mindful tourism can help create a better world. She joins this episode of the podcast to discuss what tour planners can do to make tourism work better for destinations and travelers alike.
Paige shares why we should embrace the fact that we’re all tourists — and how we can be better at it. She gives examples of how tourism is working well for communities around the world and offers advice on how travel professionals can help open their customers’ minds. Plus, we have news about proposed restrictions on cruising in Alaska; a road tip about making sure passengers don’t get lost on tours; and a Hot Minute about the roles governments should — or shouldn’t — play in addressing overtourism.
Insights from Paige McClanahanPaige had lots of great insights on why it’s ok to be a tourist and how we can learn to be better tourists together. Here’s a sample:
“I don’t think the stigma around the word tourist is really helpful. I think if we own our identity as tourists, we can sort of give ourselves back the power to actually transform this massive thing we’re all part of. And we don’t see headlines about overtourism and think ‘Oh, that’s other people, that’s not me.’ … Remembering that we’re tourists is an important step we can take to owning all of the good and all of the bad that comes with tourism. And I hope it might serve as an inspiration.”
Plus, she had insightful thoughts on:
- The lifecycle of a tourism destination
- How entrepreneurs created the tourism economy
- What a “new tourist” is and how travel professionals can aid the transformation Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeLearn more about Paige McClanahan and “The New Tourist” at paigemcclanahan.com.
Follow Paige McClanahan on Instagram.
Find the entire Gather and Go library and subscribe to the show here.
Key Moments From This Episode1:40 — Travel News: Alaska voters reject cruise ship restrictions
3:00 — Road Tip: Use location services to keep customers from getting lost
9:29 — Great podcast episodes to boost your travel business
13:10 — How Paige McClanahan became an international travel journalist
16:28 — The idea that sparked “The New Tourist”
19:25 — How entrepreneurs created the tourism industry
22:30 — The lifecycle of a tourism destination
24:55 — Destinations loving — and hating — tourism
30:33 — Why it’s ok to be a tourist
32:39 — What the new tourist looks like
35:20 — How travel professionals can help make better tourists
49:41 — Hot Minute: Should popular destinations put restrictions on tourism?
Watch the Full InterviewSee the full interview with Kyle, including content not in the regular episode, on our YouTube channel.
Thanks to our sponsor Coastal Mississippi for making this episode possible. Learn more about Coastal Mississippi’s travel experiences for groups at coastalmississippi.com.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
There are few places more spectacular than New England in autumn. But if you want to have a great fall foliage tour without being overwhelmed by crowds, you need to work with a local expert.
Carol Sullivan might be just the expert you’re working for. Her family operates White Mountain Hotel and Resort in North Conway, New Hampshire. But far from simply offering accommodations, this organization helps group travel leaders plan and package every element of their New England experiences. Carol joins this special bonus episode of the podcast to share her favorite New England activities and give travel planners tips to streamlining their New England travel experiences in any season.
Carol tells us about the cities, towns and mountain landscapes that make New England an essential American travel treasure. Plus, she explains how tour planners can arrange ground transportation, hotels, first-class dining and all their sightseeing activities with a single point of contact.
This episode is brought to you by the White Mountain Hotel and Resort.
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeLearn more about the White Mountain Hotel and Resort at *whitemountainhotel.com***.
Contact Jennifer in the White Mountain Hotel sales department at *800-533-6301*.
Key Moments From This Episode2:23 — What exactly are the White Mountains of New Hampshire?
4:10 — Carol Sullivan’s journey from tour operator to hotelier
5:08 — Packing New England tour products
9:38 — Can’t-Miss New England travel experiences
11:59 — New England tours beyond fall foliage season
15:44 —A different approach to tour group dining
19:30 — Enjoying the White Mountain Hotel amenities
24:26 — Making the most of the New England outdoors
27:05 — Undiscovered treasures of New England
Watch the Full InterviewAbout the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
There are memorable trips, and then there are magical trips.
Sandra Weinacht believes that group tours should be magical — especially tours in Europe. As the founder of Inside Europe, she has been taking groups to her native Germany, as well as Italy, Ireland and other popular European destinations — for decades. She joins this episode of the podcast to share her secrets to planning magical European trips in 2025.
Sandra tells us how she leverages the economies of group trips to create once-in-a-lifetime experience for her customers. She share tips for navigating the economics of European travel in the midst of rising prices and gives tips on where travel beginners and travel pros should travel in Europe next year. Plus, we have news about new tech tools for U.S. passport holders; a road tip about falling asleep on international flights; and a Hot Minute about common meal-planning mistakes tour operators make.
Insights from Sandra WeinachtSandra had lots of great insights on how travel planners can build magical tour experiences, whether in Europe or in any other destination. Here’s a sample:
“We organize their concerts, we prepare exchanges, and that’s where the magic happens. And when you have a certain number of people, you can privatize things, and that’s when it gets unique. You can go into the Vatican museums on private tours. Occasionally, your group gets to sing in the Sistine Chapel…. If you privatize with a larger group, it becomes really affordable. You have more buying power and more opportunities, and you can give people a better deal, and make travel affordable for young people.”
Plus, she had insightful thoughts on:
- The most common misconceptions about travel to Europe
- What European destinations are best for your first international tour
- How to manage the high price of European travel in 2025 Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeLearn more about Inside Europe at *inside-europe.com*.
Follow Sandra Weinacht on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Email Sandra at sandra@inside-europe.com.
Visit our Start Here page for growing your group travel organization.
Key Moments From This Episode2:11 — Travel News: U.S. passports can be added to Google Wallet
3:31 — Road Tip: Sleeping on transatlantic flights
10:19 — The ultimate resource for getting started in group travel
14:33 — How Sandra Weinacht went from sports journalism to group travel
20:14 — Creating magical moments for tour groups in Europe
25:28 — The most common misperceptions about European travel
27:14 — Tips for planning your first group trip to Europe
32:23 — Undiscovered treasures for Europe travel veterans
34:37 — How to manage the high prices of travel to Europe
37:42 — Are the wars in Ukraine and Israel affecting European travel demand?
51:41 — Hot Minute: Are you planning your group tour meals wrong?
Thanks to our sponsor Malta Tourism Authority for making this episode possible. Learn more about Malta’s travel experiences for groups at visitmalta.com.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Are social media travel influencers full of hot air? Or do they represent legitimate opportunities for tourism professionals?
Shanay Braxton firmly believes influencers are a force for good in the travel industry. As the founder of Business in Travel, an agency that connects influencers with travel brands, she has seen firsthand how travel companies and content creators can partner for success. She joins this episode of the podcast to share how travel professionals can leverage influencer relationships to increase sales.
Shaney pulls back the curtain on the influencer economy and gives a behind-the-scenes look that goes into building a legitimate travel following. She shares ideas about how tour operators and content creators can work together and gives great advice for anyone running online advertising campaigns. Plus, we have news about falling revenues at theme parks; a road tip about make theme park visits work for your groups; and a Hot Minute about the problem of illegitimate pretenders in tourism.
Insights from Shanay BraxtonShanay had lots of insights about the the legitimacy of influencers and content, as well as the opportunities they present for tourism organizations. Here’s a sample:
“It’s starting to shift slowly, but there is the image that influencers just want to be seen. But it’s bigger than that. I call them travel marketing professionals, because they are. It takes a lot of time, money and resources to create content and educate people on travel. It’s more than just vanity. For a lot of people, it’s their passion and their legacy…. The misconception is around pay. A lot of people don’t understand what the return is for influencer marketing and how it can benefit them…. People undervalue it because they don’t know what it looks like on the back end.”
Plus, she had great things to say about:
- How much it costs to work with travel influencers
- How tour operators and content creators can partner for success
- How to integrate influencer campaigns into your marketing budget Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeLearn more about Business in Travel at businessintravel.co.
Follow Business in Travel on Instagram.
Find Shanay Braxton on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Find our 2025 Buyer’s Guide for the Group Travel Industry.
Key Moments From This Episode1:55 — Travel News: Theme park profits are falling
3:24 — Road Tip: Optimizing theme park visits for groups
9:05 — Your guide to issues facing group travel in 2025
14:42 — How Shanay Braxton became an advocate for travel influencers
18:57 — Are online influencers legitimate travel professionals?
24:32 — How much do travel influencers charge for sponsored campaigns?
28:02 — How to find well qualified travel influencers
29:31 — How tour operators and travel influencers can work together
33:17 — How to integrate influencer campaigns into your marketing plan
51:32 — Hot Minute: Pretenders and freeloaders in travel
Thanks to our sponsor Coastal Mississippi for making this episode possible. Learn more about Coastal Mississippi’s travel experiences for groups at coastalmississippi.com.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Is it possible to get travelers of every age group to travel together — and have fun doing it?
Kyle Campbell has proven that it is. A lifelong group travel planner and founder of Sudden Journeys, a boutique tour company, Kyle routinely leads trips that include baby boomers, Gen Xers, millennials and even Gen Z travelers. She joins this episode of the podcast to share how she builds and markets tours that appeal to every age group.
Kyle shares her insights about what each generation needs for successful trips; how intergenerational trips can be more fulfilling; and her secrets to creating deep and meaningful moments on the road. Plus, we have news about an online passport renewal system; a road tip about helping your travelers keep track of their passports; and a Hot Minute about a Thrillist article calling for the end of group trips.
Insights from Kyle CampbellKyle had lots of insights about the different hopes, dreams, needs and aspirations that people of various generations bring to the group travel experience. Here’s a sample:
“[Retired people] are living out dreams they have had for decades. They have waited to travel. They’re actualizing these dreams, and they have a wealth of experience behind them in their life.
“People who are 19 to early 30s are extremely savvy with the technology, but they have a desire for the connection they have missed out on. They are worn out of working from home and online communities. They are craving connection.
“I’m having to keep all these needs in mind when I’m planning trips.”
Plus, she had great things to say about:
- Creating meaningful moments on the road
- How travel can be a gateway to healing
- Skills she learned from entry-level tourism jobs Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeLearn more about Kyle Campbell and Sudden Journeys at mysuddenjourneys.com.
Follow Kyle Campbell on Instagram.
Apply to attend our OnSite Familiarization Tour in Louisiana’s Capital City Region.
