The Insider Travel Report Podcast

Gerhard Struger, general manager of the Fairmont Golden Prague, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report, at last December’s ILTM Cannes luxury show about his hotel, one of the newest in the Czech capital. Struger gives us details on the hotel, the accommodations, dining and great location in the heart of Prague. For more information, visit www.goldenpraguehotel.com. All our Insider T...

Margaux Deygat, senior sales manager of The Ritz Paris talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at the ILTM Cannes travel show in December. Deygat details the changes and the charm at this famed hotel and how you should sell the luxury property today. For more information www.ritzparis.com. All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our  Youtube chann...

Alain Bullo, general manager of the Londra Palace in Venice, Italy, talks with Michaela Guzy of Insider Travel Report about the extensive renovations to the ground floor, the hotel's commitment to sustainability, and efforts to preserve Venetian craftsmanship through the Place of Wonders initiative. Bullo also discusses over-tourism in Venice, upcoming events and future renovation plans. For more...

Jill Fox, vice president of sales and marketing for The Pierre, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report, about how the famed New York hotel keeps its appeal for upper-crust guests. Now with a completely new management team, including a new general manager and Fox herself, the hotel continues to feature lavish rooms and suites, sumptuous public rooms and lounges, and an innovative res...

Jeff Morris, chief marketing officer for the West Hollywood Travel + Tourism Board, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s ILTM Cannes luxury show about why his destination is perfect for the upscale marketing. From top boutique hotels to eclectic shopping and fabulous dining, West Hollywood remains one of the most fashionable places for luxury travelers. For more in...

Gaetano de Cola, regional sales manager of the Hotel Savoy, a Rocco Forte property in Florence, Italy, talks with Angela Hughes of Insider Travel Report about the hotel's history, prime location, recent renovations and the Ferragamo family's influence on its design. He also highlights hospitality trends in Florence, luxury accommodations for families, and the hotel's dining, wellness and expansion...

Ana Henriques, general manager of the soon-to-open Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Costa Rica, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about her new luxury property located deep within the protected land of Peninsula Papagayo. Henriques says the resort will feature exclusive accommodations facing ethereal views of Bahia Huevos and the Pacific Ocean, sophisticated dining experience...

Dezy Setiwati, hotel manager for Mandapa Ritz-Carlton Reserve, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s ILTM Cannes luxury show about her new Bali resort located in the heart of Ubud. Mandapa is an indigenous Balinese village, providing a sensory journey to wellness and nature, with 35 suites and 25 private pool villas, four unique dining concepts. For more information...

John Diorio, vice president of sales-North America for Virgin Voyages, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report aboard Valiant Lady on a cruise with 100 advisors who are top-sellers of the cruise line. Diorio details how to sell Virgin Voyages as the only premium line that caters to adults only, features a variety of great cuisine and innovative entertainment. For more information, vi...

Sara Maestrelli, owner of Collezione Em, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s ILTM Cannes luxury show about her family-owned company’s newest hotels. At ILTM Cannes in 2023, Maestrelli introduced us to Violino D’Oro, her family’s luxury hotel in Venice. This year she provides us details about Villa Roma Imperial and Pension America in Forte dei Marmi on the Tuscan...

Nirmal Saverimuttu, CEO of Virgin Voyages, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report aboard Valiant Lady during a cruise with 100 top-selling travel advisors. Saverimuttu says 2024 was a year when everything seemed to come together for Virgin Voyages as it improved its product. With the impending arrival later this year of the company’s fourth ship, Brilliant Lady, he’s predicting anot...

Mark Nolan, managing director of Dromoland, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s ILTM Cannes luxury show about his luxury Irish Castle, what’s new and what’s to come. But the biggest news is from Nolan himself, who tells he’s now retiring after more than 36 years on the job. Nolan takes stock of his hotel career, which was spent almost entirely at the castle. For m...

Sébastien Legrand, director of sales and marketing for The Ritz Paris, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s ILTM Cannes luxury show about what’s new at one of the most famous hotels in the world. After being completely renovated in 2016, The Ritz reopened with new rooms and suites, updated restaurants and bars. The hotel has continued to add new features and servic...

Brandon McCurley, managing director of the Parker Palm Springs, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month's ILTM Cannes luxury show about his uber popular luxury resort that remains a retreat for the rich and famous. McCurley reveals the history, room and suite categories, and dining options available at this historic property. For more information, visit www.parkerpalmsp...

Katie Thompson, senior vice president of marketing at Abercrombie & Kent, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s ILTM Cannes luxury show about the rebranding of Abercrombie & Kent, whose holding company A&K Group now includes Sanctuary Retreats and Crystal Cruises, in addition to a full range of tours, trips and experiences around the globe. Thompson expl...

Lauren Alba, vice president-global marketing & communications for The Leading Hotels of the World (LHW), talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s ILTM Cannes luxury travel show about what properties the group is adding to its collection. Alba also details all the new programs LHW has developed to support its luxury hotel partners and the travel advisors who sell th...

Lindsey Ueberroth, chief executive officer for Preferred Travel Group, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s ILTM Cannes luxury travel show. Ueberroth details the growth of her Preferred Hotels & Resorts hotel collection, including the newest luxury hotels added to the group. She also describes new sustainable programs and much more. For more information, visit...

Misty Belles, senior vice president of communications for Virtuoso, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s ILTM Cannes luxury travel show about Virtuoso’s latest surveys of the luxury market. Where are luxury travelers going, what kind of experience are they looking for, and how travel advisors are selling are all covered in this comprehensive view of the luxury mark...

J.D. O'Hara, CEO of Internova Travel Group, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s ILTM Cannes luxury travel show. O’Hara, whose group includes Global Travel Collection and Travel Leaders Network, tells us why Internova made such a big splash at ILTM, including a large sign on the front of the Palais in Cannes, and a large group of advisors attending the event. He al...

Richard Valtr, founder of Mews, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about his cloud-based property management system, designed to automate and streamline operations for hospitality brands. Valtr explains how Mews enables a seamless, guest-centric experience, shifting the focus from the room to the guest. For more information, visit www.mews.com. All our Insider Travel Report video interv...

Simon Drake, general manager of The Store, Oxford, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s ILTM Cannes luxury travel show. Drake describes his new property, which is located in a former department store in Oxford, England, and what it offers guests. For more information, visit www.thestoreoxford.com. All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and avai...

Insider ILTM Video: Marion Walsh-Hédouin, global head of marketing and communications for Minor Hotels, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s ILTM Cannes luxury show about Minor’s growth in luxury hotels. Minor has even launched itself as its own brand, overseeing such expanding luxury chains as Anantara, Tivoli, NH Collection and more, to become one of the fastest...

Seth Borko, head of research at Skift, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about Skift's megatrends report for 2025. Borko highlights a few big trends, including a slow and steady growth in travel demand, the rise of event-based tourism, and how consumer preferences are shifting toward authenticity and cooler climates. Borko also discusses emerging trends such as pet travel, the role of...

Steve Perillo, president and CEO of Perillo Tours, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the history and legacy of his famed family-owned company, which now specializes in much more than tours to Italy. Perillo now offers Italy, Hawaii, Greece, Spain and Portugal, plus group tours and customized travel. For more information, visit www.perillotours.com .   All our Insider Trav...

Barbara Muckermann, CEO of Kempinski Hotels, and Anna Nash, president-global for Explora Journeys, talk with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s ILTM Cannes luxury show about how they each just made the switch from luxury cruises to luxury hotels—and vice versa. Muckermann, a longtime luxury cruise executive with Silversea, is taking on a new challenge heading up Kempinski,...