The Insider Travel Report Podcast

Marc Murphy, director of sales at Marival Resorts, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how a top resort group can deliver an adventure travel experience with specialized tours and activities for guests based in one of its resorts Marival, which caters to couples, singles and families. For more information or to see the Mexican resorts Marival has to offer in Riviera Nayarit...

Paul Barry, CEO of Avanti Destinations, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how his FIT specialist tour operator remains focused on selling only through travel advisors. Barry also details the programs Avanti has for advisors, including destination training and education, including a new Europe reference guide. Avanti sell customized FIT packages and group travel to Europe,...

Chiara Giorgi, director of Seatrade Cruise Global, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about her massive cruise show and conference taking place April 13-16 in Miami Beach. What once was an event just for cruise executives, ports of call and cruise industry suppliers (think ship engines and ship builders) has now become a place to learn all about cruising, from big ship to expedi...

Top polar expedition cruise executives tell you what differentiates their cruise products and how to sell them to your clients. They detail the polar products, the non-polar sailings, the target clients, and the trends in adventure and expedition travel. A panel moderated by James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report includes Kris Enderson, vice president-sales for Aurora Expeditions; Steve Smotry...

Doni Belau, founder of Girl’s Guide to the World, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about her women-only boutique tour provider. Belau details the destinations, the small groups and the experiences that make Girl’s Guide stand out in the growing market for women-only tours. For more information, visit www.girlsguidetotheworld.com .  All our Insider Travel Report video interview...

Top adventure travel operators keep coming up with new ways to explore exotic destinations. This panel examines the products in the market today and how you can sell them to an increasingly diverse customer base. James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report moderates a panel that includes Rino Falvo, business development manager for Exodus Adventure Travels; Laura Hernandez, head of partnerships-U.S...

Robert Castro, vice president of marketing for Scenic Group, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his company’s new Scenic & Emerald Rewards Global Loyalty Program, which gives guests the ability to use points to experience any river, ocean or expedition cruise in the Scenic Group Portfolio. Castro details how this will benefit guests and how travel advisors can sell eve...

Top destination executives tell you about the adventure travel opportunities in their countries that you can sell. They detail the places, the kinds of adventure travel experiences and how advisors can better understand what these places have to offer adventure travelers. Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report moderates a panel that includes: Cristina Fernandes, leisure sales manager for Discover Puer...

Jacqueline Dobson, president of the Vacation Group, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report in a post-Internova PLUS meeting interview to find out just what this rebranded business-to-consumer leisure division of Internova Travel Group is and what it hopes to be in the future. Vacation Group unites several travel brands serving leisure consumers directly, including Cruise Specialists...

There’s a new kind of cruise emerging known as the exploration cruise, where guests visit remote islands, out of the way countries, off-the-beaten path destinations. This panel examines the non-polar cruises available in the market today and how to sell them. Moderated by Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report, this panel includes Tanally Gonzalez, reservations manager at Australis, and Tiffanie Kilga...

Top adventure travel operators keep coming up with new ways to explore exotic destinations. This panel examines the products in the market today and how you can sell them to an increasingly diverse customer base. Moderated by Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report, this panel includes Margot Windenburg, senior sales manager-North America for ATT Kings; Ryan Grissett, regional director-sales for Collet...

Jerome Luciani, general manager of Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how his property is adding The Westerly, a new boutique hotel within a hotel. Luciani also details how Hilton Aruba has been completely refurbished to make it the perfect resort on the best beach in Aruba. For more information, visit www.hiltonaruba.com .  All...

Niurka Garcia Linton, director of sales for Riu Hotels & Resorts in Jamaica, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the company’s seven properties in Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios, including adults-only and family resorts. She also discusses how Riu reopened all seven hotels quickly after Hurricane Melissa, extended complimentary stays to stranded guests before reopening, and...

Alison Metcalf, executive vice president -North America, Australia & New Zealand tor Tourism Ireland, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about Ireland’s marketing plans for tourism in 2026. Metcalf details the latest tourism numbers to the country, the new marketing campaign and theme “Visit the island that goes beyond,” the importance of the U.S. market, and how Ireland hop...

Maud Bailly, CEO of Sofitel, MGallery and Emblems, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at the newly renovated Sofitel New York about her complete restoration the Sofitel hotel brand. Bailly highlights the new color schemes, décor, staff uniforms, standards and more that will be duplicated across Sofitel’s more than 120 hotels around the world, with many more to come. Sofitel-pare...

Syreeta Grose, owner of Grose Travel Services Meetings & Events; McKenzie Kellogg, marketing and IC manager at 417 Travel; and Jessica Church, owner of Sands & Skylines Travel Co., talk with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about their participation in ALG Vacations’ voluntourism event in Jamaica, supporting local schools, charities and community organizations following the hurricane. Th...

Henry Gilroy, executive vice president-strategic development for Internova Travel Group, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month’s Internova PLUS conference at Gleneagles in Scotland about the strategy behind Internova’s move to increase luxury sales across the board. Gilroy says Internova has integrated the luxury hotel and cruise programs for advisors in all its units...

Aziz Ahmed, owner of Nu Ethiopia Tour And Travel and a wildlife photographer, talks with Michaela Guzy of Insider Travel Report about immersive travel across Ethiopia, including the Omo Valley’s tribal cultures, wildlife encounters and dramatic landscapes. He also discusses seasonality, lodge and camping accommodations, and how travel advisors can build multi-week itineraries that reflect Ethiopia...

Conor O'Leary, managing director of The Gleneagles Hotel, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report, at the Internova PLUS luxury travel conference that was hosted at his hotel earlier this last month. O’Leary reintroduces us to his magnificent resort, which offers varied accommodations, a full slate of restaurants and bars, a grand spa and pool, and slew of activities, from multiple g...

Eva D'Amato, senior director-leisure sales for Travel Leaders Network (TLN), talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at the Internova PLUS luxury travel conference at Gleneagles in Scotland about how her group of advisors contributes to Internova’s luxury sales strategy. D’Amato details the training, resources and programs TLN has developed for its luxury advisors who are part of its...

Ragan Stone, senior vice president of In The Know Experiences (ITKE), talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at the Internova PLUS luxury travel conference at Gleneagles in Scotland. Stone oversees ITKE, which is also part of Global Travel Collection, a collection of luxury travel agencies owned by Internova Travel Group. ITKE offers one-of-a-kind experiences and specialized service...

Thomas Harlander, managing director of the Rosewood Amsterdam, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at the Internova PLUS luxury travel conference in Gleneagles in Scotland about his virtually brand-new luxury hotel. Housed in the city’s former Palace of Justice, the 134-room Rosewood Amsterdam has a long history as a government building, located amidst the city’s canals. Now if o...

Simon Brooks, senior vice president of advisor success for Global Travel Collection (GTC), talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last week's Internova PLUS conference at Gleneagles in Scotland. Brooks explains his role to help GTC advisors optimize all the resources that GTC and parent Internova Travel Group provide to sell more luxury travel at a high level. And since Internova...

Jacki Marks, global head of trade brands for ALG Vacations, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the company’s largest voluntourism event ever in Jamaica, bringing together travel advisors, suppliers and media partners to support local communities following the Hurricane Melissa. Marks also discusses giveback initiatives across schools, charities and families, how community recovery...

Haisley Smith, senior vice president-partner relations for Internova Travel Group, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last week’s Internova PLUS at Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland about how she’s working to expand preferred partners for Internova’s luxury advisors. Smith is focused on adding in-country, tour, villa and other specialty partners. She’s also working on a comprehens...