Episodes

It’s not just you — everybody really is talking about river cruising right now. With new and established cruise lines making their way into the market, river cruising might just be the hottest trend in travel in 2025. Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, knows exactly why. Colleen joins joins this episode of the podcast to unpack the popularity of river cruising and help you understand how you can make it work for your group. Colleen explains the core value propositions that mak...

What would it take for you to grow in your tourism career? For Lorna Holland, it took a customer who believed in her. After years as a freelance tour director, Lorna and her husband took a client’s idea and turned it into not one but two tour companies. Today they operate TourDCWithUs and VaFeltre Tours in addition to raising a young daughter and managing home life in Italy. Lorna joins this episode of the podcast to tell us about her journey from guide to owner and pull back the curtain on lif...

What would it take for you to grow in your tourism career? For Lorna Holland, it took a customer who believed in her. After years as a freelance tour director, Lorna and her husband took a client’s idea and turned it into not one but two tour companies. Today they operate TourDCWithUs and VaFeltre Tours in addition to raising a young daughter and managing home life in Italy. Lorna joins this episode of the podcast to tell us about her journey from guide to owner and pull back the curtain on lif...

Surfing, stretching and drinking… in a group trip? As a burnt-out fitness professional, Mantas Zvinas was looking for a group vacation that didn’t exist. So he created one for himself. That inspired the founding of SurfYogaBeer, a tour company that has become popular among the young and active. Mantas joins this episode of the podcast to tell his group travel story, explain how his trips build friendships between strangers and share tips for aspiring tourism entrepreneurs. Mantas explains why ...

Surfing, stretching and drinking… in a group trip? As a burnt-out fitness professional, Mantas Zvinas was looking for a group vacation that didn’t exist. So he created one for himself. That inspired the founding of SurfYogaBeer, a tour company that has become popular among the young and active. Mantas joins this episode of the podcast to tell his group travel story, explain how his trips build friendships between strangers and share tips for aspiring tourism entrepreneurs. Mantas explains why ...

Today’s Black travelers are standing on the shoulders of giants. David Jackson is on a mission to make sure these hidden heroes finally get their stories told. After spending most of his career in hospitality, meetings and destination management, David answered the call to join some colleagues in resurrecting the historic Green Book, a segregation-era resource for Black travelers. David visits the podcast to discuss how Black travel pioneers made history, why their stories matter today and how ...

Today’s Black travelers are standing on the shoulders of giants. David Jackson is on a mission to make sure these hidden heroes finally get their stories told. After spending most of his career in hospitality, meetings and destination management, David answered the call to join some colleagues in resurrecting the historic Green Book, a segregation-era resource for Black travelers. David visits the podcast to discuss how Black travel pioneers made history, why their stories matter today and how ...

The student travel industry is ripe with opportunity. Gaurav Namit believes there’s unlimited potential for this tourism market segment. As a board member of the Student and Youth Travel Association, and vice president of Four Winds Tour and Travel, he has seen many eras of student and youth travel. Gaurav joins this episode of the podcast to discuss why student travel is so important, what’s driving its impressive growth and how travel professionals can get involved. Gaurav shares how student...

The student travel industry is ripe with opportunity. Gaurav Namit believes there’s unlimited potential for this tourism market segment. As a board member of the Student and Youth Travel Association, and vice president of Four Winds Tour and Travel, he has seen many eras of student and youth travel. Gaurav joins this episode of the podcast to discuss why student travel is so important, what’s driving its impressive growth and how travel professionals can get involved. Gaurav shares how student...

Your ideal travel customer may be easier to reach than you think. Everybody says they they love travel, but some people actually demonstrate that with their spending. Anna Cashman, head of B2B brand insights for GetYourGuide, has dug deep into the data to find the “super spenders” that shape the group travel industry — and who are poised to be your best customers. She joins this episode of the podcast to share who these super spenders are and how you can reach them. Anna shares the psychologic...

Your ideal travel customer may be easier to reach than you think. Everybody says they they love travel, but some people actually demonstrate that with their spending. Anna Cashman, head of B2B brand insights for GetYourGuide, has dug deep into the data to find the “super spenders” that shape the group travel industry — and who are poised to be your best customers. She joins this episode of the podcast to share who these super spenders are and how you can reach them. Anna shares the psychologic...

Does artificial intelligence spell the beginning of the end of the tourism profession? Or can using AI make you a better guide and help you build a more profitable company? Micky Kandola believes AI is nothing but good news for guides, tour operators and other tourism professionals. As a veteran tour director, he has found ways to leverage the power of AI to get better and faster at his work, and he loves helping others do the same. Micky joins this episode of the podcast to discuss how travel ...

