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Insider Travel Report assists travel advisors by discussing the changing travel landscape with a line-up of special guests VIP guests, the movers and shakers...
Episodes
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
Daniel Abrashoff, general manager of the Weekapaug Inn in Rhode Island, sister property to Ocean House, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about what his boutique property offers to guests, including great dining, charming accommodations, and a relaxed ambience the makes the property the classic New England inn. For more information, visit www.weekapauginn.com.
Monday Nov 07, 2022
Monday Nov 07, 2022
Beks Ndlovu, a Zimbabwean professional safari guide and founder of African Bush Camps (ABC), talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his company, one of the only black-owned safari operators. Ndlovu details the 18 lodges ABC runs in Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, all of which offer major safari experiences, as well as how he got started in the business. For more information, visit www.africanbushcamps.com.
Monday Nov 07, 2022
Monday Nov 07, 2022
Wolfgang Gaertner, head of international marketing for German state of Saxony, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about what’s new and old in Dresden and Leipzig, the historic cities of this region, including how Dresden’s old has been restored to its former state, and how Leipzig has become a hip city for millennials, while remaining a center for classical music. For more information, visit www.VisitSaxony.com.
Friday Nov 04, 2022
Friday Nov 04, 2022
Bastian Germer, general manager of The Ritz-Carlton NOMAD, give James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report a tour of this brilliant addition to the New York City hotel scene. Germer reveals the vast range of accommodations, new inventive dining options and what arguably might be the best rooftop bar in a city with many rooftop bars. More to the point, Germer highlights what the hotel has in spades—some of the best views of Manhattan period. For more information, click on The Ritz-Carlton NOMAD.
Friday Nov 04, 2022
Friday Nov 04, 2022
Philipp Reutener hotel director for Swan Hellenic’s new SH Vega, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his new luxury expedition ship and what it offers guests. Reutener details the accommodations, dining options, public areas and décor of this elegant new vessel, which will offer Antarctic cruises and expedition sailings around the world. For more information, visit www.swanhellenic.com.
Thursday Nov 03, 2022
Thursday Nov 03, 2022
Scott Wiseman, senior vice president and general manager of Apple Leisure Group Vacations, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about sister company AMResorts’ intention to expand hotels and resorts in Europe, especially Greece and Croatia. For more information, visit www.AMResorts.com.
Thursday Nov 03, 2022
Thursday Nov 03, 2022
Todd Hamilton, senior vice president of sales at Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about his cruise line's plan to compensate travel advisors on what were previously non-commissionable fares. Starting Jan. 1, 2023, advisors can get these commissions on new reservations made outside of final payment (120 days prior to sailing) on voyages departing May 1, 2023 and beyond. Hamilton also explains how travel advisors will need to submit a marketing plan through Norwegian Central by Dec. 31, 2022. For more information, visit www.ncl.com.
Thursday Nov 03, 2022
Thursday Nov 03, 2022
Valerie Wilson, chairman and founder of Valerie Wilson Travel, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about Swan Hellenic’s new SH Vega—and turns out she likes it a lot. From the décor to the accommodations to the dining, Wilson gives you a preview of one of the newest expedition cruise ships in the market today. She also reveals that she will be the godmother of Swan Hellenic’s next new ship, SH Diana, making its debut next summer. For more information, visit www.swanhellenic.com.
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
Jay Schneider, chief product innovation officer for Royal Caribbean Group, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at the “reveal” of Royal Caribbean’s new Icon of the Seas, set to make its debut in January 2024. Icon takes the best from the Oasis and Quantum classes, sprinkles in some features from Royal Caribbean’s private island, and adds whole new features to create a ship that’s firmly focused on delivering a great vacation for families. For more information, click on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas.
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
Gordon Dirker, Swan Hellenic’s new vice president of sales, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report on the new SH Vega about his new company with a historic name and its plans for the expedition cruise market. Dirker details the features of the new ship and what plans he has in store to sell these brilliant new vessels through the travel agency trade. For more information, visit www.swanhellenic.com.
Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
Nadiya Makarenko, senior vice president of host agency Travel Edge Network, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how this Toronto-based host agency has expanded dramatically over the past few years; the services it offers to travel advisor affiliates, including a turnkey ADX booking system; and how it’s now the largest agency in the newly acquired Ensemble consortium, which was purchased by its parent company, Navigatr, earlier this year. For more information, visit www.traveledgenetwork.com.
Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean International’s senior vice president-sales, talks with James Shillinglaw at the “reveal” of Icon of the Seas, the cruise line’s newest and biggest ship to date. Freed talks about the vessel’s eight neighborhoods, including Surfside, located near the stern and designed to appeal to families with young children, and the AquaDome, a combination water theater and pool and lounge complex near the bow. Freed also details how the ship combines elements of the Oasis Class, Quantum Class and even Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at Coco Cay private island. For more information, visit www.cruisingpower.com and www.royalcaribbean.com/icon-of-the-seas/site.
Monday Oct 31, 2022
Monday Oct 31, 2022
Daniel Suarez, the number one driver for NASCAR’s Trackhouse Racing Team, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how he got into racing, how this season is shaping up, and how his team’s partnership with Princess Cruises has benefited Trackhouse and given Princess new visibility in one of the country’s most popular sports. For more information, visit www.princess.com or www.trackhouse.com.
Monday Oct 31, 2022
Monday Oct 31, 2022
John Padgett, president and CEO of Princess Cruises, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about why his premium cruise line decided to back the Trackhouse NASCAR racing team and give away free cruises when the team’s drivers win or place in the top 10. Padgett says the strategy is a way to open up new markets for cruising, just as the line’s sponsorship of CBS’s new “The Real Love Boat” gives cruising new visibility to a new generation of cruisers. For more information, visit www.princess.com or www.trackhouse.com.
Monday Oct 31, 2022
Monday Oct 31, 2022
Gavin Landry, executive vice president Americas for Visit Britain, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about Great Britain's recovery, increasing air lift, its sustainability efforts, and what's fresh and new to do as part of the"See Things Differently" program, which includes sailing down the Thames in a hot tub. For more information, visit www.VisitBritain.com.
Friday Oct 28, 2022
Friday Oct 28, 2022
Jeff Willner, CEO and founder of Navigatr Group, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his acquisition of Ensemble, the former agency cooperative that is now a consortium wholly owned by Navigatr. Willner, who spoke with us last week during Ensemble’s conference in Miami, also talks about how he got into the travel agency business, how he’s grown his company from when it began as the Travel Edge agency in Toronto, then acquiring a number of agencies in the U.S., establishing a critical technology company and ultimately buying Ensemble. The goal, according to Willner, is to help make the travel advisor profession even more lucrative for those who decide to pursue it. For more information, visit www.navigatr.com or www.ensembletravel.com.
Friday Oct 28, 2022
Friday Oct 28, 2022
Friday Oct 28, 2022
Friday Oct 28, 2022
Jacki Marks, executive vice president of Apple Leisure Group Vacations (ALGV), talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about ALG'Vs Ascend 2022 conference, which took place last week at Secrets The Vine Cancun. Marks likes gameshows, so in a lighting-round format she goes over every single upgrade or new program offered to travel advisors by ALGV this year, For more information, visit www.algvacations.com or www.appleleisuregroup.com.
Thursday Oct 27, 2022
Thursday Oct 27, 2022
Michael Johnson, the president of Ensemble, and David Harris, the group's executive chairman, talk with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how the travel agency consortium came together in Miami last week to debut a new common booking tool, a new marketing strategy, a new logo and shortened name, new training and education, and much more just four months after it was sold to Toronto-based Navigatr. For more information, visit www.ensembletraveL.com.
Thursday Oct 27, 2022
Thursday Oct 27, 2022
Ray Snisky, president of Apple Leisure Group Vacations (ALGV), talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the almost seamless acquisition by Hyatt Hotels and how both companies are benefiting, with Hyatt making huge investments into ALGV's technology that supports travel advisors. Snisky also discusses Hyatt and ALGV's enthusiasm for advisors and his own vow to never cut commissions. For more information, visit www.ALGVacations.com.
Wednesday Oct 26, 2022
Wednesday Oct 26, 2022
Rodrigo Esponda, director general and managing director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the changing profile of the Los Cabos visitor, who is younger, more affluent and looking for more outdoor and culinary experiences than previously believed. Esponda suggests travel advisors use the web tools provided to find out just how much in Los Cabos is commissionable beyond hotels, citing more than 200 restaurants as just the start. For more information, visit www.VisitLosCabos.travel.
Wednesday Oct 26, 2022
Wednesday Oct 26, 2022
Karen Henderson, sales and marketing manager of Visit Derry, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the ancient walled city that seems to have embraced Halloween as a unifying annual event since the unrest it faced back in the 1960s through 1970s. Henderson says it all began in a single pub about 30 years ago, and since then the city of 110,000 people swells to more than double around Halloween (not counting the dead), filling its hotels to capacity. As a result, Derry has been voted by the New York Times for having one of the six best Halloween celebrations in the world, even over Transylvania. For more information, visit www.VisitDerry.com.
