The Travel Marketing Podcast

From one region to the whole world: how Vaya Adventures built a $30M travel business on bottom-of-funnel search. Jim Lutz didn't plan on travel. He planned on law. A year abroad before law school, plus a trip to Morocco, rerouted the entire flight plan. In this episode, Brennen sits down with Jim Lutz, founder of Vaya Adventures, to trace how a former lawyer built a 35-person, $30M+ adventure trav...

In this episode, we sit down with Rami Nuseir, Head of Marketing at Stay22 and a self-described "Story Sage." Rami is a master at taking complex, "incomprehensible" technology and turning it into narratives that anyone can understand. We dive into how Stay22 achieved a staggering 187% growth in 2025 by empowering travel creators with AI-powered affiliate tools. Rami shares his "funny outsells seri...

Discover how Katalina Mayorga built El Camino Travel into a powerhouse for the "bold woman traveler" without spending a dime on traditional ads. In this episode, Katalina shares her journey from international development to creating a brand that prioritizes deep cultural immersion and local economic impact. You'll learn how she utilizes high-end photography and "scroll-stopping" content to drive a...

Mike Petrakis, Co-founder & CEO of Batch, joins the podcast to discuss how they became the top app for planning group celebrations like Bachelorette parties. He dives deep into Batch's evolution from a commission-based Online Travel Agency (OTA) model to a "digital billboard" marketing engine for small businesses. In this episode, we cover the secrets to their B2C acquisition, how they leverag...

In this episode of "Trailblazing Tactics," hear from Barbara, Global Director of Marketing and CRM at Summit One Vanderbilt, as she reveals the strategies that have driven success for world-class attractions. Discover how to balance innovative tactics with data-driven results, and why looking "behind the curtain" of your analytics is crucial. Key topics include: A Winning Campaign: Learn how a lea...

In this episode, Brennen Bliss sits down with Savvas Georgiou, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Welcome Pickups, to unpack how the company scaled from a scrappy marketplace for local tours into a global leader in airport transfers across 100+ destinations. They dive into performance-driven marketing, short booking windows, the value of bottom-funnel acquisition, and how Welcome approaches a...

In this episode, we dive into Contiki’s dynamic travel marketing strategies, exploring how the brand transforms content into bookings. We uncover Contiki’s approach to engaging young travelers, leveraging storytelling, social media, and influencer partnerships to drive conversions. Tune in to learn about the creative tactics and data-driven insights that make Contiki a powerhouse in youth travel m...

Lauren shares insights into navigating the acquisition process, maintaining brand authenticity, and balancing creativity with corporate structure. She shares insights on SEO, short-form video, influencer marketing, and paid media strategies across Google, Meta, and Bing. They explore data-driven decision-making, attribution challenges, and analytics, including frustrations with GA4. She also tease...

Travel Marketing Podcast by Propellic features an insightful discussion with Kevin Indig , a leading SEO expert, on the state of travel industry SEO . Kevin shares key findings from his deep-dive research into travel search trends, highlighting the role of AI, organic growth strategies, and shifting consumer behaviors . Tune in for actionable insights on how travel brands can navigate and capitali...

In this video, Brennen Bliss and Fernando Diez discuss Quasar's PPC strategy, balancing brand awareness with targeted keyword efforts. Fernando shares how they rank highly for terms like "Galapagos Cruise Reviews," driving brand recognition, while also focusing on luxury-specific keywords to attract high-intent customers and filter out price-sensitive leads.  This targeted approach ensures they re...

In today's dynamic travel industry, achieving the right balance between brand building and performance marketing is crucial for sustained growth. Leigh Barnes, COO at Intrepid Travel, emphasized this balance in a recent video, where he shared his perspective on how Intrepid shifted its marketing strategy. According to Leigh, after the pandemic, Intrepid made a bold move by significantly increasing...

