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The boys are back in the building! Join Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent as they dive into the latest industry news, headlines, and expert insights on this edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? In This Episode 5 Minutes in Freight (Headlines): A major $2.1M cocaine bust involving tractor-trailers in Florida. ArcBest restructuring and 2% workforce/terminal door consolidation. Military CDL skill waivers and veterans in trucking. DHS and DOT investigating 75 CDL training schools for suspected fraud. Special Guests Tarek Alaruri – Co-Founder & CEO of StuutTariq drops by to break down how AI and automation are transforming accounts receivable (AR) in logistics. From his background in wrestling to running tech that reduces overdue invoices by up to 40%, Tarek shares how Stuut is helping brokers and carriers get paid faster and streamline their operations. John Scott – Operations Manager at Atlanta Container and TrailerCalling in all the way from Turks and Caicos, John joins the show to discuss the growing demand for storage space in supply chain operations. He breaks down how flexible, month-to-month trailer and container rentals help businesses stay adaptable across different verticals—from construction to retail Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - GNOSIS FREIGHT Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The boys are back in the building! Join Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent as they dive into the latest industry news, headlines, and expert insights on this edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?In This Episode 5 Minutes in Freight (Headlines): A major $2.1M cocaine bust involving tractor-trailers in Florida. ArcBest restructuring and 2% workforce/terminal door consolidation. Military CDL skill waivers and veterans in trucking. DHS and DOT investigating 75 CDL training schools for suspected fraud. Special Guests Tarek Alaruri – Co-Founder & CEO of StuutTariq drops by to break down how AI and automation are transforming accounts receivable (AR) in logistics. From his background in wrestling to running tech that reduces overdue invoices by up to 40%, Tarek shares how Stuut is helping brokers and carriers get paid faster and streamline their operations. John Scott – Operations Manager at Atlanta Container and TrailerCalling in all the way from Turks and Caicos, John joins the show to discuss the growing demand for storage space in supply chain operations. He breaks down how flexible, month-to-month trailer and container rentals help businesses stay adaptable across different verticals—from construction to retail Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - GNOSIS FREIGHT Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today's Cruise News covers three stories shaping where cruisers can go and how they get there. Egypt and Turkey denied port calls to Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady during a 10-night Atlantis Events charter, prompting a revised Eastern Mediterranean itinerary for roughly 1,900 guests. The U.S. Department of State kept Turks and Caicos at a Level 2 advisory, urging increased caution at the busy Grand Turk cruise port over crime, vendor scams, and strict firearms laws that have led to tourist prosecutions over stray ammunition. And Atlas Ocean Voyages added six fly-cruise departures for the 2027-28 Antarctica season, letting travelers trade the roughly two-day Drake Passage crossing for a two-hour charter flight from Punta Arenas, Chile to King George Island.
Recorro WOW House Londres, la feria de interiorismo con 22 habitaciones diseñadas por 22 estudios distintos, analizando las decisiones reales detrás del diseño de interiores de alta gama: materiales, iluminación, tecnología oculta y artesanía. En este vídeo no hago un tour convencional. Analizo cada espacio como lo haría con un cliente: por qué se elige un único material en una entrada, qué implica mezclar maderas en una cocina, cómo se planifica el trabajo artesanal, dónde se esconde la tecnología y por qué la luz debe diseñarse desde el origen del proyecto y no al final. También hablo de restricción: por qué a veces la mejor decisión es no añadir nada más. Si estás diseñando, reformando o simplemente te interesa entender el criterio detrás del interiorismo con propósito, este análisis te va a dar herramientas concretas para tu propio proyecto. Si llegas hasta el final, cuéntame en comentarios qué decisión te sorprendió más. Gracias por pasarte por aquí. MP Un poco sobre mí... Soy Ingeniera de la Edificación y diseñadora de interiores, me he especializado en proyectos de alta gama. Con 15 años de experiencia en la industria del diseño, he tenido el privilegio de colaborar con una amplia gama de clientes, incluyendo promotores, constructores, agentes de la propiedad inmobiliaria, empresarios y clientes privados. He completado con éxito más de 25 proyectos en siete países diferentes (España, Reino Unido, Bahréin, India, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, y Suiza) y he tenido el placer de trabajar con clientes de 11 nacionalidades. Mi proyecto de más valía hasta la fecha supera los 50 millones de libras, y uno de mis logros más destacados fue el diseño de una promoción de 16 apartamentos, donde el ático se posicionó con un récord histórico como el piso de un dormitorio mejor pagado por metro cuadrado en la historia de Westminster, Londres. Actualmente vivo en Londres y continúo trabajando en múltiples proyectos locales e internacionales. Aprovechando las capacidades del mundo digital, he producido y lanzado este podcast, "Atelier Prada", donde, de manera distendida y coloquial, abordo diferentes temas del mundo del interior con el objetivo de compartir parte del conocimiento que he adquirido durante estos años cada semana. Para obtener más inspiración en diseño de interiores www.miriamprada.com https://miriamprada.com/podcasts/ https://www.youtube.com/@miriamprada https://www.instagram.com/bymiriamprada/ https://www.tiktok.com/@bymiriamprada Aviso legal: Nadie patrocina este PODCAST. Todas las opiniones y puntos de vista son míos.
GB2RS News Sunday the 19th of July 2026 The news headlines: Spy transmitter activities at the RSGB National Radio Centre Which RSGB partner museum will you be visiting this summer? RSGB Outreach Team supports the WINGS Jamboree Following last year's success, the ‘Find the spy transmitter' events are back for Summer 2026 at the RSGB National Radio Centre. This family-friendly activity will turn you into spy hunters as you explore Bletchley Park looking for hidden transmitters. The event will be running on Tuesday the 28th of July and Thursday the 30th of July. Each date has two start times, one at 10.30am and another at 1.30pm. Spaces are limited to 12 groups per session and are available via rsgbspytransmitter.eventbrite.co.uk The activity is free to take part in, however entry to Bletchley Park is required. Don't forget that RSGB members get free access to the historic site as a membership benefit. Download your voucher at rsgb.org/bpvoucher Last year, the RSGB introduced a new membership benefit offering its members discounted entry at six fascinating museums. Following positive feedback from members, this offer continues and RSGB members can receive between 20 and 50 percent off admission fees at Amberley Museum, Bawdsey Radar Museum, Internal Fire Museum of Power, PK Porthcurno Museum of Global Communications, the Royal Signals Museum and the National Museum of Computing. You can make the most of this offer by incorporating a visit to one, or all, of the museums this summer. Whether you are organising a club visit, looking to entertain the children over the summer holidays, or planning for a day out by yourself, there is lots to keep you busy. Visit rsgb.org/partner-museums for details on how to receive your personalised discount voucher. Members of the RSGB Outreach Team will be attending the WINGS Jamboree in Windsor between the 26th and 30th of July. The team will be showcasing amateur radio to Scouts and Girlguiding members aged 6 to 14, who will have the opportunity to test their Morse skills through the ever-popular Morse Battleships game. The team will be activating special event callsign GB1WINGS over the period, and the youngsters will have the opportunity to make supervised on-air contacts across the UK and internationally. The team welcomes your support and encourages you to make QSOs on the HF bands and via the QO-100 satellite. Please check the DX Cluster for frequency details. QSL will be via QRZ, eQSL and Logbook of the World after the event. Revalidating your licence is required every five years, however Ofcom recommends doing it annually. The process requires licence holders to confirm or update their details on the Ofcom licence database. Whether you have recently moved, have a new email address, or all your details remain the same, use this as a reminder to log in and tick the job off your list. You can find guidance on the process by selecting ‘Licence Revalidation' at rsgb.org/licensing As well as FAQs, you'll also find a link to a step-by-step video by Ofcom, which shows you the process of revalidating your licence using the online licensing portal. The first of this year's International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekends will run from 0001UTC on Saturday the 15th of August to 2400UTC on Sunday the 16th of August. The event usually attracts more than 500 lighthouse entries located in over 40 countries. Registration for the event is open at illw.net Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk The deadline for submissions is 10am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week. And now for details of rallies and events Today, the 19th, Lincoln Short Wave Club Summer Radio Rally is taking place at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. The doors open at 10am and admission costs £3. This in an indoor event and ample free car parking is available. For more information email m5zzz@outlook.com On Saturday the 25th, the Wiltshire Radio Rally Electronics Fair and Car Boot Sale takes place at Kington Langley Village Hall and Playing Fields, Church Road, Kington Langley, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 5NJ. The doors open at 7.30am for traders and at 9am for visitors. Hot and cold refreshments and ample parking are available on site. For more information visit chippenhamradio.club/rally Now the Special Event news Radio amateurs using Bawdsey Radar Museum's callsign GB2GRS will be on the air today, Sunday the 19th. Visit the museum to hear where in the world they are contacting. More information is available at bawdseyradar.org.uk Special callsign HF170TESLA is active to mark the 170th anniversary of the birth of Nikola Tesla. Look for activity on various bands and modes until the 31st of July. For details of awards that are available for working the station, visit tinyurl.com/teslaSES To celebrate the centenary of Romania's first amateur radio club, special callsign YR100RC is active until the 30th of September. Find out about awards that are available at tinyurl.com/yr100rc2026 Now the DX news Didier, F6BCW has been active as FO/F6BCW from Tikehau Atoll, OC-066, in French Polynesia until tomorrow, the 20th. He operates CW and SSB on the 80 to 6m bands. QSL via FO/F6BCW, Logbook of the World and OQRS. Aldir, PY1SAD is active as 8R1TM from Guyana until Sunday the 26th of July. He operates CW, SSB and digital modes on the 160 to 6m bands and via satellite. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL, QRZ.com or directly to Aldir's home call. The IP1X team will be active from Gallinara Island, EU-083, on Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th of July. They will be operating using CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via the Bureau, OQRS or directly to IU1JCZ. For more details and updates see QRZ.com Now the contest news Today, the 19th, the RSGB International Low Power Contest runs from 0900 to 1600UTC. Using CW on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and transmitter power. On Tuesday the 21st, the RSGB 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday the 23rd, the RSGB 80m Club Championship runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using RTTY and PSK63 on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The RSGB IOTA Contest starts at 1200UTC on Saturday the 25th and ends at 1200UTC on Sunday the 26th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report, serial number and IOTA reference. On Sunday the 26th, the UK Microwave Group High Band Contest runs from 0800 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 16th of July 2026. Last week was characterised by a falling solar flux index. Over the past week it has gone from 116 to 100, but the good news is that we have only had one M-class solar flare in that time and a multitude of lesser C-class flares that haven't amounted to much. As a result, the Kp index remained low, certainly below 4, other than one excursion to 4.67 on Sunday the 12th of July. This means propagation has been stable rather than outstanding. But as the winners of the World Radiosport Team Championship showed last week, it was still possible to make 5,800 QSOs in 24 hours. An analysis shows that the best scoring band was 20m, closely followed by 15m and 40m. The predominant mode was CW. Maximum usable frequencies, or MUFs, over a 3,000km path have been peaking at around 19 to 23MHz at midday, according to the Dourbes DigiSonde. Major DXpeditions to be worked this week include RT25AA, the Arctic Legends IOTA DXpedition; TY5FR from Benin; VP5G in Turks and Caicos; and HP1/LA5IIA operating from Panama. The 20m band remains good for contacts across the Northern Hemisphere during daylight, while the 15m band offers better opportunities for north-south paths. Next week NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may increase, perhaps to 135. Geomagnetic conditions are forecast to be good for the first half of the week, but a Kp index of 4 is forecast for Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd of July so expect declining MUFs and poorer HF conditions around that time. There are currently no coronal holes to worry about. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The coming period of weather feels very much like what we've been getting in the last week or so. High pressure dominates the chart and, since it's placed just west of Great Britain, this implies a north-westerly flow over the country, with a chance of tropo for many areas. Last week saw northerly paths worked from the UK up to the Faroe Islands, Norway and Sweden on both 144 and 432MHz. The high-pressure part of the story suggests not much, if any, rain to speak of and therefore rain scatter is unlikely. The auroral prospects are not especially great in radio terms. There are about three meteor showers currently giving a broad period of activity for meteor scatter operators and providing long-lived ionisation as fuel for sporadic-E. In view of the links between Sporadic-E and jet streams, the upper air jet stream patterns suggest favouring paths to the southeast into the Balkans round to the northeast and Scandinavia for Sporadic E. Don't ignore the options for multi-hop paths into the Far East in the morning on the 6m band and later in the day to the United States, which have been very good lately. For EME operators, Moon declination is falling again and passed perigee on Monday the 13th of July so Moon window lengths will shorten and path losses increase. 144MHz sky noise is low, increasing to moderate on Thursday the 23rd of July. And that's all from the propagation team this week.
Blood Trails is a true crime podcast born in the outdoors--and in this three-part summer mini-series, Paradise Prison, we're going to follow American hunters and gun owners who were trapped in Turks and Caicos in 2024. The story received international media attention, and you might think you know what happened, but trust us, you don't know the half of it. Follow the show now to get notified when Episode 1 drops, Thursday, July 23rd. Follow Blood Trails on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, iHeart, Pandora, Amazon. Connect with Jordan Sillars and MeatEater MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Jordan Sillars on Instagram MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube ClipsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Blood Trails is a true crime podcast born in the outdoors--and in this three-part summer mini-series, Paradise Prison, we're going to follow American hunters and gun owners who were trapped in Turks and Caicos in 2024. The story received international media attention, and you might think you know what happened, but trust us, you don't know the half of it. Follow the show now to get notified when Episode 1 drops, Thursday, July 23rd. Follow Blood Trails on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, iHeart, Pandora, Amazon. Connect with Jordan Sillars and MeatEater MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Jordan Sillars on Instagram MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube ClipsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Blood Trails is a true crime podcast born in the outdoors--and in this three-part summer mini-series, Paradise Prison, we're going to follow American hunters and gun owners who were trapped in Turks and Caicos in 2024. The story received international media attention, and you might think you know what happened, but trust us, you don't know the half of it. Follow the show now to get notified when Episode 1 drops, Thursday, July 23rd. Follow Blood Trails on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, iHeart, Pandora, Amazon. Connect with Jordan Sillars and MeatEater MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Jordan Sillars on Instagram MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube ClipsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Trip Tales, Kelsey chats with Kayla, a mom of three from the Atlanta area, about her family of five's June 2025 adventure to Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe.With kids ages 12, 10, and 7, Kayla and her husband used points, miles, and Southwest Companion Passes to make this bucket-list national park trip more affordable. They flew into Fresno, explored Yosemite Valley by bike, hiked to waterfalls, stayed at the family-friendly Tenaya Lodge, wandered through the giant sequoias of Mariposa Grove, and then road-tripped on to Lake Tahoe for lake swims, kayaking, Monkey Rock, and even a few bear sightings.This episode is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kelseygravesIf you'd like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: kelsey@triptalespodcast.comBuy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- Hyatt Place Fresno, CA- YOSEMITE: South Entrance, Yosemite Valley, Curry Village, Vernal Falls, Mirror Lake, Village Grill, Lower Yosemite Falls, El Capitan Field, Glacier Point, Twala Meadows- Mariposa Grove: The California Tunnel, the Grizzly Tree- Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite- 4th Grade National Park Pass- Tenaya Lake- Mono Lake (Alkali Flies)- Lake Tahoe: Hotel Becket Best Western Signature, Monkey Rock, Baldwin BeachTrip Tales is a travel podcast sharing real vacation stories and trip itineraries for family travel, couples getaways, cruises, and all-inclusive resorts. Popular episodes feature destinations like Marco Island Florida, Costa Rica with kids, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Aulani in Hawaii, Beaches Turks & Caicos, Park City ski trips, Aruba, Italy, Ireland, Portugal's Azores, New York City, Alaska cruises, and U.S. National Parks. Listeners get real travel tips, itinerary recommendations, hotel reviews, restaurant recommendations, and inspiration for planning their next vacation, especially when traveling with kids.
