S6/E10 Innovation, Leadership & the Future of Travel with Erik Blachford
Want a clear-eyed look at where travel is headed next? Erik Blachford, early Expedia leader turned board member at Zillow, Hipcamp, and Fora, joins us to unpack what the future that actually works looks like — AI behind the scenes, humans up front, and real-world experiences that no screen can replace.
We trace Erik’s journey from building one of the first online travel agencies to backing companies that are reshaping how people stay, plan, and explore. From outdoor escapes to modern travel advising, his perspective connects decades of innovation with what’s coming next.
Erik shares how the smartest teams are using AI right now to compress product cycles, improve workflows, and sharpen marketing efficiency. He’s candid about the limits too, noting that most gains today are cost savings rather than new revenue streams.
At the heart of the conversation is human connection. Travelers still crave reassurance, curation, and accountability, one reason multi-day tours remain mostly offline and travel advisors are seeing a renaissance. Platforms like Fora illustrate what “human in the loop AI” really means: powerful tools empowering trusted people. We also explore a growing countertrend to constant connectivity, including wellness travel, digital detoxes, national park road trips, RV adventures, and the return of small-group journeys. When travelers set their devices aside, communities form in trails, lodges, and around shared tables — and that’s the magic they remember.
See Erik speak live at Phocuswright (Nov 18-20). Save $250 with code:TravelTrendsSpecial25.
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🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 6 Title Sponsors for their Support: Holafly, Propellic, PayCompass, Kaptio, Civitatis and WeRoad
