The Insider Travel Report Podcast

Gary Barteling, managing director of Bartelings' Private Jet Tours, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how he is delivering a luxury travel experience once synonymous with Pan Am World Airways, which ceased operations in 1991. Bartelings is offering two trans-Atlantic tours priced at nearly $60,000 per seat and fully commissionable. To register and for more information, visit http...

Travel Experts’ executive team, consisting of Sharon Fake, executive director; Claire Canady, director-NC operations; and Heather McIntyre, director of technology and finance, talk with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about Travel Experts’ history, vision and culture going back to its start in 1989. That’s when Susan Ferrell, Travel Experts’ founder and president Susan, launched the fir...

Ken Muskat, managing director-U.S.A. for Scenic Group, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how the luxury expedition and river cruise line is doing in the U.S. market today. Interviewed onboard Scenic Eclipse in one of the ship’s rare visits to New York, Muskat talks about the success of the Scenic Eclipse ships, the very different luxury yachts from Emerald, and the river...

Adam Stewart, executive chairman of Sandals Resorts International, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about last week’s “Jamaica Love” event in Montego Bay, where 1,000 top advisors, suppliers, government officials and Sandals staff gathered to celebrate the destination and the resort company. Stewart also discusses the legacy of the Sandals brand, which he inherited from his la...

John Waggoner, chairman and founder of Victory Cruise Lines, an all-inclusive small-ship coastal cruise line operating on the Great Lakes, speaks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about his two ships. Both had been casualties of Hornblower Group's restructuring, but are now back in service under the Victory Cruise Lines banner. Waggoner plans to build on his past successes to create a cruise...

Natalie Muir, director of sales at Concorde Hotel New York, gives James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report a tour of this hidden gem on the Upper East Side. With great top floor suites, just four rooms per floor, great views and a snazzy small restaurant, Concorde is the perfect place for a Manhattan stay. For more information, visit www.concordehotelnewyork.com. All our Insider Travel Report vi...

Jos Al Adwani, owner of Lagoonies Cafe, a part of Balance Water Sport in Kappalady, Sri Lanka, talks with Jennifer Lutz of Insider Travel Report about their adventure travel attractions, including luminescent kayak trips and a kite flying school. But the cafe also has some of the best steak and poke bowls in Sri Lanka. For more information, visit www.balancewatersports.com or www.srilanka.travel....

Mike Drever, founder of BranchUp, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his innovative service for travel advisors providing them with Facebook marketing and lead generation. Drever has now introduced BranchUp Pro, which adds Instagram and AI marketing features for advisors. Drever himself is known as the founder of CruiseShipCenters, the largest seller of cruises in Canada,...

Belinda Hindmarsh, deputy CEO of Ponant, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report aboard Le Lyrial during a rare visit to New York City. Hindmarsh reveals the latest news about the French exploration cruise, its current fleet and what’s to come. For more information, visit www.ponant.us. All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are available on our  Youtube channel  (youtube.com...

Jessica Klement, vice president-advocacy for the American Society of Travel Advisors, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the big issues that travel advisors lobbied for at this year’s Legislative Day, held last month on Capitol Hill. This year ASTA focused on airline refunds, which advisors currently are liable for even though they don’t keep the fares themselves, as well...

TJ Abrams, vice president of wellbeing for Hyatt, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at ILTM Cannes in the Bahamas about Hyatt’s extensive wellness programing throughout its portfolio. Abrams reveals how Hyatt has evolved its offerings to enhance wellbeing for guests, as well as how it offers personalized wellbeing experiences. For more information, visit www.hyatt.com. All our...

Graeme Davis, president of Baha Mar Resort, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM)-North America, about the upcoming new features at his luxury property. These include a hot new jazz club, new dining options and much more as Baha Mar keeps innovating. For more information, visit www.bahamar.com. All our Insider Travel Report video int...

Graeme Davis, president of Baha Mar Resort, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM)-North America, about the upcoming new features at his luxury property. These include a hot new jazz club, new dining options and much more as Baha Mar keeps innovating. For more information, visit www.bahamar.com. All our Insider Travel Report video int...

