Gather and Go with Brian Jewell

Travel is better when you don’t drink. That’s what Darci Murray believes. A longtime travel professional, Darci realized years ago that she had developed an unhealthy relationships with alcohol — and that it was negatively impacting her travel experience. She joins this episode of the podcast to share the journey that led her to start the alcohol-free tour company Hooked. Darci discuss...

Adventure travel is for everyone — no matter their age or fitness level. That’s what Shannon Stowell believes. As the CEO of the Adventure Travel Trade Association, Shannon is on a mission to help more people discover the joy of adventure tourism and learn how to do so responsibly. He joins this episode of the podcast to bust common myths around adventure travel and help you discover the adv...

What’s the most important part of your travel business? Lauren Rilling believes it’s profit. For more than a decade, Lauren has been helping small business owners solve their companies’ financial problems. And she believes that most business owners get into trouble by not prioritizing profit. She joins the podcast today to help you understand how to create and maximize profit in...

Legendary broadcaster Peter Greenberg is optimistic about the future of travel. After decades reporting on travel and hundreds of travel shows for CBS News, PBS, Amazon and more, Peter has seen a lifetime’s worth of change and evolution in tourism — and he’s still excited about the industry’s future. In fact, he still travels 300 days a year and loves telling people his secrets f...

Could the right technology platforms put your travel products in front of the customers who want them? Greg Fisher believes they can. The founder of numerous online travel agency (OTA) and reservation technology (restech) platforms, and author of “Mastering OTAs: The Definitive Guide for Tour Operators,” Greg literally wrote the book on how tour operators can use technology to grow the...

In 1961, a group of travelers boarded a motorcoach, and their journey changed the world. The Freedom Rides were among many important demonstrations and activities that took place in Alabama during the Civil Rights Movement. On this special bonus edition of Gather and Go, we’re sharing an episode of the Alabama Civil Rights Trail Podcast that tells the stories of the brave men and women who t...

It’s not just you — everybody really is talking about river cruising right now. With new and established cruise lines making their way into the market, river cruising might just be the hottest trend in travel in 2025. Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, knows exactly why. Colleen joins joins this episode of the podcast to unpack the popularity of river cruising and help you u...

What would it take for you to grow in your tourism career? For Lorna Holland, it took a customer who believed in her. After years as a freelance tour director, Lorna and her husband took a client’s idea and turned it into not one but two tour companies. Today they operate TourDCWithUs and VaFeltre Tours in addition to raising a young daughter and managing home life in Italy. Lorna joins this...

Surfing, stretching and drinking… in a group trip? As a burnt-out fitness professional, Mantas Zvinas was looking for a group vacation that didn’t exist. So he created one for himself. That inspired the founding of SurfYogaBeer, a tour company that has become popular among the young and active. Mantas joins this episode of the podcast to tell his group travel story, explain how his tri...

Today’s Black travelers are standing on the shoulders of giants. David Jackson is on a mission to make sure these hidden heroes finally get their stories told. After spending most of his career in hospitality, meetings and destination management, David answered the call to join some colleagues in resurrecting the historic Green Book, a segregation-era resource for Black travelers. David visi...

The student travel industry is ripe with opportunity. Gaurav Namit believes there’s unlimited potential for this tourism market segment. As a board member of the Student and Youth Travel Association, and vice president of Four Winds Tour and Travel, he has seen many eras of student and youth travel. Gaurav joins this episode of the podcast to discuss why student travel is so important, what&...

Your ideal travel customer may be easier to reach than you think. Everybody says they they love travel, but some people actually demonstrate that with their spending. Anna Cashman, head of B2B brand insights for GetYourGuide, has dug deep into the data to find the “super spenders” that shape the group travel industry — and who are poised to be your best customers. She joins this episod...

Does artificial intelligence spell the beginning of the end of the tourism profession? Or can using AI make you a better guide and help you build a more profitable company? Micky Kandola believes AI is nothing but good news for guides, tour operators and other tourism professionals. As a veteran tour director, he has found ways to leverage the power of AI to get better and faster at his work, and...

