Curiosity changes everything. That’s the thread running through our conversation with Crooked Compass founder and CEO Lisa Pagotto, whose frontier-travel philosophy favors depth over dazzle and local impact over checklists. In this second episode of our Emerging Multi-Day Tour Operators series, we explore how she designs perspective-shifting journeys in safe yet overlooked destinations — from Papua New Guinea’s highland festivals and WWII relics to Mongolia’s sweeping steppe — and why honesty about difficulty, logistics, and culture leads to more meaningful travel.

In the third and final episode of our Mindtrip mini-series, we sit down with Discover Puerto Rico’s CMO, Storm Tussey to see how AI is reshaping trip planning - making it easier, smarter, and more personal while keeping culture and community at the heart of the journey.

Our conversation explores how the destination uses AI to turn inspiration into real itineraries - helping travelers move from “where should I go?” to “here’s my perfect trip.” From safety questions to salsa lessons, from coffee haciendas to eco-adventures, we unpack a practical framework for personalization that respects the island’s identity and lifts up small, local businesses.

We’re kicking off our new Emerging Multi-Day Operators series - spotlighting how a new wave of founders is reinventing group travel for modern explorers. The multi-day category is poised for growth in the next 5-10 years with an impressive average of 20–30% annually, driven by travelers seeking deeper connection, curated itineraries, and shared experiences.

In this episode, we meet Dr. Nabila Ismail, pharmacist turned founder and creator of A Dose of Travel, who turned her solo travel storytelling into a thriving small-group brand that celebrates belonging for South Asian travelers while welcoming all who share that spirit of curiosity and connection.

In this second episode - part of a 3-part mini-series with Mindtrip exploring how AI is transforming destination marketing - we sit down with Lynn Carpenter, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Visit California, to unpack how a how a $157.3B tourism economy is being reimagined through AI, data, and human storytelling. Lynn shares why engagement now matters more than traffic, taking us from the dot-com era to today’s AI surge and revealing how her team built an advanced content platform designed for both humans and machines. Think California industry led RAG architecture, a massive digital content library, and editorial processes that add what the web can’t know yet: local nuance, future packages, and timely insights.

Purposeful travel is having a moment—and we’re getting to the heart of what’s driving it. From a windswept opening in Patagonia to an inside look at EF’s new active brand, this "Captains of Industry," conversation with Heidi Durflinger, CEO of EF World Journeys USA, explores how learning, community, and movement are reshaping multi-day travel for every generation.

We unpack EF’s expansive global footprint - spanning educational travel, cultural exchange, language schools, and higher-ed pathways - and how EF World Journeys bridges three distinct audiences: Gen Z through EF Ultimate Break, all-ages travelers with EF Go Ahead Tours, and active explorers via EF Adventures. 

We're so fascinated on how Destination Marketing is being transformed by AI that we partnered with Mindtrip to bring together this 3-part mini series.  We have an incredible line-up of speakers joining us in advance of our AI Summit to exploring how AI is transforming the way travelers dream, plan, and book their journeys.

In our first episode, we sit down with Janette Roush, SVP of Innovation & Chief AI Officer at Brand USA, to talk about how destination marketing is evolving as trip planning moves from search boxes to chat interfaces and AI-generated itineraries.

A misbooked flight, a lost day in Beijing, and a spark that reshaped how millions discover what to do when they land. In this Captains of Industry episode, we sit down with Tao Tao, Co-Founder and COO of GetYourGuide, to unpack what it really takes to build a global marketplace for experiences—from cold-calling suppliers before the website even existed to mastering SEO when organic growth still compounded, and designing a company around work, not titles or ego.

Tao explains why execution - not a single “big idea” - wins in travel. We explore how GetYourGuide scaled city by city, managed operator tensions with radical clarity, and made UX choices - like 24-hour cancellation - that boost conversion without breaking trust. He shares lessons on timing, luck, and how culture - anchored in curiosity, high standards, and follow-through - turns principles into performance.

Tickets are booked, slides are brewing, and Seville is calling. The Tourism Innovation Summit is a three-day, five-stage gathering where tech, innovation, and sustainability meet the real reasons we travel: culture, connection, and stories that last.

In this event preview episode, we sit down with Congress Director Brigitte Hidalgo to unpack how TIS scaled to 8,000+ attendees and 400 speakers while staying sharp and useful. Expect candid sessions on AI that go beyond buzzwords, insights on “travel tribes” from group adventures to city-scale experiences, and case studies on influencer campaigns, cultural stewardship, and designing authentic moments that resonate.

