The Folo by Travel Weekly

Today is all about travel brands making an entry into Europe river cruising. We’ve been surprised this year by the number of established names moving in to the Rhine, Danube and beyond: Celebrity, Trafalgar and National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions among them. With Lisa Fitzgerald, a river-cruise expert advisor and founder of Fitzgerald Travel, and river cruise editor Brinley Hineman, we’re exploring why each of these brands is approaching river, and how they’re doing it in different ways. We’ll also look at the popularity of emerging destinations around the world, and numbers from Viking, the biggest river cruise line. We also talk about Brinley’s trip on Riverside Luxury Cruises – this episode was recorded in mid-May, so that trip has already concluded, and we've included some of her reporting in the show notes. This episode was edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands. https://www.globusandcosmos.com At the end of this episode, stay on for a special, bonus discussion about the latest from the Globus Family of Brands between Camille Olivere, Globus' chief sales officer, and Mary Pat Sullivan, the executive vice president of marketing partnerships for Northstar Travel Group, Travel Weekly's parent company. Related reports Trafalgar's river cruise debut is seen as just a first step https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Trafalgar-river-cruise-debut-seen-as-just-a-first-step?ct=river Lindblad, Trafalgar, Waldorf: More companies are attracted to river cruising https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/river-cruise-attracts-more-travel-companies River cruise lines are excited that Celebrity is wading into the business -- why? https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/River-lines-react-to-Celebrity-Cruises-entry No slowing down for river cruising: 2026 looks better than 2025 https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/River-cruise-bookings-surging-for-2026?ct=river Dispatch, Riverside Debussy: An indulgent, fine-dining experience https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Fine-dining-in-the-Vintage-Room-on-Riverside-Debussy?ct=river Fitzgerald Travel https://fitzgeraldtravel.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re returning to a subject that we’ve talked about before on the Folo, but that just keeps continuing to grow and evolve, that’s cruise companies’ private islands and destinations. With us this week is Jay Schneider, the chief product innovation officer for Royal Caribbean International. And Royal Caribbean has been at the forefront of these discussions with its Perfect Day projects and now is moving forward with a destination in the South Pacific and a hotel in Chile for Antarctica guests on its Silversea brand. In this episode, cruise editor Teri West and Schneider talk about the inspiration for Royal’s thrill-and-chill vibes, competition and the evolution of land-and-sea vacations in the Caribbean. This was recorded May 29 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode was sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com Related links Perfect Day Mexico: Royal Caribbean previews its next frontier of fun https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-previews-Perfect-Day-Mexico The Grand Lucayan overhaul is an $827M bet on cruise tourism https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Grand-Lucayan-Resort-overhaul-analysis Royal Caribbean expects to open its South Pacific destination in early 2027 https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-renderings-for-Lelepa Holland America Line reveals plans for an upgraded Half Moon Cay https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-renderings-for-Lelepa MSC Cruises will develop a private island adjacent to Ocean Cay www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/MSC-Cruises-developing-luxury-island-near-Ocean-Cay Carnival Corp.'s private-destination plan: Update, build and promote https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-private-destination-plan NCLH starts construction of a pier on Great Stirrup Cay https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/NCLH-starts-construction-of-Great-Stirrup-Cay-pier The evolution of cruising's private islands https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/evolution-of-cruising-private-islands See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The opening of Universal Orlando Resort’s Epic Universe park has created new opportunities for theme-park lovers for the first time in nearly 25 years. What’s so special about the new Epic theme park? In this episode, retail editor Jamie Biesiada walks host Rebecca Tobin through innovations in ride technology, the queues and other Epic details – favorite or most surprising rides? -- and we talk about theme park performance in 2025 overall so far. And we discuss a few new tidbits from Walt Disney World's Cool Kid summer promotion and disclose details of a new nighttime parade. This episode was recorded May 30 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com Related links: Exploring the enchanting details at Epic Universe https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Enchanting-details-Epic-Universe Waiting in line at Epic Universe: Which has the best queue https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Best-queue-experience-Epic-Universe It's an Epic era for Universal Orlando, and Celestial Park sets the tone https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Epic-Universe-new-era-Universal-Orlando-Resort Walt Disney World's summer promo leads to a magic resort stay https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/The-magic-of-a-resort-day-at-Disney-World A Disneyland park is coming to Abu Dhabi https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disneyland-park-coming-to-Abu-Dhabi See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is going on with summer travel? As Americans prepare to take to the roads and skies, we’ve heard a lot of mixed messages from travel companies about what this year might bring: Just a few weeks ago we spoke on the Folo podcast about “chop” and “noise” in projecting future booking patterns. In this episode Hopper lead economist Hayley Berg returns to talk about her data: Whether Americans are traveling and, if so, where their summer plans might take them. We talk about the obvious destinations and the hidden gems -- plus one great summer-booking tip. With us is cruise editor Teri West, who looks into research from the Mastercard Economics Institute on its travel trend report. This episode was recorded Thursday, May 22 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com Related links: https://www.travelweekly.com/Asia-Travel/Asian-cities-shine-Mastercard-2025-travel-trends-report Volatility is making hotel forecasting difficult https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Volatility-making-hotel-forecasting-difficult Travel advisors voice their concerns about job cuts and the economy https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Travel-agents-voice-concerns-federal-job-cuts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The last two episodes have covered news topics like economic uncertainty and the troubles at Newark, so this week we’re going in a different direction: Literary tourism. That is, tours and travel based on a favorite book or character. Think Bath for Jane Austen or Prince Edward Island for L.M. Montgomery. London, Paris and New York .... any place a book club can dream up, there's probably a literary tour (or could be one). In this episode we talk about why literary tourism is growing in popularity with tours editor Brinley Hineman and Active England’s head of commercial, Gaby Cecil. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com Related links True story: Literary tourism grows in popularity https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/A-new-chapter-in-literary-tourism Active England Tours https://activeenglandtours.