Read “Why It’s Time to Let the Group Trip Die” at Thrillist.
Key Moments From This Episode1:37 — Travel News: Can you renew your passport online?
3:17 — Road Tip: Stop your travelers from losing their passports
9:48 — Join us for a FAM in Louisiana’s Capital City Region
15:09 — How Kyle Campbell learned to be a tour operator
24:28 — The secret to planning tours for all ages
27:57 — What different generations want from group travel experiences
32:46 — Creating meaningful moments on the road
35:48 — How travel can be a gateway to healing
53:09 — Hot Minute: Is it really time to “let the group trip die?”
Watch the Full InterviewSee the full interview with Kyle, including content not in the regular episode, on our YouTube channel.
Thanks to our sponsor Coastal Mississippi for making this episode possible. Learn more about Coastal Mississippi’s travel experiences for groups at coastalmississippi.com.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
There’s a world of fun waiting for groups in Coastal Mississippi, and we have insider tips on how to find it.
If you’re looking for the best food, hotels and activities along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, Zach Holifield is the guy to help you find it. A lifelong Mississippi resident, Zach has spent most of his career promoting tourism in Mississippi and now helps tour operators, group leaders and other travel professionals put together their ideal getaways in Coastal Mississippi. He joins this episode of the podcast to share his favorite places to eat, sleep and play in the region.
Zach tells us about the many cities, towns and villages along the Mississippi Gulf Coast that offer charm, history, culture and abundant seafood for visitors. Plus, he’s offering a free all-expenses-paid trip to Coastal Mississippi for one lucky Gather and Go listener and their guest. Check out this episode to find out how to register for the giveaway!
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeEnter the giveaway for a free trip to Coastal Mississippi at coastalmississippi.com/gtl.
Connect with Zach Holifield on Facebook.
Follow Zach Holifield on LinkedIn.
Key Moments From This Episode4:17 — The many faces of Coastal Mississippi
8:36 — Coastal Mississippi’s top tour group activities
11:53 — Can’t-miss restaurant recommendations on the Mississippi coast
19:50 — Authentic Mississippi cultural encounters
25:46 — Student group adventures in Coastal Mississippi
30:27 — Mardi Gras, Mississippi-style
32:59 — Win a free trip to Coastal Mississippi
Watch the Full Interview
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Is phone-free travel really possible?
Patrick Marsden believes that it’s not only possible — it’s thrilling. A lifelong traveler and one of the tourism industry’s leading mental health advocates, he is on a mission to help people make the most of their travel experiences by disconnecting from digital devices. He joins this episode of the podcast to share how disconnected experiences can help people rediscover the joy of travel.
Milena talks about how he discovered the growing mental health crisis; how he helps people break their phone addictions on the road; and the the unique advantages of group travel for helping people take disconnected trips. Plus, we have news about an airline redeploying mothballed jets; a road tip about planning ahead for sweaty days; and a Hot Minute about how much work you should do while you’re traveling.
Insights from Patrick MarsdenPatrick had lots of insights about how group travel can create space for people to boost their mental health through phone-free travel. Here’s one of his most significant comments:
“By encouraging guests to disconnect from their devices, they will have a better experience, and it will be more meaningful. But there has to be a business case. The guest has to want this…. I think there is going to be more of a groundswell among customers of having the option. I would suggest saying ‘If you want to have a digital disconnect experience, we can provide the infrastructure for you to do that.’”
Plus, he had great things to say about:
- The travel industry’s opportunity to help people find mental wellness
- Why phone-free travel is both possible and liberating
- How travel professionals can enhance pre-trip and post-trip enjoyment for their customers Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeLearn more about MaCher at macher.com.
Learn more about the Switch Off Take Off program at switchofftakeoff.com.
Follow Patrick Marsden on LinkedIn.
Get free downloadable resources from The Group Travel Leader at grouptravelleader.com/start.
Key Moments From This Episode1:31 — Travel News: American Airlines is reactivating mothballed jets
2:34 — Road Tip: Extra clothes for sweaty days
10:41 — Why Patrick Marsden left banking for travel
13:01 — How tourism can tackle the mental health crisis
17:29 — What does an authentic trip actually look like?
19:44 — Why group trips are better for your mental health
21:28 — Making the pitch for phone-free travel
27:27 — How much should travel planners push for disconnected trips?
32:55 — The science of maximizing travel enjoyment
48:35 — Hot Minute: Are you working too much when you travel?
Watch the Full Interview
Thanks to our sponsor Coastal Mississippi for making this episode possible. Learn more about Coastal Mississippi’s travel experiences for groups at coastalmississippi.com.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Knowing the right people can save you a lot of money — and a lot of headaches — when planning group tours to popular destinations. The insider’s secret to planning secret tours is to let local experts do the planning for you.
Stacy Barry shares all the details in this episode of the Gather and Go Podcast. As the second-generation owner of Sharin’ the South Tours, she and her family have been helping groups discover the best of Nashville, Memphis and the Smokies for decades. Today, she’s pulling back the curtain on the world of receptive operators and sharing the secrets she uses to plan exceptional group trips.
Stacy talks about how her local network gives her special access to exclusive experiences, how her services can help tour planners save money, and why familiarization trips are a key part of her strategy for launching an outbound tour division. Plus, we have news about Amsterdam’s changing attitude toward tourism; a road tip about building your travel delay survival kit; and a Hot Minute about curbing bad visitor behavior.
Insights from Stacy BarryStacy had lots of insights about how receptive operators can leverage their position to create value for traveler planners. This might have been the most interesting:
“A lot of partners give me receptive rates. I’m getting receptive rates most places, and you are not. I have that relationship with hotels and vendors. I have contracted, negotiated rates that never change, even if it’s busy season. I’m still going to get that same rate. And they’re rates that would never be for an outbound tour operator. So even if I’m planning it all for you and putting the work in, and even if I add a markup for my time, it’s still not what you would think, because my rates for things are lower than yours. It may be the same cost, but you’re not going to have to put any of the work in.”
Plus, she had great things to say about:
- How receptive operators partner with group leaders
- How she helps people find affordable hotels in crowded destinations
- Why familiarization tours are critical to her plans for expansion Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeEmail Stacy at stacy@sharinthesouth.com.
Register for OnSite FAM opportunities at grouptravelleader.com/fams.
Key Moments From This Episode1:28 — Travel News: Amsterdam is trying to decrease tourism
2:51 — Road Tip: A travel delay survival kit
14:36 — How Stacy Barry found her way back to travel
19:11 — What is a receptive operator, anyway?
21:32 — A receptive tour operator’s economies of scale
24:32 — Do receptive operators play nicely with group leaders?
28:19 — Secrets for saving money in popular tourist destinations
37:03 — Using FAM tours to build an outbound business
50:03 — Hot Minute: Using FAM tours to build an outbound business
Thanks to our sponsor Coastal Mississippi for making this episode possible. Learn more about Coastal Mississippi’s travel experiences for groups at coastalmississippi.com.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Breakthroughs in brain science may be able to boost the joy in travel — but only if the tourism industry will embrace them.
Milena Nikolova is on a mission to help the industry do just that. As a behavioral economist and founder of BehaviorSmart, she leverages brain science and psychology to help tour companies and destinations build more enjoyable and sustainable travel experiences. She joins this episode of the podcast to introduce us to the ways behavioral insights can elevate the entire tourism ecosystem.
Milena talks about how she discovered the potential of brain science to impact tourism; how travel providers can hack the human brain to create better memories; and the scientific reasons why travelers don’t make sustainable choices. Plus, we have news about why hotel occupancy is both rising and falling; a road tip about optimizing your post-trip surveys; and a Hot Minute about tourism’s risk of losing the working class.
Insights from Milena NikolovaMilena had lots of insights about how travel professionals can leverage behavioral insights to boost they’re customers’ travel joy. This might have been the most impactful:
“Our contemporary culture of multitasking and living fast has actually reduced our ability to enjoy ourselves and benefit from holidays. In many situations, people are on holiday, but they slide on the surface of it….
“One of the biggest challenges we can tackle is making sure people leave digital devices on the side and mindfully connect to where they are…. A guide can do miracles just by planting moments of mindfulness throughout the story they’re telling. These moments can be the most long-lasting memories people take home.”
Plus, she had great things to say about:
- The biggest scientific discovery the travel industry is neglecting
- The “say/do” gap in sustainable travel
- How behavioral insights can impact destinations for the better Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeFollow Milena Nikolova and BehaviorSmart on LinkedIn.
Find BehaviorSmart resources at behavior-smart.com.
Follow The Group Travel Leader on your favorite social media platforms:
- Facebook: facebook.com/grouptravelleader
- X (Twitter): https://x.com/GroupTravelPubs
- Instagram: instagram.com/thegrouptravelleader
- TikTok: tiktok.com/@thegrouptravelleader
- LinkedIn:linkedin.com/company/the-group-travel-leader-inc.
Follow Brian Jewell on LinkedIn.
Key Moments From This Episode2:02 — Travel News: Hotel occupancy is rising… and falling
3:28 — Road Tip: Optimizing your post-trip surveys
19:10 — How Milena Nikolova blends brain science and travel
25:54 — Why travelers don’t follow through on sustainability initiatives
32:25 — Using behavioral insights to improve destination impact
37:07 — Brain science tips for creating better travel memories
52:56 — Hot Minute: Is travel at risk of losing the working class?
Watch the Full Interviewhttps://youtu.be/41j7qFpVCbw
Thanks to our sponsor Coastal Mississippi for making this episode possible. Learn more about Coastal Mississippi’s travel experiences for groups at coastalmississippi.com.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
If anyone knows how to find the best of a destination, it’s Andrew Zimmern.
The TV icon, culinary expert and travel legend has visited — and eaten — nearly everywhere. From “Bizarre Foods” to “Family Dinner,” his shows have shaped the travel tastes of people the world over. Andrew joins this episode of the podcast to share insights from his time on the road and give us the secrets to creating authentic and memorable travel experiences.
Andrew talks about his unlikely path to stardom, how travel has changed during his lifetime and what travel professionals can do to show their customers the best of the world. Plus, we have news about Americans’ growing appetite for international travel; a road tip about finding the perfect group restaurant reservation; and a Hot Minute about the impact of overtourism on American cities.
