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According to TripAdvisor what city was the top U.S. travel destination in 2024? Play. Share. Listen with Comedian, Tom Shillue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Exploring Dollywood: Rides, Shows, and Appalachian Heritage Nestled in the heart of the Smoky Mountains, Dollywood has earned its place as one of the top theme parks in the country—and for good reason. In this episode of The Family Vacationer, Rob sits down with Wes Ray, Vice President of Marketing for Dollywood Parks and Resorts, to explore what makes this destination so special for families. From thrilling rides like Big Bear Mountain and Dragonflier, to award-winning entertainment, Appalachian-inspired dining, and the warm hospitality that Dolly Parton herself has infused into the park, Dollywood offers something for every member of the family. You'll also hear how guest feedback has shaped everything from wider pathways to new resort offerings, and why Dollywood consistently ranks as a #1 theme park on TripAdvisor. What You'll Learn in This Episode: The fascinating history of Dollywood and its deep ties to Appalachian culture Family-friendly rides designed with all ages in mind New additions like Wildwood Grove and Big Bear Mountain Dolly Parton's direct influence on the park's design and guest experience Insider tips for making the most of your visit—whether you're coming for a day or a week What's next for Dollywood, from resorts to new attractions Dollywood isn't just a theme park—it's a celebration of heritage, hospitality, and family fun. Whether you're planning your first visit or your fiftieth, this episode will inspire your next Smoky Mountain getaway. DollywoodDreammore ResortHeartsong Resort
#572 Ready for a reset that goes deeper than your average vacation? In this episode, host Brien Gearin sits down with serial entrepreneur David Schafran, founder of Somoloco — a one-of-a-kind salsa dance immersion company operating in Medellín, Colombia. David shares how he went from launching a venture-backed medtech startup to following his joy and building a high-margin, spiritually fulfilling business that helps people reconnect with themselves through movement, music, and community. From organic beginnings to winning TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Award, David walks us through how Somoloco operates like a yoga retreat with a Latin twist — blending private instruction, cultural immersion, and transformational experiences. Tune in to learn how he built the brand, structured pricing, scaled with a lean team, and designed an unforgettable product that's as much about emotional healing as it is about dancing! What we discuss with David: + From medtech startup to dance retreats + Origins of Somoloco in Colombia + Dance as emotional and mental reset + Structure of the salsa immersion experience + Building a lean, high-margin business + Organic team-building through relationships + Pricing strategy and value-based offerings + Operating remotely with a local team + Winning TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Award + Creating transformative, embodied experiences Thank you, David! Check out Somoloco at Somoloco.com. Follow David on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Watch the video podcast of this episode! To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to MillionaireUniversity.com/training. And follow us on: Instagram Facebook Tik Tok Youtube Twitter To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors. Want to hear from more incredible entrepreneurs? Check out all of our interviews here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Can you build a retreat business that isn't bound by location—and actually expands your impact? In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon chats with long-time health and fitness expert Alison Katschkowsky about building a hybrid retreat business model that combines the power of in-person transformation with the scalability of online programs. Alison shares her 30+ year journey from brick-and-mortar fitness to digital expansion, and how she now helps other entrepreneurs add retreats as a powerful layer to their business—without overhauling their structure. They dive into: The power of hybrid models (and how they outlive fads) How retreats can enhance your brand, not distract from it Creative ways to offer transformation in both in-person and online formats Alison's behind-the-scenes plan for her luxe Amalfi Coast retreat If you've been wondering how to blend the best of both worlds—connection and scale—this episode is your blueprint. Retreats aren't just an event—they're a business growth strategy. Connect with Alison https://thealisonk.com/meet-alison The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links: Learn to Host Retreats Join our private Facebook Group Top 5 Marketing Tools Free Guide Get your legal docs for retreats Join Shannon in London Join our LinkedIn Group Apply to be a guest on our show Thanks for tuning into the Retreat Leaders Podcast. Remember to subscribe for more insightful episodes, and visit our website for additional resources. Let's create a vibrant retreat community together! Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Spotify -------------------------- Transcribed With Podsqueeze Shannon 00:00:00 Welcome to the Retreat Leaders podcast, your sanctuary with retreat experts. Where we spill the tea on retreat success. Here we dive into crafting transformational guest experiences. Talk about how to avoid pitfalls and unlock marketing secrets. Whether you're a seasoned guru or a budding enthusiast, we've got the inside scoop for you. Join us as we learn how to flourish in this magical world of retreats. Hey guys, welcome to or welcome back to the Retreat Leaders Podcast. Today I am so excited to say that not only do I have an amazing guest, but she's becoming an amazing friend and soon to be business partner, which we cannot wait to talk about that we're going to drop some little, little hints about what we have in store. But Alison, welcome to the show again. Alison 00:00:49 It is always a good day in my world when I can talk to you, Shannon. So it's. Shannon 00:00:52 All good. Amen. I feel the same. So, Allison, why don't you just refresh for those who maybe did hear your show or just let people know who you are and what brought you to this point. Alison 00:01:05 My name is Allison Koski, and you don't have to say that. For those of you listening, most people just say Allison K. But just so you know, when you look at my last name, the c h is silent. So it's really just Katz Koski. So it's a little bit easier to say, but Allison K works. So so and I my background is in health and fitness. I've been in the health and fitness industry for over 30 years. I was a very successful brick and mortar business owner for a lot of those years, until I started going online about ten years ago. That's about when I started doing retreats. It was probably 2013, 2014, something in there when it was really still a very new concept. And so what I figured out was, is that the big question back then was, is do we need to just now that online is becoming big and everyone was moving their business online. It was like, you know, well, we're just going to go in this direction. Alison 00:01:56 And so my argument was always, you don't have to choose one. You can do both. And then when the pandemic hit, everybody went online. And now what's interesting is, is that everybody's going back to adding some kind of in-person, because you and I are both seeing this in the retreat space. It's just it's blowing up there. Everybody and their mother is thinking about retreats now, which is great. It's great for us. It's great for the industry. But but I just think there is there is a lot of opportunity there for so many people. Shannon 00:02:24 I love this. One of the things that Alison and I talked about before we recorded is, is kind of the topics which Alison and I could spend, honestly, you guys weeks on this podcast talking about business and retreats and, and all of that good stuff. but one of the things I thought would be really relevant is a hybrid model. And Alison, you are the queen of this. You help people build this. So tell me what that looks like for the retreat industry. Shannon 00:02:49 What does that even mean when I when we say hybrid model? Alison 00:02:51 Before I get to that, let me just kind of give my little analogy when I talk about the hybrid model, when we think about a hybrid model, what are we really talking about? We're really talking the best example I can offer for people because I'm a big analogy person. The best example I can offer for people is think about the hybrid car. What is the hybrid car? Do the hybrid car allows you to use gas or electricity? Right. So it's both. And so one of the selling points is because it's a hybrid model, the car can go further. You can get further on a tank of gas. Therefore it's the maintenance is better right. It will cost you less in gas in the long run. So you see there, not the car. Literally. There's no choice made as to whether or not you go one or the other. The same thing is true when we do the hybrid business model in our business. Alison 00:03:39 Now back in 2012, 2013, 2014, when the online space was really blowing up, this is when social media was really becoming the thing. you know, a lot of people were starting to think this is kind of the direction that I want to go with my business. And in my industry, it was blowing up like crazy. Then what happened when the pandemic hit It is that everybody went online. And the good news is, is that we could go online because it was available. But the bad news is, is that people sort of got away from being in person. And now what we're seeing because it's 2025, is that really the best combination? The best plan is to combine both. And one of the things that I started doing back when the online space was really getting big was that I started slowly dipping my toe in the water of online. And what did that look like? It looked like offering like online challenges, like connecting with people