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What the heck is going on at EWR? Undoubtably the biggest news in travel this past week has to be the mess at Newark Airport in New Jersey. What started as complaints of unusual delays on one day in April has unfolded into a huge story about air traffic control system breakdowns, controllers on leave and the DOT’s request for billions of dollars to be earmarked for upgrades and fixes. With aviation editor Robert Silk and aviation expert and consultant Bob Mann, we break down what happened, why Newark is so hard to manage and what the solutions might be: Is the DOT proposal enough? This episode was recorded Friday May 9 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com Related links: FAA pledges fixes for Newark, but delays could continue https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/FAA-pledges-Newark-fixes-but-disruptions-could-continue White House proposes overhaul of air traffic control system https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Trump-administration-proposes-overhaul-ATC-system Outdated technology and stress-related absences contribute to chaos at Newark Airport https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Air-traffic-control-challenges-Newark-Airport Air traffic controllers briefly lose radar access again at Newark https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Air-traffic-controllers-briefly-lose-radar-access-again-Newark-airport See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re still in first-quarter earnings season, but we’ve been watching travel company results closely, to give us some signs on which way the travel industry is heading. The conclusion? There’s not really one yet – as you’ll hear here, results and predictions are up, down and sideways. In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, news editor Johanna Jainchill and hospitality editor Christina Jelski look at both U.S. traveler sentiment and the inbound travel markets and what the numbers are telling us – and what we might expect to see next – and why is everyone talking about the “noise?” This episode was recorded Friday May 2 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com Related reports: Amid economic volatility, the cruise industry shows resilience https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Amid-economic-volatility-cruise-industry-shows-resilience Volatility is making hotel forecasting difficult https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Volatility-making-hotel-forecasting-difficult?ct=hotels Hyatt's all-inclusive resorts shine amind leisure travel challenges https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hyatt-all-inclusive-resorts-shine-amid-leisure-travel-challenges?ct=hotels United will reduce domestic flying this summer https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/United-earnings-Q1-2025 Low-cost vs legacy: Which type of airline will do better in a downturn? https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Can-low-cost-airlines-thrive-in-trying-times Previous episodes: Why many Canadians are avoiding travel to the U.S. https://omny.fm/shows/the-folo-by-travel-weekly/why-many-canadians-are-avoiding-u-s-travel See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As you’ll hear in this discussion, it’s Earth Month, and we couldn’t not have an episode about sustainability efforts within travel. Here, host Rebecca Tobin speaks with Paula Vlammings, the chief impact officer of nonprofit Tourism Cares, and Travel Weekly hospitality editor Christina Jekski about some of the hot topics of 2025. Topics we cover: Solutions to overtourism; why travelers don’t want to pay more for green travel initiatives; and whether recent shifts in U.S. policy will have an impact on sustainability efforts. This episode was recorded April 24 and was edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by The TTC Tour Brands https://agents.ttc.com/login Related links: Sustainability-minded hotels are staying the course https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Sustainability-minded-hotels-staying-the-course Arnie Weissmann’s From the Window Seat column: CLIA: “Regulate us. please!” https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/CLIA-Regulate-us-Please From 2024: A focus on overtourism overlooks destinations’ problems: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Overtourism-focus-misses-destination-problems From 2024: Overtourism solutions: putting residents first https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Tourism-related-issues-need-right-approach-experts-say Tourism Cares: https://www.tourismcares.org/ Note: This episode is ahead of the news: A column by Christina Jelski on Trina White and the Parkside Hotel & Spa will be published later this week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's still a niche trend, but maybe not for long: Younger travelers are increasingly seeking out alcohol-free tours. The rise of tour options for sober and sober-curious travelers comes as more people are cutting back on booze -- or eliminating it altogether. In this episode we’re examining the trend with Heather Leisman, the president of EF Ultimate Break, and tours editor Brinley Hineman. Among our topics today: What is sober curious travel, whether zero-proof and mocktail culture have contributed to the trend, what’s the vibe on a sober tour and how travel options can be expanded for those living the sober lifestyle. This episode was recorded April 18 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by The TTC Tour Brands https://agents.ttc.com/login Related links: There's a growing thirst of sober travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Growing-thirst-for-sober-travel Due to high interest, EF Ultimate Break adds more sober tours https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/EF-Ultimate-Break-adds-more-sober-tours A 2022 home-based travel agent insight: Exploring, and enjoying, sober travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Insights/Exploring-and-enjoying-sober-travel A 2022 cover story: Zero-proof cocktails are in demand at high-end hotels and cruise ships https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Hold-the-booze EF Ultimate Break's Sober Adventures https://www.efultimatebreak.com/trip-collections/sober-adventures See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the new Department of Government Efficiency began making cuts to the federal workforce, Travel Weekly began looking at the effect of those cuts on travel advisors, particularly those who are Washington-based and may have clients who are employed by the government. And we decided to go further with a reader survey about the effects of government cutbcks on travel. Retail editor Jamie Biesiada and host Rebecca Tobin talk about the results of that survey today, which included overall concerns our survey respondents had about travel, and whether their clients are feeling anxious about traveling abroad. This episode was recorded Friday April 4 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by The TTC Tour Brands https://agents.ttc.com/login Related links: Travel advisors voice their concerns about federal job cuts and the economy https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Travel-agents-voice-concerns-federal-job-cuts After tariff turmoil, there’s concern that Trump’s policies will hurt travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Tariff-turmoil-causes-worries-about-travel Federal job cuts affect official and leisure travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Federal-government-layoffs-affect-travel From Travel Weekly’s archives (2001): Camouflage passports https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Reality-Bytes-A-new-identity-in-a-crisisSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Seatrade Cruise Global opening this week, it’s the industry’s time to hear from the biggest voices in cruise, and we’re adding our voices here. Host Rebecca Tobin, cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and news editor Johanna Jainchill look at a wrapup to Wave season, whether tariff talk or stock market convulsions have impacted the business and what to expect from two big cruise ship debuts this week. And we say farewell to Andrea: We talk about our favorite stories from her three years at Travel Weekly, and where she’s headed next – and her serendipitous “trail name” of Water Girl. This episode was recorded April 4 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by The TTC Tour Brands https://agents.ttc.com/login Related links There’s tariff talk and stock market unease, but Carnival Corp. says its brands are thriving https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/tariff-threats-stock-volatility-Carnival-thriving Latest on Cruising’s Wave: Analyst says 2025 is a ‘strong’ year https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/analyst-says-strong-wave-season-2025 Carnival Corp.’s private-destination update: Update, build and promote https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-private-destination-plan Norwegian Aqua preview: Many pluses for the Prima-plus ship https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Many-pluses-on-the-upcoming-Norwegian-Aqua Alaska’s cruise conundrum: How Juneau is managing the crowds https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Alaska-cruise-conundrum Next-gen Internet at sea (from 2022) https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Nextgen-internet-at-sea Andrea Zelinski’s Instagram: @adventuresofwatergirlSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we talk about a phenomenon that has surfaced after President Trump took office: A cooling of travel demand to the U.S. from Canada. And as we’re seeing now, the demand drop may be deeper than originally thought. On this discussion, Natasha Lair-McKenty, the managing editor of TravelPulse Canada, and McKensie McMillan, a travel advisor at Vancouver-based The Travel Group, about what some Canadian travelers are thinking and why, the importance of the Canadian market to the U.S. travel businesses, where they’re going instead of the U.S. and how advisors are coping with the change. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by TTC Tour Brands Related links: Canadians stay away from U.S. travel amid political backlash https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Canadians-stay-away-from-US-amid-political-backlash Canada-U.S. air bookings down over 70% through summer, OAG says https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Air-travel-from-Canada-drops-for-key-summer-season Tariff talk seems to chill some travel from Canda to the U.S. https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Tariff-talk-effect-travel-Canada-to-USA Arnie Weissmann's column "Welcome to Fortress America!" https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/Welcome-to-Fortress-America Travel Pulse Canada https://www.travelpulse.ca/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we’re talking again about Southwest Airlines, which shocked some of its loyal customers about two weeks ago by getting rid of its long-advertised “bags fly free” perk. But that’s just one in a series of changes Southwest is making that make it seem, well, less like Southwest and more like traditional legacy airlines: Adding extra-legroom seats, eliminating open seating and updating its loyalty strategy. In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, airlines editor Robert Silk and Hospitio founder Brad Beakley break down some of the changes and ask -- why? How will flyers benefit? What else does Southwest need to do to compete with the Big Three? And what will it take for Southwest to retain the “love?” This episode was recorded March 21 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by The TTC Tour Brands https://agents.ttc.com/login Related links: Southwest CEO: No competitive advantage from free checked bags https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Southwest-scraps-free-checked-bags-analysis Southwest quietly reduces reward points for lowest fareshttps://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Southwest-quietly-cuts-reward-points-for-lowest-fares Frontier taunts Southwest with free-checked-bags promotion https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Frontier-taunts-Southwest-checked-bag-promotion The Dallas Observer op/ed on Southwest: https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/dallas-southwest-airlines-gets-worse-with-end-of-free-bag-policy-21906895 Is Southwest's planned ascent too slow for key investor? https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Is-Southwest-planned-ascent-too-slow-for-Elliott Brad Beakley's consultancy firm Hospitio https://www.hospitio.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How has the Trump administration has been impacting hotels and travel? One might look at the visitation numbers in the Palm Beaches area of Florida, where President Trump's Mar a Lago estate is located, to see one impact of a “Trump bump” on visitation. Another aspect is the immigration crackdown -- and whether the administration's plans to deport illegal workers has had any impact within the hospitality business. In this episode, Travel Weekly hotels editor Christina Jelski and Peter Ricci, the director of the Hospitality and Tourism Management program at Florida Atlantic University, talk about both topics. In our first section: How the Palm Beaches has surpassed Miami-Dade in key hotel metrics and why Trump's presence might be drawing visitors to the region. In the second half of the episode: Whether hotels should be concerned about the specter of mass deportations, and the continuing scarcity of hospitality workers. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by The TTC Tour Brands https://agents.ttc.com/login Related links Palm Beach's presidential presence gives the area's tourism a 'Trump bump' https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Palm-Beach-presidential-presence-gives-area-tourism-Trump-bump Hospitality grapples with the specter of mass deportations https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hospitality-grapples-with-specter-of-mass-deportations Immigration policy concerns take center stage at the ALIS conference https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Immigration-policy-concerns-at-ALIS Peter Ricci's bio https://www.fau.edu/experts/profile/?expert=peter.ricci See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel advisors are often encouraged to seek out the more stable, and more lucrative, luxury market. But one question you might not have asked yourself is: What if you can’t speak the language? There’s definitely a right way to communicate with luxury-market clientele, both obvious and subtle. On this episode host Rebecca Tobin and senior editor Jamie Beisiada talk with travel experts from Embark Beyond: CEO Jack Ezon and advisor Laura Worth, who have identified this challenge – and created a series of training modules to help advisors follow the Billionaire’s Calendar; converse beyond travel in art, fashion and yachts; how to read luxury-brand tea leaves; and ways advisors can “fake it till they make it.” Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by The TTC Tour Brands https://agents.ttc.com/login Related links: Learning the language of luxury https://www.travelweekly.com/Luxury-Travel/Learning-the-language-of-luxury The surge in the six-figure vacation https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/The-six-figure-vacation-surge Embark Beyond on Travel Weekly's Power List https://www.travelweekly.com/Power-List-2024/Embark-Beyond Laura Worth of of Art & Travel https://www.artandtravel.net/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly everybody gets travel inspiration from the social media accounts they follow, or from accounts that are shown on their feeds. Today we’re looking at the people who have charted a path down food and travel influencing – or, as they like to be known, content creators – but specifically by and for Black food and travel businesses and travelers. And we’re mingling this with a new study from MMGY that talks about the size and scope of the Black travel market, now up to a spend of $145 billion in 2023, mostly on transportation and food and beverage. Talking travel and content creation today are the author of our cover story on the subject, Mariette Williams, and Richmond, Va.-based Dominic Brown, who created and manages the account and website Tall Travel Eats. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by TTC Tour Brands https://agents.ttc.com/login Related links Black food influencers explore and inspire https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Following-Black-influencers MMGY’s latest report on Black travel spending: https://mmgyintel.com/u-s-black-travel-market-is-now-a-145-billion-audience-according-to-new-research/ Dominic Brown https://talltraveleats.com/ Mariette Williams https://www.instagram.com/mariettewrites/ Instagram accounts for influencers in this episode Dominic Brown aka @talltraveleats https://www.instagram.com/talltraveleats/ Sierra Redmond aka @Iamsierrared https://www.instagram.com/iamsierrared Mitzie Lewis aka @Frencht0asty https://www.instagram.com/frencht0asty Avyana Chapman aka @Goodeatsonlyyy https://www.instagram.com/goodeatsonlyyy/ Journeys With Kris aka @journeyswithkris https://www.instagram.com/journeyswithkris/ Martinique Lewis aka @marty_sandiego https://www.instagram.com/marty_sandiego/ Black Foodie https://www.instagram.com/blackfoodie.co/ Shakeema Smith, aka The Passport Abuser https://www.instagram.com/thepassportabuser/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, Cruise Planners CEO Michelle Fee and Norwegian Cruise Line sales exec John Chernesky joined cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and host Rebecca Tobin to talk about the new cruise-ship class of 2025. This week, they're talking about Wave season, the industry’s period of big sales and good deals, and general trends. Is year’s Wave a wave or a tsunami? Other topics of note: Does Wave start in January, or has it moved backwards into the holiday season? And what’s the story with onboard spending? This week, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings will report its Q4 and full-year 2024 results, and that will provide additional color into how this year’s Wave is going. We’ll try to provide an update to that in our upcoming Folo episodes. This episode was recorded Feb. 5, nearly three weeks ahead of NCLH's earnings call. The episode has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Riverside Luxury Cruises: https://www.riverside-cruises.com Related links: Andrea Zelinski's reporting on the 2025 Wave season: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Early-report-2025-Wave-season Royal Caribbean Group's record start to Wave: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-Group-reports-record-start-to-Wave-season Carnival Corp. sets company record for full-year revenue: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-Corp-earnings-Q4-2024 Our previous episode with Michelle Fee and John Chernesky on new ships in 2025: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/the-importance-of-new-cruise-ships-of-2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re back with new episodes of the Folo, and we’re kicking it off with two back-to- back episodes about cruise. And why not -- it’s Wave season. In this first episode we have three cruise industry experts talking about the new ships coming out in 2025: Cruise Planners CEO Michelle Fee; Norwegian Cruise Line senior vice president of North America sales John Chernesky; and Travel Weekly cruise editor Andrea Zelinski. From big ships to small, in the luxury and contemporary categories, what drives cruisers to these ships? Is big better? How have these new cruise ships evolved to cater to customer demand? This is part 1 of a two-part series. Next week: Early signs of Wave season. This episode was recorded Feb. 5 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by Riverside Luxury Cruises https://www.riverside-cruises.com Related links Cruising’s new-ship class of 2025, parts 1 and 2 https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/new-ship-class-of-2025-part-1 https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/new-ship-class-of-2025-part-2 Many pluses on the upcoming Norwegian Aqua https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Many-pluses-on-the-upcoming-Norwegian-Aqua Cruise Planners: www.cruiseplanners.com Norwegian Cruise Line: https://www.ncl.