Travel Trends Podcast Season 1

In the final episode, we bring the curtain down on our successful debut season of Travel Trends. This time, podcast producer Zach Vanasse takes charge and interviews Dan Christian.

Their captivating conversation delves deep into the pivotal lessons and key takeaways from the previous nine episodes, as well as the noteworthy moments from Dan's intriguing lineup of interviewees. They explore the origins of the Travel Trends podcast, its connection to The Acceleration Team, and the inspiring experiences at the Collision Conference in Toronto. Moreover, they disclose a glimpse of the exciting interviews awaiting release in Season 2, which is set to premiere in early August 2023.

In this 9th episode of Travel Trends we introduce you to a rising star - Kait Schneider.

As you’ll learn, Kait was an outstanding rookie at successful start-up sherpa° and is now an established all-star at Plusgrade. She shares the incredible growth story that she was an essential part of during the pandemic with the Travel Restrictions product at sherpa°, which saw the team growing from 16 to over 100 people in a span of 12 months. Truly remarkable. Then you’ll hear how she took a well deserved sabbatical to Thailand before taking on a major role at new travel and loyalty ancillary revenue powerhouse, Plusgrade.

Next, we talk about the travel trends that she is seeing across the airline and loyalty program industries as well as the sites & apps we use when she travels, which is often.

In our 8th episode of Travel Trends, we talk hospitality, sustainability and technology with entrepreneur Ian-Michael Farkas.

Ian-Michael is a unique global talent and growth catalyst. Currently based back in beautiful Colombia, he has lived in Tel Aviv, Sydney and most recently Miami. We talk about his experiences with Local Measure, SiteMinder, AWS and the technology that is shaping our future including AI of course. Currently through his consulting firm he is also in charge of growth and operations acting as the GM for LATAM at NLX.ai a leading enterprise Travel and Hospitality Conversational AI Chatbot builder platform.

As you’ll see, he’s a big thinker, a good friend & supporter, a tequila drinker and apparently also excels at Travel Trivia!

*Special Luxury Travel Edition* - In our 7th episode of Travel Trends, we have a terrific discussion with Fiona Dalton, Virtuoso GM for Australia and New Zealand.

Fiona is a highly respected veteran in the travel industry whose impressive journey speaks volumes. With a passion for mentorship and a wealth of experience in leading luxury brands such as Uniworld River Cruises Australia and her new leadership role at Virtuoso.

We speak about the latest travel trends in Australia, where travel is making a roaring comeback and people are opting for luxurious experiences. Her insights are sure to make listeners both envious and curious. If you're looking for travel inspiration, Fiona's Instagram is a must-follow.

Special AI Edition - In this 6th episode of Travel Trends we have a fascinating conversation with an extraordinary guest, Gilad Berenstein.

Gilad, a VC & Founder, highlights the exceptional opportunities that AI presents for everyone in the travel industry. He talks about his father being an AI Researcher in Israel, his first successful AI Start-up UTrip, and he shares several great examples of how travel companies are leveraging this game changing technology.

We talk about ChatGPT, OpenAI, Elon Musk, our friends at TTC, My Dad, Brian Chesky & AirBnB, Expedia & Sam Altman.

Join us in celebrating Pride Month with an exclusive interview featuring Danny Guerrero from The Culturist Group. To propel brands forward today, Danny highlights how crucial it is to understand the needs of diverse travelers. This includes recognizing the importance of cultural relevance and belonging, particularly for LGBTQ+ and multicultural groups. By doing so, Danny explains that businesses can establish authenticity and trust, and create an environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusion.

In this fascinating conversation, Danny, a coveted thought leader and an award-winning 20+ year travel and tourism marketing expert, explains how he became an advocate for multiculturalism and diversity in travel and how he promotes 'culture-forward' thinking to help increase equity and inclusion in the travel industry.

Danny also provides excellent examples of companies and colleagues who are spearheading this vital movement, and offers resources and advice to help individuals improve their understanding and embrace diversity. We’d both welcome any additional company examples or suggested resources you’d like to share in your comments.

And for the finale, we put Danny's travel expertise to the test with our 5 Question Trivia Challenge! Don't miss this timely and important discussion.

Join us in this exciting episode of Travel Trends, where we have a fascinating conversation with Vanessa Budah, GM of The VIP Dubai and The VIP Global. Vanessa shares her travel background, initially in the stunning city of Sydney, Australia, and why she left for an incredible opportunity in Dubai. Her extensive travels in the region, including her latest trip to Egypt, have granted her unparalleled insights into emerging trends with both travellers and influencers.

As an active user across TikTok and Instagram, Vanessa offers a unique and insightful perspective on current social media trends. And, in a riveting finish, witness Vanessa's impressive performance on our Trivia Challenge. Spoiler alert: She crushes it!

Join us on this episode of Travel Trends, we're in conversation with Jason Sarracini, Founder of Landsby. Jason shares insights into his new media venture, Northern Soul, and talks about building a brand during the pandemic. Jason shares his personal experiences of growing up in a family travel business and details how he navigated challenges in our industry. You'll also learn about his plans to develop a unique voice on Canadian tourism, as our industry recovers from the pandemic.

Don't miss our Travel Trivia challenge, where Dan tests Jason with five interesting questions about Canada. Join us and explore the world of travel with this fascinating conversation!

Join us on this episode of Travel Trends, as we chat with Christian Wolters, CMO of TourRadar. Christian discusses TourRadar's culture, shares his journey into the travel industry, and how he arrived at TourRadar. He offers fascinating perspectives on post-pandemic travel trends and how TourRadar is adapting to them.

To wrap up the show, Dan challenges Christian to our Travel Trivia challenges, which is sure to give you a few laughs. Join us for this engaging conversation!

Join us for this episode of Travel Trends, as we speak with Zach Vanasse, founder of Dinosaur Trips. Discover his inspiring story and why he launched this innovative travel company. Zach discusses his extensive experience in the travel industry and offers helpful advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Stay tuned to learn about the latest travel trends from Zach's perspectives and listen in as we test his knowledge with our Travel Trivia challenge. (Hint - he's going to be looking for redemption in Season 2)