Leslie Tillem, of Eltee Travel, and Curtis Parris, of the Parris group, both members of the Global Travel Collection, talk with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how they came to star in a television series on NBC called the "Extra Mile Club." In it, the two compete to win celebrity clients while showcasing what travel advisors can do. The first two episodes have already aired, but there wi...

Paul Barry, CEO of Avanti Destinations, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about Avanti’s new program to provide fixed-price FIT vacations initially using three new regional microsites featuring 58 packages to Asia, Latin America, and the South Pacific. Those three new websites are The three microsites are https://asia.avantidestinations.com, https://latinamerica.avantidestinati...

Vincenzo Falcone, general manager of Bulgari Hotel Rome, talks with Michaela Guzy, reporting for Insider Travel Report, about his spectacular luxury property, which offers one of the most exclusive experiences in the eternal city. And the interview itself takes place on the rooftop overlooking all the beauty of the seven hills of Rome. For more information, visit www.bulgarihotels.com. All our Ins...

Vickum Nawagamuwage, founder and CEO of Santani Wellness in Sri Lanka, speaks with Jennifer Lutz of Insider Travel Report about the philosophy behind Santani and how they're promoting human sustainability with a nature-first approach. Also interviewed is the resort's naturalist and one of their Ayurvedic doctors. For more information, visit www.santani.com. All our Insider Travel Report video inte...

Seth Borko, head of research at Skift, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about key travel industry trends, including how domestic travel has surged post-pandemic but international travel is now surpassing it. Luxury and family travel continue to grow, with increasing demand for solo travel. Despite predictions of its decline, the travel advisor segment remains strong, particularly for...

Rikaz Jaffree, operations manager at Anasa Wellness Resort in Ella, Sri Lanka, sits down with Jennifer Lutz of Insider Travel Report to share what makes Anasa a top-tier luxury retreat, including a luxe gym with personal trainers, a yoga studio, an organic farm and a full range of wellness treatments — all set in acres of untouched nature. For more information, visit www. AnasaWellnessResort.com....

Seth Borko, head of research at Skift, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about key travel industry trends, including how domestic travel has surged post-pandemic but international travel is now surpassing it. Luxury and family travel continue to grow, with increasing demand for solo travel. Despite predictions of its decline, the travel advisor segment remains strong, particularly for...

Carlo Micallef, CEO of Malta Tourism Authority, and Noel Zammit, CEO of Heritage Malta, talk with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about Malta's efforts to attract more tourism, particularly from North America. Malta plans to strengthen U.S. ties, improve travel connections and secure more direct flights. It even will focus on culinary connections with the U.S. including a snail dish created whe...

Issam Kazim, CEO of Visit Dubai, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about his destination’s unique combination of luxury, adventure and culture. Easily accessible from the U.S., and visa-free for Americans, Dubai keeps expanding direct flight connections. Kazim highlights the city’s world-class hotels and 106 Michelin-listed restaurants. For more information, visit www. VisitDubai.com....

Lee Rosen, founder and president of Tres Technologies, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the evolution of his company, which developed the TRAMS back office and ClientBase CRM products. Rosen sold it to Sabre in 2006, but then bought it back in 2021. The company continues to provide vital back office and CRM systems to travel agencies around the country—and it’s developin...

Brent Hill, CEO of Tourism Fiji, speaks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about Fiji’s record-breaking tourism numbers in 2023, emphasizing the goal of reaching one million visitors this year with the support of new direct flights from Fiji Airways, including a Dallas route. Hill also highlights Fiji’s appeal to adventure travelers, its sustainability efforts, upcoming hotel developments, an...

Simon Mayle, event director for ILTM North America, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about last week’s annual conference, which for the second time in two years was held in the Bahamas at the Baha Mar resort. Mayle tells us who attended on the travel advisors and travel supplier front and how they interacted. Even more importantly, he tells us why ILTM North America will co-lo...