What if your best friend in every city could design your perfect day and get paid for it whether they are with you or not? That is the idea behind Pintours. In this episode, Dan speaks with founder and CEO Lou Chatta about how human storytelling combined with AI can scale the magic of a great guide while preserving the personality and authenticity that make guided experiences special.

Lou explains how growing up with a father who worked as a guide for 40 years inspired him to build a platform designed for creators first. Guides can record their stories, routes, music, and recommendations, then share those experiences across different settings including walking tours, rideshares, museums, and attractions. Pintours’ personalization engine then adapts the experience to the traveler. A foodie couple, a family with young kids, or a solo history enthusiast might follow the same route but hear different stories, pacing, and suggestions tailored to their interests. It goes far beyond audio. The platform blends navigation, mood, bookings, and local context into one seamless experience.

Luxury travel is evolving quickly, and Virtuoso is leading that transformation with Canada playing a pivotal role in its global expansion.

At Virtuoso’s Canada Forum in Calgary, Dan sat down with GM, Canada Karen Hardie, Senior VP Global Markets Michael Londregan, Senior VP Global Events Jennifer Campbell, Executive VP Strategic Communications David Kolner, and Chairman & CEO Matthew Upchurch to explore what is driving growth in luxury travel and why Canada has become central to Virtuoso’s international strategy.

Karen paints a compelling picture of the Canadian luxury traveler: understated, experience focused, and motivated by meaningful time with family and friends. The data supports the shift. Luxury experiences are now outpacing luxury goods, and Canada’s market is projected for significant growth through 2030. Under her leadership, Canada is not simply participating in Virtuoso’s success, it is helping shape it.

Money movement is the hidden engine powering travel and too often the root cause of stalled bookings, compressed margins, and delayed supplier payouts. In this episode, we sit down with Erich Ko, Senior GTM Partnerships Manager at Airwallex, to break down the full financial journey from traveler checkout to final supplier settlement and outline practical ways travel brands can replace slow wire transfers, hidden FX costs, and manual reconciliation with a unified, programmable global platform.

We unpack the real challenges tour operators face when pricing trips months in advance while paying suppliers in appreciating currencies. Erich explains how local payment rails, multi currency wallets, and like for like settlement reduce spreads and eliminate unnecessary fees at every stage. We also explore transparent FX with real time fee visibility, automated rules that lock in conversions at target rates, and programmatic execution that removes human delay from critical transactions.

Ready to meet the leaders driving the next phase of multi-day tour growth?

In this Event Preview Episode we’re taking you inside the plans for Arival 360 Valencia, a focused three-day gathering where operators, distributors, and travel tech leaders come together to talk tours, activities, attractions and this year, a significantly expanded Multi-Day Tour Program.

Building on the multi program success from Washington, DC, this isn’t just a side conversation. It’s a dedicated, strategic stream built specifically for multi-day operators looking to scale distribution, modernize tech, and build stronger partnerships across Europe and beyond.

Our first conversation features Bruce Rosard, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Arival, who shares why the expansion of the Multi-Day Stream reflects one of the biggest shifts happening in in-destination travel right now: operators moving from fragmented systems and manual processes toward scalable, connected distribution ecosystems.   

Most travel stories skip the middle. The ferries, buses, and trains that actually move us between major gateways and the places we are dreaming about rarely get the spotlight. In this episode, we focus on that overlooked backbone of the travel ecosystem with Travelier CEO and co-founder Noam Toister, whose company is digitizing ground and sea transport across more than 100 countries and thousands of operators. If flights and hotels have long benefited from seamless booking technology, this remains one of the last major frontiers in travel and it is transforming what is possible when building an itinerary.

People don’t just want to go somewhere anymore, they want to feel something. That emotional shift is powering the experience economy and changing how we celebrate love, milestones, and meaningful moments. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we sit down with Cody Sudmeier, co founder and CEO of Spur Experiences, to explore why gifting moments is quickly overtaking gifting things and how shared experiences create connection, joy, and memories that last far longer than anything wrapped in a box.

We trace Spur’s origin story back to wedding registries, where modern couples were outgrowing traditional houseware lists and craving something more personal. From there, Cody walks us through what makes experience gifting actually work in real life: instant booking, non expiring vouchers, and simple swaps when plans or preferences change. He also explains the psychology behind why experiences win, with happiness showing up three times over through anticipation, the moment itself, and the memories that follow. From food tours and hot springs to doors off helicopter rides and once in a lifetime access, we explore the categories people love most and how Spur helps match the right experience to the right person.

Big rooms. Bigger ideas. And a roadmap for what’s next in global tourism. In this event preview episode, we’re joined once again by Deborah Rothe, Director of ITB Berlin, to unpack what’s coming when more than 100,000 travel professionals from 170 countries converge in Berlin this March. From Angola’s host-country spotlight to Thailand’s major presence, we highlight the regions gaining momentum and the early signals that often shape the year ahead.

At the heart of ITB Berlin 2026 is a powerful guiding theme: leading tourism into balance. Deborah breaks down what that really means in practice, sustainable growth that still drives revenue, AI that builds trust and boosts conversion, and innovation that respects human values. On the eTravel Stage, expect hands-on demos showing how AI is transforming distribution, personalization, and service. Across marketing and strategy tracks, we explore how partnerships and value chains are evolving in real time, while destination sessions reframe accessibility and data-driven stewardship as true commercial advantages that increase yield and smooth seasonality.