Hoy quiero compartir contigo una reflexión que va mucho más allá del lujo visible: ¿por qué las personas con más patrimonio y nivel económico suelen ser las más discretas? En este vídeo analizamos el concepto de lujo silencioso, el comportamiento de los High Net Worth Individuals y cómo esto se refleja en uno de los hoteles más icónicos del mundo: el legendario Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc en la Riviera Francesa. A través de su historia, su arquitectura y su evolución desde el siglo XIX, exploramos por qué este lugar se ha convertido en un punto de encuentro para artistas, diseñadores, familias reales y figuras históricas como Picasso, Hemingway o Churchill. También te llevo dentro de su diseño interior: materiales nobles, paletas cromáticas contenidas, iluminación de autor y decisiones arquitectónicas que explican por qué este hotel no busca impresionar… sino perdurar. Este vídeo es una mezcla de historia, arquitectura, diseño de interiores y estrategia del lujo, con ejemplos reales y secretos de diseño que casi nadie explica. ¿Crees que el verdadero lujo es ser discreto o mostrarlo todo? Déjamelo en comentarios. Si te ha gustado este análisis, suscríbete al canal, activa la campanita y acompáñame cada semana en nuevos análisis de arquitectura, diseño y espacios icónicos. Gracias por pasarte por aquí. MP Un poco sobre mí... Soy Ingeniera de la Edificación y diseñadora de interiores, me he especializado en proyectos de alta gama. Con 15 años de experiencia en la industria del diseño, he tenido el privilegio de colaborar con una amplia gama de clientes, incluyendo promotores, constructores, agentes de la propiedad inmobiliaria, empresarios y clientes privados. He completado con éxito más de 25 proyectos en siete países diferentes (España, Reino Unido, Bahréin, India, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, y Suiza) y he tenido el placer de trabajar con clientes de 11 nacionalidades. Mi proyecto de más valía hasta la fecha supera los 50 millones de libras, y uno de mis logros más destacados fue el diseño de una promoción de 16 apartamentos, donde el ático se posicionó con un récord histórico como el piso de un dormitorio mejor pagado por metro cuadrado en la historia de Westminster, Londres. Actualmente vivo en Londres y continúo trabajando en múltiples proyectos locales e internacionales. Aprovechando las capacidades del mundo digital, he producido y lanzado este podcast, "Atelier Prada", donde, de manera distendida y coloquial, abordo diferentes temas del mundo del interior con el objetivo de compartir parte del conocimiento que he adquirido durante estos años cada semana. Para obtener más inspiración en diseño de interiores www.miriamprada.com https://miriamprada.com/podcasts/ https://www.youtube.com/@miriamprada https://www.instagram.com/bymiriamprada/ https://www.tiktok.com/@bymiriamprada Aviso legal: Nadie patrocina este PODCAST. Todas las opiniones y puntos de vista son míos.
GB2RS News Sunday the 12th of July 2026 The news headlines: Upcoming IARU Region 1 Conference WRTC 2026 is supported by the RSGB Have you enabled RSGB app notifications on your mobile device? The IARU Region 1 Conference is held every three years. The next one will be in September 2026 and will be hosted by the Austrian member society ÖVSV, which is also celebrating its centenary. Reports and proposals on a wide range of amateur radio topics are available from the conference website at conf.iaru-r1.org/documents The scope includes the more regular topics such as band plans, spectrum matters, EMC and youth. This particular event will also consider updates for amateur radio development, operating and organisational matters. The RSGB has contributed several inputs. More about the event will be shared via the Society's comms channels and a future edition of RadCom. This year's World Radiosport Team Championship is taking place in East Anglia in the UK between the 8th and 13th of July. The RSGB is an official partner to the event and representatives from the Society have been on site throughout the week. The team has been supporting various activities including media liaison to raise awareness for WRTC 2026, the RSGB and amateur radio as a whole. You can see coverage of the event in a range of radio and online outlets including BBC Radio Shropshire, BBC News Online, Shropshire Live and the East Anglia Gazette. Links to the coverage are available on the RSGB website. Volunteers at the RSGB National Radio Centre have been busy welcoming competitors, referees, and supporters of WRTC to the Centre, with some enjoying time operating the GB3RS station. Keep up to date with more WRTC news, including the winners of the Championship, by visiting wrtc2026.org Remember to enable RSGB app notifications on your mobile device to be the first to hear when the Society releases the latest edition of RadCom and its sister publications. You'll also be notified when new editions are added to the collection of back issues. For iOS devices, go to Settings then tap Apps. Locate the RSGB app in the list, and toggle to allow notifications. For Android devices, go to Settings, navigate to Notifications and then tap on App notifications. Locate the RSGB app in the list and toggle to allow notifications. If you haven't yet downloaded the RSGB app, get the links by going to rsgb.org/radcom RSGB General Manager Steve Thomas, M1ACB visited the RSGB National Radio Centre earlier this month. Steve was on site to deliver two awards to volunteers including the Norman Keith Adams prize and another for outstanding services to the Centre. The RSGB National Radio Centre Coordinator Martyn Baker, G0GMB is currently looking for friendly and enthusiastic radio amateurs to join this successful team. If you are able to volunteer a minimum of one, or preferably two, days per month, find out more about the role by visiting rsgb.org/volunteers Don't forget to listen out for all of the stations that will be on the air today, the 12th, during the 145 Alive event. From 1100 to 1400UTC, many hundreds of operators will be on the air using 145MHz FM and 144MHz SSB. For more information, go to the 145 Alive Facebook page or email 145aliveuk@gmail.com Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk The deadline for submissions is 10am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week. And now for details of rallies and events Today, the 12th, McMichael Radio and Electronics Rally is taking place at White Waltham Airfield, Maidenhead, SL6 3LW. The doors are open from 8am for traders and to the public from 9am. The entry fee for visitors is £4 per person. More details are available at mcmichaelrally.org.uk On Sunday the 19th, Lincoln Short Wave Club Summer Radio Rally will take place at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. The doors open at 10am and admission costs £3. This in an indoor event and ample free car parking will be available. For more information email m5zzz@outlook.com Amateur radio will feature at the Electromagnetic Field EMF 2026 event taking place from the 16th to the 19th of July at Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Eastnor, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 1EN. AMSAT-UK, the British Amateur Television Club and the UK Microwave Group are teaming up to showcase satellite communications, amateur television and microwave radio experimentation. Throughout the weekend, they plan to demonstrate how radio amateurs communicate via satellites in both low-earth orbit and geostationary orbit, including contacts and digital amateur television via the QO-100 satellite. They also hope to demonstrate microwave operating techniques and experimental radio systems used on the higher amateur bands. Visitors can see live satellite ground-station setups, microwave equipment, an amateur television demonstration and learn how hobbyists build and operate space-related radio technology. Special event callsign GB26EMF will also be active on site. If you are attending the event, drop by to explore satellites, video over radio and the microwave spectrum. More details are available at amsat-uk.org Now the Special Event news To mark the centenary of the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters, special callsign ZL100C is on the air until Thursday the 6th of August. QSL via the Bureau and Logbook of the World. Special callsign DL0SOP is active until the 31st of July for the 68th edition of the Sea of Peace Award. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, Logbook of the World and eQSL. More information, including the rules and how to apply for an award, is available at dl0sop.darc.de Now the DX news Emil, DL8JJ is active as OX/DL8JJ/P from Greenland until Tuesday the 14th of July. He is operating CW from the main island, NA-018, as well as from Tasiilaq, NA-151. Aldir, PY1SAD is active as 8R1TM from Guyana until Sunday the 26th of July. He operates using CW, digital modes and SSB on the 160 to 6m bands as well as via satellite. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL, QRZ.com or directly to Aldir's home call. Now the contest news Today, the 12th, the UK Microwave Group 24, 47 and 76GHz Contest runs from 0800 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on 24 to 76GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The GR2HQ Challenge and IARU HF Championship started at 1200UTC yesterday, the 11th, and ends at 1200UTC today, Sunday the 12th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and ITU Zone. The UK is in Zone 27. On Tuesday the 14th of July, the RSGB 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also, on Tuesday the 14th of July, the RSGB 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 15th of July, the RSGB 80m Club Championship runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Thursday the 16th of July, the RSGB 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Saturday the 18th of July, the RSGB 70MHz Trophy Contest runs from 1400 to 2000UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and your two-letter postcode. On Sunday the 19th, the RSGB International Low Power Contest runs from 0900 to 1600UTC. Using CW on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and transmitter power. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 9th of July 2026. We have had another week of mixed HF propagation. We started with a Kp index of 6.33 on Saturday the 4th of July which was caused by a coronal mass ejection, or CME. This caused a strong G3 geomagnetic storm and auroral conditions. A check on the bands on the 4th of July showed poor HF propagation with lower maximum useable frequencies, or MUFs, and weak and watery signals from the NCDXF beacons on 14.100MHz. But conditions have since improved and we had a Kp index of less than 3 over the past few days which means the ionosphere has returned to normal. Meanwhile, the solar flux index declined from a high of 203 on Thursday the 2nd of July to a low of 116 on Wednesday the 8th of July. That's quite a change and means that HF propagation has declined somewhat. An Earth-facing coronal hole has now passed with few effects and currently there is nothing of significance rotating into view. Solar flare activity has also declined with only two M-class flares over the past three days. So, the big question is: what happens next? Active region 4482 on the Sun continues to be a major threat. A solar flare and accompanying CME could soon ruin our chances of good HF conditions. The declining solar flux index hasn't helped either. Again, NOAA predicts the solar flux index will be in the 120 to 145 range over the coming week with a Kp index of 2 to 3. So, good news overall. DX to be worked this week includes D73G on Ch'ongsan Island; T22TT from Tuvalu; TY5FR in Benin; RT9K, the Arctic Legends IOTA DXpedition; JK1HFB/JD1 in Ogasawara, OX3LX from Greenland; and VP5G operating from Turks and Caicos. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The weather is becoming a talking point in terms of the heatwave developing over much of the country, but especially in the south. This has propagation implications too. It's all being driven by a large area of high pressure, which for much of the coming week resides to the north and west of the British Isles. This will give a north-easterly breeze over the south-eastern half of the UK which means it will be blowing in from the North Sea, possibly with areas of low cloud at times. The propagation implication is that this represents almost ideal tropo potential. This is especially the case when the low cloud moves inland and we find a marked contrast between the hot dry air above the inversion and the cool, moist and shallow cloud layer below. However, in high summer the daytime heating over the land degrades the lift during the morning as the temperature inversion gets broken down by the strong sunshine. Northern areas will see the occasional weakening front clip the northwestern fringes of the UK to offer up the only rain scatter prospects available at first. However, some models are starting to suggest a breakdown by the end of the week, so more rain scatter and an end to the tropo. The prospects for aurora depend upon the Kp index, which at the moment is mostly cycling between 1 and 3. This is not anything to generate radio interest, for which a Kp index of 7 is nearer the mark. Meteor showers are still in the random state with the next shower, the Delta Aquarids, coming late in the month. The Sporadic-E season is doing well this year, particularly for digital modes. There have also been events for CW and SSB up to 2m at times. However, not all parts of the country experience an opening, so watch the clusters for early notice of workable paths. EME now, and declination reaches maximum today, the 12th, so Moon window lengths will peak along with maximum Moon elevation. Path losses are still falling, until perigee tomorrow, the 13th. 144MHz sky noise is moderate until Tuesday the 14th when the Sun and Moon are close in the sky, then low for the rest of the week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.
Allison Kushner, a travel advisor with Four Hundred, a Virtuoso-member host agency, talks with Amy Tate of Insider Travel Report, about how to sell the Salterra Resort & Spa, a year-old luxury property that is the perfect retreat for families, couples and singles. With a great beach and pools, an awesome spa, great accommodations and lots of activities, Salterra could be just the right choice for your clients looking for an off-the-grid escape in Turks and Caicos. For more information, visit www.salterra.com. All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our Youtube channel (youtube.com/insidertravelreport), and as podcasts with the same title on: Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean, iHeartRadio, Google, Amazon Music/Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox.