Does artificial intelligence spell the beginning of the end of the tourism profession? Or can using AI make you a better guide and help you build a more profitable company? Micky Kandola believes AI is nothing but good news for guides, tour operators and other tourism professionals. As a veteran tour director, he has found ways to leverage the power of AI to get better and faster at his work, and he loves helping others do the same. Micky joins this episode of the podcast to discuss how travel ...

Embracing plus-size travelers could be the key to unlocking big business. That’s the message Jeff Jenkins has spent his life spreading. As creator of the popular blog Chubby Diaries and host of the NatGeo TV show “Never Say Never,” Jeff has created a formidable following of people who look to him for advice on traveling while large. He joins this episode of the podcast to discuss how travel companies are missing an opportunity to welcome plus-size travelers into their communities — and how they...

Embracing plus-size travelers could be the key to unlocking big business. That’s the message Jeff Jenkins has spent his life spreading. As creator of the popular blog Chubby Diaries and host of the NatGeo TV show “Never Say Never,” Jeff has created a formidable following of people who look to him for advice on traveling while large. He joins this episode of the podcast to discuss how travel companies are missing an opportunity to welcome plus-size travelers into their communities — and how they...

The stories you tell — and the way you tell them — can make or break your tourism business. That’s what Justin Brady believes. As a former journalist and a current communications expert, Justin has helped dozens of companies identify their real brand stories and figure out how to communicate them better. Justin joins this episode of the podcast to discuss how travel entrepreneurs can get beyond their echo chambers, identify their brand stories and tell them in a way that drive sales. Justin sh...

The stories you tell — and the way you tell them — can make or break your tourism business. That’s what Justin Brady believes. As a former journalist and a current communications expert, Justin has helped dozens of companies identify their real brand stories and figure out how to communicate them better. Justin joins this episode of the podcast to discuss how travel entrepreneurs can get beyond their echo chambers, identify their brand stories and tell them in a way that drive sales. Justin sh...

Could a smart video strategy be your key to selling more trips? Tony Gnau believes it might be. A former TV news reporter, founder of a video production company and author of the Amazon bestselling book “Lights, Camera, Impact,” Tony has spent his career using video to tell meaningful stories — and helping companies do the same. He joins this episode of the podcast to discuss travel organizations can use video to build trust, extend their brands and grow their sales. Tony shares video storytel...

Could a smart video strategy be your key to selling more trips? Tony Gnau believes it might be. A former TV news reporter, founder of a video production company and author of the Amazon bestselling book “Lights, Camera, Impact,” Tony has spent his career using video to tell meaningful stories — and helping companies do the same. He joins this episode of the podcast to discuss travel organizations can use video to build trust, extend their brands and grow their sales. Tony shares video storytel...

The adult group travel business isn’t dying. Just ask Brent Dalrymple. After starting his career in the financial industry, Brent left big business in 2003 to join his parents’ small tour company in St. Louis. Since then, he has overseen enormous growth for his family business, Sunrise Tours, as well as the recently acquired Country Travel Discoveries. Brent joins this episode of the podcast to discuss how group travel has changed, why the industry constantly defies critics and how he is leadin...

The adult group travel business isn’t dying. Just ask Brent Dalrymple. After starting his career in the financial industry, Brent left big business in 2003 to join his parents’ small tour company in St. Louis. Since then, he has overseen enormous growth for his family business, Sunrise Tours, as well as the recently acquired Country Travel Discoveries. Brent joins this episode of the podcast to discuss how group travel has changed, why the industry constantly defies critics and how he is leadin...

Taking your travel group on the adventure of a lifetime might be easier than you think. Few places on earth can match the mystique of India, a country with thousands of years of rich culture and tradition. And though it’s far away, India is surprisingly easy to access. On this episode of Gather and Go, Travel Scope India founder Mohan Narayanaswamy joins us to unlock the secrets of his home country. He shares the places every traveler must see, gives us a peak at his favorite hidden treasures, ...

Taking your travel group on the adventure of a lifetime might be easier than you think. Few places on earth can match the mystique of India, a country with thousands of years of rich culture and tradition. And though it’s far away, India is surprisingly easy to access. On this episode of Gather and Go, Travel Scope India founder Mohan Narayanaswamy joins us to unlock the secrets of his home country. He shares the places every traveler must see, gives us a peak at his favorite hidden treasures, ...

If you run ads for your travel organization online, there’s a good chance you’ve been wasting your money. Marica Mackenroth Brewster has seen it firsthand. As a tourism marketing veteran and founder of the Von Mack Agency, she has helped companies throughout the travel industry combine smart advertising with time-tested, relationship-based selling strategies. She joins this episode of the podcast to discuss what travel marketers should be doing to get their message out in 2025 and beyond. Mari...