The Insider Travel Report Podcast

What if the travel industry stopped measuring success simply by how many people go somewhere and started asking a harder question: What happened because they went? Jeremy Brady, director of sales, U.S.A. and Latin America for G Adventures, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about moving beyond purpose to proving impact. Brady explores community tourism, “communityship” as commun...

Kelly Smolen, vice president of events at AREA15, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about her Las Vegas immersive entertainment campus and its continuing expansion, including more than 25 attractions across two zones and new experiences such as the Museum of Ice Cream, Universal Horror Unleashed and the iDropper thrill ride. Smolin also discusses concerts, multi-attraction passes and p...

Jay Solanki, general manager of the Sheraton Tribeca New York, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his brand new hotel, which completed a multimillion-dollar renovation in August. The 369-room hotel is the first and only Sheraton in New York City to complete the brand’s next-generation design. The renovation included all rooms, an innovative lobby, food and beverage facilit...

Michelle Wyman, office manager for Dig This Las Vegas, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about her attraction where guests operate excavators, bulldozers, skid steers and other heavy equipment in a controlled setting. Wyman also discusses experiences for different age groups, corporate events and birthday parties, the Aggression Session car-crushing program, safety procedures and group...

Anthony Mahler, minister of tourism, youth, sports & diaspora relations for Belize, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the tremendous growth his country has seen in tourism, based on more airlift and its multitude of natural and cultural resources. Mahler emphasizes that such growth is happening in a sustainable way that goes beyond Belize’s great barrier reef and whit...

Carol Meyer, director of sales for Alexis Park Resort, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the off-Strip, non-gaming Las Vegas property, including its 496 guestrooms, extended-stay accommodations and 50,000 square feet of meeting space. Meyer also discusses groups, weddings, events, 10 percent travel advisor commission and the resort’s Guestbook Rewards program. For more informatio...

Nasim Ghannadian, vice president-sales and marketing-North America at VIVA Cruises, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about what makes VIVA different. VIVA Cruises brings modern, truly all-inclusive river cruising to Europe's top rivers, with a truly international onboard experience and transparent pricing. The new VIVA Boutique brand adds a more upscale, intimate option, and VIVA Uniq...

Eileen O’Farrell, director of hotel operations for Green Valley Ranch, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the off-strip Las Vegas resort’s appeal to travelers seeking a quieter stay with easy access to the city. O’Farrell also discusses the property’s renovated guestrooms and suites, dining, spa and fitness facilities, pool and outdoor spaces, convention facilities and how travel...

Katie Demuth, tourism sales manager for Visit Reno Tahoe, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the destination’s record tourism year, airport expansion, new nonstop service, hotels, attractions and events in Reno and Lake Tahoe. Demuth also discusses new developments, including a soccer stadium and arena, museums, year-round outdoor activities and travel advisor training resources....

Taimur Mansour, media and campaign manager for the Israel Ministry of Tourism, talks with Mark Orwoll of Insider Travel Report about the gradual return of international tourism to Israel, outreach to North American travelers and the ministry’s efforts to rebuild visitor confidence. Mansour also discusses plans to focus on core audiences, including Jewish and Christian travelers, and his upcoming m...

Brandon Reed of Bliss Wedding Chapel talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about why Las Vegas remains a popular wedding destination and how the chapel packages ceremonies with transportation, flowers, photography, videography and an officiant. Reed also discusses how Bliss positions itself through pricing, convenience, its six-year-old Strip chapel and a staff with decades of wedding expe...

Michael Stein, director of B2B global sales for El Al, talks with Mark Orwoll of Insider Travel Report about the airline’s relationship with U.S. travel advisors and its new Florida-based support center dedicated to the trade. Stein also discusses efforts to rebuild tourism and corporate travel to Israel, changes to El Al’s corporate program and new destinations in Asia and Europe. For more inform...