Being that the 2026 Independent Hotel Show Miami is only a couple of months away, this special IHS Series episode features the VP of Development, U.S. & Canada at Minor Hotels, Genna Panagopoulos! Genna joins the Suite Spot podcast to discuss: The Minor Hotels Brand & Special Announcements The Independent & Lifestyle Hotel Landscape The 2026 Independent Hotel Show Creating Unique Experiences for Travelers And much more. Ryan Embree: Welcome to Suite Spot, where hoteliers check in, and we check out what’s trending in hotel marketing. I’m your host, Ryan Embree. Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Suite Spot. This is your host, Ryan Embree. We are here for the second season of our Independent Hotel Show series. That means we are gearing up, if you can believe it, for the Independent Hotel Show here in September and Miami Beach. I am so excited and equally excited to bring in a familiar voice. We had her on the podcast just a couple months ago in New York City, Genna Panagopoulos, VP of Development North America at Minor Hotels. Genna, welcome back to the Suite Spot. Genna Panagopoulos: Hey, thanks for having me again. Ryan Embree: Yeah, excited to have you. We were talking off camera. Typically, I usually do the virtual interview before meeting you in person, so this is a little bit more comfortable here, virtually back in, in, I think you’re in Atlanta. I’m here in our TMG headquarters in Orlando, but second time on the Suite Spot. We really didn’t get to get into your hospitality background, kind of a tradition here. Wanna introduce you to our audience a little bit more, intimately and in depth. Talk to us a little bit about your background in hospitality and the journey that led you to Minor Hotels. Genna Panagopoulos: Well, it starts a long time ago because I grew up in the hospitality industry. Typical greek immigrant story. My father came here with just a few dollars in his pocket and ended up building a pretty successful restaurant business in Detroit. So if you ever are in Detroit, if you say Jimmy, the Greek people will know him. But I went to, I obviously grew up in Michigan, went to Michigan State, really, and started studying hospitality with the intent of taking over the restaurant business. And then I did an internship for my father and realized I did not love it as much as he did. And so I ended up falling into the hotel space and specifically hotel investment, real estate development, and have just fallen in love ever since I started my career at Davidson Hotels and Resorts back when they were in Memphis, actually on their business development team. And then they moved to Atlanta, ironically, next to IHGs headquarters. So I was with Davidson for a few years, hopped in over to IHG, where I was for 10 years, did everything from feasibility to business development to even brand, which is a little bit unique. And I don’t wanna undermine that because I had a lot of people say at the time, why would a developer ever go to brand? Like, that’s, you’re where you wanna be. But for me, it was so critical to kind of unlocking new opportunities in the future because the skills I gained in a year and a half on the team work just the role that I’m in now is super helpful because it’s, it’s kind of like wearing two different hats, right? A creative versus a mathematician. So anyways, I was there at IHD for 10 years, and then this opportunity at Minor came up last summer. I was so ready and excited to take on like a new challenge and I thought that it’d be a really fun and exciting new endeavor for me with this combination of my background. So, it’s exciting. Minor’s been super supportive and it’s a little weird to go from working in an office with thousands of colleagues to being the one of one in an entire continent, but it’s been great so far. Ryan Embree: Yeah. And what a unique opportunity. We’re gonna talk about that here in a moment because I think it’s absolutely fascinating. But your story is very familiar. I mean that we hear all the time from our guests, a lot of them start in that f&b kind of space and then transition over to the hospitality side, but super comprehensive skillset, which I’m sure has set you up for success in your role at Minor Hotels. Now, we met face to face at NYU IHIF, where just a couple weeks removed. I call this kind of takeaway season where everybody’s on LinkedIn, kind of frantically typing their takeaways and what they felt about the state of the industry right now, what we’re looking back on New York City, maybe you could start kind of zoomed in version of how that event for you and then maybe back up with an industry lens on some of the biggest takeaways from your time at New York City. Genna Panagopoulos: So from a Minor perspective, we had a really successful conference. So we had tons of meetings while we were there. Really good ones too, on some deals that were hopefully perpetuating. And then we’ll be announcing maybe by the Independent Boutique Hotel Show, but it was, the energy was very live, the excitement for Minor Hotels, was very visceral people, I think, you know, hoteliers are really looking for brands that understand their position. And because Minor is, you know, I always describe it as an owner first, then an operator, now a brand, right? And we still own an owner lease a vast majority of our portfolio. So we know what it’s like to be in their shoes, quite honestly. So it was a successful, like I said, the energy was there. It’s very validating to know that a lot of our marketing is working and all of the, the word of mouth and the fact that we’re out there, iI’m having to educate people less and less with every conference about who we are. So that’s great. Zooming out on an industry lens, you know, I think, you know, even just looking at beginning of the year to NYU IHIF, this sentiment is very different, right? You know, at the beginning of the year there was so much excitement over the World Cup. You and I spoke about that at NYU and it’s, it’s obviously been tempered quite a bit, and the K economy is still happening. We’re seeing luxury, the rates of the projects that I’m working on, I’m just shocked at how high they are and, how well the competitors are doing in the upper luxury space. It’s really fascinating. So I’m definitely seeing that as well. But the sentiment, and appetite to grow is definitely there. People are still looking to place equity, not ton, not huge amounts, but we’re, we’re seeing that there are still gaps on that front. Ryan Embree: The resiliency of our industry, I think, continues, right? It just, the momentum there, every single time we see a headwind, we continue to push through, which is really, really cool to see that owner. And, and from a development, I mean, new brands, new projects being announced, this is the space that we’d love to see, you know, more and more because there’s more and more demand growing travelers continue to prioritize travel and the experience economy, which is great for us hoteliers. So we just need some more rooms here, which is obviously what you’re tasked with, right, Jenna? So, but I wanna talk about Minor Hotels. I know you talked about needing a little less education now, but educate us here on the Suite Spot. I mean, Minor Hotels, brand spanning from select service all the way up to that ultra luxury segment ton of brands. They don’t have time for all of them today, but maybe you could share some of your personal favorites and within the hotel, Minor Hotels portfolio, what makes those brands unique? Genna Panagopoulos: Yeah, sure. So yeah, like you said, we now have 12 different brands, four of which were launched last year right before I joined the company. But we have these two lineages, I think within Minor Hotels history, right? We have our roots, which come from Thailand, and Anantara and Avani are great examples of that. And then we have our European roots from acquisitions over the years. So we’ve got brands like…that came from Portugal, NH, which is a very established brand out of Madrid. The four that we launched last year, offer really unique things that we never had before in our portfolio. So as we were looking to grow, we knew that that was something we’d have to have to kind of have on our menu of options for potential hotels, because some of these brands don’t work in every asset type and not every market, though most of our brands have a lot of flexibility to be able to grow into different asset types. But I guess my favorite, and I’m really excited about the Wolseley hotel brand we launched last year. So Minor International owns, which of course, Banner Hotels Resorts is a part of, owns Wolseley Hospitality Group out of London. And there’s a really beautiful institutional restaurant called the Wolseley that’s very famous. If you ask anybody from London, they definitely know the Wolseley. In fact, most people I know that just traveled to London know the Wolseley. So we own, we own that company and decided to take that brand into the hotel space, which is interesting because it’s a restaurant moving into the hotel world. And our first one will open in New York next year, but it’s been really fast. I think it’s really fascinating. There’s a lot of membership club opportunities with that one. And so that’s kind of an new trend we’re starting to see in the luxury space. Ryan Embree: It’s gotta be great to be able to have that breadth and spectrum of property or investment type for an owner to come in and say, this is maybe the market that I’m interested in pursuing, and then figuring out and kind of curating and tailoring what asset, what brand is gonna fit best there. And we talked about this a little at NYU, but I think, again, your job is so fascinating. You have this well-established, extremely popular worldwide brand, and here you are tasked with bringing it into the North American market, right? I’m sure there’s a lot of envious developers out there, what has been kind of, and really you only get to launch a brand like this into a new market only once. So what has been kind of your approach, Jen? I’d love to get kind of the background on what’s been your approach and what kind of feedback you’ve been initially hearing. Have owners been kind of waiting for this, you know, to arrive here and, and what are you hearing from owners right now? Genna Panagopoulos: It’s a tale of two stories as they say, right? So in the luxury space, there’s so much excitement. We are very established, people in that space know us, and wanna be the first to help us develop here. So that’s where we’ve seen the vast majority of our interest. Now, when you shift to looking at some of the upper upscale through the select service brands that we now also offer franchise, which I don’t know the stat off the top of my head, but it is a large component of those properties, those segments are operated by third parties and franchised. So being that we’re newer into that space, that’s where the challenge has been. So, but yeah, in terms of the hardest thing and I have to tackle every day is where do I spend my time? Because there’s constantly deals coming my way. We have to, we have to be quite strategic and mindful about what has the most likelihood of being the best representation of our brand in our target markets. So early on, when I started, I think the first four weeks of me taking the role, I had developed a pretty cohesive development strategy of where we wanted to spend that time. And where that is really any of the top, let’s call it 20 markets in the US that have international demand. So we have top markets that don’t have as much international demand, and we’ll look at those, but we just think that our value is gonna come from driving international business into these hotels. And then totally opposite from that, with Anantara, our, you know, wellness, upper luxury experiential brand. We are really excited about finding deals in kind of everywhere else except for those urban markets, right? So hard to get to places. Last week I was driving through Utah and Colorado, six hours in between each of them. So just to give you a little flavor, we were looking at a couple different opportunities in those states. You know, Hudson Valley is somewhere we wanna be Montana, Wyoming. So, you know, it’s a little bifurcated our approach to our various brands. But we’re trying to be very diligent and strategic about it. So we don’t get distracted by things that aren’t going to help us grow here. Because once we have good examples, we really believe the first few have to be really good. Once we have those, we’ll be able to drive further, further growth at a more quick pace. Ryan Embree: Yeah, no, absolutely. And what you were talking about how best to spend your time, I think that’s a, a challenge that hoteliers have had since the dawn of this industry. But it’s very exciting and very cool to hear those different approaches because, you know, you have the privilege of having that background, of having that history and, and culture already built over an in another market, bringing that here. But you also have the exciting new flavor of providing something new, maybe in some, some very experiential markets right now, which experiential travel is just absolutely exploding another traveler trend right now. And you already have some several success stories we touched on at NYU. Let’s dive a little deeper into some of those projects, Genna. Genna Panagopoulos: Yeah, so we’ve got, I guess our next one that I’ve already kinda spilled the beans on it, but the releases are already out there, but the first Wolseley in the world will be opening next year in New York in the former Lambs Club property. And I think it’s just such a fantastic market to open the first Wolseley hotel. You know, theoretically it could have been in London and hopefully we do have one in London soon, but it’s a very special cherished brand and it’s not the one thing I also just wanna spend a moment on, even though it’s luxury and it’s this very quintessential British kind of formal service style, it’s egalitarian at its roots, it’s really meant for everybody. So you could walk into the, into the Wolseley in London and see celebrities next to politicians and you’re Joe Schmo walking in off the street, you don’t need a reservation. And so I think it’s a really beautiful evolution of the, of the history of that brand. And I’m so excited for it to land in New York. Ryan Embree: So we can announce right now in 2027. The Suite Spot will be on site. We can do nice little episode up there hopefully. Genna Panagopoulos: Next, next conference in New York. We’ll be able to do it there. Ryan Embree: Alright. Genna Panagopoulos: Yes. And then a little, actually, I guess the next one that’ll open in 2029 is Anantara Turks and Caicos, which is a 100% residential hotel, really, really beautiful resort heavy wellness, you’ll find with Anantara. We really lean into the wellness, longevity space. And so, we pride ourselves on always being at the forefront of the latest wellness, the direction wellness is going. And so longevity, for example, right now is very important to us. And we’re seeing that bleed into the residential space. So, you know, just the way that’s getting threaded into the residential experience, into the hotel guest experiences is very fascinating to watch. And then in 2030, we’ll also have another Anantara in Miami, very close to design district. It’s kind of at the epicenter of where design district, Edgewater and Midtown all meet the views from the hotel will be incredible. There’ll be a helipad, a 30,000 square foot spa. And then a mix of hotel rooms, residences that people are living in, and then also residences that can get rented out to hotel guests as well. So we are super excited, I think, you know, having these three hotels in these three markets, right? We’ve covered New York where we already have a hotel, by the way, the NH collection, Madison Avenue, we’ve had there for a few years, which we actually own. And then, you know, Miami, which is a key market, obviously very heavy international demand, but just if you had to tell me to pick one plate, one urban market to put it an Anantara, that would be it. And then Turks and Caicos is such a important market for U.S. leisure travel. So these couldn’t have been better, better markets for us to be entering and launching region. Ryan Embree: Congratulations. What a strong pipeline and really cool projects you’re working on, excited to kind of see those and the announcements as they start to roll in and the pictures, those views that you’re talking about. But I think, you know, the Turks and Caicos property is something we’ve been talking about on the podcast. That CALA region is also booming right now. So, you know, it’s not just, I think sometimes when we say, you know, obviously bringing into the North American market, we tend to go a little bit more domestic, but to expand that into CALA I think is gonna be absolutely critical. ’cause you’re right, so much of that US domestic travel is now spending, you know, time and money in those areas, and looking a little bit more towards that for their experiences. So exciting all around. And of course we love, you know, we’re based here in Florida, so we’d love a new project. We’ll, we’ll definitely be keeping an eye on that Miami project that you have. But this is speaking of Miami, this is our independent hotel show series. Talk to us, you know, why you feel some of the Minor Hotel brands fit within this independent and lifestyle category. And what advantages do you see independent hotels or even experiential brands and lifestyle brands have in today’s hospitality landscape? Genna Panagopoulos: I’ll answer that last question first. If you don’t have that experiential, that’s table stakes today. So, we’re, I believe we’re only gonna see that become more and more important as the years go on. Because if you look at the consumer data of what the younger demographic, where they’re spending their money, it’s not experiences. It’s not, it’s no longer on goods. So having these really cool, unique experiences that they can travel and and receive is gonna be critical in terms of what we have to offer for independent hoteliers, keep in mind this is our roots, right? We started our, our company was founded by Bill Heineke, who, fun fact, and I can’t remember if I’ve already told you this, but the reason we’re called Minor is that he went to go start his business at a very young age of 17. And when he was getting his his business license, they said, sorry, but you need an adult to sign with you ’cause you’re a minor. So he’s really one of those serial entrepreneurs, wicked smart, wicked great at launching businesses, but he was an independent hotelier. That’s how he got his start. So he’s still driving a lot of the vision of the company. And I could tell you coming from a larger brand company into this environment, it is incredibly entrepreneurial. And because we also own hotels, but also operate for a lot of our owners, we truly believe we have this, like this hotelier mindset. We’re more of an operator than we are a brand at this moment. And so I think that could help lend itself to independent owners who are looking for a little bit of support. And we’re here to lean in as much as they want and as little as they want, but there’s benefits to it, right? We can help save on OTA costs, we can help save on purchasing. We’ve got great technology to help with forecasting and revenue management and and so on. So there’s definitely places to tap in. And I think particularly now more than ever with our two collection brands that we launched last year, so I started telling you this, but I didn’t finish telling you the brands that we launched, but two of them that we launched last year are collections. One is minor reserve collection, which is in the luxury space. And then Colbert collection, which is more upper upscale, maybe entry luxury. And those are just such, they’re primed for independent hotels, right? That’s why they were launched. To be able to keep the heritage and the name of an independent hotel play off of it, but then get all the back support, all the things behind the scenes that consumers will really never see, but it’ll help make operations much more efficient and smooth. And so we think that’s where there’s a lot of opportunity and we’re, you know, we’re priding ourselves on that. We’re here to be a partner and not a brand that’s telling you have to do it this way. So that’s where we’re really thinking this is the opportunity for us in that space. Ryan Embree: Well, it says, it says a lot that, to have two collection brands dedicated to that space really shows the investment in the future of these kind of independently run or branded properties and see the opportunity there because again, looking, you mentioned the lens and view challenges about independent hotelier and brand is very different from those big brands that have the scale to kind of combat those challenges a little bit more efficiently. So, you know, independent hotels, we always talk about on this series specifically are looking for any edge or opportunity to differentiate themselves to the traveler because they are really first in line to present a one of a kind experience. If you think about it, one of those places is f&b, a trend that obviously Minor Hotels has taken and ran with, especially with converting a f&b brand to hospitality brand. How have you leveraged the f&b theme with potential owners and when you’re having these conversations with investors, as you look to bring Minor Hotels to North America? Genna Panagopoulos: Yeah, so, well first we have a, when I was doing my onboarding in Madrid and Amsterdam, I toured our Anantara in Amsterdam and they had just, maybe they, a couple months before they had just concluded a chef series where they brought I believe 20 or 30 Michelin rated chefs under their roof and had a food festival, which I had never seen that. Like how amazing to bring. I didn’t know that, that that many Michelin chefs would be side by side cooking for each other, right? But it’s a really special thing. And I think that shows you that Minor is very credible in this super experiential high end f&b space separate to that. And so we have the talent in-house. Separate from that, when you look at our brands and the way our Colbert brand, for example, our Colbert, I don’t even wanna call it a brand ’cause it’s a collection. It’s not really a brand the way we thread food and beverage into the guest experience, right? So each hotel is completely unique within the collection. We don’t want any two to really look alike, to be honest with you. But as part of the one ritual that you can, that you can count on as a guest at every Colbert is a food and beverage driven experience. So whether that’s a bespoke cocktail that’s mixed for you, right as you enter the door, or maybe, after you’ve checked in and you’re in your room, a bell cart is a food and beverage bell cart of sorts is delivering a special experience to your door something that ties back to the identity that the hotel has, but is very curated and special, right? Not something that’s like a here’s the, the chocolate chip cookies we made today. No. Right? We want something really beautiful, thoughtful, creative, and that shows the craft in it that either ties to the experience or the identity of the hotel. So I think that’s really