Tuesday Oct 25, 2022
Tuesday Oct 25, 2022
Jen Halboth, CEO of Riverside Collection-Americas, talks with James Shillinglaw about her new company’s purchase of the former Crystal Mozart by Riverside Luxury Cruises, a German hospitality firm that is getting into river cruising. Halboth details her company’s plans to market the ship, one of the largest on the Danube, in North America through travel advisors, and why she left her old post at Globus for an opportunity to build a new company. For more information, visit www.riverside-cruises.com/en/.
Tuesday Oct 25, 2022
Tuesday Oct 25, 2022
Daniela Trava Albarran, general manager of Grand Residences Riviera Cancun, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about her all-inclusive family resort, with clubs for kids and teens. The property which opened in 2013, is located 22 minutes from the airport in a secluded part of Puerto Morelos and is reminiscent of haciendas in the Yucatán peninsula. For more information, email reservations@GrandResidencesRivieraCancun.com or visit www.GrandResidencesRivieraCancun.com.
Monday Oct 24, 2022
Monday Oct 24, 2022
Julia Simpson, president and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the focus of the upcoming Global Summit in Saudi Arabia, which comes less than a year after WTTC held a Summit in the Philippines. Simpson also describes how the WTTC acted to help get the global travel industry through the pandemic, how WTTC continues to focus on sustainable tourism, and how the group has successfully lobbied governments around the world to get them to recognize the importance of travel and tourism. For more information, visit www.wttc.org.
Monday Oct 24, 2022
Monday Oct 24, 2022
Ginette Goulston-Lincoln, travel trade manager of Strawberry Field in Liverpool, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the Salvation Army property where John Lennon played as a child, which now offers a multimedia tribute to his legacy, as well a facility to support the people of Wilton, a suburb of city. For more information, visit www.StrawberryFieldLiverpool.com.
Friday Oct 21, 2022
Friday Oct 21, 2022
Friday Oct 21, 2022
Friday Oct 21, 2022
Hector Coronel, CEO of Madrid Destino, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how he was named to his post during the pandemic, and his plans for tourism economic recovery, which include new marketing campaigns and programs for travel advisors. Coronel also recaps what's new for the city's art, culinary, hotel and event scene. For more information, visit www.madrid-destino.com.
Thursday Oct 20, 2022
Thursday Oct 20, 2022
Lenny Faverey, doorman at the Omni Berkshire in New York City, has a special talent that’s become recognized on TikTok (Len.nythedoormanNYC) and national and local TV. A 30-year veteran of the Omni, he’s become a TikTok sensation for his dancing moves on the street as he greets guests and those passing by. He’s also been a contestant on NBC’s “Dancing with Myself,” using skills and moves he picked up during a lifetime of dancing at clubs around the city. Faverey talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his unexpected rise to fame. For more information, click on Omni Berkshire.
Thursday Oct 20, 2022
Thursday Oct 20, 2022
David Kanters, general manager of the Omni Berkshire, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his New York hotel has emerged from the pandemic with its veteran staff intact and plans to return to its former place as one of the city’s landmark properties and Omni’s signature hotel in Manhattan. We interviewed Omni’s previous GM prior to the COVID years, but not Kanters takes up the mantle to make the historic property deliver a classic stay for guests, with some of the best terraced suits in New York. For more information, click on Omni Berkshire.
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
Miguel Gonzalez Perret-Gentil, public relations and communications manager for the Mangrove Beach Resort, talks with Taya Collins of Insider Travel Report about his resort, a member of the Curio by Hilton collection. The property features two pools, a dozen food and beverage facilities, including a smoothie bar, a spa and hair salon, as well as an aqua park. For more information, click on Mangrove Beach Resort.
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
George Stanfield, managing director of the new Waldorf Astoria in Cancun, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about his hotel’s rapidly approaching opening date on Nov. 1, 2022. The property has 173 rooms, three restaurants and two bars, all with oceanfront views, along with a 21-cabin spa and gym with personal trainers. For more information, visit www.WaldorfAstoria.com.