Insights from Andrew ZimmernAndrew had no shortage of wisdom from his life on the road that tour operators can leverage in planning culinary trips and other kinds of adventures. But his most impactful statement might have been about the power of travel itself:
“Travel is transformative. I don’t know anything else other than personal tragedy that can change a human being. You go away on a trip, you have to ask questions, you don’t know where you’re going, you have to be curious. You take more risks. You do thinks you would never do at home.
“Taking all those risks, you import some of that wisdom and that healthy bravado and that curiosity. You bring that back home and it expands your horizons. You become more patient, tolerant and understanding with other people.”
Plus, he had great things to say about:
- How technology has changed today’s travelers
- How how to uncover the best local cuisine
- How to arrange “secret” meals for tour groups Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeLearn more about traveling with Andrew Zimmern in Sicily at modernadventure.com.
Learn more about Andrew’s shows and projects at andrewzimmern.com.
Follow Andrew Zimmern on Substack.
Access Mastercard Economic Institute’s “Travel Trends 2024” report here.
Find Gather and Go on YouTube.
Key Moments From This Episode1:41 — Travel News: Americans are traveling abroad in record numbers
2:53 — Road Tip: Finding restaurants for group meals
12:01 — How Andrew Zimmern went from addict to icon
17:34 — Zimmern’s take on how travelers have changed (for better or worse)
23:31 — Traveling authentically in the age of Instagram
34:17 — A new opportunity to travel alongside Andrew Zimmern
54:30 — Hot Minute: Are American cities suffering from overtourism?
Watch the Full Interviewhttps://youtu.be/89_zazUt_2w
Thanks to our sponsor Coastal Mississippi for making this episode possible. Learn more about Coastal Mississippi’s travel experiences for groups at coastalmississippi.com.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
There’s a world of business opportunity in group travel for professionals savvy enough to find it.
Case in point: Tamika Carter. After several false starts and failed attempts to succeed as a retail travel agent, she found success with groups, launching two group travel businesses and then founding Group Travel Academy. She joins this episode of the podcast to share insights from her experiences and giving advice for how to discover hidden opportunities in group travel.
Tamika talks about the biggest myths that are holding travel agents back from succeeding with groups and gives ideas about how smart travel sellers are leveraging the power of group travel in new ways. Plus, we have news about Americans’ travel plans for this summer; a road tip about keeping your travel toiletries stocked; and a Hot Minute about who’s responsible for the rising cost of travel.
Insights from Tamika Carter**On why travel agents are missing opportunities in group travel**:
“There’s a myth in the industry that we as travel agents have to master individual bookings before we grow to groups. But that is a myth — that is not true. You can start with group travel and just have a group travel business and sustain your business from there. Or you can use your group travel business to funnel down to individual clients who want you to book individual trips for them, because they can see what a great job you did on the group trip they experienced with you.”
*On the benefits of selling to groups*:
“If you’re dealing with affinity groups, you’re dealing with one person. They’re just bringing all those other people along with them. That’s the key — work with one person and have them bring others along to fulfill your group trip….
“With group travel, there’s an opportunity to eliminate so many of the challenges that are out there with regard to individual travel bookings. Because a lot of times we get calls from people with regard to individual travel. They don’t know where they want to go, where they want to travel, and have no idea about the budget. But the good thing about group travel is that you can tell them where to go, you can tell them when to travel, you can tell them about all the experiences they will have on that group trip. You just create that exciting itinerary that you can sell over and over again.”
*On the importance of focus in group sales*:
“People tend to get FOMO when it comes to being in the travel industry. They think they should be serving everyone, when in fact what they should be doing is solidifying themselves as an expert by identifying a clean niche and target market of the people they want to serve. It will make them an expert in the industry and help them be able to turn down business that they don’t want.“
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeLearn more about Group Travel Academy at grouptravelacademy.com.
Join the Group Travel Planners United Facebook group here.
Follow Tamika Carter on YouTube.
Find our “Getting Started in Group Travel” page at grouptravelleader.com/start.
Read Deloitte’s 2024 Summer Travel Survey here.
Key Moments From This Episode1:31 — Travel News: More Americans staying home due to travel cost
2:50 — Road Tip: Never run out of toothpaste again
12:06 — How Tamika Carter fought for her career in group travel
19:13 — Myths travel agents believe about selling group trips
23:35 — The economics of selling group travel
26:29 — Identifying non-traditional group travel opportunities
37:05 — Up-and-coming group travel ideas
54:10 — Who is responsible for the high price of travel?
Thanks to our sponsor Coastal Mississippi for making this episode possible. Learn more about Coastal Mississippi’s travel experiences for groups at coastalmississippi.com.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
Is there a formula for delivering a powerful tourism experience?
Joe Pine thinks there is. An acclaimed business consultant and author of “The Experience Economy,” Joe has developed a framework that helps professionals everywhere leverage the power of experience to cultivate strong customer relationships. He joins this episode of the podcast to discuss how travel businesses can succeed in the experience economy and where the future of business may be headed.
Joe shares five ways travel businesses should optimize their experiences to earn rave customer reviews. Plus, we have news about Google’s foray into AI-based itinerary planning; a road tip about the power of slowing down your tours; and a Hot Minute about whether artificial intelligence is a threat to tour operators.
Insights from Joe Pine**On leveraging the power of experiences**:
“Understand that the experience is the marketing. In today’s experience economy, the experience that is staged out there is going to determine whether people come back again and whether they tell people about it.”
*On why great experiences require drama*:
“Understand that when you’re staging experiences, work is theater. Your workers are on stage whenever they are in front of guests. You need to direct them to act and help them create that great experience. You need to have dramatic structure that rises up to a climax and comes back down again. If you have a flat experience where not much happens, it’s not very memorable. You need to design the time that customers spend with you.”
*On the demand for transformative travel experiences*:
“People increasingly desire life-transforming experiences. When we travel is when we’re most open to change. We get out of our daily quotidian lives and open up to new vistas. That’s when we expose ourselves to new ways of thinking and new ways of being. So we can change through the travel that we have.”
“A transformation is when you guide customers in achieving their aspirations. It’s through transformative experiences that we change.”
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeFollow the development of Joe Pine’s new book “The Transformation Economy” on Substack at *transformationsbook.substack.com*.
Subscribe to Joe’s Field Notes newsletter at strategichorizons.com/contact.
Follow Joe Pine on LinkedIn.
Key Moments From This Episode1:17 — Travel News: Google introduces AI itinerary planning
2:24 — Road Tip: The power of slowing down your trips
14:58 — How Joe Pine became an experiential business guru
19:35 — How experiences took over the economy
22:00 — Keys to competing in the experience economy
29:57 — Why transformation is the next economic frontier
37:51 — How experiences give small businesses a leg up
48:19 — Hot Minute: Should tourism professionals be worried about AI?
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
Are you delivering what your customers really want from their travel experience? What about what they really need?
Travel has incredible potential to impact people and change lives. But according to recent research data, there’s a gap between the significant experiences travelers are searching for and what the tourism industry often delivers. In this episode of the podcast, Gather and Go host Brian Jewell shares how tourism leaders can tap into the power of travel to create transformational moments for their customers.
His presentation, Untapped: Travel’s Hidden Power to Solve People’s Deepest Problems, was delivered March 21, 2024 at STS Domestic Showcase in Little Rock, Arkansas. We’re sharing the entire talk in this episode. Don’t forget to scroll down for links to the slide deck and key moments from the presentation.
Download The Presentation SlidesBrian’s talk included lots of helpful data. Here’s a copy of the presentation slides with links to underlying research sources.
Click here to download presentation as a PDFKey Moments From This Episode9:40 — What do people want from their travel experiences?
11:45 — Revisiting “The Case Against Travel”
16:14 — Travel’s untapped potential
19:53 — Solving travelers’ problems
27:51 — Solving destinations’ problems
30:53 — Solving society’s problems
41:53 — One question that will change your approach to travel
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a podcast that helps travel organizers and industry professionals plan, promote and lead better trips. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators and travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they work with, as well as destination marketers, museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes a featured conversation with a smart and influential travel leader. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
What is the secret to the perfect culinary tour?
If anybody knows the answer, it’s Theresa Nemetz. After founding Milwaukee Food Tours 17 years ago, she has gone on to build a culinary travel empire that takes people on delicious adventures throughout the United States and around the world. She joins this episode of the podcast to discuss how she uses food as a gateway to authentic and inspiring travel experiences.
Theresa shares how she builds relationships on the ground to uncover memorable culinary opportunities and the great lengths she goes to in search of fantastic tour guides. Plus, we have news about states mandating green practices for hotels; a road tip about the power of pocket itineraries; and a Hot Minute about the role governments should and shouldn’t play in regulating travel businesses.
Insights from Theresa Nemetz**On what people really want from food tours**:
“They didn’t want the history lesson — they wanted to know about the neighborhood. They wanted to know about the people behind the stories. We make the food the attraction, but we focus on the stories of the people behind that food…. Travelers want a super-authentic experience.”
*On hiring top talent*:
“The secret to the secret sauce has been to pay people really well. That has been our No. 1 motivator. And to pay people really well, we have to charge our clients a really appropriate price.… In the last couple years, I have realized that the tour guide is the star of the show. I need to be able to recruit and retain those individuals.”
*On emerging tour companies*:
“I’m seeing an increase in the number of people who were doing day trips and now they’re converting over and they’re offering multiday opportunities. Because as a next generation of tour operators, we’re all gaining experience, and we’re all growing and learning and taking it up a notch.
“It’s bringing something new to the industry. You’re seeing higher-priced trips and action-packed itineraries that are once-in-a-lifetime experiences. I see people building that into their itineraries. And I see that next-generation tour operator figuring it out. And we’re all lifting each other up, and we’re going to make the next generation of travel really a fun experience.”
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeLearn more about Travel Deliciously at traveldeliciously.com.
Learn more about Milwaukee Food and City Tours at milwaukeefoodtours.com.
Learn more about Chicago Food and City Tours at chicagofoodtours.com.
Learn more about Great Lakes Shore Excursions at *tourthegreatlakes.com*.
Learn more about our OnSite familirization tours here.
