The Folo by Travel Weekly: Recent Episodes
Travel Weekly
Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they’ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.
Our theme parks reporter Jamie Biesiada was at Walt Disney World twice in May, and host Rebecca Tobin cruised on Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wish -- making it the perfect time to dig in on theme park changes, additions, Cool Kid Summer and our own personal recent experiences, from rides to resort restaurants. Plus an update on Universal.
Summer Series
This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published June 8 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com
Related reports
Disney aims to simplify trip planning with tech updates https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-simplifying-the-guest-experience-for-planning-trips
Dispatch, Disney World: Park offerings for preschoolers https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Disney-World-park-offerings-for-preschoolers
Behind the magic: Maintaining Disney World's iconic landscapes https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/The-team-behind-Disney-World-maintenance-and-makeovers Something for all ages on the Disney Wish (September 2022) https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Something-for-kids-of-all-ages-on-the-Disney-Wish
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For a long time travel sites have tried to mimic how travel advisors qualify clients: How to present travel options and ideas to people who don’t know when or where they want to go -- often with varying results. But now some sites are now able to facilitate a conversation about travel inspiration thanks to generative AI.
In this episode, Saad Saeed, the CEO of Layla, a generative AI travel search interface, talks with editor at large Robert Silk and host Rebecca Tobin about how Layla works and what Saeed's team has uncovered about consumer habits -- and how people research travel differently when using AI instead of talking to a human.
Summer Series
This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published April 27 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com
Related links
AI tools are changing how travelers research vacation options
https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/AI-tools-changing-how-travelers-research-vacation-options
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
With Europe summer travel in full swing, it’s a good time to talk about building a river cruise vacation. Whether you’re an advisor with river-bound clients, or if you’re a traveler yourself, the cruise is likely is just part of a multicomponent trip with pre- and post-cruise tours or city stays known as extensions.
The extensions business is getting more and more complex, with travelers adding on not just more extensive options from the river cruise lines but tours from third-party operators or a bespoke land trip. And while we’re at it, the in-cruise experience is getting more bespoke, too.
In this episode tours and river cruise editor Brinley Hineman and Angela Hughes, CEO of Trips & Ships Luxury Travel in Winter Garden, Fla., talk about the options and where river-bound travelers are headed, whether it’s better to add a pre- or post-trip tour and how to position a longer European vacation.
This episode was recorded June 26 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions https://www.expeditions.com
Related reports
River cruise lines add full land tours to create longer vacations https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/River-cruise-lines-add-full-land-tours
A real win-win for river cruising: Land-based extensions https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/benefits-for-selling-pre-and-post-river-cruise-land-tours
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In June, Carnival Cruise Line held an event in New Orleans called The Next Course, where it introduced new restaurants and menus on its upcoming ship, the Carnival Festivale, and showcased its partnership with superstar chef Emeril Lagasse, the line’s chief culinary officer. It also served as a chance to talk about the latest in foodie trends, and how those trends are showing up on Carnival’s ships.
In this episode we take that conversation even further with Carnival’s vice president of food and beverage Juan Fernandez and cruise editor Teri West. We talk about changes in dining hours, dining styles, drinks and more and how those changes dovetail or diverge with how consumers eat and drink on land. Plus: How Carnival developed its relationship with Lagasse and the new restaurants on the Festivale.
This conversation was recorded July 9 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions https://www.expeditions.com
Related links:
Carnival and Emeril Lagasse embrace the latest culinary trends https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-and-Emeril-embrace-the-latest-culinary-trends
Carnival introduces new culinary concepts for upcoming ships https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-and-Emeril-Lagasse-introduce-new-culinary-concepts
Reservations are open for the Carnival Festivale https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Reservations-open-for-Carnival-Festivale
How weight-loss meds are changing travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/weight-loss-meds-changing-travel
Focus on culinary travel: Savoring the experience https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Focus-on-culinary-travel-Savoring-the-experience
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We’re driving right into this one: The world of driverless cars, and how they’re already being integrated into rental car companies -- and how they might some day be integrated into rental car fleets. Host Rebecca Tobin, editor at large Robert Silk and Vik Krishnan, a senior partner at McKinsey & Co., debate: Is the era of self-driving, or autonomous, vehicles closer than we think?
In this episode: How rental car companies are servicing self-driving cars, why someone might rent an autonomous vehicle, the hurdles to adoption, timelines and more.
This episode was recorded June 29 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions https://www.expeditions.com
Related links
Driverless vehicles: Rental car companies get in the race https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Car-Rental-News/Driving-force
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Just outside of Pride month we’re bringing together two reports on the latest in LGBTQ+ travel. In this year's Focus on LGBTQ+Travel cover story, editors Jamie Biesiada and Emma Weissmann spoke to four travel advisors who identified four key trends in this market: expeditions, traveling with family, resilience and going beyond gay-friendly destinations.
And on the hospitality side, there's been a rise in hotels that are specifically catering to the LGBTQ+ segment.
For this episode, we welcome Tristan Schukraft, founder and CEO of Tryst Hotels, who speaks with hotels editor Christina Jelski about Tryst -- and then engages in a larger discussion with Jamie about the trends identified in the Focus story.
This episode was recorded July 1 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions https://www.expeditions.com
Related links:
Focus on LGBTQ+ Travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Focus-on-LGBTQ-travel-redefining-gay-destinations
Hoteliers are forging stronger bonds in LGBTQ+ communities and markets https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hoteliers-are-forging-stronger-bonds-LGBTQ-communities
Tryst Hotels https://trysthotels.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We recently published an episode about the exciting opportunities around travel in the U.S. – travel surrounding the 250th anniversary celebrations, traveling along route 66, Americana and more. We bring that episode back to you today, but as a bonus, we’re including a discussion with two of our reporters about more recent stories about U.S. travel trends.
In this segment, our tours editor Brinley Hineman has found new interest in historical U.S. tourism. And our editor at large Robert Silk has looked at ways that indigenous organizations and native tribes are approaching the 250th milestone and bringing their perspectives to visitors.
The new segment was recorded June 26, and then we’ll dive into the original episode, which was recorded April 29.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Brendan Vacations https://www.brendanvacations.com/traveladvisors
Related reports:
Tour companies keep America 250 celebrations going into 2027 https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Operators-keep-America-250-celebration-going-into-2027
Indigenous groups are telling their stories amid America 250 events https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Indigenous-groups-telling-their-story-amid-America-250
Special tours tap into Route 66 nostalgia https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Special-tours-Route-66-centennial
Travels with Darley: Travel information by state https://www.darley-newman.com/united-states
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This new crop of ultra luxury cruise lines is fascinating, not just because many of them are associated with well known hotel brands, but because they’re appealing to a newer, younger demographic; one that might not have cruised -- or thought about cruising. What’s the appeal for them?
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and cruise editor Teri West talk with Christina Schlegel, the owner of Bluetail Travel, and Paul Tumposky, the chief revenue officer of Fora Travel, a about the appeal of lines like Four Seasons Yachts, Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection and Explora Journeys and the new pathways they’re opening up in cruising.
This episode was recorded May 29 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Brendan Vacations https://www.brendanvacations.com/traveladvisors
Stay on at the end of the luxury-cruise discussion for a sponsored interview with Brendan Vacations' North America sales manager Kevin Loftus and Mary Pat Sullivan, the executive vice president of marketing and brand partnerships for Northstar Travel Group.
Related links:
New luxury lines are connecting with a new generation of cruisers https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/New-luxury-lines-connecting-new-generation-of-cruisers
Orient Express’ first ship evokes the glamour of a bygone era https://www.travelweekly.com/Luxury-Travel/Orient-Express-Corinthian-preview Aman at Sea opens for charter and group bookings https://www.travelweekly.com/Luxury-Travel/Amangati-opens-for-charter-event-sales
On the Record: Four Seasons Yachts’ CEO Ben Trodd https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Ben-Trodd-Four-Seasons-Yachts
Ritz-Carlton luxury with ‘less is more’ touches on its first ship https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Ritz-Carlton-luxury-with-less-is-more-touches-on-Evrima
Bluetail Travel: https://www.bluetailtravel.com
Fora Travel: https://www.foratravel.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
You might be surprised to hear it given some of the economic and geopolitical news this year, but the big news from the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Forum was a presentation from Jan Freitag, the national director of hospitality analytics at CoStar Group, and Adam Sacks, president of Tourism Economics, that significantly revised upward their 2026 U.S. hotel forecasts from earlier this year.
For this conversation we’re turning to Freitag and Travel Weekly hospitality editor Christina Jelski to review the new forecast and what’s driving the rosy outlook. We talk about the current shape of the economy, interest in domestic travel, the enduring stability of the upper-end and luxury segment. And as the FIFA World Cup kicks off, we take yet another look at demand around the match cities and how some industry watchers may have been missing the story.
This episode was recorded June 12 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Brendan Vacations https://www.brendanvacations/com/traveladvisors
Related links
Early numbers brighten the 2026 forecast for U.S. hotels https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Early-numbers-brighten-2026-forecast-US-hotels
Hotel data firms deliver good news at NYU event https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Industry-groups-unveil-revised-2026-US-hotel-forecast
Hotel group says World Cup demand is below expectations https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/World-Cup-demand-is-below-expectations
Folo episode on the World Cup with U.S. Travel's Erik Hanson https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/US-travel-and-FIFA-World-Cup
The USA is on full display https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/USA-on-full-display-250th-anniversary
CoStar Group https://www.costargroup.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Our theme parks reporter Jamie Biesiada was at Walt Disney World twice last month, and host Rebecca Tobin cruised on Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wish -- making it the perfect time to dig in on theme park changes, additions, Cool Kid Summer and our own personal recent experiences, from rides to resort restaurants, plus an update on Universal’s updates.
This podcast was recorded June 4 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Brendan Vacations https://www.brendanvacations.com/traveladvisors
Related reports:
Disney aims to simplify trip planning with tech updates https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-simplifying-the-guest-experience-for-planning-trips
Dispatch, Disney World: Park offerings for preschoolers https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Disney-World-park-offerings-for-preschoolers
Behind the magic: Maintaining Disney World's iconic landscapes https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/The-team-behind-Disney-World-maintenance-and-makeovers
Something for all ages on the Disney Wish (September 2022) https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Something-for-kids-of-all-ages-on-the-Disney-Wish
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Travel Weekly cruise editor Teri West has been reporting on various developments in the industry, and many of them seem to have one thing in common: They’re taking place in the Bahamas. The country has invested in cruise port development and is courting ultra-luxury lines; meanwhile, the private island experience continues to expand and lines like Royal Caribbean International are putting its biggest cruise ships on short-cruise itineraries to the Bahamas from South Florida.
This week West talks with Robert Sands, the director of cruise and maritime facilitation at the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, about creative growth, priorities and some pretty big increases in visitor numbers. If you’re selling Caribbean cruises or are a fan of cruising, you'll want to listen in.
This episode recorded May 29, 2026, and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Brandan Vacations https://www.brendanvacations.com/traveladvisors
Related links
In the Bahamas, some big cruise projects are in the works https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Bahamas-cruise-projects-in-the-works
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We’ve been keeping a close eye on travel demand to Mexico. Tourism was rocked earlier this year after cartel-related upheaval in the state of Jalisco, particularly in Puerto Vallarta and Guadalejara. The U.S. embassy in Mexico issued shelter-in-place alerts, which were briefly expanded across Mexico to places like Cancun, Tulum, Baja California and Oaxaca. Disturbances were soon quieted, but not before some travelers were spooked.
Three months later, host Rebecca Tobin talks with Jacki Marks, the global head of trade brands for Mexico powerhouse ALG Vacations, and Travel Weekly hotels editor Christina Jelski about tourism sentiment today. Is travel on the rebound, and where did travelers go instead of Mexico? Is economic uncertainty and fuel costs having an impact on destination decisions? And, if you want a unique or special Mexico resort, where might you consider going?
This episode was recorded Wednesday, May 20, and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Tourism Cares. Stay on at the end of the Mexico discussion for a sponsored interview with Tourism Cares’ CEO Greg Takehara and Mary Pat Sullivan, the executive vice president of marketing partnerships for Northstar Travel Group.
Related links
Sellers and hoteliers say that Mexico travel is on the rebound https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Mexico-travel-demand-on-the-mend?ct=mexico
ALG Vacations expects a short-term decline in Mexico (March 8) https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/ALG-Vacations-expects-short-term-tourism-decline-Mexico?ct=mexico
Newsletter sign-up page for our Mexico eNewsletter https://www.travelweekly.com/Newsletters
ALG Vacations https://alg.www.vaxvacationaccess.com/ (Part of Hyatt Hotels Corp https://www.hyatt.com/loyalty/en-US)
Christina Jelski's The Last Resort podcast: Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Last-Resort/season-2-episode-1-Impression-Isla-Mujeres-by-Secrets
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
One big question for North America travel is: how strong travel demand will be for the FIFA World Cup, which kicks off in just a few weeks. This year the matches are being played in cities throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and at the beginning of the year expectations among destination marketing organizations and hotels was very high -- and then it seemed to taper off a bit.
In this episode we’re talking with editor in chief Johanna Jainchill and Erik Hanson, the senior vice president and head of government relations at U.S.’ prime travel advocacy organization, the U.S. Travel Association, about some of the issues facing inbound U.S. travel. Among our subjects: The unique attributes of World Cup travel, the calls for travel boycotts, perception versus reality when it comes to U.S. travel and the importance of getting Brand USA back on its funding feet.
This episode was recorded May 11and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Tourism Cares https://www.tourismcares.org.
Related reports:
Cover story: The U.S. is playing on a global stage https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Playing-on-a-global-stage-World-Cup
Hotel trade group says World Cup demand is below expectations https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/World-Cup-demand-is-below-expectations
U.S. Travel Association condemns travel advisory issued for World Cup https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/US-Travel-condemns-travel-advisory-issued-for-World-Cup
U.S. Travel Association: https://www.ustravel.org
Correction: An earlier version of these show notes misspelled the name of Erik Hanson.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We’re devoting this episode to the two stories on the front page of this week’s Travel Weekly: The Spirit Airlines shutdown and a megadeal to acquire American Express Global Business Travel.
First we’ll talk with aviation editor Robert Silk about the closure of Spirit Airlines, which has been a fascinating company to watch and cover over the last two decades. From small airline to low-cost powerhouse, it was a game changer, but over the last couple of years it’s been suffering, and finally this month the clock ran out. We’ll be talking about that timeline and what happened to Spirit's business model.
In the second half of our podcast we talk with our retail editor Jamie Biesiada about a surprise transaction that involves another powerhouse: American Express GBT. The plan is a purchase by an AI-driven investment firm that would take the TMC private, so we’re talking here about AI, the biggest travel agencies, human vs agentic interactions and the current appetite for corporate travel.
This episode was recorded in two parts, on Wednesday May 6 for Spirit and Friday May 8 for Amex GBT.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Tourism Cares https://www.tourismcares.org
Related links:
Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines halts operations amid financial struggles and high fuel prices https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Spirit-Airlines-halts-operations
How ultralow-cost carrier Spirit Airlines revolutionized the airline industry https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Ultralow-cost-pioneer-Spirit-revolutionized-airline-industry
Transportation secretary opposes federal aid for budget airlines https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/DOT-secretary-against-federal-aid-for-budget-airlines
American Express Global Business Travel
Long Lake Management to acquire American Express GBT for $6.3 billion https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Corporate-Travel/Long-Lake-Management-acquire-American-Express-GBT
AI-focused firm is a surprise buyer for Amex GBT -- and its deep data https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Corporate-Travel/Long-Lake-Management-surprise-buyer-Amex-GBT
American Express GBT deal coverage from Business Travel News https://www.businesstravelnews.com/Intelligence/Long-Lake-Agrees-to-Take-Amex-GBT-Off-Market-in-6-3B-Deal
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is being celebrated this year -- and many Americans are celebrating by traveling. There are lots of places and ways to mark the great American birthday, from guided tours to road trips, from amazing fireworks displays to stays in big cities and small towns.
In this episode, Darley Newman, the creator and host of the PBS series "Travels with Darley" and author of "Revolutionary Road Trip: Hidden Stories from America's Founding Journey," and Travel Weekly features editor Emma Weissmann talk with host Rebecca Tobin about ways to get into the stories of Revolutionary history. The conversation includes the ways people can tap the 250 spirit: Revolutionary War towns, Americana, Route 66, whether travel advisors are getting involved with domestic travel planning and how they can harness interest in America’s history for future business.
This episode was recorded April 29 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Tourism Cares https://www.tourismcares.org
Related reports:
Special tours tap into Route 66 nostalgia: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Special-tours-Route-66-centennial
Tour operators and destinations begin preparations now for America's 250th birthday https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Tour-operators-DMOs-highlight-America-250th-birthday
Americans favor domestic travel amid global uncertainty https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Experts-say-more-Americans-plan-to-travel-closer-to-home
Travels with Darley: https://www.darley-newman.com/
Travels with Darley: U.S. travel by state https://www.darley-newman.com/united-states
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week we’re looking at how online travel search is evolving and how AI is changing the game. For a long time travel sites have been interested in mimicking how travel advisors qualify clients: How to present travel options and ideas to people who are at the very top of the booking funnel and don’t know when or where they want to go. But some sites are now able to facilitate a conversation about travel inspo -- thanks to generative AI.
In this episode, Saad Saeed, the CEO of Layla, a generative AI travel search interface, talks with editor at large Robert Silk and host Rebecca Tobin about how Layla works and what Saeed's team has uncovered about consumer habits and how people really research travel.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com
Related links
AI tools are changing how travelers research vacation options https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/AI-tools-changing-how-travelers-research-vacation-options
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Egypt’s travel industry is no stranger to ups and downs, but the country, which was expecting a banner year for tourism in 2026, was thrown a curveball during the start of the Iran war, when a social media post by an assistant secretary in the Department of State directed Americans in 14 countries – including Egypt – to depart immediately.
Visitors left, several tour and river cruise companies canceled departures. And then, there was no follow up, no change to the State Department consular sheet, no clear sign of danger – in fact, life in Cairo and other tourism hot spots in the country were decidedly normal.
So where does that leave tourism today? On this episode, host Rebecca Tobin speaks with tours editor Brinley Hineman and Malaka Hilton, an Egypt specialist and CEO of Admiral Travel International, on the fallout from the Iran war, today’s booking patterns, the psychology of travel to the Middle East and why now might be a great time to visit.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com
Related reports:
State Department's mixed signals on Egypt prompt cancellations, client concern https://www.travelweekly.com/Middle-East-Africa-Travel/State-Department-mixed-signals-on-Egypt-prompt-cancellations
Viking reinstates Egypt river cruising after reassessment https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Viking-reinstates-Nile-cruises-after-reassessment
War in the Middle East affects some tour operations https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/War-in-the-Middle-East-affects-tour-operations
Q&A with Egypt tourism minister Sharif Fathy (January 2026) https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Sherif-Fathy-Egypt-minister-tourism-antiquities
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We’re continuing with our catch up on major news events of the past two months, and in this episode host Rebecca Tobin talks with our editors: Christina Jelski, who covers hotels; Teri West, who covers ocean cruising; and Brinley Hineman, who covers tours and river cruises.
What is on the radars of our editors as we move into the spring season? Some of the themes you’ll hear: What’s the latest on domestic tourism this summer, and will the FIFA World Cup bring a hospitality boom? Is cruising still strong? Why is tourism to Egypt down, and are travelers returning to Mexico?
These interviews were recorded at the end of March and have been edited for length and clarity. Since news travels quickly, some of these conversations are in need of a brief update: in the cruise section, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has come to an agreement with activist investor Elliott Investment Management to update its board of directors. In Mexico, we’re seeing signs of a booking comeback.
And we’ll be talking more on the tourism situation in Egypt – join us next week for a full-scale discussion.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com
Related reports
Hospitality links
World Cup room-block cancellations dim some hopes for an outsize tourism boost
https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/World-Cup-room-cancellations-dim-hopes-for-outsize-boost
Americans favor domestic travel amid global uncertainty https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Experts-say-more-Americans-plan-to-travel-closer-to-home
Resilient Las Vegas is showing a full house https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Las-Vegas-full-house
Cruise links
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings overhauls board of directors https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/NCLH-overhauls-board-of-directors
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' new CEO touts his 'turnaround experience' https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/NCLH-new-CEO-touts-turnaround-experience
Norwegian Cruise Line president Marc Kazlauskas shares his vision https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Marc-Kazlauskas-Norwegian-Cruise-Line
Cruising's March Wave: Iran shakes some Med demand https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/wave-update-effect-of-iran-war-on-cruise-bookings
MSC's luxury private island will be called Sandy Cay https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/MSC-luxury-private-island-Sandy-Cay
Tour links
State Department's mixed signals on Egypt prompt cancellations, client concern State Department's mixed signals on Egypt prompt cancellations, client concern
Mexico tourism, six weeks after the crisis https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Insights/How-safe-is-Mexico-travel-now
River cruise links
At the ASTA River Cruise Expo, some river cruise lines promote slow growth https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/In-Europe-some-river-cruise-lines-promote-slow-growth
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Welcome back to the Folo by Travel Weekly. We are back – this is the first in all-new episodes on the latest travel trends and news, brought to you by our team of reporters and expert guests and hosted by director of editorial strategy Rebecca Tobin.
This week and next we’re talking to all our reporting team on the biggest stories in travel right now – what we’ve been watching during the last two months and what we’re looking at going forward.
We’re diving in right now on air with aviation reporter and editor at large Robby Silk, and the latest travel agency data with Jamie Biesiada, our editor of content innovation and retail. Of course the Iran war and its implications is prominent, but there are other topics, too -- TSA, advisor booking trends -- that you're going to want to catch up on.
These episodes were recorded over the past two weeks at the end of March and beginning of April. And have been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com
Related reports
Safety concerns dampen demand for Europe travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/Safety-concerns-dampen-demand-for-Europe-travel
Global unrest is now travel advisors' No. 1 concern https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Global-unrest-is-now-clients-No-1-concern
Travel advsior insight: Mixed volume and a shorter booking window are latest trends https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Insights/Travel-trends-Travel-Weekly-advisor-survey-March-2026
Our coverage of the Middle East war and travel https://www.travelweekly.com/middle-east-crisis
Could TSA turmoil increase push for private airport security? https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Could-TSA-turmoil-increase-push-private-airport-security
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In a so-called k-shaped economy, higher earners head up on an upward angle, but lower earners, on the lower leg of the “k” drop behind. This bifurcation is also playing out in some corners of the travel industry as ultrahigh-net worth travelers spend to snap up the top level suites, but travelers with less resources are slower to book entry-level rooms.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin talks with hotels editor Christina Jelski and Jon Makhmaltchi, the founder of J.Mak hospitality, about how hotel companies are physically configuring their properties to appeal to those at top of the k, the pitfalls of over-relying on one market segment and how hotels and advisors are working to attract entry-level and aspirational luxury travelers.
This episode was recorded Jan. 22 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Winter series:
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Jan. 26 and has been edited for length and clarity.
New episodes return next week!
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com
Related links
Luxury hotels and the K-shaped economy: A tale of two markets https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/K-shaped-economy-for-luxury-hotels
J.Mak Hospitality https://www.jmak.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Last summer, Folo host Rebecca Tobin got the opportunity to cruise Mitsui Ocean Cruises, a line that’s based in Japan and created for and curated for and sold to Japanese travelers – but is also now marketing to North Americans.
On this episode, Anthony Kaufman, a cruise veteran who is now Mitsui’s head of commercial strategies, talks about how to take a cruise experience devoted to one market and entice another, and how Mitsui is a different experience from a U.S. based cruise line with Asia-positioned ships.
This episode was recorded on Dec. 5, and has been edited for length and clarity.
Winter series:
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Jan. 12 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com
Related links
Japan by sea https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Japan-by-sea-Mitsui-Ocean-Cruises
Cruise lines increase Asia sailings to meet Japan's blossoming appeal https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Increase-Asia-sailings-with-Japan-high-demand
The sun rises on Japan tourism https://www.travelweekly.com/Asia-Travel/The-sun-rises-on-Japan-tourism
Mitsui Ocean Cruises https://www.mitsuioceancruises.us/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode we’re going to tuck in to a portion of the flying experience that you might be surprised to hear about: food.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, aviation editor Robert Silk and Joe Leader, the CEO of the International Flight Services Association, talk about the growth of good eating in all cabins, tech developments that make food service more efficient and more interesting, and why food tastes different at cruising altitude. Plus: Pre-ordering and new complimentary meal service on transcontinental routes.
Winter series:
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Sept. 29 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related links:
Airline food innovators have high aspirations: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Airline-food-innovators-have-high-aspirations
International Flight Services Association: https://ifsa.aero/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We're focusing on an emerging branch of artificial intelligence called agentic AI – that is, an AI tool that can, essentially, act like a booking agent, all the way up to making a reservation on the traveler’s behalf. It acts like an agent – but is it a threat to human travel advisors? And what does agentic AI mean for the OTA model, supplier customer service and travelers themselves?
On this episode, McKinsey and Co.’s Vik Krishnan and Travel Weekly aviation editor Robert Silk talk with host Rebecca Tobin about the latest developments in agentic AI and travel and where the technology could lead us.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com
Winter series:
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Nov. 24 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related links
Agentic AI turns searches into sales https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Agentic-AI-turns-searches-to-sales
Hotel and flight bookings are coming to Google's AI Mode https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Hotel-and-flight-bookings-coming-to-Google-AI-Mode
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week we’re talking about a story that came to be after unveiling of Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ upcoming Skyview Regent Suite. It's a veritable mansion-at-sea with a private gym, sauna, bar and dining room that seats 12. And what's more surprising than the price? The fact that it was booked within one minute on 10 of 13 itineraries. Or perhaps that's not a surprise. Advisors tell us that there are countdowns to sales launches and wait lists for the newest crop of ultra-palatial, ultra-big, ultra-luxurious cruise ship suites.
With luxury advisor Carlos Edery and cruise editor Teri West, we look at what these top suites look like and what amenities they come with. Who are the customers and what do they want in a vacation? Is there a challenge of keeping up with guest expectations? And, of course, what might come next.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com
Winter series:
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Nov. 3 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related links:
Focus on Cruise cover story: The megasuite is bigger than ever https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/The-cruise-megasuite-is-bigger-than-ever
Regent Seven Seas Prestige suite will reach for new levels of opulence https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Skyview-Regent-Suite-unveiled-for-Seven-Seas-Prestige
From the archives: A look at luxury accommodations at sea (August 2005) https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/A-look-at-luxury-accommodations
Luxury Cruise Connections https://luxurycruiseconnections.com/
CruiseWorld: https://www.cruiseworldshow.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week we’re talking about destination management companies, or DMCs, which are companies embedded in specific locations that give travel planners an ultra-boost when it comes to planning a vacation there. Insider knowledge, special tours, recommendations, an expert shoulder to lean on – that’s what a DMC can provide. DMCs aren’t new, but a recent story by Jamie Biesiada talked about why they’re suddenly on everyone’s must-have list.
In this episode with Haisley Smith, the senior vice president of partner relations at Internova Travel Group, we talk about why advisors and clients are hyping DMCs, the pitfalls and the critical need to vet your in-destination partner and what’s next for DMCs, tour operators and advisors.
We hope you enjoy this peek into travel planning – and advisors, let us know what you think of your top DMCs.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com
Winter series:
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Nov. 17 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related links:
Jamie Biesiada's cover story: DMCs help bring the wow factor https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/DMCs-help-bring-the-wow
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We look back at the first quarter-century and the biggest events that had an outsized impact on the travel business, from mega-events that changed the world to milestone product launches and business decisions that portended major shifts to come. In this episode, our top editors unpack the list and some of the decisions behind it, as well as those reminisces about the old times and what’s happening in travel today.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com
Winter series:
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Oct. 6 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related links:
The 25 years that changed travel https://www.travelweekly.com/25-years
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We're taking an in-depth look at our annual Travel Industry Survey of travel agency business with then-editor in chief Arnie Weissmann and news editor Johanna Jainchill.
In this episode we delve into survey data: Advisors’ use of AI – how they use it and what they’re concerned about; which travel categories are growing; advisors’ use of social media; their relationships with preferred suppliers; where they work; and what they’re booking. And, of course, whether they’re optimistic or pessimistic about their business going forward.
This survey was produced in partnership with Phocuswright, a sister brand to Travel Weekly. It surveyed more than 1,500 advisors during August and early September and was published Nov. 23.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com
Winter series:
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Dec. 1 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Since this episode was published, Johanna was promoted to editor in chief, and Arnie took the title of explorer at large for parent company Northstar Travel Group.
Related links:
The 2025 Travel Industry Survey https://www.travelweekly.com/industry-survey-2025
Previous Industry Surveys https://www.travelweekly.com/For-Travel-Agents/Travel-Industry-Survey
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's tradition for travel publications and others to pull together inspirational lists for travel, and late last year Power List travel company Chase Travel published a list called "26 Trips to Take in 2026."
On this episode, Karen Magee, president of Valerie Wilson Travel, and Hillary Reinsberg, head of content for card and connected commerce at Chase, talk about inspiration for the list and how it was created, consumer travel trends and, of course, specific destinations on the list itself and where travelers might get inspiration for the year ahead.
Winter series:
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Dec. 8 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com
Related links
26 Trips to Take in 2026 https://trips.chase.com
Travel Weekly's Preview 2026 https://www.travelweekly.com/preview-2026
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In a so-called k-shaped economy, higher earners head up on an upward angle, but lower earners, on the lower leg of the “k” drop behind. This bifurcation is also playing out in some corners of the travel industry as ultrahigh-net worth travelers spend to snap up the top level suites, but travelers with less resources are slower to book entry-level rooms.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin talks with hotels editor Christina Jelski and Jon Makhmaltchi, the founder of J.Mak hospitality, about how hotel companies are physically configuring their properties to appeal to those at top of the k, the pitfalls of over-relying on one market segment and how hotels and advisors are working to attract entry-level and aspirational luxury travelers.
This episode was recorded Jan. 22 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com/
Stay on at the end of this Folo episode wraps for an interview with Globus family of brands’ chief sales officer Camille Olivere, by Mary Pat Sullivan, Northstar Travel Group executive vice president of marketing and partnerships.
Related links
Luxury hotels and the K-shaped economy: A tale of two markets https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/K-shaped-economy-for-luxury-hotels
J.Mak Hospitality https://www.jmak.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Many tour companies that specialize in faith-based travel, or tourism with a religious element or focus, have historically focused on trips to the Holy Land. But with the ongoing conflict in Israel, companies have shifted and pivoted, growing their portfolios elsewhere.
After tours editor Brinley Hineman reported this story in December, we decided to re-engage here with David Welch, the vice president of business development at Educational Travel Services, to look at this very dedicated market. We talk about where faith-based tour groups are traveling these days – and also why people travel to explore their religion or faith.
This episode was recorded Jan. 9 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com
Related links:
A devotion to faith-based travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/A-devotion-to-faith-based-travel
Q&A with Sherif Fathy, Egypt's tourism minister https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Sherif-Fathy-Egypt-minister-tourism-antiquities
Tour operators welcome flocks of Jubilee travelers in 2025 https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Tour-operators-set-to-welcome-flocks-of-Jubilee-travelers
From 2023: Tour operators suspend Israel departures and brace for hard times https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Tour-operators-suspend-Israel-departures
ETS https://www.etstours.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Last summer, Folo host Rebecca Tobin got the opportunity to cruise Mitsui Ocean Cruises, a line that’s based in Japan and created for and curated for and sold to Japanese travelers – but is also now marketing to North Americans.
On this episode, Anthony Kaufman, a cruise veteran who is now Mitsui’s head of commercial strategies, talks about how to take a cruise experience devoted to one market and entice another, and how Mitsui is a different experience from a U.S. based cruise line with Asia-positioned ships.
This episode was recorded on Dec. 5, and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com/
Related links
Japan by sea https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Japan-by-sea-Mitsui-Ocean-Cruises
Cruise lines increase Asia sailings to meet Japan's blossoming appeal https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Increase-Asia-sailings-with-Japan-high-demand
The sun rises on Japan tourism https://www.travelweekly.com/Asia-Travel/The-sun-rises-on-Japan-tourism
Mitsui Ocean Cruises https://www.mitsuioceancruises.us/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Every year at this time of year we delve into our Preview issue: Every reporter on staff looks at his or her beat and, talks to their sources, reads at the tea leaves and tells our readers what to expect for the year ahead.
In this episode, we’ll look at what we think 2026 has in store for hotels, cruise, tours and river cruising. Host Rebecca Tobin's guests are senior editors Christina Jelski, who covers hospitality; Brinley Hineman, who covers tours and river cruising; and Teri West, who covers cruise.
Among our topics: The dominance of luxury travel in all segments, exciting new products to watch for land and sea and whether companies are bullish or bearish on 2026 bookings.
These episodes have been individually recorded over the second part of December and have been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com
Related links
Travel Weekly's 2026 Preview issue https://www.travelweekly.com/preview-2026
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Every year at this time of year we delve into our Preview issue: Every reporter on staff looks at their beat, talks to their sources, reads at the tea leaves and tells our readers what to expect for the year ahead.
And because we do love to talk, host Rebecca Tobin split this episode into two. Our first Preview episode will focus on a chat with retail editor Jamie Biesiada about travel advisors and retail – because the people selling travel see the trends across all industry sectors. And then we’ll look at what’s happening next year in aviation with airlines editor Robert Silk.
Next episode, we’ll look at what we think 2026 has in store for hotels, cruise, tours and river cruising.
These episodes have been individually recorded over the second part of December and have been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.biz
Related reports
Our annual Preview issue: https://www.travelweekly.com/prview-2026
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, news editor Johanna Jainchill talks about how we review and select the stories in our annual Year in Review report, which looks at the biggest and most impactful stories of the year.
And then she and host Rebecca Tobin talk about what made 2025 so unique, from "choppy" markets to how people booked travel, to Las Vegas' occupancy woes, to Southwest's business-model changes, to cruising’s destination island expansion -- and more.
This episode was recorded Dec. 11 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.aflk.biz
Related reports
2025: The Year in Review https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/2025-year-in-review
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week our subject is Route 66, that famous highway that's practically synonymous with the term "Americana." The road was opened in 1926, which means that of next year it’s been inspiring people in song, movie, decor and travel for 100 years. And tours editor Brinley Hineman discovered that tour companies and destinations will be celebrating the centennial with new programs and itineraries.
On this episode Hineman and host Rebecca Tobin talk with Steve Born of the Globus family of brands about the popularity of Route 66 tours – and why people choose a tour for a domestic drive holiday.
Stay on till the end for a quick chat about Christmas market river cruising in Europe and the similarities between a Europe river cruise and a drive vacation through America’s heartland.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.biz
Related links:
Route 66 centennial: Special tours tap into nostalgia https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Special-tours-Route-66-centennial
NTA lays out plan to increase advocay and member engagement https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/NTA-plan-increase-advocacy-and-member-engagement
A Q&A with Choose Chicago CEO Kristen Reynolds https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Kristen-Reynolds-Choose-Chicago
'America the Beautiful' marketing campaign aims to rekindle inbound travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Brand-USA-America-the-Beautiful-Campaign-Seeks-to-Attract-Overseas-Visitors
Cosmos tour: Highlights of Route 66 with Mother Road Festival and Albuquerque Balloon Festival https://www.cosmos.com/tour/highlights-of-route-66-with-mother-road-festival-albuquerque-balloon-fiesta/8580/?season=2026
Cosmos tour: Highlights of Route 66 https://www.cosmos.com/tour/highlights-of-route-66/8530/?season=2026
Viking's Christmas market cruises https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruise-destinations/specialty/christmas-markets/index.html
Related podcast:
Chase Travel's 26 Trips to Take in 2026https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/travel-inspiration-in-list-form-from-Chase-Travel
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s the holiday season, but it's also time for advisors and consumers alike to start thinking of travel plans for the year ahead. And to stoke interest in destinations from the Dolomites to Dominica, Power List agency Chase Travel for a second year is doing a list of inspirational travel destinations, called "26 Trips to Take in 2026."
On this episode host Rebecca Tobin talks with Karen Magee, president of Valerie Wilson Travel, and Hillary Reinsberg, head of content for card and connected commerce at Chase, about inspiration for the list and how it was created, consumer travel trends and, of course, specific destinations on the list itself and where you might get ideas for the year ahead.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.biz
Related links
Chase Travel's 26 Trips to Take in 2026 https://trips.chase.com
Route 66 centennial: Special tours tap into nostalgia https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Special-tours-Route-66-centennial
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Our annual Travel Industry Survey of travel agency business is live, and we're taking an in-depth look at some of the results with editor in chief Arnie Weissmann and news editor Johanna Jainchill.
In this episode we delve into survey data: Advisors’ use of AI – how they use it and what they’re concerned about; which travel categories are growing; advisors’ use of social media; their relationships with preferred suppliers; where they work; and what they’re booking. And, of course, whether they’re optimistic or pessimistic about their business going forward.
This survey was produced in partnership with Phocuswright, a sister brand to Travel Weekly. It surveyed more than 1,500 advisors during August and early September and was published Nov. 23.
This conversation took place Nov. 23 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.biz
Related links:
The 2025 Travel Industry Survey https://www.travelweekly.com/industry-survey-2025
Previous Industry Surveys https://www.travelweekly.com/For-Travel-Agents/Travel-Industry-Survey
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We're focusing on an emerging branch of artificial intelligence called agentic AI – that is, an AI tool that can, essentially, act like a booking agent, all the way up to making a reservation on the traveler’s behalf. It acts like an agent – but is it a threat to human travel advisors? And what does agentic AI mean for the OTA model, supplier customer service and travelers themselves?
On this episode, McKinsey and Co.’s Vik Krishnan and Travel Weekly aviation editor Robert Silk talk with host Rebecca Tobin about the latest developments in agentic AI and travel and where the technology could lead us.
This episode was recorded Nov. 21 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com
Related links
Agentic AI turns searches into sales https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Agentic-AI-turns-searches-to-sales
Hotel and flight bookings are coming to Google's AI Mode https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Hotel-and-flight-bookings-coming-to-Google-AI-Mode
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Your travel advisor’s expert in-destination source: Their DMC This week we’re talking about destination management companies, or DMCs, which are companies embedded in specific locations that give travel planners an ultra-boost when it comes to planning a vacation there. Insider knowledge, special tours, recommendations, an expert shoulder to lean on – that’s what a DMC can provide.
Here, senior editor for retail Jamie Biesiada and Haisley Smith, the senior vice president of partner relations at Internova Travel Group, talk about why advisors and clients are celebrating their DMC connections; why a client might choose a guided tour over a DMC-curated trip; pitfalls and the critical need to vet an in-destination partner; and what’s next for DMCs and advisors.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com
Related links:
Jamie Biesiada's cover story: DMCs help bring the wow factor https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/DMCs-help-bring-the-wow
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s time for an update on Hawaii travel. On this episode, our contributing editor for Hawaii, Christine Hitt, talks about overall stats, Maui updates, a falloff in travel from Canada and Japan -- plus our favorite island destinations and the changes at the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
This episode was recorded Oct. 16 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com
Related reports
Christine Hitt's Hawaii travel Insights: https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Insights
Maui's message: The comeback is on, so come back https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Maui-message-The-comeback-is-on-so-come-back
Inside the $6 million marketing campaign aimed at Maui's recovery https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Insights/Maui-tourism-recovery-marketing-campaign-details
Cruise lines sue Hawaii over new tax https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-lines-sue-Hawaii-over-new-tax
Rebecca Tobin's home away from home in Hawaii https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/House-Without-a-Key-my-home-away-from-home-in-Waikiki
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week we’re talking about a story that came to be after unveiling of Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ upcoming Skyview Regent Suite. It's a veritable mansion-at-sea with a private gym, sauna, bar and dining room that seats 12. And what's more surprising than the price? The fact that it was booked within one minute on 10 of 13 itineraries. Or perhaps that's not a surprise. Advisors tell us that there are countdowns to sales launches and wait lists for the newest crop of ultra-palatial, ultra big, ultra luxurious cruise ship suites.
This week, as CruiseWorld kicks off in Fort Lauderdale, we go all-in on cruise, and with luxury advisor Carlos Edery and cruise editor Teri West, we look at what these top suites look like and what amenities they come with. Who are the customers and what do they want in a vacation? Is there a challenge of keeping up with guest expectations? And, of course, what might come next.
