The Insider Travel Report Podcast

Shawn Tubman, senior vice president of sales, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vega about all the new opportunities travel advisors have to sell his luxury cruise line. Tubman details the new Iconic Explorations land program that advisors can book, the newest destinations for 2025, the new partnership with Aston Martin...

David Griffiths, event director for the International Golf Travel Market, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the largest global golf tourism event, bringing together around 400 exhibitors and 350 buyers (travel advisors) from 45 countries to network in Lisbon starting Oct. 14, 2024. The annual event has seen significant growth, particularly from North America, driven by the increa...

Sam Chamberlain, CEO-Americas for Ponant, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report, about his new role, the diverse Ponant fleet and the luxury comforts aboard all of its ships. We just got back from a cruise on Le Ponant, the cruise line’s original three masted ship, so we talk with Chamberlain about that vessel and much more. For more information, visit www.ponant.com . If intereste...

Sivert Lohse Overli, executive head chef on Hurtigruten’s MS Trolljord, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the culinary treats available on the ship, which cruises the Norwegian coast between Svalbard and Bergen. The big surprise onboard is what we think is one of the best restaurants at sea, Røst, where Overli offers a multi-course wine-paired tasting menu. For more infor...

John Diorio, vice president of North American sales at Virgin Voyages, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the reasons your Sailors are choosing Virgin Voyages, which now features new and exhilarating destinations for 2025, and why we're always Brilliant For You. For more information, visit www. FirstMates.com . If interested, the original video of this podcast can be found...

John Diorio, vice president of North American sales at Virgin Voyages, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the reasons your Sailors are choosing Virgin Voyages, which now features new and exhilarating destinations for 2025, and why we're always Brilliant For You. For more information, visit www. FirstMates.com. No time to watch this video? Listen to the audio podcast with t...

Marcus Faruga Karlden, food & beverage manager on MS Trollfjord, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the high-end dining available on this Hurtigruten Svalbard Express cruise of the Norwegian coast. The ship has three restaurants, including a main dining room, a bistro and Røst, the farm-to-table upscale dining outlet that just might be one of the best restaurants at se...

Rob Coleman, senior vice president of sales now for both Holland America Line and Seabourn, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report, talks about how he will now oversee sales for both brands with one dedicated team. Coleman also is no stranger to Seabourn, having worked in charter sales and more for the luxury line, even though he’s longtime sales executive and fan of Holland America...

Marcus Faruga Karlden, food & beverage manager on MS Trollfjord, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the high-end dining available on this Hurtigruten Svalbard Express cruise of the Norwegian coast. The ship has three restaurants, including a main dining room, a bistro and Røst, the farm-to-table upscale dining outlet that just might be one of the best restaurants at se...

Rob Coleman, senior vice president of sales now for both Holland America Line and Seabourn, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report, talks about how he will now oversee sales for both brands with one dedicated team. Coleman also is no stranger to Seabourn, having worked in charter sales and more for the luxury line, even though he’s longtime sales executive and fan of Holland America...

Gilad Berenstein, head of the Brook Bay Capital tech investment firm and on the board of Virtuoso, the luxury travel network, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the Virtuoso Tech Summit, which took place at the very beginning of Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas last week. Berenstein tells us about the speakers, the topics and the new travel technology firms that were show...

Nivine Fakih, travel concierge on Le Ponant, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the excursions, sightseeing and activities on Ponant’s 32-guest luxury sailing yacht, the first ship in the fleet. During this cruise Le Ponant explored three ports in Greece, visiting small villages and seeing historic sites. The yacht also visited Montenegro and Dubrovnik, and also provided a...

Nivine Fakih, travel concierge on Le Ponant, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the excursions, sightseeing and activities on Ponant’s 32-guest luxury sailing yacht, the first ship in the fleet. During this cruise Le Ponant explored three ports in Greece, visiting small villages and seeing historic sites. The yacht also visited Montenegro and Dubrovnik, and also provided a...

Hurtigruten Expedition Leader Rebekka Bohrer talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the incredible journey on MS Trollfjord during Svalbard Express. From Svalbard to Bergen, the ship explores from just a few hundred miles south of the North Pole down through the amazing fjords of Norway, offering bike tours, hikes, fast boat rides and more for guests. For more information, vis...

Helen McCabe-Young, senior vice president of marketing at Virtuoso, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how the luxury travel network markets for its members using a multi-faceted strategy including publications, email, lead generation and much more. McCabe-Young reveals the secrets behind marketing luxury travel today. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com . If inte...

Baptiste Regnault, hotel director for Le Ponant, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about this unique sailing vessel, Ponant’s first ship, and what it offers for your clients. Regnault details the accommodations for just 32 guests, the gourmet dining and the activities that make this truly a private yachting experience on this completely renovated vessel. For more information, v...

David Kolner, executive vice president of Virtuoso, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the luxury travel group’s survey of its members, including what the numbers say about being a travel advisors, where clients want to go and what the future looks like for luxury travel. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com . If interested, the original video of this podcast can b...

Jill Sandvik, hotel manager of MS Trollfjord, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the ship’s accommodations, dining, service and more on Hurtigruten’s Svalbard Express coastal cruise of Norway. Sandvik details the cabins and suites, the fine dining at the marquee restaurant Rost, and the wonderful service delivered onboard this newly renovated ship. For more information, vi...

Matthew Upchurch, chairman and CEO of Virtuoso, the luxury travel network, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last week’s Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas about what changes his group made to the event this year . Upchurch also discusses the state of the travel advisor profession, how artificial intelligence is impacting advisors and what the future hold for his organization...

Pascal Goger, master and commander of Le Ponant, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his classic and now thoroughly renovated three-masted sailing yacht on a cruise from Athens to Dubrovnik. Goger details how Le Ponant delivers a private yacht experience, complete with wonderful dining and great service—and of course the beauty of a ship under full sail. For more informatio...

Captain Ingar Lorentsen, who commands  MS Trollfjord, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report, about his recently renovated ship, which cruises on Hurtigruten’s Svalbard Express and Northern Cape itineraries. Capt. Lorentsen details the main features of this beautiful ship and where it sails. From the northmost town in the world to Norwegian fjords and coast communities, MS Trollfjor...

Chef Alberto Lozano, who oversees Huset in Svalbard, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his high-end restaurant offering a multi-course tasting menu with wine pairings sourced from the land and seas around Svalbard. Owned by Norwegian coastal cruise line Hurtigruten, Huset is a Michelin-star quality restaurant that just might offer some of the best dining in the world, not...

John Waggoner, founder and former chairman of now defunct American Queen Voyages (AQV), talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how is is relaunching Victory Cruise Lines, once part of AQV, with two ships on the Great Lakes. Waggoner also details what happened at AQV, including its growth and eventual demise, as well how he bought Victory I and II and reassembled his former team to lau...

Robert Young, sourcing manager for Britain, Spain, Italy, and Iceland for CIE Tours, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about CIE's new guided vacations to Spain—plus the tour operator's two additional tours in Ireland and a Sicilian adventure, all new for 2025 travel. For more information, visit CIE Tours’ Best of Spain and Classic Sicily tour pages or click here to download a...

Steve Perillo, president and owner of Perillo Tours, and Keith Barron, chief operating officer, talk with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about Perillo’s 80th anniversary, recent successes and expansion plans. These include new tours that combine Italy with Greece, Spain and Portugal; a renewed commitment to travel advisors by offering customized trips; an enhanced travel advisor portal; increa...