The Insider Travel Report Podcast

Andrea Franklin, CEO of Barbados Tourism, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association's 42nd annual conference about efforts to increase Barbados airlift and hotel rooms, and attract major sports events and more. For more information, visit www. VisitBarbados.org . If interested, the original video of this podcast can be found on the Insider Travel...

Lynette Calleros, a travel advisor with the Travel Gals, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how she became one of the top producers honored at Pleasant Holiday's 10th Elite Experiences conference at the Grand Velas Boutique Hotel in Los Cabos. Calleros highlights her success with corporate incentive groups and praises Pleasant Holidays for its supportive group department and more....

Roger Block, president of Travel Leaders Network, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at Travel Leaders Network’s EDGE conference, held earlier this week near Washington, D.C., about why his consortium’s agency members are seeing surging sales and why we are in a Golden Age for travel advisors. Block also tells us why he’s stepping down as president at the end of the year after 1...

Jack Richards, CEO of Pleasant Holidays, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report during the 10th Elite Experiences conference held at the Grand Villas Boutique Hotel in Los Cabos. Richards highlights Pleasant's expansion to 81 countries and 171 destinations; the launch of new destinations like Poland, Taiwan and South Korea; and the addition of 17 cruise lines. He also lists the benefits for...

John Lovell, president of Travel Leaders Group, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at the Travel Leaders Network EDGE conference, held this month in National Harbor, Md., about the key issues affecting the travel market and travel agencies today. Lovell reveals what’s selling, why there’s a need for travel advisors more than ever, why is the Golden Age for advisors and more. For...

Nicola Madden-Greig, president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report at the 42nd Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Montego Bay about how the Caribbean is growing with new air connectivity, new accommodations and regional tourism. Madden-Greig highlights the role of digital solutions and social media in promoting the Caribbean, noting a y...

Cathal McGettigan, director of The Address Glasgow, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his new boutique hotel in the heart of the city. The Address, part of Irish-owned Address Collective, is a design-driven property with a brand new restaurant and pub, North; spacious rooms and suites; and service that reflects the great hospitality of this friendly city. For more informa...

Verushka Wirth, co-owner and co-manager of the Hassler Hotel with her twin brother Roberto Wirth Jr., talks with James Shillinglaw about her iconic Rome hotel located at the top of the Spanish Steps. Together the Wirths continue to deliver the same great  service and hospitality that their late father, Roberto Wirth, perfected as Rome’s legendary hotelier (click  HERE  for our interview with Rober...

The luxury accommodations market has exploded over the past few years, with more options for luxury clients than ever before. From luxury all-inclusive resorts to villas and luxury homes to lodges and boutique hotels, there is something for every one of your clients. This panel examines what luxury options are available for you to book and how to choose the right upscale accommodations to suit you...

Janine Marshall, general manager of One Aldwych, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about her historic London property, housed in the former headquarters of the Morning Post newspaper. With a unique exterior design, the hotel features large recently renovated opulent suites and a landmark lobby bar—plus it offers special experiences tied to the surrounding Covent Garden neighbor...

Mark Hall, collections officer at the Perth Museum in Perth Scotland, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about all the artifacts and historical objects at his museum, with the famed Stone of Destiny featured as the main attraction. The Stone of Destiny has been used in the coronation of Britain’s kings and queens for centuries. It’s all part of an extended fam trip hosted by Vis...

Jackie Friedman, chair of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) and president of Nexion Travel Group, sits down with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report to review what ASTA accomplished at its first Travel Advisor Conference in Dallas, which attracted roughly 1,500 advisor and suppliers. More to the point, ASTA used the event to celebrate its victory over American Airlines, which p...

In a bit of a role reversal, Natalya Leahy, president of Seabourn, interviews James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report, and Steve Smotrys, vice president of sales and trade relations for Seabourn, about the luxury line’s new expedition ships, destinations, experiences and much more. Looks like Natalya wants our job! For more information, visit www.seabourn.com . If interested, the original video...

Christina Wright, visitors center manager for Glen Garioch in Oldmeldrum, Scotland talks with James Shillinglaw about her comprehensive tour of one of the country’s oldest distilleries, which naturally culminates with a series of tastings of different whiskies, with an explanation of how to appreciate the famed drink. This was all part of a VisitScotland fam trip in April. For more information, vi...

Alex Pinelo, senior vice president of sales for AmaWaterways, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his luxury cruise line, how it evolved into an upscale product with accommodations, dining and experiences to match the market. Pinelo also details the rivers and destinations that make AmaWaterways the best way to explore the world in style, as well as who the river cruise lin...

Lorenzo Giannuzzi, managing director of Forte Village Resort and Palazzo Fiuggi, talks to James Shillinglaw about his unique Palazzo Fiuggi wellness resort, which offers all manner of spa, detox. exercise and medical treatments to help your clients live longer and transform into better versions of themselves (even Oprah has stayed there). Giannuzzi also gives us an update on his Forte Village on S...

Jenny Sime, business development manager for Cairngorms National Park, talks to James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how your clients can experience the natural side of Scotland, the rolling hills, forests and mountains of the Highlands during a visit to the national park. It was all part of a VisitScotland fam trip we experienced earlier this year that covered much of Scotland. For mo...

Marian Muller, general manager of the Grant Arms Hotel, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about her charming inn in the village of Grantown-on-Spey, which is just minutes from whisky distilleries and spectacular national parks. It’s the perfect location to base your clients during their Scottish Highlands sojourn. We visited this hotel during a fam trip hosted by VisitScotland....

Shawn Tubman, senior vice president of sales for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about Regent’s new plan to provide guests with even more inclusions on the cruise line’s luxury cruises, including new options on air and a chauffeured transfer. Find out more by seeing this video interview. For more information, visit www.rssc.com/agent.  If interested...

Richard Alexander, general manager of The Lana Dubai-Dorchester Collection, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his brand new luxury property in downtown Dubai, providing guests with spectacular suites, great restaurants and a rooftop pool and bar with amazing views of the Burj Khalifa and more. For an interview with Alexander more than a year ago when the resort was under...

Zane Kerby, president and CEO of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about last week’s successful and newly renamed Travel Advisor Conference where ASTA heard that American Airlines had backed down from unilaterally implementing NDC and instituting restrictions on how passengers could earn AAdvantage frequent-flyer miles. ASTA also u...

David Kolner, executive vice president of Virtuoso, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at the Virtuoso Symposium, held in Dubai last month, about the latest trends in the luxury travel marke. Kolner reveals what Virtuoso members are seeing in sales for this year and beyond, what luxury travelers are booking, what factors are influencing the luxury market, and how Virtuoso agenci...

Jo Watkins, assistant operations manager of the Highland Folk Museum in Scotland, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about her unique museum where visitors can step back in time and experience life in the Highlands from 1700s to the 1950s. The museum has more than 35 historical buildings onsite for visitors explore and discover how people in the Highlands lived, worked, went to...

There are so many luxury cruise options that travel advisors can book for their clients—from small ships to mid-size vessels to large ships, expeditions and river ships. This panel examines how several segment of the luxury cruise market offer and what support and training they provide to advisors. Moderated by James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report, the panel includes Rebecca Stacey, area sal...