In this episode of our Special Hospitality Series with Forbes Travel Guide, we spotlight one of the "Leaders Behind the Stars" — Pradeep Raman, Managing Director of The Surrey – A Corinthia Hotel.

Nestled in New York’s Upper East Side, this newly opened luxury hotel has achieved an incredible 35% repeat guest rate in just months. Pradeep shares the secret behind its success—genuine connections. From doormen who know local pets by name to a guest who moved his entire business to the hotel after witnessing this level of care, The Surrey's philosophy is clear: You come as a guest, leave as a friend, and return as family.

Rail travel is on the rise, transforming into Europe's go-to mode of transportation by seamlessly blending sustainability, luxury, and cutting-edge technology. Join us for an engaging discussion with Bjorn Bender, CEO of Rail Europe, as he sheds light on why train travel is projected to grow from $84 billion to a staggering $128 billion by 2028, outpacing other sectors like river cruising. Bender, a veteran with over two decades in the mobility industry, highlights how rail travel not only enriches travel experiences but also boosts local economies, as train travelers are spending 35% more on hotels and visiting more cities.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Rail Europe's evolution from its founding in 1930s New York to becoming an independent, neutral platform connecting 200+ European train operators
• Growing popularity of "hidden gems" beyond traditional destinations – including Portugal, Slovenia, Budapest, and secondary cities like Lyon instead of Paris
• Technology innovations creating seamless booking experiences across multiple rail carriers
• How competition between rail providers is driving better pricing and service, with fares starting at just €19 between major cities
• The sustainability advantage of rail travel being 15-20 times greener than car transportation
• Luxury and first-class rail experiences seeing 15-25% annual growth as premium travelers discover the benefits of train travel
• Night trains making a comeback with new comfortable options across major European routes

In this episode of our Special Hospitality Series in collaboration with Forbes Travel Guide, we highlight one of the Leaders Behind the Stars—Sarah McIntosh, the inspiring Hotel Manager at the Five-Star Maybourne Beverly Hills. Sarah takes us behind the scenes of her impressive career trajectory, her leadership approach, and the trends defining the next chapter of Five-Star hospitality.  

Sarah shares key insights into trends shaping the future of luxury hospitality, providing a glimpse into how properties like the Maybourne Beverly Hills remain leaders in the industry.  

Ever wondered why traveling to Africa feels so complicated compared to booking a European vacation? Joshua D'Souza, Co-founder and CEO of CloudSafaris, joins us to share how his company is changing this narrative. Combining his expertise as a Waterloo-trained computer scientist with over 50 years of family ties to East African tourism, Joshua is breaking down barriers in the safari booking industry.

CloudSafaris is solving a common travel pain point—accurate pricing and availability for African safaris—by working directly with trusted local operators. Covering destinations like Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and South Africa, their platform enables instant booking and guarantees authentic experiences through thorough vetting processes, including evaluating safaris firsthand. 

Welcome to Season 2 of our Special Hospitality Series in collaboration with Forbes Travel Guide, the global authority on luxury hospitality.

In this season, we take you behind the scenes of Forbes Travel Guide 'The Summit' in Monaco—their first-ever international event. With over 750 attendees from 90+ countries, this prestigious event drew a global audience for learning, collaboration, and celebrating excellence in luxury hospitality, which featured main stage talks, exclusive sessions, and even the presence of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II.

In our first episode we are joined by Malcolm Hendry, Managing Director of Hotel 41, The Rubens at the Palace, and 100 Princes Street, who shares his incredible journey to earning his first Forbes Travel Guide’s coveted five-star rating and how they have maintained that status for nine consecutive years. Discover how he rallied his team after narrowly missing the mark on the first attempt and built a culture of excellence that defines Red Carnation Hotels.

Step into the world of Tanzanian safaris with Cliff D’Souza, Managing Director of Savannah Tours, a family-run business with 51 years of expertise. Cliff shares how safari experiences have transformed—from rugged Land Rovers and simple tents to modern vehicles with Wi-Fi and luxury lodges boasting spa facilities—all while preserving the raw beauty of the wilderness.  

What You'll Uncover in This Episode  

• The evolution of Tanzanian safaris, now including cultural visits to Maasai villages and the Hadzabe hunter-gatherer tribe.  

• Highlights of the northern circuit (Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire), including the Great Migration and calving season.  

• Conservation efforts, with rangers protecting endangered species, a national ban on single-use plastics, and lodges adopting solar power and water conservation practices.  

• Accessibility improvements, making national parks even easier to explore.  

• Safari packages ranging from $863 for a seven-day experience to ultra-luxury adventures, ensuring options for every traveler.  