Tuesday Oct 18, 2022
Tuesday Oct 18, 2022
Freda Newton, MBE, managing director and founder of Lochness by Jacobite, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about her lake cruise company, which features four heated boats with food service and bar, and operates commissionable roundtrip tours of the world-famous Loch Ness from Urquhart Castle. While Newton herself has not seen the Loch Ness monster, her guests have, and her crews have made sonar sightings even without the aid of the Highland Hot Chocolates, a possibly hallucinatory concoction made of milk, chocolate and whisky sold on the voyages. For more information, email trade@Jacobite.co.uk or visit www.jacobite.co.uk.
Tuesday Oct 18, 2022
Tuesday Oct 18, 2022
Paul Muir, president of the International Travel Show (ITS), talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report (and chairman of ITS), about how ITS will deliver a critical look at "The Future of Travel" during an event being held in the Jacob Javits Center in New York City on Oct. 28-30. With keynote sessions, panels focused on top topics in the travel industry, and a major exhibition, this is the place to be on Oct. 28-30. The dedicated trade day on Oct. 28 will feature a morning of speakers and panels, followed by exclusive access for travel advisors to the exhibition floor. Over the next two days, advisors and travel consumers can learn from top travel experts and access the exhibition floor with nearly 200 travel suppliers and destinations on display. For more information, visit www.nyInternationalTravelShow.com. To register, visit www.nyinternationaltravelshow.com/trade-attendees.
Monday Oct 17, 2022
Monday Oct 17, 2022
Mary Beth Lynn with Cruises & Tours Unlimited, a member of Travel Leaders Network, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how she quickly became a Journese Curator top selling travel advisor in just the last year. Lynn spoke with us last month at Journese’s Curator Celebration in Maui, which brought together roughly 25 of the luxury tour operator’s top-selling advisors. For more information, visit www.journese.com.
Monday Oct 17, 2022
Monday Oct 17, 2022
James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report talks with Andrea Zito, CEO of Swan Hellenic, and a special guest, Valerie Wilson, chairman and founder of Valerie Wilson Travel aboard the brand new SH Vega, the second ship in the company's growing expedition fleet. Zito describers how Swann Hellenic explores traditional expedition destinations like Antarctic and the Arctic, but it also sails to even more exotic destinations around the world with unique. itineraries. Wilson talks about what she likes about the SH Vega and gives us a scoop—she will be godmother to Swan Hellenic's next ship—SH Diana. For more information, visit www.swanhellenic.com.
Friday Oct 14, 2022
Friday Oct 14, 2022
Phillip Peña, Hilton Luxury Brands' managing director of luxury sales for the Americas, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report at ILTM North America about his big three luxury hotel products—Waldorf Astoria, LXR and Conrad, Peña explains the differences so travel advisors will know which of their clients should stay with which brand. He also reveals what's new and opening soon for each collection. For more information, visit www.Hilton.com, www.WaldorfAstoria.com, www.Conrad.com and lxrhotels3.hilton.com/lxr.
Friday Oct 14, 2022
Friday Oct 14, 2022
Christina Turrini, a top travel advisor with Frosch Travel, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at the recent Journese Curators Celebration in Maui about how she became a top seller of Journese's packages and programs and why focusing on the company's products is the way to go to reach sales success. For more information, visit www.journese.com.
Thursday Oct 13, 2022
Thursday Oct 13, 2022
Kerstin Sachl, vice president of communications and public relations for the Caribbean and Latin America regions for Marriott International, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report at the recent ILTM North America about how Marriott is ready for a shift in the mindset of the luxury traveler, going from inquisitive luxury to meditative luxury. Sachl explains what that means, how travel advisors and their clients can take advantage of the trend, and gives an overview of Marriott's luxury and all-inclusive brands and what's in the pipeline. For more information, visit www.Marriott.com and www.all-inclusive.marriott.com.
Thursday Oct 13, 2022
Thursday Oct 13, 2022
Andrea Hamilton, international sales manager for Tootbus, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report at the recent Destination Britain conference about her environmentally-friendly, tour-guide-led hop-on hop-off buses in London, Paris, Bath, Bristol and Brussels. Unlike traditional public transportation, guests can go anywhere while learning from tour guides or audio guides on their mobile devices available in five languages, including a version narrated by kids for kids.There are also themed and holiday tours, all of which can be combined with a river cruise and is commissionable. For more information, email Andrea.Hamilton@Tootbus.com or www.tootbus.com.
