The Insider Travel Report Podcast

Peter Vlitas, executive vice president of partner relations for Internova, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about airline industry trends, including challenges with NDC (New Distribution Capability), airline pricing, and AI in travel services. Vlitas highlights the importance of travel advisors in adapting to NDC, how airlines like Delta and United are handling NDC's implementation, a...

Dennis Grunden, vice president of luxury hotel programs at Internova, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about Internova's hotel products. These include the Internova Select collection of four- and five-star luxury properties, the Internova Curated collection of small luxury lifestyle and design-focused properties, and the Internova Worldwide collection of quick, short business-stay pro...

Dave Volman, senior vice president-technology for ADX and TripArc, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at Ensemble Horizons in Las Vegas earlier this month, about how the revolutionary ADX platform services as tech underpinning for Ensemble advisors. Using ADX, they can book air, hotel, insurance and more. Voleman says ADX is making even more improvements and will soon be able to...

Daniel Hostettler, president of The Boca Raton, is on the verge of finishing the renovation of The Boco Raton, the iconic Florida luxury resort, by finishing the Beach Club, one of five hotels that make up this lavish resort complex. James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report talks with Hostettler about the renovation, the restaurants and the facilities now available to guests. For more informatio...

Beth Butzlaff, senior vice president-global partner relations for Ensemble, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at this month’s Ensemble Horizon conference in Las Vegas about the consortium’s many programs for preferred partners, many of which she helped develop in the year she’s been with Ensemble. These include a major new program identifying the right cruise for the right clie...

Kimberlin Arnold, an independent travel advisor with Peacock Travel Group, a member of Frosch Travel, speaks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about her experience on an ALG Vacation trip to Spain and Portugal. Social media plays a crucial role in her business, and the trip allowed her to improve her content creation for her primary romance and honeymoon clients. For more information, visit...

Shayla Lalani, vice president of marketing for Ensemble, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last week’s Ensemble Horizons conference in Las Vegas about all the ways Ensemble helps its member agencies market travel day. Lalani reveals the innovative ways that Ensemble uses to sell more travel. For more information, visit www.joinensemble.com. All our Insider Travel Report vide...

Michele Duquaine, a Dream Vacations travel advisor with her own agency, speaks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the growing demand among her clients for European travel. Duquaine describes a recent nine-day journey through Spain and Portugal, and emphasizes how ALG Vacations and its VAX booking system make multi-stop experiences seamless and enjoyable. For more information, visit www....

Kristina Boyce, senior vice president-operations for Ensemble, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last week’s Ensemble Horizons in Las Vegas about how the consortium is working to develop a revolutionary agency group with new programs, technology and services. Ensemble is seeking to grow but also wants to remain a more intimate, boutique consortium. For more information, visi...

Angie Licea, president of Global Travel Collection (GTC), talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how GTC supports independent travel advisors by helping them manage their businesses and achieve their goals. Licea highlights GTV partnerships, including AI-driven tech collaborations and a new travel-related TV show for NBC. For more information, visit www. GlobalTravelCollection.com. Al...

Chris Austin, president-North America for Explora Journeys, talks with Michaela Guzy about the vision behind Explorer Journeys' second ship, Explora II. Like its sister ship Explora I, Explora II delivers a boutique hotel-like experiences at sea. With plans to expand to six ships by 2028, Explora puts its focus on space, choice and exceptional dining. For more information, visit www. ExploraJourne...

Michael Johnson, president of Ensemble, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last week’s Ensemble Horizon’s in Las Vegas about what progress the consortium has made over the past year, what programs it offers to members, and what’s to come. Johnson says Ensemble is on its way to creating a new kind of agency group for travel advisors and preferred partners. For more information...

Chris Austin, president-North America for Explora Journeys, talks with Michaela Guzy about the vision behind Explorer Journeys' second ship, Explora II. Like its sister ship Explora I, Explora II delivers a boutique hotel-like experiences at sea. With plans to expand to six ships by 2028, Explora puts its focus on space, choice and exceptional dining. For more information, visit www. ExploraJourne...

In this second-part of a two-part interview, Jacki Marks, global head of trade brands for ALG Vacations, a division of Hyatt Hotels, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the company's City and Sea media event to Spain and Portugal. The event included a live Facebook event with celebrity travel champion Carson Kressley, and highlighted ALG Vacations' focus on expanding European produ...

In this second-part of a two-part interview, Jacki Marks, global head of trade brands for ALG Vacations, a division of Hyatt Hotels, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the company's City and Sea media event to Spain and Portugal. The event included a live Facebook event with celebrity travel champion Carson Kressley, and highlighted ALG Vacations' focus on expanding European produ...

In this first part of a two-part interview, Jacki Marks, global head of trade brands for ALG Vacations, a division of Hyatt Hotels, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how ALG Vacations supports travel advisors by helping them enhance their social media marketing skills and better understand its product offerings. Through trips like the City and Sea media event to Spain and Portuga...

Chitose Yagi, executive assistant manager marketing and sales for the Tokyo Station Hotel, talks with Angela Hughes of Insider Travel Report about the hotel's history, location and services, highlighting its convenient location next to the Tokyo Station, making it ideal for travel within Tokyo and across Japan. Yagi discusses the hotel's unique features, including its extensive art collection, ren...

Christine Conklin, vice president of marketing at Signature Travel Network, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at this month’s Signature Owners Meeting in Montreal about the agency cooperative’s extensive series of marketing programs. Conklin walks us through her group’s dedicated programs and how they benefit member agencies and preferred partners. For more information, visit h...

Renee Stanton-Defaria, director of sales for Goway Travel, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about Goway’s ambitious rebrand and its commitment to being the "best Goway Ever." Stanton-Defaria describes the thinking behind Goway’s brand transformation and focuses on how Goway empowers travel advisors with enhanced rewards, an industry-leading training program, and a refreshed pr...

Ignacio Maza, former executive vice president of Signature Travel Network and now a consultant to the group, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his “finds” of the year in luxury hotels and new destinations. Maza, known for his talks about hotels and destinations, gives you his recommendations on where you should book your clients now. Maza has now formed his own consulting...

Steven Arthur, director of leisure sales for Timbers Resorts, gives James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report an update on his group of luxury properties designed for families and friends to come together and create lasting memories in some of the most special locations on Earth. Experience skiing in the Rockies, whale watching in Kauai, wine tasting in Tuscany, or golfing in Jupiter. We spoke wi...

Karryn Christopher, executive vice president-marketing and preferred partnerships for Signature Travel Network, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at the Signature Owners’ Meeting in Montreal, held earlier this month. Christopher details the many marketing programs Signature offers to agency members, as well as the group’s preferred partner programs and events that take place th...

Manini Sen, head of business for Ananda in the Himalayas, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas about her wellness retreat and what it offers to guests. Sen details the Ananda experience and how guests can be rejuvenated and revived during their stay in one of the most exotic places in the world. For more information, visit https://...

Carly Biggart, vice president of sales and marketing-Americas for Hurtigruten Norway, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about her cruise line’s two coastal itneraries going from Bergen or Oslo to Svalbard. Showcasing some of the most spectacular scenery in the world from the Arctic north to the Norwegian fjords, Hurtigruten also happens to have one of best restaurants at ses. B...

Dondra Ritzenthaler, the new president and CEO of Azamara Cruises, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at the Signature Travel Network owners’ meeting about her first few months on the job. Most important, Ritzenthaler reveals details of Azamara’s revamped Azamara World Academy training coursse along with enhanced earning opportunities. For more information, visit https://connect...