Gather and Go with Brian Jewell

Travel makes us better people. But can it make the places we visit better too? Jessica Flores believes it can. As the chief experience officer of Tourism Cares, she has dedicated her career to helping the travel industry understand its potential for positive impact. She joins this episode of the Gather and Go podcast to tell us about how meaningful travel experiences enrich the lives of everyone i...

If you plan or lead group travel, motorcoaches are probably a big part of your operations. But how do you book a motorcoach, anyway, and what makes them so expensive? Luke Busskohl, president and CEO of Arrow Stage Lines, has spent his entire career in the motorcoach industry. He joins this episode of the Gather and Go podcast to help us understand this all-important element of group tours. Luke s...

There’s no more stunning way to see America’s scenery than from a train. Todd Powell of Vacations by Rail loves train travel so much that he built a company dedicated to sharing it with the world. He joins this episode of the Gather and Go podcast to help us understand the benefits of touring by train and determine if it’s a good fit for your group. Todd shares insight on his fav...

Cruising is one of America’s favorite ways to travel. And with some smart preparation, it can be one of your group’s favorite ways to travel too. Anne Davis, founder of Cruises and Tours Worldwide, is an expert in both land tours and group cruises. She joins this episode of the Gather and Go podcast to help group travel coordinators navigate the ins and outs of planning cruises for the...

What do your favorite jeans have to do with the future of travel? Travel has been through more than its share of ups and downs over the past three years. And as travel planners and promoters look to the future, forecasting trends isn’t easy. In this episode, Gather and Go host Brian Jewell shares how the history of blue jeans sheds can help us understand cultural trends that will impact the...

You don’t have to be a professional photographer to take capture stunning images when you travel. Just like you, Stephanie Miller was a travel lover long before she became a travel photographer. She joins this episode of the podcast to share simple tips you can use to capture better images on your trips. She also gives us lots of recommendations on photography gear, editing tools and other r...

Marketing your travel business online doesn’t have to be so hard. Chris Cheetham-West knows exactly where to start. Cheetham-West is a former small-business trainer at Google and is the author of “Digital Marketing for Results: How to Focus on What Matters.” He shares some simple, straightforward and easy-to-execute strategies for online travel marketing in this episode of the Ga...

Diana Hechler has experienced some amazing things in her travels, and she knows how to help you do the same. Hechler, founder of D Tours Travel, joins the Gather and Go podcast to talk about her book “Strolling With Your Elephant: Perfect Moments in Travel.” She shares some of her most memorable moments from her travels around the world and tells us how every travel planner can go abou...

Jay Smith found his calling at the intersection of sports and travel. Smith, founder of Sports Travel and Tours, joins the Gather and Go podcast to talk about how he creates incredible value for his customers by taking them to sports events. He also shares how he found his place in tourism, how to stand out in a crowded market and how he gauges customer interest in new travel products. Plus, we ha...

Bola Ibidapo believes travel opportunities can change the lives of underprivileged students. Ibidapo, executive director of the TooFly Foundation, joins the Gather and Go podcast to talk about the work her organization is doing to give the gift of travel to students who would otherwise not get the opportunity. She also shares how travel changed her life and how student travel experiences can creat...

Could using the right technology tools help you deliver better travel experiences? Ted Clements thinks so. The CEO of WeTravel joins this episode of the podcast to share how travel planners can leverage tech platforms to reduce busywork and focus more on crafting great trips. He also gives us some tips on how digital tools can create personalized experiences for tour customers and how new payment...

Andrae Marable is doing the impossible. A young tourism entrepreneur, Marable is the founder of The Pack Roadtrip Travel Club, which specializes in group tours for people in their 30s and 40s. On this episode of the podcast, he shares his secrets for building travel experiences that appeal to Generation X and Millennials. He also gives us some tips on creative and affordable marketing techniques,...