important and those little things go a very long way. Ryan Embree: A hundred percent. And those are the little things that add up in the independent hoteliers world that can, you can have the edge, right? And I mean there’s a whole now space with food tourism. I mean, it’s got a name for it now. That’s how large this trend is. And hoteliers are looking at F&B very, very differently than they did five, 10 years ago. It was a first a place where they started to look and say, where can we cut costs? Where can we make efficiencies? Now the brands that I think are doing it right are leaning into it. They’re seeing it as a part of their guest experience and also a huge opportunity for their local markets too. I think people, you know, in locally have looked at through a different lens at what a hotel F&B experience can be. And when someone comes to town, they might not be going to that restaurant. They might be going to a hotel or a resort, and it having that experience there. So very interested to see, right. Genna Panagopoulos: It’s, I don’t mean to interrupt you. But I just wanna say, I was recently having the conversation because when I started in the industry, we would joke, you could, you could like blow a cannon through a hotel restaurant. Nobody wanted to go to a hotel restaurant. Back in the day, they were cool. And it was like, oh, I’m staying at this hotel, meet me at the restaurant. But for a while, you didn’t wanna go to a hotel restaurant. It was vanilla, it was boring, it had no identity. It was just an extension. It was just a restaurant within a hotel. Now it’s such an important driver of bringing people to that hotel, whether local or visiting from out of town. And so there’s such an opportunity. I just, I look back at the time that those hotel restaurants were not attractive. And now I’m like, no, it’s such a beautiful component to an experience and I’ve seen really amazing destination hotels that are operated by the operators, but have a totally unique identity that’s very strong and compatible with the hotel, but not homogenous with the hotel. Ryan Embree: Absolutely. It’s very, very cool to see that evolution. And I think it’s only, again, as the trend continues to grow, I think it’s only gonna get stronger. You’re gonna see more emphasis on that f&b experience. And I personally can’t wait. Because I love those types of experiences to kind of see that evolve. And we’re gonna learn a little bit about maybe some of your favorite f&b experiences within the portfolio here. So let’s do my favorite part of the episode. Some rapid fire to get to know you Genna and the Minor Hotel portfolio a little bit better. Let’s start with one of your, you talked about maybe future favorite views at your property, but right now what is one of the favorite views at your properties in the portfolio? Genna Panagopoulos: I know you’re trying to do rapid fire, but of course I’ll just story tell a little bit. Ryan Embree: No, not at all. Please. Genna Panagopoulos: The Avani in Amsterdam, I had the opportunity during my onboarding with Minor to go to Amsterdam for a few days. Because we have a ton of hotels in Amsterdam. And I got to stay there and I woke up, I think it was a Sunday morning, and I had one of the upper level rooms and floor to ceiling windows. And I just, I watched the city wake up. It was so cool to see the sunrise from my room, but also the canals were coming to life. People were in boats and I had this cup of coffee and they had a great lounge here. And it’s not, it’s not a fancy hotel, right? It’s an approachable lifestyle of hotel. But it was really, it was so beautiful. I had this like Minor Magazine I was reading and I read the full thing. It was so lovely. And I’m actually taking my daughter there in a few, in two weeks, because I loved it so much. Ryan Embree: Very cool. Yeah. And she’ll get to have that view of the, the property as well. What about favorite fact? A fun fact about one of the properties? Genna Panagopoulos: Okay, so one of our new Colbert collections, that I believe is open now in Florence. It’s called Port Rosa, which it translates to Red Door. And it is actually one of the oldest, it might have been the first hotel actually in Italy and one of the first hotels in Europe. So it’s just so funny ’cause here we call our historic hotels 200 years old. And, and here we have like an 800 year old hotel. So I think that’s, I don’t think I could top that. Ryan Embree: Yeah, that puts it in perspective. Favorite signature dish? We talked about f&b experiences at one of the properties. Genna Panagopoulos: So I know I’m talking a lot about Amsterdam, but that was, it obviously left an impression on me, but at the Tivoli, which is one of our entry luxury brands, very well established in Europe, they really pride themselves on food and wine. And so culinary is a huge component of that experience. So I get to eat at the restaurant in the Tivoli called Ombre. And they really try to weave in creativity and art into the overall experience. And so they took it, they took inspiration from Rembrandt, and so Ombre is one of the 12 colors of Rembrandt’s palette. And so they, they had a beautiful way of weaving that into the food, the color of the food, the color of the menu, the names of the menu items. And it was just a beautiful, and you could watch the chef finish the food right at the entrance. And it was just, it was remarkable. It’s also on the canal. It was an evening candle lit room. It was beautiful. Ryan Embree: I mean the marketing team for some of these properties I’m sure has no shortage of content and storytelling. I mean, this is every hotel marketer’s dream. What about favorite guest experience or amenities at one of your properties? Genna Panagopoulos: That’s a good question. The, also in the Avani in Madrid, so, when I had wrapped up, I had trained in Madrid. I went to Amsterdam for a weekend, came back to Madrid to kind of give everybody my 2 cents of how the project or how the onboarding went. And I was only there for one or two nights. I was so tired. I had been gone for like two weeks. I missed my kids. But I came back and the Avani in Madrid as my welcome city had a smoothie set up. And I had never seen this, and I don’t even know if I’ll ever see this again, but they had a little, a little tiny, I think it’s called like a bullet blender, right? That I could blend in my room. They had the most beautiful, I don’t even know what fruit it was, but it was sweet. It was delicious. They had a variety of milks next to it that I could mix with the fruit, and then of course a little ice bucket and some honey. And it was just everything that I needed. I was so tired from being on the road and to come back and have this really like, cool, healthy, nutritious, it was so, it was like they were reading my mind of what I needed. And I’ve never been in a lot of amazing hotels. And again, Avani is not a luxury brand, but they totally nailed it. And then about an hour later after it, ’cause I had checked in fairly late in the day, they showed up at my door with this beautiful wind down tea set up, and it was, you know, tea can be hit or miss. Yeah, it was so beautifully floral and delicious. And I’m not even a tea drinker. And I loved every moment of it. And they had the most perfect cookie to compliment. Ryan Embree: It’s brilliant by the way, that smoothie, because it makes you a part of the process. It makes you feel a part of the experience. I’m sure a ton of people are sharing that on social media. They’re talking about it. I mean, how easy could it have been to just deliver a smoothie, but for you to kind of be a part of that experience, I think makes it a little bit more special. Very, very cool. I’ve never heard that either. Very cool. And then the last but not least, favorite piece of artwork at one of your properties? Genna Panagopoulos: Thats a tough one. Coming back to the fact that we have an NH hotel in Amsterdam called the Schiller, with tons of authentic Danish artwork. But I’ve also heard that the Tivoli Puerto Gaia has a lot of remarkable pieces. In fact, they have over 70 pieces of authentic art. One of my favorite artists is a Spanish artist…and his works are there. So I haven’t seen it in real life, but that’s on my bucket list. Ryan Embree: Well, I’ll tell you, this was probably the most internationally friendly rapid fire that we’ve had here. When asking these questions. You took us to Madrid, Amsterdam, Italy, all over the place. So, we’ll definitely, I can feel the hoteliers now doing some research on these hotels and planning their vacations. Let’s shift to the Independent Hotel show. It’s happening September 16th, 17th in Miami Beach. And remember Suite Spot listeners, don’t forget to use promo code Ryan26 for a complimentary registration. Genna, and I would love to see you there. Genna, you recently joined the show’s advisory board. Congratulations on that. What inspired you to get involved with this event and how do you see it supporting independent hoteliers? Genna Panagopoulos: First of all, thank you. And I’m really flattered to be on the advisory board. When we started our, when I was working through our development strategy as part of that, we were talking about the various conferences we wanted to attend. And we really think that we’re different from a lot of the big players that are already here, right? We’re trying to not be aligned with them, but a totally different offering. And so for us, it was really important that we find these independent hoteliers, boutique hoteliers that, again, are looking for somebody to help support them and maybe make their lives a little bit easier, but not be always watching over their shoulder. And so for us that this was perfect, I actually hadn’t come across it until they reached out to me. And it came about 48 hours after we had said, we need to find a show or a conference that has specifically this. And it just fell into our lap. And so we, it was, it was very serendipitous and we’re very excited. In fact, I hope we can continue to attend and I’ll be bringing my colleague from Mexico actually to help run the process with us while we’re there. So we’re excited. I also think that we could learn a lot of what independent hoteliers need and their challenges are and be able to help them out. Ryan Embree: Yeah, it’s a very, very unique event. I’ve had the privilege of being to the show since its inception a few years back. So much learning, there is something special when you put a group of independent hoteliers together in a room. The networking that goes down. It really is unlike any other event I’ve been to. So, again, hope you will join Genna and I in Miami Beach in September. We hope to see you there. As we wrap up today, we got a couple more minutes. What is your vision for the future of Minor Hotels in North America? Genna Panagopoulos: Listen, we don’t wanna be as big as everybody else that’s here, but we wanna have a really good foothold. I don’t think I mentioned this, but we have a little over 600 hotels worldwide, including in pipeline. And we’re really everywhere except for North America. And so it just feels like the right progression, of where we even have hotels in South America, in Mexico, right? So we’re really kind of closing in from all directions. And so we just wanna have good hotels here. Good representation on, fun fact, British and US travelers make up the majority of Anantara guests worldwide, even though we have no Anantara here in the U.S.. So, Norin England. So people want it, and I think once they’re here they will absolutely come. So we’re excited. We just want what we want. A good representation of hotels. Hopefully that’s somewhere around 20 to 30 hotels in the coming years. Ryan Embree: Well, you’re off to a super strong start. Congratulations again, Genna. It’s exciting to be here, kind of at the starting line of this Minor Hotel’s journey in North America. It will soon follow suit, like the rest of your brand is. So we’re excited to watch that unfold here in the upcoming years. Genna, thank you so much. We know you’re busy. You mentioned it before. We appreciate you taking your time, spending some time with us and talking about Minor Hotels and in the Independent Hotel Show. Again, we’re, we’re excited that we’ll both be attending there in Miami. And hope you will too. So Genna, thank you for your time. Genna Panagopoulos: Thanks for having me again. Ryan Embree: Alright and we’ll talk to you next time on The Suite Spot. Thank you for listening. To Join our Loyalty program. Be sure to subscribe and give us a five star rating on iTunes. Suite Spot is produced by Travel Media Group. Our editor is Brandon Bell with Cover Art by Bary Gordon. I’m your host Ryan Embree, and we hope you enjoyed your stay.
John Hazzard, managing director of Salterra, talks with Amy Tate of Insider Travel Report about his one-year-old luxury resort on remote South Caicos Island in the Turks and Caicos. Designed for families, couples and singles, the property, named for the nearby salt flats, features a great beach, a private island, lots of activities and excursions, an amazing spa, special culinary programs, and very comfortable and stylish accommodations. For more information, visit www.salterra.com. All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our Youtube channel (youtube.com/insidertravelreport), and as podcasts with the same title on: Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean, iHeartRadio, Google, Amazon Music/Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox.
¿Quieres diseñar un dormitorio elegante, equilibrado y con sensación de hotel? En este vídeo comparto los principios de interiorismo que utilizo para crear espacios que transmiten calma, orden y calidad. Hablaremos de distribución, orientación de la cama, circulación, iluminación, materiales, textiles, color y pequeños detalles que cambian por completo la percepción de un dormitorio. No se trata de copiar estilos, sino de entender qué decisiones hacen que un espacio funcione y por qué algunos dormitorios transmiten serenidad desde el primer momento. Si estás diseñando tu casa o simplemente quieres mejorar tu dormitorio, este vídeo reúne criterios que podrás aplicar independientemente del estilo que más te guste. Si alguna idea te ha hecho replantearte tu dormitorio, me encantará leerte en comentarios. Y si disfrutas de este tipo de contenido sobre interiorismo y diseño consciente, puedes suscribirte para no perderte los próximos vídeos. Gracias por pasarte por aquí. Gracias por pasarte por aquí. MP Un poco sobre mí... Soy Ingeniera de la Edificación y diseñadora de interiores, me he especializado en proyectos de alta gama. Con 15 años de experiencia en la industria del diseño, he tenido el privilegio de colaborar con una amplia gama de clientes, incluyendo promotores, constructores, agentes de la propiedad inmobiliaria, empresarios y clientes privados. He completado con éxito más de 25 proyectos en siete países diferentes (España, Reino Unido, Bahréin, India, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, y Suiza) y he tenido el placer de trabajar con clientes de 11 nacionalidades. Mi proyecto de más valía hasta la fecha supera los 50 millones de libras, y uno de mis logros más destacados fue el diseño de una promoción de 16 apartamentos, donde el ático se posicionó con un récord histórico como el piso de un dormitorio mejor pagado por metro cuadrado en la historia de Westminster, Londres. Actualmente vivo en Londres y continúo trabajando en múltiples proyectos locales e internacionales. Aprovechando las capacidades del mundo digital, he producido y lanzado este podcast, "Atelier Prada", donde, de manera distendida y coloquial, abordo diferentes temas del mundo del interior con el objetivo de compartir parte del conocimiento que he adquirido durante estos años cada semana. Para obtener más inspiración en diseño de interiores www.miriamprada.com https://miriamprada.com/podcasts/ https://www.youtube.com/@miriamprada https://www.instagram.com/bymiriamprada/ https://www.tiktok.com/@bymiriamprada Aviso legal: Nadie patrocina este PODCAST. Todas las opiniones y puntos de vista son míos.
"After a decade of devastating loss, and medical trauma nearly destroys his will to live, a man reaches the edge of giving up before the fragile birth of his son brings him a new hope. Today's episode featured Nathan Wieser. If you'd like to email Nathan, you can reach him at natelucywieser@gmail.com. Nathan is on Instagram @nathanwieser, and is on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nathan.wieser.3 Nathan's book, a memoir, We Did It: A rare perspective from a husband and father enduring a decade of miscarriages, infant loss and the roller coaster of emotion in the NICU: https://a.co/d/0iR6km0q, and also their website for the short term rental in Turks & Caicos: www.grandturkrentals.comProducers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: adoption, divorce, religious trauma, alcohol abuse, violence/fighting, pregnancy loss, termination for medical reasons, stillbirth, miscarriage, infant death, medical negligence, traumatic birth, uterine rupture, blood loss, near-death experience, PTSD, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, NICU hospitalization, premature birth, infant medical trauma, sepsis, emergency surgery, wildfire/house fire, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Read more about Whit's insights into each episode on Beyond The Story Substack: whitmissildine.substack.com. On the Substack, Whit will be sharing personal reflections on the deeper themes that emerge from each episode and from across the conversations he's been immersed in for years, including the psychology of radical transformation, the power of storytelling, the lessons of trauma and healing, and how we die to an old Self and are reborn. He'll share behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of the show and his own personal journey in creating it. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop. Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Ambient Themes ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
(00:00-22:33) Finna be a Jim Dandy. Guarantee people are listening in Mexico. Turks & Caicos. Germany bounced from the World Cup. Let's get Soccer Sharp's takeaway. Hoppin' mad at The Dutch. Greatest day in World Cup ever (per Martin). Takes need marinading. Free range engagement farming.(22:41-1:02:25) Zedd at The Arch. Keep throwing Libby out there and see what happens. Doug's expecting a bounceback start. Shot by shot analysis of the round at Bellerive yesterday. Doug only played 7 holes. Reed Low's a bomber. Moosejaw Saskatchewan. Ope, that's the lede. Green Book or Crash? Well done, Governor. Homer Roll.(1:02:35-00:00) Pyrotechnicians to the front of the line. The Josh Naylor situation. Al Pacino taught me. Only losers buy new shoes. Lake Geneva.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Finna be a Jim Dandy. Guarantee people are listening in Mexico. Turks & Caicos. Germany bounced from the World Cup. Let's get Soccer Sharp's takeaway. Hoppin' mad at The Dutch. Greatest day in World Cup ever (per Martin). Takes need marinading. Free range engagement farming.Zedd at The Arch. Keep throwing Libby out there and see what happens. Doug's expecting a bounceback start. Shot by shot analysis of the round at Bellerive yesterday. Doug only played 7 holes. Reed Low's a bomber. Moosejaw Saskatchewan. Ope, that's the lede. Green Book or Crash? Well done, Governor. Homer Roll.Pyrotechnicians to the front of the line. The Josh Naylor situation. Al Pacino taught me. Only losers buy new shoes. Lake Geneva.Jackson Burkett: Vacation Police. Gareth is famous for a hairy back. Audio of Robert Thomas talking about the Jordan Kyrou trade and being excited for him to get a new opportunity. Homer roll rebooted. Doug's a flaccid 7.Audio of Lance Lynn on Cardinal Territory talking about Jordan Walker's quiet June. Misclubbing Tim. Doug's never weeped on the air. The call of Brazil's game winning goal in stoppage time against Japan. The electric call of Paraguay's game winner in penalties. Joe Buck has a grammar take and calls in about it. Chairman nearly came out of the chair witch excitement.Audio of a confused Boston Red Sox booth after Wilson Contreras was ejected for tapping his helmet on the way to the dugout. Kirk Herbstreit takes aim at the current MLB product. The Whitey Ball era. Vince Coleman.Look, Doug, it's Brody back from Florida. Brody's got World Cup Fever. Ok, now transitioning to Mason McTavish. Ok, now Cardinals. The Island of Zeiteist?Design Aire Heating & Cooling EMOTDSelf-loathing during the commercial break. Lack of talent and preparation or confidence? Doug Vaughn: Swing Coach. Dougie Two Gloves.101 will carry the Alexander Steen presser at the top of the hour. Quick Mexico City weather update. Why does the tall, blonde community wear diapers? Booking adult diaper commercials. TALK ANTHROPOLOGY. Love is Blind.Should we be scared of Bosnia because a texter played tough Bosnian teams growing up? Chairman is hosting "During The Morning After" in the YouTube chat.And the winner of the Design Aire Heating & Cooling EMOTDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Factos Curiosos e às vezes até interessantes sobre as marcas. Essas coisas que passam a vida a tentar seduzir-nos. Com João Soares Barros.
Amy from Colorado joins me to share all about her family of five's multigenerational Southwest road trip with her husband, their three kids (ages 3, 7 and 9), and her parents.They started in Northern Colorado and made their way to Moab, Utah to explore Arches National Park, then continued on to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon before ending with sunshine, pool time and spring training baseball in Scottsdale. On the way home, they looped back through Santa Fe, making this an epic road trip full of red rocks, big views, kid-friendly hikes, multigenerational memories and plenty of Southwest magic!This episode is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kelseygravesIf you'd like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: kelsey@triptalespodcast.comBuy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- MOAB: The Expedition Lodge, Moab Brewery, Fiesta Mexicana- ARCHES NATIONAL PARK: Balanced Rock, Double Arch, Windows Arch, Turret Arch, Sand Dune Arch, Delicate Arch Viewpoint- GRAND CANYON: Cameron Entrance, Yavapai Lodge, Maswik Lodge, The General Store, Mather Point, Geological Museum, Trail of Time, Bright Angel Trail, Arizona Steakhouse - Rim to Rim with 3,000 Miles to a Cure https://www.3000milestoacure.com/- SCOTTSDALE: Holiday Inn Vacation Club, Rockies Spring Training, Cien Agave restaurant, The Sugar Bowl ice cream parlor- Santa FeTrip Tales is a travel podcast sharing real vacation stories and trip itineraries for family travel, couples getaways, cruises, and all-inclusive resorts. Popular episodes feature destinations like Marco Island Florida, Costa Rica with kids, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Aulani in Hawaii, Beaches Turks & Caicos, Park City ski trips, Aruba, Italy, Ireland, Portugal's Azores, New York City, Alaska cruises, and U.S. National Parks. Listeners get real travel tips, itinerary recommendations, hotel reviews, restaurant recommendations, and inspiration for planning their next vacation, especially when traveling with kids.
