Season 3 episodes are sponsored by Propellic.
S4/E14 World Travel Market, Digital Trends for 2025 & the Power of Podcasting with Matthew Gardiner
Imagine harnessing travel as a force for good. In this episode, we sit down with Matthew Gardiner, SVP at Finn Partners and Director of Travel Massive, London, to explore the industry’s transformative power. This episode highlights World Travel Market (WTM) in London, where Matthew and host Dan Christian unpack the latest trends in travel marketing, from SEO breakthroughs to brand innovation and loyalty programs. Discover how WTM’s “Travel Power” theme showcases the industry’s role in driving positive global change.
S4/E13 The Future of Business Travel with Navan CEO, Rich Liu
Unlock the secrets of the rapidly evolving business travel landscape with Rich Liu, CEO of Navan, formerly known as Trip Actions. Discover how the industry is bouncing back post-pandemic, with projections pointing to a booming $2 trillion market by 2028. Rich shares his vision for Navan's strategic growth and highlights the importance of innovation in redefining travel and expense management. Discover how a mix of passion for travel and cutting-edge technology is essential for successfully scaling a business in today's competitive environment.
S4/E12 Bringing the Human Touch to a Digital World with Chadd Andre, EVP & GM, Flight Centre
Discover how travel is reinventing itself in the modern age with insights from Chadd Andre, the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Flight Centre Canada. Chadd offers a compelling perspective on the future of travel advisors and how they can maintain their relevance amidst rapid technological advancements. Inspired by his early exposure to the travel industry, Chadd reflects on his journey from accompanying his pilot father on flights to leading one of the largest travel agencies and how those experiences shaped his understanding of the importance of human connection.
S4/E11 Empowering Travel Advisors with Technology: Jake Peters, Co-founder, Fora
What if the travel industry could be revolutionized by technology and inclusivity? Join us for an exciting conversation with Jake Peters, Co-founder, Chief Product & Technical Officer of Fora, as he reveals the future of travel advisory services and the cutting-edge innovations shaping the industry. Discover how Fora is transforming the way travel advisors work, offering flexible opportunities and fostering a dynamic community. As Jake shares the origins of Fora, you'll gain a deeper understanding of how the company emerged post-pandemic to meet the evolving needs of modern travelers and advisors alike.
S4/E10 The Healing Power of Travel with Lauren and Chris Pronger of Well Inspired Travels
Discover the transformative power of wellness travel with Lauren and Chris Pronger of Well Inspired Travels. Lauren’s poignant journey began with her father's courageous battle against cancer, where travel and holistic healing played pivotal roles in his treatment. Her experiences inspired her to become a certified health coach, blending her deep-rooted passion for health with unique travel experiences. Meanwhile, Chris, a Hockey Hall of Famer, highlights his own shift from sports to wellness travel, focusing on the importance of nutrition, recovery, and sleep optimization. Together, they showcase how wellness travel can enhance your health and overall well-being.
S4/E9 The Role of Travel Advisors in 2025 & Beyond
🔥 Proudly Sponsored by: Flight Centre
In the inaugural episode of our "Travel Advisor Series," we explore the incredible resurgence of travel advisors in the post-pandemic world. Discover why travelers of all ages are increasingly turning to travel advisors for personalized, expert planning.
To kick things off, we bring together three senior executives with extensive travel agency experience:
Anita Emilio, VP & General Manager at Envoyage Group, Flight Centre Group
Stephanie Lee, Founder of Host Agency Reviews
Sandy Saburn, Chief Strategic Alliances Officer at Gifted Travel Network
S4/E8 Virtuoso Travel Tech Summit Start-Up Panel
In our second Virtuoso episode, we introduce you to a group of visionaries behind the most innovative startups that were featured at the Travel Tech Summit.
Featured Startups:
Andy Moss, Mindtrip is redefining AI-driven travel planning with his groundbreaking travel planning platform
Marissa Nelson, Intimacy Moons Couples Retreats blends luxury with relationship-building, offering unique experiences for couples.