online. And then of course, when the pandemic hit, it was like you had to go all in. Alison 00:04:38 And for me and a lot of other people in my industry, I had to basically start over. Basically my business as I knew it went out the window, but it was time for me to put my money where my mouth was and really make it work. And that's what I did. And that's one of the things that I really teach my clients how to do today, because you don't have to choose. That's the beauty of it. Shannon 00:04:57 That is the beauty of it is that you don't have to choose, Jews, especially today. Because you're right, Alison. You know, years ago, I mean, well, to be honest with you, years ago, the online business was not, you know, obviously what it is today, but you kind of felt like you had to fall into one or the other categories. So you're you're absolutely right. Tell me. Alison 00:05:15 there are a lot of people today that still feel like you have to fall into one or the other, because these are conversations I have every day with people when they say, well, I can't really be myself online, I can't really. Alison 00:05:25 It just doesn't feel the same. I'm not good at it. Or they'll say about in person, well, that's just not really what I do. This is what I'm used to. And this is kind of the conundrum that we found ourselves in. Shannon 00:05:36 Hey, retreat leaders, pause that retreat planning for just a second, because I've got something you do not want to miss. I'm headed to London this October to host a live event that's all about teaching you how to host a retreat that's not just transformational, but actually profitable. Imagine sipping tea or champagne with other like minded leaders while mapping out your next sold out retreat. It's happening at the gorgeous Waldorf Hilton in London. I'm spilling all the secrets from pricing to planning, marketing to mindset, and you'll walk away with a strategy you can actually use. No fluff, no BS, just results. So head to Retreat Mastermind training and come join me across the pond. Yeah totally agree. I hear that all the time. As well as just people saying, well, my business is online, they're not going to want to meet in person, or the other way around. Shannon 00:06:26 You know, everything I do is in person. So you're right. It is. Sometimes we get pigeonholed and we just assume that it has to be in that that way. Can you? Can you give us an example of maybe somebody you've worked with and like what this looks like in real life when somebody is considering it a hybrid model? Alison 00:06:41 Well, I mean, there are actually lots of examples. But one example pretty much right now is I have a client right now who has an in-person, primarily in-person business. This is how people work with her. They come to see her, they book an appointment with her. She has some online resources, like she has an e-book and she has some other things, but it's really hardly the same thing as having an experience with her. And one of the things that we're actually working on right now is building out a retreat piece to go with her in-person business. Now, that might not seem like a typical hybrid model, but what she has to do is literally build an online presence to go with that in-person offering. Alison 00:07:21 Because in order to offer retreats, if you have a successful in-person business, is is that you have to be always reaching more people. So this is something else that we hear a lot of people say where they say, well, I don't know that my people would want to go on a retreat. I don't know if my people would want to do something in person. And so my question is always, how do you know that they don't? And so what we have to always ask ourselves is, what are we doing to consistently put ourselves out there and have us meet more people and expand our audience? And that's really what it's all about too. Shannon 00:07:53 I'm biased, of course, but for me, if there's anyone that I trust and I work with in any capacity or just consume their information. I would love to fucking get in person. You know what I mean? Like, whether it's a conference or a mastermind or a retreat, whatever it is. I mean, I don't, you know. Yes, there are I'm sure there are people in this world who are incredibly introverted. Shannon 00:08:14 And just like that just makes their skin crawl. But for the most part, I think there's a good audience for anybody doing anything online that they could create an in-person experience. Alison 00:08:26 Yeah, and the energy is just different when you're in person. Like, think about it, when you go to an in-person event, it's very different than if you're on a, say, a zoom call or a group networking session or something online where you see everybody's faces and they're just, you know, squares on the screen. You can still talk to people because I think human connection can still be meaningful that way. But it's not the same thing from being in person. Shannon 00:08:49 I agree, I agree, and I'm grateful. Right? We're grateful that we have these online tools that we can do these things. But I'll be honest with