View From Afar

New York City continues to set the global standard for urban tourism, and its newest tourism leader is ready to build on that legacy. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live from the conference floor, Julie Coker, president and CEO of New York City Tourism + Conventions, joins Afar editorial director Billie Cohen to discuss her vision for the Big Apple's tourism future. Julie, who started her role...

Southwest Florida is proving that beach destinations can evolve beyond sun and sand while maintaining their natural magic. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, Tamara Pigott, executive director of Visit Fort Myers, joins Afar editorial director Billie Cohen to share how she's helped transform the region into a world-class travel destination over her 25 years...

Maine is proving that small state thinking can yield big tourism results while staying true to its roots. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, Maine Office of Tourism Director Carolann Ouellette joins Afar editorial director Billie Cohen to discuss her unique journey back to leading Maine tourism for a second time, having previously held the role from 2010 to...

Wisconsin is proving that the Midwest can surprise travelers while breaking tourism records. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, Wisconsin Secretary of Tourism Anne Sayers joins Afar deputy editor Michelle Baran to discuss how the state has achieved three consecutive record-breaking years of tourism growth under her leadership since December 2020, expanding...

Washington D.C. is proving that America's capital can separate politics from place while breaking tourism records. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, ⁠Destination DC⁠ president and CEO Elliott Ferguson joins Afar deputy editor Michelle Baran to discuss how the city welcomed a record-breaking 27.2 million visitors in 2024, generating $2.3 billion in tax reve...

St. Louis is proving that America's heartland is ready for a renaissance, blending iconic history with entrepreneurial energy. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, ⁠Explore St. Louis⁠ president and CEO Brad Dean joins Afar editorial director Billie Cohen to discuss how the Gateway City is reimagining itself as a destination for urban exploration while celebra...

New Orleans is proving its resilience and redefining what it means to be "built to host" major events. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, New Orleans & Company president and CEO Walt Leger joins Afar editorial director Billie Cohen to discuss how the city bounced back from tragedy to deliver an unprecedented run of iconic events—Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, Su...

Buffalo is experiencing a renaissance that's transforming America's perception of this western New York destination. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, Visit Buffalo Niagara president and CEO Patrick Kaler joins Afar editorial director Billie Cohen to discuss how grassroots community investment is reshaping the city's tourism landscape. Kaler highlights Buf...

California's tourism powerhouse is gearing up for its biggest decade yet. In this ⁠IPW 2025⁠ episode,  recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, ⁠Visit California⁠ president and CEO Caroline Beteta sits down with Afar deputy editor Michelle Baran to discuss how nearly three decades of experience has shaped her strategy for promoting the nation's top tourism revenue generator. Beteta reveal...

Chicago is poised for a global spotlight with the historic appointment of Chicago-born Pope Leo. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, Choose Chicago president and CEO Kristen Reynolds sits down with Afar deputy editor Michelle Baran to discuss how her unconventional journey from Arizona tourism to Long Island destination transformation has prepared her to lea...

Fort Lauderdale—Florida's LGBTQ+ capital—has proved that staying true to your values can be the best marketing strategy of all. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, Visit Lauderdale President and CEO Stacey Ritter sits down with Afar deputy editor Michelle Baran to discuss how her unconventional path from lawyer to politician to tourism leader has shaped her...

The single biggest thing that will improve our air travel system and make it better for everyone involved? Government investment, says Josh Earnest, Executive Vice President of Communications and Advertising of United Airlines. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, Josh Earnest sits down with Afar deputy editor Michelle Baran to discuss United's ambitious stra...

Los Angeles is proving that resilience and opportunity go hand in hand. In this IPW 2025 episode,  recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Bureau President and CEO Adam Burke sits down with Afar deputy editor Michelle Baran to discuss how L.A. is transforming challenges into catalysts for growth. From navigating the aftermath of January's devastating wild...

What happens when a casino CEO takes on America's tourism challenges? In this IPW 2025 episode,  recorded live from the conference floor in Chicago, MGM Resorts CEO and U.S. Travel Association Chair Bill Hornbuckle sits down with Afar deputy editor Michelle Baran to discuss the state of international inbound travel. Hornbuckle has watched Vegas transform from a "free food, free rooms, come gamble"...

Asheville, North Carolina, is known for many things: a pristine location in the Blue Ridge Mountains, an incredible arts and music scene—and more recently, Hurricane Helene, one of the most destructive storms in U.S. history. But since the storm hit in September 2024, the town has invested heavily in rebuilding, and it (and most of Western North Carolina) are eagerly welcoming visitors once more....

In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live from the conference floor in Chicago, Visit Philadelphia president and CEO Angela Val shares her hope that "everybody sees each other as human beings first." And she explains how Philadelphia's core value as the City of Brotherly Love means that no matter your lifestyle, religion, race, or ethnicity, "in this place you will be able to be yourself, feel a sen...

Charleston hid their tea instead of throwing it in the harbor—and that's just one of the surprising stories that the historic city has to share with visitors. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live from the conference floor in Chicago, Explore Charleston president and CEO Helen Hill sits down with Afar editorial director Billie Cohen to share how Charleston recently broke records for hotel nights...

How can the U.S. more warmly welcome international travelers? U.S. Travel Association president Geoff Freeman has a few ideas. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live from the conference floor in Chicago, Geoff Freeman sits down with Afar deputy editor Michelle Baran to talk about the state of international inbound travel. As the U.S. travel industry works to recover from a $12 billion loss in int...

How do you redefine luxury hospitality in 2025? For Maud Bailly, the CEO of four of Accor’s luxury hotel brands—Sofitel, Sofitel Legend, MGallery and Emblems—it starts with empathy.  In this episode of View From Afar, she chats with host Jennifer Flowers about how she’s reshaping luxury hospitality through bold sustainability, diverse teams and a global vision rooted in local impact.  In this epis...

Anne Kalosh is the editor of Seatrade Cruise News and she has decades of experience covering the cruise industry—so much experience, in fact, that she recently appeared on Netflix’s Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney.  On this episode of View From Afar, she joins host Aislyn Greene at Seatrade Cruise Global for a deep dive into the ways cruising is evolving to attract new travelers. From groundbre...

Cruising is evolving—and appealing to more people than ever. Live from Seatrade Cruise Global, this episode of View from Afar, unpacks the cruise news and innovations that surprised and inspired host Aislyn Greene and Afar co-founder Joe Diaz, during the world’s largest cruise industry conference.  From hydrogen-powered ships to hotel brands getting in on the action, these are the cruising trends...

Welcome to View From Afar, a podcast by the travel industry, for the travel industry. In our inaugural episode, we hear from Barbara Muckermann, the first female CEO of Kempinski Hotels, a 128-year old global brand.  On this episode, Barbara chats with Afar senior deputy editor, Jennifer Flowers, about her plans to restore Kempinski’s luxury legacy, why places like Munich’s Nymphenburg Palace are...