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One trend we've noticed taking shape recently is the rising popularity of women-only tours. From on-the-ground adventures in far flung destinations like Saudi Arabia and Morocco to a luxurious river cruise in France’s wine country, there are options galore for today’s so-called “queenagers.” In this episode, reporter Tom Stieghorst shares his insights and his reporting, and Shirnett Fleet, the chief marketing officer of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, talks about what women-only tours offer, where the trend is headed and why it's moved from niche to mainstream. This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded Nov. 21 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by Riverside Luxury Cruises https://www.riverside-cruises.com Related links Women-only tours: A niche that is going mainstream https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/The-growth-of-women-only-tours A women-only cruise leans into luxury https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/women-only-river-cruise-uniworld-luxury Uniworld: https://www.uniworld.com Background on the term 'queenager' https://eleanormills.substack.com/p/eleanors-letter-what-is-a-queenager See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we’re featuring the second half of a special episode of Trade Secrets, a sister podcast to the Folo by Travel Weekly that is co-produced by Jamie Biesiada, a senior editor at Travel Weekly, and Emma Weissmann, the executive editor of TravelAge West. In this episode, Jamie and Emma take a rapid-fire look at 25 trends for 2025, starting in the mid-teens and working their way up to Number 25. This second half is a little more travel industry- and advisor- focused. Let us know if you're seeing any of these trends come to the fore at your agency. This episode has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Riverside Luxury Cruises https://www.riverside-cruises.com Related links: Part 1 of Trade Secrets 25 trends for 2025: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/trade-secrets-editors-predict-travel-trends-1 A host of problems https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/A-host-of-problems New details emerge on Universal Horror Unleashed experience in Las Vegas https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/new-detail-Universal-Horror-Unleashed-Las-Vegas Travel Weekly's 2024 Travel Industry Survey https://www.travelweekly.com/For-Travel-Agents/Travel-Industry-Survey V-shaped plane is one step closer to reality https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/V-shaped-plane-is-one-step-closer-to-reality The new autonomous wheelchairs at Miami Airport https://news.miami-airport.com/miami-dade-mayor-and-american-airlines-announce-new-autonomous-wheelchairs-at-mia/ Additional info: The music used in the Trade Secrets podcast is Sock Hop, by Kevin MacLeodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Folo by Travel Weekly we are featuring a special episode of Trade Secrets, a sister podcast to the Folo that is co-produced by Jamie Biesiada, a senior editor at Travel Weekly, and Emma Weissmann, the executive editor of TravelAge West. In this episode, Jamie and Emma take a rapid-fire look at 25 trends for 2025. This episode is split into two parts: The first, which you're listening to here, focuses on consumer-related travel trends that Emma and Jamie think will be popular. The second half, which is a little more travel industry- and advisor- focused, will air next week. This episode was edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode of the Folo by Travel Weekly is sponsored by Collette Vacations: https://www.gocollette.com/travel-advisors Related links: From Travel Weekly: Preview 2025 https://www.travelweekly.com/preview-2025 From TravelAge West, The top 5 trends for 2025 From TravelAge West, This cruise expert reached $3 million in annual sales using TikTok From Travel Weekly, Women-only tours: A niche that is going mainstream From Travel Weekly, Summer of the destination ‘dupes’ Additional notes: The music used in the Trade Secrets podcast is Sock Hop, by Kevin MacLeodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re turning to every traveler’s favorite – or least favorite – topic this week, and that’s airfares. After aviation editor Robert Silk wrote an article on which way air prices are trending in 2025, we asked Scott Keyes, the founder of Going -- an app that combines software and human Flight Experts to uncover flight deals and mistake fares and send them to its 2 million-plus members -- to come onto the episode with Silk and host Rebecca Tobin. Together, we unpack the numbers further and ask: Why are fares trending upward? What does that mean for airfare bargain-hunters? And when is the best time to book a flight (and should you wait for a last-second deal)? This episode was recorded Jan. 17 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Collette Vacations: www.gocollette.com/travel-advisors Related links: Higher airfares are expected in the first half of 2025 https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Higher-airfares-expected-first-half-2025 Going https://www.going.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In last week’s episode we delved into the trends and predictions for several aspects of the travel business: aviation, cruise, hotel and the outlook for travel advisors. This week, host Rebecca Tobin asks Tom Stieghorst, our interim cruise and river cruise editor, to share some of his findings for 2025. We draw on a new survey from the U.S. Tour Operators Association to look at what tour operators are most concerned about. And, of course, we look at top destinations for travelers this year. In the last section of the episode, we have the final piece of the initial discussion: Where the rest of our travel team is headed this year. Each trip reveals a minitrend in destination or travel style, like the opening of a new theme park in Orlando, expedition travel to Antarctica, the popularity of Las Vegas and, for your Folo diehards out there, competitive sitting. These episodes were recorded separately. The interview with Tom Stieghorst took place Jan. 3, and the discussion with the other editors was Dec. 13. Both were edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Collette Vacations https://www.gocollette.com/travel-advisors Related links: Preview 2025 https://www.travelweekly.com/Preview-2025 Politics replaces the economy as a chief concern of tour operators https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Politics-chief-concern-USTOA-poll Globus gears up for a big year in Italy https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Globus-gearing-up-for-busy-year-in-Italy?ct=tours See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to our annual Preview episode, where we gaze into our crystal bal and draw on interviews with expert sources to talk about what we’ll be seeing in the next 12 months, travel-wise. Iin this episode we examine the overall health of the business, changes in the luxury sector and what might happen on the aviation-regulatory-merger front, especially with the Trump administration set to enter. Featuring: Host Rebecca Tobin and four of Travel Weekly’s senior editors: Jamie Biesiada, who covers retail; Andrea Zelinski, who covers cruise; Robert Silk, who covers aviation; and Christina Jelski, who covers hospitality. This conversation was recorded Dec. 13, 2024, so a note of caution: At some points in this conversation we make reference to “this year” and “next year” which can be stand-in terms for 2024 and 2025, depending on the context. Related links: Travel Weekly's 2025 Preview https://www.travelweekly.com/Preview-2025 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s time for our semi-annual drop-in to the ski industry. Dan Sherman of Ski.com, ski blogger and podcaster Stuart Winchester and our in-house ski reporter Robert Silk talk about the major trends for skiers and riders, namely, Japan and Europe. There's big demand for ski vacations this year: Why? We talk about the tricks to scoring cheaper-than-the-window ticket pricing, which at some resorts is now at or above $300. And the big question each December: Where is everybody headed this year? This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded Nov. 12 and has been edited for insight and clarity. Related links: Alterra CEO addresses soaring daily prices at ski resorts https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Alterra-CEO-addresses-soaring-daily-prices Big and small resorts: The Colorado Ski experience https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Focus-on-Ski-Mountain-Travel-2024 Deer Valley expansion is ahead of schedule https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Deer-Valley-expansion-ahead-of-schedule Rebecca Tobin's report on Jackson Hole: Rising to new challenges at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Rising-to-new-challenges-at-Jackson-Hole Stuart Winchester's Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast https://www.stormskiing.com/ Ski.com https://www.ski.