you. so I belong to Genius Network. It's an incredible Networking group. It's really a servant group. That's just incredible. And every month we meet either online or in person, you can choose one or the other. Shannon 00:09:07 Right. So that it fits your schedule. And I'm super. I hope they don't hear this. But the online I like minimize it. I'm doing other work. It's still just as good information. It's just badass. But I'm over here multitasking. I'm answering text messages whatever. The in person lights my fire so much that when I get back home I am like, bring it! We are. We're fixing to make some shit happen. And so yes, am I grateful that we have the tools available? Absolutely. do do I think, though, that we get more or at least a very vibrant, different, action packed energy from in person? Yes, I do. Alison 00:09:47 Yeah. And I just think that to piggyback on what you just said and to sort of finish my thought from before is that you really want to think about the hybrid model from two vantage points, really. And this is what I have found works the best with most people. It's like the example that I just gave of my current client, who has the in-person business, and we're adding a retreat. Alison 00:10:05 And so you might be sitting there thinking, well, that's too impersonal elements. Well, you're right, it is. But she's also building an online presence to go with it. That can still be considered a hybrid model. The other way to look at it would be if you primarily serve your clients online, whether that's a membership or an online program or a mastermind or whatever group coaching program. And then you insert some type of in-person retreat experience, whether it be a private retreat, a small group retreat, a boutique retreat, or even a small group summit, right then that is also can be considered a hybrid model that the advantage, the commonality with both of those is, is that you've taken your expertise and you're monetizing it in a number of different ways, and that is really what it's about for the future. Shannon 00:10:51 Amen. Hallelujah. Oh my goodness. You're speaking my language. I'm hoping that there's people listening to this that either have been considering retreats or are in the retreat business because you're right either side and are thinking creatively how they can add that other aspect. Shannon 00:11:05 So if you are hosting retreats, how can you add on that online aspect, which, by the way, continues to support the people that you are working with or who've showed up, right? And then if you're online, how can you incorporate in-person events? I mean, I know you and I are like, duh. This is a no brainer, but I'm hoping that there's like creative juices that are flowing for people on either side going, ooh, I could do X, and X doesn't have to look like what Allison does, and it doesn't have to look like what I do. Alison 00:11:33 Like X could be a number of different ways. Shannon 00:11:35 Yeah. And I love that you're like it could be a summit. It could be a mastermind. It could be a gathering. It could be a retreat. It could be look, it could be whatever. and same thing for the online portion of it. It could be coaching, it could be group coaching. It could be mastermind. It could be, Yeah. Shannon 00:11:51 I mean, it literally could be all the same names that you use for the other side. It's just structured differently. in the content is provided, however, it is that you like to provide content, So. Alison 00:12:00 Yeah. And you just. Well I think too. For people listening, I think what you want to always keep in mind is, is that the object if you're an entrepreneur now going into the future, the object is really about your personal brand. It's about what are you about? And what do you stand for? What, what are you for and what are you against? And it's like when you look at being able to offer a number of different ways that people can access you. So in a way that, I mean, people could come into you from your website, from a newsletter, from a challenge of some type, from an online program that you're offering. But don't discount those in-person opportunities, too, because there's a number of different ways that you can monetize all of what you do. Alison 00:12:42 And then that sets you up not only financially better for the future, but it puts you in a position where you're always meeting people. And when you're a business owner, you can never know too many people. Shannon 00:12:53 Okay, so I love that we are talking financials a little bit because as people who have listened to my podcast know, No, I'm in the retreat business, not the retreat hobby. And so Allison and I and our good friend Aaron now daily have conversations about this. And also hint, hint. This will be part of what we launch. And I think we're launching it in October. October. Yes. So stay tuned. But yeah, we're launching it in October. But it will be happening in 2026. Anyhow, we're all about how can we increase our business and our profit? Totally. and this again, is to me a no brainer if you're doing really well on the