This episode was recorded Oct. 27 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com
Related links:
Focus on Cruise cover story: The megasuite is bigger than ever https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/The-cruise-megasuite-is-bigger-than-ever
Regent Seven Seas Prestige suite will reach for new levels of opulence https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Skyview-Regent-Suite-unveiled-for-Seven-Seas-Prestige
From the archives: A look at luxury accommodations at sea (August 2005) https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/A-look-at-luxury-accommodations
Luxury Cruise Connections https://luxurycruiseconnections.com/
CruiseWorld: https://www.cruiseworldshow.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Travel Weekly is proud to produce contributions from some very well-respected columnists -- people who really know the business. We have travel advisors and our own reporting staff, of course, but we also have a legal advisor, and many readers will know his name: Mark Pestronk.
Mark, a Washington-based travel lawyer, has been writing a Legal Briefs column, and before that, a column by a different name, for officially 40 years now, and he’s often quoted in our pages. So today we’re celebrating with an episode talking with him about travel, changes, the power of advisors and, of course, his time on Jeopardy.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Europe Express https://www.europeexpress.com
At the end of this episode, stay on for a special, bonus discussion about the latest from Europe Express between CEO Parik Laxminarayan, and Mary Pat Sullivan, the executive vice president of marketing partnerships for Northstar Travel Group, Travel Weekly's parent company.
Related links
Latest Legal Briefs column: After 40 years, this much is constant https://www.travelweekly.com/Mark-Pestronk/After-40-years-this-much-is-constant
From 2010: A quarter-century of legal advice from Mark Pestronk https://www.travelweekly.com/News-at-TW/A-quarter-century-of-pro-bono-advice-for-Travel-Weekly-readers
Mark Pestronk’s Legal Briefs column archive https://www.travelweekly.com/mark-pestronk
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode we’re headed to Chile, the home of this year's Adventure Travel Trade Association World Summit. Our adventurous editor in chief Arnie Weissmann attended the show as a guest speaker and participant on its adventure tours, and it seemed like a good opportunity for us to talk about Patagonia, penguins and pumas.
On this episode we tackle how the ATTA describes "adventure" travelers and what determines an adventure – also, why you should hire a guide; what to look for in the best outfitters; how overtourism may have contributed to the growth in adventure travel; and the thrills of adventuring on Chiloe Island.
This episode was recorded Oct. 17 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Europe Express https://www.europeexpress.com
Related links:
Travel Weekly’s adventure travel coverage https://www.travelweekly.com/adventure-travel
Arnie Weissmann’s From the Window Seat column “Is Tuscany an adventure destination” https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/Is-Tuscany-an-adventure-destination
The Adventure Travel Trade Association https://www.adventuretravel.biz/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
South Africa based contributor Dorine Reinstein has written often about conservation efforts and tackled overcrowding on safari tours. A video this summer that appeared to show safari trucks crowding and blocking the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti raised new questions for us about guest expectations; guide pressure points and the power balance between guests and guides; and how the travel trade can get involved.
Joining us on this episode is Louise De Waal, a director and campaign manager at Blood Lions, and Anton Letegan, the managing director of EcoTraining. It’s an important, thoughtful discussion, and I want to add that both Louise and Anton urged me to emphasize that we’re looking to educate and create a dialogue on sustainability on the savanna – not to point fingers.
This episode was recorded Sept. 23 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Europe Express https://www.europexpress.com
Related links
Dorine Reinstein's coverage for Travel Weekly: https://www.travelweekly.com/dorine-reinstein
Safaris that go beyond the Big Five are catching on https://www.travelweekly.com/Middle-East-Africa-Travel/Safaris-that-go-beyond-the-Big-Five-are-catching-on
The elephant in the room: Overturism in Africa https://www.travelweekly.com/Middle-East-Africa-Travel/Overtourism-in-Africa
EcoTraining https://www.ecotraining.co.za/
Blood Lions: https://bloodlions.org/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Our latest cover story is titled the 25 years that changed travel. We’re looking back at the first quarter century and the biggest events that had an outsized impact on the business, from mega-events that changed the world to milestone product launches and those business decisions that portended major shifts to come.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, editor in chief Arnie Weissmann and news editor Johanna Jainchill unpack the list and some of the decisions behind it, as well as those reminisces about the old times and what’s happening in travel today.
This episode was recorded Sept. 26 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Europe Express https://www.europexpress.com
Related links:
The 25 years that changed travel https://www.travelweekly.com/25-years
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode we’re going to tuck in to a portion of the flying experience that you might be surprised to hear about: food. The aviation catering business is enormous, as our airlines editor Robert Silk determined when he walked the floor of a show devoted only to inflight eating and drinking.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, Silk and Joe Leader, the CEO of the International Flight Services Association, talk about the growth of good eating in all cabins, tech developments that make food service more efficient and more interesting, and why food tastes different at cruising altitude. Plus: Pre-ordering and new complimentary meal service on transcontinental routes.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com
Related links:
Airline food innovators have high aspirations: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Airline-food-innovators-have-high-aspirations
International Flight Services Association: https://ifsa.aero/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week we're doubling down on Las Vegas – specifically to its hotel occupancy numbers, which were surprisingly weak this summer. Our hotels editor Christina Jelski has been talking with Las Vegas tourism authorities about two new campaigns designed to drive interest: a splashy marketing campaign touting “fabulous Las Vegas” as well as a more targeted effort to lure travelers with value-add promotions.
With Christina, Kyle Owusu, director of credit research and lead expert/analyst for casino and gaming coverage at Octus, and Matt Powell, CEO of the Moroch advertising agency in Dallas, we look at: Who are Vegas’ missing travelers? Plus, whether Vegas is a luxury destination and why it's important to stay balanced for travelers at different price points, competition outside of Las Vegas, those new marketing campaigns -- and more.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com
Related links:
Las Vegas hotels grapple with steep occupancy decline https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Las-Vegas-hotels-grapple-with-steep-occupancy-decline
Las Vegas' new ad campaigns coincides with tourism slump https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Las-Vegas-new-ad-campaign-long-term-play
'Fabulous' at every price point is the new message from Las Vegas https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Fabulous-ad-campaign-for-Las-Vegas
Caesars Entertainment's Q2 concerns soft summer for Las Vegas: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Caesars-Entertainment-reports-soft-summer-in-Las-Vegas-amid-declining-occupancy
Octus https://octus.com/
Moroch https://moroch.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Folo by Travel Weekly is back with all-new episodes this fall. In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin talks to the Travel Weekly reporting team to get the lowdown on their top, favorite or most fun stories from the past two months, as well as what they’re focused on with coverage this fall.
Among the topics: short-term bookings, inbound visitors to the U.S., celebrity (and Celebrity) sailings, Las Vegas' occupancy numbers -- and a few surprises from our team.
Featuring commentary from news editor Johanna Jainchill, retail editor Jamie Biesiada, cruise editor Teri West, tours and river cruise editor Binley Hineman and aviation editor Robert Silk.
This episode was recorded in parts during the week of Sept. 8 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com
Related links:
Editor in chief Arnie Weissmann's column "The cost of an unwelcoming border" https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/The-cost-of-an-unwelcoming-border
Travel advisors
This summer's trend: Clients who book last minute https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Summer-2025-trend-last-minute-bookings
Epic Universe spurs double-digit growth for Comcast in Q2 https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Epic-Universe-fuels-growth-Universal-Orlando-with-successful-opening
The Trade Secrets podcast: Tech Summit https://www.travelweekly.com/podcasts/trade-secrets
Cruise
How Ritz-Carlton's celebrity-packed cruise benefits the luxury line https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/Ritz-Carlton-celebrity-sailing-luminara
Big Mexico projects could give Royal Caribbean an edge https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-big-edge-Western-Caribbean
A look at Celebration Key, Carnival's new private destination https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-Celebration-Key-review
Tours
How tour operators develop new tours https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Unearthing-new-tours
River cruise
Celebrity will bring familiar features to its river cruise product https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Celebrity-River-Cruises-familiar-brand-features
Hospitality
Las Vegas' new ad campaign coincide with tourism slump https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Las-Vegas-new-ad-campaign-long-term-play
Los Angeles hotel and airport workers score a victory with increased pay https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hotel-industry-fails-stop-30-dollar-minimum-wage-Los-Angeles
Aviation
Southwest to roll out free wifi fleetwide https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Southwest-rolling-out-free-WiFi-fleetwide
Chapter 11 redux: Spirit Airlines' quest for financial stability https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Analysis-Spirit-Airlines-second-bankruptcy-filing
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This year, it's all about travel brands making their entry into Europe river cruising. We’ve been surprised this year by the number of established names moving in to the Rhine, Danube and beyond: Celebrity Cruises, Trafalgar and National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions among them.
With Lisa Fitzgerald, a river-cruise expert advisor and founder of Fitzgerald Travel, and river cruise editor Brinley Hineman, we’re exploring why each of these brands is approaching river, and how they’re doing it in different ways. We’ll also look at the popularity of emerging destinations around the world, and numbers from Viking, the biggest river cruise line.
This episode was edited for length and clarity. Since it was recorded on May 23, more information has been published about Celebrity's foray into river cruising -- and stay tuned for even more.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com
Summer series
This episode is the finale of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. New episodes return to the Folo Sept. 15!
Related reports
New: Celebrity River Cruises reveals room categories and first itineraries https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Celebrity-River-Cruises-room-categories-first-itineraries
New: Viking's advance bookings surge amid continued expansion https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Viking-sells-out-2025-capacity-expands-global-offerings
Lindblad, Trafalgar, Waldorf: More companies are attracted to river cruising https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/river-cruise-attracts-more-travel-companies
River cruise lines are excited that Celebrity is wading into the business -- why? https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/River-lines-react-to-Celebrity-Cruises-entry
No slowing down for river cruising: 2026 looks better than 2025 https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/River-cruise-bookings-surging-for-2026?ct=river
Dispatch, Riverside Debussy: An indulgent, fine-dining experience https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Fine-dining-in-the-Vintage-Room-on-Riverside-Debussy?ct=river
Fitzgerald Travel https://fitzgeraldtravel.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Travel Weekly’s annual Power List is a massive undertaking to identify and rank the biggest sellers of travel. And when we say big, we mean big: The minimum for inclusion this year was agencies that sold at least $125 million in travel in 2024. But among the 70 travel agencies that made the cut, which ones grew the most?
In this episode we look at Departure Lounge, which moved almost 10 places in the rankings, after joining just last year.
Host Rebecca Tobin and retail editor Jamie Biesiada talk with owner Keith Waldon about Departure Lounge’s founding as a travel agency/wine bar/coffee shop and how his experiences at Virtuoso shaped Departure Lounge. We also talk about how to find independent contractors and treat them right; why some advisors are making so much money; and the 2024 landscape and the 2025 prognosis.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com
Summer series
This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded July 7 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related links
Departure Lounge https://www.departurelounge.com
The 2025 Power List https://www.travelweekly.com/power-list-2025
A 2017 column from Richard Turen that features Departure Lounge: "Rethinking the travel agency experience" https://www.travelweekly.com/Richard-Turen/Rethinking-travel-agency-experience
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The last two episodes have covered news topics like economic uncertainty and the troubles at Newark, so this week we’re going in a different direction: Literary tourism. That is, tours and travel based on a favorite book or character. Think Bath for Jane Austen or Prince Edward Island for L.M. Montgomery. London, Paris and New York .... any place a book club can dream up, there's probably a literary tour (or could be one).
In this episode we talk about why literary tourism is growing in popularity with tours editor Brinley Hineman and Active England’s head of commercial, Gaby Cecil.
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com
Summer series:
This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related links
True story: Literary tourism grows in popularity https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/A-new-chapter-in-literary-tourism
Active England Tours https://activeenglandtours.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We’re returning to a subject that continues to evolve: Cruise lines’ private islands and destinations. Even after this episode was recorded, Carnival opened its long-awaited Celebration Key and Norwegian Cruise Line announced big plans for Great Stirrup Cay.
Royal Caribbean Group has often been at the forefront of these discussions, with its Perfect Day projects, a planned destination in the South Pacific and a hotel in Chile for Antarctica guests. In this episode, Jay Schneider, the chief product innovation officer for Royal Caribbean International, host Rebecca Tobin and cruise editor Teri West talk about the inspiration for Royal’s thrill-and-chill vibes, competition and the evolution of land-and-sea vacations in the Caribbean.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com
Summer series:
This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded May 29 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related links
Perfect Day Mexico: Royal Caribbean previews its next frontier of fun https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-previews-Perfect-Day-Mexico
The Grand Lucayan overhaul is an $827M bet on cruise tourism https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Grand-Lucayan-Resort-overhaul-analysis
Royal Caribbean expects to open its South Pacific destination in early 2027 https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-renderings-for-Lelepa
Holland America Line reveals plans for an upgraded Half Moon Cay https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-renderings-for-Lelepa
MSC Cruises will develop a private island adjacent to Ocean Cay www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/MSC-Cruises-developing-luxury-island-near-Ocean-Cay
Carnival Corp.'s private-destination plan: Update, build and promote https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-private-destination-plan
NCLH starts construction of a pier on Great Stirrup Cay https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/NCLH-starts-construction-of-Great-Stirrup-Cay-pier
The evolution of cruising's private islands https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/evolution-of-cruising-private-islands
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Travel advisors are often encouraged to seek out the more stable, and more lucrative, luxury market. But one question you might not have asked yourself is: What if you can’t speak the language? There’s definitely a right way to communicate with luxury-market clientele, both obvious and subtle.
On this episode host Rebecca Tobin and senior editor Jamie Beisiada talk with travel experts from Embark Beyond: CEO Jack Ezon and advisor Laura Worth, who have identified this challenge – and created a series of training modules to help advisors follow the Billionaire’s Calendar; converse beyond travel in art, fashion and yachts; how to read luxury-brand tea leaves; and ways advisors can “fake it till they make it.”
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com
Summer series:
This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded March 7 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related links:
Learning the language of luxury https://www.travelweekly.com/Luxury-Travel/Learning-the-language-of-luxury
The surge in the six-figure vacation https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/The-six-figure-vacation-surge
Embark Beyond on Travel Weekly's Power List https://www.travelweekly.com/Power-List-2024/Embark-Beyond
Laura Worth of of Art & Travel https://www.artandtravel.net/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Despite what we’re hearing about close-to-home travel, Americans are still headed to Europe in large numbers and to tourism hot spots like Venice, Barcelona, Greece and Lisbon. Many of these places have also been the sites of protests over tourism – in Barcelona, for example, protesters were again using water guns to spray visitors in an attempt to make their concerns known.
Travel advisor Miriam Martinez of Revigorate, who works with and advises American clients, joins tours editor Brinley Hineman and host Rebecca Tobin to talk about whether travelers are concerned about overtourism protests and anti-tourism sentiment; how advisors and tour companies are packaging and selling lesser-visited destinations to travelers; and possible solutions to overcrowded cities.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com
Summer series:
This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded June 30 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related links
In Europe, tour operators and advisors plan around overtourism https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Tour-operators-and-advisors-plan-around-overtourism
Protesters spray tourists with water guns in Spain https://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/Protestors-spray-tourists-with-water-guns-in-Spain
Cruise industry navigates a new wave of port taxes https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-industry-navigates-new-wave-port-taxes
Previous Folo episodes
Is the term 'overtourism' being overused? https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/overtourism-overused
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The opening of Universal Orlando Resort's Epic Universe park earlier this year has created new opportunities for theme-park lovers for the first time in nearly 25 years.
What's so special about the new Epic theme park? In this episode, retail editor Jamie Biesiada walks host Rebecca Tobin through innovations in ride technology, the queues and other Epic details - favorite or most surprising rides? -- and we talk about theme park performance in 2025 overall so far.
And we discuss a few new tidbits from Walt Disney World's Cool Kid summer promotion and disclose details of a new nighttime parade.
Summer series:
This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded May 30 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions https://www.expeditions.com/
Related links:
Jamie Biesiada's Cover Story: An Epic opening for Universal Orlando Resort https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Epic-Universe-opening-analysis-Universal-Orlando
Exploring the enchanting details at Epic Universe https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Enchanting-details-Epic-Universe
Waiting in line at Epic Universe: Which has the best queue https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Best-queue-experience-Epic-Universe
It's an Epic era for Universal Orlando, and Celestial Park sets the tone https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Epic-Universe-new-era-Universal-Orlando-Resort
Walt Disney World's summer promo leads to a magic resort stay https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/The-magic-of-a-resort-day-at-Disney-World
Dispatch, Orlando: Discovering Disney's 'Cool Kid Summer' https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Discovering-Disney-Cool-Kid-Summer
New Disney 'Starlight parade' opens at Magic Kingdom https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Disney-Starlight-nighttime-parade-debuts-at-Walt-Disney-World-Resort
A Disneyland park is coming to Abu Dhabi https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disneyland-park-coming-to-Abu-Dhabi
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Travel Weekly’s annual Power List is a massive undertaking to identify and rank the biggest sellers of travel. And when we say big, we mean big: The minimum for inclusion this year was agencies that sold at least $125 million in travel in 2024. But among the 70 travel agencies that made the cut, which ones grew the most?
In this episode we look at Departure Lounge, which moved almost 10 places in the rankings, after joining just last year.
Host Rebecca Tobin and retail editor Jamie Biesiada talk with owner Keith Waldon about Departure Lounge’s founding as a travel agency/wine bar/coffee shop and how his experiences at Virtuoso shaped Departure Lounge. We also talk about how to find independent contractors and treat them right; why some advisors are making so much money; and the 2024 landscape and the 2025 prognosis.
This episode was recorded July 7 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions https://www.expeditions.com/
Related links:
Departure Lounge https://www.departurelounge.com
The 2025 Power List https://www.travelweekly.com/power-list-2025
A 2017 column from Richard Turen that features Departure Lounge: "Rethinking the travel agency experience" https://www.travelweekly.com/Richard-Turen/Rethinking-travel-agency-experience
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s getting to be mid July, but as you’ll hear from this episode, the summer travel season – both booking and traveling – is far from over.
With our guest Melissa Krueger, the CEO of Classic Vacations, we’re going to talk about all things summer-travel and summer-trend related: A comeback in Maui, traveling to Italy, a surprise getaway in the U.S. and, of course, what this season's close-in booking window means for travelers and sellers. And: What is JOMO, and how can you apply it to your next vacation?
This episode was recorded July 10 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions https://www.expeditions.com/
Related links:
Classic Vacations https://www.classicvacations.com
Tour operators and advisors plan around overtourism https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Tour-operators-and-advisors-plan-around-overtourism
Inside the $6 million marketing campaign aimed at Maui's recovery https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Insights/Maui-tourism-recovery-marketing-campaign-details
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s July, and despite what we’re hearing about close-to-home travel, Americans are still headed to Europe in large numbers and to tourism hot spots like Venice, Barcelona, Greece and Lisbon. Many of these places have also been the sites of protests over tourism – in Barcelona, for example, protesters were again using water guns to spray visitors in an attempt to make their concerns known.
Travel advisor Miriam Martinez of Revigorate, who works with and advises American clients, joins tours editor Brinley Hineman and host Rebecca Tobin to talk about whether travelers are concerned about overtourism protests and anti-tourism sentiment; how advisors and tour companies are packaging and selling lesser-visited destinations to travelers; and possible solutions to overcrowded cities.
This episode was recorded June 30 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions https://www.expeditions.com
Related links
In Europe, tour operators and advisors plan around overtourism https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Tour-operators-and-advisors-plan-around-overtourism
Protesters spray tourists with water guns in Spain https://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/Protestors-spray-tourists-with-water-guns-in-Spain
Cruise industry navigates a new wave of port taxes https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-industry-navigates-new-wave-port-taxes
Previous Folo episodes
Is the term 'overtourism' being overused? https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/overtourism-overused
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s been an eventful year for Los Angeles tourism, but as we’re nearing the six-month mark from the devastating fires that tore through Pacific Palisades and Altadena, we wanted to look back at the hotels that were impacted or evacuated during the disaster – specifically in this episode one of a small group of luxury properties in Malibu: The 47-room Malibu Beach Inn.
This area has been also challenged by the subsequent closure of the Pacific Coast Highway that links it to western Los Angeles, so on this episode we’re talking with managing director Geoffrey Day and Travel Weekly’s hotels editor Christina Jelski about business, the delicate business of keeping workers on the job and happy during demand peaks and valleys, housing first responders and what it takes to evacuate and then restore a luxury hotel.
This episode was recorded Thursday June 26 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com
Related links:
The Malibu Beach Inn https://www.malibubeachinn.com
From Los Angeles, a plea for visitors: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Los-Angeles-hotels-plea-for-visitors
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week we’re talking about our annual "Focus on LGBTQ+" travel cover story. This year, the headline was “A chill in the air for Pride,” and the report by news editor Johanna Jainchill looked at why some international LGBTQ travelers are rethinking visits to the U.S. – both for Pride events and in general.
With Canadian travel advisor Dean Nelson, of Departures by Dean, and Stacy Ritter, the president and CEO of Visit Lauderdale, we talk about the size of the LGBTQ+ travel demographic and what U.S. destinations that are popular among the LGBTQ community – like Fort Lauderdale – are doing to continue to stay focused on this market segment. Where are international travelers going instead of the U.S.? And on the flip side, how should inbound LGBTQ+ travelers continue to support the local communities – is travel the answer?
This episode was recorded June 16 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com
Related links:
Focus on LGBTQ+ travel: A chill in the air for Pride https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Focus-on-LGBTQ-travel-2025
Visit Lauderdale https://www.visitlauderdale.com/
Trump's passport policy casts chill over LGBTQ travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Trump-passport-policy-casts-chill-LGBTQ-travel
Departures by Dean https://www.departuresxdean.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today is all about travel brands making an entry into Europe river cruising. We’ve been surprised this year by the number of established names moving in to the Rhine, Danube and beyond: Celebrity, Trafalgar and National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions among them.
With Lisa Fitzgerald, a river-cruise expert advisor and founder of Fitzgerald Travel, and river cruise editor Brinley Hineman, we’re exploring why each of these brands is approaching river, and how they’re doing it in different ways. We’ll also look at the popularity of emerging destinations around the world, and numbers from Viking, the biggest river cruise line. We also talk about Brinley’s trip on Riverside Luxury Cruises – this episode was recorded in mid-May, so that trip has already concluded, and we've included some of her reporting in the show notes.
This episode was edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands. https://www.globusandcosmos.com
At the end of this episode, stay on for a special, bonus discussion about the latest from the Globus Family of Brands between Camille Olivere, Globus' chief sales officer, and Mary Pat Sullivan, the executive vice president of marketing partnerships for Northstar Travel Group, Travel Weekly's parent company.
Related reports
Trafalgar's river cruise debut is seen as just a first step https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Trafalgar-river-cruise-debut-seen-as-just-a-first-step?ct=river
Lindblad, Trafalgar, Waldorf: More companies are attracted to river cruising https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/river-cruise-attracts-more-travel-companies
River cruise lines are excited that Celebrity is wading into the business -- why? https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/River-lines-react-to-Celebrity-Cruises-entry
No slowing down for river cruising: 2026 looks better than 2025 https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/River-cruise-bookings-surging-for-2026?ct=river
Dispatch, Riverside Debussy: An indulgent, fine-dining experience https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Fine-dining-in-the-Vintage-Room-on-Riverside-Debussy?ct=river
Fitzgerald Travel https://fitzgeraldtravel.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We’re returning to a subject that we’ve talked about before on the Folo, but that just keeps continuing to grow and evolve, that’s cruise companies’ private islands and destinations. With us this week is Jay Schneider, the chief product innovation officer for Royal Caribbean International. And Royal Caribbean has been at the forefront of these discussions with its Perfect Day projects and now is moving forward with a destination in the South Pacific and a hotel in Chile for Antarctica guests on its Silversea brand.
In this episode, cruise editor Teri West and Schneider talk about the inspiration for Royal’s thrill-and-chill vibes, competition and the evolution of land-and-sea vacations in the Caribbean.
This was recorded May 29 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode was sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com
Related links
Perfect Day Mexico: Royal Caribbean previews its next frontier of fun https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-previews-Perfect-Day-Mexico
The Grand Lucayan overhaul is an $827M bet on cruise tourism https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Grand-Lucayan-Resort-overhaul-analysis
Royal Caribbean expects to open its South Pacific destination in early 2027 https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-renderings-for-Lelepa
Holland America Line reveals plans for an upgraded Half Moon Cay https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-renderings-for-Lelepa
MSC Cruises will develop a private island adjacent to Ocean Cay www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/MSC-Cruises-developing-luxury-island-near-Ocean-Cay
Carnival Corp.'s private-destination plan: Update, build and promote https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-private-destination-plan
NCLH starts construction of a pier on Great Stirrup Cay https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/NCLH-starts-construction-of-Great-Stirrup-Cay-pier
The evolution of cruising's private islands https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/evolution-of-cruising-private-islands
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The opening of Universal Orlando Resort’s Epic Universe park has created new opportunities for theme-park lovers for the first time in nearly 25 years. What’s so special about the new Epic theme park?
In this episode, retail editor Jamie Biesiada walks host Rebecca Tobin through innovations in ride technology, the queues and other Epic details – favorite or most surprising rides? -- and we talk about theme park performance in 2025 overall so far.
And we discuss a few new tidbits from Walt Disney World's Cool Kid summer promotion and disclose details of a new nighttime parade.
This episode was recorded May 30 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com
Related links:
Exploring the enchanting details at Epic Universe https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Enchanting-details-Epic-Universe
Waiting in line at Epic Universe: Which has the best queue https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Best-queue-experience-Epic-Universe
It's an Epic era for Universal Orlando, and Celestial Park sets the tone https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Epic-Universe-new-era-Universal-Orlando-Resort
Walt Disney World's summer promo leads to a magic resort stay https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/The-magic-of-a-resort-day-at-Disney-World
A Disneyland park is coming to Abu Dhabi https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disneyland-park-coming-to-Abu-Dhabi
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What is going on with summer travel? As Americans prepare to take to the roads and skies, we’ve heard a lot of mixed messages from travel companies about what this year might bring: Just a few weeks ago we spoke on the Folo podcast about “chop” and “noise” in projecting future booking patterns.
In this episode Hopper lead economist Hayley Berg returns to talk about her data: Whether Americans are traveling and, if so, where their summer plans might take them. We talk about the obvious destinations and the hidden gems -- plus one great summer-booking tip. With us is cruise editor Teri West, who looks into research from the Mastercard Economics Institute on its travel trend report.
This episode was recorded Thursday, May 22 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com
Related links:
https://www.travelweekly.com/Asia-Travel/Asian-cities-shine-Mastercard-2025-travel-trends-report
Volatility is making hotel forecasting difficult https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Volatility-making-hotel-forecasting-difficult
Travel advisors voice their concerns about job cuts and the economy https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Travel-agents-voice-concerns-federal-job-cuts
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The last two episodes have covered news topics like economic uncertainty and the troubles at Newark, so this week we’re going in a different direction: Literary tourism. That is, tours and travel based on a favorite book or character. Think Bath for Jane Austen or Prince Edward Island for L.M. Montgomery. London, Paris and New York .... any place a book club can dream up, there's probably a literary tour (or could be one).
In this episode we talk about why literary tourism is growing in popularity with tours editor Brinley Hineman and Active England’s head of commercial, Gaby Cecil.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com
Related links
True story: Literary tourism grows in popularity https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/A-new-chapter-in-literary-tourism
Active England Tours https://activeenglandtours.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What the heck is going on at EWR? Undoubtably the biggest news in travel this past week has to be the mess at Newark Airport in New Jersey. What started as complaints of unusual delays on one day in April has unfolded into a huge story about air traffic control system breakdowns, controllers on leave and the DOT’s request for billions of dollars to be earmarked for upgrades and fixes.
With aviation editor Robert Silk and aviation expert and consultant Bob Mann, we break down what happened, why Newark is so hard to manage and what the solutions might be: Is the DOT proposal enough?
This episode was recorded Friday May 9 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com
Related links:
FAA pledges fixes for Newark, but delays could continue https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/FAA-pledges-Newark-fixes-but-disruptions-could-continue
White House proposes overhaul of air traffic control system https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Trump-administration-proposes-overhaul-ATC-system
Outdated technology and stress-related absences contribute to chaos at Newark Airport https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Air-traffic-control-challenges-Newark-Airport
Air traffic controllers briefly lose radar access again at Newark https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Air-traffic-controllers-briefly-lose-radar-access-again-Newark-airport
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We’re still in first-quarter earnings season, but we’ve been watching travel company results closely, to give us some signs on which way the travel industry is heading. The conclusion? There’s not really one yet – as you’ll hear here, results and predictions are up, down and sideways.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, news editor Johanna Jainchill and hospitality editor Christina Jelski look at both U.S. traveler sentiment and the inbound travel markets and what the numbers are telling us – and what we might expect to see next – and why is everyone talking about the “noise?”
This episode was recorded Friday May 2 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com
Related reports:
Amid economic volatility, the cruise industry shows resilience https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Amid-economic-volatility-cruise-industry-shows-resilience
Volatility is making hotel forecasting difficult https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Volatility-making-hotel-forecasting-difficult?ct=hotels
Hyatt's all-inclusive resorts shine amind leisure travel challenges https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hyatt-all-inclusive-resorts-shine-amid-leisure-travel-challenges?ct=hotels
United will reduce domestic flying this summer https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/United-earnings-Q1-2025
Low-cost vs legacy: Which type of airline will do better in a downturn? https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Can-low-cost-airlines-thrive-in-trying-times
Previous episodes:
Why many Canadians are avoiding travel to the U.S.
https://omny.fm/shows/the-folo-by-travel-weekly/why-many-canadians-are-avoiding-u-s-travel
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As you’ll hear in this discussion, it’s Earth Month, and we couldn’t not have an episode about sustainability efforts within travel. Here, host Rebecca Tobin speaks with Paula Vlammings, the chief impact officer of nonprofit Tourism Cares, and Travel Weekly hospitality editor Christina Jekski about some of the hot topics of 2025.
Topics we cover: Solutions to overtourism; why travelers don’t want to pay more for green travel initiatives; and whether recent shifts in U.S. policy will have an impact on sustainability efforts.
This episode was recorded April 24 and was edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by The TTC Tour Brands https://agents.ttc.com/login
Related links:
Sustainability-minded hotels are staying the course https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Sustainability-minded-hotels-staying-the-course
Arnie Weissmann’s From the Window Seat column: CLIA: “Regulate us. please!” https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/CLIA-Regulate-us-Please
From 2024: A focus on overtourism overlooks destinations’ problems: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Overtourism-focus-misses-destination-problems
From 2024: Overtourism solutions: putting residents first https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Tourism-related-issues-need-right-approach-experts-say
Tourism Cares: https://www.tourismcares.org/
Note: This episode is ahead of the news: A column by Christina Jelski on Trina White and the Parkside Hotel & Spa will be published later this week.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's still a niche trend, but maybe not for long: Younger travelers are increasingly seeking out alcohol-free tours. The rise of tour options for sober and sober-curious travelers comes as more people are cutting back on booze -- or eliminating it altogether.
In this episode we’re examining the trend with Heather Leisman, the president of EF Ultimate Break, and tours editor Brinley Hineman. Among our topics today: What is sober curious travel, whether zero-proof and mocktail culture have contributed to the trend, what’s the vibe on a sober tour and how travel options can be expanded for those living the sober lifestyle.
This episode was recorded April 18 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by The TTC Tour Brands https://agents.ttc.com/login
Related links:
There's a growing thirst of sober travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Growing-thirst-for-sober-travel
Due to high interest, EF Ultimate Break adds more sober tours https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/EF-Ultimate-Break-adds-more-sober-tours
A 2022 home-based travel agent insight: Exploring, and enjoying, sober travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Insights/Exploring-and-enjoying-sober-travel
A 2022 cover story: Zero-proof cocktails are in demand at high-end hotels and cruise ships https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Hold-the-booze
EF Ultimate Break's Sober Adventures https://www.efultimatebreak.com/trip-collections/sober-adventures
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After the new Department of Government Efficiency began making cuts to the federal workforce, Travel Weekly began looking at the effect of those cuts on travel advisors, particularly those who are Washington-based and may have clients who are employed by the government.
And we decided to go further with a reader survey about the effects of government cutbcks on travel. Retail editor Jamie Biesiada and host Rebecca Tobin talk about the results of that survey today, which included overall concerns our survey respondents had about travel, and whether their clients are feeling anxious about traveling abroad.
This episode was recorded Friday April 4 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by The TTC Tour Brands https://agents.ttc.com/login
Related links:
Travel advisors voice their concerns about federal job cuts and the economy https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Travel-agents-voice-concerns-federal-job-cuts
After tariff turmoil, there’s concern that Trump’s policies will hurt travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Tariff-turmoil-causes-worries-about-travel
Federal job cuts affect official and leisure travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Federal-government-layoffs-affect-travel
From Travel Weekly’s archives (2001): Camouflage passports https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Reality-Bytes-A-new-identity-in-a-crisis
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
With Seatrade Cruise Global opening this week, it’s the industry’s time to hear from the biggest voices in cruise, and we’re adding our voices here. Host Rebecca Tobin, cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and news editor Johanna Jainchill look at a wrapup to Wave season, whether tariff talk or stock market convulsions have impacted the business and what to expect from two big cruise ship debuts this week.
And we say farewell to Andrea: We talk about our favorite stories from her three years at Travel Weekly, and where she’s headed next – and her serendipitous “trail name” of Water Girl.
This episode was recorded April 4 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by The TTC Tour Brands https://agents.ttc.com/login
Related links
There’s tariff talk and stock market unease, but Carnival Corp. says its brands are thriving https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/tariff-threats-stock-volatility-Carnival-thriving
Latest on Cruising’s Wave: Analyst says 2025 is a ‘strong’ year https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/analyst-says-strong-wave-season-2025
Carnival Corp.’s private-destination update: Update, build and promote https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-private-destination-plan
Norwegian Aqua preview: Many pluses for the Prima-plus ship https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Many-pluses-on-the-upcoming-Norwegian-Aqua
Alaska’s cruise conundrum: How Juneau is managing the crowds https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Alaska-cruise-conundrum
Next-gen Internet at sea (from 2022) https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Nextgen-internet-at-sea
Andrea Zelinski’s Instagram: @adventuresofwatergirl
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode we talk about a phenomenon that has surfaced after President Trump took office: A cooling of travel demand to the U.S. from Canada. And as we’re seeing now, the demand drop may be deeper than originally thought.
On this discussion, Natasha Lair-McKenty, the managing editor of TravelPulse Canada, and McKenzie McMillan, a travel advisor at Vancouver-based The Travel Group, about what some Canadian travelers are thinking and why, the importance of the Canadian market to the U.S. travel businesses, where they’re going instead of the U.S. and how advisors are coping with the change.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by The TTC Tour Brands https://agents.ttc.com/login
Related links:
Canadians stay away from U.S. travel amid political backlash https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Canadians-stay-away-from-US-amid-political-backlash
Canada-U.S. air bookings down over 70% through summer, OAG says https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Air-travel-from-Canada-drops-for-key-summer-season
Tariff talk seems to chill some travel from Canda to the U.S. https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Tariff-talk-effect-travel-Canada-to-USA
Arnie Weissmann's column "Welcome to Fortress America!" https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/Welcome-to-Fortress-America
Travel Pulse Canada https://www.travelpulse.ca/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week we’re talking again about Southwest Airlines, which shocked some of its loyal customers about two weeks ago by getting rid of its long-advertised “bags fly free” perk. But that’s just one in a series of changes Southwest is making that make it seem, well, less like Southwest and more like traditional legacy airlines: Adding extra-legroom seats, eliminating open seating and updating its loyalty strategy.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, airlines editor Robert Silk and Hospitio founder Brad Beakley break down some of the changes and ask -- why? How will flyers benefit? What else does Southwest need to do to compete with the Big Three? And what will it take for Southwest to retain the “love?”
This episode was recorded March 21 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by The TTC Tour Brands https://agents.ttc.com/login
Related links:
Southwest CEO: No competitive advantage from free checked bags https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Southwest-scraps-free-checked-bags-analysis
Southwest quietly reduces reward points for lowest fareshttps://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Southwest-quietly-cuts-reward-points-for-lowest-fares
Frontier taunts Southwest with free-checked-bags promotion https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Frontier-taunts-Southwest-checked-bag-promotion
The Dallas Observer op/ed on Southwest: https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/dallas-southwest-airlines-gets-worse-with-end-of-free-bag-policy-21906895
Is Southwest's planned ascent too slow for key investor? https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Is-Southwest-planned-ascent-too-slow-for-Elliott
Brad Beakley's consultancy firm Hospitio https://www.hospitio.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How has the Trump administration has been impacting hotels and travel? One might look at the visitation numbers in the Palm Beaches area of Florida, where President Trump's Mar a Lago estate is located, to see one impact of a “Trump bump” on visitation. Another aspect is the immigration crackdown -- and whether the administration's plans to deport illegal workers has had any impact within the hospitality business.
In this episode, Travel Weekly hotels editor Christina Jelski and Peter Ricci, the director of the Hospitality and Tourism Management program at Florida Atlantic University, talk about both topics.
In our first section: How the Palm Beaches has surpassed Miami-Dade in key hotel metrics and why Trump's presence might be drawing visitors to the region. In the second half of the episode: Whether hotels should be concerned about the specter of mass deportations, and the continuing scarcity of hospitality workers.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by The TTC Tour Brands https://agents.ttc.com/login
Related links
Palm Beach's presidential presence gives the area's tourism a 'Trump bump' https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Palm-Beach-presidential-presence-gives-area-tourism-Trump-bump
Hospitality grapples with the specter of mass deportations https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hospitality-grapples-with-specter-of-mass-deportations
Immigration policy concerns take center stage at the ALIS conference https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Immigration-policy-concerns-at-ALIS
Peter Ricci's bio https://www.fau.edu/experts/profile/?expert=peter.ricci
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Travel advisors are often encouraged to seek out the more stable, and more lucrative, luxury market. But one question you might not have asked yourself is: What if you can’t speak the language? There’s definitely a right way to communicate with luxury-market clientele, both obvious and subtle.
On this episode host Rebecca Tobin and senior editor Jamie Beisiada talk with travel experts from Embark Beyond: CEO Jack Ezon and advisor Laura Worth, who have identified this challenge – and created a series of training modules to help advisors follow the Billionaire’s Calendar; converse beyond travel in art, fashion and yachts; how to read luxury-brand tea leaves; and ways advisors can “fake it till they make it.”
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by The TTC Tour Brands https://agents.ttc.com/login
Related links:
Learning the language of luxury https://www.travelweekly.com/Luxury-Travel/Learning-the-language-of-luxury
The surge in the six-figure vacation https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/The-six-figure-vacation-surge
Embark Beyond on Travel Weekly's Power List https://www.travelweekly.com/Power-List-2024/Embark-Beyond
Laura Worth of of Art & Travel https://www.artandtravel.net/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nearly everybody gets travel inspiration from the social media accounts they follow, or from accounts that are shown on their feeds. Today we’re looking at the people who have charted a path down food and travel influencing – or, as they like to be known, content creators – but specifically by and for Black food and travel businesses and travelers. And we’re mingling this with a new study from MMGY that talks about the size and scope of the Black travel market, now up to a spend of $145 billion in 2023, mostly on transportation and food and beverage.
Talking travel and content creation today are the author of our cover story on the subject, Mariette Williams, and Richmond, Va.-based Dominic Brown, who created and manages the account and website Tall Travel Eats.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by TTC Tour Brands https://agents.ttc.com/login
Related links
Black food influencers explore and inspire https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Following-Black-influencers
MMGY’s latest report on Black travel spending: https://mmgyintel.com/u-s-black-travel-market-is-now-a-145-billion-audience-according-to-new-research/
Dominic Brown https://talltraveleats.com/
Mariette Williams https://www.instagram.com/mariettewrites/
Instagram accounts for influencers in this episode
Dominic Brown aka @talltraveleats https://www.instagram.com/talltraveleats/
Sierra Redmond aka @Iamsierrared https://www.instagram.com/iamsierrared
Mitzie Lewis aka @Frencht0asty https://www.instagram.com/frencht0asty
Avyana Chapman aka @Goodeatsonlyyy https://www.instagram.com/goodeatsonlyyy/
Journeys With Kris aka @journeyswithkris https://www.instagram.com/journeyswithkris/
Martinique Lewis aka @marty_sandiego https://www.instagram.com/marty_sandiego/
Black Foodie https://www.instagram.com/blackfoodie.co/
Shakeema Smith, aka The Passport Abuser https://www.instagram.com/thepassportabuser/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Last week, Cruise Planners CEO Michelle Fee and Norwegian Cruise Line sales exec John Chernesky joined cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and host Rebecca Tobin to talk about the new cruise-ship class of 2025. This week, they're talking about Wave season, the industry’s period of big sales and good deals, and general trends.