John Bentham, producer with Ivory Starr Productions, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the return of "Tony and Tina’s Wedding" at the Rio in Las Vegas. Bentham discusses Ivory Starr’s other food-focused productions, including drag and punk rock brunches, group opportunities, travel advisor commissions and efforts to offer dinner-and-show value. For more information, visit www.rio...

Kit Yoshimura, senior leisure sales manager for Treasure Island Las Vegas, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how the 34-year-old resort has evolved while retaining its pirate theme, including pirate ship weddings, gaming, an arcade for those who do not gamble, the pool area and group space. Yoshimura also discusses renovated guestrooms, a new Mexican restaurant and bar, the retur...

Jason Gardner, director of sales and marketing for North America for Isrotel, talks with Mark Orwoll of Insider Travel Report about the company’s 26 hotels across Israel, including the new Gymnasia Hotel in Tel Aviv, the Royal Beach Tel Aviv and the Orient Jerusalem. Gardner also discusses upcoming hotel openings, the range of Isrotel properties, efforts to rebuild North American tourism to Israel...

Al Santos, director of leisure sales for Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, and Eloy Enriquez, leisure sales manager, talk with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how their hotel differentiates itself through Virgin’s brand culture and a focus on value. Santos and Enriquez discuss free parking, included Internet, lower-cost dining options, entertainment venues and other ways the property aims to give...

Esther Cases and Ariana Uribe of Machine Guns Vegas talk with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the Las Vegas shooting range experience for visitors age 18 and older, including one-on-one instructors, beginner and advanced firearms packages and an outdoor range. Cases and Uribe also discuss themed packages based on military, gaming and movie experiences, including John Wick, and how travel...

John Diorio, vice president and managing director-North America for Celestyal Cruises, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his cruise line’s expansion of itineraries into the Western Mediterranean, making it a specialist for the entire region. Celestyal now offers year-round sailings of the entire Med, including Greece & Greek islands, Turkey, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Fr...

Danielle Bayless and Morgan Snyder of FlyOver Las Vegas talk with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the immersive flying theater attraction on the Las Vegas Strip, where guests experience destinations lik3 Iceland, Chicago, the American West and the Canadian Rockies without leaving the city. Bayless and Snyder also discuss the 30-minute experiences, multi-ride options, the attraction’s appe...

Angela Corvello, national sales director of celebrations for Museum of Ice Cream, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the new Las Vegas location, unlimited ice cream, interactive experiences, dietary accommodations and activities for guests of all ages. Cavallo also discusses the 30-foot ice cream buffet, group and celebration options for up to 900 guests, other Museum of Ice Cream...

Stacy Ritter, president of Visit Lauderdale, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about her destination's newest tourism campaign, what it aims to do and why Visit Lauderdale is launching it now. Ritter also details what Visit Lauderdale has done to strengthen its brand to make it stand out as a global destination, including what makes it a must-visit destination, create a new vis...

Debbie Newton, Nexion Travel Group's rising star for 2026, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at this year's CoNexion conference in Austin about why she joined host agency Nexion and how she quickly achieved success. A first-year travel advisor, Newton tells us about the Nexion services, training and coaching she turned to build her business and sell more travel. For more inform...

Kelly Messina, senior director of leisure sales for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about Spotlight Nevada, an event created to connect travel advisors and tour operators with suppliers from Las Vegas and destinations throughout the state. Messina also discusses the event’s growth, advisor education and appointments, Las Vegas attracti...

Cindy and Jeff Coggin, owners of Coggin Travel, talk with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how their Nexion-affiliated agency, based in Newnan, Ga., has grown in just three years from a hobby to a much larger business focus on wine tourism. In fact, their home-based agency just acquired its own building and a general manager—big news for Coggins, who are both sommeliers leading win...

Join Stephanie Brooks, vice president of product & operations at the Globus family of brands, as she discusses what's new across the portfolio and what's resonating most with travelers today. Explore the upcoming launch of Hub & Spoke tours in Europe, the continued expansion of Small Group Discovery vacations, and new experiences across North America, along with insights into travel styles...