Our 2nd Safari Series episode takes you deep into the stunning world of African safaris with the expert insights of Iain McConachie from Wilderness. With years of experience curating luxurious and meaningful safari adventures, Iain uncovers the powerful synergy between luxury, wildlife, and community-driven conservation efforts.

We’ll explore how Wilderness has seamlessly evolved safari experiences by blending ecotourism with impactful practices that uplift local communities and protect the natural environment. From unforgettable wildlife encounters to the unexpected cultural gems, this conversation captures what makes a safari truly extraordinary.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• An insider look at Wilderness’ heritage and purpose 

• How ecotourism is expanding beyond Africa’s landscapes 

• Unique safari activities you might not expect beyond game drives 

• The fusion of high-end luxury with sustainable travel practices 

• The vital role of local communities in preserving wildlife 

• Expert tips to help first-time safari travelers make the most of their trip 

• The exciting future of safaris, focusing on meaningful impact 

• Ways to enrich your safari by engaging in community-based projects and experiences 

Are you ready to experience the untamed beauty of Africa? In this episode Sherwin Banda, president of African Travel Inc. and a Cape Town native, takes us deep into the world of African safaris. With his expert insights, Sherwin paints a vivid picture of the safari adventure—from breathtaking wildlife encounters to the growing emphasis on community and conservation.

What You’ll Learn:

• The booming popularity and evolution of African safaris 

• Changing demographics and the rise of luxury travel options 

• How sustainability is shaping the future of safari tourism 

• Essential tips for choosing the best safari experience and providers 

• Exciting new destinations redefining the safari landscape 

This Special Event Spotlight features exclusive coverage from the inaugural Les Grands Remous Conference in Québec City—a groundbreaking gathering focused on innovation and sustainability in tourism brought together by MT Labs and Destination Quebec.

 What to Expect:

• Expert Insights: Hear from influential speakers like Martin Lessard, Managing Director of MT Lab, and Robert Mercure, CEO of Destination Québec City, as they discuss the future of sustainable travel and cutting-edge technology and tourism initiatives.

• Visionary Entrepreneurs: Learn how trailblazers like JP Descheneau use AI to reinvent businesses, or explore the creative impact of Olivier’s eco-friendly electric camper vans.

• A Celebration of Québec: Discover why Québec City is a must-visit destination, with breathtaking winter scenes, Carnaval festivities, ice sculptures, and more.

Discover everything you need to know about ITB Berlin, the largest global travel trade show, with valuable insights from Debbie Rothe, Director of ITB. This special episode spotlights dives all the speakers, session plans and tips for making the most essential event for travel industry professionals.We cover the highlights to help you maximize your ITB Berlin experience:

Learn how Mitch, Chris, and Pete from the Tourpreneur team are redefining the art of travel. Their collaboration showcases the exciting potential of immersive travel and how it’s reshaping the future of the industry. Through their expertise and passion, they reveal how to create unforgettable journeys, explore strategies to convert interest into bookings, and elevate the travel experience.

The focus of this episode highlights the critical role of blending technology with authentic human connection in the travel industry.

We also dive into how Navi Savi's library of over 125,000 geolocated short-form videos across 180+ countries redefines the way businesses and travelers interact. Learn how travel professionals including travel agencies and airlines can use this authentic, real-time content to create more engaging customer experiences.

Join our final instalment of our Influencer series as Sally Bunnell, Founder and CEO of Navi Savi, shares her inspiring story from her Nebraska roots to building an innovative User Generated Content platform that is reshaping the travel industry. With experience spanning broadcast journalism and the music industry, Sally’s global adventures through 113 countries led her to create Navi Savi—a platform connecting creator videos with personalized travel recommendations.

This episode dives into how Navi Savi's library of over 125,000 geolocated short-form videos across 180+ countries redefines the way businesses and travelers interact. Learn how travel professionals including travel agencies and airlines can use this authentic, real-time content to create more engaging customer experiences. Sally emphasizes the importance of genuine peer-to-peer interaction, highlighting the power of unedited insights to build trust and enhance travel planning.

Discover how travel writers are shaping the way we explore the world with award-winning journalist and filmmaker Ash Bhardwaj. Having reported from over 50 countries, Ash shares valuable insights on the intersection of travel, culture, and current global affairs.

This episode explores the deeper meaning on "why we travel" and gets behind our travel experiences, offering thoughtful reflections on cultural engagement and the impact of personal storytelling. Ash also highlights the ethical challenges facing travel journalism and influencers, while exploring the growing trend of adventure travel as a path to emotional connection.

Want to elevate your travel photography game?  Or learn how iconic visuals are shaping travel marketing? This episode brings together 3 industry-leading photographers, Paul Teolis, Kateryna Topol, and Jeffrey Garriock, to share their secrets on capturing unforgettable shots for top global travel brands. Plus, we have a bonus segment featuring Flytographer’s Natalie Schulte, who has created incredible in-destination images for thousands of travelers worldwide.  