Is year’s Wave a wave or a tsunami? Other topics of note: Does Wave start in January, or has it moved backwards into the holiday season? And what’s the story with onboard spending?
This week, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings will report its Q4 and full-year 2024 results, and that will provide additional color into how this year’s Wave is going. We’ll try to provide an update to that in our upcoming Folo episodes. This episode was recorded Feb. 5, nearly three weeks ahead of NCLH's earnings call. The episode has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Riverside Luxury Cruises: https://www.riverside-cruises.com
Related links:
Andrea Zelinski's reporting on the 2025 Wave season: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Early-report-2025-Wave-season
Royal Caribbean Group's record start to Wave: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-Group-reports-record-start-to-Wave-season
Carnival Corp. sets company record for full-year revenue: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-Corp-earnings-Q4-2024
Our previous episode with Michelle Fee and John Chernesky on new ships in 2025: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/the-importance-of-new-cruise-ships-of-2025
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We’re back with new episodes of the Folo, and we’re kicking it off with two back-to- back episodes about cruise. And why not -- it’s Wave season.
In this first episode we have three cruise industry experts talking about the new ships coming out in 2025: Cruise Planners CEO Michelle Fee; Norwegian Cruise Line senior vice president of North America sales John Chernesky; and Travel Weekly cruise editor Andrea Zelinski. From big ships to small, in the luxury and contemporary categories, what drives cruisers to these ships? Is big better? How have these new cruise ships evolved to cater to customer demand?
This is part 1 of a two-part series. Next week: Early signs of Wave season.
This episode was recorded Feb. 5 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Riverside Luxury Cruises
https://www.riverside-cruises.com
Related links
Cruising’s new-ship class of 2025, parts 1 and 2
https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/new-ship-class-of-2025-part-1
https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/new-ship-class-of-2025-part-2
Many pluses on the upcoming Norwegian Aqua https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Many-pluses-on-the-upcoming-Norwegian-Aqua
Cruise Planners: https://www.cruiseplaners.com
Norwegian Cruise Line: https://www.ncl.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
One trend we've noticed taking shape recently is the rising popularity of women-only tours. From on-the-ground adventures in far flung destinations like Saudi Arabia and Morocco to a luxurious river cruise in France’s wine country, there are options galore for today’s so-called “queenagers.”
In this episode, reporter Tom Stieghorst shares his insights and his reporting, and Shirnett Fleet, the chief marketing officer of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, talks about what women-only tours offer, where the trend is headed and why it's moved from niche to mainstream.
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded Nov. 21 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Riverside Luxury Cruises https://www.riverside-cruises.com
Related links
Women-only tours: A niche that is going mainstream https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/The-growth-of-women-only-tours
A women-only cruise leans into luxury https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/women-only-river-cruise-uniworld-luxury
Uniworld: https://www.uniworld.com
Background on the term 'queenager' https://eleanormills.substack.com/p/eleanors-letter-what-is-a-queenager
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week we’re featuring the second half of a special episode of Trade Secrets, a sister podcast to the Folo by Travel Weekly that is co-produced by Jamie Biesiada, a senior editor at Travel Weekly, and Emma Weissmann, the executive editor of TravelAge West.
In this episode, Jamie and Emma take a rapid-fire look at 25 trends for 2025, starting in the mid-teens and working their way up to Number 25. This second half is a little more travel industry- and advisor- focused. Let us know if you're seeing any of these trends come to the fore at your agency.
This episode has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Riverside Luxury Cruises https://www.riverside-cruises.com
Related links:
Part 1 of Trade Secrets 25 trends for 2025: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/trade-secrets-editors-predict-travel-trends-1
A host of problems https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/A-host-of-problems
New details emerge on Universal Horror Unleashed experience in Las Vegas https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/new-detail-Universal-Horror-Unleashed-Las-Vegas
Travel Weekly's 2024 Travel Industry Survey https://www.travelweekly.com/For-Travel-Agents/Travel-Industry-Survey
V-shaped plane is one step closer to reality https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/V-shaped-plane-is-one-step-closer-to-reality
The new autonomous wheelchairs at Miami Airport https://news.miami-airport.com/miami-dade-mayor-and-american-airlines-announce-new-autonomous-wheelchairs-at-mia/
Additional info:
The music used in the Trade Secrets podcast is Sock Hop, by Kevin MacLeod
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week on the Folo by Travel Weekly we are featuring a special episode of Trade Secrets, a sister podcast to the Folo that is co-produced by Jamie Biesiada, a senior editor at Travel Weekly, and Emma Weissmann, the executive editor of TravelAge West. In this episode, Jamie and Emma take a rapid-fire look at 25 trends for 2025.
This episode is split into two parts: The first, which you're listening to here, focuses on consumer-related travel trends that Emma and Jamie think will be popular. The second half, which is a little more travel industry- and advisor- focused, will air next week.
This episode was edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode of the Folo by Travel Weekly is sponsored by Collette Vacations: https://www.gocollette.com/travel-advisors
Related links:
From Travel Weekly: Preview 2025 https://www.travelweekly.com/preview-2025
From TravelAge West, The top 5 trends for 2025
From TravelAge West, This cruise expert reached $3 million in annual sales using TikTok
From Travel Weekly, Women-only tours: A niche that is going mainstream
From Travel Weekly, Summer of the destination ‘dupes’
Additional notes:
The music used in the Trade Secrets podcast is Sock Hop, by Kevin MacLeod
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We’re turning to every traveler’s favorite – or least favorite – topic this week, and that’s airfares. After aviation editor Robert Silk wrote an article on which way air prices are trending in 2025, we asked Scott Keyes, the founder of Going -- an app that combines software and human Flight Experts to uncover flight deals and mistake fares and send them to its 2 million-plus members -- to come onto the episode with Silk and host Rebecca Tobin.
Together, we unpack the numbers further and ask: Why are fares trending upward? What does that mean for airfare bargain-hunters? And when is the best time to book a flight (and should you wait for a last-second deal)?
This episode was recorded Jan. 17 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Collette Vacations: www.gocollette.com/travel-advisors
Related links:
Higher airfares are expected in the first half of 2025 https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Higher-airfares-expected-first-half-2025
Going https://www.going.com/
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In last week’s episode we delved into the trends and predictions for several aspects of the travel business: aviation, cruise, hotel and the outlook for travel advisors. This week, host Rebecca Tobin asks Tom Stieghorst, our interim cruise and river cruise editor, to share some of his findings for 2025. We draw on a new survey from the U.S. Tour Operators Association to look at what tour operators are most concerned about. And, of course, we look at top destinations for travelers this year.
In the last section of the episode, we have the final piece of the initial discussion: Where the rest of our travel team is headed this year. Each trip reveals a minitrend in destination or travel style, like the opening of a new theme park in Orlando, expedition travel to Antarctica, the popularity of Las Vegas and, for your Folo diehards out there, competitive sitting.
These episodes were recorded separately. The interview with Tom Stieghorst took place Jan. 3, and the discussion with the other editors was Dec. 13. Both were edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Collette Vacations https://www.gocollette.com/travel-advisors
Related links:
Preview 2025 https://www.travelweekly.com/Preview-2025
Politics replaces the economy as a chief concern of tour operators https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Politics-chief-concern-USTOA-poll
Globus gears up for a big year in Italy https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Globus-gearing-up-for-busy-year-in-Italy?ct=tours
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Welcome to our annual Preview episode, where we gaze into our crystal ball and draw on interviews with expert sources to talk about what we’ll be seeing in the next 12 months, travel-wise.
In this episode we examine the overall health of the business, changes in the luxury sector and what might happen on the aviation-regulatory-merger front, especially with the Trump administration set to enter.
Featuring: Host Rebecca Tobin and four of Travel Weekly’s senior editors: Jamie Biesiada, who covers retail; Andrea Zelinski, who covers cruise; Robert Silk, who covers aviation; and Christina Jelski, who covers hospitality.
This conversation was recorded Dec. 13, 2024, so a note of caution: At some points in this conversation we make reference to “this year” and “next year” which can be stand-in terms for 2024 and 2025, depending on the context.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Collette Vacations https://www.gocollette.com/travel-advisors
Related links:
Travel Weekly's 2025 Preview https://www.travelweekly.com/Preview-2025
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It’s time for our semi-annual drop-in to the ski industry. Dan Sherman of Ski.com, ski blogger and podcaster Stuart Winchester and our in-house ski reporter Robert Silk talk about the major trends for skiers and riders, namely, Japan and Europe. There's big demand for ski vacations this year: Why?
We talk about the tricks to scoring cheaper-than-the-window ticket pricing, which at some resorts is now at or above $300. And the big question each December: Where is everybody headed this year?
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded Nov. 12 and has been edited for insight and clarity.
Related links:
Alterra CEO addresses soaring daily prices at ski resorts https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Alterra-CEO-addresses-soaring-daily-prices
Big and small resorts: The Colorado Ski experience https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Focus-on-Ski-Mountain-Travel-2024
Deer Valley expansion is ahead of schedule https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Deer-Valley-expansion-ahead-of-schedule
Rebecca Tobin's report on Jackson Hole: Rising to new challenges at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Rising-to-new-challenges-at-Jackson-Hole
Stuart Winchester's Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast https://www.stormskiing.com/
Ski.com https://www.ski.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Travel Industry Survey is our annual, premier research product that surveys travel advisors about their business. To dig deeper into the report’s data and talk about how it dovetails with everyday business trends, we’ve invited retail reporter Jamie Biesiada and news editor Johanna Jainchill to talk about what the survey said about booking trends, preferred products, education and support, technology uses, marketing strategies, outlook and concerns.
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded Nov. 12 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Travel Industry Survey is produced in partnership with Phocuswright, the travel research company under the Northstar Travel Group umbrella.
Related links
Travel Industry Survey 2024: https://www.travelweekly.com/Industry-Survey-2024
Travel Industry Survey 2023: https://www.travelweekly.com/industry-survey-2023
Phocuswright: https://www.phocuswright.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s time for our annual Year in Review discussion, where we look back at some of the biggest travel-related stories and trends of 2024. Joining us on this episode is news editor Johanna Jainchill, the architect of our Year in Review report, and retail editor Jamie Biesiada, to talk (among others) about travel “normalization,” the embrace of generative AI, a big year for cruise, companies that went under in 2024, American Airlines’ failed NDC strategy and the Taylor Swift effect on travel.
This episode was recorded Dec. 13 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related articles
The year in review, 2024 https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/2024-year-in-review
Growth has slowed, but it's still a great time for the travel industry https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/WTTC-Global-Summit-2024
Is this cruising's 'golden era'? https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Is-this-cruising-golden-era
Q&A with Hornblower CEO Mike Flaskey https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Mike-Flaskey-Hornblower-Group
The Taylor Swift effect on hotels https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Taylor-Swift-effect-on-hotels
Alienating travel agencies could cost American $1.5 billion https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/American-Airlines-earnings-Q2-2024
Arnie Weissmann's From the Window Seat column, July 2022: Travel's pandemic bankruptcy record https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/With-Crystal-revival-a-major-miracle
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week’s travel trend is the growing popularity of women-only tours. From on-the-ground adventures in far flung destinations like Saudi Arabia and Morocco to a luxurious river cruise in France’s wine country, there are options galore for today’s so-called “queenagers.”
We’ve asked reporter Tom Stieghorst to share his insights and his reporting, and Shirnett Fleet, the chief marketing officer of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, to talk about what women-only tours offer, where the trend is headed and why it's moved from niche to mainstream.
This episode was recorded Nov. 21 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related links
Women-only tours: A niche that is going mainstream https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/The-growth-of-women-only-tours
A women-only cruise leans into luxury https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/women-only-river-cruise-uniworld-luxury
Uniworld: https://www.uniworld.com
Background on the term 'queenager' https://eleanormills.substack.com/p/eleanors-letter-what-is-a-queenager
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s time for our semi-annual drop-in to the ski industry. It’s the unofficial start to the season, so it seemed like a perfect time to gather a few experts -- Dan Sherman of Ski.com, ski blogger and podcaster Stuart Winchester and our in-house ski reporter Robert Silk -- to talk about the major trends for skiers and riders, namely, Japan. And Europe. There's big demand for ski vacations this year: Why? We talk about the tricks to scoring cheaper-than-the-window ticket pricing, which at some resorts is now at or above $300.
And the big question each December: Where is everybody headed this year?
This episode was recorded Nov. 12 and has been edited for insight and clarity.
Related links:
Alterra CEO addresses soaring daily prices at ski resorts https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Alterra-CEO-addresses-soaring-daily-prices
Big and small resorts: The Colorado Ski experience https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Focus-on-Ski-Mountain-Travel-2024
Deer Valley expansion is ahead of schedule https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Deer-Valley-expansion-ahead-of-schedule
Rebecca Tobin's report on Jackson Hole: Rising to new challenges at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Rising-to-new-challenges-at-Jackson-Hole
Stuart Winchester's Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast https://www.stormskiing.com/
Ski.com https://www.ski.com
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Black Friday has become a bona fide travel phenomenon, encompassing not only the day itself and the burgeoning Travel Tuesday, but stretching into an entire season.
To talk about trends in length of the sales, destinations on sale and other observations, we’ve invited Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper, and Travel Weekly senior editor for hospitality Christina Jelski to talk about what they’ve seen this year.
This episode was recorded Thursday Nov. 22 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related links:
Black Friday travel promotions extend well before and after Thanksgiving https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Black-Friday-travel-promotions-2024
Hopper https://www.hopper.com
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The Travel Industry Survey is our annual, premier research product that surveys travel advisors about their business: Booking trends, preferred products, education and support, technology uses, marketing strategies, outlook and concerns.
This year, to dig deeper into the report’s data and talk about how it dovetails with everyday business trends, we’ve invited retail reporter Jamie Biesiada and news editor Johanna Jainchill – our chief editorial stewards of the Survey – to talk.
This episode was recorded Tuesday Nov. 12 and has been edited for length and clarity.
The Travel Industry Survey is produced in partnership with Phocuswright, the travel research company under the Northstar Travel Group umbrella.
Related links:
Travel Industry Survey: https://www.travelweekly.com/Industry-Survey-2024
Travel Industry Survey 2023: https://www.travelweekly.com/Industry-Survey-2023
Phocuswright: https://www.phocuswright.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s only been a few days since the election, but already we’re wondering: What will happen to travel policy under the Trump administration?
Naturally quite a bit can change from Biden to Trump -- and even from the first Trump administration -- and in this episode we talk with Johanna Jainchill, our news editor and travel-policy reporter, and View from the Wing’s Gary Leff about what kids of changes we might expect on several fronts: visa processing and travel bans, antitrust and airline combinations, the FAA, recent rules on refunds and disclosures, plus what might become of extensive requests for information from the departments of justice and transportation.
This episode was recorded Friday, Nov. 8 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related links
From air mergers to visas: How Trump's win could impact travel policy https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Travel-expects-policy-changes-as-Trump-wins-the-presidency
Travel groups congratulate Trump and lay out policy agendas https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/travel-groups-congratulate-trump-on-presidency
View from the Wing https://viewfromthewing.com/
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In this episode, we’re talking about the positive momentum in the cruise industry with senior editor Andrea Zelinski. Now that the third quarter has closed, and our annual CruiseWorld conference is about to begin in Fort Lauderdale, we ask: What are travel advisors, analysts and the cruise lines themselves seeing in cruise – and what are some of the scenarios that would break the cruise lines' stride?
This episode was recorded Friday, Nov. 1 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related links
Is this cruising's 'golden era'? https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Is-this-cruising-golden-era
The biggest cruise developments this year, according to travel advisors https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Focus-on-Cruise-What-advisors-are-buzzing-about
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings breaks another performance record https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Norwegian-Cruise-Line-Q3-2024-earnings-report
CEO says new cruisers are flocking to Royal Caribbean Group https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-Group-earnings-Q3-2024
Carnival Corp. continues record streak of revenue https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-Corp-continues-streak-record-revenue
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The tensions in the Middle East have been front and center for more than a year, from Hamas’ attack on Israel and continuing with escalations between Israel and Iran. What does that mean for travel in the region?
Thanks to reporting by acting tours editor Tom Stieghorst, we’ve got a snapshot of travel demand – and in this episode he talks with news editor Johanna Jainchill and host Rebecca Tobin about how and where people are traveling to the region.
This conversation was recorded Oct. 18 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com
Related links:
Middle East tension stays high, and travel stays slow https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Middle-East-tension-stays-high-travel-slow
Delta extends pause on Israel flights through the end of 2024 https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Delta-extends-Israel-flight-pause-end-2024
Travel executives visit Israel with the goal to 'inspire and educate' https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Travel-executives-visit-Israel-with-a-mission
From the Window Seat: Should independent travelers engage in thorny foreign politics? https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/The-meaning-of-meaning
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In this episode we’re looking at the impacts of hurricanes Milton and Helene on Florida’s tourism economy. Florida is such an important state for tourism that whenever a hurricane slams through it’s news. Here, host Rebecca Tobin, hotels editor Christina Jelski and Peter Ricci, the director of the Tourism and Hospitality Management program at Florida Atlantic University, talk about how the recent hurricanes might reshape the tourism landscape on Florida's Gulf Coast. We also discuss short-and long-term impacts to other travel destinations like Orlando and the right kind of marketing messaging that would encourage travelers to return after a storm.
What’s the status of tourism in the hard-hit areas of North Carolina? We’ve added links to the show notes about travel organizations' relief and fundraising efforts.
This episode was recorded Oct. 17 and has been edited for length and clarity. It’s important to note that this is a developing story, so any information in this episode about cities or regions might be change as the hurricane recovery process continues.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com
Related links:
After Milton's wrath, experts see a reshaping of Florida's West Coast https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Reshaping-Florida-tourism-after-Milton-and-Helene
How does American Airlines prep for a hurricane? A visit to its operations center shows how https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/How-does-AA-prep-for-a-hurricane
Relief efforts:
Internova charity arm seeks to help travel professionals affected by Helene https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Internova-help-for-Helene-affected-advisors
Carnival president skydives over Tampa for hurricane relief https://www.carnival-news.com/2024/10/19/carnival-cruise-line-president-christine-duffy-skydives-over-tampa-for-hurricane-relief
Community Resources and travel information, via Explore Asheville https://always.exploreasheville.com/
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Earlier in this season, we talked about the popularity and trends surrounding all-inclusive resorts. But some listeners – advisors and travelers alike – may not know there’s a growing all-inclusive market in Europe. And the resorts are different from the traditional inclusive properties in Punta Cana or Cancun.
On this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and hotels editor Christina Jelski brought together three advisors -- Abbey Meyer, cofounder of Sky High Travel Advisors, Heather Huber, an advisor with Vincent Vacations; and Lynnette Pena, independent travel advisor with CS Elements Travel -- with whom she traveled to Mallorca, Spain, to see two all-inclusive resorts under the Secrets and Zoetry brands. We discuss the differences between those resorts and the traditional product; plus the difference between the Secrets and Zoetry. Who might be the best client, and why?
This episode was recorded Monday, Oct. 7, and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com
Stay on at the end of his episode for an interview with AmaWaterways' Michal Maguire, vice president of marketing, conducted by Mary Pat Sullivan, the executive vice president of marketing and brand partnerships for Travel Weekly.
Related reports
Hyatt is counting on advisors to promote Europe all-inclusives to Americans https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hyatt-promotion-Europe-all-inclusives
After a demand boom for all-inclusives, signs point to a slowdown https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Slowdown-all-inclusive-demand
AMResorts showcases its stable of European all-inclusives (from 2022) https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/AMResorts-showcases-Europe-all-inclusives
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We’re now in the run-up to the holidays, also known as the festive season. And it’s a busy time for travel advisors planning their clients’ last big trip of the year. But this year, things are a little different.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and retail editor Jamie Biesiada talk with travel advisors affiliated with the Gifted Travel Network – Jamey Duffy of Duffy Destinations and Robin Hutson of Luxe Recess – as well as Gifted chief sales and marketing officer Vanessa McGovern, to talk about this year's pace of bookings, where people are going, what they want out of their vacations, and tips for travelers heading out of town during the holidays.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com
Related links:
Home-based agent insight: Festive season gets going https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Insights/Festive-season-gets-going
Gifted Travel Network https://www.giftedtravelnetwork
Luxe Recess: https://www.luxerecess.com
Duffy Destinations: https://www.duffydestinations.com
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At the beginning of September the U.S. Department of Transportation began an investigation into airline loyalty programs of American, Delta, United and Southwest. The goal, it said, was to protect consumers from potential unfair, deceptive or anticompetitive practice. And as DOT secretary Pete Buttigieg said, airline rewards programs have become a “meaningful part of the U.S. economy and a major part of the airline business model.” How big? The trade group Airlines for America has estimated that there are nearly 30 million U.S. airline-industry credit card holders.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, aviation editor Robert Silk and Nick Ewen, senior editorial director at The Points Guy, take a look at the DOT probe and a new bill that targets loyalty points. Plus we talk about the value of the programs to consumers, and how to best to use those points, top perks and more.
This episode was recorded Tuesday Sept. 24 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com
Related links
The DOT probe into loyalty programs: Necessary move or overreach? https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/DOT-airline-rewards-probe-analysis
Sen. Dick Durbin takes aim at airline loyalty programs in new bill https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Durbin-bill-airline-loyalty-programs
The Points Guy https://thepointsguy.com/
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Cruising in Alaska has ballooned in popularity since the pandemic. The lines have invested newer, bigger ships and stretched the season longer. But as growth occurs, concerns of overtourism rise, too. The capital, Juneau, is introducing passenger limits in order to curb crowding, and other ports are watching the move closely.
On this episode, host Rebecca Tobin talks with cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and Russell Dick, the CEO of Alaska native corporation Huna Totem, which has been working in cruise port development for 20 years, on the current situation in the Last Frontier. Huna Totem has a different perspective on cruise growth, and its port-development plan is one its on which its hoping to expand.
This episode was recorded Sept. 6 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways: https://www.amawaterways.com
Related links:
Huna Totem Corp. https://www.hunatotem.com/
Alaska's cruise conundrum https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Alaska-cruise-conundrum
On the Record: Carnival Corp.'s Robert Morgenstern on the future of Alaska cruising https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Robert-Morgenstern-Carnival-Corp-Alaska-cruising
Royal Caribbean is partnering to bring free Internet access to downtown Juneau https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Alaska-cruise-conundrum
Tyler Hickman of Icy Strait Point on growth and managing Alaska cruising https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Tyler-Hickman-Icy-Strait-Point
Cruise lines tap Alaska demand with record deployment https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-lines-tap-Alaska-demand-record-deployment
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One of the more ambitious plans to come out of cruising’s pandemic pause was from Royal Caribbean International: a world cruise on the Serenade of the Seas. It was notable for being an extremely long cruise, at 274 days, and from a contemporary line – a brand not used to the nuances of a lengthy voyage. And not only did Royal Caribbean embark on what it called the Ultimate World Cruise, it took on social media influencers who chronicled the trip on a day-by-day – and even hour by hour – basis.
The cruise wrapped this month in Miami, with Royal Caribbean brass joining the Serenade for its last few days down the eastern seaboard. On this episode, host Rebecca Tobin talks with Royal’s senior vice president of sales, service and trade marketing Vicki Freed about the endeavor: Why it was conceived, how it blossomed into a nearly yearlong cruise, a big advisor sale and lessons learned for a (possible) future world cruise.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com
Related reports:
Royal Caribbean International: www.royalcaribbean.com
A TikTok sensation, Royal Caribbean's world cruise comes to an end https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Ultimate-World-Cruise-analysis
Cruise Insight: A new era of world cruising https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/Holland-America-world-cruise-new-era
The Ultimate World Cruise is a social media bonanza https://www.travelweekly.com/Richard-Turen/This-might-be-the-worlds-biggest-cruise-story
Michael Bayley talks Icon and the world cruise at CruiseWorld https://www.travelweekly.com/CruiseWorld-Coverage/Bayley-talks-Royal-Caribbean-world-cruise-and-Ikon-of-the-Seas
Travel advisor books top suite on Royal's world cruise https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Travel-advisor-books-top-suite-Royal-Caribbean-world-cruise
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Southwest is having an unusual moment: An aviation industry stalwart that’s typically posted solid results, it has attracted the attention of activist investor Elliott Investment Management, which is calling for change, including the ouster of chairman Gary Kelly and CEO Bob Jordan.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, aviation editor Robby Silk and guest Gary Leff, author of the View from the Wing blog, discuss Southwest’s headwinds, why Elliott is so keen to make changes and why Southwest is such an unusual company in the aviation space.
Update: On Tuesday, Sept. 10, Southwest made changes to its board: Six members will step down, and chairman Gary Kelly will leave next spring. The shakeup comes after a meeting between Southwest and Elliott, but Elliott did not immediately withdraw its proxy challenge. https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Gary-Kelly-out-as-Southwest-chairman
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com/agent-home
Related reports:
View from the Wing https://viewfromthewing.com/
Southwest meets with investor that wants a CEO change https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Southwest-to-meet-with-activist-investor-Elliott
Will changes coming to Southwest help or hurt the brand? https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/How-will-Southwest-changes-affect-brand
Southwest now displaying fares on Kayak leisure site https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Southwest-now-displaying-flights-on-Kayak-leisure-site
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There's been a rise in demand for all-inclusive resorts, which have gotten more numerous -- and upscale -- in recent years. But in a recent story, hotels editor Christina Jelski reported that at Hyatt, a major player in the market, growth in revenue per available room for its all-inclusive properties slowed in Q2. And we heard from executives from Hyatt to Sandals that demand is moderating or normalizing as the postpandemic travel boom begins to ebb.
What’s happening for all-inclusives, and what should advisors and travelers expect next? We talk about his vacation category with Jelski and Geoff Millar, co-owner of Ultimate All-Inclusive Vacations and Ultimate Hawaii Vacations.
This episode was recorded Aug. 26 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com/agent-home
Related reports:
After demand boom for all-inclusive vacations, signs point to a slowdown https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Slowdown-all-inclusive-demand
Travel's boom run of bookings may be tapering off this year https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Travel-boom-may-be-tapering-off-this-year
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode we talk about the evolution of the term “overtourism,” which has been used a lot this summer as the post-pandemic tourism boom has continued on. The flash point was protests in Barcelona, where protesters squirted outdoor diners with water guns and chanted “tourists go home.” But it’s not the only place where residents and travelers are feeling frustrated.
Our tours editor Nicole Edenedo, in writing about the Barcelona protests, wrote that travel experts "pointed out that a pitfall in discussing "overtourism" is how the term is often used as a blanket statement.” Today we’re teasing that sentiment out with Simon Hudson, a professor of tourism and hospitality at the University of South Carolina, and Tom Jenkins, the CEO of the European Tour Operators Association. and looking at the issues in a few big cities in Europe — Barcelona, Amsterdam, Venice to name a few.
This episode was recorded July 30 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Allianz Advantage https://www.allianzadvantage.com
Related reports
Barcelona protestors use water guns to squirt tourists in overtourism protest
A focus on overtourism overlooks destinations' problems
Overtourism solutions: putting residents first
Dispatch, Venice: How the city enforces a tourism tax on day-trippers
Cruise control: Overcrowding, pushback and how the industry is trying to help
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Welcome back to the Folo by Travel Weekly. After our annual summer break, we’re back with all-new episodes! We’re kicking off this series with a discussion into what’s happening on Maui, a year after the devastating, deadly fires.
The conversation builds off a cover story written by news editor Johanna Jainchill, who is joined by Sherry Duong, executive director of the Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau, and David Taylor, marketing director at Maui activities operator Kai Kenani.
In the episode Johanna, Sherry, David and host Rebecca Tobin talk about the anniversary of the fires, why visitor numbers and spending on Maui is still below average, whether visitors are welcome on Maui, the perception of Hawaii as an expensive vacation choice and more.
This conversation was recorded Monday, August 12 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Allianz Advantage https://www.allianzadvantage.com
Related reports
On the Record: Ilihia Gionson of the Hawaii Tourism Authoirty on the state's tourism slump https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Ilihia-Gionson-on-Hawaii-tourism-slump
Hawaii arrivals and spending remain down, a year after the Maui fires https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hawaii-arrivals-remain-down-year-after-Maui-fires
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode we’re delving into one of the more unique aspects of the cruise experience, and that’s the part that takes place on land. We’re talking, of course, about private islands and private destinations: areas on land that are managed by the cruise line and provide a dedicated area and special amenities to cruise passengers.
Senior cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and Cruise Planners advisor Mike Matthews talk with host Rebecca Tobin about the appeal of these places, the explosion of upgrades and expansions and why this is taking place.
This episode is the finale to our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded May 23 and has been edited for length and clarity.
New episodes begin next week!
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Allianz Advantage https://www.allianzadvantage.com
Related links:
Cruise lines and crowd control https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-lines-crowd-control
The evolution of cruising’s private islands https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/evolution-of-cruising-private-islands
Mike and Amy Matthews of Cruise Planners Fernandia Beach https://www.mmcruisetravel.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode we look at a company called Black In that's building tours to celebrate Black history and support Black-owned businesses in each destination. Our guests are the founders of Black In: Martinique Lewis, the creator of ABC Travel Greenbook and the president of the Black Travel Alliance, and Ashley Company, the owner of Jelani Travel. Tours editor Nicole Edenedo leads the discussion about Black In, how the tours are created and why.
In the second half of the episode, we discuss where the travel industry is overall in terms of diversity programs and inclusion efforts -- and what it could or should do next.
This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded April 23 and has been edited for length and clarity.
The Summer Series ends, and new episodes begin, later this month!
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Allianz Advantage https://www.allianzadvantage.com
Related reports
Black travel entrepreneurs launch tour company https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Black-travel-entrepreneurs-launch-tour-company
Shifting landscape of DEI in travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Shifting-landscape-of-DEI-in-travel
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We’ve got a two-parter episode for you this week. In our first segment we’re talking about one of the more heartwarming hospitality trends we’ve seen recently: Dogs in residence at hotels.
Hotels editor Christina Jelski brings on Joel Morales of Castlerock Asset Management, which manages the Bobby Hotel in Nashville, and Rauni Kew of the Inn by the Sea in Maine to talk about some of the logistics of training and managing a lobby dog; how it benefits the guests and the hotel; and the rescue, shelter, training and adoption partnerships that all feed into this pretty awesome trend.
In our second segment: In a previous episode we had antitrust lawyer Scott Wagner and aviation editor Robert Silk on to talk about the Spirit-JetBlue merger, and within three days of recording both airlines announced the agreement was ending. So we brought them back for a talk about what may have happened – and how executives or boards might feel when a deal goes kaput.
This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. The Spirit-JetBlue segment was recorded March 5, and the dogs-in-hotels segment was recorded March 8. Both were edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by JOIA Aruba by Iberostar. https://www.iberostar.com
Related links:
Lobby dogs:
Resident dogs bring friendly, furry faces to hotel lobbies https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hotels-with-pet-dogs-in-residence
Podcast episode from 2020: Have pet, will travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Travel-goes-to-the-dogs
A warm welcome at Teton Mountain Lodge and Spa (featuring lobby dog Scout) https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Warm-welcome-at-renovated-Teton-Mountain-Lodge-Spa
Spirit-JetBlue:
Regulatory hurdles were too much for Spirit and JetBlue to overcome https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Regulatory-hurdles-too-high-for-Spirit-JetBlue
Previous podcast episode: Spirit, JetBlue and antitrust law https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Spirit-JetBlue-merger-antitrust-law
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Imagine a guided tour, and your transportation is a Boeing 757 outfitted with 50 first-class seats. And the plane will fly you around the world in ultimate comfort to off-the-beaten-path locations to get rare glimpses of wildlife, immerse you in local culture and stay at fine, luxury resorts. Though it's not cheap to buy a seat on one of these tours, the world of private-jet touring is a steadily growing niche.
In this episode, Ann Epting, Abercrombie & Kent's senior vice president of private jet and special interest travel, and Rob Clabbers, the president of Q Cruise + Travel talk with host Rebecca Tobin about the type of traveler who books a private-jet tour, how the whole thing operates, the work that goes into planning and delivering an over-the-top private jet experience, the price of private-jet vacations and of course, the plane itself.
This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded March 29 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by JOIA Aruba by Iberostar. https://www.iberostar.com
Related links
Travel Weekly's cover story on private jet travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Luxury-Travel/Height-of-luxury-private-jet-tours
Abercrombie & Kent's fall private jet tour, "Wildlife and Nature Around the World" https://assets.abercrombiekent.com/pageflip/2024/Wildlife-Nature-ATW-PJ-2024/index.html
TCS World Travel https://www.tcsworldtravel.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Earlier this year, Carnival Corp. ordered an 180,000-gross-ton ship that will be the fourth in its Excel class. The very next day, Royal Caribbean International came through with another order for another Oasis class vessel -- its seventh. And after the episode was published, Carnival ordered a fifth Excel class ship. These ships, which all clock in the 6,000-passenger-plus size, will join megaships from MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line.
With Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class Utopia of the Seas debuting in Port Canaveral this week, it seemed like a perfect time to revisit this phenom. In this episode, Host Rebecca Tobin, cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and Geoff Cox, the vice president of sales and marketing for KHM Travel Group discuss: What these ship orders mean for Carnival and Royal in terms of corporate direction and passenger demands; the prevailing love for big, big ships; and how far the industry’s come since its Sovereign days.
This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded Feb. 16 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by JOIA Aruba by Iberostar. https://www.iberostar.com
Related reports:
Cruise Insight: How cruise lines organize megaships: Inside the 'zone' trend https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/how-cruise-lines-organize-megaships
Carnival to add fifth Excel-class ship https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-Cruise-Line-will-add-fifth-Excel-ship
Royal Caribbean orders a seventh Oasis-class ship https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-orders-seventh-Oasis-class-ship?ct=cruise
Royal Caribbean sets a new benchmark with Icon of the Seas https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-sets-new-benchmark-with-Icon
KHM Travel Group https://khmtravel.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What do Taylor Swift, March Madness, Formula 1 and a tiny weekend festival in Florida have in common? They’re all events-based travel, a category that is bringing in a tidal wave of business -- and standing the travel-booking process on its head.
In this episode host Rebecca Tobin talks with senior editor Nicole Edenedo; Kier Matthews, vice president of global luxury sales for On Location Experiences, a wholesale and hospitality supplier for sports and entertainment events; and Douglas Quinby, the CEO of Arival, about the types of events people travel for, who’s doing the traveling, how much they’re spending and how the travel industry should be thinking about catering to them, from stans to casual fans.
This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded March 18 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by JOIA Aruba by Iberostar. https://www.iberostar.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wellness travel is entering a new golden era: Spending is predicted to grow to $1 trillion annually in the next three years, according to the Global Wellness Institute. So what does it mean to travel for wellness in 2024?
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, senior editors Robert Silk and Christina Jelski and news editor Johanna Jainchill delve into their recent wellness-travel trips: Mindful surfing in Costa Rica, exclusive golfing at the new Sensei resort in California and a traditional wellness retreat in the Berkshires. What is “hard” and “soft” wellness travel? Is wellness travel expensive, or is that just a perception? And for the skeptics out there: Do the treatments work?
This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded March 8 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by JOIA Aruba by Iberostar. https://www.iberostar.com
Related reports:
Diving into wellness resorts: Three editors sample three takes on self-care https://www.travelweekly.com/Luxury-Travel/Diving-into-wellness-resorts
Wellness travel is still in demand, bringing new resorts to bloom https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Wellness-travel-new-resorts
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wanted: Travel agency seeks enthusiastic advisors eager for training.
Good travel sellers need training – on systems, on suppliers, on sales tactics and more. How does a travel agency train up new advisors? How long does it take to create a great advisor?
In honor of the 2024 Power List of the world's biggest travel agencies, which goes live this week, we're celebrating great travel agents by reissuing this episode. Folo host Rebecca Tobin and retail editor Jamie Biesiada speak with Gayle Smith and Sam Johnson of Prescription Travel -- hosted by Montecito Village Travel, No. 40 on the 2024 Power List -- about their innovative partnership with the University of Georgia’s hospitality-management program, as well as Smith’s passion for mentorship and which skills are critical to teach agents entering the business.
This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded May 9 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands. https://www.globusandcosmos.com and https://www.avalonwaterways.com
Related links:
Mentorship brings on the next generation of travel advisors https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Mentorship-next-generation-travel-advisors
Prescription Travel: https://prescriptiontravel.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Welcome to our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly episodes. In honor of Juneteenth, this week we're highlighting an episode about Henderson Travel, the first Black-owned, accredited travel agency in the U.S.
Among the topics owner Gaynelle Henderson and host Rebecca Tobin discuss: How Henderson Travel came to be in Atlanta in the 1950s, convincing Black Americans to travel abroad, its eventual focus on travel in West Africa, and the agency’s work with Black giants like Martin Luther King Jr.
This episode was initially published Feb. 20 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands. https://www.globusandcosmos.com and https://www.avalonwaterways.com
Related links:
The first Black travel agency flourished, overcoming immense challenges: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/The-first-Black-travel-agency-Henderson
Henderson Travel https://hendersontravel.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
With this year’s NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference just wrapped, it is a good time to look at the state of U.S. hotel business. And what we heard might surprise you. According to industry researchers STR, growth of RevPAR – that’s “revenue per available room” -- is now projected to be 2% this year, down from 4%. And luxury-hotel RevPAR growth is now predicted to be down 0.2%, instead of up 5%.
But is this downgrade troubling, or is it just a correction from the last few years of postpandemic growth? At the conference, hotel executives talked up the return of corporate travel, the growth of group bookings and the need to grow their brands' room counts. We delve into all that in this episode with Nicolas Graf, a clinical professor at NYU’s Jonathan Tisch Center of Hospitality, and hotels editor Christina Jelski.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands. https://www.globusandcosmos.com and https://www.avalonwaterways.com
Stay tuned at the end of the episode for a special sponsored interview with Globus’ chief sales officer Camille Olivere, led by Mary Pat Sullivan, executive vice president of marketing and partnerships for Northstar Travel Group.
Related links
Demand for U.S. hotels drops, forecast adjusted https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Demand-for-US-hotels-drops-forecast-adjusted
With leisure leveling off, hotel CEOs welcome a surge in business travel and groups https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hotel-CEO-panel-NYU-hotel-conference-2024
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Last month ultra low cost carrier Frontier made a surprise pricing move: It introduced a package of fare products designed to pull passenger away from its traditional unbundled offering.
In this episode, Travel Weekly aviation editor Robert Silk and Cranky Flier founder Brett Snyder discuss with host Rebecca Tobin: Why did Frontier make this move? What are the challenges facing ultra-low cost carriers? And will there be a response from its nearest discount-fare competitor Spirit?
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com https://www.avalonwaterways https://traveladvisorportal.com
Related links:
A new Frontier: Airline adds bundled fare options https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Frontier-Airlines-adds-bundled-fare-options
Spirit matches Frontier, ditching change and cancellation fees https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Spirit-matches-Frontier-eliminating-change-fees
JetBlue cuts cities and routes https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/JetBlue-cuts-cities-and-routes
Regulatory issues are too much for Spirit and JetBlue to overcome https://www.travelwekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Regulatory-hurdles-too-high-for-Spirit-JetBlue
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode we’re delving into one of the more unique aspects of the cruise experience, and that’s the one that takes place on land. We’re talking, of course, about private islands – or destinations – that are managed by the cruise line and provide dedicated spaces and special amenities to cruise passengers.