The biggest surprise in travel tech right now isn’t a model, it’s a movement. From a 20 page memo to a Series C and $1.5B in annual sales, Fora’s rise has been powered by a community of 11,000 advisors, a product organization that ships fast, and a deep belief that hospitality is fundamentally human. Dan sat down with Co-founder and Chief Product & Technology Officer Jake Peters at Fora’s NYC headquarters to trace how a modern travel agency evolved into a full stack platform that blends e-commerce speed with the craft of advising.

Jake opens the door on Fora’s “better equation” for travel: equip advisors with world class tools, give suppliers precision distribution, and offer travelers live, transparent choices they can book at midnight. We dig into the nuts and bolts, from secure card vaults and AI powered booking ingestion to faster commission payouts and an itinerary and proposal builder that turns forwarded PDFs into polished, client ready plans. The breakout hit is bookable quotes with live rates and perks that drive real time upsell without friction. Up next is a client booking experience designed to capture last minute DIY trips while keeping the advisor at the center.

Luxury is changing fast and we wanted to know what it looks like when comfort, curiosity, and real local impact meet. Luxury is entering a new era, one defined less by thread counts and more by access, education, and meaningful impact. In this episode, we sit down with Yves Marceau, VP of Product at G Adventures, to explore the launch of National Geographic Signature with G Adventures and why it represents a fundamental shift in what high-end travel can be.

Built on a decade-long partnership and officially launching with more than 30 high-end trips across nearly 30 destinations, National Geographic Signature brings together National Geographic’s 135-year legacy of exploration, science, storytelling, and education with G Adventures’ 35+ years as a pioneer in community tourism. The result is a collection designed for culturally curious travelers who want deep learning, rare access, and five-star comfort without compromising values or local benefit.

A family basement isn't where you’d expect a global luggage brand to begin, but that’s exactly where the Heys story took flight. In this episode, we sit down with CEO Emran Sheikh to unpack four decades of innovation, bold design choices, and a proudly Canadian identity that now spans 75 countries. From candy-coloured hard shells that broke up a sea of black bags to Bluetooth-enabled smart locks powered by simple AA batteries, Heys has grown by solving real traveler problems rather than chasing trends that can’t survive airport rules.

The rails are buzzing for a reason: travelers want flexible journeys, city-center convenience, and window-seat scenery without the stress. At the Railbookers Global Summit, we sat down with CEO Frank Marini and three of his senior leaders to explore how a remote-first culture, deep trade partnerships, and an ambitious AI strategy are powering the renaissance of rail travel.

Frank breaks down a record year—27% growth overall and 39% in luxury rail—and why small groups and pre- and post-cruise extensions are surging.

We’re wrapping up our 2025 events spotlights with our biggest event episode ever, a 5+ hour special recorded live at Phocuswright San Diego. This landmark episode features 25 exclusive interviews with industry leaders shaping the future of travel, technology, distribution, and the in-destination experience.

This year’s Phocuswright was a standout event for Travel Trends, and we’re grateful to the entire Phocuswright team — especially Pete Comeau and Eugene Ko — for their partnership and support in making this recording possible so we can share these valuable insights with our global audience.

What happens when your customers stop “visiting” your website because their AI agents visit for them? That’s the future we explore with Dan Flores of Satisfi Labs, who went from helping grow Maverick Helicopters into a tourism powerhouse to pioneering agent-first customer experiences that sell tickets, qualify MICE leads, and streamline service for destinations, attractions, and tours.

We trace Satisfi’s origins in sports starting with the New York Mets and how fan-centric thinking now powers travel use cases. Dan breaks down the shift from simple FAQ chatbots to specialized AI agents with goals, context, and the ability to take action: a theme park agent that finds the closest chicken nuggets and orders ahead, or a destination agent that captures group details, routes leads by territory, and hands sales teams qualified briefs. We also dig into pricing models, build versus buy considerations, and how bespoke solutions graduate into platform-wide features that benefit the entire industry.

Recorded live in Puerto Natales, Chile, this special Event Spotlight takes you inside the Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) — the annual gathering of global adventure leaders hosted by the Adventure Travel Trade Association.

From rewilded national parks to the gravel roads of Aysén, from marble caves at sunrise to a tent shaking to the sounds of Los Jaivas, this episode captures the spirit of Patagonia — a rare mix of purpose and play.

Our host, Dan Christian shares his firsthand experience cycling through Patagonia on a five-day pre-summit adventure with CicloAustral, learning the meaning of “forest bathing,” and discovering how e-bikes, small groups, and community connection redefine sustainable adventure.

Recorded live from Washington, D.C., Arival 360 is the premier gathering for what many call the “1% of the experiences sector.” This meticulously curated event brings together visionary creators, resellers, technologists, and leaders from across the travel ecosystem — from day tour operators and multi-day specialists to innovative startups and global platforms like GetYourGuide and Viator — all united by one goal: shaping the future of travel experiences.

This special 5-hour event spotlight episode captures the energy and insight of the conference, featuring 15 exclusive interviews recorded on-site in September.

Want to jump straight to the conversations that matter most to you? Scroll down for timestamps and guest highlights from each interview.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.