Imagine walking into a distillery and being greeted by the master as a hologram who already knows your questions. That’s the bold vision of GeoTourist, and where our conversation with CEO Shaon Talukder begins. From its start as an “audio map of the world” to hosting community voices, screen tourism, and accessibility routes across 94 countries, GeoTourist is redefining how stories connect travelers to place.

Shaon shares how DMOs use the platform’s view-to-visit data to prove impact, why communities and fans create the most compelling tours, and how Holoxar—an AR layer powered by light AI—is bringing guides into real-world spaces without distraction. We also look ahead to the traveler’s near future: natural language interfaces, ambient AR glasses, and real-time translation that dissolve barriers.

Discover how Viator became the world’s go-to platform for in-destination experiences. Viator is transforming how travelers discover and book more than 400,000 unique activities worldwide. In this episode, Laurel Greatrix, Viator’s VP of Marketing, takes us behind the scenes of this powerhouse and its rapid rise.

Laurel reveals how Viator’s acquisition by TripAdvisor turned into one of the industry’s most successful partnerships, blending TripAdvisor’s massive audience with Viator’s unmatched supply network and fueling a staggering 200% growth in the first year of post-pandemic recovery.

Step into the wonderfully weird world of Meow Wolf as founder Vince Kadlubek takes us behind the refrigerator door to reveal the journey from a dumpster-diving art collective to a multimillion-dollar immersive empire.

In this episode, Vince shares how a scrappy group of twenty-something artists in Santa Fe - working restaurant jobs and transforming recycled materials into fantastical realms - grew into one of the most talked-about immersive experiences in the world. A chance connection with Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin secured their first permanent home in an abandoned bowling alley, setting the stage for Meow Wolf’s meteoric rise.

Introducing the First Captain of Season 6!

We’re thrilled to kick off Season 6 of Travel Trends and our Captain of Industry series with Chris Hemmeter, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Thayer Ventures, for a powerhouse conversation on the future of travel and tech investment.

Chris opens the black box of venture capital, revealing what investors really look for in founders, how to stand out when raising funds, and why 2026 is set to be a defining year for travel entrepreneurs. With a proven track record as both a founder and an investor in industry-shaping companies like Sonder, Muse, and Canary Technologies, he brings hard-won insights every innovator needs to know.

IDiscover Colombia like never before - a country where music, nature, and community transformation redefine travel. In this Destination Spotlight episode, Dan explores this vibrant destination with Impulse Travel and their inspiring local guides.

Our journey begins with Juliana Medina (CEO) and Rodrigo Atuesta (Co-Founder), the visionaries behind Impulse Travel, who are redefining tourism as a force for good. They’ll show you a Colombia that shatters outdated stereotypes – a country brimming with warmth, creativity, and breathtaking diversity, now one of the world’s most exciting travel destinations. Stroll Bogota’s colorful markets with Raul, uncover Medellin’s remarkable urban renewal with Carolina, and feel the soul of Cartagena through Oralis’ passion for Afro-Colombian culture and coastal beauty.

In this spotlight episode, Murray Decker, CEO and founder of Tour Amigo, shares how his innovative technology platform is transforming the multi-day tour industry by equipping operators with cutting-edge reservation systems and seamless distribution capabilities.

Murray’s journey began as a Contiki tour guide in 2008, where he gained firsthand insight into the travel industry. By 2016, he founded Tour Amigo to address a glaring gap in travel technology: while day tours, accommodations, and flights had embraced digital solutions, multi-day tours remained stuck in the analog era.

The statistics Murray reveals are both surprising and inspiring. The multi-day tour market is expanding at an impressive 8-9% annually, even in the wake of COVID-19. Travelers are now spending $4,500-$5,000 per trip—nearly double the pre-pandemic average of $2,500. Yet, when Tour Amigo first introduced the concept of APIs to tour operators, the response was often, "What is an API?" This disconnect highlighted a massive opportunity in what Murray estimates to be a $300 billion global market.

Imagine travel not merely as an escape, but as a powerful catalyst for healing, transformation, and self-discovery. This is the groundbreaking vision Sahara Rose De Vore has brought to life through her pioneering work with the Travel Coach Network.