Senior cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and Mike Matthews, an advisor with Cruise Planners, talk with host Rebecca Tobin about the appeal of private cruise destinations, the explosion of upgrades and expansions and why this is taking place. Why some cruisers specifically seek out itineraries with private destinations. How private destinations are a solution to angst over cruise overtourism. Whether the private island concept could be expanded from the Caribbean to other areas of the globe. And how cruisers can find local culture in these places.
This episode was recorded May 23 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy. https://all-inclusive.marriott.com/
Related links:
The evolution of cruising’s private islands https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/evolution-of-cruising-private-islands
Cruise lines and crowd control https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-lines-crowd-control
Mike and Amy Matthews of Cruise Planners Fernandia Beach https://www.mmcruisetravel.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week we return to one of our favorite topics on the folo: The post-pandemic cost of travel. With pricing remaining high, we are continually asking our sources whether they’re seeing any resistance. In this episode, Travel Weekly's hotels editor Christina Jelski and host Rebecca Tobin talk about whether travelers on the upscale and luxury end of the travel spectrum are beginning to balk at high prices -- especially those who might be considered "aspirational" luxury travelers. We look at a new report from Mastercard Economics Institute, and examine data from travel consortium Virtuoso. The conclusion? As they say .... it might surprise you.
This episode was recorded Friday, May 17 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy. https://all-inclusive.marriott.com/
Related links
Have luxury travelers finally hit a price ceiling? https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Have-luxury-travelers-finally-hit-a-price-ceiling
Mastercard Economics Institute's report "Travel Trends 2024: Breaking Boundaries" https://www.mastercardservices.com/en/industries/travel/insights/travel-trends-2024-breaking-boundaries
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the past few years, travel agencies have been inundated with business from travelers seeking expert advice and booking assistance on their travel. At the same time, we saw an influx of travel advisors into the business and some career-shifting during Covid from people who wanted to follow their passions. But good travel advisors need training – on systems, on suppliers, on sales tactics and more.
How does a travel agency train up new advisors? How long does it take to create a great advisor? What do experienced advisors need to know if they're planning on mentoring someone new to the business?
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and retail editor Jamie Biesiada speak with Gayle Smith and Sam Johnson of Prescription Travel about their innovative partnership with the University of Georgia’s hospitality-management program to create a travel agency internship program, as well as Smith’s passion for mentorship and what skills are critical to teach agents entering the business.
This episode was recorded May 9 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy. https://all-inclusive.marriott.com/
Related reports:
Mentorships bring on the next generation of travel advisors https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Mentorship-next-generation-travel-advisors
Prescription Travel https://prescriptiontravel.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We’re talking about final rules from the U.S. Department of Transportation about when and how airline passengers qualify for a refund. This rule is widely seen as a win for customers -- but there is at least one provision of the rule that could make things tricky for parts of the travel-sales business. In addition, the DOT ruled on when flyers must be told about certain ancillary fees.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin goes over both rules with Laura Chadwick of the Travel Technology Association and our aviation editor Robert Silk.
This episode was recorded Friday, May 3, and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy.
Related reports:
Biden administrations finalizes rule establishing airline refund requirements https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/DOT-rule-finalized-airline-refunds
New airfare refund regulations are a win for consumers https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/New-airfare-refund-regulations-strike-a-blow-for-the-consumer
Mark Pestronk’s Legal Briefs column: Is the DOT refund rule still anti-agent? https://www.travelweekly.com/Mark-Pestronk/Is-the-DOT-refund-rule-still-anti-agent
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode we look at a new company called Black In that's building tours to celebrate Black history and support Black-owned businesses in each destination. Our guests are the founders of Black In: Martinique Lewis, the creator of ABC Travel Greenbook and the president of the Black Travel Alliance, and Ashley Company, the owner of Jelani Travel. Tours editor Nicole Eenedo leads the discussion about Black In, how the tours are created and why. In the second half of the episode, we discuss where the travel industry is overall in terms of diversity programs and inclusion efforts -- and what it could or should do next.
This episode was recorded April 23 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured
Related reports
Black travel entrepreneurs launch tour company https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Black-travel-entrepreneurs-launch-tour-company
Shifting landscape of DEI in travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Shifting-landscape-of-DEI-in-travel
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Imagine a guided tour, but instead of a luxury coach your transportation is a Boeing 757 outfitted with 50 first-class seats -- and the plane will fly you around the world in ultimate comfort to off-the-beaten-path locations to get rare glimpses of wildlife, immerse yourself in local culture and/or stay at famous, luxury resorts. This mode of travel exists, and though it's not cheap to buy a seat on one of these tours, it's a steadily growing niche.
Earlier this year, a handful of media and travel advisors were able to get a look at luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent’s private jet, which it uses for round-the-world tours for small groups of very discerning, pretty wealthy, travelers. In this episode, Ann Epting, A&K's senior vice president of private jet and special interest travel, and Rob Clabbers, the president of Q Cruise + Travel talk with host Rebecca Tobin about the type of traveler who books a private-jet tour, how the whole thing operates, the work that goes into planning and delivering an over-the-top private jet experience, the price of private-jet vacations and of course, the plane itself.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured https://www.travelinsured.com
Related links
Travel Weekly's cover story on private jet travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Luxury-Travel/Height-of-luxury-private-jet-tours
Abercrombie & Kent's fall private jet tour, "Wildlife and Nature Around the World" https://assets.abercrombiekent.com/pageflip/2024/Wildlife-Nature-ATW-PJ-2024/index.html
TCS World Travel https://www.tcsworldtravel.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Miami Beach in April is a great time for cruise lines to break news, and its annual State of the Industry panel is where business leaders head to hear the latest about trends, straight from the CEOs' mouths.
In this episode cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and host Rebecca Tobin go over what was talked about from the Seatrade stage: Big ship orders, vacation demand, additions to the private island scene, and how tech upgrades have changed and improved the cruise experience.
This episode was recorded Thursday April 11 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured https://www.travelinsured.com.
Related links
Windstar will expand its fleet https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Windstar-fleet-expansion
'Incredibly robust' demand drives NCLH's eight-ship order https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Analysis-NCLH-enormous-ship-order
Seatrade panelists talk about attracting new cruisers https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Seatrade-panelists-talk-about-attracting-new-cruisers
NCLH prepares to upgrade Great Stirrup Cay, but pier is top priority https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Great-Stirrup-Caye-expansion
The evolution of cruising's private islands https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/evolution-of-cruising-private-islands
Barbara Muckermann departs Silversea https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Muckermann-leaves-Silversea
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What do Taylor Swift, March Madness, Formula 1 and a tiny weekend festival in Florida have in common? They’re all events-based travel, a category that is bringing in a tidal wave of business. And travelers' passions for concerts, sports and meaningful travel experiences is totally reversing the way people research and plan travel -- as you'll hear here!
In this episode host Rebecca Tobin talks with senior editor Nicole Edenedo, Kier Matthews of On Location Experiences, a wholesale and hospitality supplier for sports and entertainment events, and Arival CEO Douglas Quinby about the types of events people are willing to travel for, who exactly is doing the traveling, how much they’re spending -- and how stans and fans are standing the travel-sales business on its head.
This episode was recorded March 18 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured https://www.travelinsured.com
Related reports
That's the ticket: Events travel hits the big time https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Events-travel-thats-the-ticket
On Location Experiences www.onlocationexp.com
Arival's research study "The Power of Events: How sports and performing arts drive tourism" (for purchase) https://arival.travel/research/the-power-of-events-how-sports-and-performing-arts-drive-tourism/
Arival research on sports and entertainment travel https://arival.travel/research/the-power-of-events-how-sports-and-performing-arts-drive-tourism/
On Location Experiences https://onlocationexp.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wellness travel is entering a new golden era: Strong growth is predicted in the next three years, according to the Global Wellness Institute. So what does it mean to travel for wellness in 2024?
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin welcomed senior editors Robert Silk and Christina Jelski and news editor Johanna Jainchill. They delved into wellness-travel trips -- mindful surfing in Costa Rica, exclusive golfing at the new Sensei resort in California and a stay at a traditional wellness-themed resort -- that formed the basis for a Travel Weekly cover story about the myriad experiences that make up today's wellness-travel market.
Among our questions: What is “hard” and “soft” wellness travel? Is wellness travel expensive, or is that just a perception? And for the skeptics out there: What's the value in "wellness," anyway?
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured https://www.travelinsured.com
Related reports:
Diving into wellness resorts: Three editors sample three takes on self-care https://www.travelweekly.com/Luxury-Travel/Diving-into-wellness-resorts
Wellness travel is still in demand, bringing new resorts to bloom https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Wellness-travel-new-resorts
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Since the door plug blowout on Alaska Airlines flight 1282, Boeing has been in the news constantly: A temporary grounding of the 737 Max 9, investigations and fallout from the Alaska flight, and also the problems of production delays and new orders. Airline executives, regulators, politicians and the flying public have all voiced concerns about Boeing -- all leading up to the resignation on March 25 of CEO David Calhoun, who will leave the company at the end of the year.
Host Rebecca Tobin tackles the Boeing situation with aviation editor Robert Silk and David Slotnick, the senior aviation business reporter at The Points Guy. In this episode: air safety issues, United chief Scott Kirby’s letter to passengers about an apparent string of incidents, why there’s a scarcity of new airplanes from Boeing and Airbus and what it means for flyers, and why airlines continue to place orders for new planes. And can you, should you, book away from a Boeing 737 Max jet?
This episode was recorded March 22 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured https://www.travelinsured.com
Related links from Travel Weekly:
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun is stepping down https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Boeing-CEO-resigns-following-aircraft-mishaps
United CEO addresses string of incidents, says safety is 'highest priority' https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/United-Airlines-CEO-addresses-string-of-incidents
Boeing's delivery delays have big consequences for Southwest, CEO says https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Southwest-response-Boeing-delivery-delays
Report: DOJ begins criminal probe on door plug blowout on Boeing jet https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/DOJ-begins-criminal-probe-Boeing-door-plug-blowout
FAA audit faults Boeing quality control on 737 max https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/FAA-audit-Boeing-quality-control
Related links from The Points Guy
Boeing CEO, top executives to step down amid mounting quality control scandal https://thepointsguy.com/news/boeing-ceo-resigns-leadership-changes/
'Boeing needs to become a better company': Airlines slow growth plans amid frustration with planemaker https://thepointsguy.com/news/boeing-737-max-crisis-airlines-growth-plans/
'We own it': Boeing CEO accepts responsibility for poor quality control https://thepointsguy.com/news/boeing-quality-control-ceo-we-own-it/
What to know about the Boeing 737 MAX 9 and the MAX series https://thepointsguy.com/news/boeing-737-max-9/
United Airlines CEO addresses safety concerns in letter to customers https://thepointsguy.com/news/united-airlines-safety-boeing-ceo-note/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode we dig deep into spring-travel trends with Hayley Berg, a researcher at the travel company Hopper. Among our topics: Where people are going in March and April – Orlando and Vegas, yes, but also some places that might surprise you. How much people are willing to spend, and how airfare compares to previous years. We talk about types of spring break travelers.
And we talk about this year's unusual trends: Japan, the Paris Olympics, solar eclipse travel, set-jetting and dupes.
This episode was recorded Friday, March 15 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured https://www.travelinsured.com
Related reports:
Hopper's spring break travel report https://media.hopper.com/research/2024-spring-break-travel-outlook
Travel advisors reveal spring break trends (TravelPulse) https://www.travelpulse.com/news/destinations/travel-advisors-and-industry-leaders-reveal-top-10-spring-break-destinations-for-2024
Set-jetting podcast https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Why-are-travelers-inspired-by-movies-and-TV
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We’ve got a two-parter episode for you this week. In our first segment we’re talking about dogs in residence at hotels. Hotels editor Christina Jelski brings on Joel Morales of Castlerock Asset Management, which manages the Bobby Hotel in Nashville, and Rauni Kew of the Inn by the Sea in Maine to talk about some of the logistics of training and managing a "lobby dog"; how it benefits the guests and the hotel; and the rescue, shelter, training and adoption partnerships that all feed into this pretty awesome trend. This segment was recorded March 8 and has been edited for length and clarity.
In our second segment: Last week we had antitrust lawyer Scott Wagner and aviation editor Robert Silk on to talk about the Spirit-JetBlue merger, and within three days of recording both airlines announced the agreement was ending. So we brought them back for a talk about what may have happened -- and how executives or boards might feel when a deal goes kaput. This segment was recorded March 5, and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured https://www.travelinsured.com
Related links
Lobby dogs:
Resident dogs bring friendly, furry faces to hotel lobbies https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hotels-with-pet-dogs-in-residence
Podcast episode from 2020: Have pet, will travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Travel-goes-to-the-dogs
Spirit-JetBlue:
Regulatory hurdles were too much for Spirit and JetBlue to overcome https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Regulatory-hurdles-too-high-for-Spirit-JetBlue
Previous podcast episode: Spirit, JetBlue and antitrust law https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Spirit-JetBlue-merger-antitrust-law
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Spirit and JetBlue on March 4 ended their merger plans, saying that regulatory obstacles won’t permit the airlines to close the deal in a timely fashion. But before the news broke, we’d recorded an episode with aviation editor Robert Silk and antitrust lawyer Scott Wagner to talk about antitrust law and the past, present and -- what we thought -- might be the future of the deal. We talk about why the approach of the judge who struck down the merger deal may have some additional ramifications for the industry. Do presidential administrations impact antitrust decisions? And is the era of major airline mergers at an end?
Take a listen, and then check our links below for the latest coverage of the merger, including the official breakup.
This episode was recorded March 1 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured https://www.travelinsured.com
Related reports:
JetBlue and Spirit end their merger plans https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/JetBlue-spirit-end-merger
Future airline mergers face turbulence https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/JetBlue-spirit-end-merger
Spirit and JetBlue face a cloudy future after blocked merger https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Spirit-and-JetBlue-cloudy-future-after-blocked-merger
Judge rules that benefits of JetBlue-Spirit merger don't measure up https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/JetBlue-and-Spirit-appealing-merger-rejection
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In honor of Black History Month, our retail editor Jamie Biesiada shone a spotlight on Henderson Travel Service, the first Black-owned, accredited travel agency in the U.S. And on this episode of the Folo, Henderson Travel Services president Gaynelle Henderson, the daughter of founders Freddye and Jacob Henderson, shares more of the stories and history of the agency, its challenges and successes.
Among the topics: How and why Henderson Travel was founded in Atlanta in the 1950s, convincing Black Americans to travel abroad, its focus on travel in West Africa, and the agency’s work with giants like Martin Luther King Jr. and Jesse Jackson.
This interview was conducted Feb. 20 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises. https://www.windstarcruises.com.
This episode contains a bonus interview with Janet Bava, chief commercial officer of Windstar, by Mary Pat Sullivan, the executive vice president of marketing and partnerships for Northstar Travel Group, Travel Weekly’s parent company.
Related links:
The first Black travel agency flourished, overcoming immense challenges: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/The-first-Black-travel-agency-Henderson
Henderson Travel Service: https://hendersontravel.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Carnival Corp. last week placed its first cruise ship order since the beginning of the pandemic: It will add 180,000-gross-ton ship to Carnival Cruise Line that will be the fourth in its Excel class. The very next day, Royal Caribbean International also announced an order, for another Oasis-class ship. Both clock in the 6,000-passenger-plus size, on par with other new ships coming into the industry.
This week host Rebecca Tobin talks the era of megaships with cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and Geoff Cox, the vice president of sales and marketing for Power List agency KHM Travel Group. Among our topics: What these ship orders mean for Carnival and Royal in terms of corporate direction and passenger demands, the prevailing love for big ships, competition with theme parks and resorts, and how far the cruise industry has come since its Sovereign days.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises: https://www.windstarcruises.com
Related reports:
Carnival Cruise Line will get a fourth Excel-class ship https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-orders-fourth-Excel-ship?ct=cruise
Royal Caribbean orders a seventh Oasis-class ship https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-orders-seventh-Oasis-class-ship?ct=cruise
Royal Caribbean sets a new benchmark with Icon of the Seas https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-sets-new-benchmark-with-Icon
Sun Princess' maiden voyage scheduled https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Sun-Princess-maiden-cruise-rescheduled-February-28?ct=cruise
KHM Travel Group https://khmtravel.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Just in time for Valentine's Day: Some couples are not simply opting for traditional wedding-and-honeymoon travel; they're bringing their friends along for a buddymoon or expanding their trip into a megamoon. The expansion of the destination wedding into a full-blown extravaganza comes as romance travel has never been hotter, and advisors have to bring their A-game to manage these complex group bookings.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin talks with hotels editor Christina Jelski and Courtnie Nichols, the founder of the wedding- and celebration-travel focused agency Travel Bash, about these trends: Why couples are opting for bigger, longer wedding celebrations; who’s coming along; how much they're willing to splurge; and how a travel advisor planning a destination celebration keeps it all together.
This episode was recorded Thursday Feb. 8 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Sponsor This episode was sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com
Related links: A honeymoon with friends? The “buddymoon” is gaining popularity https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Honeymoon-with-friends
Romance travel has never been bigger, and advisors are loving it https://www.travelweekly.com/Luxury-Travel/Advisors-say-clients-really-in-the-mood-for-romance-travel
Travel Weekly’s wedding, honeymoon and romance-travel coverage https://www.travelweekly.com/wedding-romance-travel
Courtnie Nichols’ Travel Bash: https://www.trave-bash.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Travel advisors Eizabeth Caran of Outlander Travel and Jennifer Kellum of Neverland and Main Travel talk with Travel Weekly cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and Folo host Rebecca Tobin about the world’s newest, biggest cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas.
What sets this ship apart from other ships in the Royal Caribbean International fleet, and what does it mean for the industry overall?
Among our topics, we’ll discuss the Icon’s new neighborhoods and where to hang out, family-friendly cabins, how the ship appeals to a true multigenerational vacation, tweaks to small details that help make a vacation seamless – like smart elevators that use AI – top dining options. Plus, Rover and an advisor’s request to CEO Michael Bayley.
This episode was recorded Feb. 2 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com
Related reports:
Icon of the Seas' sheer size will leave you in awe https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Icon-of-the-Seas-first-impressions
Icon of the Seas sets a new benchmark: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-sets-new-benchmark-with-Icon
How big will future Royal Caribbean ships get? https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/How-big-will-future-Royal-Caribbean-ships-get
A slowdown? Royal Caribbean Group doesn't see one https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-earnings-Q4-2023
Outlander Travel's podcast: https://outlandertravel.com/podcast/
Outlander Travel's Instagram page: https://instagram.com/outlandertrvl
Elizabeth Caran's Instagram: https://instagram.com/ecaran
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We’re again talking about family travel, but today we’re focusing specifically on the kids club – that marvelous space in a hotel, resort or cruise ship where kids can play supervised by staff. This episode is based off hotels editor Christina Jelski’s cover story about the evolution of kids clubs: how resorts are pouring significant investment into them to make them bigger, better, with more activities and more design upgrades to impress any parent, let alone the kid.
We also talk with travel advisor Deb Swacker about how much the kids club plays a role in travel planning decisions, what resorts need to do for tweens and teens and whether parents should feel guilty for taking time for themselves on a family vacation. Finally, we delve into some bigger trends outlined in the Family Travel Association’s latest survey and ask: How much money do people actually spend on family travel?
This episode is part of our Best of the Folo series. New episodes return in February. This episode was recorded Friday Nov. 10 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related reports:
These kids clubs don’t play https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/These-kids-clubs-dont-play
Resorts are making a splash with waterparks https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Resorts-make-a-splash-with-waterparks
10 days and Beyond: Long live the long cruise https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/10-days-and-Beyond-Long-live-the-long-cruise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Produced in partnership with research company Phocuswright, our annual Travel Industry Survey examines nearly every aspect of travel agency business: What type of travel they’re booking, who their clients are, demographics, business models, how much travel they book in terms of sales figures, how much money they make from those travel sales, marketing tactics, social media, concerns and future outlook.
On this episode we’re going to take it a step further. Host Rebecca Tobin delves into the data with Johanna Jainchill, who helped architect and publish the survey, as well as retail editor Jamie Biesiada, who has a finger on the pulse of the agency community. We’ll take the data and weave in anecdotes, examples and trends; tie chart findings together; and connect the dots to show how these findings manifest themselves in the real world.
This episode was recorded Friday, Nov. 17, and has been edited for length and clarity.
The Travel Industry Survey: https://www.travelweekly.com/Industry-Survey-2023
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In early October Norwegian Cruise Line made another move in the small but growing trend of solo cruising. And an article by cruise editor Andrea Zelinski about NCL’s plans, and how other lines are building single-occupancy cabins, shot to the top of our most-read list.
So in this episode we went deeper with Zelinski and NCL executive John Chernesky: Why cruisers traveling solo want a cabin for one, the single-supplement, what cruise lines do for single travelers and the evolution of ship design and the cruise experience.
This episode was recorded Nov. 13.
Related reports:
Norwegian Cruise Line reserves more cabins for solo guests https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Norwegian-Cruise-Line-reserves-more-cabins-solo-guests
Lines double down on solo cabins https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Norwegian-Cruise-Line-reserves-more-cabins-solo-guests
The Serenity ship remodel ‘went down to the steel’ https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Crystal-Serenity-ship-remodel-went-down-to-the-steel
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This is our second week featuring episodes from our sister podcasts, and today’s is from the Last Resort, a relatively new podcast by hotels editor Christina Jelski, where she interviews travel advisors to get their take on new or noteworthy hotels and resorts that they’ve recently visited.
In this episode Jelski interviews Folo host Rebecca Tobin and travel advisor Sarah Lopez, affiliated with SmartFlyer, about their stays at the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay hotel in Hawaii, from first impressions to activities and who the resort is best suited for.
This episode was published Sept. 11, and you’ll also hear our discussion about traveling to Maui, which was at that time beginning to recover after the August fires.
What's next for the Folo?
In the next weeks we’ll feature some of our favorite recent Folo episodes, before returning in February with brand-new episodes.
Related reports:
The Last Resort podcast: https://www.travelweekly.com/podcasts/last-resort
1 Hotel Hanalei Bay opens on Kauai's North Shore https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/1-Hotel-Hanalei-Bay-opens-on-Kauai
Tasting the perfect mai tai (featuring 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay) https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Tasting-the-perfect-mai-tai
Starwood Capital buys Princeville resort, plans 1 Hotels rebrand (October 2018) https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Starwood-Capital-buys-Princeville-Resort
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Happy New Year! For our next two episodes of the Folo, we’re going to do something a bit different: We’re featuring episodes from our sister podcasts, Trade Secrets and the Last Resort.
Our episode today is from Trade Secrets, our travel advisor business-focused podcast. Trade Secrets is hosted by Emma Weissmann, the managing editor of TravelAge West, and Jamie Biesiada, a senior editor at Travel Weekly -- and a frequent Folo contributor.
In this episode, advisor and fams expert Theresa Chu-Bermudez digs into the ins and outs of fam trips: how to prepare for them; how advisors can maximize their time during the trip; and what to do after the trip is over.
Further resources:
Travel Weekly's Trade Secrets podcast: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Trade-Secrets
The show notes on this original episode, with fam trip do's and don'ts https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Trade-Secrets/Fam-trips-How-can-they-help-your-business-travel-advisors
Theresa Chu-Bermudez's agency, Get Out! Custom Travels https://www.getoutcustomtravels.com/
Fam with Intention https://www.famwithintention.com/
Trade Secrets theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Our last episode of 2023 is about our Preview issue, our annual look ahead at the travel trends we expect to drive business in the new year.
For this episode, we’ve gathered three of our editors: Jamie Biesiada, who covers travel sales, Robert Silk, who covers aviation, and Andrea Zelinski, who covers cruise, about the outlook for the next 12 months: Travel demand, mergers, destinations – both the positive trends and the hurdles.
Preview also includes insight into what’s happening in our other beats, namely hospitality, river cruise and tour operations. Check the show notes for our links to the Preview issue and their looks at those sectors, as well as interviews with industry executives conducted by editor in chief Arnie Weissmann.
This episode was recorded Thursday Dec. 14 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations https://www.algvacations.com
Preview 2024:
https://www.travelweekly.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Every year Travel Weekly publishes its year in review, a cover story on the biggest travel stories of the year. Here on the Folo to talk about Year in Review 2023 with host Rebecca Tobin is news editor Johanna Jainchill, who assembles, manages and writes Year in Review, and editor in chief Arnie Weissmann.
During the discussion we examine how many of these many 2023 developments directly affected or were driven by travel sellers – specifically, NDC and the push to expand the ranks of travel advisors (hello, high demand). And we look at cruising’s comeback, airline mergers and JetBlue’s big year, the reach of war, Oceangate, space travel, what’s NOT on the list and how we pull this whole thing together.
This episode was recorded Friday, Dec. 15 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations https://ww.algvacations.com
Related links:
The 2023 year in review: https://travelweekly.texterity.com/travelweekly/december_18_2023/MobilePagedReplica.action?pm=2&folio=8#pg10
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
With the new year almost upon us, we’ve been looking at which destinations might be most popular, and who better to call upon than a tour company that offers vacation packages all over the world. In this case it’s a tag team with Jack Richards, the CEO of Pleasant Holidays, which has traditionally been strong in Hawaii but has built out its offerings globally, and Amy Comparato, senior brand manager of its luxury division Journese.
In this episode, they talk with host Rebecca Tobin and tours editor Nicole Edenedo about what’s selling, what’s surprising, how operators manage sudden changes in demand and some of the biggest luxury travel trends for 2024.
This episode was recorded Dec. 1 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related reports:
A Q&A with Pleasant chief Jack Richards https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Pleasant-Holidays-Jack-Richards
Mexico was a pandemic-era favorite, but signs point to softened demand https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Signs-point-softened-Mexico-demand
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s December, and for a certain segment of our readership it means that ski season is here.
For this episode, host Rebecca Tobin connected with our ski reporter (and aviation editor) Robert Silk and mountain expert, Storm Skiing blogger and fellow podcast host Stuart Winchester to talk about some of the developments in the industry. We’ll start with some of the expansions coming this year to Colorado, and then talk about travel logistics, advancements in snowmaking, what it takes to keep the ski industry growing and some of the best ski areas off the major passes -- plus hidden gems you may never have heard of.
We aim to do a catch-up conversation in a few weeks and continue the discussion by talking about the major ski passes and Vail Resort’s big European purchase.
This episode was recorded Friday, Dec. 1 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations https://www.algvacations.com/givesyoumore
Related links:
Stuart Winchester's Storm Skiing blog and podcast: https://www.stormskiing.com/
Vail Resorts to acquire controlling stake of Crains-Montana ski area https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Vail-Resorts-acquire-controlling-Crans-Montana
Ski resorts are urged to reach out to Gen Z https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Ski-resorts-urged-to-reach-out-to-Gen-Z
Focus on ski: Powder days for skiers of all ability levels https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Focus-Ski-Mountain-Travel-2023-Powder-days
Previous Folo podcasts:
How a 'powderful' ski season changes travelers' habits https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/ski-2023-a-powderful-season
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In early October Norwegian Cruise Line made another move in the small-but-growing trend of solo cruising, saying it would more than double the number of cabins for single travelers across its fleet. And an article by cruise editor Andrea Zelinski about NCL’s plans, and how other lines are building single-occupancy cabins, quickly shot to the top of our most-read list, indicating it is a hot topic.
With Zelinski, host Rebecca Tobin and NCL's senior vice president of North America sales, John Chernesky, we talk about why cruisers traveling solo might prefer a cabin for one, the single-supplement, what cruise lines do for single travelers and the evolution of ship design and the cruise experience.
This episode was recorded Nov. 13 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations: https://www.algvacations.com/blackfriyay
Related reports:
Norwegian Cruise Line reserves more cabins for solo guests https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Norwegian-Cruise-Line-reserves-more-cabins-solo-guests
Lines double down on solo cabins https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Norwegian-Cruise-Line-reserves-more-cabins-solo-guests
The Serenity ship remodel ‘went down to the steel’ https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Crystal-Serenity-ship-remodel-went-down-to-the-steel
Coming together for solo travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Coming-together-for-solo-travel
John Chernesky will head North American sales for Norwegian Cruise Line https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Chernesky-will-head-North-America-sales-for-Norwegian
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Our annual Travel Industry Survey is out! Produced in partnership with research company Phocuswright, it examines nearly every aspect of travel agency business: What type of travel they’re booking, who their clients are, demographics, business models, how much travel they book in terms of sales figures, how much money they make from those travel sales, marketing tactics, social media, concerns and future outlook.
On this episode we’re going to take it a step further. Host Rebecca Tobin delves into the data with Johanna Jainchill, who helped architect and publish the survey, as well as retail editor Jamie Biesiada, who really has a finger on the pulse of the agency community.
We’ll take the data and weave in anecdotes, examples and trends; tie chart findings together; and connect the dots to show how these findings manifest themselves in the real world.
This episode was recorded Friday, Nov. 17, and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations https://www.algvacations.com
Related links:
The 2023 Travel Industry Survey https://www.travelweekly.com/Industry-Survey-2023
Ensemble discusses ways to speed a path to better pay https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Ensemble-addresses-travel-advisor-pay
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This episode stems from hotels editor Christina Jelski’s cover story about the evolution of kids clubs: How resorts are pouring significant investment into children's spaces and programming to make them bigger and better, with more activities and more design upgrades to impress any parent (let alone the kids).
We also talk with travel advisor Deb Swacker about how much the kids club plays a role in travel-planning decisions, what her clients want in kids' programming, what resorts need to do to appeal to tweens and teens, and whether parents should feel guilty for taking time for themselves on a family vacation.
Finally, we delve into some bigger trends outlined in the Family Travel Association’s latest survey and ask: How much money do people actually spend on family travel?
This episode was recorded November 10 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations https://www.algvacations.com
Related reports:
These kids clubs don’t play https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/These-kids-clubs-dont-play
Resorts are making a splash with waterparks https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Resorts-make-a-splash-with-waterparks
10 days and Beyond: Long live the long cruise https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/10-days-and-Beyond-Long-live-the-long-cruise
Travel advisor Deb Swacker: https://227travel.com/pageme
Family Travel Association: https://familytravel.org/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
With all this will-there, won't-there talk about recession, it's reasonable to wonder whether there will be a contraction in travel and what form might it take.
In this episode, news editor Johanna Jainchill and MMGY chairman Clayton Reid talk about the changes we’re seeing in travel buying and spending patterns now that the initial “revenge travel” period is over. As leisure spending seems to be easing, corporate travel seems to be gaining. Also: Which socioeconomic and demographic groups are continuing to spend? What does high prices mean for groups like family travel? And What about older travelers, high net-worth individuals and cruising?
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations www.algvacations.com/blackfriyay
Related links:
Is travel recession-proof – this time? https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Is-travel-recession-proof-this-time
Economic concerns aren't impacting corporate travel budgets in 2024 and beyond (via Business Travel News) https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Corporate-Travel/Road-warriors-continue-to-return-poll
Family travel demand appears to be cooling https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Family-travel-demand-appears-to-be-cooling-study-shows
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Disney is planning to put $60 billion into its parks, experiences and products division over the next 10 years. That means new investments at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, the cruise line and other parks. But what would Disney do with $60 billion? What would YOU do with it?
On this episode, senior editor Jamie Biesiada tells us what Disney has done recently, what its competition is up to (hello, Epic Universe!), and what Disney travel experts hope to see: Simplified access and line reservation tools? A new park altogether? Different options for the youngest Disneyphiles? Or something else altogether?
In the final section, we talk about Disney's exclusive Earmarked conference for its top travel agencies and why access is so important. Plus, host Rebecca Tobin's favorite ride at Walt Disney World (hint: It's not technically inside the parks).
This episode was recorded Oct. 27 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Epsiode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Air France/KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.biz
Related reports:
Cover story: Advisors' wish list for Disney parks https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Advisors-wish-list-for-Disney-Parks
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s time this week to geek out over airlines: We’re going to talk about the major U.S. carriers and what they’ve been doing right, and where they may be facing headwinds. In this episode, aviation editor Robert Silk and Brad Beakley, the founder of the Hospitio consultancy and an airline industry veteran, talk about the importance of “gauge” (the size of the airplane), route selection, the lingering benefits of revenge travel, the economy and how that might be affecting mainline carriers and low-cost airlines differently. Keep in mind that this conversation took place Oct. 20, ahead of earnings results for several carriers, including low-cost carriers Frontier and Spirit, so this conversations refers to their latest guidance.
In the later part of our episode, we’ll talk about the loyalty battle, which has been on the forefront of many road warriors’ minds since Delta reworked its SkyMiles program. How are other airlines – including Delta itself – responding? What is the right path forward for a loyalty program for an airline? Is it money, or miles, or is it something else that frequent flyers prize?
This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Air France/KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.biz
Related links
Hospitio consulting https://www.hospitio.com/
Is demand for air travel falling? Depends on who you ask https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Is-demand-for-air-travel-falling
In the fight for frequent flyers, Delta pulls back SkyMiles changes, rivals step in https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Rivals-try-poach-Delta-frequent-flyers
Earnings reports: United says basic economy fares are soaring https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/United-Airlines-earnings-Q3-2023
Earnings reports: American's new biz-travel incentive is for direct business only https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/American-biz-travel-incentive-direct-bookings-only
Earnings reports: Delta reports ebbs and flows in corporate travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Delta-earnings-Q3-2023
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In August, deadly wildfires swept through parts of Hawaii, specifically Maui and the Big Island. On Maui, the wildfires spread to the historical town of Lahaina. Around 100 people died, homes, businesses and hotels were destroyed, and that section of the island had been shut off to visitors.
But the rebuilding and recovery process has been ongoing, and Gov. Josh Green proclaimed those sections of West Maui “open” again to tourism as of Oct. 8. And today we’ve brought together three Hawaii tourism experts: Our contributing editor for Hawaii, Christine Hitt; Kathy Takushi, the owner of Maui-based travel agency Captivating Journeys; and Ilihia Gionson, the public affairs office at the Hawaii Tourism Authority, to talk about the island’s approach to reopening and whether travelers should go to West Maui.
In this informative and emotional episode, we talk about responsible tourism -- the right way for people to approach travel to those impacted areas. What to say to visitors who may feel apprehensive about going. The aloha spirit that's so unique to Hawaii. And concerns about overtourism: Could Lahaina’s closure mean crowds in other parts of the island?
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Air France/KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.biz
Stay on after this episode for a bonus interview with Charlotte Bowman, sales development director for Air France/KLM, and Mary Pat Sullivan, the executive vice president of marketing and partnerships for Travel Weekly and the Northstar Travel Group.
Additional links and coverage:
Support for Maui wildfire relief: https://www.mauinuistrong.info/
Hawaii Tourism: https://gohawaii.com
Captivating Journeys: https://captivatingjourneys.com/
Reports by contributing editor Christine Hitt:
In the aftermath of Maui fires, an agency owner looks ahead https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/In-aftermath-of-fires-Maui-agency-owner-looks-ahead?ct=hawaii
West Maui's phased reopening takes place https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/West-Maui-phased-reopening
A new plan for Maui's recovery https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Insights/Maui-travel-recovery-plan
Understanding the economic impact of the Maui fires https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Insights/Understanding-the-economic-impact-of-the-Maui-fires
Additional Travel Weekly reports on Maui fires:
A visit to Maui, a month after the fires https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Aloha-and-welcoming-hospitality-for-visitors-on-Maui
Reopening Maui hotels focus on locals https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Reopening-Maui-hotels-focus-on-supporting-locals
Maui hotels launch promotions to stimulate tourism recovery https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Maui-hotels-launch-promotions-stimulate-tourism-recovery
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The world's largest cruise company – Carnival Corp. -- released its third-quarter earnings results, and the company posted record revenues in the quarter. It also notched its return to profitability for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. We thought it would be a good opportunity to dig into some of the points raised during Carnival's earnings call and talk about the outlook for cruise.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin; Gene Sloan, the cruise lead for the Points Guy; and Travel Weekly cruise editor Andrea Zelinski talk about Carnival's bookings, onboard spending, inflation, recession, fuel prices and the crop of new ships coming out in the next year.
This episode was recorded Oct. 5 while Tobin and Sloan were both at Fincantieri’s Marghera, Italy, shipyard to take the first look at Cunard Line’s Queen Anne, part of that wave of new ships.
On this episode:
Gene Sloan of The Points Guy https://thepointsguy.com/author/genesloan/
Andrea Zelinski, senior editor, Travel Weekly https://www.travelweekly.com/andrea-zelinski
Host Rebecca Tobin, Travel Weekly's managing editor https://www.travelweekly.com/rebecca-tobin
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Air France/KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.biz
Related reports from Travel Weekly:
Carnival posts record revenue in a return to profitability https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-posts-record-revenue-Q3-2023
An analysts' cruise outlook: 'Future looks bright' https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/One-analyst-cruise-outlook-future-looks-bright
A first look at the Queen Anne, taking shape in Italy: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/First-look-Cunard-unfinished-Queen-Anne
Related reports from Gene Sloan at The Points Guy:
Cruise bookings are so hot that some lines are running out of inventory https://thepointsguy.com/news/cruise-ship-inventory-crunch/
Cruise fares are hitting new records -- and the trend is likely to continue https://thepointsguy.com/news/cruise-ship-fares-rising-2024/
Could you soon have to pay a fuel surcharge to cruise? https://thepointsguy.com/news/cruise-fuel-surcharge-oil-spike/
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The new era of outdoor resort features are bigger and more ambitious than a mere pool and a row of canvas-topped cabanas. There are waterslides; surf simulators; cabanas that look like living rooms; creative landscaping; and food and beverage from A-list chefs.
As hotels editor Chrisina Jelski explored in a cover story this summer, the pool-upgrade trend ties in several pandemic-era trends: Bleisure, family travel, outdoor vacations and spending more to upgrade their vacations. And of course, a resort's investment in waterpark upgrades can pay dividends in terms of increased rates and ancillary revenue. We talk about all this and more with Jelski and Michael Scioscia, the general manager of the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes.
This episode was recorded Sept. 22 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Air France/KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.biz
Related links
Resorts make a splash with waterparks https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Resorts-make-a-splash-with-waterparks
JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/mcojw-jw-marriott-orlando-grande-lakes/waterpark/
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The deadly earthquake that struck Morocco Sept. 8 had some serious repercussions for tourism, particularly as Morocco has become a popular place to visit. Last year more than 10 million tourists visited Morocco overall; at the time of the quake, for example, Intrepid Travel had more than 600 guests in the country.
In this episode, we go behind the scenes of Intrepid's decision-making strategy, with Intrepid CEO James Thornton, tours editor Nicole Edenedo and host Rebecca Tobin. What’s the communication strategy for an operator with guests on the ground? What’s the right way to render assistance? And then – when’s the right time to return, and how? And how does a company reassure travelers that it’s ok to visit (in this episode, Thornton says that Intrepid put a link for future travelers on its website’s home page, but since then, the link has been moved; the info can be found here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/travel-alerts
This episode was recorded Monday, Sept. 18 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Air France/KLM Royal Dutch Airlines: www.afkl.biz
Related reports:
Intrepid Travel: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/us
Intrepid’s Natalie Placko on how to support Morocco after the quake https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Natalie-Placko-Intrepid
Arnie Weissmann’s column: In Morocco, lives upended but goals remain https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/In-Morocco-lives-upended-but-goals-remain
Tour operators resuming Morocco trips https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Tour-operators-resume-Morocco-trips
New tours highlight Intrepid Travel’s partnership with Morocco tourism https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/New-Intrepid-Travel-Morocco-tours
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We’re back with new episodes of the Folo by Travel Weekly!
This past summer we’ve been serving up our “best of” episodes, so to catch our listeners up on the biggest trends of the past two months, our reporting team gathered together to talk about their biggest, most interesting and most popular articles that broke while we were on break.
At the end of the episode, reporters also talk about the trends they’re interested in covering this fall. Demand is part of the big picture, as well as sustainability, extreme travel and a few other trends that you’ll want to keep on your radar.
This podcast is hosted by Rebecca Tobin and features senior editors: Andrea Zelinski, Jamie Biesiada, Robert Silk, Nicole Edenedo and Christina Jelski.
