The Insider Travel Report Podcast

Ciara Sugrue, head of festivals and events with Failte Ireland, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about Ireland as a year-round destination, offering memorable experiences through festivals that highlight local culture. With a view of Trim Castle behind her, Sugrue discusses the Puca Festival (“puca” means “ghost” in Gaelic), which features more than 40 events, including ceremonies, pa...

Jackie Friedman, president of Nexion Travel Group, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about what her host agency announced at its annual conference, which this year was in New Orleans. Friedman details the slew of marketing, training and technology programs introduced and offers her thoughts on how the host agency model is evolving. For more information, visit www.nexion.com. Al...

Brad Tolkin, co-chairman and CEO of World Travel Holdings, speaks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about his company's record-breaking momentum in both cruise and non-cruise sectors during Dream Vacations and CruiseOne's annual conference aboard Celebrity Ascent. Tolkin emphasizes the importance of professional travel advisors, the growth potential fueled by demographic trends like the "sil...

Cesar Silva, general manager of the Corinthia Hotel in Lisbon, talks with Michaela Guzy of Insider Travel Report about the property’s extensive renovations, which highlight Portuguese culture and history. The hotel features uniquely themed suites, three diverse restaurants, a luxury spa and a chocolatier, offering guests a comprehensive sense of place. It also provides personalized guest services,...

Ireland isn’t just about Saint Patrick’s Day, it’s also the birthplace of Halloween, or Samhain, as it was originally known. Siobhan De Paor, a shaman or spiritual leader of the community, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the true origins of Halloween at the very site historians believe where it all began. That site is on a privately owned farm on the Hill of Ward, near the town...

Marilyn Cairo, vice president of sales for Classic Vacations, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report at the recent Signature Travel Network conference in Las Vegas about her transition to Classic Vacations after 32 years in the hotel and resort industry. Cairo highlights Classic’s growth into more than 100 global destinations with a focus on luxury and details new technology and strategic i...

Michele D'Agostino, co-founder of Secret Atlas expedition micro cruises, talks with Olivia Liveng of Insider Travel Report about micro cruises, intimate journeys aboard small ships designed to explore remote and pristine destinations with minimal environmental impact. D'Agostino explains why micro cruises offer a more personal and immersive experience compared to larger expedition ships, enabling...

Manujaya Fernando, deputy general manager, sales and marketing for the Heritance Aarah Maldives, talks with Angela Hughes of Insider Travel Report about the resort's appeal to multi-generational families, honeymooners and destination weddings. Fernando details the resort's luxury service, including butlers for all guests, with family-friendly and adults-only amenities that attract visitors from Eu...

David Gilroy, sustainability manager for the Puca Festival in Trim and Athboy, Ireland, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the Puca festival’s connection to the ancient Celtic celebration of Samhain, which later became Halloween in the U.S. Gilroy explains the historical significance of the Hill of Ward and Trim Castle, highlighting archaeological findings that support the area's...

Karin Kopano, general manager of The Ned, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about her two-year-old boutique hotel located in one of the trendiest neighborhoods of Manhattan. Set in the former NoMad Hotel, The Ned offers multiple restaurants, bars, Ned’s Club and a rooftop bar, meaning you never really have to leave the property. The luxurious rooms and suites are comfortable, s...

Nathan Parr, a travel advisor from the Travel and Cruise Desk in Oregon, speaks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report at the Signature Travel Network’s 2024 conference in Las Vegas. Parr discusses winning Signature's sales excellence award and shares his passion for travel in Thailand, emphasizing its broad appeal. Parr explains how Signature's robust resources, including preferred suppliers and...

Mike, a Disney imagineer responsible for many of the interiors on Disney Cruise Line’s new Disney Treasure, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about what this family focused cruise ship features in an interview just a day after last week’s christening. Disney Treasure offers signature rotational dining, great kids clubs, family-oriented accommodations, fantastic entertainment an...

