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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
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Anna Nash, chief commercial officer of Aman, talks with James Shillinglaw during a tour of Aman New York, the luxury resort group's new urban resort in Midtown Manhattan. Located at 57th and Fifth in the famed Crown Building, Aman New York, which is currently open for guests and Aman afficionados only, has exquisite suite accommodations, two new high-end restaurants, two bars that will soon be the hottest places to be in the city, and even a subterranean Jazz Bar, which is already open to the public. It also happens to have the largest hotel spa in New York. For more information, visit www.aman.com.
Friday Sep 23, 2022
Friday Sep 23, 2022
Karen Yeates, executive vice president-technology and resident tech guru for Signature Travel Network, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about what the travel agency cooperative is introducing for its members. Considered to be a cutting edge technology developer, Yeates unveils such new products as Client Connection 2.0, which can work with any CRM; a List Select Project and new email marketing system; an update to the Sig Cruise Pro that will now include other travel products and allow Signature clients to book, and much more. For more information, visit www.signaturetravelnetwork.com.
Thursday Sep 22, 2022
Thursday Sep 22, 2022
David Perez, CEO of Tenerife Tourism, and Laura Castro, director of tourism for the Cabildo of Tenerife, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about their Canary Islands paradise, which is on the comeback trail in terms of tourism numbers and is partnering with such groups as the U.S. Tour Operators Association, Signature Travel Network and the Adventure Travel Trade Association. For more information, visit www.webtenerife.com.
Tuesday Sep 20, 2022
Tuesday Sep 20, 2022
John Vavrina, managing director-North America for Exoticca, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his Barcelona-based tour operator leading the digital transformation of the market for multi-day tour packages to long-haul destinations. The company’s platform allows the online purchase of complex packages with multiple components to more than 60 destinations worldwide. For more information, visit www.exoticca.com.
Monday Sep 19, 2022
Monday Sep 19, 2022
Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his country's campaign to turn itself into a major destination for travelers worldwide. He details how Saudi is promoting itself to the travel trade, how it is transforming its infrastructure, and highlighting its major historical and cultural attractions. For more information, visit www.visitsaudi.com.
Monday Sep 19, 2022
Monday Sep 19, 2022
Alex Sharpe, president and CEO of Signature Travel Network, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how his travel agency cooperative successfully got through the COVID pandemic and how its helping its agency members meet the new challenges they face as the travel business returns with a vengeance and bookings soar. For more information, visit www.signaturetravelnetwork.com.
Friday Sep 16, 2022
Friday Sep 16, 2022
Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line, talks about his brand new ship, Norwegian Prima, its design, plans for the Prima class, how to sell Prima, as well as the future of the brand, including new itineraries in Greece, Australia, Israel, Asia, the U.K. and Africa. For more information, visit www.ncl.com.
Thursday Sep 15, 2022
Thursday Sep 15, 2022
Anita Pagliasso, president of the Professional Association of Travel Hosts (PATH), talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the group’s 19th annual symposium in San Francisco, which featured 200 top host agencies and travel suppliers discussing the challenges they face today. Pagliasso, who is vice president of host agency KHM Travel Group, talks about the “think tank” meeting that brought suppliers and hosts closer together to resolve the issues they have and how PATH has supported host agency professionals. For more information, visit www.path4hosts.com.
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Mia Giobbi Thomas, vice president of sales and marketing for the Hotel Californian, talks with James Shillinglaw at last month’s Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, about her signature property, recent renovations, new programs and how the hotel is ready and waiting for your clients in trendy Santa Barbara. Thomas also oversees sales and marketing for two other great California properties, Hotel Les Mars and Black Walnut Inn & Vineyard. For more information, visit www.hotelcalifornian.com.
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Noelle Barille, senior chef instructor on Oceania Marina, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about an excursion to the food market in Riga, Lativia, one of the largest in Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage site the size of five zeppelin hangers. The goal was to buy fresh local ingredients for sampling and cooking back at the ship. A special feature of this class was the built-in interaction with the local merchants, because participants were given an envelope with Latvian euros, a short shopping list, and instructions to have fun and "go shopping." For more information, visit www.oceaniacruises.com.