This episode was recorded Sept. 14 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Air France-KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.com
Related links:
Advisors view Carnival Corp.'s reorganization favorably https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Travel-advisors-view-Carnival-reorg-favorably
It's another busy summer for Europe travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Insights/Sumer-travel-again-booming
Agents adjust trips as heat wilts Southern Europe: https://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/Record-heat-wilts-Southern-Europe
With the Northeast Alliance over, American shifts to Philly https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/American-Airlines-shifts-focus-Philadelphia
A visit to Maui, a month after the Lahaina fires: https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Aloha-and-welcoming-hospitality-for-visitors-on-Maui
Related podcast episodes:
Why don't people stop traveling https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/why-dont-people-stop-traveling
Why travel is going all-in on pickleball https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Why-resorts-and-cruise-lines-are-going-all-in-on-pickleball
The sport of extreme sitting: Traveling to sit down https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/The-sport-of-extreme-sitting
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What do a young expat in Paris, the chain of White Lotus hotels, a wizard in England, a group of brunch-loving BFFs in New York and a certain iron throne all have in common? They’re all part of monster-hit movies and TV shows that have spawned wanderlust for travelers, a trend that appears to be accelerating perhaps due to the sheer volume of content available for streaming during the pandemic.
In this episode, senior editor Nicole Edenedo, Simon Hudson, a professor of tourism at the University of South Carolina and Lily Szemplinski, owner of Passport Stamps Travel, come together to discuss this trend and how movies and TV shows drive client bookings.
This episode is the last in our summer series featuring some of our most memorable recent episodes. This episode was initially published June 5, 2023, and has been edited for length and clarity.
New episodes of the Folo start Monday, Sept. 18!
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.com
Related links:
Set Jetting puts the spotlight on destinations https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Set-jetting-puts-spotlight-on-destinations
The Folo podcast: Advisors talk about film-crew travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/lights-camera-travel
From the archives: Tabloid tourism https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Tabloid-tourism
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For a long time we’ve suspected, due to strong anecdotal evidence, that more travel agencies than not were charging their clients for their services, much like professional service-oriented businesses do, like financial advisors, accountants or consultants. Earlier this year we put data to the trend. And the results might surprise you.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and retail editor Jamie Biesiada talk with Jamie Jones, the president of Whirlaway Travel, who will share her perspective. We’ll look at some of the many types of fees. And we’ll do a lightning-round-style response to some of the reasons why advisors don’t charge.
This episode is part of our summer series featuring some of our most memorable recent episodes. This episode was originally published April 24 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.biz
Related links:
Fees: by the numbers cover story https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Fees-by-the-numbers
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A surprising amenity that’s growing at certain luxury resorts around the world is not bath products, golf courses or thread counts. It’s chickens, goats, vegetables and orchards. And travelers are eager to tour and pitch in at these working farms, an area where foodie culture, wellness and outdoor life intersect.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and hospitality editor Christina Jelski dig in about resort farms, orchards and food-to-table operations with Kurt Bjorkman of the Ranch at Laguna Beach and Sarah Fazendin of Videre Travel.
This episode is part of our summer series featuring some of our most memorable recent episodes. This episode was originally published May 22 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations https://www.algvacations.com
Related links
Growing trend: Agricultural tourism https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Focus-on-Hotels-2023-Growing-trend-Agricultural-tourism
The Ranch at Laguna Beach https://www.theranchlb.com/
Videre Travel https://videretravel.com/
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One initiative launching this month that showcases and celebrates Black history, culture and community is the Soulful Epicurean itinerary from AmaWaterways. To delve deeper into this cruise and what it means for Black travelers, representation and river cruising in general, tours editor Nicole Edenedo invited on Jazzmine Douse, director of national accounts at AmaWaterways, and Jackie Williams, the founder of NuVibe Travel Experiences, who was instrumental in creating the itinerary.
This episode is part of our summer series featuring some of our most memorable recent episodes. This episode was originally published March 3 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations https://www.algvacations.com
Related reports
AmaWaterways Soulful Epicurean cruise https://www.amawaterways.com/soulful-2023
Black travel: inclusion in action https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Black-travel-Inclusion-in-action
Black travel: Signs of progress https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Signs-of-progress
AmaWaterways to bring Black heritage itinerary to Egypt https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/AmaWaterways-Black-heritage-itinerary-in-Egypt
Jackie Williams of NuVibe: https://nuvibeluxetravel.com/about/
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Welcome to the travel industry’s new favorite sport: Pickleball. Among our topics this week: How fast this sport has grown among travel companies, why travelers love to play and where travelers and advisors can find creative and plentiful courts and opportunities for play.
Hotels editor Christina Jelski, who spearheaded our May 2023 cover story on pickleball travel and who has tracked the rising popularity of the game within the hospitality sector, co-hosts this episode with host Rebecca Tobin; Melinda Alcossar, a travel advisor who founded Travel With Heart, a division of All-Travel, and specializes in organizing “Carpe Dinkem” pickleball vacations; and Rob Coleman, Holland America Line’s vice president of North America sales, which is going “all in” on pickleball.
This episode is part of our summer series featuring some of our most memorable recent episodes. This episode was originally published May 15 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations https://www.algvacations.com
Related links
Cover story: Picking up on the pickleball craze https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Picking-up-on-the-pickleball-craze
Cruise insight: Pickleball is a hit, and Holland America Line has taken notice https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/Holland-America-is-jumping-into-pickleball
River cruise insight: River lines put more sports options into play https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/River-lines-put-sports-cruise-options-in-play
From 2019: Anyone for pickleball? Resorts embrace the booming sport https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Anyone-for-pickleball-Resorts-embrace-booming-sport
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Mega-theme park operators Disney and Universal are making moves to improve and change their experiences, but they’re taking two separate approaches: Universal is going ahead with a new park and smaller, regional parks, while Disney is making targeted improvements within its existing park structure.
In this episode, retail editor Jamie Biesiada and Robert Niles, editor of Theme Park Insider, explore why Universal and Disney chose these routes and how external forces -- construction delays, DeSantis, space constraints -- play a role. What might we expect from the theme-park experience in the near future? And what might Disney do with the Galactic Starcruiser, aka the Star Wars hotel?
This episode is part of our summer series featuring some of our most memorable recent episodes. This episode was originally published June 19 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations https://www.algvacations.com
Related links:
Theme Park Insider https://themeparkinsider.com/
A thrilling time for theme parks https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Thrilling-time-for-theme-parks
Why Disney’s Star Wars hotel didn’t take off https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Why-Star-Wars-hotel-failed
Disney pulls the plug on Lake Nona project https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-pulls-plug-on-Lake-Nona-project
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War, inflation, recession, high fuel prices, high prices in general – and yet, Americans’ appetite for travel just seems to stay strong. On this episode, Bank of America Institute economist Anna Zhou and travel advisor Angela Hughes, the owner of Trips and Ships Luxury Travel in Winter Garden, Fla., join host Rebecca Tobin and news editor Johanna Jainchill. to discuss the big picture for travel demand vs. retail spending, the job market and whether high prices are finally starting to deter travelers.
Are Covid-era terms like “pent-up demand” and “revenge travel” still relevant – is there a pent-up demand after the pent-up demand? And is demand for travel finally starting to moderate?
This episode is part of our summer series featuring some of our most memorable recent episodes. This episode was published June 12 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic https://www.expeditions.com
Bonus sponsored episode
Join executive vice president of marketing and partnerships Mary Pat Sullivan for a bonus interview at the end of this episode with Ana Esteves, the vice president of hotel ooperations for sponsor Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic. https://www.expeditions.com
Episode related links:
Is pent-up travel demand at an end? It depends https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Is-pent-up-demand-at-an-end
There are cracks in the economy, but the hotel industry just keeps rolling https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Top-hotel-executives-speak-at-NYU-hospitality-conference
War + Inflation + airline meltdowns = record demand https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/War-inflation-airline-meltdowns-record-demand
Bank of America's travel spending report, May 2023 https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/bank-of-america-institute/economic-insights/travel-recovery-bumps-along-the-way.html
Mastercard's Travel Industry Trends 2023 https://www.mastercardservices.com/en/reports-insights/economics-institute/travel-industry-trends-2023
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A new river cruise line, Riverside Luxury Cruises, has arrived on the Europe rivers this summer, and it’s especially noteworthy because it’s using the river cruise ships ships built and operated by the now-defunct Crystal Cruises.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and river cruise editor Nicole Edenedo talk with Jennifer Holboth, the president of Riverside Collection, Americas, about how parent company Seaside Collection discovered and acquired the Crystal ships, the direction Riverside will take, its plan to position itself in the luxury market, river industry trends, challenges and more.
This episode is part of our summer series featuring some of our most memorable recent episodes. This episode was published Feb. 27, before Riverside began its first cruise season this spring, and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic https://www.expeditions.com
Related links:
Riverside Cruises: https://riverside-cruises.com/web/en/
More former Crystal river ships are acquired by startup Riverside https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Startup-company-acquires-more-former-Crystal-river-ships
Riverside Mozart is christened in a surprise ceremony https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Riverside-christens-Mozart-surprise-ceremony
Service is a familiar tune on the Riverside Mozart https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/First-call-Riverside-Mozart
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The idea of a hybrid work-vacation trip – called “bleisure” -- was totally upended during the pandemic. And when corporate travel returned, it did so with a bleisure component – in some cases spouses and kids came along for long weekends or joined up for an extended vacation. People on work-from-home or hybrid work plans, meanwhile, became accustomed to traveling anywhere and adding in a few hours of work time.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and hospitality editor Christina Jelski talk about how these trends literally are changing the footprint of hotels and their amenities: From business suites Caribbean resorts to leisure-focused amenity packages for big city hotels. Our guests are Travis Jay Wilson, marketing director of the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina; Janien Huistra, director of sales and marketing for the Renaissance Aruba; and Anne Stingle, head of sales, marketing and brand communications for Rebel Hotel Company and based in New York.
This episode is part of our summer series featuring some of our most memorable recent episodes. This episode was published Jan. 30, 2023, and has been edited for length and clarity.
Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic https://www.expeditions.com
Related links:
Google data highlights the growing interest in blended trips https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Google-data-shows-interest-blended-trips
Working on vacation: Bleisure's flipside https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/The-flipside-of-bleisure-working-during-vacation
Business hotels make room for leisure: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Making-room-for-leisure
Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sandt-marriott-marquis-san-diego-marina/overview/
Renaissance Aruba https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/auabr-renaissance-wind-creek-aruba-resort/overview/
Rebel Hotel Company. https://www.rebelhotelcompany.com/portfolio
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Already, one prominent summer meltdown prompted by New York-area weather has been playing havoc with airlines and flyers -- and this time United seems to be feeling the heat. But back in May, host Rebecca Tobin, aviation editor Robert Silk and Cranky Concierge founder Brett Synder discussed the possibility of seeing a repeat of last year's "airmageddon," when flyers returned to the skies en masse and delays, negative press and photos of all those abandoned bags plagued the airlines.
Where will the pain points be this summer season? Was last year really that bad? What are demand and fares like for domestic, European and Asian travel? What’s to blame for those random flight cancellations, anyway?
This episode is part of our summer series featuring some of our most memorable recent episodes. This episode was recorded May 22 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic https://www.expedition.com
Related links:
Brett Snyder's Cranky Flier Blog https://www.crankyflier.com
and Cranky Concierge https://www.crankyconcierge.com
United gives 30,000 points to customers affected by the breakdown
https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/United-gives-points-customers-affected-breakdown
Buttigeig warns airlines that a summer mess 'can't happen again' (May 2023) https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Buttigieg-warns-airlines-summer-travel
Surviving the summer of 'airmageddon' (June 2022) https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Insights/Tips-for-getting-through-summer-air-travel-delays-cancellations
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The fatal implosion of an OceanGate Expeditions submersible captured the world’s attention, and it shed light not just on the sub Titan, which took ocean experts and paying guests wreck of the Titanic, but also on a small but thriving subsection of the travel industry known as extreme travel. Who are these travelers? Where do they go, and why? And who are the experts who help them do it?
On today's episode are two travel advisors who specialize in extreme travel, Joshua Bush, CEO of Avenue Two Travel, and Craig Curran, president of the DePrez Group of Travel Companies, as well as our editor in chief Arnie Weissmann. All three are expedition, adventure and extreme-travel enthusiasts -- in fact, Curran and Weissmann were mission specialists on an OceanGate Titanic trip, just weeks before the Titan imploded on a dive to view the Titanic. The episode is hosted by Rebecca Tobin and senior editor Nicole Edenedo.
From the bottom of the ocean to the edges of Earth's atmosphere, we’re talking about travelers who push themselves, their budgets and the possibilities of travel to the very limit.
This episode was recorded June 30 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic https://www.expeditions.com
Our guests:
Avenue Two Travel https://avenuetwotravel.com/
Galactic Experiences by DePrez https://www.galacticexperiencesbydeprez.com/
Arnie Weissmann https://www.travelweekly.com/arnie-weissmann
Related links:
OceanGate saga isn't expected to dampen enthusiasm for extreme tourism https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Extreme-tourism-expected-to-venture-on
At the junction of exploration and tourism (August 2021) https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Exploration-tourism
Arnie Weissmann's series of articles on his aborted dive with OceanGate Expeditions:
Part 1: Preparing to dive https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Mission-Titanic-part-1
Part 2: Delays and an unsettling statement from OceanGate's CEO https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Mission-Titanic-Part-2
Part 3: Trouble ahead, trouble behind https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Mission-Titanic-part-3
Coverage from other news outlets:
Washington Post: Titan CEO spoke of 'discount' parts, journalist invited on submersible says https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/06/23/titanic-submersible-ceo-carbon-fiber-rush/
Wall Street Journal: Titanic sub company promoted ties with aerospace giants https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/06/23/titanic-submersible-ceo-carbon-fiber-rush/
A note about the Folo: This will be our last new episode before the Folo goes on its summer break, but we’re not going dark: We’ll be releasing our best-of series of recent episodes each Monday, and we’ll return with new episodes in September.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This month we’ve premiered a video op-ed column by writer and speaker Doug Lansky under the banner "ReThinking Tourism," and the title pretty much says it all – Doug’s taking a fresh and humorous look at travel to see how we can rethink tourism and improve the experience, both for the industry and for visitors themselves.
His debut column is titled “The Biggest Problem with Tourism,” and we tackle it on this episode. Is tourism well marketed but not well managed? And we introduce a new phrase: "unbalanced tourism" instead of overtourism. If tourism is out of balance, how can we adjust it to make locals and visitors happy?
Episode sponsor:
This podcast is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com
Related links:
Doug Lansky's ReThinking Tourism debut: The biggest problem with tourism https://www.travelweekly.com/Doug-Lansky/The-biggest-problem-with-tourism
The evolution of DMOs: From marketing to managing https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/destination-marketing-organizations-From-marketing-to-managing
From the Window Seat column: Resets in Hawaii and Jamaica https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/Resets-in-Hawaii-and-Jamaica
Doug Lansky's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnOJOteMiq16f-BrE86--Pg/videos
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The central Florida mega-theme park operators, Disney and Universal, are making moves to improve and change their experiences, but they’re taking two separate approaches. One is moving ahead with a new park (in this episode, our experts call the parks “gates”) and smaller, regional attractions. The other is making targeted improvements within its existing park structure.
In this episode, retail editor Jamie Biesiada and Robert Niles, editor of Theme Park Insider, explore why Universal and Disney chose these routes and how external forces -- construction delays, Gov. Ron DeSantis, space constraints -- play a role. And what we might expect from the theme-park experience in the near future (and what might Disney do with the Galactic Starcruiser?).
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com
Related links
Theme Park Insider https://themeparkinsider.com/
A thrilling time for theme parks https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Thrilling-time-for-theme-parks
Why Disney’s Star Wars hotel didn’t take off https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Why-Star-Wars-hotel-failed
Disney pulls the plug on Lake Nona project https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-pulls-plug-on-Lake-Nona-project
See omny.fm/listener for privacy information.
Inflation, a looming recession, the Ukraine war -- and yet, Americans’ appetite for travel just seems to stay strong. After the release of research from Mastercard and Bank of America, we started to ponder: when does the pandemic-era pent-up demand for travel end?
On this episode we’ve invited Bank of America Institute economist Anna Zhou and travel advisor Angela Hughes, the owner of Trips and Ships Luxury Travel in Winter Garden, Fla., to join host Rebecca Tobin and news editor Johanna Jainchill. We discuss the big picture, travel vs. retail spending, the job market and whether high prices are finally starting to deter travelers. Are Covid-era terms like “pent-up demand” and “revenge travel” still relevant? Is there a pent-up demand after the pent-up demand? And is demand for travel finally starting to moderate?
This episode was recorded May 25 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com
This episode contains a bonus interview at the end of this episode with sponsor Windstar Cruises and our executive vice president of marketing, Mary Pat Sullivan.
Related:
Is pent-up travel demand at an end? It depends https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Is-pent-up-demand-at-an-end
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What do a young expat in Paris, the chain of White Lotus hotels, a wizard in England, a group of brunch-loving BFFs in New York and a certain iron throne all have in common? They’re all part of monster-hit movies and TV shows that have spawned wanderlust for travelers, a trend that appears to be accelerating perhaps due to the sheer volume of content available for streaming during the pandemic.
A report from Future Market Insights estimated the film tourism sector in 2022 at more than $66 billion and expected that number to more than double in 10 years. Clearly, film tourism has struck a chord with travelers.
So in this episode, our reporter, a professor, a travel advisor and a host have assembled in a mansion with with a candlestick, a wrench, a knife – ok, just kidding, we’re in our offices with our microphones. Senior editor Nicole Edenedo, Simon Hudson, a professor of tourism at the University of South Carolina and Lily Szemplinski, owner of Passport Stamps Travel, to discuss this trend.
Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com
Related:
Set Jetting puts the spotlight on destinations https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Set-jetting-puts-spotlight-on-destinations
The Folo podcast: Advisors talk about film-crew travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/lights-camera-travel
From the archives: Tabloid tourism https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Tabloid-tourism
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s the start of the summer travel season, and our eyes are on the airlines. Last year, with a combination of a surge of eager flyers and an aviation industry just barely recovering from Omicron and travel restrictions gave birth to a catchy phrase: “airmageddon.” This year, DOT secretary Pete Buttigieg has already warned the airlines that there cannot be a repeat of last year’s cancellations and delays. But there’s also a few areas of concern; for example, staffing at certain air traffic control centers. And, as we hear from all quarters, another wave of North American travelers ready to wing their way to Europe.
With aviation editor Robert Silk and Cranky Concierge founder Brett Synder, we discuss: Where will the pain points be this summer season? Was last year really that bad? What are demand and fares like for domestic, European and Asian travel? What’s to blame for those random flight cancellations, anyway?
This episode was recorded May 22 and has been edited for length and clarity. The episode was recorded a day before Buttegieg’s announcement – though our report on it is in the show notes.
Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com
Related reports:
Expect big crowds for the summer, and big prices, too: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Expect-big-crowds-and-prices-for-summer-travel-season
Buttigieg warns airlines that a summer mess 'can't happen again'
https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Buttigieg-warns-airlines-summer-travel
From 2022: Surviving the summer of 'airmageddon' https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Insights/Tips-for-getting-through-summer-air-travel-delays-cancellations
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A surprising amenity that’s growing at certain luxury resorts around the world is not bath products or your sheets thread counts. It’s chickens, and goats, and vegetables and orchards – In other words, farm life. And it’s surprising how many travelers are interested – eager – to tour and even pitch in at these working farms, a sort of multi-acre answer to the rooftop gardens and living walls at urban hotels.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and hospitality editor Christina Jelski talk to Kurt Bjorkman, chief operating officer of the Ranch at Laguna Beach in California and Sarah Fazendin, founder of Videre Travel. You’ll hear from our discussion, it’s an area where several trends are intersecting: Foodie culture, wellness and outdoor life.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com
Related reports:
Agricultural tourism is a growing trend https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Focus-on-Hotels-2023-Growing-trend-Agricultural-tourism
Our guests:
The Ranch at Laguna Beach https://www.theranchlb.com/
Videre Travel https://videretravel.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Welcome to the travel industry’s new favorite sport: Pickleball. Hotels from luxury resorts to urban properties are rapidly adding pickleball courts to their grounds, and cruise lines, even river cruises, are netting off courts on their ships. It seems clear from our reporting that travelers are keen to take their paddles anywhere and everywhere to keep up their routine, play with fellow guests or locals, or use the opportunity to learn the game.
Hotels editor Christina Jelski, who spearheaded our pickleball cover story and who has tracked the popularity of the game within the hospitality sector, co-hosts this episode with host Rebecca Tobin. Our guests are Melinda Alcossar, a travel advisor who founded Travel With Heart, a division of All-Travel, and specializes in organizing “Carpe Dinkem” pickleball vacations, and Rob Coleman, Holland America Line’s vice president of North America sales, which is going “all in” on pickleball.
Among our topics: How fast this sport has grown among travel companies, why travelers love to play and where travelers and advisors can find creative and plentiful courts and opportunities for play.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com
Related reports:
Cover story: Picking up on the pickleball craze https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Picking-up-on-the-pickleball-craze
Cruise insight: Pickleball is a hit, and Holland America Line has taken notice https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/Holland-America-is-jumping-into-pickleball
River cruise insight: River lines put more sports options into play https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/River-lines-put-sports-cruise-options-in-play
From 2019: Anyone for pickleball? Resorts embrace the booming sport https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Anyone-for-pickleball-Resorts-embrace-booming-sport
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
During the pandemic, the share of cruises sold by travel agents dropped by a surprising amount -- more than 10 percentage points -- while more travelers than ever booked directly with cruise lines. But travel agents have been on the comeback trail since, and new research from Phocuswright predicts that advisors’ share of cruise bookings will rebound and exceed prepandemic levels in just a few years.
Why do people seek out travel advisors to buy their cruise vacations?
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin; cruise editor Andrea Zelenski; Anthony Hamway, the president of Cruise.com; and Marilyn Macallair, a co-author of the Phocuswright report, talk about why travelers used fewer advisors during the pandemic, the resurgence and why the cruise industry relies on advisors.
This episode was recorded April 28 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Phocuswright is owned by Travel Weekly parent company Northstar Travel Group.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com
Related links:
Travel advisors' growing cruise sales may reverse a direct-sales trend: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Travel-advisors-growing-cruise-sales-may-reverse-direct-trend
Phocuswright's U.S. Cruise Market Report, 2022-26 https://www.phocuswright.com/Travel-Research/Market-Overview-Sizing/U-S-Cruise-Market-Report-2022-to-2026
From November 2021: Have cruise sales shifted to direct? CEOs say yes https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Have-cruise-sales-shifted-to-direct
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
NDC – new distribution capability, which has changed the way airline fares and ancillaries are delivered to travel agency’s booking systems – has taken the corporate travel industry and travel agencies by storm this year.
In this episode, aviation editor Robert Silk and host Rebecca Tobin talk NDC strategies with consultant and former aviation exec Cory Garner. Why has American Airlines become a lightning rod for criticism within the travel industry for its NDC push? What are the other airlines’ strategies? What drives technology change? And what’s next for travel advisors and airlines?
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com
Related reports
Q1 report: American Airlines is pleased with its NDC rollout https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/American-Airlines-pleased-NDC-rollout
Air Canada lays out its NDC strategy, including surcharge on non-NDC bookings https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Air-Canada-NDC-strategy
American Airlines NDC works for corporate travelers and clients https://www.travelweekly.com/Articles/American-Airlines-NDC-works-for-corporate-agencies-and-clients
Travel agencies are worried as American’s NDC push looms: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Travel-agencies-worried-as-American-NDC-push-looms
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For a long time we’ve suspected that more travel agencies than not were charging their clients for their services, much like many professional service-oriented businesses like financial advisors, or accountants, or consultants. This year we put some actual data to the trend – we surveyed our readers. And the results might have surprised you.
But today on the Folo, Travel Weekly retail editor Jamie Biesiada and host Rebecca Tobin tackle the question of fees again, this time with a travel advisor, Jamie Jones, the president of WhirlAway Travel, who will share her perspective. We’ll look at some of the many types of fees. And we’ll do a lightning-round-style response to some of the reasons why advisors don’t charge.
This episode was recorded April 20 and was edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by G Adventures https://www.gadventures.com
Related links:
Fees: by the numbers cover story https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Fees-by-the-numbers
The Trade Secrets podcast: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Trade-Secrets/Does-charging-a-fee-mean-my-client-owns-me
WhirlAway Travel: https://www.whirlawaytravel.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We occasionally talk about a sea-change within the cruise industry but this time we mean it. In the past two years, three of the four cruise companies have turned over their top jobs.
Royal Caribbean Group chairman and CEO Richard Fain stepped down as CEO as of January 2022, after serving in that role since the late 1980s. He was replaced by Jason Liberty, the company’s CFO. In mid-2022, Carnival Corp. chairman and CEO Arnold Donald announced that he would step down, to be replaced by Josh Weinstein, the company’s chief operating officer. And just last month, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings chairman and CEO Frank Del Rio said he would step down this summer and that Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Harry Sommer would step up into the "sea-suite." (We should note that, as of now, the fourth company, MSC Cruises, is still helmed by Pierfrancesco Vago.)
Cruise editor Andrea Zelinski looks at the changing of the guard in this week’s Focus on Cruise cover story. And on this episode, with Signature Travel Group CEO Alex Sharpe, we explore the changeover a little more and get of the sense of the people behind and ahead of the industry’s trajectory.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by G Adventures www.gadventures.com
Related reports:
Focus on cruise: Changing the guard https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Focus-on-Cruise-Changing-of-the-guard
On the record: A Q&A with Carnival Corp. CEO Josh Weinstein https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Carnival-Corp-Josh-Weinstein
Travel advisors expect a smooth transition at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Travel-advisors-expect-smooth-leadership-transition-NCLH
Arnold Donald, retiring from Carnival, reflects on changing cruise culture https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Retiring-Arnold-Donald-reflects
Travel advisors praise Richard Fain for his commitment https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Advisors-praise-Fain-as-he-departs-Royal-Caribbean
Richard Fain's Covid-era video from March 2020: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Richard-Fain-addresses-agents-Get-ready-for-better-times-ahead
Alex Sharpe https://join.sigtn.com/about-signature/our-executive-team/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the past two months senior editor Nicole Edenedo has published two cover stories about Black travel experiences. In the first, Black travel professionals talk about strides the industry is making in terms of more inclusive marketing, Black history tours and other initiatives. Her second report, even more personal, is about two experiences she recently had with tours and events that showcase and celebrate Black history, culture and community.
One of the initiatives launching this year is the Soulful Epicurean itinerary from AmaWaterways. To delve deeper into this cruise and what it means for Black travelers, representation and river cruising in general, Edenedo invited on Jazzmine Douse, director of national accounts at AmaWaterways, and Jackie Williams, the founder of NuVibe Travel Experiences, who was instrumental in creating the itinerary.
This episode was recorded March 3 and has been edited for length and clarity. Since then, the popularity of the soulful Epicurean itinerary has been solidified: Ama’s website say that this year’s cruise is at capacity. The line in 2024 now has two of these itineraries running, plus a new itinerary that will operate along the Nile in Egypt.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by G Adventures https://www.gadventures.com
Related reports
AmaWaterways Soulful Epicurean cruise https://www.amawaterways.com/soulful-2023
Jackie Williams of NuVibe: https://nuvibeluxetravel.com/about/
Black travel: inclusion in action https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Black-travel-Inclusion-in-action
Signs of progress https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Signs-of-progress
AmaWaterways to bring Black heritage itinerary to Egypt https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/AmaWaterways-Black-heritage-itinerary-in-Egypt
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s been an exciting month for people who follow college basketball, as March Madness wraps up in Texas. But what you may not consider when you think about the tournament is the incredible travel engine that exists in the background, from fan and team transportation to hotels and big-ticket entertainment to smaller spend like meals and rideshares.
Host Rebecca Tobin traveled to Houston for the final matchup in the men's games, along with Matt Traub, the managing editor of sister publication SportsTravel. But ahead of the Final Four we sat down with Travel Weekly’s deputy managing editor, Gerry Bourbeau, a college hoops fan and a former sportswriter, to talk about the size of the sports-travel market, its post-lockdown rebound, the travel spend generated by the basketball tournament and how host cities prepare to greet fans and keep the fun going.
We also pinpoint major cities that are hosting major sporting events and where sports travel is growing by leaps and bounds (looking at you, pickleball).
This episode was recorded March 30 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by G Adventures https://www.gadventures.com
Related links
The SportsTravel podcast: Hosting the Men's Final Four in Houston https://www.sportstravelmagazine.com/janis-burke-and-holly-kesterson-hosting-the-mens-final-four-in-houston/
Sports travel and tours is on a hot streak https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Sports-tourism-high-demand
Vegas' lucky numbers: A record year for airport traffic, casinos https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Insights/Las-Vegas-tourism-numbers-for-2022
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Alaska as a travel destination has been on our mind recently – the summer cruise season is about to kick off next month, and the industry is looking at a record year – 50 ships this year, up from 37 in in 2019 (The link to that article is below).
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and Travel Weekly aviation editor Robert Silk, who has just returned from Alaska, brought back Kirsten Dixon, a well known hotelier and hospitality expert in the state, to talk about how to travel in Alaska in the winter, Dixon's involvement with the Iditarod dogsled race, this summer's tourism highlights and whether travel in the state is "back."
This episode has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by G Adventures https://www.gadventures.com
Related reports:
Cruise lines tap into Alaska demand with record deployment https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-lines-tap-Alaska-demand-with-record-deployment
New tours and summer events await travelers to Alaska https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/New-tours-special-events-await-summer-visitors-to-Alaska
Experiencing Alaska through local events;
https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Experiencing-Alaska-through-local-events
Robert Silk's visit to Fairbanks: https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/The-Fairbanks-nightlife
Robert Silk's experience heli-skiing in Alaska with Chugach Powder Guides: https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Focus-Ski-Mountain-Travel-2023-Powder-days
Kirsten Dixon's Within the Wild company https://withinthewild.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This this year, thanks to several back-to-back, major weather systems, several West Coast resorts are looking at snow totals in the 600-inches-plus range that might keep the season going well into spring. This month also marks the runup to Mountain Travel Symposium, our annual ski and mountain-destination conference, and our Focus on Ski and Mountain Travel cover story.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and Robert Silk, who covers ski and mountain travel for Travel Weekly, talk with Tom Foley, senior vice president of business intelligence at Inntopia, and Patrick Lacey, the public relations manager at Palisades Tahoe, about mountain ecosystems, how those snow totals impact visitation, this year’s lodging trends and how to get people to move from trying skiing to actually becoming a skier.
This was recorded March 17 and was edited for length and clarity.
Episode Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by G Adventures. At the end of this episode, stay on for a bonus interview with Jeremy Brady, national sales manager for G Adventures, and Mary Pat Sullivan, the executive vice president of marketing for Northstar and Travel Weekly.
Related reports:
Travel Weekly’s ski and mountain coverage: https://www.travelweekly.com/ski-travel
Focus on ski and mountain travel, 2023: Powder days for skiers of all levels: https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Focus-Ski-Mountain-Travel-2023-Powder-days
Snowpack piles up at ski resorts in California and Utah https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Snowpack-piles-up-Utah-California
Focus on ski and mountain travel 2022: Driving diversity on the slopes https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Focus-Ski-Mountain-Travel-Driving-diversity-on-the-slopes
Palisades Tahoe: https://www.palisadestahoe.com
Inntopia: https://www.inntopia.com
Mountain Travel Symposium: https://www.mtntrvl.com
Inntopia and Mountain Travel Symposium and owned by Travel Weekly parent company Northstar Travel Group.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
New concepts and trends have been identified in the wellness travel sector this year. And several deal with how travelers are seeking help with the fallout, or the recovery, from the pandemic: Safe-space social settings to help people deal with the “loneliness epidemic”; anxiety relief; and water therapies – wild swimming, anyone? And like in many sectors, the sky’s the limit when it comes to premium accommodations, treatments and amenities.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, hospitality editor Christina Jelski and Tammy Pahel, the vice president of spa and wellness operations for the Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, talk about why travelers are seeking out self care – and how they’re doing it.
This episode was recorded March 10 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by G Adventures https://www.gadventures.com
Related reports:
Wellness travel’s coolest, ‘wild’ new trend has some travelers ready to plunge in https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Wellness-industry-new-wild-trend-has-some-in-travel-ready-to-plunge-in
Identifying the wellness travel trends for 2023 https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Wellness-travel-trends-2023
Carillon Miami Wellness Resort https://www.carillonhotel.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As the Folo by Travel Weekly marks its 3-year anniversary -- it began publishing in early 2020, when the ground was shifting under our feet -- host Rebecca Tobin invites some of our other podcast hosts to talk about our journeys, what we’ve learned through podcasting – and a little big about our backgrounds and what we want to bring to our listeners.
This episode features Jamie Biesiada, a Travel Weekly senior editor, and Emma Wesismann, managing editor of TravelAge West. Jamie and Emma co-host the Trade Secrets podcast, which publishes every other week. Jamie also is the founder of capsule podcast Selling the Mouse, and Emma hosts the monthly podcast Humans of Travel, which relaunches March 13.
Plus, be on the lookout for The Last Resort, a new podcast from Travel Weekly by hospitality editor Christina Jelski, coming soon!
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by G Adventures https://www.gadventures.com
Podcast links:
The Folo by Travel Weekly: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo
Trade Secrets https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Trade-Secrets
Humans of Travel https://www.travelagewest.com/Podcasts/Humans-of-travel
Selling the Mouse https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Selling-the-Mouse
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A new river cruise line, Riverside Luxury Cruises, is arriving on Europe's rivers this summer, and it’s noteworthy because it’s using the ships built and operated by the now-defunct Crystal Cruises. Just last month it added the five purpose-built Crystal ships to its lineup, joining the former Crystal Mozart.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and river cruise editor Nicole Edenedo talk with Jennifer Holboth, the president of Riverside Collection, Americas, about how parent company Seaside Collection discovered and acquired the Crystal ships, the plan for rollout and itineraries, the direction Riverside will take, its plan to position itself in the luxury market, river industry trends, challenges and more.
This episode was recorded Feb. 13 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations
Related reports:
More former Crystal river ships are acquired by startup Riverside https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Startup-company-acquires-more-former-Crystal-river-ships
New river line plays a familiar tune with former Crystal Mozart https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/New-river-line-plays-a-familiar-tune-with-former-Crystal-Mozart
On the oceans, the new Crystal is launching with higher commissions and an A&K partnership https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/New-Crystal-higher-commissions
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Twice a year Travel Weekly produces a cover story on culinary travel trends. Our reporters fan out to their beats or across the globe to check out cool hospitality trends, or new restaurant or foodie scenes, or chef-guided tours.
For this episode host Rebecca Tobin brings together Focus on Culinary editor Johanna Jainchill, and two longtime contributors -- Christina Jelski, who covers hospitality, and Jamie Biesiada, who covers retail travel and theme parks -- and the conversation quickly turned to a new mindfulness in travel and eating. Think plant-based meals, zero-proof cocktails, and how travel companies are dealing with food waste.
We wrap up with a more general discussion about pandemic-era dining trends that we think are here to stay.
This episode was recorded Feb. 10 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations https://login.www.vaxvacationaccess.com/
Related reports:
Focus on culinary travel: On the menu in America https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Focus-on-Culinary-Travel-2023-On-the-menu-in-America
Travel takes on food waste: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Travel-takes-on-food-waste
Going green on MSC Cruises https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/Chef-Niklas-Ekstedt-is-growing-greens-on-MSC-Cruises
Zero-proof cocktails are popular at hotels and on cruise ships https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Hold-the-booze
Theme parks embrace a side of tech: https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Focus-on-Culinary-Travel-2021-Theme-parks-embrace-a-side-of-tech
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Cruise lines, advisors and travelers are in the midst of Wave, the cruise industry's big sales and promotion season, and this year looks like a big one. In this episode cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and host Rebecca Tobin check in on how cruise sales are trending and look at some of the industry’s benchmarks. Why is Wave so important this year? And are cruise lines succeeding in their push to attract more first-time cruisers?
This episode was recorded Feb. 9 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode of the Folo is sponsored by ALG Vacations https://www.appleleisuregroup.com/segments/vacations/
Related reports:
Royal Caribbean Group is experiencing a Wave like no other https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-Q4-2022-earnings
Analysts and advisors report a better-than-expected start to Wave season https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/Wave-season-bookings-off-to-a-robust-start
Carnival Corp. rings in new year with ambitious ad campaign https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-rings-in-new-year
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings says the Wave has already begun https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/NCLH-third-quarter-earnings-2022
How cruise lines are attracting first-time cruisers https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/The-push-to-attract-first-time-cruisers
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In just a month, a new tech buzzwords has entered the mainstream: ChatGPT, a form of generative AI that has moved the conversation forward on what artificial intelligence can do for humans. Today we discuss how ChatGPT and other similar chatbots could change the jobs of travel sellers. Is it a tool? Or a threat?
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin; Norm Rose, the founder of Travel Tech Consulting and a senior advisor at Phocuswright; and senior editor Jamie Biesiada debate ChatGPT’s importance, how it could be harnessed by travel advisors and how it might change travel search forever – or, at least, until the next technological advance.
Episode guests:
Norm Rose https://www.traveltechnology.com
Jamie Biesiada https://www.travelweekly.com/jamie-biesiada
Episode sponsor:
This episode of the Folo is sponsored by ALG Vacations
Related links:
Open AI and ChatGPT: https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/
Phocuswright: https://www.phocuswright.com
Can ChatGPT be a travel planner? We tested it out https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Can-ChatGPT-be-your-travel-planner
Arnie Weissmann’s column: Can artificial intelligence VIP a client? https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/Can-artificial-intelligence-VIP-a-client
Capital One acquires Lola's team and technology https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Corporate-Travel/Capital-One-acquires-Lola-team-and-technology
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The idea of a hybrid work-vacation trip – “bleisure” in travel industry parlance -- was totally upended during the pandemic. With business travel on hold, many people began staying at business-oriented hotels for vacation trips. And many people began bringing work with them to resorts. Then when corporate travel did begin to return, it did so with a bleisure component – in some cases spouses and kids came along for long weekends or joined up for an extended vacation. And people on work-from-home or hybrid work plans became accustomed to traveling anywhere and adding in a few hours of work time.
Today we’re going to talk about how these trends literally are changing the footprint of hotels and their amenities: From business suites Caribbean resorts to leisure-focused amenity packages for big city hotels.
Co-hosted by Christina Jelski, Travel Weekly’s senior editor covering hospitality. www.travelweekly.com/christina-jelski
Guests:
Travis Jay Wilson, marketing director of the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sandt-marriott-marquis-san-diego-marina/overview/
Janien Huistra, director of sales and marketing for the Renaissance Aruba https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/auabr-renaissance-wind-creek-aruba-resort/overview/
Anne Stingle, head of sales, marketing and brand communications for Rebel Hotel Company. https://www.rebelhotelcompany.com/portfolio
This episode was edited for length and clarity.
Related articles:
Google data highlights the growing interest in blended trips https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Google-data-shows-interest-blended-trips
Working on vacation: Bleisure's flipside https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/The-flipside-of-bleisure-working-during-vacation
Business hotels make room for leisure: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Making-room-for-leisure
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Folo by Travel Weekly host Rebecca Tobin kicks off 2023 with a look ahead. In this episode, editor in chief Arnie Weissmann talks about the big-picture perspective from travel executives from his Executive View interviews, as well as his thoughts on destinations in 2023 and the one-word trend that he thinks will define the new year.
In the second half of the episode, we circle back to the reporters to talk about additional topics that could influence travel in 2023: Labor crisis, wifi connectivity, visa delays and more.
Guests: Travel Weekly news editor Johanna Jainchill and senior editors Jamie Biesiada (retail, theme parks), Nicole Edenedo (tours, river cruise) Christina Jelski (hospitality), Robert Silk (aviation) and Andrea Zelinski (cruise).
Continued reading:
Travel Weekly’s Preview 2023: https://www.travelweekly.com/preview-2023
Executive View: Lindsay Ueberroth: https://www.travelweekly.com/Preview-2023/Lindsey-Ueberroth-CEO-of-Preferred-Travel-Group
Executive View: Roeland Vos: https://www.travelweekly.com/Preview-2023/Roeland-Vos-CEO-of-Belmond
Executive View: Valerie Dorsey: https://www.travelweekly.com/Preview-2023/Valerie-Dorsey-Charmed-Vacations-Cruise-Planners
Executive View: Andrew Todd: https://www.travelweekly.com/Preview-2023/Andrew-N-Todd-CEO-of-the-Xanterra-Travel-Collection
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Folo by Travel Weekly kicks off 2023 with a look ahead: Travel Weekly’s reporting team gathered together to discuss some of the trends and topics that will influence travel this year.
