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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 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.
Wednesday Oct 05, 2022
Wednesday Oct 05, 2022
Ted Lange, the actor who played Issac Washington the bartender in the original “Love Boat” TV series, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how he got his role back than and what he thinks of CBS’ new reality series “The Real Love Boat.” Spoiler alert: Lange reprises his role in the first episode of the new show, which debuts tonight at 9 p.m. ET. For more information, visit www.princesscruises.com or click on CBS The Real Love Boat.
Wednesday Oct 05, 2022
Wednesday Oct 05, 2022
Stephen Lincoln, owner of Nexion Travel Group affiliate Lincoln Travel in Bridgewater, Va., talks with James Shillinglaw of insider Travel Report about why the host agency honored him as Nexion Ambassador, the top travel advisor in the network. But Lincoln is no stranger to winning top awards from Nexion. He’s been an Ambassador before and is always among the top sellers for the host agency. How does he do it? That’s what he tells us in this interview at Nexion’s CoNexion conference in Disneyland last month. For more information on Nexion, visit www.nexion.com.
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Heather Kindred, CTIE, vice president-business development and education for host agency Nexion Travel Group and program director for Travel Leaders of Tomorrow, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at the CoNexion conference last month about all the training and education programs Nexion has for both experienced advisors and those new to the industry. Discover how Nexion provides one of the most extensive and in-depth training programs for advisors both virtually and in-person. For more information, visit www.nexion.com or www.travelleadersoftomorrow.com.
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Mary Considine, CEO of the Shannon Airport Group, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the close proximity of Shannon Airport to the Wild Atlantic Way and Irish attractions to the west of Ireland. Considine also details the airport's history, which features many firsts, including the first duty free merchants, the first Irish coffee, and more recently, combined U.S. pre-clearance and TSA checks. For more information, visit www.snnairportgroup.ie and www.shannonairport.ie.
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report talks with the new “real” cast of “The Real Love Boat,” set to debut on CBS on Oct. 5 at 9 p.m. ET. Meet the Regal Princess crew who are now stars of the show, including Capt. Paulo, Cruise Director Matt and bartender Ezra, all of whom had to audition to get the part. And discover the stories behind the making of the show, how they think it will help Princess and what it could do for cruising overall. For more information, visit www.princess.com or click on CBS The Real Love Boat.
Monday Oct 03, 2022
Monday Oct 03, 2022
Danny Genung, a veteran travel advisor who owns Harr Travel, an affiliate of Nexion Travel Group, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month's CoNexion conference at Disneyland about how he's become a YouTube star covering cruise ships around the world, which has helped grow his agency's sales exponentially. Genung has produced videos that showcase multiple ocean and river ships, giving his clients (and other travel advisors) a preview of what they will find onboard. For more information, visit res.harrtravel.com, www.youtube.com/c/HarrTravel, or www.nexion.com.
Monday Oct 03, 2022
Monday Oct 03, 2022
Princess Cruises President John Padgett and TV producer Chris Culvenor, CEO of Eureka Productions, talk with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report onboard Discovery Princess at a party to celebrate their new TV reality show “The Real Love Boat,” which makes its debut on CBS on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 9 p.m. ET. Padgett and Culvenor reveal how they drew inspiration from the original “Love Boat” series, which Princess has been using to promote its cruise products for years. The new show is expected to help boost cruise sales and redefine Princess’ image in the cruise market. For more information, visit www.princess.com or click on CBS Real Love Boat.
Friday Sep 30, 2022
Friday Sep 30, 2022
Kama Winters, president of Delta Vacations, talks with David Cogswell of Insider Travel Report about the branch of Delta Airlines that packages travel everywhere that Delta flies, its new destinations as well as new phone system and technology. Winters also discusses how her company has adapted to the shifts in travel since the pandemic, including an attempt to favor quality over quantity through a smaller portfolio with better products. For more information, call 800-800-1504 or visit www.delta.com/us/en/delta-vacations.
Friday Sep 30, 2022
Friday Sep 30, 2022
Samantha Evans, founder of Humphreys of Henley and exquisite England connoisseur, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about her boutique luxury tours of the English countryside that come with the promise that they will also help "protect, prolong and preserve the British countryside and the people that make it so special." When discussing private visits to stately homes, castles and palaces, Evans narrates a clip of her private visit to Highclere Castle where Downton Abbey was filmed, as well as how her company provides insider access to sporting events, classic planes and classic ars. For more information, email info@www.humphreysofhenley.co.uk or visit www.humphreysofhenley.co.uk.
Thursday Sep 29, 2022
Thursday Sep 29, 2022
Simon Mayle, event director for ILTM North America, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the impressive growth of his event, resulting in the need to move from its four luxury hotels in Mayakoba, Mexico, to three luxury resorts at Baha Mar on the island of New Providence in The Bahamas in 2023. Mayle talks about the convenience of the new location, its size, its proximity to Nassau Airport, and the closeness of the hotels, SLS, Rosewood and Grand Hyatt, both to the beach and the central village of Baha Mar. For more information, visit www.ILTM.com/North-America/en-gb.html.
(Apologies on the sound from a faulty microphone. We did our best to cut away the worst parts.)
Thursday Sep 29, 2022
Thursday Sep 29, 2022
Jackie Friedman, president of Nexion Travel Group, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at the CoNexion conference held at the Disneyland Hotel last week. Friedman details how Nexion helped its travel agency members get through the pandemic, how it actually added advisors to the network, and how it dramatically expanded training and education programs during the last two years, and much more. For more information, visit www.nexion.com.
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Ellison "Tommy" Thompson, CEO of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about St. Kitts' new brand campaign that builds on the island’s distinct characteristics while introducing elements of introspective self-discovery and intention to differentiate St. Kitts from other Caribbean destinations. For more information, visit www.visitstkitts.com.
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
William Rodriguez, minister of tourism for Costa Rica, and Carolina Trehos, chief marketing officer, talk with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how the country plans to improve its visitor numbers through 2023 by exploiting new niches and segments of the market, diversification of product and thinking outside the box. They detail Costa Rica's Digital Nomad program, new airlift, hotels, fam trips and travel advisor training. For more information, visit www.TravelAgentAcademy.com/CostaRica.
Tuesday Sep 27, 2022
Tuesday Sep 27, 2022
Alexa Berube and Heather Stupi, two of the founders of Reposite, talk with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the progress they've made on their new reservations tool that can be used by travel advisors to book every aspect of their group travel. We interviewed Reposite in 2020, but the company now has significant new financing and is working with travel agencies to perfect its technology solution for groups. For more information, visit www.reposite.io.
Tuesday Sep 27, 2022
Tuesday Sep 27, 2022
Guy Bigiaoui, managing director of Safrans du Monde, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his luxury travel company's private air charter tours to destinations around the world using La Compagnie's A321Neo aircraft. Safrans du Monde also features high-end trips to France including exclusive experiences for luxury clients. For more information, visit www.safransdumonde.com.
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Alison Metcalfe, executive vice president of Tourism Ireland for the U.S. and Canada, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about Ireland's recovery, new marketing strategies and a revamped Shannon Airport, offering guests easy access to the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's West. For more information, visit www.ireland.com.
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.