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
Armin Asceric, corporate director of sales, marketing and digital at Sunswept Resorts in Saint Lucia, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his two all-inclusive resort company, which includes the famed spa resort BodyHoliday and the newly recast Rendezvous StolenTime, catering to adults. For more information, visit www.thebodyholiday.com, www.stolentime.com and www.sunsweptresorts.com.
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
Steve Dennis, general manager of The English Hotel in Las Vegas, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his new property, the first hotel developed by Chef Todd English, which has 74 rooms and a dedicated Asian fusion restaurant, The Pepper Club. This thoroughly modern, four-story hotel, which features stylish décor and even a small pool area, is set to become the heart of Las Vegas’ Arts District between The Strip and Downtown Vegas. For more information, visit www.theenglishhotel.com.
Monday Sep 12, 2022
Monday Sep 12, 2022
Nomasanto Ndlovu, chief operating officer of South African Tourism, talks with David Cogswell of Insider Travel Report about South Africa’s stronger than expected recovery, how the destination improved its offerings during the COVID-19 lockdown, and how South Africa is now attracting a younger generation of travelers who love active adventures. For more information, www.southafrica.net.
Monday Sep 12, 2022
Monday Sep 12, 2022
Juan Vela, vice president for Mexico's Velas Resorts, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month's Virtuoso Travel Week, about his family's boutique chain of luxury all-inclusive resorts, which feature some of the best food in any resort. Vela talks about the company's four existing resorts in Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit and Los Cabos, as well as the upcoming new resort in Los Cabos. For more information, visit www.velasresorts.com.
Friday Sep 09, 2022
Friday Sep 09, 2022
Tommy Ryder, regional head of sales-retail North America for Bedsonline and Hotelbeds, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how Bedsonline has made major improvements to better help travel advisors book thousands of hotels around the world for their clients using an inventory that rivals and even beats the online travel giants. Ryder talks about all the new programs, training and support Bedsonline offers for today's travel advisor. For more information, visit www.bedsonline.com.
Thursday Sep 08, 2022
Thursday Sep 08, 2022
Marc Casto, chair of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), and president-leisure Americas at Flight Centre Travel Group, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at the recent ASTA Global Convention in San Francisco about ASTA’s accomplishments, particularly no the lobby front, and ASTA’s new programs and initiatives, particular its new Travel Advisor Credo and its new website for members and the public. Casto talks about where ASTA is today—in a much healthier and influential place. For more information, visit www.asta.org.
Wednesday Sep 07, 2022
Wednesday Sep 07, 2022
Andrea Grisdale, founder and CEO of Italy specialist IC Bellagio, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how luxury travel to Italy was this summer, the outlook for fall and into 2023. Grisdale also talks about the most popular destinations, tours and experiences her company has been booking during a record year for travel to Italy after more than two years of pandemic. For more information, visit www.icbellagio.com.
Tuesday Sep 06, 2022
Tuesday Sep 06, 2022
Gilberto Salcedo, tourism vice president for ProColombia, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s Virtuoso Travel Week about the current requirements for travel to Colombia (none), how the country is promoting its cities and rural attractions, what travel advisors need to know about the destination and much more. For more information, visit https://procolombia.co/en.
Monday Sep 05, 2022
Monday Sep 05, 2022
Zane Kerby, president and CEO of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), talks with James Shillinglaw at the recent ASTA Global Convention in San Francisco about ASTA’s accomplishments over the past year and the conference itself. Kerby also reveals the new ASTA Travel Advisor Credo, which includes the assertion that advisors do charge fees, and details ASTA’s newly redesigned website for travel advisors, consumers and those interested in becoming advisors. For more information, visit www.asta.org.
Monday Sep 05, 2022
Monday Sep 05, 2022
Phil Whitney, vice president of sales for New York’s Circle Line and The Beast, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about The Beast, the speedboat that takes up to 50 guests on a high-speed adventure up and down the Hudson River from 42nd Street to the Statue of Liberty. Whitney also gives an update on the classic Circle Line, which still offers scenic tours around Manhattan and up the Hudson. For more information, visit www.thebeastnyc.com or www.circleline.com.