We start with a lightning round of one-phrase trends and then take a deeper exploration of what might dominate in the aviation, cruise, tour, hospitality and river cruise segments, as well as whether travel agents would see continued recovery. And in the final segment, Travel Weekly reporters identified the top destinations to keep an eye on in 2023.
A first of a two-part series! Stay tuned for the second half of our discussion next week.
Guests: Travel Weekly news editor Johanna Jainchill, and senior editors Jamie Biesiada (retail, theme parks), Nicole Edenedo (tours, river cruise) Christina Jelski (hospitality), Robert Silk (aviation) and Andrea Zelinski (cruise).
Continued reading: Travel Weekly’s Preview 2023 https://www.travelweekly.com/preview-2023
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We take a deep dive into our annual Travel Industry Survey, which examines business trends among travel agencies and travel advisors: From what they book and when to how much they make and how they market and communicate with clients. This year the research was conducted by Phocuswright, and nearly 1,400 advisors responded to the survey.
To analyze and discuss some of the data, editor in chief Arnie Weissmann and Johanna Jainchill, our news editor and the driving editorial force behind the survey, join host Rebecca Tobin.
This episode was recorded Nov. 20 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related:
The 2022 Travel Industry Survey: https://www.travelweekly.com/Industry-Survey-2022
Phocuswright: https://www.phocuswright.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As the travel industry gears up for the holiday travel period, we turn our attention to airline performance issues. Last week DOT fined airlines for failing to provide timely refunds during the pandemic. Frontier was the only U.S. carrier to be fined – why? Aviation editor Robert Silk looks at the stats.
Obviously through the pandemic there have been a multitude of flight cancellations. Later in the episode we discuss some of the reasons for this summer of "airmageddon" with Bob Guccione Jr., the editor in chief of Wonderlusttravel.com, who co-authored an article earlier this year headlined: "Are airlines profiting from the cancellations?".
And here’s our PSA as Thanksgiving approaches: Airline passengers are entitled to a refund – not just a credit – if their flight is canceled or significantly delayed by their airline.
Related reading:
Agents chased refunds for Covid-era flight cancellations. Many say the DOT's fines aren't enough: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Agents-chased-Covid-era-air-refunds-Many-say-DOT-fines-arent-enough
Bumping rates creep up as airlines manage oversold planes: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Airline-bumping-rates-creep-up
Airlines vastly improve services to customers affected by cancellations https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Airlines-improve-services-for-delays-cancellations
Delta CEO apologizes for operational meltdowns in Q2 https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Delta-CEO-apologizes-for-operational-difficulties-in-Q2
For JetBlue and Spirit, weekend difficulties continued on Monday (April 4) https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/JetBlue-Spirit-high-cancellations
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This is the second half of a conversation that host Rebecca Tobin and retail reporter Jamie Biesiada with Jackie Friedman, the president of the host agency Nexion: a robust talk about the rise of the independent contractor is our podast episode today. A good deal of travel sales are handled by independent contractors, or ICs, and means that the advisor has their own business but affiliates with another, larger agency or a host agency for support, better commission tiers, training, marketing collateral and so on.
One of the more surprising pandemic trends for agencies was a rise in the number of ICs, and Friedman has some thoughts on that; we’ll get into it here.
On the news front, the U.S. Department of Labor has proposed a rule that would make it tougher for companies to categorize workers as ICs; and this rule is intended to help classify workers who are akin to employees. Two links below explore about how this rule might impact travel agencies with lots of ICs and, of course, the ICs, themselves.
This episode has been edited for length and clarity.
More on independent contractors:
Travel advisors are the 'great' kind of busy:
https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Avoya-growth-first-time-travel-advisors
Host agency Avoya reports growth in first-time travel advisors
https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Avoya-growth-first-time-travel-advisors
ASTA formally suggests fees, blasts past membership goals
https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/ASTA-unveils-credo-at-Global-Convention
Travel advisors are well positioned in the rebound from Covid-19
https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Avoya-growth-first-time-travel-advisors
Labor Department updates:
Labor likely won't target travel agencies over status of ICs https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Labor-likely-wont-target-travel-agencies-over-status-of-ICs
Department of Labor’s criteria for determining IC status https://www.travelweekly.com/Mark-Pestronk/Labor-criteria-for-determining-IC-status
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Our annual CruiseWorld show brings to the stage the top executives from the major cruise companies. This year the CEOs of Carnival Corp., Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings talked with editor in chief Arnie Weissmann about their sales and product priorities against the backdrop of major news announcements: the elimination of some noncommissionable fares by Norwegian Cruise Line; Royal Caribbean Group’s Q3 profit; Carnival Corp.’s appeal for first-time cruisers.
Host Rebecca Tobin turned to senior cruise editor Andrea Zelinski, who was covering the show in Fort Lauderdale, for her analysis of the news, the presentations from Carnival Corp. CEO Josh Weinstein and Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty, and what travel advisors at the show were buzzing about.
This episode was recorded Nov. 3, halfway through the show, and doesn’t include info on the conversation with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio or the Presidents Panel with NCL chief Harry Sommer and Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ CEO Jason Montague, which took place Friday, so we’ve included articles in the links below.
Related reports:
At CruiseWorld, Norwegian Cruise Line execs explain NCF plan https://www.travelweekly.com/CruiseWorld-Coverage/Norwegian-Cruise-Line-execs-delve-into-NCF-plan
Royal Caribbean CEO Jason Liberty on Q3 performance: 'We crushed it' https://www.travelweekly.com/CruiseWorld-Coverage/CEO-reacts-to-Royal-Caribbean-Group-Q3-earnings-report
Carnival Corp.'s Josh Weinstein: Advisors can help us sell first-time cruisers https://www.travelweekly.com/CruiseWorld-Coverage/Carnival-CEO-Weinstein-Advisors-can-help-us
NCL to pay noncommissionable fares on advance bookings: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Norwegian-Cruise-Line-to-pay-on-noncommissionable-fares
Think Tank: Advisors trade tips on social media https://www.travelweekly.com/CruiseWorld-Coverage/Advisors-trade-tips-on-how-to-turn-social-posts-into-travel-sales
Complete CruiseWorld coverage https://www.travelweekly.com/CruiseWorld-Coverage
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We talk this week about how cruise vacations are sold – and by whom. It appears that cruise lines' direct sales have grown during the pandemic. We approached the topic from the travel advisor side and found quite a few reasons why this might be the case, and why advisors don’t seem to be that fazed.
On this episode Jackie Friedman, the president of host agency Nexion, talks with Jamie Biesiada, Travel Weekly's senior editor for retail, and host Rebecca Tobin about why cruise lines might be seeing more direct bookings, why travel advisors are still crucial partners, the travel advisor proposition -- and how best to communicate that value to a traveler.
This episode was recorded Oct. 25 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related reading
Cruise lines’ direct sales keep rising, but travel advisors are unfazed https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Travel-agents-unfazed-rising-direct-cruise-bookings
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings expects a surge in direct bookings https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/NCLH-anticipates-surge-direct-bookings
From November 2021: Have cruise sales shifted to direct? CEOs say yes, advisors ponder why https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Have-cruise-sales-shifted-to-direct
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week we’re focusing on accessible travel. In a recent two-part cover story series, our staff looked at ways that travel companies and categories like hotel, cruise and tour have made strides to accommodate disabled travelers. And we’re continuing the coverage this week with a report by Robert Silk about how often flyers who need wheelchair assistance receive “prompt and timely assistance” at the gate.
In the meantime, in this episode we’re having a robust discussion about what accessible travel means, what needs to be done for disabled travelers in tours and hotels, and where more progress needs to occur to make disabled travelers feel welcome and able to participate in group travel.
Host Rebecca Tobin and Travel Weekly news editor Johanna Jainchill leads the discussion with John Sage, the founder of accessible-travel tour operator and agency Sage Traveling; Genny Freiman, the project manager for the Disability Opportunity Fund, which designed a hotel from top to bottom with disabled travelers in mind; and Matt Berna, president, North America, for Intrepid Travel.
This episode was recorded Oct. 6 and has been edited for length and clarity
Related reports:
The state of accessible travel: The market overall, air and hotel: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/State-of-accessible-travel-2022-part-1
The state of accessible travel: Destinations, tours, cruise lines and what advisors need to know: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/State-of-accessible-travel-2022-Part-2
Wheelchair assistance falls short of flyers’ expectations: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Wheelchair-assistance-falls-short-flyers-expectations
Pete Buttigieg: Airlines should create wheelchair space on planes: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Buttigieg-says-airlines-should-create-wheelchair-space-on-planes
Accessible-travel specialist Wheel the World starts travel agent affiliate program: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Accessible-travel-specialist-starts-travel-agent-affiliate-program
Is Africa a good choice for clients with disabilities? https://www.travelweekly.com/Middle-East-Africa-Travel/Insights/Accesible-travel-in-Africa-is-improving
Our guests:
Sage Traveling: https://www.sagetraveling.com/ Intrepid Travel: www.intrepidtravel.com
The Schoolhouse Hotel: https://theschoolhousehotelwv.com/accessibility/
The Disability Opportunity Fund https://www.thedof.org/
Intrepid Travel: https://www.intrepidtravel.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As more places in the U.S. have legalized or decriminalized marijuana, and more travelers are interested in using marijuana during their vacations, are cannabis-friendly hotels on the rise – and have they gotten more luxurious?
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and senior hotels editor Christina Jelski talk with Jim Roberts and Brian Adkinson, the co-owners of the Madrones and the Brambles, two boutique properties in Mendocino County, Calif., where their onsite dispensary and cannabis program has taken inspiration from wine tourism.
Plus, we discuss how the tourism sector is growing and how hotels and inns can balance appealing to both marijuana users and guests who don't partake.
This episode was recorded Oct. 11 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related links
Cannabis-friendly hotels target high-end travelers https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Sophisticated-World-class-Cannabis-travel-is-growing-up
Jamaica cannabis dispensary touts 'world-class' experience https://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Jamaica-cannabis-dispensary-promises-world-class-experience
Consuming weed in Las Vegas is about to get easier https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Las-Vegas-weed-lounges-will-open-soon
The Madrones and the Brambles hotels in California:
https://www.themadrones.com/#come-stay-the-madrones
https://www.themadrones.com/the-brambles
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Under the Biden Administration, the DOT has put out several proposals related to rules for airlines, passengers and travel advisors. Two of the biggest are about refunds and fee disclosures: In the first, when flyers should be entitled to refunds and in the second, when air ticket sellers – like travel agents -- should disclose fees like bags, change fees, and how much it would cost for families to sit together.
And there are other rulemakings in the works, plus a new online dashboard on airline policies for delays and cancellations. In short, it seems like a lot is going on. But what does it mean, what do advocates think needs to be clarified in order for flyers and agents to truly benefit, and how can people get involved in the comment process before the DOT issues its final rulemaking?
Host Rebecca Tobin and Travel Weekly senior editor for aviation Robert Silk talk about these issues with Eben Peck, the executive vice president of advocacy at the American Society of Travel Advisors, and Bill McGee, a consumer advocate who is now with the American Economic Liberties Project.
This episode was recorded Thursday Oct. 6 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related Travel Weekly reports:
DOT's fee-disclosure plan is met with opposition: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/DOT-fees-disclosure-plan-met-with-widespread-opposition
Wheels up: The new airline dashboard is good. It could be better https://www.travelweekly.com/Robert-Silk/Digging-into-airlines-controllable-delay-loophole
At the DOT, ASTA lays out opposition to air-ticket refund plan https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/ASTA-talks-with-DOT-on-air-ticket-refunds
Airlines improve their services to customers impacted by cancellations: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Airlines-improve-services-for-delays-cancellations
DOT proposes giving flyers more opportunities to get a refund https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/DOT-proposed-rules-airline-refunds
DOT rulemaking dockets:
Air ticket refunds: https://www.regulations.gov/docket/DOT-OST-2022-0089
ASTA:
Update on state and federal campaigns: https://www.asta.org/advocacy/stateAndFederalCampaigns
American Economics Liberties Project:
DOT's effort to secure airline refunds is an important change for consumers: https://www.economicliberties.us/press-release/dot-effort-to-secure-airline-refunds-is-an-important-change-for-consumers/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode we’re talking about holiday travel, but a special niche, specifically river cruises that hit the big Christmas markets in Europe.
The Christmas-market cruises came to our attention last year when Tauck president Jennifer Tombaugh was a guest on a family-travel Folo episode and talked about the cruises with enthusiasm. But shortly after that episode was published, new Covid restrictions arose in Europe, markets were canceled and borders were closed, which put the cruises on hiatus for another year. But now in 2022 the itineraries are expected to go ahead as scheduled, so we've brought Tombaugh back to talk about bookings, demand and the "magic" of a December Danube cruise. She is joined by river cruise expert Lisa Fitzgerald, of Fitzgerald Travel, and our river cruise editor Nicole Edenedo.
Related:
River cruise insight: Christmas market sailings in Europe are filling up fast https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/Christmas-market-river-cruises-in-Europe-selling-fast
Europe insight: Making the most of Vienna's Christmas markets: https://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/Insights/Making-the-most-of-Vienna-Christmas-markets
From November 2021: With Christmas markets closed, river cruise lines cancel or alter sailings https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Christmas-markets-close-river-cruise-lines-cancel
On this episode:
Jennifer Tombaugh, president of Tauck: https://www.tauck.com/blog/from-tauck-president/
Lisa Fitzgerald, founder of Fitzgerald Travel: https://fitzgeraldtravel.com/about
Nicole Edenedo, river cruise editor, Travel Weekly: https://www.travelweekly.com/nicole-edenedo
Rebecca Tobin, Travel Weekly managing editor and host: https://www.travelweekly.com/rebecca-tobin
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode we’re talking about a Travel Weekly cover story by Andrea Zelinski that examined traditional cruise line categories -- contemporary, premium and luxury -- the buckets that each line fell into based on price, size, amenities, vibe and historical positioning.
Over time, the industry has gotten bigger and ships more sophisticated, new types of cruising have created new categories and broken down old barriers, prompting Zelinski and Mike Estill, the COO of the Western Association of Travel Agencies, to debate how the categories have blurred – and whether they are still relevant -- and how this impacts the way travel advisors assist their clients with making the right vacation choice.
This episode has been edited for length and clarity.
Related reports:
Defying cruise categorization: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Defying-cruise-categorization
Dress up, dress down, enjoy your cruise evening: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/dress-up-dress-down-on-a-cruise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why has it been so expensive to travel?
For a good chunk of 2022, the talk has been the of high prices in travel as demand -- particularly for Europe -- came roaring back. But meanwhile, inflation, economic uncertainty and fluctuating gas prices have had the potential to rattle consumer confidence. Have these factors taken a toll on travelers’ appetite to get back out and see the world?
In this episode, hotels editor Christina Jelski speaks with Tom Foley, the senior vice president of business intelligence for Inntopia, and Beth Washington, the founder of the travel agency Getaway Guild, part of SmartFlyer. They look at how prices have changed, how travelers have reacted to higher costs, whether incentives like gas vouchers are useful, and the role that data can play in helping a travel advisor guide clients to an affordable vacation.
Related reading:
With high inflation and gas prices, hotels roll out late-summer deals https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hotel-deals-late-summer-inflation-gas-prices
Getaway Guild travel agency: https://www.getawayguild.com/
Inntopia and DestiMetrics: https://corp.inntopia.com/intelligence/destimetrics/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why are airport terminals the way they are? Aviation editor Robby Silk’s cover story, “Now departing from the ordinary,” looked at new ways that airport designers, operators and architects are building a new generation of terminals with expansive high ceiling, lots of windows and open space, greenery, intuitive wayfinding, local flavor and the latest in technology.
On this episode, Silk and Regine Weston, an airport planner for Arup, talk about some of the decisions behind upgrades and changes, why designers are thinking about passenger stress levels, ways to make the concourse experience more engaging, how sustainability factors into nearly every decision and what travelers might expect to see on their next journey through LAX, Denver, Pittsburgh, Seattle or New York LaGuardia.
Our summer 2022 series revisits some of our favorite Folo by Travel Weekly episodes. This episode was originally published June 12. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Related reports:
New airport designs are a departure from the ordinary https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Now-departing-from-the-ordinary
Sustainability and airlines: Green skies will come again https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Green-skies-will-come-again
No line, and a train car to myself with Denver Airport’s touchless app https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/No-line-and-a-train-car-all-to-myself-with-Denver-Airport-touchless-app
Delta touts new LaGuardia terminal building as blending beauty and function https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/First-look-Delta-new-LaGuardia-terminal
Dispatch: Dining at Newark Airport’s Terminal C https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Dispatch-Dining-at-Newark-s-Terminal-C
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The "Royal Tour," a one-hour PBS special hosted by travel journalist Peter Greenberg, showcases a country’s tourism spots, history, culture, food, personal stories and current events. But with a twist: The country's head of state is Greenberg’s tour guide.
To have a president, prime minister or member of the royal family show a journalist and camera crew around their country seems like an incredible opportunity, not to mention one filled with logistical hurdles. Both Greenberg and Travel Weekly editor in chief Arnie Weissmann join the Folo to talk about the origins of the Royal Tour, its protocols, some of Greenberg’s greatest memories and the most stirring moments of their time in Tanzania.
Our summer 2022 series revisits some of our favorite Folo by Travel Weekly episodes. This episode was originally published April 18. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations. https://www.algvacations.com
Related:
Tanzania in the spotlight
https://www.travelweekly.com/Middle-East-Africa-Travel/Tanzania-in-the-spotlight
The Royal Tour
https://petergreenberg.com/category/the-royal-tour/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As was the case last year, editor Jerry Limone looked at our annual Power List, our ranking of the biggest travel sellers in the U.S., for agencies that made big gains or wrote about innovative approaches to selling travel – and this year he zeroed in on OutsideAgents.com and a new agency on the list, Marvelous Mouse Travels.
Originally we thought this episode would focus on straight business talk, but right away the conversation got more about the “soft and fluffy” – that’s Chad Burt of OutsideAgents’ phrase – as he and Marvelous Mouse founder Kari Dillon traded strategies they used to keep their travel agents motivated, positive and productive during the push and pull of the pandemic.
In this episode we talked about implicit marketing, traveling to sell travel, talking to clients with empathy and using that powerful tool: listening.
Our summer 2022 series revisits some of our favorite Folo by Travel Weekly episodes. This episode was originally published June 26, 2022. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations. https:/www.algvacations.com
Related reading:
The 2022 Power List: https://www.travelweekly.com/power-list-2022
Marvelous Mouse Travels: https://marvelousmousetravels.com/
OutsideAGents.com https://outsideagents.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today we’re examining a type of travel activity that I don’t think you’re going to find on a tour or a cruise shore excursion list yet. Nealy two years ago, one of our reporters, Robert Silk, fulfilled a personal project – at times called the desert sit, or competitive sitting, or extreme sitting, he went to the desert and sat in one spot for an entire day.
The activity combines travel with some of the trends that became paramount during the pandemic. Being outdoors and distant, mindfulness, disconnecting from devices and accomplishing longtime goals.
The interest in extreme sitting was renewed via an article written by Laura Kinniry for Atlas Obscura, and one from La Repubblica in Italy and so we brought the two of them together again, to talk about the philosophy and practicalities of traveling in order to just sit.
Our summer 2022 series revisits some of our favorite Folo by Travel Weekly episodes. This episode was originally published May 2, 2022. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations www.algvacations.com
Related:
How to explain a day desert sitting: Social distancing as an endurance sport https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/How-to-explain-a-day-desert-sitting-Social-distancing-as-endurance-sport
Meet the man who wants to make sitting an extreme sport https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/competitive-sitting-extreme-sport
Dispatch, Antarctica: Surrounded by humpback whales https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Antarctica-Surrounded-by-whales
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode we’re talking about our annual Focus on LGBTQ+ Travel cover story, and we’re doing it in a personal way. Host Rebecca Tobin speaks with freelance writer Abeni Jones, who brought both personal perspective and strong reporting to last year’s story, "Traveling while Transgender," and this year’s piece on what travel companies are doing to make travel more inclusive and safer for people in the LGBTQ+ community – and more that needs to be done.
In this episode, Tobin and Jones dive into an important discussion on why travel can be a fraught exercise for some LGBTQ+ travelers, especially transgender and gender-nonconforming people, changes at the TSA, how some travel companies are taking a holistic approach to inclusion, and how people and organizations could do better.
Our summer 2022 series revisits some of the best Folo by Travel Weekly episodes. This episode was originally published June 20, 2022. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations https://www.algvacations.com
Related reports
Focus on LGBTQ+ Travel, 2022: A more inclusive welcome https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Focus-on-LGBTQ-travel-2022
Focus on LGTBQ+ Travel, 2021: Traveling while transgender https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Focus-on-LGBTQ-Travel-Traveling-while-transgender
U.S. issues first passport with a nonbinary gender option https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/US-issues-first-passport-with-nonbinary-gender-option
Proud Experience focuses on the growing LGBTQ market https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Proud-Experiences-focused-on-growing-LGBTQ-market
LGBTQ leaders encourage genuine engagement from travel companies https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/LGBTQ-leaders-encourage-genuine-engagement-from-travel-companies
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Travel is booming and travelers are eager to back on the road. But what do you do if your travel company is confronting the perfect storm of being down staff and up on inquiries from travel advisors and consumers – who may not be ready to make a booking?
One tour operator, eager to reduce the number of window shoppers, has taken a – sometimes controversial – page from the travel advisors’ playbook. Host Rebecca Tobin get into the subject with Authentic Vacations CEO Simon Russell and Travel Weekly tour editor Nicole Edenedo.
Our summer 2022 series revisits some of the best Folo by Travel Weekly episodes. This episode was originally published May 30, 2022. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations
Related:
With more calls and less staff, tour operator turns to pre-booking deposit https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/With-more-calls-and-less-staff-tour-operator-turns-to-fees
Ire builds over hold times as suppliers rush to hire and train call staff https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Suppliers-rush-to-staff-up-train-as-ire-builds-on-call-wait-times?ct=
Previously on the Folo podcast:
How the rush to travel created hurdles for travel agents https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/The-rush-to-travel-brings-hurdles-for-agents
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Earlier this year our tours reporter, Nicole Edenedo began looking at the growing interest for experiences that highlight Black history and culture. Notable Black Americans in Paris, the first free town in the Americas, in Cartegena and U.S. tours that go beyond the Civil Rights movement are just a few examples.
In this episode we hear from Edenedo and two businesswomen she connected with during her reporting, Jennifer Tosch of Black Heritage Tours, which operates in Amsterdam and New York state, and Meryanne Loum-Martin, the owner of the Jnane Tamsna boutique hotel in Marrakech, Morocco. In this conversation we’re going beyond what’s in the cover story to talk in detail about how they created experiences that unearth, examine, celebrate and share Black history and experiences.
We talk about their backgrounds, their businesses growth, the power of Black business and social networks, travel philosophy, inspiration and their passion for what they do.
About this episode:
Our summer 2022 series revisits some of the best Folo by Travel Weekly episodes. This episode was originally published April 4, 2022. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Related:
Nicole Edenedo's cover story: Black travelers on the road to discovery: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Black-travelers-on-the-road-to-discovery
Jnane Tamsna hotel in Marrakech: https://www.jnanetamsna.com/
Black Heritage Tours: http://www.blackheritagetours.com/
A previous Folo podcast episode on diversitiy initatives within travel: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Black-voices-in-travel-survey-results
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The boom in travel is now in full swing: Europe is a favored destination for Americans, airlines are overtaxed, cruise ships are all back in operation. Earlier this year, American Express Travel put some data to the anecdotal evidence: Sixty-two percent of respondents to its Global Travel Trends Report survey said that they planned to take two to four trips this year.
Where do people want to travel -- and, perhaps more importantly, WHY do they want to travel? In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and American Express Travel head Audrey Hendley talk about the big picture as well as some of the reasons people are back on the road.
Our summer 2022 series revisits some of the best Folo by Travel Weekly episodes. This episode was originally published March 28 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related reading:
The travel boom has arrived, American Express Travel poll says
American Express Travel's 2022 Global Travel Trends Report
Travel Weekly's 2022 Power List: American Express Travel
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Our podcast episode today is based on a cover story by photographer and writer Mark Edward Harris’ visit to Odesa, Ukraine, where he reported on the sights and sounds of the city and its tourism past. In this piece, he showcases the situation in Odesa but also what the tourism industry in Ukraine is doing to assist the country in wartime: Activating connections all over the country to aid in humanitarian work.
Harris reconnected with National Tourism Organization of Ukraine president Ivan Liptuga about how Ukrainian tourism companies are using their networks to assist refugees. The history of Ukraine's tourism and its target markets. How conflict has a long-lasting impact on traveler's decisions. And what travelers might appreciate about Ukraine -- from spas to skiing, culinary tourism and city breaks -- once the war has ended.
This episode was recorded Thursday, July 7, and has been edited for length and clarity.
Travel Weekly's related reports on Ukraine:
Ukraine tourism in wartime
An update on a tour operator featured in TW
Arnie Weissmann's column: Why are global hotel companies still operating in Russia?
Talking to travel clients about the Ukraine situation
Ukraine's tourism organization and campaigns:
The Scream for Ukraine campaign
National Tourism Organization of Ukraine
Mark Edward Harris additional work for Travel Weekly:
Nepal Rising
North Korea: Inside the Hermit Kingdom
Exploring Brazil's Panatal
Mark Edward Harris' website and Instagram
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The three C’s of family priorities.
This week we’re returning to the topic of family travel. Hotels editor Christina Jelski and Rainer Jenss, the founder of the Family Travel Association, dive into some of the nuances of this very big travel market.
Our summer 2022 series revisits some of the best Folo by Travel Weekly episodes. This episode was originally published April 11 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Additional resources:
The Family Travel Association https://familytravel.org/
Family-travel news from Travel Weekly https://www.travelweekly.com/family-travel
Multigenerational family travel is booming: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Multigenerational-family-travel-booming-post-pandemic?ct=family
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today marks the publication of our annual Power List, a ranking of the biggest travel sellers in the U.S. As was the case last year, our Power List editor Jerry Limone looked at the list for agencies that made big gains or wrote about innovative approaches to selling travel – and this year he zeroed in on OutsideAgents.com and a new agency on the list, Marvelous Mouse Travels.
In this episode, OutsideAgents' owner Chad Burt and Marvelous Mouse founder Kari Dillon trade strategies they used to keep their travel agents motivated, positive and productive during the push and pull of the pandemic. We talked about implicit marketing, traveling to sell travel, talking to clients with empathy and that powerful tool: listening.
This episode has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises.
Related reports:
The 2022 Power List
Outside Agents on the Power List
Marvelous Mouse Travels on the Power List
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode we’re talking about our annual Focus on LGBTQ+ Travel cover story, and we’re doing it in a personal way.
Host Rebecca Tobin speaks with freelance writer Abeni Jones, who brought both personal perspective and strong reporting to last year’s report, "Traveling while transgender", and this year’s piece on what companies are doing to make travel safer and more welcoming – and more that needs to be done.
Tobin and Jones dive into important discussions on why travel can be fraught with concern for some LGBTQ+ travelers, especially transgender and gender-nonconforming people; changes at the TSA; how some travel companies are taking a broader approach to inclusion; and how people and organizations could do better.
This episode was recorded June 16 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related reports Travel Weekly
Focus on LGBTQ+ Travel, 2022: A more inclusive experience
Focus on LGTBQ+ Travel, 2021: Traveling while transgender
U.S. issues first passport with a nonbinary gender option
Proud Experience focuses on the growing LGBTQ market
LGBTQ leaders encourage genuine engagement from travel companies
More by Abeni Jones
Travel + Leisure: "The liberating power of traveling solo as a trans woman"
The Washington Post: "I'm transgender. I won't be getting an X on my passport"
Autostraddle: "Fear and Freedom: Traveling while trans"
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aviation editor Robby Silk’s most recent cover story, “Now departing from the ordinary,” looked at new ways that airport designers, operators and architects are building a new generation of terminals with expansive high ceiling, lots of windows and open space, greenery, intuitive wayfinding, local flavor and the latest in technology.
On today’s Folo episode Regine Weston, an airport planner for Arup, talks to Silk and host Rebecca Tobin about some of the decisions behind upgrades and changes, why designers are thinking about passenger stress levels, ways to make the concourse experience more engaging, how sustainability factors into nearly every decision and what flyers might expect to see on their next journey through LAX, Denver, Pittsburgh, Seattle or New York LaGuardia.
This episode was recorded June 9 has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises.
Related reports:
New airport designs are a departure from the ordinary
Sustainability and airlines: Green skies will come again
No line, and a train car to myself with Denver Airport’s touchless app
Delta touts new LaGuardia terminal building as blending beauty and function
Dispatch: Dining at Newark Airport’s Terminal C
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
With the summer travel season now underway, senior editor for hotels Christina Jelski and Jon Makhmaltchi, the founder of the J.Mak Hospitality Group, talk with host Rebecca Tobin about what travelers might encounter when they book their summer plans.
Among our topics on this episode: Rising hotel rates, availability, pent-up demand, popular markets (Europe!) and the importance of great customer service from the start of the booking process.
This episode has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises.
Related reports:
Hotel revenue in 2022 expected to bypass 2019 levels
Many Americans are planning a European vacation this summer
An early-pandemic trend: Drive-market bright spots
Sponsored bonus interview: Stay on after our discussion on hotels for a bonus interview with Windstar president Chris Prelog, conducted by Mary Pat Sullivan, senior vice president of marketing for Travel Weekly and the Travel Group.
Related report:
Focus on Cruise: Windstar's Tahiti turn
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What do you do if your travel company is confronting the perfect storm of being down staff and up on inquiries from travel advisors and consumers – who may or may not be ready to make a booking?
One tour operator, eager to reduce the number of window shoppers, has taken a page from the travel advisors’ playbook. We get into it here with Authentic Vacations CEO Simon Russell and tours editor Nicole Edenedo.
This episode was recorded May 23 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises
Related:
With more calls and less staff, tour operator turns to pre-booking deposit
Ire builds over hold times as suppliers rush to hire and train call staff
Previously on the Folo podcast: How the rush to travel created hurdles for travel agents
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Generally speaking, the news is good, if not great, for travel advisors. Travelers are ready to hit the road this year, and a Travel Weekly poll of readers in April found that more than three-quarters of respondents said they were optimistic about their agency’s future.
But the survey also asked advisors to describe their biggest challenges, and as one person put it: “Everything.”
In this episode of the Folo, we’re talking with senior editor Jamie Biesiada and Global Travel Collection president Angie Licea some of the biggest agency challenges: Staffing, long hold times, how to get information for clients and how to combat pandemic-era burnout.
This conversation was recorded May 19 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises
Related:
Cover story: Hurdles ahead for travel advisors
Suppliers rush to hire and train staff as frustration builds over wait times
Travel advisors are optimistic about the future of their agencies
Global Travel Collection refreshes its learning library
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Four times a year we get a chance to hear from the three major public cruise companies, and their CEOs, during their quarterly earnings reports. This provides us with a good picture on what’s happening with each company’s business, and what advisors might expect from the lines in the short and medium term.
This week host Rebecca Tobin invited on cruise editor Andrea Zelinski to talk us through the analyst calls from two out of the three companies, and we’ll add in a little of our own analysis and reporting, plus some of the discussion at the Seatrade Cruise Global Conference. We’re talking about the general outlook, the return of the first-time cruiser, whether cruisers are choosing Europe this summer, and the word that some people at Seatrade were trying not to say.
This conversation was recorded on May 12 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises.
Related reports:
Suppliers rush to staff up and train as ire builds over call wait times
NCL reports positive momentum on Q1 call
Royal Caribbean expects a return to profitability before 2022 is over
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings investor relations
Royal Caribbean Group investor relations
They're back: Most cruise ships are now in service
Signs point to a strong return of first-time cruisers
New Zealand is reopening to cruise ships
At Seatrade, cruise execs stress environmental plans
Correction: An initial upload of this Folo episode incorrectly gave the date on which the conversation was recorded. It is May 12, not April 12.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week we’re saying I DO to an episode about one of the big rebounds in travel, the destination wedding celebration. With host Rebecca Tobin is hotels editor Christina Jelski, who just finished a Focus Issue cover on the subject of wedding-travel trends, plus two travel advisors who are serious destination wedding experts: VIP Vacations president Jennifer Doncsecz and KT Travel & More owner Stephanie Kilson-Thomas.
Among our topics are the growth in the number of guests, spending more and adding extras, the impact of social media on destination weddings in 2022, where couples are traveling to get married, and the stress of planning a wedding in the face of Covid rules and restrictions.
This episode has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises
Related reports:
Focus on Hotels: Destination wedding bliss
How to keep clients' travel wishes grounded in reality
Pandemic-era hotel designs have checked in
Our latest guide to Caribbean travel rules and restrictions
Travel advisors featured on this episode:
VIP Vacations
KT Travel & More
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today we’re examining a type of travel activity that you won't yet find on a tour or a cruise shore excursion list yet. Nearly two years ago, reporter Robert Silk fulfilled a personal project: Called the desert sit, or competitive sitting, or extreme sitting, he went to the desert and sat in one spot. For an entire day.
The activity combines travel with some of the trends that became paramount during the pandemic: Being outdoors and distant, mindfulness, disconnecting from devices and the pursuit of longtime goals. And then he wrote about it for Travel Weekly. Lately, the interest in extreme sitting has been renewed via an article written by Laura Kiniry for Atlas Obscura, and so host Rebecca Tobin brought the two of them together again, to talk about the philosophy and practicalities of traveling in order to just sit.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises.
Related reports:
How to explain a day desert sitting: Social distancing as an endurance sport
Atlas Obscura: Meet the man who wants to make sitting an extreme sport
Travel Weekly Dispatch, Antarctica: Surrounded by humpback whales
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week we’re traveling to Alaska, which is a big part of many travel advisors’ portfolios, especially if they sell cruises and adventure travel. Host Rebecca Tobin and senior editor Andrea Zelinski look back and look ahead at tourism in the 49th state.
This episode features Sarah Leonard, the president of the Alaska Travel Industry Association; Lisa Syme, Princess Cruises' vice president, commercial; Kirsten Dixon, the owner of two fly-in lodges and a cooking school; and Travel Weekly's frequent Alaska contributor, Renee Brincks.
This year, cruising is back, the Canadian border has reopened and the summer season is about to begin.
Sponsor:
This week's episode is sponsored by Historic Highlights of Germany.
Related reading:
Alaska's official visitors site
Princess Cruises' Alaska cruises
From Travel Weekly:
Renee Brincks' coverage of Alaska
Two Native corporations have a vision for Alaska tourism
A 2021 visit to the Last Frontier: Alaska is open, and busy
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week marks the premiere of the latest episode of "The Royal Tour", a one-hour PBS special hosted by travel journalist Peter Greenberg that showcases a country’s tourism spots -- and history, culture, food, personal stories and current events -- but with a twist: the country's head of state is Greenberg’s tour guide.
Our editor in chief Arnie Weissmann has been along for the filming of several "Royal Tour" episodes, and most recently he was in Tanzania to see the country with its current president, Samia Suluhu Hassan.
To have a president, prime minister or member of the royal family show you around their country seems like an incredible opportunity, not to mention one filled with logistical hurdles. Both Greenberg and Weissmann joined the Folo to talk about the origins of the "Royal Tour", its protocols, some of Greenberg’s greatest memories and the most stirring moments of their time in Tanzania.
This episode was recorded Thursday, April 14, and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related:
The Royal Tour
Tanzania in the spotlight: Arnie Weissmann's cover story for Travel Weekly
Past Travel Weekly coverage of "Royal Tour" filming: Mexico, with then-president Filipe Calderon; Poland with president Mateusz Morawiecki; Rwanda, with president Paul Kagame.
Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Historic Highlights of Germany
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week we’re returning to the topic of family travel. With spring break underway and summer just around the corner, it seemed like the ideal time to look at what families are prioritizing when it comes to travel.
Our hotels editor Christina Jelski has just wrapped a report on the rise of multigenerational travel and big-ticket, bucket-list destinations. And we’ve brought on Rainer Jenss, the founder of the Family Travel Association, to help dive into some of the nuances of this very big travel market.
Additional resources:
The Family Travel Association
Family-travel news from Travel Weekly
Previous related podcasts:
American Express Travel’s data on 2022 traveler
Family travel in fall 2021
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Earlier this year, tours editor Nicole Edenedo began looking at the growing interest for experiences that highlight Black history and culture. Notable Black Americans in Paris, the first free town in the Americas, in Cartegena and U.S. tours that go beyond the Civil Rights movement are just a few examples.
In this episode we hear from Edenedo and two businesswomen she connected with during her reporting, Jennifer Tosch of Black Heritage Tours, which operates in Amsterdam and New York state, and Meryanne Loum-Martin, the owner of the Jnane Tamsna boutique hotel in Marrakech, Morocco.
For this conversation we go beyond what’s in the cover story to talk in detail about how they created experiences that unearth, examine, celebrate and share Black history and experiences. We talk about their backgrounds, their businesses growth, the power of Black business and social networks, travel philosophy, inspiration and their passion for what they do.
This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Sponsor:
This episode of the Folo by Travel Weekly is sponsored by Historic Highlights of Germany
Related:
Nicole Edenedo's cover story: Black travelers on the road to discovery
Jennifer Tosch's Black Heritage Tours of Amsterdam
Meryanne Loum-Martin's Jnane Tamsna hotel in Marrakech
Previous Folo podcast episode on diversitiy within travel
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For a year we’ve been anticipating a travel boom. Now comes American Express Travel to put some data to the anecdotal evidence that travel bookings have returned: Sixty-two percent of respondents to its Global Travel Trends Report survey said that they planned to take two to four trips this year.
In this episode, Audrey Hendley, the president of American Express Travel, talks to host Rebecca Tobin about the big picture as well as some of the smaller trends identified in the survey. Links to the poll, including its methodology, and Jamie Biesiada’s story for Travel Weekly, are below.
Keep listening after Hendley's interview concludes for a bonus interview with our sponsor, Historic Highlights of Germany. The Travel Group's senior vice president of marketing, Mary Pat Sullivan speaks with Historic Highlights of Germany's CEO, Sascha Mayerer.
Additional reading:
The travel boom has arrived, American Express Travel poll says
American Express Travel's 2022 Global Travel Trends Report
Travel Weekly's 2021 Power List: American Express Travel
Episode sponsor:
This podcast episode is sponsored by Historic Highlights of Germany
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Several of the major U.S. airlines presented at the JP Morgan Industrials conference last week, and our aviation reporter Robby Silk wrote a report looking at the intersection of demand – which is up – fuel prices – which are up – and the effect on airlines’ 2022 capacity plans and, finally, how all that could affect ticket prices.
Airlines fly us where we want to go, so in this episode Silk and Cranky Flier president Brett Snyder look at these issues, as well as the benefits of fuel hedging, aircraft shortages and the bigger, global picture.
This episode was recorded Friday, March 18 and has been edited for length and clarity.
This episode is sponsored by Historic Highlights of Germany.
Related reading:
Cranky Flier blog https://crankyflier.com/
The Cranky Concierge travel agency https://crankyconcierge.com/
As airlines pull back capacity, specter of higher fares looms https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Specter-of-higher-airline-prices-looms
Airlines cite strong demand despite higher fuel prices https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Airlines-cite-strong-demand-despite-higher-fuel-prices
SkyWest, flying as United Express, intends to exit 29 small cities https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/SkyWest-intends-to-exit-29-small-cities
Airlines offer perks and better pay to alleviate pilot shortage https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Airlines-offer-perks-alleviate-pilot-shortage
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today’s episode we’re traveling to a galaxy far, far away to look at Walt Disney World’s new Star Wars themed immersive “experience,” which gives guests a two-day space cruise on Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
Beci Mahnken, founder, CEO and “chief magic maker” at MEI Travel and Jamie Biesiada, who covers retail and theme parks for Travel Weekly, have recently returned from the Halcyon and share their impressions of their stay: From the way Disney envelops guests in the storyline to the blue shrimp, those cabin bunk beds, the secret missions (no spoilers!) and more.
