The Insider Travel Report Podcast

Shweta Jain, the new chief marketing and sales officer for The Lela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at this month’s Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas. Jain showcases The Leela’s 12 award=winning properties, each with its own unique location, art, culture and cuisine accompanied by Indian hospitality, celebratory rituals and immersive experiences....

Camille Olivere, chief sales officer at Globus family of brands, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the appetite for small group travel, what inspired this immersive product line, what it means for travel advisors, and what their clients can expect traveling on a Small Group Discovery tour. For more information, visit www.agents.globusfamily.com/ways-to-travel/small-groups...

Camille Olivere, chief sales officer at Globus family of brands, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the appetite for small group travel, what inspired this immersive product line, what it means for travel advisors, and what their clients can expect traveling on a Small Group Discovery tour. For more information, visit www.agents.globusfamily.com/ways-to-travel/small-groups...

Lori Nelson-Kraft, senior vice president of corporate affairs for the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, talks with James Shillinglaw of insider Travel Report about how your clients can see this year’s race and experience all that goes with it. Scheduled the weekend of Nov. 21-23, this year’s Grand Prix promises to be as big event as last year’s race. Nelson-Kraft details the different packages and v...

Melissa Krueger, CEO of Classic Vacations, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at this month’s Virtuoso Travel Week about how it’s now even easier for you to work with her luxury wholesaler. Krueger details the new Beyond by Classic booking platform, new hotels and destinations in Classic’s inventory, plus other programs that can boost your luxury travel business. For more inform...

Christos Gkekas, founder and director of Blue Villas, talks with Angela Hughes of Insider Travel Report about  the origins, growth, and unique offerings of his luxury villa management company in Greece. Starting with just 15 villas in 2011, Blue Villas'  portfolio has expanded to more than 600 properties across 20 destinations. Gecas emphasizes the "three blues" concept—villas featuring views of t...

Barbara Biffi, the new senior vice president-global sales for Silversea, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at this month’s Virtuoso Travel Week about her new role, the luxury and expedition cruise products she’s now responsible to sell through travel advisors in the U.S. and around the world, and what lies ahead for Silversea. The best part of it all is that Biffi is veteran Si...

Shawn Tubman, senior vice president of sales, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vega about all the new opportunities travel advisors have to sell his luxury cruise line. Tubman details the new Iconic Explorations land program that advisors can book, the newest destinations for 2025, the new partnership with Aston Martin...

David Griffiths, event director for the International Golf Travel Market, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the largest global golf tourism event, bringing together around 400 exhibitors and 350 buyers (travel advisors) from 45 countries to network in Lisbon starting Oct. 14, 2024. The annual event has seen significant growth, particularly from North America, driven by the increa...

Sam Chamberlain, CEO-Americas for Ponant, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report, about his new role, the diverse Ponant fleet and the luxury comforts aboard all of its ships. We just got back from a cruise on Le Ponant, the cruise line’s original three masted ship, so we talk with Chamberlain about that vessel and much more. For more information, visit www.ponant.com . If intereste...

Sivert Lohse Overli, executive head chef on Hurtigruten’s MS Trolljord, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the culinary treats available on the ship, which cruises the Norwegian coast between Svalbard and Bergen. The big surprise onboard is what we think is one of the best restaurants at sea, Røst, where Overli offers a multi-course wine-paired tasting menu. For more infor...

John Diorio, vice president of North American sales at Virgin Voyages, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the reasons your Sailors are choosing Virgin Voyages, which now features new and exhilarating destinations for 2025, and why we're always Brilliant For You. For more information, visit www. FirstMates.com . If interested, the original video of this podcast can be found...

John Diorio, vice president of North American sales at Virgin Voyages, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the reasons your Sailors are choosing Virgin Voyages, which now features new and exhilarating destinations for 2025, and why we're always Brilliant For You. For more information, visit www. FirstMates.com. No time to watch this video? Listen to the audio podcast with t...

Marcus Faruga Karlden, food & beverage manager on MS Trollfjord, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the high-end dining available on this Hurtigruten Svalbard Express cruise of the Norwegian coast. The ship has three restaurants, including a main dining room, a bistro and Røst, the farm-to-table upscale dining outlet that just might be one of the best restaurants at se...

Rob Coleman, senior vice president of sales now for both Holland America Line and Seabourn, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report, talks about how he will now oversee sales for both brands with one dedicated team. Coleman also is no stranger to Seabourn, having worked in charter sales and more for the luxury line, even though he’s longtime sales executive and fan of Holland America...

Marcus Faruga Karlden, food & beverage manager on MS Trollfjord, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the high-end dining available on this Hurtigruten Svalbard Express cruise of the Norwegian coast. The ship has three restaurants, including a main dining room, a bistro and Røst, the farm-to-table upscale dining outlet that just might be one of the best restaurants at se...

Rob Coleman, senior vice president of sales now for both Holland America Line and Seabourn, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report, talks about how he will now oversee sales for both brands with one dedicated team. Coleman also is no stranger to Seabourn, having worked in charter sales and more for the luxury line, even though he’s longtime sales executive and fan of Holland America...

Gilad Berenstein, head of the Brook Bay Capital tech investment firm and on the board of Virtuoso, the luxury travel network, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the Virtuoso Tech Summit, which took place at the very beginning of Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas last week. Berenstein tells us about the speakers, the topics and the new travel technology firms that were show...

Nivine Fakih, travel concierge on Le Ponant, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the excursions, sightseeing and activities on Ponant’s 32-guest luxury sailing yacht, the first ship in the fleet. During this cruise Le Ponant explored three ports in Greece, visiting small villages and seeing historic sites. The yacht also visited Montenegro and Dubrovnik, and also provided a...

Nivine Fakih, travel concierge on Le Ponant, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the excursions, sightseeing and activities on Ponant’s 32-guest luxury sailing yacht, the first ship in the fleet. During this cruise Le Ponant explored three ports in Greece, visiting small villages and seeing historic sites. The yacht also visited Montenegro and Dubrovnik, and also provided a...

Hurtigruten Expedition Leader Rebekka Bohrer talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the incredible journey on MS Trollfjord during Svalbard Express. From Svalbard to Bergen, the ship explores from just a few hundred miles south of the North Pole down through the amazing fjords of Norway, offering bike tours, hikes, fast boat rides and more for guests. For more information, vis...

Helen McCabe-Young, senior vice president of marketing at Virtuoso, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how the luxury travel network markets for its members using a multi-faceted strategy including publications, email, lead generation and much more. McCabe-Young reveals the secrets behind marketing luxury travel today. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com . If inte...

Baptiste Regnault, hotel director for Le Ponant, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about this unique sailing vessel, Ponant’s first ship, and what it offers for your clients. Regnault details the accommodations for just 32 guests, the gourmet dining and the activities that make this truly a private yachting experience on this completely renovated vessel. For more information, v...

David Kolner, executive vice president of Virtuoso, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the luxury travel group’s survey of its members, including what the numbers say about being a travel advisors, where clients want to go and what the future looks like for luxury travel. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com . If interested, the original video of this podcast can b...

Jill Sandvik, hotel manager of MS Trollfjord, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the ship’s accommodations, dining, service and more on Hurtigruten’s Svalbard Express coastal cruise of Norway. Sandvik details the cabins and suites, the fine dining at the marquee restaurant Rost, and the wonderful service delivered onboard this newly renovated ship. For more information, vi...