Friday Sep 02, 2022
Friday Sep 02, 2022
Elena Funes, sales manager-leisure sales for United Airlines, talks with James Shillinglaw of insider Travel Report about United’s new and existing routes for Australia-bound travelers. A new route from San Francisco to Brisbane is the airline’s latest product offering, but United also features a number of other flights that can get your clients to the Land Down Under. For more information, visit www.united.com.
Friday Sep 02, 2022
Friday Sep 02, 2022
Lisa Bauer, CEO of Starboard Cruise Services, and Stacy Shaw, vice president of Starboard Luxury, talk with James Shillinglaw about Starboard’s new exclusive partnerships with luxury cruise lines to sell local products and artwork in destinations around the globe. It’s the latest innovation for Starboard to create a luxury onboard shopping experience second to none. For more information, visit www.starboardcruise.com.
Thursday Sep 01, 2022
Thursday Sep 01, 2022
Sara Best, executive director of global sales for MGM Resorts International, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the incredible entertainment that MGM Resorts delivers at its resorts in Las Vegas, how large-scale entertainment has now completely returned to the Strip, and how MGM Resorts is getting into sports entertainment big time once again. For more information, visit www.mgmresorts.com.
Thursday Sep 01, 2022
Thursday Sep 01, 2022
Dave Thomas, vice president of sales for the Americas for Qantas, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s Australia Marketplace in Los Angeles about Qantas current routes from the U.S. and what it has planned. With Australia now open for all travelers, Thomas provides the right information you need to get your clients Down Under. For more information, visit www.qantas.com.
Wednesday Aug 31, 2022
Wednesday Aug 31, 2022
Debbie Fiorino, chief operating officer of World Travel Holdings, parent company of Dream Vacations and CruiseOne, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about her travel advisor host organization’s ability to make the transition easy to record-breaking sales through exclusive funded promotions and an advisor program that helps agencies grow their footprint. The results prompted Entrepreneur magazine to call Dream Vacations the #1 Travel Agency Franchise. For more information, visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com.
Wednesday Aug 31, 2022
Wednesday Aug 31, 2022
Pradeep Raman, general manager of the Baccarat Hotel, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his luxury property in the heart of Manhattan, including its famed bar and public rooms, sumptuous accommodations, dining venues, pool and spa. For more information, visit www.baccarathotels.com.
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Chris Austin, chief sales officer for Explora Journeys, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the newest programs his luxury line has for travel advisors as Explora Journeys continues to focus on selling its upcoming new ship, set to debut in May 2023, through the trade. For more information, visit www.explorajourneys.com.
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Andrea DeMarco, chief marketing officer for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report on the effect of lifting COVID-19 restrictions, what's up for the 2024-25 cruise season, the demand for cruising (especially world cruises), what cruises sales look like for 2022 and beyond, and the increase in new-to-cruise guests. For more information, visit www.rssc.com.
Monday Aug 29, 2022
Monday Aug 29, 2022
Craig Bradbery, chief operating officer of Baillie Lodges in Australia, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about this intimate portfolio of luxury lodges set in exclusive locations of unique natural or cultural significance. These boutique properties are the perfect opportunity if your clients want to experience the real Australia in style. For more information, visit https://baillielodges.com.au.
Monday Aug 29, 2022
Monday Aug 29, 2022
James Rodriguez, the new president and CEO of Atlas Ocean Voyages, who is already well known to many travel advisors, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at Virtuoso Travel Week about the changes he will make to better sell and grow his luxury expedition cruise line. Rodriquez, who has spent most of his long cruise career at Oceania Cruises, is now relishing the chance to shape a relatively new product in a burgeoning category of cruising. For more information, visit www.atlasoceanvoyages.com.
Friday Aug 26, 2022
Friday Aug 26, 2022
Michael Ungerer, CEO of Explora Journeys, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last week’s Virtuoso Travel Week about the May 2023 debut of Explora’s first ship as well as how its future vessels will feature revolutionary technologies that make them even more sustainable and environmentally friendly. And now Explora is ordering even more ships—up to six by 2028. For more information, visit www.explorajourneys.com.