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel Industry Survey is our annual, premier research product that surveys travel advisors about their business. To dig deeper into the report’s data and talk about how it dovetails with everyday business trends, we’ve invited retail reporter Jamie Biesiada and news editor Johanna Jainchill to talk about what the survey said about booking trends, preferred products, education and support, technology uses, marketing strategies, outlook and concerns. This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded Nov. 12 and has been edited for length and clarity. Travel Industry Survey is produced in partnership with Phocuswright, the travel research company under the Northstar Travel Group umbrella. Related links Travel Industry Survey 2024: https://www.travelweekly.com/Industry-Survey-2024 Travel Industry Survey 2023: https://www.travelweekly.com/industry-survey-2023 Phocuswright: https://www.phocuswright.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s time for our annual Year in Review discussion, where we look back at some of the biggest travel-related stories and trends of 2024. Joining us on this episode is news editor Johanna Jainchill, the architect of our Year in Review report, and retail editor Jamie Biesiada, to talk (among others) about travel “normalization,” the embrace of generative AI, a big year for cruise, companies that went under in 2024, American Airlines’ failed NDC strategy and the Taylor Swift effect on travel. This episode was recorded Dec. 13 and has been edited for length and clarity. Related articles The year in review, 2024 https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/2024-year-in-review Growth has slowed, but it's still a great time for the travel industry https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/WTTC-Global-Summit-2024 Is this cruising's 'golden era'? https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Is-this-cruising-golden-era Q&A with Hornblower CEO Mike Flaskey https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Mike-Flaskey-Hornblower-Group The Taylor Swift effect on hotels https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Taylor-Swift-effect-on-hotels Alienating travel agencies could cost American $1.5 billion https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/American-Airlines-earnings-Q2-2024 Arnie Weissmann's From the Window Seat column, July 2022: Travel's pandemic bankruptcy record https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/With-Crystal-revival-a-major-miracle See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's travel trend is the growing popularity of women-only tours. From on-the-ground adventures in far flung destinations like Saudi Arabia and Morocco to a luxurious river cruise in France's wine country, there are options galore for today's so-called “queenagers.”  We've asked reporter Tom Stieghorst to share his insights and his reporting, and Shirnett Fleet, the chief marketing officer of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, to talk about what women-only tours offer, where the trend is headed and why it's moved from niche to mainstream. This episode was recorded Nov. 21 and has been edited for length and clarity.  Related links Women-only tours: A niche that is going mainstream https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/The-growth-of-women-only-tours A women-only cruise leans into luxury https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/women-only-river-cruise-uniworld-luxury Uniworld: https://www.uniworld.com Background on the term 'queenager' https://eleanormills.substack.com/p/eleanors-letter-what-is-a-queenager  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time for our semi-annual drop-in to the ski industry. It's the unofficial start to the season, so it seemed like a perfect time to gather a few experts -- Dan Sherman of Ski.com, ski blogger and podcaster Stuart Winchester and our in-house ski reporter Robert Silk -- to talk about the major trends for skiers and riders, namely, Japan. And Europe. There's big demand for ski vacations this year: Why? We talk about the tricks to scoring cheaper-than-the-window ticket pricing, which at some resorts is now at or above $300. And the big question each December: Where is everybody headed this year?  This episode was recorded Nov. 12 and has been edited for insight and clarity.  Related links: Alterra CEO addresses soaring daily prices at ski resorts https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Alterra-CEO-addresses-soaring-daily-prices Big and small resorts: The Colorado Ski experience https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Focus-on-Ski-Mountain-Travel-2024 Deer Valley expansion is ahead of schedule https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Deer-Valley-expansion-ahead-of-schedule Rebecca Tobin's report on Jackson Hole: Rising to new challenges at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Rising-to-new-challenges-at-Jackson-Hole Stuart Winchester's Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast https://www.stormskiing.com/ Ski.com https://www.ski.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black Friday has become a bona fide travel phenomenon, encompassing not only the day itself and the burgeoning Travel Tuesday, but stretching into an entire season. To talk about trends in length of the sales, destinations on sale and other observations, we've invited Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper, and Travel Weekly senior editor for hospitality Christina Jelski to talk about what they've seen this year. This episode was recorded Thursday Nov. 22 and has been edited for length and clarity. Related links:  Black Friday travel promotions extend well before and after Thanksgiving https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Black-Friday-travel-promotions-2024 Hopper https://www.hopper.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Travel Industry Survey is our annual, premier research product that surveys travel advisors about their business: Booking trends, preferred products, education and support, technology uses, marketing strategies, outlook and concerns.  This year, to dig deeper into the report's data and talk about how it dovetails with everyday business trends, we've invited retail reporter Jamie Biesiada and news editor Johanna Jainchill – our chief editorial stewards of the Survey – to talk. This episode was recorded Tuesday Nov. 12 and has been edited for length and clarity. The Travel Industry Survey is produced in partnership with Phocuswright, the travel research company under the Northstar Travel Group umbrella. Related links: Travel Industry Survey: https://www.travelweekly.com/Industry-Survey-2024 Travel Industry Survey 2023: https://www.travelweekly.com/Industry-Survey-2023 Phocuswright: https://www.phocuswright.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's only been a few days since the election, but already we're wondering: What will happen to travel policy under the Trump administration?  Naturally quite a bit can change from Biden to Trump -- and even from the first Trump administration -- and in this episode we talk with Johanna Jainchill, our news editor and travel-policy reporter, and View from the Wing's Gary Leff about what kids of changes we might expect on several fronts: visa processing and travel bans, antitrust and airline combinations, the FAA, recent rules on refunds and disclosures, plus what might become of extensive requests for information from the departments of justice and transportation.  This episode was recorded Friday, Nov. 8 and has been edited for length and clarity. Related links From air mergers to visas: How Trump's win could impact travel policy https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Travel-expects-policy-changes-as-Trump-wins-the-presidency Travel groups congratulate Trump and lay out policy agendas https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/travel-groups-congratulate-trump-on-presidency View from the Wing https://viewfromthewing.