Embracing plus-size travelers could be the key to unlocking big business. That’s the message Jeff Jenkins has spent his life spreading. As creator of the popular blog Chubby Diaries and host of the NatGeo TV show “Never Say Never,” Jeff has created a formidable following of people who look to him for advice on traveling while large. He joins this episode of the podcast to discuss...

The stories you tell — and the way you tell them — can make or break your tourism business. That’s what Justin Brady believes. As a former journalist and a current communications expert, Justin has helped dozens of companies identify their real brand stories and figure out how to communicate them better. Justin joins this episode of the podcast to discuss how travel entrepreneurs can get bey...

Could a smart video strategy be your key to selling more trips? Tony Gnau believes it might be. A former TV news reporter, founder of a video production company and author of the Amazon bestselling book “Lights, Camera, Impact,” Tony has spent his career using video to tell meaningful stories — and helping companies do the same. He joins this episode of the podcast to discuss travel or...

The adult group travel business isn’t dying. Just ask Brent Dalrymple. After starting his career in the financial industry, Brent left big business in 2003 to join his parents’ small tour company in St. Louis. Since then, he has overseen enormous growth for his family business, Sunrise Tours, as well as the recently acquired Country Travel Discoveries. Brent joins this episode of the p...

Taking your travel group on the adventure of a lifetime might be easier than you think. Few places on earth can match the mystique of India, a country with thousands of years of rich culture and tradition. And though it’s far away, India is surprisingly easy to access. On this episode of Gather and Go, Travel Scope India founder Mohan Narayanaswamy joins us to unlock the secrets of his home...

If you run ads for your travel organization online, there’s a good chance you’ve been wasting your money. Marica Mackenroth Brewster has seen it firsthand. As a tourism marketing veteran and founder of the Von Mack Agency, she has helped companies throughout the travel industry combine smart advertising with time-tested, relationship-based selling strategies. She joins this episode of...

Could one simple oversight bring your entire travel business to a halt? Sheila Folk has seen it happen. In fact, as an up-and-coming travel advisor, it almost happened to her. So she started Travel Industry Solutions, a company that helps small travel businesses avoid legal and financial fiascos. She joins this episode of the podcast to discuss what travel entrepreneurs should be doing to minimize...

“Tourist” isn’t a dirty word. Or at least it doesn’t have to be. Paige McClanahan is redefining the word “tourist” and the ideas that go with it. As a travel journalist and the author of “The New Tourist: Waking Up to the Power and Perils of Travel,” she is on a mission to help people understand how mindful tourism can help create a better world. She...

There are few places more spectacular than New England in autumn. But if you want to have a great fall foliage tour without being overwhelmed by crowds, you need to work with a local expert. Carol Sullivan might be just the expert you’re working for. Her family operates White Mountain Hotel and Resort in North Conway, New Hampshire. But far from simply offering accommodations, this organizat...

There are memorable trips, and then there are magical trips. Sandra Weinacht believes that group tours should be magical — especially tours in Europe. As the founder of Inside Europe, she has been taking groups to her native Germany, as well as Italy, Ireland and other popular European destinations — for decades. She joins this episode of the podcast to share her secrets to planning magical Europe...

Are social media travel influencers full of hot air? Or do they represent legitimate opportunities for tourism professionals? Shanay Braxton firmly believes influencers are a force for good in the travel industry. As the founder of Business in Travel, an agency that connects influencers with travel brands, she has seen firsthand how travel companies and content creators can partner for success. Sh...

Is it possible to get travelers of every age group to travel together — and have fun doing it? Kyle Campbell has proven that it is. A lifelong group travel planner and founder of Sudden Journeys, a boutique tour company, Kyle routinely leads trips that include baby boomers, Gen Xers, millennials and even Gen Z travelers. She joins this episode of the podcast to share how she builds and markets tou...