We also talk about demand, perceived value and how to get the most out of a trip on the Halcyon.
This episode is sponsored by Historic Highlights of Germany.
Related reading:
Disney sends Star Wars hotel guests to another dimension
Disney’s Star Wars experience: how a unique hotel was created
Disney Genie Plus propels domestic parks to a record quarter
Travel advisor sales are in hyperdrive for Star Wars hotel/Waiting on Hogwarts
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of the Folo podcast, we look back on our coverage of last week and inform listeners of moves that travel companies have made in response to the Russian invasion.
Tour companies have canceled current and future trips to the region. Several cruise lines have canceled and rerouted ships. Many countries, the U.S. included, have closed their airspace to Russian traffic, and Russia has closed its airspace to some foreign carriers.
Tours and river cruise editor Nicole Edenedo and retail editor Jamie Biesiada join to discuss cancellations and whether travelers are getting jittery about travel beyond affected areas. And at the end, we speak with editor in chief Arnie Weissmann about his impressions of travel to Ukraine in 2016.
This episode was recorded Friday, March. 4 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related reports:
Ongoing coverage of the Russia-Ukraine conflict: https://www.travelweekly.com/Russia-ukraine-crisis
Arnie Weissmann’s column about a Ukrainian tour operator’s decisions in a time of war https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/Ukrainian-tour-operator-hardship
Ukraine crisis causes uneasiness as Europe cancellations trickle in https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Ukraine-crisis-affect-Europe-plans
Tour operators cancel Russia and Ukraine trips https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Tour-operators-cancel-Russia-Ukraine-itineraries
Cruise lines cancel Ukraine and Russia calls https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-lines-cancel-Ukraine-and-Russia-calls
GDSs are puling Aeroflot inventory from res systems https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Sabre-severs-distribution-deal-Aeroflot
G Adventures excludes Russian citizens and travel agents https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/G-Adventures-excludes-Russian-citizens-travel-agents
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this week's episode, we're talking about Crystal Cruises, which stopped cruising after its parent company, Genting Hong Kong, filed in January to wind up. For this talk, host Rebecca Tobin and news editor Johanna Jainchill go back in history to talk about the founding of the cruise line and some of the standards and philosophies that made it such a success.
Crystal Cruises was founded in the late 1980s by Japanese shipping company NYK, and its founding president, Art Rodney, put together a team of executives, two of which you'll hear from on this episode: Dietmar Wertanzl, its first hotel director and later the senior vice president of hotel operations, and Art Sbarsky, the first senior vice president of marketing.
We also asked two travel agents, Susan Reder of Frosch and Richard Turen of Churchill and Turen, who is also a columnist with Travel Weekly who has written about Crystal, to talk about the line from the perspective of their clients: why cruisers came back time after time and why they loved to sell Crystal.
This episode was recorded Feb. 18 and has been edited for length and clarity. We've included a few of our recent reports on Crystal, but also check TravelWeekly.com for updates on the status of the line and its ships.
Related reading:
Legal Briefs: Obtaining Crystal refunds not as easy as ABC
Shedding tears over Crystal -- then and now
Crystal Cruises is reportedly shutting down
Reports: Crystal Cruises ships seized in the Bahamas
After Crystal pauses cruising, agents wait, watch and wonder
Genting Hong Kong says it's out of cash, files to wind up
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Adventures in quarantine: Two advisors’ stories
With international travel there’s Covid-19 testing -- a lot of it -- and one test for U.S. travelers that’s especially important: The one to return to the U.S. What happens if your pre-departure test comes back positive?
In this episode Rebecca Tobin and Jamie Biesiada speak with two travel advisors, Meaghan Carfrey of Cadence Travel and Ralph Iantosca of Iantosca Travel. Both were part of a cover story by Biesiada on the perspectives of travel agents who helped travelers, or themselves, through a Covid quarantine. We talk with Carfrey and Iantosca about their personal experiences with testing and quarantine. And most importantly, how they approached travel and their business as a result.
Related reports:
What happens when travelers test positive for Covid? These advisors know. https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Adventures-in-quarantine
Sherpa map of global travel restrictions and rules https://www.travelweekly.com/covid-entry-rules-map
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In our first episode of the 2022 season, American Airlines vice president of global sales Kyle Mabry joins the Folo from American’s Skyview headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. He and Travel Weekly aviation editor Robert Silk have a robust discussion about the omicron recovery, pent-up demand in business and leisure travel, changes to the AAdvantage loyalty program, distribution and NDC updates, the quest for “seamless travel" and the transition from American CEO Doug Parker to Robert Isom, which happens at the end of March.
The episode was recorded Tuesday, Jan. 25 and has been edited for length and clarity. The day before the recording, the U.K. announced a loosening of some entry regulations, including dropping testing requirements for vaccinated travelers, which is referenced in the recording.
A quick note from American regarding our discussion about rebounds in travel: it recorded a recovery of about 80% for travel from small and medium-sized businesses, higher than the 60% figure Mabry said in the conversation.
Related reading:
American Airlines ‘poised to outperform’ in 2022, says incoming CEO
Airlines made a big effort to tap into leisure demand in 2021
Flyers are feeling the pain of omicron, and so are their advisors (Jan. 2022)
American Airlines will change system for achieving status
Airlines and agencies push forward with NDC adoption
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As the Folo by Travel Weekly podcast goes on a brief break, until Monday, Feb. 14, host Rebecca Tobin and web editor Jerry Limone look back at some of the episodes of 2021 that identified major trends or arcs in travel news:
A big year for travel advisors:
Anne Scully, Embark Beyond’s partner of agent development, talked in early 2021 about hope for travel and the term “revenge travel.” https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Revenge-travel
Which led to the art of the “pivot” for travel advisors planning vacations during ever-changing travel rules: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Europe-travel-art-of-pivot
Trip stacking and trip switching: Two advisors explain how they provide backup plans for clients: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Trip-stacking-and-switching
Cruising:
The Folo kicked off with Vicki Freed of Royal Caribbean and Alex Sharpe of Signature talking about cruising when there was no cruising: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Folo-episode-17-year-without-cruising
Kate McCue, the captain of the Celebrity Edge, on the emotional first big-ship departure from the U.S.: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Celebrity-captain-Kate-McCue-on-the-cruise-restart
We ended the year with three expedition-cruise execs to talk about the demand for new ships in Antarctica, the Galapagos and other far-flung destinations: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Expedition-cruising-experts
Other episodes mentioned:
Bucket-list trips to southern Africa: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Travel-in-Africa-the-safari-and-more
Steve Sear and the outlook from Delta airlines: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Delta-Air-Lines-and-the-view-from-the-skies
Corporate travel: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/The-view-from-two-multimillion-dollar-agencies
The entire year in the Folo:https://www.travelweekly.com/podcasts/folo
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Four of Travel Weekly’s reporters join the Folo episode this week to talk about their reporting for our annual Preview issue – the look-ahead to 2022: Johanna Jainchill, the publication’s news editor and interim cruise editor; Jamie Biesiada, our retail editor; Tovin Lapan, who covers hospitality on an interim basis; and Robert Silk, our aviation editor.
Obviously omicron’s fast rise in the U.S. has muddied the crystal ball, but our staff has talked with experts, examined their own trends reporting and put the pieces together to identify what we might see in travel next year. We’re talking about those on this episode – vaccines, continuing labor issues, travel demand and challenges, changing travel advisor commission structures, premium products and, of course, the continuing need to have a trusted advisor in your corner.
The episode was recorded Dec. 14 and edited for length and clarity.
Our Preview issue will be live on travelweekly.com this week!
This episode is sponsored by Princess Cruises. Stay till the end of this episode for a bonus discussion with John Chernesky, Princess' senior vice president of North America trade sales and marketing, for news on the line's new ships and more.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The expedition-cruise segment has seen big growth over the last few years, as many luxury lines and new cruise lines have built ships specifically to compete in far-flung destinations. And as the marquee Antarctica season has just kicked off, we’re joined with one newer entrant, Scenic Cruises, and two expedition-cruise stalwarts, Lindblad Expeditions and Hurtigruten Expeditions, to discuss the difference between expedition and “regular” cruising, family travel, the new-ship experience and demand for Galapagos, the polar regions and more.
Featured on this episode are Sven Lindblad, the founder of Lindblad Expeditions, Asta Lassesen, the CEO of Hurtigruten Expeditions, and Ann Chamberlin, the vice president of sales, USA, for the Scenic and Emerald cruise brands. This conversation was recorded Thursday, Dec. 16, and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode of the Folo by Travel Weekly is sponsored by Princess Cruises.
Related reading:
Lindblad Expeditions is looking to expand its fleet
Lindblad and A&K confirm Argentina departures for Antarctica
Hurtigruten confident about growth in expedition cruising
Scenic Eclipse: A cruise ship helicopter has immense luxury value
Getting environmentally scientific on an Antarctica cruise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We're returning to Mexico this episode, this time with our Mexico contributor Meagan Drillinger, who just wrapped up a month's worth of travel on the Yucatan peninsula, and Rodrigo Esponda, the managing director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board. Overall the demand picture for Mexico tourism is looking bright, thanks to the country's proximity, entry protocols and commitment to remaining open for travel. In this episode we also talk about the big trends for 2022 travel - specifically, how and where to get off the beaten path, discover Mexico's Magical Towns and where to connect with culture and nature.
This episode was recorded Dec. 9 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode of the Folo by Travel Weekly is sponsored by Princess Cruises.
Related reading:
News from Tianguis: Mayan train is back on track https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico- Travel/Mayan-train-Mexico-Tianguis-Yucatan?ct=mexico
Los Cabos, a feast for the senses: https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Los-Cabos-is- a-feast-for-the-senses?ct=mexico
Gunfire reported at beach in Cancun: https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Gunfire- reported-Cancun-beach?ct=mexico
Allianz survey: Top three international holiday destinations are all in Mexico: https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Allianz-survey-2021-holiday- destinations?ct=mexico
Off-the-grid vibe in Bacalar beckons the adventurous: https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico- Travel/Bacalar-reemerging-Quintana-Roo-hot-spot
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ski season is upon us. It’s been several months since we’ve talked about ski vacations, but with ski areas and resorts now opening around the country, this week we’re talking to two experts: Molly Mahar, the president of Ski Vermont, and Dan Sherman, the chief marketing officer of Ski.com, about the upcoming season. With Robert Silk, our ski reporter, we examine the demand for this year’s slopes for and skiers and riders, Epic- and Ikon-pass sales, new mountain technology and, finally – what does make skiing and snowboarding so great?
This episode was recorded Wednesday, Dec. 1 and has been edited for length and clarity.
In the discussion, we reference a previous episode: A recording earlier this year with Rusty Gregory, the CEO of Alterra, and Natalie Ooi, a professor at Colorado State University, about how the pandemic had changed skier and rider behavior and how ski resorts had adapted to the new reality. Check that out here: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/ski-industry-survives-thrives
Episode sponsor:
This episode of the Folo by Travel Weekly is sponsored by Princess Cruises.
Related reading:
Club Med returns to North American slopes with Quebec resort: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Club-Med-back-to-North-American-slopes-with-Quebec-resort
Season-pass and hotel demand indicate top year for ski slopes: https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Season-pass-and-hotel-demand-indicate-top-year-for-ski-slopes
Vail resorts will forecast wait times for ski lifts in app: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Vail-Resorts-innovation-forecasts-wait-times-for-ski-lifts
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Our cover story this week on the appeal of Africa’s wide-open spaces, written by our South Africa-based contributor Dorine Reinstein, seemed like the perfect time to sit down with Sherwin Banda, the president of African Travel, and his colleague Lucille Sive, the CEO of the Travel Corp.'s Africa division, and talk about traveler patterns, new safari products, conservation efforts and more. This episode was recorded Friday, Nov. 19 was edited for length and clarity.
However, just after the editing was completed, the newest variant of the coronavirus was identified, and within a day, countries, including the U.S., rushed to close their borders. It shows, again and again, how quickly things can change in the travel landscape and how travelers, advisors and podcast hosts have to reassess and pivot.
When listening to this episode it’s important to keep in mind that the conversation took place before omicron came to light. But there’s still value in talking about Africa’s travel options, because even if clients can’t or don't wish to travel, there’s planning and dreaming to be done.
Episode sponsor:
This episode of the Folo by Travel Weekly is sponsored by Princess Cruises.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On Nov. 22 we published our annual Travel Industry Survey, which looks at travel agency business, from revenue to product focus to marketing techniques, agency affiliations, preferred arrangements, air sales and more.
On this episode we’ve asked editor in chief Arnie Weissmann and news editor Johanna Jainchill, who oversaw the Travel Industry Survey, to talk about some of the data we saw this year, and how it dovetails with overall travel trends and buying patterns.
This year’s research was conducted via a partnership with MMGY.
Read the entire survey:https://www.travelweekly.com/Industry-Survey-2021
Access previous Travel Industry Surveys https://www.travelweekly.com/For-Travel-Agents/Travel-Industry-Survey
This episode was recorded Friday, Nov. 19 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode of the Folo by Travel Weekly is sponsored by Princess Cruises.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Big news in travel this week is – finally -- the reopening of the borders in the U.S. to general travel, an event that’s been eagerly awaited by people in the travel industry.
On this episode we’re talking with Peter Vlitas, the executive vice president of global supplier relations for Power List travel company Internova, and Caroline Donaldson, the director of product and commercial operations for U.K.-based Barrhead Travel, about demand, particularly from the United Kingdom, for U.S. vacations, family reunions and the ever-popular shopping getaway.
We’re also taking a quick look at Americans traveling abroad, so we’re including an excerpt from our recording with Jennifer Tombaugh of Tauck and Sally Black of VacationKids talking about U.S. travel demand to Europe, the interest in outdoorsy, secondary markets, the trouble with return-testing to the U.S. and the excitement of this year’s Christmas Markets.
The interview with Vlitas and Donaldson was recorded Friday, Nov. 12, and the interview with Tombaugh and Black was recorded on Nov. 4. Both have been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode of the Folo by Travel Weekly is sponsored by Princess Cruises.
Related reading/listening:
The U.S. has reopened for travel. Cities are eager for visitors: https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/After-604-days-US-doors-open-and-cities-are-eager-for-visitors
Emotional reunions as U.S. lifts restrictions on travel:
https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/As-rules-ease-travelers-head-to-US-for-emotional-reunions
Biden lays out entry rules for U.S.-bound travelers:
https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Rules-for-entering-US-from-foreign-countries
Forum by Greg Webb, CEO of Travelport, on welcoming international travelers:
https://www.travelweekly.com/Articles/Welcome-back-global-travelers
Previous Folo by Travel Weekly podcast with Jennifer Tombaugh and Sally Black on family travel:
https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/new-vaccines-what-next-for-family-travel
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Family travel: More kids can be vaccinated – what’s next?
I’ve been wanting to do a family-travel episode for some time, and this seemed like the perfect time to do it: The CDC has just authorized the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, and our reporting shows that at least some family travelers are now more eager to explore the globe, with vaccinated kids in tow. In this episode we’ve brought together two family-travel experts: Jennifer Tombaugh, the president of global tour operator Tauck, and Sally Black, the president of the travel agency VacationKids, to talk about immediate demand and booking trends.
But this episode is so much more – yes, we talk about where travelers want to go now, and why. But Jennifer and Sally go beyond Covid to talk about the critical importance of family travel: Inspiring confidence among kids, ways to change the family dynamic, making friends on the road, and what family vacations might look like in the future.
This episode was recorded Thursday Nov. 4 and was edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Princess Cruises.
Related reading:
Covid shots approved for kids may give family travel a boost: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Covid-shots-approved-for-kids-may-give-family-travel-a-boost
Travel Weekly’s complete family-travel coverage: https://www.travelweekly.com/family-travel
Tauck launches Andorina river cruise vessel in Portugal: https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Tauck-launches-first-river-ship-Portugal
CruiseWorld conference information: www.cruiseworldshow.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode we’re circling back to an issue that we’ve discussed on previous Folo episodes: Diversity and inclusion within travel. An example is Intrepid Travel, a global tour operator that refreshed its brand last month; in its press release explaining its new mission and vision it said that it was taking steps to create a more inclusive brand and, as such, was working with six consultants on specific areas to create and sustain allyship and accountability, like LGBTQ-plus, size inclusivity, modern colonialism, greenwashing and travel for the Black, Indigenous and people of color communities.
It seemed notable that Intrepid was highlighting specific areas to help it mold ethical marketing guidelines. And so we sat down with Mikey Sadowski of Intrepid and Evita Robinson, the founder of Nomadness Travel Tribe and a consultant and speaker on BIPOC travel issues, for a frank talk about the need, and the work, on inclusivity and to examine how Intrepid trips are marketed and structured for BIPOC travelers.
This episode was recorded on Thursday, Oct. 21, and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode of the Folo by Travel Weekly is sponsored by Princess Cruises.
Related:
Intrepid Travel's ethical marketing guidelines
Intrepid Travel completes a brand and product refresh
Why travel marketers need to diversify influencer campaigns
Previously on the Folo: Black voices in travel and perceptions of diversity
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week we’re headed to Wales with our golf reporter (whose official day job is our aviation editor) Robert Silk, who recorded this episode at the International Golf Travel Market show with Jason Thomas the director of culture, sport and tourism for Wales, and Dave Redmond, senior partner with Maryland-based Epic Golf Travel.
IGTM this year was held in Wales, and in this episode the trio talks about the benefits of playing links courses in Wales – and why more American golfers don’t choose Wales over its famous golf-kingpin neighbors, Scotland and Ireland. The conversation tackles golfers’ travel mindsets, as well as how Wales may plan to approach marketing its greens.
This episode was recorded Oct. 20 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Hurtigruten Expeditions.
Related reading:
How golf has thrived during the pandemic, and how drive-market golfers could become destination golfers: https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Golfs-ace-in-the-hole
Lesser-known golf destinations aim to make the cut: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Lesser-known-golf-destinations-aim-to-make-the-cut
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As we’ve heard time and again from travel agencies on the Folo podcast, travel advisors have been working overtime on Plan B … or Plan C or D … to get their travelers on the road. One catchphrase that has cropped up recently is “trip stacking,” where travelers will plan two trips simultaneously, in the hopes that at least one of them will take off as planned. But advisors have also become experts in other styles of pivots: trip switching, substituting and rescheduling.
In this episode acting retail editor Christina Jelski and host Rebecca Tobin talk with Amina Dearmon, the owner of Perspectives Travel, and Sylvia Lebovitch, the president of SL Travel Advisors, about perfecting the travel pivot, how they talk with travelers about options, real-life examples of trip saves and how they’ve found the silver lining.
This episode was recorded Oct. 1 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related:
Travel advisors save the day with backup plans: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Backup-plans-save-the-day
From August: Delta’s spread brings new layers of travel concern and uncertainty: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Delta-spread-brings-new-layer-of-travel-concern-uncertainty
Folo by Travel Weekly episode: Europe and the art of the pivot: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Europe-travel-art-of-pivot
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week we’re traveling to the Aloha state with our contributing editor for Hawaii, Tovin Lapan, and experts Frank Haas, a consultant and former Hawaii Tourism Authority executive; Gail Stringer, who owns the Hawaii General Store in Seattle, and Terry Uemura, a travel advisor at Hawaii General Store Travel.
Hawaii has been very serious about managing inbound travel, but it can be confusing, for example, Gov. David Ige’s recommendation – not a formal mandate -- that people not travel to the islands. So we’ll talk about that, as well as about ways to manage tourism on the islands; demand and rates; and some of our favorite new travel programs, some off-the-beaten path tips and a few forever favorites.
This episode was recorded Thursday, Oct. 7, and has been edited for length and clarity. On Oct. 8, Hawaii rules changed again, this time on Oahu, where Ige and Honolulu mayor Rick Blangiardi eased restrictions on dining capacity and other gatherings.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Hurtigruten Expeditions.
Related reading:
Travel battles blowback from Hawaii governor's 'don't come' comment https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Travel-battles-blowback-from-Hawaii-governors-dont-come-advice
Oahu eases restrictions on gatherings as Covid-19 cases drop https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Oahu-eases-restrictions-Covid-cases-drop
On Oahu, visitors show vax records and businesses adapt to Covid rules
https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/On-Oahu-visitors-show-vax-records-and-businesses-adapt-to-Covid-rules
Hawaii offers vacations with a purpose https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Insights/Malama-Hawaii-blends-vacations-with-volunteer-work
'Inspired' changes at a refreshed Halekulani
https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Inspired-changes-at-a-refreshed-Halekulani
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week we’re turning the episode over to editor in chief Arnie Weissmann, who spoke last month with three major travel advisor players in London. Why London? The group was there at the invitation of a group of hoteliers who were mulling different ways to get the word out to Americans that London was “open” for travel.
Their solution was to turn to the agency consortium Virtuoso, headed by Matthew Upchurch, and one of Virtuoso’s preferred suppliers, a tour company called Noteworthy that specializes in special access and exclusive experiences.
In this episode you’ll hear from Weissmann, Upchurch, Vanessa McGovern, co-founder of Gifted Travel Network and Rob Karp, the founder of MilesAhead, about “process fatigue,” why travelers should choose a travel advisor as well as why travel advisors should be choosy about their travelers – and why it’s never been a better time to be a traveler. Overtourism. Customer service. And you’ll hear about experiences developed by Noteworthy and the guests’ coolest experiences in London.
Sponsor:
Our sponsor for this episode is Hurtigruten Expeditions. As a bonus to this episode, Hurtigruten Expeditions CEO Asta Lassesen chats with Travel Weekly's senior vice president of marketing Mary Pat Sullivan about the line's return to Antarctica, growth in expedition cruising and more. Listen through to the end of the episode.
Related reading:
Arnie Weissmann's From the Window Seat column on traveling to London with Virtuoso: https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/The-UK-89-percent-vaccinated-calls-for-help-Virtuoso-responds-with-41-advisors
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Delta Air Lines and the view from the skies
Airlines connect the world, and they also connect all the components of travel, from cruising to tours to hotels. We’ve brought on Steve Sear, a top executive at Delta Air Lines, to talk with host Rebecca Tobin and aviation editor Robert Silk about leisure and corporate travel demand; vaccine mandates; training Delta flight attendants and other employees to identify unruly-passenger behavior; and how travel advisors (and travelers) can keep up with the ever-changing business of flying.
We’re starting this episode with an excellent piece of news for travel: That the U.S. will reopen to international travelers, starting in November.
This conversation was recorded Tuesday, Sept. 21 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode of the Folo is sponsored by Hurtigruten Expeditions. Learn more about its once-in-a-lifetime Galapagos cruises at its website or agent portal.
Related reading:
‘A game-changer’: travel marketers cheer U.S. plan to reopen borders https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Perfect-time-Industry-cheers-new-US-visitor-policy
Delta CEO says surge in business travel is coming https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Delta-CEO-discusses-biz-travel-rebound
Travelport says Delta GDS deal brings agency incentives https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Travelport-says-Delta-GDS-deal-brings-agency-incentives
Unvaccinated Delta employees will see insurance surcharge https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Delta-Air-Lines-insurance-surcharge-unvaccinated-workers
FAA: Getting tougher with unruly passengers is paying off https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Unruly-passenger-incidents-cut-in-half
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Earlier this month we recorded an episode about cruising with Royal Caribbean exec Vicki Freed, Gene Sloan of the Points Guy and travel advisor Penny Rushing. Today is part 2, where we talk about the onboard atmosphere and how cruisers, and cruise lines, are adapting to reduced capacity and distancing.
We also talked about the on shore experience, specifically about "bubble tours."
After listening to that conversation, we wanted more on shore tours, so we asked another expert, Kelly Hubbard of Windstar Cruises, to talk more about the concept. Windstar, a small-ship line that focuses on the destination experience, has modified and created tours to bring in some of the port experiences that passengers like to do solo, like sit at a café, shop or relax on a beach.
The episode with Vicki, Penny and Gene was recorded Thursday, Sept. 2, and our conversation with Kelly Hubbard was recorded separately, on Tuesday, Sept. 14. Both were edited for length and clarity.
This episode of the Folo is sponsored by Hurtigruten Expeditions. Learn more about its once-in-a-lifetime Galapagos cruises at its website or agent portal.
Related reading:
Part 1 of our cruise-focused episode with Vicki Freed of Royal Caribbean, Penny Rushing of Four Points Travel and Gene Sloan of the Points Guy https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Focus-on-Cruise-The-road-to-restart
From last summer: All ashore, on the cruise lines' terms https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/all-ashore-on-cruise-lines-terms
Cruise insight: Windstar's approach to 'bubble tours' https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/Windstar-approach-bubble-shore-tours
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Late last month, the European Union dropped the U.S. from its ‘safe travel’ list due to rising Covid cases here. It’s still up to all the EU member states to decide the levels of restriction and protocol on all their inbound travelers, and so far, only a few countries, such as Italy and the Netherlands, have made changes to their entry requirements. Still, the announcement created confusion, and travel advisors were -- again -- working to reassure jittery travelers.
This week, Phillip Archer, founder and Chief Experience Designer of Roaming Richly Travel, Craig Mungary, owner of Elite Global Journeys, and Dan Scher of Strong Travel Services talked with retail/hotels editor Christina Jelski and host Rebecca Tobin about the confusion surrounding the EU’s announcement and how to travel to Europe right now.
And the critical art of the pivot: preparing for changes to rules and flight schedules, keeping flexible and coming up with creative solutions to keep travelers on track in Europe or elsewhere. We also talked about the complex nature of travel bookings and the decision to charge fees for travel planning services.
This conversation was recorded Thursday Sept. 9 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Looking for part two of our episode on cruising? We’re publishing it next week – stay tuned!
This episode of the Folo is sponsored by Hurtigruten Expeditions. Learn more about its once-in-a-lifetime Galapagos cruises at its website or agent portal.
Related resources:
Travel advisors reassure clients, but will EU guidance have chilling effect? https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Will-EU-guidance-have-chilling-effect
Advisors scramble to make sense of EU recommendation https://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/EU-restriction-recommendation-causes-confusion
Italy tightens Covid-19 protocols for American visitors https://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/Italy-tightens-Covid-protocols-American-visitors
European river lines adapt to Netherlands' travel restrictions https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/European-river-lines-adapt-Netherlands-travel-rules
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode we’re talking about the cruise experience. Now with two months’ of sailings under their belts, cruise lines are refining procedures and policies. With vaccine mandates, testing and, sometimes, mask requirements, what is today’s cruise experience really like?
To discuss, we’ve invited Vicki Freed, the senior vice president of sales, marketing and trade support and services for Royal Caribbean International; Penny Rushing, the owner of Four Points Travel, an Avoya agency; and Gene Sloan, the cruise editor at The Points Guy. These experts talked with news editor Johanna Jainchill and host Rebecca Tobin about today’s cruising and what cruise lines and travel advisors have learned over the past couple of months.
This episode was recorded on Thursday, Sept. 2, and has been edited for length and clarity.
Want more on cruise? Stay tuned for the second part of this discussion, where Freed, Rushing and Sloan dive deep into the onboard cruise experience – and what’s in it for solo travelers – and what a “bubble tour” is and why the experience in port is so different in the Covid era.
This episode of the Folo is sponsored by Hurtigruten Expeditions. Learn more about its once-in-a-lifetime Galapagos cruises at https://www.Hurtigruten.com or https://www.agentportal.hurtigruten.com.
Related links:
Travel Weekly's complete cruise coveragea: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel
Cruise lines navigate new vaccine mandates: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/NCLHs-win-helped-cruise-lines-navigate-vaccine-mandates?ct=cruise
From the Points Guy: "I almost canceled a cruise because of Covid worries. I'm glad I didn't." https://thepointsguy.com/news/covid-cruise-cancel-debate/
Focus on cruise: The road to restart https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Focus-on-Cruise-The-road-to-restart
Cruising on the Celebrity Edge in June: On the first big U.S. cruise since 2020, life feels normal https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/First-big-US-cruise-since-2020-Life-on-the-Edge-feels-normal
Four Points Travel: https://fourpointstravel.net/
Royal Caribbean International: www.royalcaribbean.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Americans are continuing to travel, even as demand rises and falls due to delta hotspots. And hotels are continuing to struggle with staffing. Acting hotels editor Tovin Lapan has continued to cover the trend, writing in a recent issue of Travel Weekly that it may not be a sure bet that applications will roll in once additional federal unemployment benefits expire in September.
For the bulk of this episode, we’ve returned to a conversation recorded earlier this year between retail/hotels editor Christina Jelski and David Sherwyn, a professor and hospitality expert at Cornell University, about hotel-worker issues back then: Why employees may not be eager to return to hotel front lines, whether properties would turn to contract labor and the role of labor unions during the pandemic.
The interview with Jelski and Sherwyn was recorded April 21, when vaccines were just starting to roll out in full force and before the delta variant rose, so a few of the micro issues in the podcast may no longer be current, but overall we think the primary issues discussed are as relevant as they were in the spring.
Related reading: Unemployment benefits ending, but hotels’ labor woes may continue https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Unemployment-benefits-and-hotel-labor-woes
Opinion: Daily hotel housekeeping may be a permanent Covid casualty https://www.travelweekly.com/Christina-Jelski/Daily-hotel-housekeeping-may-be-a-permanent-Covid-casualty
How tough is the labor market for employers, exactly? https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Difficult-hotel-labor-market-ALIS
GMs clean rooms and operators cook as hotels struggle to rehire workers https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/GMs-clean-rooms-and-operators-cook-as-hotels-struggle-to-rehire-workers
Five hotel general managers on the lessons they learned during the pandemic: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Focus-on-Hotels-What-the-pandemic-taught-me
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Traveling to Mexico in 2021: When, where and why?
Today’s episode is taking us to Mexico. Expert contributors Meagan Drillinger and Mark Chesnut walk us through what you might expect in terms of entry and exit rules and what you might experience while you’re there. And you’ll be getting their insider take on up and coming places to visit and new hotels that you might want to check out.
This podcast was recorded Tuesday, Aug. 17.
Related reading
Travel Weekly's Mexico coverage https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel
Off-the-grid vibe in Bacalar beckons the adventurous https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Bacalar-reemerging-Quintana-Roo-hot-spot
San Miguel de Allende reinvents itself https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Insights/San-Miguel-de-Allende-reinvents-itself
Newst, must-try hotel restaurants in Mexico City https://www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Hotels/Mexico-City-New-Hotel-Restaurants
Previous podcasts:
Humans of Travel: Journalist Mark Chesnut on using travel as an escape and life as a freelance writer https://www.travelagewest.com/Podcasts/Humans-of-Travel/Humans-of-Travel-Podcast-Mark-Chesnut
Folo by Travel Weekly: Meagan Drillinger on travel to Mexico in 2020 https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/What-is-Mexico-travel-like
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Traveling in the Caribbean: Tighter rules, changing outlook
As the Delta variant rises, we're seeing a lot of changes to entry protocols throughout the Caribbean Just in the past week, several countries have tightened their entry requirements, from requiring Covid tests for vaccinated travelers to mandating that all guests be fully vaxxed.
A rise in Covid cases is, naturally, driving the trend. And who better to talk about traveling in the Caribbean now than three veteran, Caribbean-travel journalists: Travel Weekly's contributing editor for the Caribbean Gay Nagle Myers, Travel Pulse managing editor (and Caribbean editor) Brian Major and writer and "Carivangelist" Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, aka JetSetSarah.
We're also talking a lot about traveler expectations and Brian, Sarah and Gay's travel experiences on land and sea. Join us on an informative, and fun, journey to the Caribbean. And for more on this particular subject, subscribe to Sarah and Brian's new podcast, Complete Caribbean.
This episode was recorded Wednesday, Aug. 11.
Related reports:
The latest Travel Weekly Caribbean travel news: https://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel
Entry requirements in Caribbean countries: https://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Caribbean-readies-for-a-wave-of-reopenings?ct=carib
Delta's spread brings a new layer of travel uncertainty: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Delta-spread-brings-new-layer-of-travel-concern-uncertainty
The Complete Caribbean podcast: https://www.travelpulse.com/trending/complete-caribbean-podcast
Caribbean tourism and the challenge of vaccinated resort staff: https://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Insights/Caribbean-tourism-tackles-the-challenge-of-vaccinating-resort-staff
Arnie Weissmann's From the Window Seat column: Navigating travel in Europe (aka wearing a belt and suspenders) https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/Navigating-Covid-in-Europe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Folo by Travel Weekly podcast will be on vacation until August 16. In the meantime, we’re pleased to feature a podcast episode from last fall that we think still holds up: The popularity of U.S. travel by RV.
In this episode, which was originally published last October, reporter Christina Jelski talks about reasons why Americans were choosing to travel by recreational vehicle or camper van during the pandemic, and news editor Johanna Jainchill recounts her own experiences using an RV for vacation.
In the new introduction, host Rebecca Tobin and Jelski discuss how RV travel continues to be a popular mode of transportation.
Related reports:
The RV sector is booming, but it’s a bumpy road for agents https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Car-Rental-News/RV-rental-sector-booming-but-it-is-a-bumpy-road-for-agents
Traveling like a rock star https://www.travelweekly.com/Luxury-Travel/Insights/Traveling-like-a-rock-star
Recreational renaissance: Luxury travelers are booking RV road trips this summer https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Car-Rental-News/Luxury-travel-sellers-shift-focus-to-domestic-tours-on-RVs
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Is it time for the return of business travel?
In the second half of a recording with web editor Jerry Limone, Conlin Travel CEO Chris Conlin and Valerie Wilson Travel co-president Jennifer Wilson Buttigieg focused on the comeback of one of the biggest segments of travel: Business travelers.
Business travel is big business. Valerie Wilson and Conlin, both Power List agencies (meaning they have at least $100 million in travel sales in a non-Covid year) are strong in corporate travel; for example.
You’ll hear in this episode that both Conlin and Wilson-Buttigieg are confident that business travel and face-to-face meetings are getting ready for their big moment, especially as vaccines are rolled out, workers head back to their offices, the typical fall season for business travel kicks into gear and, importantly, conferences start to be held in person again.
This episode also coincides with our annual Focus on Business Travel cover story, in which our reporters took a look at some of the pandemic-era trends.
This episode was recorded June 15 and has been edited for length and clarity.
For more, listen to the first part of this podcast recording, which was published June 21, in which Limone, Conlin and Wilson-Buttigieg talked about leisure travel trends – and Jennifer’s trip to Paris, right as the border reopened.
Related reading:
The 2021 Power List https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/2021-Power-List
Focus on business travel: A changed sector recovers from crisis https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Corporate-Travel/Focus-on-Business-Travel-2021
Folo episode 31: The view from two multimillion-dollar agencies
https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/The-view-from-two-multimillion-dollar-agencies
Frosch International acquires Valerie Wilson Travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Frosch-acquires-Valerie-Wilson-Travel
The latest news on corporate travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Corporate-Travel
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The first major cruise ship to leave from a U.S. port since March 2020 was the Celebrity Edge, which cast off last week. Our news editor Johanna Jainchill was onboard, and she sat down with the ship’s captain, Kate McCue, for an emotional discussion about the relaunch.
Some of their topics: The feelings of being at the helm of the first Celebrity Cruises ship to launch, being on the ship for nearly a year, keeping the crew’s spirits up – as well as McCue’s social media game and her famous cat, Bug. We also speak with Jainchill about that first cruise an what it was like to be back on the seas and that feeling of “normal” cruising.
Related links: First big U.S. cruise since 2020: Life on the Edge feels ... normal https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/First-big-US-cruise-since-2020-Life-on-the-Edge-feels-normal
Royal Caribbean Group's Richard Fain on returning to sea https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Richard-Fain-Royal-Caribbean-Group
Dispatch, Celebrity Edge: An emotional moment for the Celebrity team https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Dispatch-the-first-cruise-of-the-Celebrity-Edge
U.S. cruising: Passengers must adapt to ever-changing rules for port calls https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Passengers-must-adapt-to-rules-for-port-calls
This Celebrity captain is a master of Instagram, too https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/Instagram-Celebrity-captain
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Senior editor Jeri Clausing traveled to Italy for the launch of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises' Venice-inspired river cruise ship, the La Venezia. An everyday occurrence for a Travel Weekly reporter prior to 2020, the trip took on significance this year as this was the first European river cruise for Americans since the beginning of the pandemic and Clausing’s first visit to Europe in the Covid era.
In this episode, she and Uniworld CEO Ellen Bettridge discuss travel protocols, visiting Italy, Uniworld’s mystery cruises and the inspiration for La Venezia’s interior design.
Related reading:
Getting a glimpse of reopened Europe on Uniworld's relaunch from Venice https://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/Getting-a-glimpse-of-reopened-Europe-on-Uniworld-relaunch-from-Venice
Dispatch, Venice: A rare chance to chill in a tourism hot spot https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Visiting-Venice-in-the-pandemic-era
Dispatch, Italy: When traveling internationally in the Covid era, expect the unexpected https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Dispatch-Tips-for-traveling-to-Europe
The latest river cruising news: https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising
Where can Americans travel in Europe: https://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/Which-Europe-countries-are-open-for-travel
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Power List edition: The view from Multimillion-dollar travel agencies
Travel Weekly’s Power List every year tracks the sales totals of the biggest travel agencies: those companies making $100 million or more annually in travel sales. Such as: Valerie Wilson Travel, which in 2019, the last “normal” year of travel, posted $325 million in travel sales, and Conlin Travel, which reported $180.2 million.
In this week’s episode, Conlin CEO Christopher Conlin and Valerie Wilson co-president Jennifer Wilson-Buttegieg – who joined the podcast from Paris -- examined a number of topics: How their agencies responded to the travel falloff in 2020, the split of leisure and corporate-travel business, mergers and financial assistance (including Valerie Wilson’s acquisition by another Power List agency, Frosch Travel) and current trends in travel.
Related reading:
The 2021 Power List: An unusual list for an unusual year https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/2021-Power-List
The List: https://www.travelweekly.com/power-list-2021
Frosch and Valerie Wilson, GBT and Egencia: Mega-agency deals proliferate: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Mega-agency-tie-ups-continue-as-pandemic-spurs-mergers-and-acquisitions-deals
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Entertainment travel is back! We’re talking about the travel advisors who book travel and accommodations for folks in the entertainment business. Our hospitality editor Christina Jelski has just written a cover story about the bounceback in this business, and today we’re talking about why so many production crews are on the road, and the types of precautions they need to take to keep the crew and cast safe filming.
We’ve brought in two Los Angeles-based travel advisors, Adam Ottmar, director of special events for Altour’s Altour Entertainment and EnterTravel divisions, and Courtney Norris, owner of Beverly Hills-based Bespoke Travel and an affiliate with Internova Travel Group’s Global Travel Collection, to talk about bubble travel and hotel buyouts, Covid compliance officers and more.
This episode was recorded Thursday June 3 and has been edited for length and clarity and to group conversational themes together.
Related reading:
It’s on with the show for agents booking TW and movie productions:
https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/On-with-the-show
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If, when and how can Americans travel to Europe this summer?
We called on Tom Jenkins of ETOA, the European Tourism Association, and Suzy Schreiner, a travel advisor and owner of Azure Blue Vacations, to walk through the situation in Europe and the demand for travel there.
It’s important to note that this conversation was recorded Thursday June 3, and travel policy can change at a moment’s notice – so please check with your own travel advisor and country travel sites for changing travel rules.
The podcast has been edited for length and clarity and to regroup conversations together, even if they occurred during different points of the discussion.
Related reading and resources:
Reopen EU: https://reopen.europa.eu/en
Bonjour! France welcoming back (vaccinated) tourists https://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/France-welcoming-back-vaccinated-tourists
Europe river cruising is almost here, but unknowns remain https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/Europe-river-cruising-is-almost-here-but-unknowns-remain
Selling Europe amid uncertainty: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Insights/How-to-sell-Europe-now
Confusion reigns as Europe reopens to vaccinated travelers https://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/European-Union-reopening-borders-uncertainty
EU reaches deal to reopen to vaccinated travelers https://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/EU-lawmakers-and-nations-reach-compromise-on-Covid-19-passes
ETOA: https://www.etoa.org/
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What’s in a list? For WonderlustTravel.com editor Bob Guccione Jr., it’s an inspiring lineup of top travel experiences, restaurants, hotels and destinations that are unusual, fun and presented with a little humor and humility. In this episode we talk about how the list was created – just as travel is about to make a rebound -- but Guccione and Travel Weekly editor in chief Arnie Weissmann also talk about the visceral side of the travel experience. What makes for an unforgettable destination? And where they want to go next and why.