Reports of the travel advisor’s death are greatly exaggerated. Though many people don’t realize it, travel advisors (also known as travel agents) are still incredibly active. On this episode of the podcast, travel journalists and podcast hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada tell us about the ways that travel advisors can make group travel better. They also share their insights about...

Tonya Matthews doesn’t shy away from big conversations. A poet, engineer and education specialist, Matthews is the president and CEO of the International African American Museum, scheduled to open in Charleston, South Carolina, in January. She joins this episode of the podcast to talk about how travel and museum leaders can invite people of various backgrounds into moving experiences and enr...

No matter how big or complex your travel problem is, Christopher Elliott knows how to solve it. A consumer advocate and travel journalist, Christopher has been helping people troubleshoot their travel problems for decades. He joins this episode of the podcast to talk about common travel problems people face and how to solve them. He also shares his perspective on when to issue refunds, the importa...

Bruce Poon Tip believes mindful travel can change the world. And he’s been making it happen for more than 30 years. The founder of G Adventures, a tour company operating in more than 100 countries, Bruce joins this episode of the podcast to talk about how tourism can create life-changing opportunities for people around the world. He also shares his perspective on pursuing meaningful business...

Lincoln, Nebraska, is one of the Midwest’s most interesting undiscovered treasures, and today we’re taking you on a deep dive into the city. On this bonus episode of Gather and Go, Kelsey Meyer of the Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau walks us through Lincoln’s distinctive historic downtown district, marquee attractions, outdoor experiences and nearby hub-and-spoke destinati...

Tourism has a diversity problem, but Stephanie Jones has ideas about how to fix it. Founder and CEO of the Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance and Black Cultural Heritage Tours, Stephanie joins this episode of the podcast to talk about how the tourism industry can increase diversity, boost underrepresented tourism entrepreneurs and create pathways to success for minority groups. She also offers ti...

“Data provides a roadmap to the answers to your questions.” Amir Eylon believes the solutions to your travel organization’s problems are hidden in the numbers. The Longwoods International president and CEO joins the podcast today to tell us how travel planners and destination marketers can use data to sell more trips and shares his firm’s latest research on American travele...

“You have to learn when to talk, what to talk about and when to shut up.” Ted Bravos knows what it takes to make a good tour director. The International Tour Management Institute founder has been leading tours — and training tour directors — since the 1980s. On this episode of Gather and Go, Ted joins us to talk about teaching new tour directors the ropes and how a talented tour d...

Are we living through a new Golden Age of Air Travel? Patrick Smith thinks so. The aviation expert and author of the popular blog Ask The Pilot joins the podcast today to tell us why flying is better than ever and help us wrap our heads around forces impacting the airline industry in 2022. Plus, we have an update about new government efforts to regulate airlines; a Road Tip about making the most o...

“Culinary tourism is a memory, not a meal.” Erik Wolf knows how to find the best culinary experiences, no matter where he goes. And as the founder of the World Food Travel Association, he has made it his life’s work to help others do the same. Erik joins this episode of the Gather and Go podcast to explain how travel planners can find and deliver delicious, authentic and cultural...

Faith-based travel isn’t just for trips to the Holy Land. On this episode of the Gather and Go podcast, Eddie Lutz of the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum introduces us to the thriving world of faith-based travel and shares insights on how travel organizations can make faith communities a successful part of their businesses. He also shares tips on how to build a winning faith-based tour...

“Experiences are the currency of 21st century travelers.” Joe Veneto knows all about how to create engaging travel experiences. In fact, there’s a good chance your group has enjoyed a travel experience he has helped develop in some of America’s most popular group destinations. Joe joins this episode of the Gather and Go podcast to explain how destinations and group travel p...

Savannah, Georgia, is one of the most popular group tour destinations in the country, and today we’re taking you on a deep dive into the city. On this bonus episode of Gather and Go, Anjuli King of Visit Savannah walks us through Savannah’s incredible culinary scene, rich history, African American heritage and up-and-coming attractions. Plus, she shares some insider tips on how group t...