Friday Aug 26, 2022
Friday Aug 26, 2022
Libby Cook of Luxury Lodges of Australia talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report during the recent Australia Marketplace in Los Angeles about her collection of the best high-end lodges and camps located across diverse regions of Australia. Collectively the lodges showcase Australia’s extraordinary diversity of place and experience. For more information, visit https://luxurylodgesofaustralia.com.au.
Thursday Aug 25, 2022
Thursday Aug 25, 2022
Tricia Wolf, vice president of sales for Oceania Cruises in the U.S, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about her premium upscale ships that border on luxury, with new innovations in culinary and mixology that will be featured on Vista, the cruise line's newest ship, due out in the spring of 2023. Wolf also explains the new and hopefully final COVID protocols as well as future itineraries, including a 180-day around the world cruise. For more information, visit www.oceaniacruises.com.
Thursday Aug 25, 2022
Thursday Aug 25, 2022
Annabel Sullivan, executive officer for Cultural Attractions of Australia (CAOA), talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at the recent Australia Marketplace in Los Angeles about this ndustry led collective that presents the best of country’s cultural offering to the world. CAOA creates a single repository of premium, behind-the-scenes experiences as part of Tourism Australia’s Signature Experiences of Australia program. For more information, visit https://culturalattractionsofaustralia.com.
Wednesday Aug 24, 2022
Wednesday Aug 24, 2022
John Dawe of Australian Wildlife Journeys talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how his group of wildlife tour operators can help your clients see all the famed wildlife that Australia is famous for, from kangaroos to wallabies to gators, koalas and more, 80 percent of which are found nowhere else on Earth. For more information, visit https://australianwildlifejourneys.com.
Wednesday Aug 24, 2022
Wednesday Aug 24, 2022
Helen McCabe-Young, senior vice president-marketing for luxury travel network Virtuoso, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about a new set of marketing initiatives launched at last week’s Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas. McCabe-Young introduced a newly revised magazine for clients called just “Virtuoso,” the magazine, as well as a brand new marketing and promotional campaign, So Virtuoso, that the network will roll out this year to promote the benefits of working with a Virtuoso advisor and being part of the Virtuoso community. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com.
Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
David Kolner, executive vice president at Virtuoso, plays 20 questions (more or less) with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report on what’s new, what’s changed, what’s improved and what’s to come at the luxury travel network. Kolner spoke with us last week at the first large in-person Virtuoso Travel Week gathering in three years. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com.
Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
Nicole Mitchell, director of Discover Aboriginal Experiences, part of Tourism Australia, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the multiple experiences and activities offered for visitors interested in exploring Australia’s indigenous people and their lifestyle. It all reflects a renewed interest by Australia on focusing on its roots and promoting Aboriginal people and their culture. For more information, click on Discover Aboriginal Experiences.
Monday Aug 22, 2022
Monday Aug 22, 2022
Chris Allison, vice president-Americas for Tourism Australia, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at the first Australia Marketplace in Los Angeles since 2019, held earlier this month. Allison details Australia’s plans to market to U.S. travelers, how the country is now completely back, and what the latest survey show about Americans’ desire to travel to Australia. For more information, visit www.australia.com.
Monday Aug 22, 2022
Monday Aug 22, 2022
Matthew Upchurch, chairman and CEO of Virtuoso, sits down with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report last week to talk about his luxury travel network, what the future holds for luxury travel, and how Virtuoso successfully pulled off its largest in-person conference, Virtuoso Travel Week, since the pandemic in Las Vegas. Upchurch talks about the latest Virtuoso programs, how the organization got through the last three years and what’s to come. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com.
Friday Aug 19, 2022
Friday Aug 19, 2022
James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report talks with Dawn Barclay, our family and special needs travel columnist, about her new book “Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible, and the Neurodiverse.” Barclay details how important this travel market is both for travel advisors and the clients they serve—and how you can help families that have kids with autism and other needs get great experiences through travel. For more information, visit www.travelingdifferent.com.