¿Se puede poner madera en un baño? ¿Es un error mezclar IKEA con piezas de diseño? En este vídeo analizamos algunos de los mitos más repetidos del interiorismo desde una perspectiva profesional y basada en la experiencia. Muchas decisiones de diseño nacen de ideas que repetimos sin cuestionarlas. En este recorrido revisamos creencias sobre materiales, iluminación, acústica, distribución, personalidad de los espacios y diseño atemporal para entender cuándo son ciertas, cuándo no y, sobre todo, de qué depende cada decisión. Porque en interiorismo rara vez existen reglas absolutas. Lo importante es comprender el contexto, el uso del espacio y tomar decisiones con criterio. Si alguna de estas ideas te ha hecho replantearte la forma en la que miras tu casa, me encantará leerte en los comentarios. ¿Con cuál estabas de acuerdo? ¿Y cuál te ha sorprendido más? Gracias por pasarte por aquí. MP Un poco sobre mí... Soy Ingeniera de la Edificación y diseñadora de interiores, me he especializado en proyectos de alta gama. Con 15 años de experiencia en la industria del diseño, he tenido el privilegio de colaborar con una amplia gama de clientes, incluyendo promotores, constructores, agentes de la propiedad inmobiliaria, empresarios y clientes privados. He completado con éxito más de 25 proyectos en siete países diferentes (España, Reino Unido, Bahréin, India, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, y Suiza) y he tenido el placer de trabajar con clientes de 11 nacionalidades. Mi proyecto de más valía hasta la fecha supera los 50 millones de libras, y uno de mis logros más destacados fue el diseño de una promoción de 16 apartamentos, donde el ático se posicionó con un récord histórico como el piso de un dormitorio mejor pagado por metro cuadrado en la historia de Westminster, Londres. Actualmente vivo en Londres y continúo trabajando en múltiples proyectos locales e internacionales. Aprovechando las capacidades del mundo digital, he producido y lanzado este podcast, "Atelier Prada", donde, de manera distendida y coloquial, abordo diferentes temas del mundo del interior con el objetivo de compartir parte del conocimiento que he adquirido durante estos años cada semana. Para obtener más inspiración en diseño de interiores www.miriamprada.com https://miriamprada.com/podcasts/ https://www.youtube.com/@miriamprada https://www.instagram.com/bymiriamprada/ https://www.tiktok.com/@bymiriamprada Aviso legal: Nadie patrocina este PODCAST. Todas las opiniones y puntos de vista son míos.
Host Steve Turk interviews Nikheel Advani , co-founder and COO of Grace Bay Resorts, who shares how he entered hospitality at 16 after his father pushed him to work, leading to dishwashing, banqueting, and founding a small events company in Singapore. He trained at UMass Amherst, worked in restaurants and hotels, joined a Pizza Uno turnaround team, then spent years with Ritz-Carlton opening multiple properties and emphasizing mentorship. He became hotel manager at Singapore's Raffles, helped elevate its global ranking, then moved to Turks and Caicos to build a hotel into Grace Bay Resorts, focusing on training, local talent, service excellence, food and beverage, airlift, and a luxury branded-residence model that funds development and gives owners hotel access and rental income. It's an amazing episode with fantastic stories and pieces of advice that you should listen to today. A big thank you to our sponsor, Lodgify. Make sure to use promo code THM60 when you sign up at Lodgify00:00 Sponsor Lodgify01:07 Meet Nikheel Advani01:48 First Hospitality Job02:08 Dad's Tough Lesson03:21 Starting a Company at 1604:42 Choosing Hotel School07:18 UMass and Working Through School08:42 Pizza Turnaround Years10:09 Breaking Into Ritz Carlton11:48 Mentors That Changed Everything14:42 Leaving for Raffles Singapore16:24 Running an Iconic Hotel17:28 Profit Meets Guest Experience18:35 Leap to Turks and Caicos20:57 Caribbean Service Reset21:55 Risk and Ownership Leap22:55 Partners and Fast Decisions23:56 Awards and Signature Wins25:43 Building Local Talent28:29 Selling a New Destination31:46 Airlift and Island Strategy34:08 Next Projects Pipeline36:06 Branded Residences Model38:59 Advice and Farewell
Al needs some rich in-laws to send him to Turks and Caicos
Angela (@angelashellhaas) from Columbus, Ohio joins Trip Tales to share about how her family of five road-tripped to Hilton Head for Spring Break in 2025 and 2026 — and why it has become one of their favorite easy family beach getaways.In this episode, Angela shares what made Hilton Head worth returning to two years in a row: spectacular sunrises, biking on the beach, wide low-tide beaches perfect for kids, relaxing beach and pool days, yummy food, and an easygoing pace that made the whole trip feel like an actual vacation.From where they stayed to favorite restaurants, bike rides, beach routines, and road trip tips, this episode is full of practical ideas for planning a laid-back Hilton Head spring break with kids.This episode is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kelseygravesIf you'd like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: kelsey@triptalespodcast.comBuy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- Angela on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelashellhaas/- CAVA Restaurant- Buc-ee's- Beach House Hilton Head- Hilton Grand Vacation Club Ocean Oak Resort- Coligny Plaza: Carolina Coffee and Crumbs, Sweet Al's, Piggly Wiggly, Lowcountry Celebration Park- The Village at Wexford: Java Burrito, Hilton Head Running Company- Sea Pines: Coast restaurant, Harbour Town Light House, The Quarterdeck restaurant in the light house, Salty Dog- Skull Creek: Skull Creek Dockside (takes reservations), Skull Creek Boathouse (more casual, no reservations), Hudson's on the River- Non-Seafood Restaurants: Fat Baby's Pizza, Giuseppi's Pizza, CharBar Co. Burgers & Sushi- Family Photographer: Danielle with Lamp & Light PhotographyTrip Tales is a travel podcast sharing real vacation stories and trip itineraries for family travel, couples getaways, cruises, and all-inclusive resorts. Popular episodes feature destinations like Marco Island Florida, Costa Rica with kids, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Aulani in Hawaii, Beaches Turks & Caicos, Park City ski trips, Aruba, Italy, Ireland, Portugal's Azores, New York City, Alaska cruises, and U.S. National Parks. Listeners get real travel tips, itinerary recommendations, hotel reviews, restaurant recommendations, and inspiration for planning their next vacation, especially when traveling with kids.
We move fast through the biggest Caribbean and diaspora headlines, from Haiti's 2026 election schedule to new energy and infrastructure partnerships across the region on Episode 3 for June 2026. Here are the headlines.UN Secretary General and Haiti Prime Minister meet ahead of Haiti's two-round 2026 general elections Dominican Republic and United States sign memorandum on civil nuclear cooperation and energy securityGuyana and US talks focused on infrastructure projects and industrial collaborationJamaica plan to train all public sector employees in artificial intelligence Jamaica push for planting 3,000 hectares of fruit trees by 2035 for food security British Virgin Islands authorize negotiations with the Dominican Republic to improve food security and tradeGrand Bahama Shipyard renovation aiming to expand cruise ship repair capacitySaba Black Rock Harbor Project using regional materials from St. Kitts to improve maritime accessTurks and Caicos regulatory approval moving Starlink satellite internet access closerUS Virgin Islands launch Vibes on the Rock Food and Whine Fest Antigua and Barbuda set to make major investment in cricket campus to grow sports tourism and trainingUS celebrates Juneteenth Obama Presidential Center Opens in IllinoisListen and subscribe to the Pulse of the Caribbean Caribbean News Round Up for news you need to know. Send news releases and information to news@pulseofthecaribbean.com.
On 18 June 2022 firefighters working at the Providenciales International Airport on the Turks and Caicos Islands went on strike in protest at an unequal implementation of a pay award. The action shut down the airport and caused cancellations in domestic and international flights. Workers were due to receive their first pay increase in seven years, of 15%. But the workers complained that the increase was not being paid equally to all workers. After a few days, the airport authority issued a statement promising to review workers' salaries with the aim at implementing a new, fair grading scale.More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/7806/turks-and-caicos-airport-strikeOur work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.See all of our anniversaries each day, alongside sources and maps on the On This Day section of our Stories app: stories.workingclasshistory.com/date/todayBrowse all Stories by Date here on the Date index: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/dateCheck out our Map of historical Stories: https://map.workingclasshistory.comCheck out books, posters, clothing and more in our online store, here: https://shop.workingclasshistory.comIf you enjoy this podcast, make sure to check out our flagship longform podcast, Working Class History
What happens when you go from ditching the last day of high school for McDonald's to jumping out of airplanes over the Palm Islands? It's a Damn We Grown Wednesday, and Mike and Tiff are bringing you some serious soul, laughs, and business strategy this week. We've got Pro from Bigger Vision Agency in the studio, and he's breaking down the realities of entrepreneurship—from Fatburger to running a digital marketing empire.If you've been wondering whether Artificial Intelligence is the devil or your new best friend, this episode is your definitive answer. We're talking about how to leverage tech to scale your workflow, why you can't let AI replace your kids' real-world experiences, and the heavy realization that running a business is just waking up to a whole lot of responsibility.Plus, we get into the comedy of aging (who hid the reading glasses?), pulling weeds in the backyard, and the raw fear of skydiving in Dubai. Grab your notepads, because Pro drops a literal cheat code for turning your brain dumps into standard operating procedures.Dubai Skydiving & Island Hopping: Pro's adventures from skydiving over Palm Island to eating red snapper in Turks and Caicos.The Comedy of Growing Older: Why we can never find our glasses when we need them, and the trauma of pulling weeds in the summer heat.AI for Business Growth: Is AI a threat, or the ultimate cheat code? How to start using tech to elevate your productivity.Prompting vs. Context Engineering: Why giving AI the right context is the secret sauce to making it work for you.The Reality of Entrepreneurship: From working at Fatburger to owning an event venue, a photography rental shop, and a marketing agency. Why scaling up means leveling up your network.Parenting in the Digital Age: Why kids need practical, real-world learning before relying on AI.(Try this prompt out)"Take this transcript, act as an expert operations manager, and turn this into a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)."Guest Info:Tap in with Pro and level up your digital presence over at BiggerVisionAgency.com.Stay Connected:Hit us up at damnwegrown@gmail.com and let us know your thoughts on AI, skydiving, or where your reading glasses are hiding today. Make sure you're subscribed on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your soul and strategy!What We Get Into This Week:
In this episode, I'm recapping our family of five's first all-inclusive trip to the Dominican Republic and our stay at Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana. I'm sharing why we booked it, how we used points, and whether this popular resort lived up to the hype. I'll walk through the rooms, pools, beach, food, activities, water park, Scape Park excursion, nightly shows, and all the little details you'll want to know before booking. Spoiler alert: we may not be cruise people, but we are officially all-inclusive people!If you'd like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: kelsey@triptalespodcast.comBuy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- Hotel Room Upgrade Guide: https://kelsey-graves.kit.com/e1c6074077- Packable Hammock Floats: https://amzlink.to/az0SlaCwsUzUA- Hyatt Ziva Cancun- How to book Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana on points- Room we originally booked: Junior Double Suite with a Sofa Bed- Southwest Airlines- Dominican Republic E-Ticket- ChatGPT Packing Lists- TSA Precheck Touchless ID- DAT Transfer- Favorite Restaurants: Tempest Table, El Mercado, Coffee Republic, Noodle & Thread, Prontoz, Journey's- Scape ParkTrip Tales is a travel podcast sharing real vacation stories and trip itineraries for family travel, couples getaways, cruises, and all-inclusive resorts. Popular episodes feature destinations like Marco Island Florida, Costa Rica with kids, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Aulani in Hawaii, Beaches Turks & Caicos, Park City ski trips, Aruba, Italy, Ireland, Portugal's Azores, New York City, Alaska cruises, and U.S. National Parks. Listeners get real travel tips, itinerary recommendations, hotel reviews, restaurant recommendations, and inspiration for planning their next vacation, especially when traveling with kids.