Muwas Siddeek, facilities manager for Underneath the Mango Tree in Dickwella, Sri Lanka, talks with Jennifer Lutz of Insider Travel Report about what makes the 22-room boutique hotel special and how the beach resort’s wellness program includes Ayurvedic treatments. For more information, visit Under the Mango Tree. For more information, visit www.crazyhollmann.com/en/sri-lanka-utmt. All our Insider...

Odhran Dunne, chief executive of Visit Derry, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about Derry Halloween, Europe’s largest Halloween festival held in Derry, Northern Ireland. Dunne discuss the city’s historic roots, the festival's origins as a community event, and its evolution into a major celebration attracting more than 100,000 attendees annually. The four-day event features illuminati...

Emma Kearney of Titanic Belfast talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about why her museum remains a must-visit, even for returning guests. The latest updates to Titanic Belfast focus on the story after the Titanic’s sinking, including new galleries that explore personal stories of passengers, shipbuilders and Robert Ballard, the ocean explorer who discovered the wreck. The refreshed exper...

Annie Fitzsimmons, Embark Beyond’s editor in chief in charge of content, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about her new role developing content for the clients and prospective clients of the host agency’s travel advisors. Using video and engaging social media and more, Fitzsimmons is creating a whole new way to market luxury travel and boost sales for Embark advisors and prefe...

Jamie Jones, owner of WhirlAway Travel and a member of the Signature Travel Network board, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about her insights into her role on the board, the advantages of Signature’s marketing, technology and training support, and her enthusiasm for its nonprofit initiative, Travel Elevates. Jones emphasizes her agency’s focus on luxury travel, her expertise in Afric...

Jack Ezon, managing partner of Embark Beyond, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his innovative Virtuoso host agency and its equally out of box annual conference, held last week in Los Cabos, Mexico. Ezon has his advisors and preferred partners engage in a series of games, contests and networking exercises to collectively turn them into power sellers of luxury travel. For...

Karl Kannstadter, vice president of content strategy for exploration at the Signature Travel Network (STN), talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about his efforts to elevate the profile of adventure travel, including expedition cruises, safaris and active travel experiences for STN travel advisors. By creating tools and resources for advisors and developing personalized connections betwee...

Jim Heilman, vice president-product development for AREA15, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his four-year-old immersive entertainment attraction, which features experiences, art, restaurants and stores, as well as event spaces. Since we interviewed AREA15 back in 2020, it’s grown substantially and now is about to welcome a Universal Studios’ Horror Unleashed next year....

Ross Mollison, founder and impresario of SpiegelWorld, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his “alternative” shows now playing in Las Vegas and other venues. From the Absinthe circus to the theater where Atomic Saloon is performed, SpiegelWorld specializes in funny, raunchy performances with circus acts that are almost the antithesis of Cirque de Soleil—and many of your cli...

Gina Weyer, vice president of training, and Nolan Burris, talent development consultant, both with the Signature Travel Network, talk with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how Signature is using AI to streamline tasks, improve communication and support travel advisors. They emphasize the importance of combining technology with human expertise to enhance client experiences, encourage specia...

Karen Yates, executive vice president of information technologies for Signature Travel Network, a member-owned travel agency cooperative, speaks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the group's latest technological advancements, including artificial intelligence (AI). She explains how Signature is helping travel advisors adopt AI to boost efficiency, starting with education and progressiv...

Terrence O’Donnell, senior vice president and general manager of Caesars Palace, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about Caesars Palace’s completely renovated luxury villas and suites, which comes as Caesars itself is reinventing itself with new restaurants, new gaming, new accommodations and new suites in Nobu. For more information, visit www.caesars.com/caesars-palace/hotel....

Phillip Duffy, tour director for CIE Tours, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the Ireland South Daytripper, which allows guests to stay in one hotel in Adare while taking daily excursions across Ireland. Highlights include the Cliffs of Moher, Dingle Peninsula, the Ring of Kerry, Blarney Castle, Cork, and the port of Cobh. Flying into Shannon Airport, the all-inclusive tour inclu...