Key Moments From This Episode1:30 — Travel News: States banning single-use plastics in hotels
2:36 — Road Tip: The power of the pocket itinerary
12:24 — How Theresa Nemetz became a culinary tour operator
15:34 — How to do food tours well
19:07 — Showcasing culture through food
20:33 — Building relationships with destination partners
23:41 — The secrets to Theresa Nemetz’ success
28:20 — The chief ingredient to hiring great tour guides
32:21 — Creating culinary experiences abroad
35:46 — The growing community of next-generation tour operators
37:58 — Tech tools for up-and-coming tourism entrepreneurs
50:42 — Should governments mandate green hotel practices?
Thanks to our sponsor Visit Atlantic City for making this episode possible. Learn more about Atlantic City’s travel experiences for groups at visitatlanticcity.com.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
“The future of travel is now.”
Danny Guerrero believes the ascendant multicultural majority in the United States will fundamentally change the travel landscape… and that the change has already begun. A tourism marketing expert, Danny joins this episode of the podcast with his research collaborator Esra Calvert to share results of an innovative new study showing what these new travelers want from their tourism partners.
Danny and Esra explain how multicultural travelers are claiming their place in the travel landscape and looking for trustworthy tourism brands that make them feel welcome. Plus, we have news about the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and a Road Tip about dealing with chronic complainers in your travel group.
Insights from Danny Guerrero and Esra Calvert*On the ascendant multicultural majority*:
“100% of the growth in the last 10 years was all multicultural. As marketers, we’re looking at who is the traveling audience and who is going to be the future of travel.
“The future of travel is now. In the past five years, there has been an amazing awaking in multicultural groups to the power of travel. They’re no longer seeing travel as something they can’t do. And there’s an amazing amount of affinity groups taking to travel as a means of empowerment. They see travel as a way to explore themselves, to grow out of any limitations they may have. And it’s really a badge of honor.” — Danny Guerrero
On why travelers seek trust:
“75% of the stories included sadness. [People are looking for] personal, psychological safety. How do we create that so that consumers feel more welcome?
“Consumers know we don’t live in a perfect world. But they’re looking to brands to find solutions and bring context to it.” — Esra Calvert
*On how tour operators can make people feel welcome*:
“Tour operators need to know that the consumer is changing a bit. Generationally, you see in a lot of millennials a need to frequent brands and places that promote diversity and authenticity, and support local communities…. Don’t be afraid to lean into the margins when telling the story of a place. Not everything has to be hyper-luxury and hand-held. That notion is a thing of the past, where you’ve guarded travelers so much to give a travel experience that was a little bit polished and a little bit sterile. People are ready to hear the stories of marginalized folks. They want to travel and see authentic stories.” — Danny Guerrero
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeDownload the Future of Travel report at sharemorestories.com/fot23.
Contact Danny Guerrero at danny@culturistgroup.com.
Contact Esra Calvert at esra@esracalvert.com.
Key Moments From This Episode1:22 — Travel News: Notre Dame Cathedral reopening plan
2:40 — Road Tip: Dealing with chronic complainers
12:24 — How Danny Guerrero and Esra Calvert became tourism analytics experts
13:50 — The importance of understanding multicultural backgrounds
16:09 — Using storytelling and AI to understand emerging travel buyers
21:14 — Why multicultural customers are the future of travel
25:45 — What today’s travel buyers are thinking about
28:48 — The importance of trust and belonging in modern tourism marketing
34:40 — How tour operators can win the hearts and minds of multicultural customers
Thanks to our sponsor Visit Atlantic City for making this episode possible. Learn more about Atlantic City’s travel experiences for groups at visitatlanticcity.com.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
Can tourism growth and climate action can peacefully coexist?
Jeremy Sampson believes they can. As tourism veteran and the CEO of the Travel Foundation, he is focused on helping the travel industry find ways to become both more sustainable and more profitable. He joins this episode of the podcast to share his organization’s vision for how the tourism industry can take practical steps toward a more climate-friendly future.
Jeremy explains how empathy and understanding have been largely absent from conversations about travel and sustainability and gives practical ideas about how small tourism organizations can take meaningful steps forward on environmental issues. Plus, we have news about U.S. airlines resuming service to Israel and a Road Tip about managing trash that accumulates on a motorcoach.
Insights from Jeremy Sampson**On discussing sustainability in travel:
“A bit of empathy is required — understanding where people might be coming from. We need to understand each other. And where organizations haven’t quite succeeded in the past in moving this message along is not necessarily understanding the day-to-day motivations, incentive and behavior of industry professionals. Because it’s not that people don’t care — it’s that the don’t necessarily know how. We need to be able to find the common points in our agendas.”
*On *how smaller companies can contribute to sustainability:
“I believe everyone should play a role, and I believe it’s unfair to pin a significant chunk of the responsibility on small suppliers. But I think it’s important to recognize that we not hold everyone to the same standard.
“Businesses can be a part of behavior change. They’re the ones closest to the ground…. When you give them opportunities to play a role in designing unsustainable options right out of the system… there are thousands of things companies can do to encourage more sustainable choice.”
*On *navigating political divisions:
“I believe at the end of the day there’s actually a real shared agenda for change, and it’s the terminology that trips people up. When it comes to transitioning the tourism economy in a climate change paradigm, what are some of the solutions? Mostly, it’s to make the industry much more local, less dependent on big supply chains — more investment in local opportunities and local infrastructure. It also means creating new product and new ways for the industry to promote itself.”
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeFollow Jeremy Sampson on LinkedIn.
Follow The Travel Foundation on LinkedIn.
Access The Travel Foundation’s Envision 2030 report here.
Learn more about the UNWTO’s Glasgow Declaration here.
Access the U.S. Civil Rights Trail Travel Guide here.
Key Moments From This Episode1:28 — Travel News: U.S. airlines returning to Israel
2:52 — Road Tip: Traveling with trash bags
6:57 — Discover the U.S. Civil Rights Trail
12:24 — How Jeremy Sampson became a champion for tourism sustainability
16:38 — Navigating conversations about travel and climate
21:53 — A vision for tourism sustainability in 2030
30:52 — How technology is shaping tourism sustainability
33:57 — How small tourism organizations can make a big difference in sustainability
37:36 — Finding common ground in the climate wars
51:15 — Brian’s thoughts on the intersection of travel and climate
Thanks to our sponsor Visit Atlantic City for making this episode possible. Learn more about Atlantic City’s travel experiences for groups at visitatlanticcity.com.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
If you think travelers have been different since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re not alone. Dan Christian thinks so too.
A longtime marketer who has worked with some of the world’s largest and most innovative tour companies, Dan watched firsthand as travelers re-evaluated their lives and reshuffled their travel priorities as a result of the pandemic disruption. He joins this episode of the podcast to help us understand how travelers’ thinking has changed in the past four years and how smart travel marketers can better reach them.
Dan explains which pandemic-era trends are still affecting travel and where travelers are looking for travel inspiration these days. Plus, we talk about how small business owners can leverage communications channels to reach travelers and how travel organizations can make the most of artificial intelligence tools.
Insights from Dan Christian*On how people are choosing travel experiences:*
“People reevaluated the importance of travel in their lives and the type of traveling they want to do, which is more about ‘why’ than it is about ‘where.’ That’s a very important long-term trend. Most of our travel experiences were about sightseeing. The reality is that, as travelers move forward, although they still want to see major sites, there’s another reason for why they travel. People are asking themselves ‘What do I want to get out of this experience?’ People used to start with where and when, and most businesses in our industry still succumb to this. But people are getting travel inspiration off of Instagram and TikTok. People want to go and do what they’ve seen. People are asking ‘why’ and finding many new reasons.”
*On* messaging for today’s travelers:
“It comes down to understanding consumer interests and trying to tap into them. Then get as close to the source of inspiration. Try to find the place they’re being inspired to book and get as close to it as possible. That means social channels.
“Rather than spending on paid media, there’s a lot small operators can do with their own channels to make their content more compelling. It really comes down to great storytelling. What is your unique selling proposition that’s going to connect with the consumer and convince them to take that action?”
**On the role of artificial intelligence in travel:
“I think it’s going to be bigger than the internet and bigger than mobile.… I think everyone needs to be looking at AI and how they can leverage it to make their business more successful. The companies that are embracing AI are going to get so far out ahead of the companies that don’t simply by virtue of the way the technology works.
“There are specific AI models that have been created for you to make your business more efficient and manage your time more efficiently. I don’t think whether AI is going to make your business obsolete is the first question to be asking.”
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeListen to the Travel Trends podcast at *traveltrendspodcast.com*.
Learn more about Acceleration Team at accelerationteam.co.
Find content from the Acceleration Team’s AI Summit on their YouTube Channel.
Contact Dan Christian at dan@accelerationteam.co.
Key Moments From This Episode3:47 — How Dan Christian found his tourism calling
11:43 — How a global pandemic created a new opportunity
16:13 — A status update on travel’s post-pandemic recovery
21:20 — Travel trends for 2024 and beyond
28:20 — Messaging that meets the needs of today’s travelers
33:07 — Should travel professionals fear artificial intelligence?
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
Is traveling outside your comfort zone the key to thriving in adulthood?
Kelsey Perri believes it is. A travel industry veteran and public relation director at Road Scholar, she’s on a mission to help older adults discover the benefits of educational travel. She joins this episode of the podcast to share how education-based trips help travelers broaden their horizons, keep their minds sharp and create inter-generational memories.
Kelsey explains how Road Scholar combines education and fun on the road and helps unpack the trend of married women traveling without their husbands. Plus, we have news about a proposed “green fee” in Hawaii; a Road Tip about handy items to keep in your carry-on; and a Hot Minute about the dangers of government-imposed travel fees.
Insights from Kelsey Perri*On women traveling alone*:
“Seventy percent of our travelers are women, and 30% go solo every year. We have a lot of solo female travelers who come with us. And at least 60% of those are married people who leave their spouses at home to come travel.”
“The number one reason is that their spouse just isn’t interested in traveling. I guess women are just a little more adventurous and willing to push themselves out of their comfort zone.”
*On* multigenerational travel:
“These are hands-on, interactive programs with lots of activities. They’re wonderful opportunities for grandparents to pass on their love of learning, their love of travel, and really make memories they’re going to have forever.