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we're talking about the positive momentum in the cruise industry with senior editor Andrea Zelinski. Now that the third quarter has closed, and our annual CruiseWorld conference is about to begin in Fort Lauderdale, we ask: What are travel advisors, analysts and the cruise lines themselves seeing in cruise – and what are some of the scenarios that would break the cruise lines' stride?  This episode was recorded Friday, Nov. 1 and has been edited for length and clarity. Related links Is this cruising's 'golden era'? https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Is-this-cruising-golden-era The biggest cruise developments this year, according to travel advisors https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Focus-on-Cruise-What-advisors-are-buzzing-about Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings breaks another performance record https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Norwegian-Cruise-Line-Q3-2024-earnings-report CEO says new cruisers are flocking to Royal Caribbean Group https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-Group-earnings-Q3-2024 Carnival Corp. continues record streak of revenue https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-Corp-continues-streak-record-revenue  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tensions in the Middle East have been front and center for more than a year, from Hamas' attack on Israel and continuing with escalations between Israel and Iran. What does that mean for travel in the region? Thanks to reporting by acting tours editor Tom Stieghorst, we've got a snapshot of travel demand – and in this episode he talks with news editor Johanna Jainchill and host Rebecca Tobin about how and where people are traveling to the region. This conversation was recorded Oct. 18 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com Related links: Middle East tension stays high, and travel stays slow https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Middle-East-tension-stays-high-travel-slow Delta extends pause on Israel flights through the end of 2024 https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Delta-extends-Israel-flight-pause-end-2024 Travel executives visit Israel with the goal to 'inspire and educate' https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Travel-executives-visit-Israel-with-a-mission From the Window Seat: Should independent travelers engage in thorny foreign politics? https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/The-meaning-of-meaningSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we're looking at the impacts of hurricanes Milton and Helene on Florida's tourism economy. Florida is such an important state for tourism that whenever a hurricane slams through it's news. Here, host Rebecca Tobin, hotels editor Christina Jelski and Peter Ricci, the director of the Tourism and Hospitality Management program at Florida Atlantic University, talk about how the recent hurricanes might reshape the tourism landscape on Florida's Gulf Coast. We also discuss short-and long-term impacts to other travel destinations like Orlando and the right kind of marketing messaging that would encourage travelers to return after a storm.  What's the status of tourism in the hard-hit areas of North Carolina? We've added links to the show notes about travel organizations' relief and fundraising efforts.  This episode was recorded Oct. 17 and has been edited for length and clarity. It's important to note that this is a developing story, so any information in this episode about cities or regions might be change as the hurricane recovery process continues. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com Related links: After Milton's wrath, experts see a reshaping of Florida's West Coast https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Reshaping-Florida-tourism-after-Milton-and-Helene How does American Airlines prep for a hurricane? A visit to its operations center shows how https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/How-does-AA-prep-for-a-hurricane Relief efforts: Internova charity arm seeks to help travel professionals affected by Helene https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Internova-help-for-Helene-affected-advisors Carnival president skydives over Tampa for hurricane relief https://www.carnival-news.com/2024/10/19/carnival-cruise-line-president-christine-duffy-skydives-over-tampa-for-hurricane-relief Community Resources and travel information, via Explore Asheville https://always.exploreasheville.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier in this season, we talked about the popularity and trends surrounding all-inclusive resorts. But some listeners – advisors and travelers alike – may not know there's a growing all-inclusive market in Europe. And the resorts are different from the traditional inclusive properties in Punta Cana or Cancun. On this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and hotels editor Christina Jelski brought together three advisors -- Abbey Meyer, cofounder of Sky High Travel Advisors, Heather Huber, an advisor with Vincent Vacations; and Lynnette Pena, independent travel advisor with CS Elements Travel -- with whom she traveled to Mallorca, Spain, to see two all-inclusive resorts under the Secrets and Zoetry brands. We discuss the differences between those resorts and the traditional product; plus the difference between the Secrets and Zoetry. Who might be the best client, and why?  This episode was recorded Monday, Oct. 7, and has been edited for length and clarity.  Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com Related reports Hyatt is counting on advisors to promote Europe all-inclusives to Americans https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hyatt-promotion-Europe-all-inclusives After a demand boom for all-inclusives, signs point to a slowdown https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Slowdown-all-inclusive-demand AMResorts showcases its stable of European all-inclusives (from 2022) https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/AMResorts-showcases-Europe-all-inclusives    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're now in the run-up to the holidays, also known as the festive season. And it's a busy time for travel advisors planning their clients' last big trip of the year. But this year, things are a little different.  In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and retail editor Jamie Biesiada talk with travel advisors affiliated with the Gifted Travel Network – Jamey Duffy of Duffy Destinations and Robin Hutson of Luxe Recess – as well as Gifted chief sales and marketing officer Vanessa McGovern, to talk about this year's pace of bookings, where people are going, what they want out of their vacations, and tips for travelers heading out of town during the holidays.  Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com Related links: Home-based agent insight: Festive season gets going https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Insights/Festive-season-gets-going Gifted Travel Network https://www.giftedtravelnetwork Luxe Recess: https://www.luxerecess.com Duffy Destinations: https://www.duffydestinations.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the beginning of September the U.S. Department of Transportation began an investigation into airline loyalty programs of American, Delta, United and Southwest. The goal, it said, was to protect consumers from potential unfair, deceptive or anticompetitive practice. And as DOT secretary Pete Buttigieg said, airline rewards programs have become a “meaningful part of the U.S. economy and a major part of the airline business model.” How big? The trade group Airlines for America has estimated that there are nearly 30 million U.S. airline-industry credit card holders.  In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, aviation editor Robert Silk and Nick Ewen, senior editorial director at The Points Guy, take a look at the DOT probe and a new bill that targets loyalty points. Plus we talk about the value of the programs to consumers, and how to best to use those points, top perks and more.  This episode was recorded Tuesday Sept. 24 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com Related links The DOT probe into loyalty programs: Necessary move or overreach? https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/DOT-airline-rewards-probe-analysis Sen. Dick Durbin takes aim at airline loyalty programs in new bill https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Durbin-bill-airline-loyalty-programs The Points Guy https://thepointsguy.