Sahara’s journey began with a hospitality degree and a one-way ticket to Europe, igniting a decade-long adventure across 84 countries. Along the way, her personal battles with anxiety and depression unveiled the profound therapeutic potential of travel. This revelation inspired her to create the world’s first ICF-accredited travel coaching certification program.

When millennials rediscovered travel advisors, they revived a profession many had written off too soon. “Millennials’ expertise is knowing who the experts are,” says Arnie Weissmann, editor-in-chief of Travel Weekly. With more than 25 years leading the travel industry’s most influential trade publication, Arnie has chronicled - and shaped - some of the most pivotal transformations in travel.

His own path from passionate explorer to industry leader is as compelling as it is instructive. Arnie’s love for discovery began on a 10-country camping trip through Africa, a journey fueled by curiosity and wanderlust. Frustrated by the lack of meaningful pre-trip resources, he launched a destination information service that later became part of Travel 42. That entrepreneurial spirit, combined with a deep empathy for traveler needs, made him the perfect fit to take the helm at Travel Weekly - a role he stepped into just after the seismic events of 9/11. Today, as part of Northstar Media’s global portfolio - which also includes Phocuswright and Business Travel News, Arnie oversees an unparalleled network of travel industry intelligence.

Imagine exploring Rome with an archaeologist who's unearthed its ancient secrets, wandering Tokyo with an architect shaping its skyline, or navigating Barcelona's vibrant markets with a culinary expert who knows every vendor by name. This is the transformative experience Context Travel has been perfecting for over two decades.

In this conversation with CEO June Chin-Ramsey, we discuss how Context Travel is redefining guided tours through its unwavering commitment to expert-led experiences. Unlike traditional tour companies that rely on guides reciting memorized scripts, Context exclusively collaborates with academics and professionals holding advanced degrees. These experts bring depth and authenticity to every tour, making complex topics not only accessible but also deeply engaging. As June explains, "They actually make the most exceptional guides because they're able to take fascinating, complex concepts and make them simple, digestible, and entirely relatable."

Join us at Arival DC from September 29 to October 3, 2025, and be part of the most transformative event in the experiences sector. Use promo code FOADACHDC to get 10% off the AI Forum for Destination Experiences and Arival 360 DC combo ticket (excludes Pro Members). Plus, as a special bonus, you will be guaranteed a feature on the Event Spotlight that Dan will be recording live at the event!

As Douglas Quinby, CEO, and Bruce Rosard, CCO, shared in our recent conversation, Arival DC isn’t just another industry conference - it’s a meticulously curated gathering of the "the 1% of the experiences sector." Visionary creators, resellers, technologists, and leaders from across the ecosystem - think day tour operators, multi-day specialists, tech startups, and platforms like GetYourGuide and Viator - will come together to shape the future of travel experiences.

Join us as we hit the road to Denver for a special edition of Travel Trends, recorded live at the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s (ATTA) Elevate Conference.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Colorado’s beauty, this episode takes you straight into the heart of the $896 billion adventure travel industry. It’s a celebration of sustainability, outdoor exploration, and the magic of human connection in a world that’s increasingly digital.

Think of this as your ultimate road trip playlist - featuring 15 intimate conversations with the trailblazers shaping the future of adventure tourism. From tech innovators and conservation champions to Indigenous leaders and destination dreamers, these voices share one thing in common: a deep love for people, planet, and place.

The travel industry was forever changed when Rod Cuthbert founded Viator in 1995, revolutionizing how travelers discover and book experiences worldwide. In this season finale of Travel Trends, the visionary founder shares his extraordinary journey from Tasmania to Silicon Valley and beyond.

Rod recounts how a serendipitous twist of fate - developing an e-commerce solution for Sabre that went unused - sparked the creation of what would become the world’s leading experiences marketplace. At a time when guided tours were dismissed as outdated, Rod identified a shift in consumer priorities: experiences were beginning to outweigh possessions. By creating a platform for innovative tour operators to quickly reach consumers, Viator helped elevate the entire category from afterthought to the very reason people travel.

After selling Viator to TripAdvisor for $200 million in 2014, Rod continued to drive travel innovation with ventures like Rome2Rio (a transportation search engine) and Veltra (Japan’s leading tour booking platform). Renowned for his candid advice to startups—earning him the nickname "the Simon Cowell of judges" - Rod offers invaluable insights into the future of the industry. His bold prediction? Artificial intelligence will disrupt travel distribution, empowering suppliers to reclaim direct customer relationships and challenging the OTA model that has dominated for decades.