“The grandparents do some stretching of their minds and their abilities to learn more about themselves too.”
**On the value of getting out of your comfort zone:
“When you’re aging, learning and putting yourself out of your comfort zone is so important to keep yourself sharp, to age healthily and keep yourself vital and engaged as you get older. That’s what Baby Boomers are interested in doing.”
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeVisit Road Scholar online at roadscholar.org.
Learn more about Road Scholar’s group program at roadscholar.org/groups
Contact the Road Scholar groups department by emailing groups@roadscholar.org.
Follow Road Scholar on Facebook or join the Women of Road Scholar group.
Learn more about STS Domestic showcase at southeasttourism.org.
Key Moments From This Episode1:12 — Travel News: Hawaii is considering a new “green fee”
2:22 — Road Tip: Traveling with a pen and notebook
6:52 — Join us at STS Domestic Showcase
11:57 — How Kelsey Perri developed a passion for educational travel
14:58 — How educational travel differs from normal tours
18:45 — Why married women are traveling alone
27:35 — Educational travel for multigenerational groups
33:11 — Why it’s critical to get outside your comfort zone when you travel
48:17 — Hot Minute: Should destinations add more fees to the travel experience?
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
Nothing can ruin a great trip faster than a medical emergency.
Tammy Allen has seen it firsthand. A physician, avid traveler and founder of TravelMeds2Go, she knows what causes sickness on the road — and how to prevent it. She joins this episode of the podcast to share how travelers and group leaders can prepare for medical issues and avert the disasters they can cause.
Dr. Tammy explains some of the most common travel-related ailments, tells us what travel leaders should do to prevent them and gives insight on when it’s time to call in reinforcements. Plus, we have news about cruise lines avoiding the Middle East; a Road Tip about group goodie bags; and a Hot Minute about protecting cost-conscious travelers.
Insights from Dr. Tammy Allen*On pre-trip preparation*:
“Make sure you collect a pre-trip health questionnaire for all your participants. This would include their medical conditions, their allergies, the medications they’re taking, their emergency contacts. In an emergency, you don’t want to be trying to gather that information. And if you can, find out about the medical facilities available where you’re going.
“Also, take a first-aid kit tailored to the potential risks during your trip. You should have one for the group.”
*On traveling with old medications*:
“At some point you need to toss it and start from scratch. Anything that’s a liquid or an ointment, you need to be more careful with those, because over time, they break down. Anything that’s off color, smells funny or is a liquid instead of a gel – those things need to be discarded. Any pills that have changed color or broken up into pieces need to be discarded.
“I would say a year past the expiration date is probably ok, but after that you need to get rid of it.”
*On when to seek help for a medical problem while traveling*:
“If things are not getting better — if they’re getting worse instead of getting better — and any time you have severe pain, you need to be seen. If you feel dehydrated or very worn out, you need to be seen. Any time you have high fevers — if it’s 103, 104 — you need to be seen in someone’s clinic. Anytime you have persistent vomiting, difficulty breathing or chest pains, you absolutely need to be seen by a health care professional.
“I can’t stress enough the importance of intuition. If something doesn’t feel right, go see a doctor.”
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeVisit TravelMeds2GO online at travelmeds2go.com.
Follow TravelMeds2Go on Facebook and Instagram.
Connect with Dr. Tammy Allen on LinkedIn.
Subscribe to The Group Travel Minute newsletter here.
Key Moments From This Episode1:17 — Travel News: Cruise Lines Avoiding the Middle East
2:49 — Road Tip: Group Travel Goodie Bags
8:24 — Group travel insights in your inbox
12:39 — How Tammy Allen found her way in travel and medicine
16:11 — The most common travel-related health issues
24:04 — Do people really catch colds on airplanes?
25:32 — Best practices for staying healthy on the road
27:58 — Medical considerations for group travel
34:39 — How long can you hold onto medications?
37:02 — Treating travel illnesses before they start
51:57 — Hot Minute: Protecting cost-conscious travelers
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
Can travel transcend transactions to become transformational?
Sahara Rose De Vore believes it can. A veteran traveler and the founder of the Travel Coach Network, she has built a career helping people craft trips that meet their inner needs for meaning, healing and well-being. She joins this episode of the podcast to share how intentional travel planning can open the door to transformative experiences.
Sahara explains how travel coaches differ from travel agents, how coaching can make trips more meaningful and how group leaders can build transformational experiences into their tours. Plus, we have news about faith-based tours in Italy; a Road Tip about navigating without cell service; and a Hot Minute about mixing politics and travel.
Insights from Sahara Rose De Vore*On the benefits of travel coaching*:
“Travel coaches help people set intentions for their trips and really understand why they want to get away so that they can make better planning and booking decisions. It’s really about those underlying motivations and using travel as a tool for things like transformation, reaching personal or work goals, or boosting our overall well-being.”
*On travel’s transformational potential*:
“Oftentimes, these transformations and changes we get in travel come as an afterthought…. It’s proof that travel really has the ability to make an impact and change us.
“I have heard of so many different ways that travel can transform us… We hear about escapism and wanting to get away. Travel can give us human connection, self reflection and the realization of just how much more is out there. The empathy we gain, the stories we hear from the people we encounter — all of these are transformational. So how do we help people tap into that transformation and actually use it to better their lives and relationships?”
*On the transformational potential of group travel*:
“That group is made up of individuals, and each individual is looking for something different. Just because they have an itinerary doesn’t mean they’re looking for the same outcome from that itinerary. So doing an assessment of your individual travelers is really important so you can really understand what each one is looking for.
“Getting to that emotional aspect of the trip is really important for the business owner to gain insight on how they can make the experience even richer for their group.”
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeFollow Sahara Rose De Vore on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.
Find the Travel Coach Network on Facebook and Instagram.
Visit the Travel Coach Network online at thetravelcoachnetwork.com.
Find the Travel Coach Network Podcast here.
Apply for our OnSite familiarization tour in Savannah here.
Key Moments From This Episode1:36 — Travel News: New faith-based trips from Perillo Tours
2:40 — Road Tip: Navigating without cell service
8:14 — Join us for a trip to Savannah this summer
13:14 — How Savannah Rose De Vore became a travel afficionado
18:38 — What is travel coaching, anyway?
22:40 — How travel can be transformational
32:29 — Transformation vs. transaction
35:13 — Transformational opportunities in domestic travel
37:01 — Creating transformational opportunities in group travel
50:26 — Hot Minute: Mixing politics and travel
Thanks to our sponsor Visit Atlantic City for making this episode possible. Learn more about Atlantic City’s travel experiences for groups at visitatlanticcity.com.
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
Is making an impact in the communities you visit the secret to great group trips?
Fred Carlson thinks so. The founder of SerVacations, he helps multigenerational groups make the most of travel experiences by serving alongside local nonprofits in the communities they visit. He joins this episode of the podcast to explain how volunteer experiences enrich trips, travelers and destinations.
Fred shares how he plans the mix of service and tourism activities on his trips and how he creates volunteer vacations with multigenerational appeal. Plus, we have news about a new day trip fee in Venice; a Road Tip about packing for cold-weather travel; and a Hot Minute about the problem of overtourism.
Insights from Fred Carlson*On the ideal mix of activities*:
“Picture serving in the morning for a two or two-and-a-half hour block. We’re finding that’s kind of the sweet spot…. Then we’re off to do more sightseeing in the afternoon.”
*On doing impact tourism well*:
“Really get to know the charities in your destination. Start vetting them and understanding their unique needs and challenges in the communities. Make sure you explain to them that you want to share their mission.
“We’re trying to create ‘wow’ moments, but authentic wow moments where people are really touched by the people they’re able to serve, and they go away knowing that they made a positive impact and that it’s sustainable. It’s important that you’re doing something that can continue after you leave.”
*On the value of serving*:
“Our service is where we get some of the big ‘wow’ moments that you might expect from a really expensive attraction… It might be taking away some of the profit potential when you could be at something that has more of a perceived value. But really, that intangible value they’re getting from service is immeasurable.”
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeLearn more about SerVacations at servacations.com.
Follow SerVacations on Instagram.
Contact Fred Carlson at 813-498-2229 or fred.carlson@servacations.com.
Receive text updates about new SerVacations trips texting SERV to 813-437-9079.
Learn about SerVacation opportunities such as a Historic Tour of England and A Capital Christmas or explore other tour ideas here.
Get your copy of “Travel Free and Bring Your Friends” here.
Key Moments From This Episode1:29 — Travel News: A new fee for day trippers in Venice
2:49 — Road Tip: Preparing for winter travel
12:47 — How Fred Carlson found a mission in service-focused travel
18:47 — The growing market for volunteering vacations
20:56 — The ideal mix of community service and fun
22:42 — Best practices for building service experiences
31:26 — Making volunteer trips multigenerational
33:42 — The value proposition of volunteer vacations
35:25 — The future of service-based travel
46:11 — Hot Minute: How big a problem is overtourism?
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
Crafting great content is essential for selling travel today. But if you’re not a marketing genius, how do you figure out the first step?
Ursula Petula Barzey knows exactly where you should start. A tourism marketer who has worked with dozens of organizations in the travel space, she has developed a roadmap for content creation that consistently gets results. She joins this episode of the podcast to share what a winning content strategy looks like and give you easy advice on how to get started or level up your content game.
Ursula explains how you can deliver content that helps customers on every part of the buying journey, as well as some rules of thumb to help you allocate marketing time and resources. Plus, we have news about the world’s largest cruise ship, a Road Tip about managing your itinerary on the go; and a Hot Minute about mistakes your probably making at group meals.
Insights from Ursula Petula BarzeyOn creating a content plan:
“That’s something you really have to spend time and do. Because life gets busy, the busy season comes, but you still need to be pushing out content almost every single day…. If you don’t plan ahead of time, you’re going to be left frazzled.
“Once you get organized, you start to get momentum, and it’s easier to keep up with it.”
On the ideal content mix:
“You should ideally be following the 80%-20% rule. So 80% of the content you’re pushing out is the soft sell. And 20% is where you go hard on your tours and offers…. Because too much hard selling turns people off. Keep in mind that most often, when people see your content, you’re interrupting their day. So you want it to be pleasant.