Akiva Reich’s Feeel.io enhances hospitality with immersive 360 live video.
Jessie Fischer’s GuestOS is an AI concierge service for hotels that elevates the guest experience.
S4/E7 Virtuoso Travel Tech Summit Highlights: Executive Round Table
Unlock the secrets behind the tech revolution in the travel industry as we unpack the highlights from Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas—often called the "fashion week of travel."
In this first episode, we begin with a deep dive into the Travel Tech and Innovation Summit, led by Gilad Berenstein. Industry titans like Shane from Microsoft, Stuart from Forbes Travel Guide, Travis from Virtuoso, and Betsy from F Prime share their valuable insights and takeaways that you do not want to miss.
S4/E6 Preparing Your Digital Marketing Playbook for 2025: Propellic CEO, Brennen Bliss
Unlock the secrets of digital marketing success for the travel industry with Brennen Bliss, CEO of Propellic. Ever wondered how to craft a strategic digital marketing playbook that drives ROI? Brennan’s journey from teenage web developer to SEO and paid media guru offers a treasure trove of insights for large enterprises and smaller travel brands alike. Learn how to leverage SEO and paid media effectively while understanding the importance of learning from past victories to shape future strategies.
S4/E5 Creating the Organized Adventure Category: TourRadar CEO Travis Pittman
Discover the magic of organized adventure travel with our special guest, Travis Pittman, co-founder of TourRadar. Hear how a challenging trip to Croatia inspired Travis to revolutionize the adventure travel sector. You'll gain insights into the unique challenges faced by adventure travelers and how TourRadar strives to offer dependable and organized experiences that strike the perfect balance between meticulous planning and the thrill of exploration.
S4/E4 Launching a New Adventure Tour Brand: Sean Mulhern, One Life Adventures
How does a chance encounter transform a hostel owner into a trailblazing tour operator? Join us on an exhilarating adventure with Sean Mulhern, the co-founder of One Life Adventures, as he recounts his journey from managing hostels in Thailand to creating a niche travel company in the Philippines. Sean's story is a testament to the power of adaptability and the impact of seizing unexpected opportunities in the dynamic world of travel. Hear firsthand how a simple conversation with an Australian travel agent sparked a career-shifting idea, leading to the birth of a unique tour operator that specializes in organized tours to relatively untapped destinations.
S4/E3 Revolutionizing Adventure Travel: WeRoad Co-Founder, Erika De Santi
What if your passion for travel could be transformed into a groundbreaking business idea? On this special Deep Dive into Adventure series of Travel Trends, we're thrilled to have Erika De Santi, co-founder of WeRoad, join us to share her journey from a small village near Verona, Italy to shaking up the global adventure travel industry. Erika's story is one of passion, innovation, and the power of community. With a background in foreign languages and a master’s degree in tourism, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, making this conversation an essential listen for aspiring entrepreneurs and travel enthusiasts alike.
S4/E2 Adventure Travel Series - Creating a Better World Through Travel: James Thornton, CEO, Intrepid Travel
What if you could experience the world in a way that not only enriches your life but also contributes positively to our planet? Join us for an enlightening conversation with James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Travel, as he shares his remarkable journey from an aspiring investment banker to a trailblazer in sustainable travel. Discover how two university friends' vision in the late '80s evolved into a global enterprise that now serves 328,000 customers across 1,000 trips in over 100 countries. James reveals the secrets behind Intrepid’s impressive growth and its steadfast commitment to creating meaningful, experience-rich adventures.
S4/E1 - Our Action-Packed Season 4 Starts with a Deep Dive into Adventure Travel
Welcome to Season 4! Our most comprehensive and captivating season yet, featuring over 20 episodes, 30 insightful guests, 10 sponsors, and 5 compelling themes that will take you on a deep exploration of the latest in the travel industry.