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Christina Gambini, Hyatt's regional vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean, and Erica Doyne, senior vice president of marketing and communications for Hyatt's Inclusive Collection, talk with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the acquisition of Apple Leisure Group and how it is helping Hyatt support the luxury leisure all-inclusive customer and reinvent itself in the business and group travel space. Doyne explains how the all-inclusive resort is evolving to include unlimited luxury with endless privileges and what that actually means in terms of amenities, perks and a robust loyalty program. Gambini and Doyne also introduce their newest resorts in Mexico. For more information, visit www.HyattPrive.com and www.hyatt.com.
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Mark Klaschka, vice president and managing director-Hawaii for Pleasant Holidays and Journese, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report, about Pleasant Activities, the tour operator’s dedicated unit offering commissionable activities for travel advisors’ clients in Hawaii, such as snorkeling cruises, submarine rides, hiking excursions, local tours and much more. Klaschka spoke to us last month at the Journese Curators Celebration, which honored the top travel advisor sellers of Journese programs and products. For more information, visit www.journese.com.
Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
Heather Nelson, head of U.S. international sales for Radisson Hotels, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about her five-star brand, Radisson Collection, and how it has grown over the last 12 months. The collection now has 32 hotels that deliver elevated stays, combining local influences, living design and vibrant social scenes. For more information, email VIP@RadissonCollection.com or visit www.RadissonHotels.com.
Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
Emma Gordon, marketing manager for Marketing Manchester, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how she is a Mancunian (a resident of Manchester) by choice, not by birth, because of all that Manchester offers. Gordon details many of the city's new events, hotels and creative tours, including the Scranchester tour (because "scran" is a northern English word for "food.") For more information, visit www.VisitManchester.com/TravelTrade or www.Manchester-Master.com.
Monday Oct 10, 2022
Monday Oct 10, 2022
James Wood, marketing campaign manager for Marketing Liverpool, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how an influx of domestic travel during the pandemic has now been replaced with strong international travel, with a full return expected by the end of 2023. Wood details how new hotels, events, connectivity and culinary venues have combined to make Liverpool an essential destination. For more information, email JWood@MarketingLiverpool.co.uk or visit www.VisitLiverpool.com
Monday Oct 10, 2022
Monday Oct 10, 2022
Amy Comparato, senior brand director for Journese, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report, at the recent Journese Curators Celebration in Maui, which recognized the top travel advisor sellers for the brand. Comparato describes what it takes to be a top seller for Journese, which is the luxury sister to Pleasant Holidays, and how the brand rewards its Curators for selling luxury tour products around the world. For more information, visit www.journese.com.
Friday Oct 07, 2022
Friday Oct 07, 2022
Graham Davis, president of Baha Mar, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about why ILTM North America, after 10 years in Mayakoba, Mexico, will be moving to the Bahamas in 2023. Aside from more space, Davis details the advantages of the three luxury hotels, SLS, Grand Hyatt and Rosewood, which are on the beach and within 200 feet of the village and each other. For more information, email info@BahaMar.com or visit www.BahaMar.com.
Friday Oct 07, 2022
Friday Oct 07, 2022
Jan Wilkinson and Prentice Wilkinson Weir, mother and son director/owners of the Honister Slate Mine, talk with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about their late father/husband's folly (that turned out to be a "gold mine") to buy the rights to a 400 year old abandoned slate mine to create an adventure destination in England's Lake District. From a mine that supplied slate for Buckingham Palace, guests are offered historic tours of 13 miles of tunnels, climbing experiences outside and inside the mountain, and a cafe with homemade food from local produce, all flexibly designed for individuals, groups and FIT. For more information, email Activity@Honister.com or visit www.Honister.com.
Thursday Oct 06, 2022
Thursday Oct 06, 2022
Ewan Frost-Pennington, family representative for Muncaster Castle and Pennington Hotels in the Lake District of Great Britain, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about his history-laden home, which has been entertaining local visitors for years, but mostly unknown to travelers outside of England. During castle renovations, guests can stay at the family-owned Sella Park House Hotel, which is a nearby luxury cottage of 16 rooms. Visitors to the castle can enjoy falconry, miniature train excursions, gallery tours, banquet dinners and more. For more information, email ewan@muncaster.co.uk or visit www.muncaster.co.uk.
Thursday Oct 06, 2022
Thursday Oct 06, 2022
Krista Schroeder, owner of Nexion affiliate Rae of Sunshine Travel, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how she was selected as Nexion’s U.S. Rising Star) only a year after she entered the industry and joined the host agency. Schroeder focuses her travel agency business on all-inclusive resorts for couples and families—and obviously she’s done well. For more information, visit www.nexion.com or www.raeofsunshinetravel.com.