“It’s a privilege to be in their feed. If you want to maintain being in their feed, you need to do the soft sell more often.”
On social media effectiveness:
“While it’s tempting to be on all social media platforms, you don’t need to be. Based on your resources, pick one or two and get started. And then as you scale those and see success, you can move on to some of the other platforms. It’s ok to only have 1,000 followers…. It all goes back to being consistent and posting content that appeals to that audience, because they will help you go viral.”
On how much time you should invest in content:
“If you are a one-person operation, at least a day of the week should be dedicated to marketing the business. If you’re spending three or four days out there doing tours, you need to make sure that once those tours are done, you have a follow-up strategy to get feedback, reviews and testimonials.“
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeLearn more about Ursula Petula Barzey’s company Moxee Marketing at on moxeemarketing.com.
Read about Ursula’s adventures in the Caribbean at caribbeanandco.com.
Key Moments From This Episode1:02 — Travel News: The world’s largest cruise ship is about to set sail.
2:18 — Road Tip: Calling ahead to confirm group reservations
14:08 — How Usula Petula Barzey escaped corporate hell to find heaven in tourism
19:40 — Why is content strategy so difficult for tourism businesses?
21:06 — Creating an effective content roadmap
25:12 — What should your company emails say?
32:05 — Solving the mystery of social media
34:58 — How much time should you be spending on content?
38:43 — Tech tools for improving your content game
49:51 — Hot Minute: Is it time to rethink your group meals on the road?
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
Can you succeed in travel sales without having a big, outgoing personality?
Nicole Boyer believes you can, because she has done it. A veteran group travel sales representative from Pennsylvania, she now trains tourism professionals on how to become more personable and successful travel sellers while still being true to themselves. She joins this episode of the podcast to share how even introverts can become “sales ninjas” through authenticity and preparation.
Nicole explains how relationships are the key to tourism sales success and shares some tips for new travel professionals to build those relationships, even if they don’t know anyone else in the industry. Plus, we have news about an airline experimenting with transferable tickets and a Road Tip about the best way to pack your shoes; and a Hot Minute about why all travel tickets should be transferable.
Insights from Nicole BoyerOn selling as an introvert:
“It’s a lot about just motivating myself, encouraging myself and telling myself I can do it. It’s also a lot about preparation. Extroverts can be comfortable with just winging it. But for me and other introverts, I feel more comfortable with preparation. Sometimes it’s a little more work on the front end, but it’s not a bad thing in the long term.”
On becoming a sales ninja:
“A ninja is someone who trains really hard so they can get their jobs done efficiently without too much attention…. You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room or the center of attention to be successful in sales. You really have to know your stuff and be intentional about your actions. It’s all about that preparation in advance so that in the moment you can be calm and confident.”
On the importance of authenticity in sales:
“Don’t do things that are formulaic and robotic in your process. It’s about adding those personal touches and continually focusing on that relationship. Tourism is quite literally the business of fun, so we need to communicate that we’re in the business of fun. So you have to show your personality and be yourself.”
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeFollow Nicole Boyer on LinkedIn.
Learn more about the Ginger Sales Ninja at gingersalesninja.com.
Find the Eagle Creek Shoe Sack at eaglecreek.com.
Key Moments From This Episode1:21 — Travel News: Transferable airline tickets
2:31 — Road Tip: The best way to pack your shoes
10:56 — How Nicole Boyer became a travel seller
13:54 — Can introverts succeed in tourism sales?
17:41 — Breaking the ice at tourism events
19:31 — The power of preparation in sales
24:27 — Becoming a sales ninja
30:46 — Why the elevator pitch stinks… and how to replace it
32:36 — Ninja tips for selling tours
44:28 — Should all travel products be transferable?
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
Tourism entrepreneur and coach Mitch Bach joins the podcast to share how tour operators can build their ideal futures and have fun doing it.
Marketing expert Andrew Davis joins the podcast to tell us how tourism pros should — and shouldn't — use artificial intelligence.
Public speaking expert and travel enthusiast Eva Daniel joins the podcast to share secrets to delivering fun, effective travel presentations.
Sam Lacy of the Bourbon Capital Alliance joins the podcast to discuss how bourbon tourism is transforming his hometown.
Kelsey Tonner of Guest Focus joins the podcast to tell us how tour companies can increase sales by focusing on their ideal guests.
Kelly Sahner of Trip Mate joins the podcast to unravel the complicated world of travel insurance and show you how to make the most of it.
Lee Thompson of Flashpack joins the podcast to tell us how his tour company is using travel to build one million friendships.
Jessica Flores of Tourism Cares joins the podcast to tell us how meaningful travel experiences are unlocking a better future for the world.
Luke Busskohl of Arrow Stage Lines joins the podcast to tell us how to book a motorcoach and why they're so expensive.
Todd Powell of Vacations By Rail joins this episode of the podcast to discuss the wonders of train travel in the US and beyond.
Cruising is one of America’s favorite ways to travel. And with some smart preparation, it can be one of your group’s favorite ways to travel too.
Anne Davis, founder of Cruises and Tours Worldwide, is an expert in both land tours and group cruises. She joins this episode of the Gather and Go podcast to help group travel coordinators navigate the ins and outs of planning cruises for their groups.
Anne shares insight on how to pick the perfect cruise destination, how much cruising really costs and how group cruise experts differ from regular travel agents. Plus, we have news on softening travel demand; a Road Tip on preparing for your first cruise; and a Hot Minute on how politics is threatening to corrupt travel.
Insights from Anne DavisOn choosing the best travel professionals to handle group cruise bookings:
“There’s a big difference between a travel agent and a tour operator. If you’re working with a tour operator that only deals with groups, they’re going to have a lot more insight into how to make the experience the best it can be.”
On the growing flexibility of cruise vacations:
“The whole feeling on ships now is much more relaxed. There are more shows to choose from, more restaurants to choose from. Everybody can do their thing. I think that’s what society wants….
“No longer can you expect that everyone is going to show up every night. People have the choice.”
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeLearn more about Cruises and Tours Worldwide at ctw-us.com.
Contact Anne Davis at 800-435-2710 or anne@ctw-us.com.
Top Episodes From Our First YearUnderstanding Faith-Based Travel with Eddie Lutz
Faith-based travel veteran and pastor Eddie Lutz joins the podcast to help us understand this thriving segment of the tourism industry.
Teaching Tour Directors with Ted Bravos
Ted Bravos of the International Tour Management Institute joins the Gather and Go Podcast to tell us what makes a great tour director.
The Wide World of Sports Travel with Jay Smith
Jay Smith shares how he found his place at the intersection of sports and tourism on this episode of the Gather and Go podcast.
Troubleshooting Travel Problems with Christopher Elliott
Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott joins the podcast to talk about how to protect yourself and your customers from common travel problems.
Smarter Tech for Better Trips with Ted Clements
WeTravel CEO Ted Clements joins the podcast to talk about how travel planners can use tech tools to reduce work and deliver better experiences.
Key Moments From This Episode1:34 — Travel News: Signs of softening travel demand
2:57 — Road Tip: Preparing for your first cruise
6:40 — Most popular episodes from our first year
11:33 — How Anne Davis became a travel expert
16:01 — Cruising basics for tour planners
27:08 — How cruising has become more flexible
35:50 — Are cruises more expensive than land tours?
39:06 — Combining cruises with land tours
47:35 — Hot Minute: Politics and the weaponization of travel
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination marketers, museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes a featured conversation with a smart and influential travel leader. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
What do your favorite jeans have to do with the future of travel?
Travel has been through more than its share of ups and downs over the past three years. And as travel planners and promoters look to the future, forecasting trends isn’t easy. In this episode, Gather and Go host Brian Jewell shares how the history of blue jeans sheds can help us understand cultural trends that will impact the tourism industry in the coming years.
His presentation, Travolution: Cultural Trends That Are Reshaping Tourism, was delivered April 19, 2023 at STS Domestic Showcase in Huntsville, Alabama. We’re sharing the entire talk in this episode. Don’t forget to scroll down for links to many of the resources and past episodes he mentions.
Download The Presentation SlidesBrian’s talk included lots of helpful data. Here’s a copy of the presentation slides with links to underlying research sources.
Click here to download presentation as a PDFPodcast Episodes Mentioned in This TalkHow Travel Can Change the World with Bruce Poon Tip
G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip joins the podcast to share his vision for how mindful travel can make the world a better place.
The Changing Face of Group Travel with Contiki’s Ian Kynor
On this episode of the Gather and Go podcast, Ian Kynor of Contiki explains why young adults are embracing group travel.
Equalizing Opportunities in Tourism with Stephanie Jones
Diversity advocate Stephanie Jones joins the podcast to talk about creating pathways to success in tourism for underrepresented groups.
Key Moments From This Episode3:35 — How tourism is like your pants
9:54 — Finding travel trends in the midst of trauma
14:07 — Affordability: How rising prices are changing the travel landscape
15:23 — The upward trajectory of hotel pricing
23:13 — Community: How America’s friendship crisis impacts tourism
28:28 — The value of travel for building relationships
31:22 — Diversity: How travelers want to see themselves reflected on trips
38:17 — How much do travelers value diversity?
40:28 — How travel can change culture for the better
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators and travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they work with, as well as destination marketers, museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes a featured conversation with a smart and influential travel leader. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
You don’t have to be a professional photographer to take capture stunning images when you travel.
Just like you, Stephanie Miller was a travel lover long before she became a travel photographer. She joins this episode of the podcast to share simple tips you can use to capture better images on your trips. She also gives us lots of recommendations on photography gear, editing tools and other resources you can use to capture dynamic travel photos that will help you sell more trips.
Plus, we have news about rising tour costs; a Road Tip about packing the perfect phone charging cable; and a Hot Minute about why Brian is flip-flopping on his tour pricing advice.
As promised, we took notes on this episode so you don’t have to. Read below for tons of highlights and helpful info from this episode.
Stephanie Miller’s Top Travel Photography TipsOn cell phone photography: “Clean your lens. When you are taking picture with your cell phones, get in the habit of wiping it on your shirt and cleaning your lens of. It’s going to make your photos a lot sharper and more striking.”