Kicking Off with Adventure Travel - We're starting this season with a special Adventure Travel series, sponsored by TourRadar.com
We're honored to have Shannon Stowell, CEO, Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), join Host, Dan Christian for our first episode. Shannon will set the stage for the entire adventure travel category, discussing key players and overarching trends.
Special Hospitality Series Finale: Amanda Frasier on 'The Summit' Experience & Insights into Forbes Travel Guide Ratings
Experience the behind-the-scenes magic of 'The Summit' in Las Vegas with Amanda Fraser, President, Standards & Ratings at Forbes Travel Guide.
Discover the meticulous planning and unparalleled vision that go into creating this extraordinary event, where structured sessions seamlessly blend with ample networking opportunities. Amanda provides exclusive insights into how this invitation only event brings together an unparalleled group of global leaders in hospitality, influential luxury brands, thought leaders, and travel professionals.
Special Hospitality Series: Sanjay Arya on Luxury Travel Trends in India
What if the pandemic had an unexpected silver lining for luxury travel in India? Join us as we sit down with Sanjay Arya, CEO of KFT Corporation, who shares how the Forbes Travel Summit in Las Vegas transformed his perspective on the industry.
Special Hospitality Series: Jeannette Ceja on Promoting Diversity in Travel, Wellness & The Power of Networking
Ever wondered how watching media stars like Sofia Vergara can ignite a passion for travel? Meet Jeannette Ceja, the dynamic founder of Jet Set with Jeannette, who joins us to share her inspiring journey from her roots in Orange County and Nashville to becoming a trailblazer in the travel industry. Jeannette reveals how her Mexican heritage and early aspirations, fueled by travel shows on Discovery Channel, shaped her mission to represent the Latina community in media. Tune in to hear Jeannette’s dedication to promoting diversity in the travel world and how she uses her platform to showcase the beauty of the world and her cultural roots.
Special Hospitality Series: Rana Saad on Transforming Travel with Tuzmo & Empowering Local Artisans
What if you could transform your travel experiences while empowering local artisans? Join us for an engaging conversation with Rana Saad, the visionary founder and CEO of Tuzmo, recorded live at Forbes Travel Guide’s ‘The Summit’ in Las Vegas. Rana takes us through Tuzmo’s journey from its launch just before the pandemic to its current standing as a platform that connects travelers with local artisans for authentic cultural experiences. You'll gain insights into the massive $650 billion handicraft market, poised to grow to $1.3 trillion, and learn how Tuzmo is ensuring that more revenue reaches the artisans themselves. Rana's extensive background in travel and digital innovation at Accenture has helped fuel Tuzmo’s mission to create meaningful and fair travel experiences.
Special Hospitality Series: Mauricio Souza on Building a Luxury Car Rental Empire
What does it take to build a luxury car rental empire from just seven vehicles to a fleet of 6,000? Join us as we sit down with Mauricio Souza, VP of Operations at Go Rentals, to uncover the secret behind their remarkable growth. We explore how the company, founded by two brothers in 1995, caters exclusively to the ultra-high-net-worth community with an unwavering focus on exceptional service, products, and relationships. Mauricio shares his valuable insights from the Forbes Travel Guide Summit where he emphasizes the importance of community in achieving unparalleled service excellence.
Special Hospitality Series: Tiffany Dowd on Luxury Hotel Social Media Strategies & Personalized Vegan Dining Experiences
How do luxury hotels craft unforgettable experiences while accommodating diverse dietary needs? Join us live from the Forbes Travel Guide Summit in Las Vegas as we sit down with Tiffany Dowd, better known as Luxe Tiffany. With over 15 years of experience in the luxury hotel social media landscape, Tiffany shares her journey and the pivotal role she plays as an ambassador for Forbes Travel Guide. Gain exclusive insights into how luxury hotels, private islands, and real estate companies refine their social media strategies under her expert guidance.