Further reading:
Wonderlust's 100 Most Interesting Places
https://wonderlusttravel.com/most-interesting-places-to-visit-2021-100-97/
The Consumer Editors Roundtable, 2020
https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Consumer-Editors-Roundtable-2020-Part-1
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Today we’re talking about a segment of the travel industry that has even more potential as we begin to emerge from the travel lockdown: wellness travel. As you might expect more and more people are looking for connection, for purposeful travel, to focus on themselves and perhaps kickstart or recommit to healthy habits.
Dawn Oliver, the founder of Well Xplored travel agency, and Christina Jelski, who covers hospitality (and, of course, hotels’ spa and wellness offerings) take on what wellness travel is (hint: it’s not just yoga and vegan cooking) and how big a role it is playing in travel overall.
In this episode we also talk about where people are traveling for wellness experiences, the popularity of the small-group retreat, Covid precautions and the importance of taking time to focus on what heals and motivates you.
This recording has been edited for length and clarity.
Related reading: The rise of the small-group wellness retreat https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Resurgent-retreats
New and renewed properties for pampering https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/New-renewed-properties-for-pampering
Mexico Insight: In the new reality, demand grows for boutique hotels, wellness experiences https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Insights/In-new-reality-demand-grows-for-boutique-hotels-wellness-experiences
Hotel spas transition to digital and touch-free offerings https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hotel-spas-transition-to-digital-touch-free-offerings
Plant-based menus taking root in hotels https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Plant-based-menus-taking-root-in-hospitality-industry
A spa day for guys https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Spa-day-for-guys
Access to Travel Weekly’s recent wellness-travel-related articles https://www.travelweekly.com/wellness-travel
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Countries are tentatively opening to international travelers as more and more people are getting vaccinated, but each has its own vaccination rules, document requirements and testing thresholds for entry. "Vaccine passsport" interests as diverse as the World Economic Forum, multinational technology companies, the EU and organizations representing the global travel industry are all stressing the importance of developing interoperable, open-source technology standards for health passes.
But how close are we to a health-pass standard, and what should travelers expect in the meantime? Senior editors Robert Silk and Jeri Clausing, and travel expert Gary Leff, who writes about frequent-flyer, points and business travel on his "View from the Wing" blog, discuss the thorny issues that surround vaccine passports and how to better enable cross-border travel.
This episode was recorded Thursday, May 13, and was edited for length and clarity.
Additional reading:
The vaccine passport controversy: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Giving-travel-a-health-pass
International travel's current situation: Forms, forms, tests and more forms https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/International-travel-current-situation-Forms-forms-tests-and-more-forms
European Commission lays out proposal for easing travel restrictions in the EU https://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/European-Commission-lays-out-proposal-for-easing-travel-restrictions-in-the-EU
Hawaii governor expects vaccine passport to expand to all U.S. visitors by summer https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Hawaii-governor-on-vaccine-passport-expansion
Gary Leff's View from the Wing blog https://viewfromthewing.com/
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It seemed time for a check-in on Walt Disney World: How its Covid-era protocols, including capacity caps, mask-wearing, physical distancing and alterations to the ride experience have impacted the visitor experience. We bring on two experts: Senior editor Jamie Biesiada, who covers theme parks for Travel Weekly, and Greg Antonelle, the co-owner of MickeyTravels travel agency. Jamie was in the parks just a few weeks ago for reporting on her cover story this week, “Disney’s evolving new normal.” And Greg, an Orlando resident, is in the parks several times a week for work.
Among our discussions on this episode: Crowding in the parks, which protocols might stay and which might go, the popularity of villa and suite bookings, and a visit to Disneyland. Plus, new attractions and old favorites – and the burning question: How long would you wait in line to ride the PeopleMover at Disney’s Magic Kingdom?
Listen to our previous Disney podcast, featuring Jamie and Len Testa of TouringPlans.com:
The Folo, episode 14: we’re going to Disney World https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Going-to-Disney-World
Further reading:
Disney’s new normal: https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Disneys-evolving-new-normal
Dispatch, Walt Disney World: New plan for park visits seems a lot like the old plan https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Dispatch-Walt-Disney-World-New-plan-like-the-old-plan
Theme coasters deliver more than just thrills: https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Theme-coasters-deliver-more-than-just-thrills
Theme parks turn to special events as reopening nears https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Theme-parks-turn-to-special-events-as-reopening-nears
Walt Disney World launching MagicMobile service https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Walt-Disney-World-launching-MagicMobile-service
Theme parks have cut spending on new attractions: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Theme-parks-have-sharply-cut-spending-on-new-attractions
Dispatch, Walt Disney World: Polynesian bungalows are a new level of luxury https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Dispatch-Walt-Disney-World-The-Polynesian-s-new-level-of-luxury
MickeyBlog: www.mickeyblog.com
This podcast was recorded May 7 and was edited for length and clarity.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The last time the Folo did a cruise-focused episode, the industry was in a major holding pattern with the CDC, which has, since the pandemic began, banned big-ship cruising in the U.S. In October the agency issued a Conditional Sailing Order that put in place a plethora of requirements to operate, but it never gave cruise lines a green light to comply and move towards a restart, even as vaccines rolled out and hotels, flights and theme parks opened up around the country. In response, frustration from travel advisors, politicians and cruise executives reached fever pitch in the form of protests and lawsuits.
But the day before this podcast was recorded, cruise fans got welcome news: The CDC was doing away with requirements for test cruises, as long as 98% of crew and 95% of passengers are fully vaccinated, and it committed to a July restart for cruising in the U.S.
To talk about how vaccines are fueling the return, the in-the-meantime restart of ship operations abroad and the overall perseverance of those in the business, our acting cruise editor Johanna Jainchill has brought on three powerhouse guests: Michelle Fee of travel agency Cruise Planners, Katina Athanasiou of Norwegian Cruise Line and Mark Conroy of Silversea Cruises.
This episode was recorded on Friday, April 30, and has been edited for length and clarity.
Related reading:
CDC alters rules on test sailings, moving cruise lines closer to restart https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/CDC-relaxes-guidelines-on-test-sailings
These are the cruises open to Americans this summer https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-ships-sail-outside-US-list
If Europe opens to vaccinated Americans, will cruise ships follow? https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/If-Europe-opens-to-vaccinated-Americans-will-Europe-ships-follow
Norwegian's Del Rio: We want an answer from the CDC https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Norwegian-Del-Rio-We-want-an-answer-from-the-CDC
Senate bill demands the CDC lift its Conditional Sailing Order by July 4 https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Senate-bill-demands-the-CDC-lift-its-Conditional-Sailing-Order-by-July-4
The Folo podcast: Vicki Freed and Alex Sharpe on the year without cruise -- and what's next https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Folo-episode-17-year-without-cruising
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So the news is good: The economy seems to be bouncing back, travel is getting restarted and travelers seem to be returning to hotels, especially in southern markets and resort areas. But some hotel associations are reporting a labor squeeze; in some areas hotels are desperate to fill positions.
To talk about why this is happening, and how the hospitality landscape is changing, we’ve brought in our hotels reporter, Christina Jelski, and David Sherwyn, a professor and hospitality expert at Cornell University.
Related reading:
David Sherwyn’s bio: https://sha.cornell.edu/faculty-research/faculty/dss18/
GMs clean rooms and operators cook as hotels struggle to rehire workers https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/GMs-clean-rooms-and-operators-cook-as-hotels-struggle-to-rehire-workers
U.S. hotel occupancy hit a Covid-era high in April
https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/U-S-hotel-occupancy-hit-a-high-in-April
Five hotel general managers on the lessons they learned during the pandemic: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Focus-on-Hotels-What-the-pandemic-taught-me
Hotels in Miami and South Florida are open – and busy https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Northeast-Southern-markets-are-driving-a-Miami-hotel-boom
Drive-market bright spots https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Drive-market-bright-spots
About the Folo by Travel Weekly: A weekly podcast from the reporters and editors of Travel Weekly that focuses on and "follows" major travel news and trends. Hosted by managing editor Rebecca Tobin.
This episode was recorded Thursday, April 21. The original transcript has been edited for length, and the chronology may be altered to keep dialogue about specific topics together.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What does it mean to be green in travel, or to travel responsibility, or to practice sustainability in travel?
As senior editor Jeri Clausing notes, sustainability is not a new discussion within travel, but it’s changed during the pandemic. At the beginning of the pause in travel, many companies were taking the time to review their commitment to sustainability. Some destinations were giving their visitation numbers a hard look to avoid the negative impacts of overtourism. Others have been upgrading their plans for sustainable fuel or carbon reduction and minimizing food waste.
In this episode, Jeri and and host Rebecca Tobin are talking with Toronto-based Shannon Guihan, who oversees sustainability efforts for the Travel Corporation. We’re talking about the Future of Tourism Coalition --the Travel Corporation was one of the initial signatories, but now more than 500 companies have signed on.
We also address specific initiatives within travel, mask waste -- and the surprising carbon footprint of buffets.
Related reading:
Focus on sustainability: Travel’s green shoots: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Focus-on-Sustainability-The-pandemics-green-shoot
From the window seat column: Travel’s tug of war between sustainability and fun https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/Travels-tug-of-war-between-sustainability-and-fun
The great – new – overtourism debate https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/new-overtourism-debate
Rethinking sustainable travel during the pandemic https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Rethinking-travel-sustainable-travel
Ted Turner’s legacy https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Ted-Turners-legacy
TreadRight Foundation: http://www.treadright.org
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The CDC has changed its guidance on travel for Americans who are fully vaccinated, and more and more people are planning vacations. But they’re not just planning any trip: They’re taking bigger, longer, more expensive trips with upgrades and all the trimmings. Some are calling this “revenge travel.” How are people traveling with a vengeance?
In this episode, retail editor Jamie Biesiada and host Rebecca Tobin talk with Anne Scully, a longtime travel advisor who is now a partner of agent development at Embark Beyond. But you’re also hear part of our discussion from our cruise-focused chat with Vicki Freed of Royal Caribbean International and Alex Sharpe of Signature Travel Network, and from our ski-resort discussion with Rusty Gregory of Alterra and Natalie Ooi, who runs the ski management program at Colorado State University.
We hope you agree with our experts that travel – planning, anyway – is coming back with a vengeance.
Related:
Fully vaccinated can travel again, says CDC guidance
https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Fully-vaccinated-can-travel-again-says-new-CDC-guidance
Industry applauds new CDC guidance for travel
https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Industry-applauds-latest-CDC-guidelines-for-travel
Europe Insight: Travel is coming back with a vengeance
https://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/Insights/Travel-is-coming-back-with-a-vengeance
The Folo, episode 21: The ski industry survives and thrives
https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/ski-industry-survives-thrives
The Folo, episode 17: The year without cruise – and what’s next
https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Folo-episode-17-year-without-cruising
Reserve that 2022 cruise now: Booking curve is at record length
https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Reserve-that-2022-cruise-now-Booking-curve-at-record-length
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Skiing and snowboarding are winter sports beloved by many, but they’re also pastimes that rely on tradition. And from a ski operator’s perspective, there are so many different pieces that have to seamlessly match up, from dining to grooming the slopes, safety patrol (and explosives), hospitality – not to mention the whims of Mother Nature – that it’s not easy to make drastic changes. Yet that’s just what ski resorts had to do in the face of the Covid pandemic.
In this episode, Rusty Gregory, the CEO of Alterra Mountain Co., and Natalie Ooi, the program director of the ski area management program at Colorado State University, shared with Travel Weekly editor Robert Silk (who also handles our ski coverage) and host Rebecca Tobin several facets of skiing and riding a la 2021: the challenges of having to prep for the unknown. Massive investments in technology that are enabling services – from food to ski instructors – to be brought directly to guests. Unexpected guest behavior in the face of the pandemic. And the “new” measure of success.
Plus, our favorite ski runs of all time.
Related coverage: Focus on Ski: Skiing apres-pandemic https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Focus-on-Ski-Skiing-apres-pandemic A weekend in Vail: Ripping powder and retreating to the lodge https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Vail-resorts-restaurants-and-ripping-powder
Hitting the slopes is popular, even with apres-ski sidelined https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Hitting-the-slopes-still-popular-even-with-apres-ski-sidelined
Alterra won’t require reservations by passholders https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Alterra-will-not-require-reservations-from-ski-pass-holders
Vail reservations policy sets a precedent for ski areas https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Vail-reservations-policy-sets-precedent-for-ski-areas
Ski operators expect serious challenges for 2020-21 season https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Ski-operators-expect-serious-challenges
Ski resorts suddenly shutter https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Ski-resorts-suddenly-shutter-coronavirus
Prepandemic coverage: Focus on ski: Backcountry bonanza https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Focus-Ski-Mountain-Travel-Backcountry-Bonanza
Prepandemic coverage: Focus on ski: Indie slopes https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Focus-on-Ski-Mountain-Travel-Indy-slopes
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Big-ship cruising is still grounded in the U.S., but the travel industry took a big step forward this month with the restart of river cruising for the first time since the pandemic began. American Cruise Lines and American Queen Steamboat Company both launched ships on the Mississippi with – hopefully – more to come.
The big news last week was the launch of American Queen’s paddlewheeler, the American Countess, a debut that was nearly 12 months overdue. But even the ship’s christening in New Orleans wasn’t without a hitch: The CDC nearly forced the line to call off the launch over a dispute over the ship’s operating certificate (even though American Queen had committed to reduced capacity, the ship can technically carry more people than the maximum currently required by the CDC to sail).
In this episode, senior editor Jeri Clausing and American Queen CEO John Waggoner dialed in from the new American Countess, which operated its inaugural cruise from New Orleans to Memphis last week. Waggoner spoke with Clausing and Folo host Rebecca Tobin about the new ship; how safety protocols for guests work onboard and on land; controversy around vaccine requirements for river cruise guests; and the excitement of getting back on the waters again.
Related reading:
Dispatch, American Countess: Taking protocols in stride https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/A-cruise-ship-naming-in-2021-with-masks-and-distancing
American Countess’ debut cruise is back on after CDC dispute is resolved https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/American-Countess-sailing-is-back-on-after-CDC-dispute-is-resolved
Domestic river cruise lines get rolling again today https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Domestic-river-cruise-lines-get-rolling-again-today
American Queen and Victory cruise lines will require vaccinations https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/American-Queen-Victory-require-vaccinations
American Queen Steamboat Company https://www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com/
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The Caribbean is one of the most important tourism markets for U.S. travelers. And during the pandemic it’s been one of the few international destinations open to Americans.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and two Caribbean-travel experts – Gay Nagle Myers, a contributing editor for Travel Weekly, and writer Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon (aka JetSetSarah) – unpack how to travel safely in the region. Among the topics: How different islands have implemented Covid-travel protocols, how to socially distance and keep yourself and residents safe, the popularity of long-term stays and whether vaccinations could be a future requirement for visitors.
Additional reading
Which Caribbean islands are open for travelers, and the protocols for travel there: https://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Caribbean-readies-for-a-wave-of-reopenings
One year in: When will travelers be ready for the Caribbean: https://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Insights/When-will-the-Caribbean-see-more-travelers
These are the resorts offering Covid testing: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Caribbean-and-Mexico-resorts-roll-out-Covid-programs
Selling Jamaica with confidence after an in-person visit: https://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Insights/travel-advisors-selling-the-Caribbean-confidence
Remote-work plans help ease the daily grind: https://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Remote-work-plans-help-ease-the-daily-grind
https://www.jetsetsarah.com/
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The year at home: Patricia Schultz on the serendipity of travel
The biggest travel story of the week was the anniversary of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the subsequent global shutdown of travel. To mark “where we were,” this time last year, editor in chief Arnie Weissmann wrote his column on the recollections of travel executives and colleagues. One of the people he reached out to was Patricia Schultz, bestselling author of “1,000 Places to See Before You Die.”
But our subsequent podcast with Schultz focuses less on the shutdown and more on the serendipity of spontaneous travel experiences. Instead of spending the shutdown updating “1,000 Places,” Schultz during has been writing a different kind of book, one about how curiosity and open-mindedness can take a regular travel experience and elevate it to the unforgettable. In recounting travel memories of Morocco and New York and how travel experiences great and small can change your perspective, Schultz’s observations may re-ignite your wanderlust once more.
Related reading:
On the anniversary of the pandemic, looking back at the day travel stopped cold: https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/On-pandemics-anniversary-looking-back-at-the-day-travel-stopped-cold
1,000 Places to See Before You Die: https://www.workman.com/brands/1000-places
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Welcome back the all-new Folo by Travel Weekly podcast, where Travel Weekly's reporters and editors dive into the biggest travel story of the week. In this issue, we tackle an unprecedented milestone: an entire year without cruising from the U.S.
This episode features the insights of Vicki Freed, the senior vice president of sales and trade support and service for Royal Caribbean International, and Alex Sharpe, the president and CEO of the Signature Travel Network consortium, with hosts Johanna Jainchill, Travel Weekly's news editor and acting cruise editor, and managing editor Rebecca Tobin.
Some of the topics we unpack: The shock of the Covid-19-related shutdown in March 2020. The highs and lows of the year. And the light at the end of the tunnel: vaccines, a boom in travel agent business, enthusiasm for trial cruises and "upsizing" upcoming cruise vacations.
Related reading:
Cruising's lost year https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruisings-lost-year
As Covid vaccines roll out, enthusiasm for travel grows: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Sellers-celebrate-the-comeback-of-client-confidence
Vaccine push and cruisers with cash give rise to the 'upsizing' trend: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Vaccine-push-and-cruisers-with-cash-give-rise-to-booking-upsizing-trend
As consumers return to travel, they turn to advisors for help: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/As-consumers-return-to-travel-they-turn-to-advisors-for-help
With Alaska season on the ropes, lines challenged on cabotage law: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/With-Alaska-season-on-the-ropes-lines-challenged-on-cabotage-law
Cruise test sailing timeline? CDC's guidance could come 'any day' https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-test-sailings-CDC-guidance-could-come-any-day
Royal Caribbean's Vicki Freed on connecting with travel advisors: https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Vicki-Freed-Royal-Caribbean-International
Commissions lag bookings -- by a lot. Some want to change that. https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Commissions-lag-booking-by-a-lot-Some-agreements-may-change-that
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We're reintroducing the Folo by Travel Weekly, a now-weekly podcast from the reporters and editors of Travel Weekly and hosted by managing editor Rebecca Tobin.
Each week we're inviting our team of journalists and their trusted sources to talk about the biggest travel story of the week. We'll delve into major travel trends that industry insiders -- or just travelers -- want to know about. A folo is a journalism term that means to "follow" a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do.
Latest episodes at: https://www.travelweekly.com/podcasts
Subscribe:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/67nxKSlzduFjJFjJajTOOA
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-folo-by-travel-weekly/id1498089262
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Omny: https://omny.fm/shows/the-folo-by-travel-weekly
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The Folo welcomes back two contributors, Margie Jordan of CCRA and Kier Matthews of Classic Vacations, as they again tackle the problem of diversity in travel. In this episode, the jumping-off point is a survey of travel advisors conducted by Travel Weekly that revealed a wide gulf between how white travel sellers and nonwhite sellers perceive diversity in the travel industry. Matthews and Jordan also discussed the results of an MMGY survey of Black travelers and how much they spend on leisure vacations: Nearly $110 billion in 2019.
FURTHER READING
Diversity perception and reality: The Travel Weekly survey:https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Diversity-perception-and-reality
Forum: Stephanie Jones: The new administration must do more for Black businesses:https://www.travelweekly.com/Articles/New-administration-must-do-more-for-Black-businesses
MMGY report: Black leisure travelers spent $109 billion on travel in 2019:https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Report-Black-leisure-travelers-spent-109-billion-on-travel-in-2019
Trade secrets column: The financial argument for a diverse client base:https://www.travelweekly.com/Jamie-Biesiada/The-financial-argument-for-a-diverse-client-base
Previously on the Folo:
Episode 9: Black voices in travel: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Black-voices-in-travel
About The Folo by Travel Weekly podcast: A folo is a journalism term for an article that "follows" a news report to offer additional facts and context. On The Folo by Travel Weekly podcast, we'll take you behind the scenes as we talk with reporters, editors and contributors to explore ideas and share experiences in the reporting of the biggest travel trends.
This episode of the Folo by Travel Weekly is sponsored by Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit and Delta Vacations.
TRAVEL WEEKLY RESOURCES
Podcasts:TravelWeekly.com/Podcasts
eNewsletters:TravelWeekly.com/Newsletters
Twitter Chats:TravelWeekly.com/Twitter
Instagram: @twtravelnews
Twitter: @twtravelnews
Facebook:TravelWeekly.com/Facebook
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Host Rebecca Tobin (TravelWeekly.com/Rebecca-Tobin) and aviation editor Robert Silk (TravelWeekly.com/Robert-Silk) discuss the Boeing 737 Max jet, which returns to the sky this month. What’s happened in the 20 months that the Max has been grounded? Why is the jet so important? And will the traveling public feel safe onboard?
FURTHER READING
Brazil's Gol will be the first to fly the 737 Max:https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Brazils-Gol-will-be-first-to-fly-the-737-Max
Flying the 737 Max: AA begins bid to restore faith in the infamous jet: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Flying-the-737-Max-AA-to-restore-confidence
Wheels up column: What clients need to know about the 737 Max: https://www.travelweekly.com/Robert-Silk/What-clients-need-to-know-about-the-737-Max
Airlines prepare 737 Max for service, but are flyers, and advisors, ready?: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Airlines-prepare-737-Max-for-service-but-are-flyers-and-advisors-ready
737 Max return gets a thumbs-up from FAA: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/737-Max-return-gets-a-thumbs-up-from-FAA
TRAVEL WEEKLY RESOURCES
Podcasts:TravelWeekly.com/Podcasts
eNewsletters:TravelWeekly.com/Newsletters
Twitter Chats:TravelWeekly.com/Twitter
Instagram: @twtravelnews
Twitter: @twtravelnews
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We're engaging in a robust discussion about how Disney has approached the parks experience during Covid and how technology has changed, and enhanced, the visit. How long are socially distanced lines? How good is mask compliance? When is the best time to order lunch? And when might we see a return of FastPass or Disneyland?
This podcast features senior editor Jamie Biesiada, who covers theme parks for Travel Weekly, and Disney expert Len Testa, the founder of TouringPlans.com and a co-author of "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World." Rebecca Tobin, Travel Weekly's managing editor, is the host.
FURTHER READING
Calif. theme parks trade group blasts governor for 'no hurry' stancehttps://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Calif-theme-parks-trade-group-blasts-governor-for-no-hurry-stance
Disney alters its virtual queue rules for 'Rise of the Resistance'https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Disney-alters-its-virtual-queue-rules-for-Rise-of-the-Resistance-
A major component of Disney's reopening: Contactless techhttps://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/A-key-component-in-Disney-s-reopening-technology
Disney World reopening: No character encounters, no parking lot tramshttps://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-World-reopening-no-character-encounters
Disney protocols get a sanitized thumbs-up from one advisorhttps://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Disney-protocols-get-a-thumbs-up-from-one-advisor
Disney fans blog. They YouTube. They podcast. And they form win-win partnerships with travel agencies. https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Disney-influencers-and-travel-agencies
TRAVEL WEEKLY RESOURCES
Podcasts:TravelWeekly.com/Podcasts
eNewsletters:TravelWeekly.com/Newsletters
Twitter Chats:TravelWeekly.com/Twitter
Instagram: @twtravelnews
Twitter: @twtravelnews
Facebook:TravelWeekly.com/Facebook
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Three cruise experts – Travel Weekly news editor Johanna Jainchill, The Points Guy senior reporter Gene Sloan and Cruise Critic editor in chief Colleen McDaniel -- discuss some of the details of the CDC’s cruising framework, how cruise lines might approach safety protocols and when we might expect to see the first cruises depart from the U.S.
NOTE: This episode was recorded on Nov. 5, two days before Sloan began a cruise on SeaDream Yacht Club’s SeaDream I, his first cruise since the pandemic began and SeaDream’s first in the Caribbean after cruising in Europe during the summer. (The ship was able to sail both because it departed from Barbados, which falls outside of the CDC’s jurisdiction, and because it carries a maximum of 112 passengers, too small to be included in the Conditional Sailing Order requirements.) A few days ago, a Covid case was confirmed onboard, and the ship has returned to Barbados for testing and quarantine.
FURTHER READING
Cruise restart pushed to February? Timing's not a surprise to some:https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-restart-at-least-three-months-away
The No Sail Order is lifted, but a cruise restart will take time:https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/CDC-ban-lifted-but-cruise-restart-will-take-time
Public support for cruising's return was overwhelming, CDC says: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Public-support-for-cruisings-return-was-overwhelming-CDC-says
More passengers test positive for COVID on Caribbean cruise ship:https://thepointsguy.com/news/more-passengers-test-positive-for-covid-on-caribbean-cruise-ship/
TRAVEL WEEKLY RESOURCES
Podcasts:TravelWeekly.com/Podcasts
eNewsletters:TravelWeekly.com/Newsletters
Twitter Chats:TravelWeekly.com/Twitter
Instagram: @twtravelnews
Twitter: @twtravelnews
Facebook:TravelWeekly.com/Facebook
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This week, the Folo by Travel Weekly podcast examines travel to Mexico, one of the few countries to which Americans can travel without restriction. Senior editor Jeri Clausing and contributing editor Meagan Drillinger unpack their on-the-ground experiences and explain it all: From airplane rides to masking at the resort – even hunkering down in a hurricane.
OUR GUESTS
Jeri Clausing - senior editor Travel Weekly
Jeri Clausing is a senior editor covering river cruising, tour operators and luxury travel trends for Travel Weekly. https://www.travelweekly.com/jeri-clausing
Meagan Drillinger - contributing editor Travel Weekly
Meagan Drillinger is a contributing editor for Travel Weekly, with a coverage focus on Mexico travel, and she is the editor of its biweekly Mexico eNewsletter. https://www.travelweekly.com/meagan-drillinger
FURTHER READING
Jeri Clausing’s cover story on her October trip to Cancun and Holbox, Mexico:https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Weathering-storms-on-a-Mexico-adventure
Meagan Drillinger’s Insight on social distancing outside of the resort:https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Insights/Social-distancing-outside-of-the-resort
How travel has changed, and changed again, during Covid:https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Endless-pivots
What it’s like to travel to Cancun right now:https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Insights/What-travel-to-Cancun-is-like-right-now
Mexico is open. It’s welcoming. And it’s become a best seller:https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Mexico-is-open-It-is-welcoming-And-it-has-become-a-best-seller
Travel survey finds Mexico, Caribbean faring better than most:https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Travel-survey-finds-Mexico-Caribbean-faring-better-than-most
TRAVEL WEEKLY RESOURCES
Podcasts:TravelWeekly.com/Podcasts
eNewsletters:TravelWeekly.com/Newsletters
Twitter Chats:TravelWeekly.com/Twitter
Instagram: @twtravelnews
Twitter: @twtravelnews
Facebook:TravelWeekly.com/Facebook
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This week, the Folo by Travel Weekly delves into one of the hottest trends: Domestic trips via recreational vehicles and Airstream trailers. Reporter Christina Jelski, who has covered RV travel in detail, and news editor Johanna Jainchill talk about what to expect on an RV trip, how to plan one and why they’re such a popular Covid-era pick.
FURTHER READING
Luxury travel sellers shift focus to domestic tours on RVs:https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Car-Rental-News/Luxury-travel-sellers-shift-focus-to-domestic-tours-on-RVs
Traveling like a rock star:https://www.travelweekly.com/Luxury-Travel/Insights/Traveling-like-a-rock-star
Rules of the road when planning a recreational vehicle trip:https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Car-Rental-News/Rules-of-the-road-when-planning-a-recreational-vehicle-trip
RV rental sector booming, but it's a bumpy road for agents:https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Car-Rental-News/RV-rental-sector-booming-but-it-is-a-bumpy-road-for-agents
TRAVEL WEEKLY RESOURCES
Podcasts:TravelWeekly.com/Podcasts
eNewsletters:TravelWeekly.com/Newsletters
Twitter Chats:TravelWeekly.com/Twitter
Instagram: @twtravelnews
Twitter: @twtravelnews
Facebook:TravelWeekly.com/Facebook
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Two Travel Weekly contributors, Margie Jordan, a vice president at CCRA and a travel agency owner, and Classic sales exec Kier Matthews, continue their in-depth conversation about the need for more Black representation in travel. In our second episode, they share more personal experiences and professional perspectives. They delve into travel marketing – the need to see more people of color in advertisements and marketing. And why bias training is important -- what travel companies can do to be more welcoming to Black travelers.
In Part 1, Jordan and Matthews discussed nurturing and promoting Black talent in the travel workforce, and why it’s uncomfortable, but important, for Black travel professionals to speak out about their experiences.
Listen to part 1 here: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Black-voices-in-travel
FURTHER READING
Margie Jordan’s essay, “Traveling while Black comes with a different set of rules”:https://www.travelweekly.com/Articles/Traveling-while-black-comes-with-a-different-set-of-rules
A column by editor in chief Arnie Weissmann: “Black professionals, white allies”:https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/Black-professionals-white-allies
An article on the new group the Black Travel Alliance: “On a mission to raise the visibility of Blacks in travel”:https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/On-a-mission-to-raise-the-visibility-of-Blacks-in-travel
TRAVEL WEEKLY RESOURCES
Podcasts:TravelWeekly.com/Podcasts
eNewsletters:TravelWeekly.com/Newsletters
Twitter Chats:TravelWeekly.com/Twitter
Instagram: @twtravelnews
Twitter: @twtravelnews
Facebook:TravelWeekly.com/Facebook
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The first of a two-part series: A tough, honest and powerful discussion with two recent Travel Weekly contributors about their personal experiences in the travel industry and the need for more Black representation in travel.
In this episode, Margie Jordan, a travel agency owner and the vice president of the TRUE Global Network with CCRA, who recently wrote an essay on traveling while Black, and Kier Matthews, a sales director at Classic Vacations, who contributed his insights to a column, “Black traveler, Black travel professional,” talk about several aspects of being a Black executive in the travel industry, covering topics including hiring and retaining Black talent, filling pay gaps, and why it’s uncomfortable, but important, for Black travel professionals to speak out about their experiences.
FURTHER READING
Traveling while Black comes with a different set of rules: https://www.travelweekly.com/Articles/Traveling-while-black-comes-with-a-different-set-of-rules
Black traveler, Black travel professional: https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/Black-traveler-black-travel-professional
Destination DC’s Elliott Ferguson on Black Lives Matter and tough conversations: https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Elliott-Ferguson-Destination-DC
Black travel leaders call for more than just words of support: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Black-travel-leaders-call-for-more-than-just-words-support
TRAVEL WEEKLY RESOURCES
Podcasts:TravelWeekly.com/Podcasts
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Twitter Chats:TravelWeekly.com/Twitter
Instagram: @twtravelnews
Twitter: @twtravelnews
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As the summer season kicks off and more Americans are planning domestic getaways, editors Jeri Clausingand Johanna Jainchill go in depth on how travelers can vacation with their pets – not only safely but in style. It’s a conversation based off their collaborative cover story “Road Beasts.”
RELATED READING
Road Beasts: The travel industry has become more welcoming for pets: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Road-beasts-pet-travel
Cunard Line’s exclusive zone for four-legged passengers and their VIP handlers: https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Onboard-the-QM2-Going-to-the-dogs
Airports use pet dogs to calm jittery flyers: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Airports-use-pet-dogs-to-calm-jittery-flyers
TRAVEL WEEKLY RESOURCES
Podcasts - TravelWeekly.com/Podcasts
eNewsletters - TravelWeekly.com/Newsletters
Twitter Chats - TravelWeekly.com/Twitter
Instagram - @twtravelnews
Twitter - @twtravelnews
Facebook - TravelWeekly.com/Facebook
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The travel industry has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, but travel agents are not simply sitting idle. As senior editor Jamie Biesiada discusses in this episode, travel advisors are working on proactive outreach to clients, investing in training and preparing for travel’s eventual comeback. In fact, the hardships travelers faced at the beginning of the pandemic have highlighted the benefits of working with a travel professional who can help travelers negotiate the altered landscape.
We’re not yet seeing a mass closure of travel agencies, Biesiada says; still, experts expect some fairly major consolidation among agencies of all sizes. And, perhaps surprisingly, some people are actively considering starting careers as travel agents.
RELATED READING
ASTA releases video for Heroes campaign -https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/ASTA-releases-video-for-Heroes-campaign?ct=
Most agencies adapting quickly to keep their businesses alive -https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Most-agencies-adapting-quickly-to-keep-their-businesses-alive?ct=
ASTA asks for improvements to Paycheck Protection Program - https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/ASTA-asks-for-improvements-to-Paycheck-Protection-Program?ct=
Rewriting the marketing playbook - https://www.travelweekly.com/Jamie-Biesiada/Rewriting-the-marketing-playbook
In times of crisis, advisors shine - https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Insights/In-times-of-crisis-advisors-shine
TRAVEL WEEKLY RESOURCES
Podcasts - TravelWeekly.com/Podcasts
eNewsletters - TravelWeekly.com/Newsletters
Twitter Chats - TravelWeekly.com/Twitter
Instagram - @twtravelnews
Twitter - @twtravelnews
Facebook - TravelWeekly.com/Facebook
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How might cruising return – safely – as a vacation product? On this podcast, news editor Johanna Jainchill and river cruise editor Jeri Clausing discuss with host Rebecca Tobinsome possible Covid-related changes, from the cruise ship itself to itineraries and destinations, that they uncovered in their Focus on Cruise report.
RELATED READING
Our Focus on Cruise report - https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Focus-on-Cruise-Sailing-into-the-wind
The latest Cruise Insight by Johanna Jainchill: When will cruise lines really resume operations? - https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/What-do-cruise-resumption-dates-mean?ct=cruise
The latest River Cruise Insight by Jeri Clausing: Coming up with the new normal - https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/Coming-up-with-the-new-normal?ct=river
TRAVEL WEEKLY RESOURCES
Podcasts - TravelWeekly.com/Podcasts
eNewsletters - TravelWeekly.com/Newsletters
Twitter Chats - TravelWeekly.com/Twitter
Instagram - @twtravelnews
Twitter - @twtravelnews
Facebook - TravelWeekly.com/Facebook
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Is sighting the Big Five, sleeping in a tented camp and unwinding with a sundowner cocktail on your (eventual) bucket list? Destinations editor Eric Moya talks about an unusual way to go on safari in East Africa: To go during the so-called “short-rain season,” i.e. the offseason.
In this episode, Moya and host Rebecca Tobin discuss the benefits of traveling during the off-peak period, the types of animals he was hoping to spot on this trip to Tanzania and how a safari might be attractive to families and multigenerational groups once the coronavirus pandemic has ended.
RELATED READING
Tanzania in style with Elewana's SkySafari - https://www.travelweekly.com/Middle-East-Africa-Travel/Tanzania-in-style-with-Elewana-Collection-SkySafari
Wet & Wild: Summer is peak safari season in East Africa, but wondrous wildlife encounters can occur year-round. - https://www.travelweekly.com/Middle-East-Africa-Travel/Wet-and-wild-peak-safari-season
A green-season safari in Tanzania - https://www.travelweekly.com/Media/A-green-season-safari-in-Tanzania
Dispatch, Kenya: Big Five? Who's counting? -https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Dispatch-Kenya-Big-Five-Who-s-counting-
Dispatch, Kenya: Up, up and away -https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Dispatch-Kenya-Up-up-and-away
Kenya safari lodges, from rustic to refined - https://www.travelweekly.com/Middle-East-Africa-Travel/Kenya-safari-lodges-from-rustic-refined
TRAVEL WEEKLY RESOURCES
Podcasts - TravelWeekly.com/Podcasts
eNewsletters - TravelWeekly.com/Newsletters
Twitter Chats - TravelWeekly.com/Twitter
Instagram - @twtravelnews
Twitter - @twtravelnews
Facebook - TravelWeekly.com/Facebook
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The world’s airlines have been caught up in the coronavirus crisis; as travel bans and warnings were put into place, the number of flyers has dwindled to unprecedented levels – and revenue has declined with it. Aviation editor Robert Silk has been covering the situation, and on this episode of the Folo by Travel Weekly he talks with managing editor Rebecca Tobin and Rob Fixmer (who has recently retired as editor) about the bailout, the strings attached, what the airlines are doing now and what they might do in the future.
Airline reps chafe at possibly getting less bailout cash -https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Airline-reps-chafe-at-possibly-getting-less-bailout-cash
Airlines seek exemptions to the rule for getting federal aid - https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Airlines-seek-exemptions-to-rule-for-getting-federal-aid?ct=
Airlines pitching in to keep supplies moving - https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Airlines-pitching-in-to-keep-supplies-moving
Covid-19: The ultimate survival test for airlines - https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Covid-19-the-ultimate-survival-test-for-airlines?ct=
Worldwide airline capacity down 77% -https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Airline-capacity-down-77-percent?ct=
AA makes temporary changes to seating, pet policies - https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/American-Airlines-makes-changes-to-seating-pet-policies-Covid-19-guidelines?ct=
AND
Rob Fixmer retires after 15 years as Travel Weekly editor - https://www.travelweekly.com/News-at-TW/Rob-Fixmer-retires-after-15-years-as-Travel-Weekly-editor
TRAVEL WEEKLY RESOURCES
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Travel Weekly’s senior editor for hotels and hospitality, Christina Jelski, talks with hosts Rob Fixmer and Rebecca Tobin about the glamping trend. We discuss the definition and examples, glamping in the age of Instagram, and Jelski’s own experience sleeping in a tent in the Catskill Mountains of New York in fall 2019.
Read Christina's article at https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Glamping-goes-boom
TRAVEL WEEKLY RESOURCES
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As fallout from the coronavirus pandemic continues, travel advisors are on the front lines of the travel industry, canceling and rebooking clients or counseling them in a wait-and-see mode. Senior editor for retail travel Jamie Biesiada talks about some of the markets that have been hit the hardest, where some Americans are still traveling and why travel advisor Jay Ellenby’s congressional testimony is setting the stage for possible small-business aid. Story on Ellenby’s testimony is here: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Executive-testifies-coronavirus-threat-to-travel-agencies
This segment was recorded Wed., March 11, before President Trump’s announcement of a ban on European arrivals.
In the second of a two-part series, Rob Fixmer and Rebecca Tobin talk with editor in chief Arnie Weissmann about his climb of Mount Kilimanajro. Weissmann details some of the specifics of the climb – facing the Barranco Wall, the amount of gear needed, the emotional stamina needed for the climb -- and talks about some of the beneficiaries of the funds raised on behalf of the travel industry. Listeners can still donate to Tourism Cares, www.tourismcares.org/kilicares, and their names will be listed on our donor page https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Donors-and-supporters-of-Kili-Cares-pledge-drive-for-Tourism-Cares
Weissmann’s Dispatches about his climb can be found here: https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Facing-the-wall-abject-fear-on-Kilimanjaro and his full cover story on the climb, with maps and pictures, is here: https://www.travelweekly.com/Middle-East-Africa-Travel/Go-tell-it-on-the-mountain-Kilimanjaro-for-a-cause.
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The coronavirus is impacting travel in different ways. News editor Johanna Jainchill talks about how cruise lines have moved ships from Asia in the wake of the virus, including some of the creative approaches some lines have taken.
Article link:Cruise lines must move quickly and creatively to redeploy ships
From a health perspective, where’s the best place to sit on an airplane? Aviation editor Robert Silk talked with doctors about how to avoid getting sick on a flight.
Article link: Doctors say avoiding illness is literally in flyers’ hands
In our showcase interview, Rob Fixmer and Rebecca Tobin talk with editor in chief Arnie Weissmann about his climb of Mount Kilimanajro. In a two-part series, Weissmann details some of the drama and the exhilaration of the personal quest, and his goal of raising funds on behalf of the travel industry. Listeners can still donate to Tourism Cares, and their names will be listed on our donor page.
Weissmann’s Dispatches about his climb can be found here: Go tell it on the mountain
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Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they’ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.
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