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.