Thursday Aug 18, 2022
Thursday Aug 18, 2022
Nuno Pinho and Luis Nascimento, CEO and executive director of Itoorer, talk with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about their phone application for Android and iPhone that will save travelers on the cost of data and international calling charges, connect travelers with real-time travel information, and most importantly, the app can be branded and generate a revenue stream for travel advisors. For more information and to be set up for a trail, email partner@itoorer.com.
Wednesday Aug 17, 2022
Wednesday Aug 17, 2022
Terry Dale, president and CEO of the U.S. Tour Operators Association (USTOA) talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how USTOA is turning 50 with a renewed focus on sustainability, recognizing rising stars among its members, and more surprised in store at its annual conference and marketplace in Austin, Texas this November. For more information, visit www.ustoa.com.
Monday Aug 15, 2022
Monday Aug 15, 2022
Bette Zurkelbach, hospital manager for Turtle Hospital, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report, about this unique and necessary veterinary hospital in Marathon, which rescues sick and injured turtles, offers medical care to them, and sends them back into the wild—they even have their own turtle ambulance. Visitors can tour the facility, get educated about what it does, and know that their entrance fee goes to support the hospital. For more information, visit www.turtlehospital.org.
Friday Aug 12, 2022
Friday Aug 12, 2022
Tiffiany Holmes, area general manager of Davidson Hospitality, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report, about Amara Cay Resort, one of four small boutique resorts owned and run by the company in the Florida Keys. Located in Islamorada, Amara Cay has a great outdoor bar and restaurant, an upcoming indoor eatery, comfortable rooms, and a great pool area, suitable as a base for exploring the Keys. For more information, visit www.amaracayresort.com.
Thursday Aug 11, 2022
Thursday Aug 11, 2022
Allison Delashmit, director of regional operations for Mote Marine Laboratory, gives James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report a tour of the research facility focused on regrowing coral on the reef surrounding the Florida Keys. The coral has been reduced to just 1.5 percent of the reef over the last few decades, so Mote Marine Lab is trying to turn the tide by growing coral and planting it. Your clients interested in sustainable travel can tour the facility to better understand the challenges. For more information, visit www.mote.org.
Wednesday Aug 10, 2022
Wednesday Aug 10, 2022
Bob Wolz, executive director emeritus of the Harry S. Truman Little White House Museum in Key West, gives James Shillinglaw a tour of this fascinating and historic site, which President Truman (and other presidents) used as a getaway from Washington. The modest house was where some key decisions were made—and a lot of poker was played—all of which played an important part of the history of this country. Wolz is a story teller supreme who brings all that history to life. For more information, visit www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.org.
Tuesday Aug 09, 2022
Tuesday Aug 09, 2022
Megan Coccitto, director of sales and marketing for Kimpton Key West, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the eclectic collection of five hotels that fit right into this famed Florida Keys community, including Ridley House, Winslow’s Bungalows, Lighthouse Hotel, Fitch Lodge and Ella’s Cottages. There’s a boutique property for every guest at the unique Kimpton Key West. For more information, visit www.kimptonkeywest.com.
Monday Aug 08, 2022
Monday Aug 08, 2022
David Sloan, ghosthunter supreme with Key West Ghost Adventures, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his “Robert the Doll” ghost experience in an old Civil War-era fort just outside of downtown Key West. Sloan details just what your clients can enjoy as they explore the fort and its ghosts and hear about the famed “Robert the Doll,” an almost life-size doll that has a sordid haunted history. For more information, visit https://ghostfort.com.
Friday Aug 05, 2022
Friday Aug 05, 2022
Jack Anderson, the former and now current president of Crystal Cruises, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the plans to revive and return Crystal Cruises to its former glory. After the brand and its two oceangoing ships were purchased by Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio and his Heritage Group, and under new parent company Abercrombie & Kent Ltd., Crystal is now getting ready to be reintroduced to luxury cruise guests and travel advisors. Anderson details the plans for completely renovating the ships by next summer, marketing their sailings, developing new itineraries and re-establishing Crystal as a respected luxury brand. For more information, visit the still-under-development www.crystalcruises.com.