NYU IHIF 2026 was full of insights and thought leadership from some of the best and brightest hospitality professionals in the industry. In this episode of the Suite Spot, you will get to hear from some of the most influential and biggest names in hospitality in the exclusive interviews we were able to cover at the event. NYU IHIF is the epicentre of hospitality brands, capital, and fast-paced dealmaking – opportunity moves fast, and so should you. This is where the rebound takes shape, where leaders uncover what's next, and where relationships turn into real transactions. Ryan Embree: Welcome to Suite Spot, where hoteliers check in, and we check out what’s trending in hotel marketing. I’m your host, Ryan Embree. Hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of the Suite Spot. This is your host, Ryan Embree and VP of Marketing here at Travel Media Group. Cassady Quintana: And I’m Cassady Quintana, Brand Ambassador here at TMG. Ryan Embree: And today we are fresh back from NYU IHIF 2026. My second time in attending this incredible event. Cassady, your first, what were your thoughts? Cassady Quintana: Yeah, I thought overall was a great event. A lot of optimism, especially as we’re heading into the summer season. So I thought, you know, the conversations that we heard on the panels and the ones that we were having with people were awesome, and a lot of you know, good things coming out of that. I feel like the biggest topics that I heard, there were three major takeaways I took from a lot of the panels and people we were talking to, but one being that K-shape economy that we’ve heard a lot about, right? We know that luxury is still outperforming while economy segments are feeling a little bit more of that pressure especially as we head into this summer season and looking at some of those trends. And then I think one of the biggest topics we have been talking about since the beginning of this year is the World Cup and how international travel we thought was gonna be booming. We were expecting a lot of busy hotels, but it’s kind of been on the softer side, and we’ve actually seen international travel dip a bit. So I think right now we’re kind of in that wait and see period of maybe you know people are waiting to see if their teams make it out of the group stages and then they’ll plan on booking a hotel. So keeping an eye on kind of that last minute travel. But the biggest topic that we were talking about a little bit last year, but the biggest one this year is AI and how hotels are using that within their systems. You know, there’s a lot of trends around using that for more personalization and being able to use it to look at your, you know, revenue optimization and how you’re performing online. So finding ways that we can use AI that doesn’t take the hospitality out of hospitality and doesn’t replace that human element. But that kind of went with that overarching theme of the entire event, which was sharpening the edge. So the thing I took from that is that the hotels that are really gonna win are the ones that are understanding their guests and using AI to further that, to further get to know their guests, to make that experience a little bit better. Ryan Embree: You know, and we had some incredible conversations and interviews with some professionals that we’re gonna share here in a second. But just to kind of jump on what Cassidy’s saying, we’re at a really cool inflection point in our industry right now as we go gear towards the busy travel season. So it’ll be interesting to see, you know, we had the opportunity to meet with development person from Minor hotels who’s looking to bring their brand into US and Canada, which will be very interesting. We know how they have a huge global footprint, a lot of interest early on in getting into the Americas. Uh, we then visited with AHLA and Kevin Carey and his team doing such wonderful work over there advocacy for our industry and some really cool initiatives that we were able to sit down with Kevin for a few minutes and chat about, uh, Jan Freitag from STR our hotel Data North Star and compass. They just released a revised forecast for the hospitality industry. So we went over some major points of that revised forecast and finally we got the opportunity to sit down with president and CEO Best Western Larry Cuculic. What a wonderful conversation about the best Western brand and how they are implementing, um, some of that AI and technology into their brand, and capitalizing on not only the World Cup, but also America 250. So wonderful insights that you’re only gonna find here on the sweet spot. Thank you for joining us. We hope you enjoy these exclusive interviews from NYU IHIF 2026. Hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of The Sweet Spot. We are live on location at NYU IHIF 2026 here with Genna, the VP of US and Canada Development for Minor Hotels. Genna, thank you so much for taking the time to stop and the busy big apple and talk with us today. Genna Panagopoulos: Thanks for having me. Ryan Embree: Excited about, this show. A lot of energy, a lot of buzz. You know, when you come to an NYU talking to ownerships, a lot of capital here, what are the conversation kind of stem around, and what does a successful NYU show look like as you head back to your home base? Sure. Genna Panagopoulos: Successful NYU would really be finding some deals, perpetuating some deals. So hopefully advancing some opportunities and it’s really all about for right now because we’re relatively new into the region. Educating our owners and the, the broader development community. So, you know, some of, some of the players do already know us, but in the luxury space, but there’s a lot of people we gotta get out in front of and introduce Minor hotels to. Ryan Embree: And this is a great place and, obviously a great city to do that in. What has been kind of the feedback? I mean, you’ve been tasked with this enormous job. We have such a great brand, worldwide, you’re bringing it here to us, Canada, and North America. What have been some of those initial conversations and hearing that and initial interest and feedback from owners? Genna Panagopoulos: Yeah, we’ve had a lot of feedback and interest on Anantara. So some of our, you know, established luxury brands that are pretty well known when you know the luxury hotel space in a global environment. Sure. So those owners have actually come to us saying, we’re really excited about the opportunities here. So that’s one piece. Of course we have NH Hotels, NH collection, and NH, which are very well known brands, especially in Mediterranean, Europe. Yeah. And, Central and South America. So there’s excitement around that too. Ryan Embree: Does it help, I mean, having such an international brand, we got the World Cup here, right? In a couple months. You kind of using that as maybe some momentum as you kind of come into, and introduce this brand into the Americas. Genna Panagopoulos: Absolutely. There’s a lot of, you know, I’m also educating Minor of the markets we wanna be in and so that’s definitely helping as well and putting some places on the map. Ryan Embree: And let’s talk about that because there’s been some announced projects already right here actually in New York. Talk about that project a little bit. Genna Panagopoulos: Yes. Thanks for asking too. We have a Worsely Hotel that’s opening, here next year. It’s gonna be super exciting because Worsely is a restaurant brand that we are taking into the hotel space. So it’s the first of its kind and nowhere better than to start in New York comes from London. So there’s a lot of correlation between the two markets. Ryan Embree: One of a kind hospitality venue and a one of a kind city, so. Exactly. But another project we’re really excited about just ’cause we’re home based, obviously in Orlando right down the road, a bright line away in Miami. Talk to us a little bit about that project and how that’s different. Yeah, Genna Panagopoulos: It’s a high rise building built in Miami. Hasn’t started construction yet, but it’ll open in 2030. It’ll be an Anantara hotel with branded residences, both private branded residences and, um, ones that will be able to be rented to hotel guests as well. Super wellness oriented. There’s gonna be a really extensive spa. Right. Very experiential. Wonderful for the residents that are gonna be buying, the residence. Ryan Embree: It’s incredible. It sounds like you guys are really taking care of all of the kind of popular travel trends right now. Right. FMB has really had this resurgence in hospitality with the project here. Wellness, obviously a huge piece of what hospitality is leaning into and what travelers are looking forward to. So having that flexibility between the brands too, I’m sure is a definitely a fun place to be when having these conversations with owners. But you talked about another project in Turks and Caicos. Genna Panagopoulos: Turks and Caicos. So we have an Anantara in Turks and Caicos that I believe will open in 2029. So in order we’ll have one in New York next year, and then 29 on Ontario trips and Caicos 2030, Miami. Ryan Embree: So no shortage of news on the Minor Hotel side. Congratulations to you and your team. Thank you. As you wrap up, I mean, what’s your vision? What’s your goal? As you bring Minor Hotels into the North American region? Genna Panagopoulos: Yeah. Well, if I think about next year at NYU, I hope people, more people are coming towards us. Excited about us being a different brand a different mindset. So we offer, we think of ourselves a little bit differently from the parent brands that are already established here because we have, you know, ownership still of most of our portfolio or we lease most of our portfolio. Um, so I hope there’s more inbound traffic coming towards my way. I hope people generally just walking down the street know us a little bit more. Certainly. You know, white Lotus helped us with Anantara, so there’s a lot of people who Oh, yes, are are diehard Anantara fans because of that. But that’s what I’m hoping for. And eventually we’d love to have an office here. So as long as we do our, our, our work, right, we, we get a strong pipeline, we’ll be able to have an office, a regional office in, in North America. Ryan Embree: Incredible. Well, super exciting. Can’t wait to catch up on all the exciting projects that you have at Minor Hotels. This is the first of a couple collaborations we’ll be doing with Minor hotels, so make sure you stay tuned. Congratulations again, Genna. And thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. Genna Panagopoulos: Thanks for having me. Ryan Embree: Hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of The Suite Spot. We are live on location, New York City at NYU IHIF. I’m here with Kevin Carey, President and CEO of the AHLA Foundation and COO of AHLA. Kevin, not your first time on the Suite Spot. Appreciate you taking some time and joining me here today. Kevin Carey: It’s lways a pleasure to spend time with you. Ryan Embree: Yeah, it’s fun.Incredible event so far. NYU obviously AHLA, AHLA Foundation Forward has a huge presence here. What does, you know, when you come to the event like this, we always talk in hospitality, these events are always going to exist no matter what. Technology comes down the pike because hospitality, we’re people, right. We like connecting. What is a successful NYU IHIF look like for you and your team? Kevin Carey: Well, It’s always an important period of time in the year at, as we approach midyear to check in with our members, to have that conversation about the advocacy issues we’re leading on behalf of the industry to hear how the business performance is tracking as well. And just to build enthusiasm and engagement for the events and the initiatives that we’re leading, not only in the association, but with the foundation as well. Ryan Embree: And none more important than the No Room for Trafficking initiative that you and your team have done some fabulous work on. I mean, we have all sorts of brands up on stage, sometimes with differing opinions here and there, but one cause that everyone in our industry has really gotten behind, and it’s the work of you and your team, is this No Room for Rrafficking? We always like to spread awareness of this. Talk to us a little about, about on that front and the progress you’re seeing and making. Kevin Carey: Well, this is a longstanding commitment that the industry has to human trafficking prevention and awareness. It started in 2019 with the development of the No Room For Trafficking Initiative and its focus on training and expanded in 2022 to include the Survivor Fund. So this is an area where AHLA and the foundation specifically serves as a convening entity to bring the industry together to rally around this important issue to work, to build awareness that’ll drive prevention of human trafficking, and also to gather funds to help support survivors. So this is a commitment not only on a longstanding basis, but also on a going forward basis as well. Ryan Embree: And such inspiring stories that you’ve told over the years. And people, you know, hoteliers and other people listening to this can really get behind and encourage people to kinda look at that initiative. Another kind of initiative that you’ve done in these events that, when we’re talking about these events is forward. We had a record breaking attendance a couple months ago in the spring. Talk to us about how that is. And you actually have some of those the forward initiatives here at NYU. Kevin Carey: We do within the foundation, our mission is to advance the workforce of the industry. And we do that through a focus not only on the current workforce, those over 2 million associates and colleagues who deliver hospitality day to day, but also how do we attract the future workforce to the industry. I talked about being a convening entity. The foundation brings together the industry across all segments. And there’s two areas where we believe we can make a difference. One is around human trafficking that we just spoke about, but also around the forward initiative which is geared towards, and its purposes to advance women in the hospitality industry and in leadership roles in the hospitality industry. So we were delighted to host our most recent forward conference in Atlanta, back in April. And the results were outstanding but really the momentum and the impact that that forward is having is really, which has us so enthusiastic and committed to this initiative moving forward. Ryan Embree: Yeah, that’s gotta be so cool to see industry leaders in hospitality raise their hands and want to be a part of this movement and really see the results from that. Kevin Carey: Well, it’s grown from just being a conference, that started in 2018 and had about 150 people at the first event to now over 1100 attendees. But as it as it has expanded from a conference to a leadership development curriculum. And you mentioned the forward exchange, which took place, here in New York earlier today, where it brought together over a hundred early and mid stage career and professionals of women and some men who are participating along with their peers to focus on networking and building those relationships so they can be well suited and take on roles, over time in the industry. Ryan Embree: Really cool to see. And again, probably some incredible stories coming from that over the years as the as the initiative matures. One thing that, that hospitality in general, really looking forward to, we got big summer, right? We’re usually really excited about summer is just ’cause of the travel season, kids being outta school. But this summer in particular, we’ve been looking forward to for a couple years. We got World Cup on the horizon, finally. We played just a couple miles from here and in America 250. What are you kind of hearing from hoteliers and how are AHLA really, gearing up for these big events, showcasing our industry? Kevin Carey: Well, these are really defining opportunities, for the industry to support those guests to welcome that demand, to drive the hospitality infrastructure over time. So there’s a lot of enthusiasm around the potential that that represents and as we’ve seen on stage already today the results in the first part of the year for the industry have been positive. a number of the outlooks are increasing the Revpar and ADR and other industry metrics, here with the these large events we are still waiting to see some of the demand materialize and we’re in a critical period of time right now, about 10 days out before the games to see that hopefully what’ll be a late surge in bookings, then translate into further business success for the industry. Ryan Embree: Yeah. Hopefully, and hopefully see that international travel continue to come back to North America, you know, a lot of hoteliers, hoping for that. Zooming in a little bit on a AHLA summertime, also time for interns, right. Come in and we’ve talked about this before. I mean, internships, mentorship in hospitality. So critical. I mean, throughout the years we’ve had these staffing shortages and we’ve talked about getting creative, our industry, getting creative on ways to fill those roles, internships being one of them. Talk about a little bit about the AHLA internship program and what these interns are are ready for this summer. Kevin Carey: Well, it’s not new. We’ve had a well established program from a number of years now. And, and we’re excited annually to bring a number of interns into our team across each function. we’ll have an interns in the government affairs team, in marketing, in the foundation. it’s so refreshing to engage them in our work to see their enthusiasm about their future to see them pick up valuable skills and experience of being in an office environment, learning more. And you know what? They, they have a real impact. They have some fun along the way as well and we have a wonderful session at the end where they get to present the results of some of the work in the initiatives that they’ve been working on. So it’s an annual opportunity that we look very forward to. And they’ll be starting just in about a week’s time. so it’ll be a great another repeatevent for us. Ryan Embree: Yeah. Love to see it. You know, again, any way that we can have more exposure to all sides of hospitality. Beause as we know, it’s not just, you know, the front desk. There’s so many elements to it and there’s none more demonstrated by how big our hospitality industry is than by the hospitality show that you put on. And this year is gonna be right in our backyard. In Miami, Florida. Get us a little bit excited about what we can expect at this year’s fourth annual. This is our fourth Hospitality Show, correct? Kevin Carey: So we started in Vegas, went to San Antonio, we’re in Denver last year. A lot of enthusiasm coming out of Denver for the content. And then what’s unique about the hospitality show is it’s really the only conference in the industry with a focus on operations and how operations is driving profitability. So there’s a terrific enthusiasm and people are looking forward to being in Miami, coming together in Q4, all segments of the industry represented. So we’ll have the brands we’ll have management companies, owners, service providers, suppliers, independent hotels also play an important role in the industry. So we’re about to open registration and that’ll really kickstart, the focus on November 2-4 in Miami. Ryan Embree: Well we’re looking forward to it. We’re hoping to go 4/4 on covering the hospitality show. Especially with it being right there in our backyard. Kevin, we know you’re busy. Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us today on some of these important initiatives. And hopefully we’ll see you in Miami in just a few months. Kevin Carey: Hopefully I have something else on. Ryan Embree: Alright. Appreciate it. Thanks. Kevin Carey: Thank you so much. Ryan Embree: Hello everyone. Ryan Embree. here live at NYU IHIF 2026 here with Jan the National Director of Hospitality Analytics at CoStar. Jan, you were just on a panel. Thanks for taking the time to jump off and speak with us. Jan Freitag: Absolutely. Ryan Embree: State of the state, love the name obviously you’re the north star of hospitality data out there. Jan, revised forecasts just came out. Talk to us a little bit about those points that you were sharing with the audience today. Jan Freitag: So we’re suggesting that RevPAR this year is gonna grow 2.8%, which is very different from the way we looked at the world at the ALIS Hotel Investment Conference. First quarter performance was much more stronger than we had expected than the public traded companies had expected the brands or the …. And a lot of them have revised their year end forecast up. So, you know, we followed suit. Now they, most of them just revised their forecast by the outperformance of Q1. But we’re suggesting No, no, there’s momentum. So we actually took our forecast up by a lot more to 2.8%, 2% driven by ADR and 0.8 by occupancy, which is really good to see. ’cause it implies that demand is outpacing supply. You know, so we get occupancy gains and then some pricing power. Ryan Embree: Love to see that. I mean we were here a year ago with Amanda who is talking about trying to decipher through the noise, a lot of noise right now. But great to see the momentum with those revisions and so important to have those revisions because the landscape can change ever so rapidly as you know. But talking about the supply, talk to us a little bit, go into a little bit more in depth and then obviously every market is different. What markets right now are running a little bit hot on supply? Jan Freitag: Yeah, so fational forecast for Supply goes to 0.4%, not a whole lot. Right. The long run average is 1.6, so we’re well below that. The number of rooms in construction used to be between, we know, 150,000 – 160,000. It’s now 140,000. So it’s sort of staying there. It’s just so expensive to get anything done. And interest rates are still high and could go higher. Who knows, we’re not making interest rate forecast. But you know, there’s definitely no longer this idea of how we should cut, you know, interest rates twice this year or so. I think those days are gone, you know, and so now the question is, okay, so where are people getting things done? And you can look at it by markets. So a couple of them are usual suspects. So Nashville, very strong, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Phoenix. So those are markets sort of in the smile states, sort of in the Sunbelt that still get a lot of people moving there. And you know, migration determines the economic performance. And so we’re seeing a lot more room supply growth there, but there’re just a lot of markets where it’s very, very hard to get anything done because of that higher cost of construction and of the higher interest rate. So I would single out those markets, but overall the picture is rather muted. On the supply side. So what that means then, for existing owners is the time to renovate is right now percent. Because you want to be the new kid on the block with the new hotel, there’s not a lot of new competition coming. This is time to renovate and really put your best foot forward. Ryan Embree: A hundred percent. And you know, one of the other topics we talked about, or you talked about rather on stage was segments right now luxury, doing very, very well leading the way. Obviously a lot of bifurcation, that K-shaped economy. What are you seeing across the segments right now? Jan Freitag: Yeah, I mean there are no wrong answers in luxury, right? I mean, luxury last year was the winner. This year is the winner. We’re projecting, very healthy RevPAR growth double of what we’re saying for the nation. We think the luxury class can materialize. And then what’s really nice to see is that for upscale upper midscale midscale, there’s also RevPAR growth there, which we hadn’t seen last year. And to me that speaks to the strength really of the American economy. But it sort of permeates toward all income classes. Now the exception is was and unfortunately will be likely the economy sector now even there we’re suggesting RevPAR’s growing, but it’s just, you know, 0.8% call that flat for all intent and purposes. Ryan Embree: International travel too, obviously World Cup on the heels of this. What are you see any interesting data points there you wanna share just right ahead of the America 250 and World Cup? Jan Freitag: There are two very different vibes coming from the panel that I was on. Adam Sacks prior to US presenting was talking about, oh wow, international inbound is really still quite a bit lower than it was in 2019. But the gentleman from the NTTO, the National Travel Tourism Organization was like, no, we’re projecting rock and roll, really strong growth of international inbound. The truth is probably gonna somewhere in the tween this year. World Cup is gonna drive a lot of international travelers. What I’m wondering about though is are some of those travelers basically stealing from 2025 and from 2027 and now they’re saying, oh, let’s not go in 25, let’s go in 26. And then when next year comes around, they’re like, we just went to the us you know, and not go in 27 either. So I just hope that the more positive spin from the government comes true and this and, and not that we’re just sort of packing everything into this year and then international inbound is gonna deteriorate. Ryan Embree: So many interesting data points. Anyone in particular you have your eyes on where, you know, obviously we love a nice rosy outlook and try to look for opportunities through all of the data that’s out there, but anyone’s that are like unexpected data points or something that you’re at least keeping an eye on right now? Jan Freitag: Yeah, so there are a couple, but the one that I’m really focused on is consumer price index. Everything is getting more expensive and so that means that hotels will see their cost increase. And the big question then is how much of that cost increase can they pass on to the customer? And I just told you that our ADR forecast for this year is 2% and inflation is gonna be what, 3.5 or something? I mean, it’s gonna be much more than that outpacing that. So that’s really the crux and I think that’s what we here at NYU, to talk to owners and investors and management companies have figure out, okay, so how can we keep our margins expanding even maybe how do you do that in this environment where top line growth may be not keeping pace with with inflation. So the CPI number is really something I’m keeping an eye on. Ryan Embree: Yeah, pretty challenging time right now. when it comes to margins and hospitality that we, again, trying to suss out and figure out here, what are those maybe opportunistic data points that you’re seeing that you’re saying this, this is really good, maybe unexpected on the other end of the spectrum? Jan Freitag: Yeah, I think the Americans are wealthier than they ever have been. And Adam Sachs has this fascinating data point where he shows at the emerge that the middle class in America is shrinking, but part of it is because a lot more people are rich. So people are moving up the income chain and that allows ’em then to spend more money on experiences, very clear that people favor experiences over goods. And we are right in that Suite Spot. Ryan Embree: That continues to be the experience over stuff. We love to see that. And then you’re kind of here celebrating an anniversary/birthday of your podcast, is it? You know you’re, you’re usually, typically used to be in the host, not so much the guests, so thank you. Tell us a little bit more and maybe where our hotel audience can find the insights that you provide. Jan Freitag: Yeah, and thank you for having me. So we have our own podcast. My colleague Isaac Collazo from STR and myself get together once a month. It’s called Tell Me More, A Hospitality Data podcast. And three years ago at juniors across the street over cheesecake, we sort of hatched the idea. And so now we’re, I don’t know, like, you know, almost 30 episodes into it. And we get together once a month and we just sort of riff on the data and hopefully you can join us. Ryan Embree: I love it. That’s awesome. Well, Jan, thank you so much. Very busy time. Appreciate you stopping by and talking to us. Jan Freitag: My pleasure. Thank you so much. Ryan Embree: Alright. Hello everyone. Ryan Embree here with the Suite Spot. We are live at NYU IHIF 2026 here with Larry Cuculic, President and CEO of BWH Hotels. Larry, thank you so much for taking time outta your busy schedule to join us here on the Suite Spot. Larry Cuculic: It’s my absolute pleasure. Thank you for the invitation and for allowing me to share some thoughts with regard to the success and BWH hotels. Ryan Embree: Yeah. We’ve got a lot to cover cause you’ve got a lot going on right now. But let’s start with this event, right? NYU IHIF, lot of major brands here what does a successful NYU look like for you and your team? Larry Cuculic: To us, a successful NYU is interacting with developers and investors such that they’re aware of what BWH has become. We’re now 18 brands, over 4,000 hotels in over a hundred countries and territories from premium economy up to luxury hotels. We acquired world hotels about six years ago. And so it really is continuing to educate about the possibilities of their associating with BWH hotels because we would be singularly focused on their success if they partner with us. And you’re also in a powerhouse panel tomorrow, the Executive Exchange Hospitality Performance Strategies for Success give our audience a little bit a sneak peek of what you’re gonna be talking about on stage. Larry Cuculic: Well, we’re gonna be talking about of course, the economy near term as well as long term projections for what that looks like. we’ll be talking about the importance of loyalty programs. We’ll be talking about the impact of really the economy and things like labor insurance and how we as brands need to focus on the success of our hotels by offering them programs to really offset that impact on net RevPAR. Ryan Embree: And I’m sure one of the subjects and topics that we brought up on your panel, certainly something we talk about these hospitality events is, AI and technology. And we had the privilege of having SVP and your CTO Bill Ryan on at the Hospitality Show a couple months in October, gave us a little bit of lay of the land when it came to AI and technology. How do you feel personally that this technology is really changing the way that travelers choose hotels, but also how they have their hotel experience, their guest experience? Larry Cuculic: Sure. So the first thing we’re doing is we’re reinvesting in our .com as well as our app. And we want them to be easy to use intuitive, but we also wanna make sure they have content that convinces guests when they’re shopping that our hotels will provide them kind of that customization and personalization. ’cause it’s not about a commodity, a hotel room, it’s about all those things that we can offer. By way of example we’re partnering with an AI agency to kind of harvest content with regard to where our hotels are located in those communities. At the same time, we’ll take that harvested content and we’ll filter it through our hoteliers who live in those communities and create the content that will be the AI answer when somebody’s looking for a place to stay. And they’ll know that we want them to have the best possible time while we’re in that community, not just staying with us as a hotel, that we recognize that people don’t want just to stay, they want really a journey. Ryan Embree: Yeah. Something that we aspire in hospitality to provide that not just a hotel stay, but an experience. And we talked to Joelle Park about the power of storytelling and how that can play a component in one of the best stories, obviously that you just had a really exciting announcement with is America 250 and the story of this great nation. So talk to us a little bit about that partnership and what BWH Hotels is doing with America 250. Larry Cuculic: Well, we are a sponsor of America 250, and we’re encouraging our hoteliers to embrace the 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation. And part of that is not just USA 250, we also have the 100th anniversary of Route 66. We have hotels that have been with us, believe it or not, we have a hotel that’s been with us 75 years. And it speaks to the heritage of our brand. So we’ll be leaning into the history of this great country. At the same time we’ll be leaning into the history of our great brand and encouraging people to travel and see the United States and all that it has to offer no matter where you go. And the beauty of our hotels we have 2200 of them in North America and wherever they’re going to go, we want them to know that we have a hotel that will meet their travel leads such that they can experience really the 250th anniversary of USA. Ryan Embree: Yeah. It’s a really exciting partnership right in at an inflection point with the World Cup as well. So introducing maybe some international travel also to the brand and the nation. You know, you’re a great following on LinkedIn. I encourage our audience, if you haven’t, make sure you follow Larry, but one of the things you’re reflecting on your North American regional conferences that you’ve done up to this point in 2026 and you quoted to say that you want BWH hotels to become the most welcoming brand in the world. What does that mean to you and how is your team working to achieve that? Larry Cuculic: Well, welcoming means that we’re gracious hosts, but it also means that we’re, I’ll call it easy to do business with understanding, being flexible and recognizing that we are somebody you’d want to be partners with. Whenever anyone walks into a hotel we should tell them, you know, welcome, we’re glad you’re here by way of example. But I used to think of it that way in terms of being gracious host and everything that happens at the hotel, but when I think of welcoming, I also want to think about our new.com and app. Again, it’s that ease of use and personalization so that when you go there, we know it’s you and we want to help you make good decisions with regard to travel. So welcoming is about ease of.com, the app we’re redoing our loyalty program. I think Joel probably talked to you about that. And we want the loyalty program to be welcoming as well. Well, what does that mean? Well, that means that when you interact with us, you’ll know how many points you have. You’ll know they never expire. You’ll know that you can use them to buy down the price of a room at any point. That you don’t have to, to have as many points for a full stay to leverage those points. It’s a value of the program. And of course welcoming. I always lean into the importance of being not just a gracious host, but somebody that appreciates our guests. To me, that’s welcoming because you have to recognize that people, they’re traveling with their families, it’s something that you wanna leave a terrific impression on them and their family. And you also want them to know that we appreciate that they’ve spent their hard-earned money staying with us. To me, that’s being appreciative gracious hosts. And that’s part of the welcoming. It’s not, the welcoming doesn’t just happen when they enter. Welcoming has to be entire stay. Ryan Embree: So key. And the brands that kind of make that connection with their travelers, especially in a time where, I mean, we just talked about in this interview AI technology, there’s way more places become disconnected, to find that connection, that human to human connection. Very important right now. So as we wrap up the interview, obviously at these events we’re always, whether it’s the hospitality data we’re looking into, whether it’s a conversation, we’re always trying to take a glimpse into the future, trying to predict that future. Larry what do you see, what’s your vision for the future of BWH Hotels. Larry Cuculic: People will always wanna travel. And for us, if we can become that welcoming brand that appreciates our guests, we will build that loyalty. When we build that loyalty, that program will grow. Our revenue delivery brand direct will grow which is the lowest cost for us in terms of that reservation for our hoteliers but what I think I would also offer to you is we’re also very focused on thoughtful growth. And what that means is if you grow your loyalty program, you also wanna make sure you have hotels that are in locations where guests want to go. Be it London, be it Rome, be it Frankfurt, be it Bangkok, no matter where it is around the world. And so, you know, we have a, a focus goal of 5,000 hotels, which means we will grow thoughtfully, but with our guests in mind. And because when we have a hotel join us, our sole focus is the success of that hotel as well as having a quality hotel where guests want to go. Ryan Embree: That’s awesome. Well, we wish you nothing but success. Hopefully maybe can join the Suite Spot when that 5,000 hotel opens and we can celebrate that together. But in the meantime, thank you, Larry, for taking the time out of your day to join us here on the Suite spot. Larry Cuculic: Well, thank you. Thank you for the opportunity. Very much appreciate it. Speaker 2: To join our loyalty program, be sure to subscribe and give us a five star reading on iTunes. Suite Spot is produced by Travel Media Group. Our editor is Brandon Bell with Cover Art by Bary Gordon. I’m your host Ryan Embree, and we hope you enjoyed your stay.
Summer travel is in full swing, and this week we're breaking down the biggest trends we're seeing in 2026: cruises, Europe, and multi-generational family trips. John, Dayna, and Jess talk through their own summer travel plans, from Alaska cruises and Hotel Xcaret to Universal Orlando, Epic Universe, Disney weekends, river cruising, and sports travel. But the bigger story is what clients are booking right now — and this summer, cruising is everywhere. Families are sailing to Alaska, Greece, Japan, the Caribbean, and beyond, with European cruises and bucket-list itineraries becoming major standouts. We also dig into the rise of multi-gen travel, as more families are choosing to bring grandparents, siblings, cousins, and extended family together for big memory-making vacations instead of traditional reunions at home. From Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean to Celebrity, river cruises, Adventures by Disney, Beaches Turks & Caicos, national parks, Universal, and Europe, this episode is packed with summer travel inspiration and the trends shaping family vacations right now.
Deryk Meany, general manager of Beaches Turks and Caicos, talks with Sherman Dejon of Insider Travel Report at the new Treasure Beach Village about the $150 million expansion, which added 101 multi-bedroom suites, new dining concepts, a new pool complex, plus wellness options, the Starfish Cinema, Grace Bay Beach access and water sports. Meany also tells us how Treasure Beach Village fits into Beaches 2.0, what the room categories are and what travel advisors should know about selling the new village. For more information, visit www.beaches.com. All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our Youtube channel (youtube.com/insidertravelreport), and as podcasts with the same title on: Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean, iHeartRadio, Google, Amazon Music/Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox.
Adam Stewart, executive chairman of Sandals Resorts International, talks with Sherman Dejon of Insider Travel Report at the new Treasure Beach Village at Beaches Turks and Caicos about the resort's $150 million expansion as the first Beaches 2.0 product and the company's plan to expand Beaches across the Caribbean. Stewart also discusses the village's accommodations, prime Grace Bay Beach location, family and multigenerational market, new dining concepts, travel advisor training and fam trips. For more information, visit www.beaches.com. All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our Youtube channel (youtube.com/insidertravelreport), and as podcasts with the same title on: Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean, iHeartRadio, Google, Amazon Music/Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox.
In which cartoonist and writer Emily Flake discusses chance encounters with Dan Rather, being denied entry to Turks and Caicos, and the namesake of Emily's St. Nell's Humor Writing Residency for Ladies. Certificate #863.
In this episode, we welcome Ryan Watson to the studio. He and his wife were arrested in 2024 in Turks and Caicos for having loose rounds of ammunition in their luggage. In this interview, we discuss how the rounds were accidentally in his luggage to begin with, when the ammunition was found by security on their way out of the country, when he and his wife were both arrested and told that they would be getting a 12-year minimum prison sentence, how he was able to get his wife free of the island and how that ultimately resulted in him being shackled and imprisoned, the decision to go to war economically with the island, being violently targeted while on the island, the process of trying to gain his freedom, how then-Senator Markwayne Mullin began to intervene in the process, when he finally succumbed to the reality that he would likely not see his children for their entire childhood because he would be in prison, his sentencing process, how his nine-year-old son turned this crazy situation into an opportunity to spread the Gospel, and much more. Let's get into it… Episode notes and links HERE. Donate to support our mission of equipping men to push back darkness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Everyone Needs An Episode, we are breaking down the biggest headlines in culture, hip-hop, and the legal dramas currently dominating the news cycle. From the lyrical dismantling at the Roots Picnic to the fallout of leaked tapes and trademark battles, we bring the insight you need. In this episode, we cover: Jay-Z's Roots Picnic Freestyle: We dissect the heavy-hitting bars, the triple entendres, and the nine individuals caught in the crosshairs of Jigga's latest lyrical masterclass. Meek Mill vs. Nike: A deep dive into the Dreams and Nightmares trademark drama. Was it copyright infringement, or a major marketing fumble? We analyze the IP implications. The Diddy & Daphne Joy Situation: Addressing the disturbing leak, extortion claims, and the reality of revenge porn in the digital age. Anthony Edwards & Financial Allegations: The conversation surrounding NBA star Anthony Edwards' child support disclosures and the public reaction to his financial management. Trending News: We touch on the Michael Misick corruption scandal in Turks and Caicos, the Atlanta judge and deputy chief chamber scandal, and the bizarre AI-in-therapy phenomenon 0:00 Intro & The Chris Brown Music Debate 4:21 Meek Mill vs. Nike: The Dreams and Nightmares IP Dispute 20:54 Jay-Z's Roots Picnic Freestyle Breakdown 38:28 Surviving Diddy: Daphne Joy & The Tape Leak 49:11 Anthony Edwards: Child Support & Financial Claims 54:45 Justice for Lisa Ray? The Michael Misick Corruption Case 58:44 Scandal in Atlanta: The Judge & Deputy Chief Chambers Affair 1:05:35 The Lisa Kudrow & Dionne Warwick Confusion 1:07:47 The "Astrid" AI Phenomenon: When AI Hits Therapy Brand new voicemail: (314) 649-3113 Subscribe to the Everyone Needs an Aquarius Patreon https://bit.ly/3tXnnCz Email the show at straightolc@gmail.com Follow SOLC Network online Instagram: https://bit.ly/39VL542 Twitter: https://bit.ly/39aL395 Facebook: https://bit.ly/3sQn7je To Listen to the podcast Podbean https://bit.ly/3t7SDJH YouTube http://bit.ly/3ouZqJU Spotify http://spoti.fi/3pwZZnJ Apple http://apple.co/39rwjD1 IHeartRadio http://ihr.fm/2L0A2y
On today's episode, we're joined live from Beaches Turks and Caicos by Good Morning America Meteorologist Sam Champion and his husband, nationally recognized artist, Rubem Robierb live from Beaches Turks and Caicos. No strangers to Beaches Resorts, Sam and Rubem sit down with us to talk travel, what keeps drawing them back to Turks and Caicos, and naturally, the weather. From how Sam's approach to forecasting and travel planning has evolved over the years to the couple's shared love of beach destinations, Caribbean culture, and meaningful local experiences, this conversation explores the balance between planning ahead and embracing the unexpected while traveling. Sam and Rubem also share their thoughts on traveling during different seasons, finding inspiration through new places and experiences, and why slowing down and truly connecting with a destination can transform the way you vacation.