Discover how TikTok is transforming the way we plan, book, and experience travel in this episode with Hannah Bennett, Head of Travel at TikTok. With over 2.14 billion users globally, TikTok is now a powerhouse for travel brands and creators alike, connecting audiences through authentic, inspiring content.

Hannah shares her unique insights, from the platform's game-changing algorithm to the rise of trends like slow travel and "destination dupes." Learn how TikTok plays a role in every stage of the travel cycle—sparking wanderlust, helping with trip planning, and even boosting ROI for travel brands.

Season 5 is here, and we couldn’t be prouder to announce that we are now the #1 B2B podcast globally! This season is going to massive with over 25 new episodes featuring exclusive insights from 35+ industry leaders like TikTok, Expedia, Google, and much more.

To kick off Season 5, we wanted to explore how investors are viewing the travel industry in 2025 so we brought together 3 leading investors including Kevin Tsang from Amex Ventures, Cara Whitehill from Thayer Ventures, and Matt Zito from Travel Startups. They bring a wealth of knowledge from their respective firms, shedding light on the strategies behind venture capital and the dynamic shifts within the travel industry. Our conversation highlights market opportunities, effective pitch strategies, and the evolving role of technology in shaping the future of travel startups.

Season 4 wraps up with the highlights from industry leaders at Phocuswright, showcasing the key trends shaping travel in 2025. Our discussions include the impact of AI, innovations in identity management, new travel advisor tools and the evolving preferences of Gen Z travelers, emphasizing their desire for meaningful, experience-driven journeys.

• Insights into key trends expected for the travel industry in 2025
• Emphasis on AI's role in personalizing the traveler experience
• Examination of Gen Z's influence on travel preferences and brand strategies
• Overview of innovative companies in the travel space and their contributions
• Discussion on purpose-driven marketing and its relevance in travel today
Part 2 features insights from the following exceptional people:

• Charlotte Lamp Davies, Founder, A Bright Approach

• Barry Klipp, CEO, InterLnkd

• Jared Alster, Chief Strategy Officer & Co-founder, Dune 7

• Matthew Wade, CEO, JetPack

• Michael Carfagnini, COO, Wingbuddy

• Al Enes, VP, Nuvei

• Lucie MacNeil, Condatis

• Jeff Fromm, Forbes

In this must-listen episode, we dive into the groundbreaking innovations and trends unveiled at the Phocuswright conference in Arizona, setting the stage for the travel industry in 2025. Join us as industry visionaries and thought leaders share transformative ideas on AI, personalized travel, and the power of collaboration in travel tech.

• Insights from CMO Michelle Denogrean from MindTrip on enhancing consumer travel experiences
• Ben Sann discusses simplified communication for tour operators with TourOptima
• iWander's Marius Nigond on AI travel companions and local insights
• NYU Professor Richie Karaburun emphasizes the importance of academic perspectives on innovation
• Superlogic CEO Lin Dai talks about experiential rewards in loyalty programs
• Boris Bijlstra highlights connectivity solutions for travelers with HUBBY eSIM
• Michael Levinson, CEO, Joyned shares the need for collaborative decision-making in travel bookings
• Stay22's CEO Andrew Lockhead discusses the evolution from event-based solutions to supporting travel publishers

Tune in to an exclusive interview recorded live at the Phocuswright Conference in Arizona, featuring TravelAI.com Co-Founders John Lyotier and Chris Jensen. Explore how they’ve leveraged cutting-edge AI to transform the travel industry, offering a masterclass in innovation and strategic thinking.

Here’s what you’ll gain from this inspiring conversation:

•  Rapid Growth Strategies: Learn how TravelAI.com scaled from 400 to 4,000 websites, delivering exceptional results. 

• Personalized Travel Experiences: Explore their approach to enhancing customer journeys with AI-powered customization. 

• AI’s Role in Travel’s Future: Understand the potential impact of AI on shaping a more connected, efficient travel ecosystem. 

Listen to the remaining highlights from this year’s Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) in Panama with Part 2 of our special series. This episode showcases ATTA's profound power of connection and the fundamental importance of sustainability in shaping a brighter future for the adventure travel industry.

Packed with powerful stories and insights, this final installment from our Tours & Activities series features an exceptional lineup of industry thought leaders, including:

• Jonathan Coleman, CEO, UnTours 

• Struan Robertson, CEO, SpiceRoads 

• Natalie Gauthier, GM, Great Canadian Trails 

• Hamish Keith, CEO,  EXO Travel Group 

• Justin Wateridge, CEO, Steppes Travel 

• Mariyana Castleberry, Yolo Dream Adventure 

• Christian Valencia, GM, Active Expedition 

• Gabi Stowell, VP, ATTA