On group photos: “It’s really about the environment, the landscape, a piece of architecture or art you’re looking at. That should be the focus. Then you want yourself or others in the photo to engage the person looking at the photo so they can envision themselves in that place as well.”
On photo lighting: “Make sure you’re aware of where your light source is and try to shoot with the light on your subject instead of behind your subject.”
On must-have accessories: “Always have a filter on your lens, even if it’s just a clear UV filter, just to protect your lens.”
On becoming a better travel photographer: “Sign up for an online photography course. They’re really not that expensive. It will teach you the basics of how to use your camera, and composition and editing tricks. That way you’re prepared for your trip.”
On capturing great photos on the go: “First and foremost, take a ton of photos. Don’t just take one and run around. Take a ton so you have a ton to choose from.”
On taking photos that will sell future trips: “You want your audience to see themselves in the photo. So get creative… You want to take a variety of photos. Take engaging photos of your food. Get it from the side, and try to see the ambiance of not just the food itself, but also the restaurant.”
Stephanie’s Camera Gear and App RecommendationsBeginner DSLR Camera: Cannon 80-D
All-purpose photo editing software: Lightroom
Mobile photography apps:
- Touch Retouch
- Snapseed (iOS, Android)
- Lens Distortions
- The Photographer’s Ephemeris
Other Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeTo learn more about Stephanie Miller, visit thescenicsuitcase.com.
Learn more about Going On Faith magazine and start your subscription at goingonfaith.com.
See more results from the recent NTA survey at here.
Key Moments From This Episode1:41 — Travel News: The rising cost of tours
2:57 — Road Tip: The perfect charging cable
10:04 — A resources for church travel planners
15:25 — How Stephanie Miller became a travel photographer
17:19 — The most common travel photography mistakes
22:31 — What kind of camera do you really need for travel?
31:51 — Getting great photos during group tours
38:03 — Photo tips for marketing trips
46:34 — Hot Minute: Why Brian has changed his mind about tour pricing
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators and travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they work with, as well as destination marketers, museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes a featured conversation with a smart and influential travel leader. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
Marketing your travel business online doesn’t have to be so hard. Chris Cheetham-West knows exactly where to start.
Cheetham-West is a former small-business trainer at Google and is the author of “Digital Marketing for Results: How to Focus on What Matters.” He shares some simple, straightforward and easy-to-execute strategies for online travel marketing in this episode of the Gather and Go podcast.
Plus, we have news about TSA rules; a Road Tip about streamlining your experience at airport security checkpoints; and a Hot Minute tourism promotion videos.
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeTo learn more about Chris Cheetham-West, visit chrisnwest.com.
Follow Chris on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram.
Learn more about our OnSite familiarization trips and join the contact list at grouptravelleader.com/fams.
Key Moments From This Episode0:55 — Travel News: Is peanut butter a liquid?
2:02 — Road Tip: Sailing through airport checkpoints
7:04 — Familiarization trip opportunities
10:17 — How Chris Cheetham-West learned Google’s secrets
13:08 — Should you handle online travel marketing in-house?
16:05 — Simple tips for improving search engine ranking
21:01 — Building credibility through partners
24:36 — A straightforward social media strategy for travel
27:59 — How to promote travel with video
30:36 — Affordable ideas for paid promotion
43:40 — Hot Minute: Are people paying attention to your travel videos?
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators and travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they work with, as well as destination marketers, museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes a featured conversation with a smart and influential travel leader. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
Diana Hechler has experienced some amazing things in her travels, and she knows how to help you do the same.
Hechler, founder of D Tours Travel, joins the Gather and Go podcast to talk about her book “Strolling With Your Elephant: Perfect Moments in Travel.” She shares some of her most memorable moments from her travels around the world and tells us how every travel planner can go about unearthing extraordinary experiences for their groups.
Plus, we have news about hotel resort fees; a Road Tip about how to eliminate annoying flashing lights in your hotel room; and a Hot Minute about the role of junk fees in tourism.
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeTo learn more about Diana Hechler and D Tours Travel, visit dtourstravel.com.
Follow Diana on Facebook or Instagram.
Get our U.S. Buyer’s Guide for the Group Travel Industry at grouptravelleader.com/buyers.
Key Moments From This Episode0:56 — Travel News: Legislation to ban junk fees
2:03 — Road Tip: No more light pollution
5:17 — Solutions for your biggest travel challenges
7:48 — How Diana Hechler discovered her travel calling
10:47 — Stumbling onto extraordinary experiences
15:15 — Asking your travel providers the right questions
20:58 — Memorable travel experiences
25:28 — Rediscovering American destinations
27:39 — Managing travel groups at crowded sporting events
30:12 — Great experience options for groups
40:21 — Hot Minute: Do junk fees have a place in tourism?
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. Tour operators and travel agents listen to each episode, as do affinity group travel planners, destination marketers, museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism professionals and enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes a featured conversation with a smart and influential travel leader. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
Jay Smith found his calling at the intersection of sports and travel.
Smith, founder of Sports Travel and Tours, joins the Gather and Go podcast to talk about how he creates incredible value for his customers by taking them to sports events. He also shares how he found his place in tourism, how to stand out in a crowded market and how he gauges customer interest in new travel products.
Plus, we have news about the cruise industry’s record-breaking sales season; a Road Tip about how to remember your hotel room number; and a Hot Minute looking back on the third anniversary of the COVID shutdown.
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeTo learn more about Sports Travel and Tours, call 800-662-4424 or visit sportstravelandtours.com.
Find our U.S. Civil Rights Trail Travel Guide at grouptravelleader.com/civilrights.
Key Moments From This Episode0:51 — Travel News: A recording-breaking sales season for cruise lines
2:02 — Road Tip: Never forget your room number again
5:50 — Discover America’s civil rights history
9:22 — How Jay Smith found his place in tourism
13:27 — The benefits of packaging sports events
17:34 — Standing out in a crowded travel market
20:47 — Combining sports with tourism activities
22:51 — The beautiful diversity of the sports travel community
27:39 — Managing travel groups at crowded sporting events
30:15 — Solving the affordability problem in sports travel
44:40 — Hot Minute: Looking back on three years of COVID
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. Tour operators and travel agents listen to each episode, as do affinity group travel planners, destination marketers, museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism professionals and enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes a featured conversation with a smart and influential travel leader. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
Bola Idibapo believes travel opportunities can change the lives of underprivileged students.
Idibapo, executive director of the TooFly Foundation, joins the Gather and Go podcast to talk about the work her organization is doing to give the gift of travel to students who would otherwise not get the opportunity. She also shares how travel changed her life and how student travel experiences can create a more diverse and dynamic tourism workforce in the future.
Plus, we have news about cruise developments in Monterey, California; a Road Tip about saving your most essential travel documents; and a Hot Minute about the creeping elitism in restrictive travel regulations.
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeTo learn more about the TooFly Foundation, visit tooflyfoundation.org or email info@tooflyfoundation.org.
Follow TooFly on Facebook or Instagram.
Access The Group Travel Leader’s library of free group games at grouptravelleader.com/group-games.
Key Moments From This Episode0:51 — Travel News: Monterey says no to cruise ships
2:00 — Important documents in the cloud
5:10 — A free source for group games
8:15 — Get to know TooFly Foundation
14:08 — Creating travel opportunities for underprivileged students
19:17 — Opening the world to young travelers
22:08 — Overcoming injustice through travel
25:48 — Investing in the next generation of tourism leaders
31:03 — Where TooFly Foundation is headed
41:30 — Hot Minute: The elitism of anti-cruise regulations
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. Tour operators and travel agents listen to each episode, as do affinity group travel planners, destination marketers, museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism professionals and enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes a featured conversation with a smart and influential travel leader. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
Could using the right technology tools help you deliver better travel experiences?
Ted Clements thinks so. The CEO of WeTravel joins this episode of the podcast to share how travel planners can leverage tech platforms to reduce busywork and focus more on crafting great trips. He also gives us some tips on how digital tools can create personalized experiences for tour customers and how new payment technologies are opening new doors for travelers.
Plus, we have news about an inspiring education initiative; a Road Tip about preparing your travelers with essential travel goodies; and a Hot Minute about the role of college in the tourism industry.
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeTo learn more about WeTravel, visit wetravel.com.
Find Ted Clements on LinkedIn.
To try automating workflows with Zapier, visit zapier.com.
To hire freelancers on Fiverr, visit fiverr.com.
To read and subscribe to Going On Faith magazine, visit goingonfaith.com. For advertising information, contact Bryce Wilson at 859-253-0455 or bryce@grouptravelleader.com.
Key Moments From This Episode0:48 — Travel News: Herschend parks paying employee tuition
1:57 — Road Tip: Having essentials on hand
4:57 — A resource for faith-based travel planners
7:00 — How a travel need birthed a tech company
10:21 — Using digital tools in an experiential business
16:35 — Personalizing tours with technology
23:50 — First steps for travel tech newbies
26:43 — Using automation to build better travel businesses
32:20 — How technology can help ease the labor shortage
35:47 — Where travel tech is headed
45:01 — Hot Minute: Do tourism pros need to go to college?
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a podcast that group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. Our audience includes tour operators, travel agents, affinity group travel planners, destination marketers, museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism professionals and enthusiasts around the world. Each episode includes a featured conversation with a smart and influential travel leader, as well as travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice a month.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the podcast? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
Andrae Marable is doing the impossible.
A young tourism entrepreneur, Marable is the founder of The Pack Roadtrip Travel Club, which specializes in group tours for people in their 30s and 40s. On this episode of the podcast, he shares his secrets for building travel experiences that appeal to Generation X and Millennials. He also gives us some tips on creative and affordable marketing techniques, plus things he wishes vendors understood about the tour business.
Plus, we have news about the travel industry’s ongoing recovery; a Road Tip about keeping your groups hydrated; and a Hot Minute about the biggest mistake travel planners make in scheduling their tours.
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeTo learn more about The Pack Roadtrip Travel Club, visit thepacktravelclub.com.
Find The Pack on Facebook at @thepacktravelclub or on Instagram at @thepacktravelclub.
To read and subscribe to Select Traveler magazine, visit selecttraveler.com. For advertising information, contact Kyle Anderson at 859-253-0455 or kyle@grouptravelleader.com.