Kyle is back on Trip Tales! After previously sharing about his all-inclusive ski trip to Club Med in Quebec and his epic trip skiing in Austria while visiting the German Christmas markets, Kyle returns to share another incredible family ski adventure.In this episode, Kelsey sits down with Kyle to recap his family of four's spring break ski trip to Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada in April 2026. They flew into Calgary, stayed in the walkable town of Banff, and skied Canada's Ski Big 3: Lake Louise, Sunshine Village, and Norquay. Kyle shares tips on planning a late-season ski trip, navigating Ikon Pass options, flying with ski gear, where they stayed, favorite restaurants in Banff, and what it was really like skiing all three mountains.From wide-open bowls and incredible mountain views to poutine, rooftop hot tubs, and the cutest ski town vibes, this episode is packed with helpful logistics for anyone considering a family ski trip to Banff. This episode is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kelseygravesIf you'd like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: kelsey@triptalespodcast.comBuy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- Air Canada- Banff National Park- Trans-Canada Highway- Basecamp Suites Banff- Fairmont Lake Louise- Restaurants in Banff: Hello Sunshine Sushi, Bluebird Woodfired Steakhouse, Banff Ave Brewing Co.- Caesar cocktail and poutine- Banff Sunshine Village Ski & Snowboard Resort: Sunshine Mountain Lodge, Mad Trapper's SaloonTrip Tales is a travel podcast sharing real vacation stories and trip itineraries for family travel, couples getaways, cruises, and all-inclusive resorts. Popular episodes feature destinations like Marco Island Florida, Costa Rica with kids, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Aulani in Hawaii, Beaches Turks & Caicos, Park City ski trips, Aruba, Italy, Ireland, Portugal's Azores, New York City, Alaska cruises, and U.S. National Parks. Listeners get real travel tips, itinerary recommendations, hotel reviews, restaurant recommendations, and inspiration for planning their next vacation, especially when traveling with kids.
What I love about doing this Podcast is the opportunity to meet with crazy talented people with fascinating stories to tell.Meet Mia Martensson!She went from Hotel pot-washer on Gotland Island in Sweden to being the Head Sommelier on the largest private residential yacht to creating a Wine Spectator Award Winning wine program at the Seven Stars Spa & Resort in Turks & Caicos.Lotta energy, lotta fun!
Kelsey sits down with Kirsten (@pointstravel.md), a Pediatric ER doctor from upstate New York, to recap her family of five's incredible trip to Italy in April 2025. They spent time in both Rome and Sorrento, with day trips to Pompeii and Orvieto, plus unforgettable adventures along the Amalfi Coast and out to Capri.In this episode, Kirsten shares what it was really like visiting Italy with kids, including touring the Colosseum, attending Gladiator School (a family favorite!) seeing the Pantheon, taking a pizza-making class, boating to Capri, exploring Pompeii, and soaking in all the pizza, gelato, history, and beautiful Italian scenery along the way!This episode is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kelseygravesIf you'd like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: kelsey@triptalespodcast.comBuy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- @pointstravel.md on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pointstravel.md/- TripIt App- Rome AirBNB: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/963857416949581312- ROME: The Colosseum, Golf Cart Tour, The Pantheon, Tiramisu & Pizza Making Class (through Eat Walk Italy), Mama Loves Rome for scavenger hunt printables, Gladiator School (by Gruppo Storico Romano), Mizio (street food, best sandwiches)- Orvieto, Italy: Duomo, Orvieto Underground, Etruscan Museum- Trenitalia App for train tickets- Sorrento AirBNB: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/36904867 - SORRENTO: Campania Express vs. Circumvesuviana train, Holy Week, Tavern Allegra (nice Italian restaurant), Amalfi Coast Tour with Rainbow Limos to Postiano, Ravello and Amalfi, Pizzeria da Franco, Capri, Monte Solaro Chair Lift in Anacapri- Pompeii: Family tour with Alex Tour Pompeii- Capri: Iconic Faraglioni rock formations, Blue Grotto, Anacapri, Monte Solaro Chair LiftTrip Tales is a travel podcast sharing real vacation stories and trip itineraries for family travel, couples getaways, cruises, and all-inclusive resorts. Popular episodes feature destinations like Marco Island Florida, Costa Rica with kids, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Aulani in Hawaii, Beaches Turks & Caicos, Park City ski trips, Aruba, Italy, Ireland, Portugal's Azores, New York City, Alaska cruises, and U.S. National Parks. Listeners get real travel tips, itinerary recommendations, hotel reviews, restaurant recommendations, and inspiration for planning their next vacation, especially when traveling with kids.
In this episode, we sit down at Beaches Turks & Caicos with General Manager Deryk Meany as Beaches Resorts celebrates the arrival of Treasure Beach Village. Recorded during the highly anticipated launch weekend, the conversation offers a front-row seat to the energy, excitement, and vision behind this standout moment for the Beaches brand. Together, they explore how the opening of Treasure Beach Village transformed into a full-scale Caribbean celebration, complete with immersive experiences, curated events, live performances, and unforgettable moments as celebrities, tastemakers, and global media gathered on the shores of Turks and Caicos to celebrate. Deryk also shares everything guests can expect at the new Treasure Beach Village — from exciting new culinary experiences and the all-new Starfish Cinema to stunning accommodations designed for the next generation of family travel. Plus, get a sneak peek at what's ahead for Beaches Resorts, with new resorts in the pipeline as the portfolio grows bigger, bolder, and more unforgettable across the Caribbean.
Kelsey sits down with Nina from New Jersey to discuss her family of 4's epic 12-day Disney adventure in August 2025.They started their trip at Walt Disney World, staying at the new Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Resort and visiting all four parks: EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Magic Kingdom. From there, they boarded the new Disney Treasure cruise ship for a 7-night Caribbean sailing with stops in Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, and Castaway Cay. To wrap up the trip, they spent one final night back at Disney's Beach Club Resort.In this episode, Nina shares what it was like combining Disney World with a Disney Cruise, her family's favorite park moments, what stood out on the Disney Treasure, and the port adventures they loved most.This episode is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kelseygravesIf you'd like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: kelsey@triptalespodcast.comBuy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- Nina @nina_vuetravel on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nina_vuetravel/- Waterproof Cross Body Bag: https://amzlink.to/az0Tjj2Es1BMD- Away We Go travel transportation- Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom- The Island Tower at the Polynesian Resort- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Tiana's Bayou Adventure, Moana's Journey of Water, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Soarin', Slinky Dog Dash, Tron, Brown Derby, The Plaza- Disney Treasure: Plaza de Coco, Fish Extenders, Pixie Dusting, Haunted Mansion Parlor Bar, Scat Cat Lounge, Periscope Pub, Enchante, Mickey Churro Waffles, The Neverland Challenge, Moana Stage Show, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique- Cozumel: Fury Catamaran Snorkel Excursion- Grand Cayman: Mollie's Beach Club- Jamaica: Dunn's River Falls- Castaway Cay: Stingray Encounter- The Beach Club Resort, Blizzard Beach, Stormalong BayTrip Tales is a travel podcast sharing real vacation stories and trip itineraries for family travel, couples getaways, cruises, and all-inclusive resorts. Popular episodes feature destinations like Marco Island Florida, Costa Rica with kids, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Aulani in Hawaii, Beaches Turks & Caicos, Park City ski trips, Aruba, Italy, Ireland, Portugal's Azores, New York City, Alaska cruises, and U.S. National Parks. Listeners get real travel tips, itinerary recommendations, hotel reviews, restaurant recommendations, and inspiration for planning their next vacation, especially when traveling with kids.
There are certain guests I've been trying to land for years, and today, I finally get to welcome one of them. My guest worked for Club Med from 1983 to 1991, starting his journey at Club Med Martinique in 1983 as a Waterski G.O. Over the years, he rose through the ranks to become Chief of Sports and even served as interim Chief of Village. I've already had the pleasure of hosting his daughter and his wife on the podcast, and now, it's his turn. Please join me in welcoming the one and only, Steve Miller! This interview with Steve will be presented in two parts. In Part 1, we focus on his early Club Med journey, covering Martinique (summer '83), Cancún ('83/84), Eleuthera (summer '84), Sonora Bay ('84/85), Corfu Ipsos (summer '85), Haiti ('85/86), Sandpiper ('86/87), and Turks & Caicos (summer '88). Enjoy! **My First Season podcast has always been ad-free and free to listen to and is available to download on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Samsung Podcasts, Podbean App, Podchaser, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora, and Listen Notes. And if you like what you hear, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
On this week's episode, host Caryn Antonini is joined by Mia Martensson, a Swedish-born sommelier whose journey began on the island of Gotland at just 14 years old and has since taken her across the globe. From Michelin-starred restaurants in Stockholm to vineyards in South Africa and even a private residential yacht sailing the world, Mia has built a career defined by curiosity, expertise, and a passion for connection.Currently, as the Resort Sommelier at Seven Stars Resort & Spa in Turks and Caicos, Mia is the creative force behind an award-winning wine program, known for its depth, innovation, and unforgettable guest experiences. Today, Mia joins us to share her remarkable story and her philosophy on wine, hospitality, and the art of bringing people together.For more information on our guest:@martensson.mia@sevenstarsresortCaryn Antoniniwww.cultivatedbycaryn.com@carynantonini@cultivatedbycarynshowGet great recipes from Caryn at https://carynantonini.com/recipes/
Kelsey sits down with Liz from Portland, Oregon to hear all about her family's epic winter adventure to Ottawa and Montreal in February 2025.This trip was planned as a surprise 40th birthday bucket list trip for Liz's husband, with one very specific goal: ice skating on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, Canada (the world's largest natural ice skating rink). As a big hockey and skating family, this was a dream experience!Liz shares what it was like visiting Ottawa with both an 18-year-old and a 1-year-old in tow, staying at the magnificent Fairmont Château Laurier, exploring the city in winter, and then continuing on to Montreal for cozy, European vibes.This episode is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kelseygravesIf you'd like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: kelsey@triptalespodcast.comBuy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- MONTREAL: Montreal Airport Marriott, Biosphere in Parc Jean-Drapeau on St. Helen's Island, Sonder Apollon Apartments Old Montreal, Montreal Canadians hockey game at the Bell Centre rink, La Fontaine Park - ice skating, La Grande Roue ferris wheel, Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal + the Aura Experience, STASH Cafe for Polish food.- Beau's Brewery- OTTAWA: Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Winterlude, ByWard Market, ice skating the Rideau Canal, The Brig Pub, National Gallery of Canada, Major's Hill Park- PARC OMEGA: Wolf Chalet & Lodge, Panoramic Chalet Trip Tales is a travel podcast sharing real vacation stories and trip itineraries for family travel, couples getaways, cruises, and all-inclusive resorts. Popular episodes feature destinations like Marco Island Florida, Costa Rica with kids, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Aulani in Hawaii, Beaches Turks & Caicos, Park City ski trips, Aruba, Italy, Ireland, Portugal's Azores, New York City, Alaska cruises, and U.S. National Parks. Listeners get real travel tips, itinerary recommendations, hotel reviews, restaurant recommendations, and inspiration for planning their next vacation, especially when traveling with kids.
Send us Fan MailHello, passionate cruisers! This is Paul and this week on The Joy of Cruising Podcast; I am delighted to welcome Josianne Jocelyn, Travel With Josianne. Josianne worked for several years for different travel agencies. Josianne told me, “I was born in Haiti. I came to the US 40 years ago. I come from a family of 6 children (like me). I lived in Brooklyn through high school. (Like me, well, through middle school). After earning a bachelor's degree, I knew working in the Travel industry is what I wanted to do. My first trip given to me by the agency was a cruise on the Big Red Boat, and I realized that I loved cruising. I got married and gave birth to twin girls. When I moved to New Jersey several years later, I had to work part time, because I was the one taking care of the kids. 2020 change everything. I started to watch YouTube travel videos. Someone told me I should start a YouTube channel, and I did. I did not know how hard it would be. I have been traveling the Caribbean for years by land and sea. Celebrity and Royal are my favorite cruise lines. On Royal I have been on the Icon, Oasis, Quantum and Freedom classes. I've been cruising Celebrity for 30 years. Now I'm in love with the Edge Class. I do travel by land. My favorite Caribbean Islands to go to and spend a week with the family are Aruba, Grand Cayman, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos, and Curacao. My favorite all-inclusive is Sandals, having been to Sandals Montego Bay, Royal Caribbean, Curacao, and Regency Le Toc St Lucia.” Do you have a dream car? Support the showSupport thejoyofcruisingpodcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/2113608/supporters/newSupport Me https://www.buymeacoffee.com/drpaulthContact Me https://www.thejoyofcruising.net/contact-me.htmlBook Cruises http://www.thejoyofvacation.com/US Orders (coupon code joyofcruisingpodcast)The Joy of Cruising https://bit.ly/TheJoyOfCruisingCruising Interrupted https://bit.ly/CruisingInterruptedThe Joy of Cruising Again https://bit.ly/TheJoyOfCruisingAgainIntl Orders via Amazon
BONUS BENSON: There were no crimes or sordid activities on the #guybensonshow this week, as Cookie was swimming with the crocs this week in Turks and Caicos. We've got a GREAT Bonus Benson for you on this beautiful Saturday - listen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This one's dedicated to Wendy Williams! I was inspired after watching her biopic, so I was giving full radio vibes—playing music, talking my feelings, and catching a whole mood. I'm still high off my Turks and Caicos trip, and I went live on BIGO during this one. I opened up about my relationship situation—how I'm feeling, what's next, and getting ready to move forward. It was real, and it was fun. Plus, every time I had to do something, I hit you with a track. So, hop in—this is the vibe we're on tonight! Don't forget to subscribe, like, and give me my 10s in the comments!X: @LNwithSylvesterEmail: LateNightwithSylvester@gmail.comIntro Audio IG: @thewendyarchiveMusic: SpydaT.E.K - So Anxious (Baile Funk Remix) by SpydaT.E.KJaguar by Victoria MonétCAROUSEL! by Adanna DuruPlease Me by Cardi B & Bruno MarsFloat (feat. Seun Kuti & Egypt 80') by Janelle MonáeTouch Me by Victoria Monét*I do not own the rights to this music.
Walt Disney World Arrival & Departure Day Tips | All Things TravelArriving and leaving Walt Disney World can be the most stressful parts of your vacation — but it doesn't have to be. In this episode, travel advisors Ryan and Julie of Wonder and Beyond Travel break down exactly how to plan your Disney arrival and departure days so you can skip the chaos and soak up the magic.In this episode, you'll learn:Why booking a flight before noon (ideally 8–9 AM) sets your whole trip up for successThe truth about TSA PreCheck — when it's essential vs. when it's overkill (hint: Orlando International is a different beast)Orlando airport navigation tips, including the terminal monorail transferHow to choose between private transfers, Minnie Van, Mears Connect, Uber/Lyft — and the car seat rule parents can't afford to missThe mobile order hack that means your first meal is ready the moment you arrive at your resortHow to use Bell Services, resort check-in, and Magic Band setup to reduce frictionWhether to use Disney's free waterpark perk — and the split-stay trick that maximizes itHow dining plan credits work on arrival day (spoiler: they start immediately)Why departure day calls for an afternoon flight, a character breakfast, and possibly a final pool sessionShould you go to a park on arrival or departure day? The honest answer — and the specific situations when it actually worksPlus, Julie shares an unforgettable group booking at Beaches Turks & Caicos for a multigenerational family of 17, including butler service, private-pool townhouses, and why this trip is already a dream in the making.Wonder and Beyond Travel specializes in Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, cruises, all-inclusive, and international travel. Connect with Ryan and Julie at wonderandbeyondtravel.com.Support the showLove the podcast? Help us continue to create great travel content by supporting the show. You can do that here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1197029/supporters/newReady to plan your vacation? Most families are confused and overwhelmed when planning a vacation. We work with you to plan a trip perfect for your family. Saving you time, money, and stress! Visit our website www.allthingstravelpodcast.com and click on "Plan Your Next Vacation"Join the travel conversations and the fun in our Facebook Page and Instagram Page!Please share the show with your travel buddies!! Click this link and share the show!Never miss an episode and help us take you to the top with us by following and leaving a 5-Star review on your favorite podcasting app!
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Is Beaches Turks & Caicos Treasure Beach Worth it? the new Beaches Resort Village, Treasure Beach is open and I sayed there for 4 days. Here is my full Beaches Turks Treasure Beach Review and Rating.
Work With Me 1:1 Coaching - https://ericrobertsfitness.com/erf-1on1.html On today's episode, I sit down with my travel agent and friend Shannon to recap my recent seven-night stay at a private island in Turks and Caicos — one of the most surreal, secluded experiences I've ever had. Shannon breaks down everything she did behind the scenes to make the trip seamless, from Black Friday deals to fast track airport services I never even knew existed. If you've ever wondered what a great travel agent actually does for you, this one's for you. Join my Clubhouse App - https://ericrobertsfitness.com/clubhouse-page.html Free Calorie Calculator https://ericrobertsfitness.com/free-calorie-calculator/ 20% Off Legion Athletic Supplements Code “ERIC” HERE https://legionathletics.rfrl.co/qj2dy Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@ericrobertsfitness Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@EricRobertsFitnessPodcast