The Insider Travel Report Podcast

Enrique Umbert, CEO of Mountain Lodges of Peru, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his collection of mountain lodges run by locals and offering access to some of the most popular regions of the country, including Machu Picchu and more. Guests stay in luxury in locally owned lodges, eat regional food and use local guides to see the many amazing attractions of Peru. For more...

Carolyn Turnbull, the new CEO of Nammos Hotels & Resorts, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas about her growing company, which started as a beach club in Greece and now features the Nammos Beach Club in Mykonos plus upcoming openings in the Maldives, the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. Turnbull discusses Nammos’ evoluti...

In this exclusive interview, Carmen Roig, vice president of sales at Princess Cruises, joins James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report to discuss the exciting debut of the Sun Princess and Star Princess in the Caribbean. Carmen highlights what sets these new ships apart and underscores Princess' deep commitment to the region with an expanded fleet presence. She also shares why travel advisors are...

David Tanguay, head of global sales for Aurora Expeditions, gives James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report an update on where Aurora is going in Antarctica, the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, Oceania & Asia and Europe. Interviewed at last month’s Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, Tanguay gives a preview of what’s to come on Aurora’s exotic expedition cruise schedule. For more information, visi...

Emmanuel Burgio, Blue Parallel’s founder and president, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, about his luxury travel boutique offering bespoke tours to incredible natural and cultural World Heritage wonders in Latin America, the Mediterranean and the polar regions. Burgio gives us the news about the company’s newest small trips to...

Steve Lima, vice president of growth for U.S. and Latin America for G Adventures, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about some fantastic results for fiscal year 2025, the successful introduction of new forms of touring for solo and luxury travelers, and the hot new destinations that are booking well for the company. For more information, visit www.gadventures.com .  All our Ins...

Karen Yeates, executive vice president-travel technology for Signature Travel Network , talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last week’s Signature Owners Meeting at Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego about the newest technology she and her team has helped develop for the travel agency cooperative. From database innovations to a new Storybook selling tool, Yeates keeps Signature me...

Cory Carlson, regional commercial director for Four Seasons, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report, about the brand-new Naples Beach Club-A Four Seasons Resort in Florida. With luxury accommodations, innovative restaurants, a large spa and a championship golf course, Naples Beach Resort is certain to quickly become a must-stay property on Florida’s West Coast. For more information,...

Karryn Christopher, newly named as president Signature Travel Network, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last week’s Signature Owners Meeting in San Diego about her new role at the travel agency cooperative, running it with CEO Alex Sharpe. Christopher, of course, is no stranger to Signature having spent more 24 years with the group, most recently as executive vice president...

Francisco Blanch, director of leisure sales at Discover Puerto Rico, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report during the ASTA Caribbean Showcase about how easy it is for U.S. travelers to visit the destination as well as the many support programs available to travel advisors. He also highlights Puerto Rico’s air and cruise access, long holiday season, travel advisor rewards program, natural b...

Alex Sharpe, CEO of Signature Travel Network, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last week’s Signature Owners Meeting in San Diego at Hotel Del Coronado about the state of the travel agency cooperative and how it just adjusted its executive ranks. Sharpe also details the newest marketing and technology programs for member agencies, as well as how Signature sees the evolving t...

Fabrizzio Gaggio, co-CEO of Starhotels, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas about his growing luxury and premium hotel group with properties throughout Italy, the U.K. and even New York. For more information, visit www.starhotels.com .    All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our  Youtube cha...

Gary Sadler, executive vice president of sales and industry relations at Sandals Resorts, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report during the ASTA Caribbean Showcase at Sandals South Coast in Jamaica about the brand’s commitment to travel advisors and the commission opportunities they provide. Sadler shares a real advisor success story, discusses education, fam trips, resort reinvestment and...

Michelle Bentubo, chief operating officer of Virgin Voyages, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report aboard Brilliant Lady ahead of her “Mermaiden” voyage on Sept. 5 about the ship’s new features, entertainment lineup and expanded itineraries. She shares updates on purpose-built changes on the ship for passage through the Panama Canal and colder climates like Alaska, new dining and public sp...

Rodrigo Esponda, managing director of Los Cabos Tourism Board, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month's Virtuoso Travel Week about the latest news on luxury hotels, attractions and experiences in Los Cabos. Positioned now as an upscale resort destination, Los Cabos is actively promoting to luxury travel advisors and their clients. For more information, visit www.visitl...

Carolyne Doyon, president and CEO-North America & Caribbean for Club Med, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the transformation of this pioneering all-inclusive resort company into a successful, more upscale and still growing brand. Doyon reveals the newest Club Med properties and explains the company’s focus on all-inclusive ski resorts. For more information, visit ww...

Lee Thomas, chair of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) and one of the founders of NousTravel, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about his long-term commitment to advancing the trade association and elevating the travel advisor profession. Thomas outlines his priorities, including advisor advocacy, education and professional standards, and reflects on ASTA’s growth and rene...

Peter Bates, president and founder of Strategic Vision Inc., talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his annual Pulse of the Industry State of Luxury Travel Survey, which reveals what high-net-worth travelers are buying, where they are going and what they are concerned about. The survey also polls top luxury travel advisors on what they are seeing in the market this year. For m...

Zane Kerby, president and CEO of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report at the ASTA Caribbean conference in Jamaica about ASTA’s legislative victories, commission payment tools and sverified travel advisor program. Kerby outlines current threats to the profession and urges advisors to join the fight through advocacy, education and unity, as we...

Arman Bimatov, co-founder and CEO TravelWits, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas about how his company is partnering with top travel agencies to provide them with an AI-powered booking platform designed to help them streamline their workflows and increase sales efficiency. TravelWits’ proprietary AI algorithms optimize search, pr...

Jake Peters, co-founder and chief product and technology officer of Fora Travel, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s Virtuoso Travel Week about the growth of his innovative host agency. Peters details how Fora is adding travel advisors, training them, and giving them the tools and technology to sell more luxury travel. For more information, visit www.foratravel.co...

Netto Moreira, general manager of Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his luxury oasis in the heart of Rio. Moreira, who as area general manager also oversees M-Gallery Santa Teresa Hotel and the upcoming Sofitel Rio de Janeiro Ipanema, talks about his luxury hotel empire with each property offering a different vibe and style. For more in...

Mateus Lira, senior vice president of trade sales for Crystal, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s Virtuoso Travel Week about how Crystal will now offer pre- and post-trips and even excursions provided by sister luxury tour company Abercrombie & Kent. The new tours are evidence of the synergy created by the combination of A&K and Crystal. For more informat...

John Diorio, managing director and vice president of business development for Celestyal, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his first impressions of the boutique destination-focused cruise line, which sales the Mediterranean in Greece and the Adratic and the Gulf of Arabia. Diorio, who joined Celestyal only a few months ago also reveals details of the cruise line’s new Sai...

Marrett Taylor, now chairman-Global AKTG Advisory Board & trade relations, talks with James Shillinglaw at this month’s Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas about the latest synergy between Abercrombie & Kent (A&K), a leading luxury travel company, and sister luxury cruise line Crystal. A&K’s Expedition Cruises division, has partnered with Crystal to deliver A&K's cultural voyages...