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cruising in Alaska has ballooned in popularity since the pandemic. The lines have invested newer, bigger ships and stretched the season longer. But as growth occurs, concerns of overtourism rise, too. The capital, Juneau, is introducing passenger limits in order to curb crowding, and other ports are watching the move closely. On this episode, host Rebecca Tobin talks with cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and Russell Dick, the CEO of Alaska native corporation Huna Totem, which has been working in cruise port development for 20 years, on the current situation in the Last Frontier. Huna Totem has a different perspective on cruise growth, and its port-development plan is one its on which its hoping to expand. This episode was recorded Sept. 6 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways: https://www.amawaterways.com Related links: Huna Totem Corp. https://www.hunatotem.com/ Alaska's cruise conundrum https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Alaska-cruise-conundrum On the Record: Carnival Corp.'s Robert Morgenstern on the future of Alaska cruising https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Robert-Morgenstern-Carnival-Corp-Alaska-cruising Royal Caribbean is partnering to bring free Internet access to downtown Juneau https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Alaska-cruise-conundrum Tyler Hickman of Icy Strait Point on growth and managing Alaska cruising https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Tyler-Hickman-Icy-Strait-Point Cruise lines tap Alaska demand with record deployment https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-lines-tap-Alaska-demand-record-deployment    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the more ambitious plans to come out of cruising's pandemic pause was from Royal Caribbean International: a world cruise on the Serenade of the Seas. It was notable for being an extremely long cruise, at 274 days, and from a contemporary line – a brand not used to the nuances of a lengthy voyage. And not only did Royal Caribbean embark on what it called the Ultimate World Cruise, it took on social media influencers who chronicled the trip on a day-by-day – and even hour by hour – basis. The cruise wrapped this month in Miami, with Royal Caribbean brass joining the Serenade for its last few days down the eastern seaboard. On this episode, host Rebecca Tobin talks with Royal's senior vice president of sales, service and trade marketing Vicki Freed about the endeavor: Why it was conceived, how it blossomed into a nearly yearlong cruise, a big advisor sale and lessons learned for a (possible) future world cruise. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com Related reports: Royal Caribbean International: www.royalcaribbean.com A TikTok sensation, Royal Caribbean's world cruise comes to an end https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Ultimate-World-Cruise-analysis Cruise Insight: A new era of world cruising https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/Holland-America-world-cruise-new-era The Ultimate World Cruise is a social media bonanza https://www.travelweekly.com/Richard-Turen/This-might-be-the-worlds-biggest-cruise-story Michael Bayley talks Icon and the world cruise at CruiseWorld https://www.travelweekly.com/CruiseWorld-Coverage/Bayley-talks-Royal-Caribbean-world-cruise-and-Ikon-of-the-Seas Travel advisor books top suite on Royal's world cruise https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Travel-advisor-books-top-suite-Royal-Caribbean-world-cruise    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Southwest is having an unusual moment: An aviation industry stalwart that's typically posted solid results, it has attracted the attention of activist investor Elliott Investment Management, which is calling for change, including the ouster of longtime chairman Gary Kelly and CEO Bob Jordan. In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, aviation editor Robby Silk and guest Gary Leff, author of the View from the Wing blog, discuss Southwest's headwinds, why Elliott is so keen to make changes and why Southwest is such an unusual company in the aviation space. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com/agent-home Related reports: View from the Wing https://viewfromthewing.com/ Southwest meets with investor that wants a CEO change https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Southwest-to-meet-with-activist-investor-Elliott Will changes coming to Southwest help or hurt the brand? https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/How-will-Southwest-changes-affect-brand Southwest now displaying fares on Kayak leisure site https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Southwest-now-displaying-flights-on-Kayak-leisure-site  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's been a rise in demand for all-inclusive resorts, which have gotten more numerous -- and upscale -- in recent years. But in a recent story, hotels editor Christina Jelski reported that at Hyatt, a major player in the market, growth in revenue per available room for its all-inclusive properties slowed in Q2. And we heard from executives from Hyatt to Sandals that demand is moderating or normalizing as the postpandemic travel boom begins to ebb. What's happening for all-inclusives, and what should advisors and travelers expect next? We talk about his vacation category with Jelski and Geoff Millar, co-owner of Ultimate All-Inclusive Vacations and Ultimate Hawaii Vacations.This episode was recorded Aug. 26 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com/agent-home Related reports: After demand boom for all-inclusive vacations, signs point to a slowdown https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Slowdown-all-inclusive-demand Travel's boom run of bookings may be tapering off this year https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Travel-boom-may-be-tapering-off-this-yearSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we talk about the evolution of the term “overtourism,” which has been used a lot this summer as the post-pandemic tourism boom has continued on. The flash point was protests in Barcelona, where protesters squirted outdoor diners with water guns and chanted “tourists go home.” But it's not the only place where residents and travelers are feeling frustrated. Our tours editor Nicole Edenedo, in writing about the Barcelona protests, wrote that travel experts "pointed out that a pitfall in discussing "overtourism" is how the term is often used as a blanket statement.” Today we're teasing that sentiment out with Simon Hudson, a professor of tourism and hospitality at the University of South Carolina, and Tom Jenkins, the CEO of the European Tour Operators Association. and looking at the issues in a few big cities in Europe — Barcelona, Amsterdam, Venice to name a few. This episode was recorded July 30 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by Allianz Advantage https://www.allianzadvantage.com Related reports Barcelona protestors use water guns to squirt tourists in overtourism protest A focus on overtourism overlooks destinations' problems Overtourism solutions: putting residents first Dispatch, Venice: How the city enforces a tourism tax on day-trippers Cruise control: Overcrowding, pushback and how the industry is trying to helpSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to the Folo by Travel Weekly. After our annual summer break, we're back with all-new episodes! We're kicking off this series with a discussion into what's happening on Maui, a year after the devastating, deadly fires. The conversation builds off a cover story written by news editor Johanna Jainchill, who is joined by Sherry Duong, executive director of the Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau, and David Taylor, marketing director at Maui activities operator Kai Kanani. In the episode Johanna, Sherry, David and host Rebecca Tobin talk about the anniversary of the fires, why visitor numbers and spending on Maui is still below average, whether visitors are welcome on Maui, the perception of Hawaii as an expensive vacation choice and more.This conversation was recorded Monday, August 12 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by Allianz Advantage https://www.allianzadvantage.com Related reports Going back to Maui, a year after the wildfires https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Going-back-to-Maui On the Record: Ilihia Gionson of the Hawaii Tourism Authoirty on the state's tourism slump https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Ilihia-Gionson-on-Hawaii-tourism-slump Hawaii arrivals and spending remain down, a year after the Maui fires https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hawaii-arrivals-remain-down-year-after-Maui-fires Related links Kai Kanani sailing and snorkeling tours https://kaikanani.com/ Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau https://www.hvcb.org/about-hvcb/island-chapters/maui-visitors-convention-bureau/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode we're delving into one of the more unique aspects of the cruise experience, and that's the part that takes place on land. We're talking, of course, about private islands and private destinations: areas on land that are managed by the cruise line and provide a dedicated area and special amenities to cruise passengers. Senior cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and Cruise Planners advisor Mike Matthews talk with host Rebecca Tobin about the appeal of these places, the explosion of upgrades and expansions and why this is taking place. This episode is the finale to our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded May 23 and has been edited for length and clarity. New episodes begin next week! Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by Allianz Advantage https://www.allianzadvantage.com Related links: Cruise lines and crowd control https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-lines-crowd-control The evolution of cruising's private islands https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/evolution-of-cruising-private-islands Mike and Amy Matthews of Cruise Planners Fernandia Beach https://www.mmcruisetravel.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we look at a company called Black In that's building tours to celebrate Black history and support Black-owned businesses in each destination. Our guests are the founders of Black In: Martinique Lewis, the creator of ABC Travel Greenbook and the president of the Black Travel Alliance, and Ashley Company, the owner of Jelani Travel. Tours editor Nicole Edenedo leads the discussion about Black In, how the tours are created and why. In the second half of the episode, we discuss where the travel industry is overall in terms of diversity programs and inclusion efforts -- and what it could or should do next. This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded April 23 and has been edited for length and clarity. The Summer Series ends, and new episodes begin, later this month! Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by Allianz Advantage https://www.allianzadvantage.com Related reports Black travel entrepreneurs launch tour company https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Black-travel-entrepreneurs-launch-tour-company Shifting landscape of DEI in travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Shifting-landscape-of-DEI-in-travel  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've got a two-parter episode for you this week. In our first segment we're talking about one of the more heartwarming hospitality trends we've seen recently: Dogs in residence at hotels. Hotels editor Christina Jelski brings on Joel Morales of Castlerock Asset Management, which manages the Bobby Hotel in Nashville, and Rauni Kew of the Inn by the Sea in Maine to talk about some of the logistics of training and managing a lobby dog; how it benefits the guests and the hotel; and the rescue, shelter, training and adoption partnerships that all feed into this pretty awesome trend. In our second segment: In a previous episode we had antitrust lawyer Scott Wagner and aviation editor Robert Silk on to talk about the Spirit-JetBlue merger, and within three days of recording both airlines announced the agreement was ending. So we brought them back for a talk about what may have happened – and how executives or boards might feel when a deal goes kaput. This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. The Spirit-JetBlue segment was recorded March 5, and the dogs-in-hotels segment was recorded March 8. Both were edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by JOIA Aruba by Iberostar. https://www.iberostar.com Related links: Lobby dogs: Resident dogs bring friendly, furry faces to hotel lobbies https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hotels-with-pet-dogs-in-residence Podcast episode from 2020: Have pet, will travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Travel-goes-to-the-dogs A warm welcome at Teton Mountain Lodge and Spa (featuring lobby dog Scout) https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Warm-welcome-at-renovated-Teton-Mountain-Lodge-Spa Spirit-JetBlue: Regulatory hurdles were too much for Spirit and JetBlue to overcome https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Regulatory-hurdles-too-high-for-Spirit-JetBlue Previous podcast episode: Spirit, JetBlue and antitrust law https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Spirit-JetBlue-merger-antitrust-lawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine a guided tour, and your transportation is a Boeing 757 outfitted with 50 first-class seats. And the plane will fly you around the world in ultimate comfort to off-the-beaten-path locations to get rare glimpses of wildlife, immerse you in local culture and stay at fine, luxury resorts. Though it's not cheap to buy a seat on one of these tours, the world of private-jet touring is a steadily growing niche. In this episode, Ann Epting, Abercrombie & Kent's senior vice president of private jet and special interest travel, and Rob Clabbers, the president of Q Cruise + Travel talk with host Rebecca Tobin about the type of traveler who books a private-jet tour, how the whole thing operates, the work that goes into planning and delivering an over-the-top private jet experience, the price of private-jet vacations and of course, the plane itself. This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded March 29 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by JOIA Aruba by Iberostar. https://www.iberostar.com Related links Travel Weekly's cover story on private jet travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Luxury-Travel/Height-of-luxury-private-jet-tours Abercrombie & Kent's fall private jet tour, "Wildlife and Nature Around the World" https://assets.abercrombiekent.com/pageflip/2024/Wildlife-Nature-ATW-PJ-2024/index.html TCS World Travel https://www.tcsworldtravel.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this year, Carnival Corp. ordered an 180,000-gross-ton ship that will be the fourth in its Excel class. The very next day, Royal Caribbean International came through with another order for another Oasis class vessel -- its seventh. And after the episode was published, Carnival ordered a fifth Excel class ship. These ships, which all clock in the 6,000-passenger-plus size, will join megaships from MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line. With Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class Utopia of the Seas debuting in Port Canaveral this week, it seemed like a perfect time to revisit this phenom. In this episode, Host Rebecca Tobin, cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and Geoff Cox, the vice president of sales and marketing for KHM Travel Group discuss: What these ship orders mean for Carnival and Royal in terms of corporate direction and passenger demands; the prevailing love for big, big ships; and how far the industry's come since its Sovereign days. This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded Feb. 16 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by JOIA Aruba by Iberostar. https://www.iberostar.com Related reports: Cruise Insight: How cruise lines organize megaships: Inside the 'zone' trend https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/how-cruise-lines-organize-megaships Carnival to add fifth Excel-class ship https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-Cruise-Line-will-add-fifth-Excel-ship Royal Caribbean orders a seventh Oasis-class ship https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-orders-seventh-Oasis-class-ship?ct=cruise Royal Caribbean sets a new benchmark with Icon of the Seas https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-sets-new-benchmark-with-Icon KHM Travel Group https://khmtravel.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do Taylor Swift, March Madness, Formula 1 and a tiny weekend festival in Florida have in common? They're all events-based travel, a category that is bringing in a tidal wave of business -- and standing the travel-booking process on its head. In this episode host Rebecca Tobin talks with senior editor Nicole Edenedo; Kier Matthews, vice president of global luxury sales for On Location Experiences, a wholesale and hospitality supplier for sports and entertainment events; and Douglas Quinby, the CEO of Arival, about the types of events people travel for, who's doing the traveling, how much they're spending and how the travel industry should be thinking about catering to them, from stans to casual fans. This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded March 18 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by JOIA Aruba by Iberostar. https://www.iberostar.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellness travel is entering a new golden era: Spending is predicted to grow to $1 trillion annually in the next three years, according to the Global Wellness Institute. So what does it mean to travel for wellness in 2024? In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, senior editors Robert Silk and Christina Jelski and news editor Johanna Jainchill delve into their recent wellness-travel trips: Mindful surfing in Costa Rica, exclusive golfing at the new Sensei resort in California and a traditional wellness retreat in the Berkshires. What is “hard” and “soft” wellness travel? Is wellness travel expensive, or is that just a perception? And for the skeptics out there: Do the treatments work? This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded March 8 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by JOIA Aruba by Iberostar. https://www.iberostar.com Related reports: Diving into wellness resorts: Three editors sample three takes on self-care https://www.travelweekly.com/Luxury-Travel/Diving-into-wellness-resorts Wellness travel is still in demand, bringing new resorts to bloom https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Wellness-travel-new-resorts  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.