Key Moments From This Episode1:05 — Travel News: A hotel recovery forecast
3:04 — Road Tip: Hydrating your group
6:02 — A resource for high-end affinity travel groups
8:40 — How Andrae found his travel calling
12:17 — Learning how to charter a motorcoach
14:26 — Reaching Gen X and Millennials
16:16 — Communicating value in expensive times
20:49 — Smart tour marketing ideas
25:12 — Maximizing marketing impact on social media
29:33 — Building trips younger travelers love
43:44 — Hot Minute: Do your travel days start too early?
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a podcast that group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. Listeners includes tour operators, travel agents, affinity group travel planners, destination marketers, museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism professionals around the country. Each episode includes a featured conversation with a smart and influential travel leader, as well as travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice a month.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the podcast? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
Reports of the travel advisor’s death are greatly exaggerated.
Though many people don’t realize it, travel advisors (also known as travel agents) are still incredibly active. On this episode of the podcast, travel journalists and podcast hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada tell us about the ways that travel advisors can make group travel better. They also share their insights about what millennials are looking for in travel experiences and how travel companies can better reach them.
Plus, we have big news about developments in airplane WiFi; a road trip about buying luggage; and a hot minute about an annoying problem in motorcoach operations.
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeTo find a directory of qualified travel advisors, visit travelsense.org.
To listen to the Trade Secrets podcast, visit travelagewest.com/podcasts or travelweekly.com/podcasts.
To reach Emma Weissman, email eweissmann@travelagewest.com or follow her on Instagram at @emma_enroute.
To reach Jamie Biesiada, email jbiesiada@travelweekly.com or follow her on Instagram at @thusjamiesaw.
Key Moments From This Episode1:10 — Travel News: Delt’a free WiFi announcement
2:51 — Road Tip: Buying the right luggage
7:26 — Meet us at these tourism conferences
9:28 — Getting to know Emma and Jamie
12:57 — Are travel agents still a thing?
20:41 — The role of travel advisors in group tours
24:33 — Does working with a travel advisor cost more?
28:57 — How travel is changing with millennials
35:25 — The role of social media in today’s travel landscape
46:41 — Hot Minute: What’s wrong with motorcoach WiFi?
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a podcast that helps listeners, plan, promote and lead better trips. Listeners includes tour operators, travel agents, affinity group travel planners, destination marketers, museum leaders and other tourism professionals around the country. Each episode includes a featured conversation with a thought leader from around the tourism industry, as well as travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice a month.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the podcast? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
Tonya Matthews doesn’t shy away from big conversations. A poet, engineer and education specialist, Matthews is the president and CEO of the International African American Museum, scheduled to open in Charleston, South Carolina, in January. She joins this episode of the podcast to talk about how travel and museum leaders can invite people of various backgrounds into moving experiences and enriching conversations that build bridges instead of walls.
Plus, we have have news about RealID implementation; a Road Tip about staying in shape when you travel; and a Hot Minute about pointless government security regulations.
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeTo learn more about the International African American Museum, visit iaamusum.org.
To follow Tonya Matthews on Twitter, find her at @DocT_IDEAs.
To register for our OnSite familiarization tour in Savannah, visit grouptravelleader.com/savannah-fam.
Key Moments From This Episode1:03 — Travel News: RealID Delayed Again
3:05 — Road Tip: Staying in Shape on the Road
5:35 — Join us for a FAM in Savannah
7:12 — Getting to know Tanya Matthews
13:46 — Why a new African American museum in Charleston?
20:39 — The role of museums in lifelong learning
24:15 — Making challenging topics approachable
28:37 — Welcoming a diverse audience
33:05 —Making museums more effective
48:16 — Hot Minute: Is RealID a disaster?
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a podcast that helps listeners, plan, promote and lead better trips. Listeners includes tour operators, travel agents, affinity group travel planners, destination marketers, museum leaders and other tourism professionals around the country. Each episode includes a featured conversation with a bright mind from around the tourism industry, as well as travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
No matter how big or complex your travel problem is, Christopher Elliott knows how to solve it. A consumer advocate and travel journalist, Christopher has been helping people troubleshoot their travel problems for decades. He joins this episode of the podcast to talk about common travel problems people face and how to solve them. He also shares his perspective on when to issue refunds, the importance of travel insurance, how to advocate for yourself during travel and more.
Plus, we have have news about a brand new European river cruise line; a Road Tip about keeping your money safe when you travel; and a Hot Minute about gala events at travel trade shows.
Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeTo learn more about Christopher Elliott’s advocacy work, visit elliott.org.
To sign up for Christopher Elliott’s newsletter, visit elliottconfidential.com.
To learn more about Riverside Cruises’ plans for 2023, visit riverside-cruises.com.
To get announcements about our 2023 OnSite FAM opportunities, visit grouptravelleader.com/subscribe.
Key Moments From This Episode0:52 — New European river cruise line
2:34 — Road Tip: Keeping money safe when you travel
9:04 — How Christopher Elliott became a consumer advocate
12:30 — Why airline customer service can be so bad
17:35 — America’s most common travel complaints
21:46 — When should you issue a refund?
24:49 — The importance of travel insurance
27:06 — America’s most common travel mistakes
32:32 —Advocating for yourself on the road
42:40 — Hot Minute: Is it time for the tradeshow gala to die?
About the PodcastGather and Go with Brian Jewell is a podcast that helps listeners, plan, promote and lead better trips. Its audience includes tour operators, travel agents, affinity group travel planners, destination marketers and other tourism professionals around the country. Each episode includes a featured conversation with a thought leader from around the tourism industry, as well as travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.
Thanks for listening!
G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip joins the podcast to share his vision for how mindful travel can make the world a better place.
The post How Travel Can Change the World with Bruce Poon Tip appeared first on The Group Travel Leader | Group Tour and Travel Destinations, Attractions & More.
On this bonus podcast episode, we'll explore Lincoln with local expert Kelsey Meyer and discover the best of Nebraska's capital city.
The post BONUS: Exploring Lincoln with Kelsey Meyer appeared first on The Group Travel Leader | Group Tour and Travel Destinations, Attractions & More.
Diversity advocate Stephanie Jones joins the podcast to talk about creating pathways to success in tourism for underrepresented groups.
The post Equalizing Opportunities in Tourism with Stephanie Jones appeared first on The Group Travel Leader | Group Tour and Travel Destinations, Attractions & More.
Amir Eylon joins the podcast to share how using data can answer your travel organization's most perplexing questions.
The post Using Data to Solve Travel Problems with Amir Eylon appeared first on The Group Travel Leader | Group Tour and Travel Destinations, Attractions & More.
Ted Bravos of the International Tour Management Institute joins the Gather and Go Podcast to tell us what makes a great tour director.
The post Teaching Tour Directors with Ted Bravos appeared first on The Group Travel Leader | Group Tour and Travel Destinations, Attractions & More.
Ask the Pilot blogger Patrick Smith joins the Gather and Go Podcast to explain why flying in 2022 is actually better than ever.
The post The New Golden Age of Air Travel with Patrick Smith appeared first on The Group Travel Leader | Group Tour and Travel Destinations, Attractions & More.
On this episode of the podcast, culinary travel expert Erik Wolf shares how to find the best, most authentic food experiences anywhere in the world.
The post Unlocking the World Through Food with Erik Wolf appeared first on The Group Travel Leader | Group Tour and Travel Destinations, Attractions & More.
Faith-based travel veteran and pastor Eddie Lutz joins the podcast to help us understand this thriving segment of the tourism industry.
The post Understanding Faith-Based Travel with Eddie Lutz appeared first on The Group Travel Leader | Group Tour and Travel Destinations, Attractions & More.
Group travel pioneer Joe Veneto joins the podcast to tell us how to create deep, authentic experiences travelers love.
The post Creating Authentic Travel Experiences with Joe Veneto appeared first on The Group Travel Leader | Group Tour and Travel Destinations, Attractions & More.
Savannah expert Anjuli King guides us on a deep dive into the city's food, history and group attractions on this bonus episode of the podcast.
The post BONUS: Exploring Savannah with Anjuli King appeared first on The Group Travel Leader | Group Tour and Travel Destinations, Attractions & More.
Jaclyn Leible-Cote shares the secrets to Collette's success and tells us how her company uses customer feedback to pioneer new tourism experiences.
The post Pioneering Travel Trends with Jaclyn Leibl-Cote of Collette appeared first on The Group Travel Leader | Group Tour and Travel Destinations, Attractions & More.
Cheryl Hargrove joins this episode of Gather and Go to talk about how authentic cultural experiences elevate trips from good to great.
The post Exploring Culture Through Travel with Cheryl Hargrove appeared first on The Group Travel Leader | Group Tour and Travel Destinations, Attractions & More.
On this episode of the Gather and Go podcast, Scott Brodsky of Country Heritage Tours tells the story of how his family turned a love of quilting into a thriving tour company.
The post Building a Niche Travel Brand with Scott Brodsky of Country Heritage Tours appeared first on The Group Travel Leader | Group Tour and Travel Destinations, Attractions & More.
On this episode of the Gather and Go podcast, Hannah Smith from STR joins us to explain the wild world of hotel pricing in 2022.
The post Makings Sense of Room Rates with Hannah Smith of STR appeared first on The Group Travel Leader | Group Tour and Travel Destinations, Attractions & More.
On this episode of the Gather and Go podcast, Ian Kynor of Contiki explains why young adults are embracing group travel.
The post The Changing Face of Group Travel with Contiki’s Ian Kynor appeared first on The Group Travel Leader | Group Tour and Travel Destinations, Attractions & More.
On the premiere episode of the Gather and Go podcast, Terry Dale from USTOA shares lessons he has learned from difficult moments in his travel career.
The post Traveling Through Challenging Times with Terry Dale appeared first on The Group Travel Leader | Group Tour and Travel Destinations, Attractions & More.
Gather & Go is the new podcast from The Group Travel Leader that will help you plan, sell and lead better trips. Premiers May 18,2022.
The post Gather and Go Podcast Trailer appeared first on The Group Travel Leader | Group Tour and Travel Destinations, Attractions & More.