In this episode, Fabio Bin, CMO and founding team member of WeRoad, reveals how they transformed a simple idea - connecting strangers who want to travel together - into a €100M travel company in just seven years. Fabio shares their unique approach to community building, including how they've cultivated a network of 3,000 travel coordinators across Europe and built a two-million-strong engaged soci...

In this episode of the Travel Marketing Podcast by Propellic, CEO Brennen Bliss interviews Ismael Garcia, CMO and Head of Growth at Civitatis, a leading online travel agency in Latin America and Europe. Garcia shares insights on the intersection of SEO, paid media, and AI-driven channels in travel marketing, along with strategies for optimizing budgets, testing, and measuring campaign performance....

In this podcast episode, Brennen and Alex discusses effective SEO strategies for multilingual websites, emphasizing search intent and the importance of testing tools. They share how they optimized a testimonials page to manage reputation effectively. The conversation highlights the need for hands-on SEO testing and offers valuable insights for travel marketers on managing organic traffic.

This episode dives into the strategies behind appearing in evolving search modules of "Things To Do", balancing paid ads with organic listings, and why optimizing visuals is a game-changer for click-through rates. Plus, hear about the future of AI in search marketing, the growth potential in tours and activities, and how to fix the fragmented reservation systems. Whether you're in travel or tech,...

In this episode of the Travel Marketing Compass Podcast, SEO expert Kevin Indig shares deep insights into the travel industry's search dynamics. From Google's dominance in travel searches to the importance of visual content and programmatic SEO, Kevin explores how travel brands can optimize their strategies for better visibility and engagement. This episode is packed with actionable advice for bot...

In this episode of the Travel Marketing Podcast, brought to you by Propellic, we're diving deep into the intersection of travel and marketing with Matthew Barker, founder of Horizon Guides. Matthew's unique approach to content marketing and zero-commission advertising offers valuable insights for travel businesses looking to navigate today's competitive environment. We explore the critical decisio...

In this insightful episode of the Travel Marketing Podcast, hosted by Propellic, we sit down with Janette Roush, the Executive Vice President of Marketing and Digital at New York City Tourism and Conventions. Janette, a leader in the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) space, shares her innovative approaches to integrating AI into her team's marketing strategies. We discuss the future of dest...

Brennen interviews Allyson Carpenter, an industry veteran with experience at Brand USA, Virgin Australia, Qantas, and more. Allyson shares insights on driving traffic and visitors to destinations, focusing on data, creativity, and actionable strategies. This episode is packed with valuable lessons for travel marketers looking to elevate their game. 

Ever wondered how to effectively market multiple travel brands? Jamie Storrs, VP of Marketing at Chenmark, shares his expertise on managing diverse marketing strategies across various travel companies. Learn from his innovative approach and boost your marketing game!

Our latest podcast episode is a compilation of the best insights from the first half of the year! This special episode features standout moments and expert perspectives that you won't want to miss. Cynthia Huang / Building a Decentralized Travel Ecosystem Travis Tallent / Peak Performance: Insights into Mountain Travel Kelsey Tonner / Empowering Tour Operators Rebecca y Brennen / SEO is Dead, Agai...

In this episode, Brennen delves into the world of multi-location marketing with Justin Buzzi, founder and CEO of Get Up and Go Kayaking. Justin shares insights into their success with organic social media. They discuss the challenges of marketing multiple locations, the importance of community building, and innovative strategies for customer retention and loyalty. From leveraging partnerships with...

In this episode, Brennen and Rebecca, discuss the recent upheaval in search caused by the introduction of AI overviews by Google. They explore its impact on travel marketing.

With a foundation built on real-world expertise rather than theoretical jargon, Kelsey's advice is tried, tested, and proven effective. From marketing tactics to operational efficiency, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help tour operators navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities.

In this episode we dive into the innovative world of vacation rentals and the revolutionary approach of Dtravel, a community-owned travel ecosystem. Our guest, Cynthia Huang, the dynamic CEO of Dtravel, shares her insights into how the platform is solving the biggest challenges in the vacation rental industry.