online space. Dude, add that that in-person space and it just contributes to your bottom line and vice versa. Shannon 00:13:42 You're still serving the same people. It's still in your genre. It's all connected. It's just a different way of delivering the information and adding more profit to your bottom line. Alison 00:13:53 Yeah. And also, I think to what I just want to say, again, for people listening is, is that it really? You know, I don't want to make it sound like we're just sitting here counting money and money bags. It's not about greed at all. You know, it's really about being able to serve at a much higher level. And when you're when you're able to offer somebody a transformative experience, like something in person, like a retreat or a group event or something, you're just adding massive value for them and you're adding massive value for yourself. And it's a win for everybody. Shannon 00:14:24 Yes. See? Speaking the same language win win, win, win win for everybody. I just love that so much. The other thing that we kind of talked about real briefly is the business logistics side, right. So whatever your your LLC is or your company or your formation, you've started it off at X, it's, you know, online or it's retreats. Shannon 00:14:45 There's no need at the beginning to, to do anything differently. Right. I mean, Alison, you were just talking about this. Tell us about your journey, about how that was and then now what you are thinking of doing in the future because of. Alison 00:14:55 Yeah, when I, when I first started doing retreats, I got to be honest. I I'll tell you, because my background is in health and fitness. I thought it was going to be a fitness weekend. That was kind of my initial vision was to do these boot camps, these workout camps. And I'll tell you, and this is probably a really bad analogy, but I'm just going to say it my, my, my inspiration for doing it was watching programs like The Biggest Loser, where people would just go somewhere and they'd stay for a few days or. And in that case, it was a lot longer. And that's not really what I had in mind, but it was taking people out of town somewhere where we could really focus on themselves. Alison 00:15:30 And since at the time I was 100% working in fitness, operating a very successful small studio with a small team, I thought, this is a no brainer. This is a great way to give people kind of a family type experience, you know? And so over the years, that vision kind of morphed into something a little more boutique like as I started getting more involved and interested in personal development and, you know, daily self-care strategies. I've always loved to travel. And so I sort of found a niche in providing what I like to call a futuristic, visionary experience. One of the things that I use in all of my retreat programs is the use of a compass. I talk all about the direction that you're moving, the direction of your future, being aligned with your future self, etc., etc. so that's a lot of what we do. But now, back then, all I was thinking about was offering. This would be a really fun experience to offer for my clients. I wasn't even thinking about starting another business. Alison 00:16:25 You know, I was just thinking, ding ding ding! This is a way to help more people. This is a way to give them more. It's going to be fun for me. Let's just try it and see what happens. You know, and I started off as really small groups. And then they grew and they grew to like 6 to 8 people traditionally, which is usually about my sweet spot. And so now ten, 12 years later, at some point, what I'm looking at in the next year or two is branching off the retreat part of my business and starting a whole separate company, because I'm traveling more and more as as are you. And, you know, there's a lot more that's on the horizon. Ahead that's going to be tied into this direction for me. And so what I want people listening to understand is, look, dip your toe in it first and kind of play with it and make it work for you. And then if it makes sense down the road, then we can certainly talk about what that looks like as a business. Shannon 00:17:18 Yeah, I, I totally agree. Yeah. I love this so much. So if you haven't gotten anything else from this podcast, expand your horizon and think creatively about how you could add either the online portion or the in-person portion to your current business model. Alison's contact information will be in the show notes. She is the master at helping you brainstorm this, build it, envision it, get it going. So please contact her. And she's got an incredible retreat coming up in Italy. Allison, about that retreat in October. Alison 00:17:52 And at the time that we're recording this, it's we have four rooms open, and I'm partnering with a colleague of mine who lives over there, and she speaks the language and she's a phenomenal health coach. And we've got an amazing program where we've got introductions into private family vineyards and wineries and gardens and things that you're just not going to find. If you go on TripAdvisor or Google and look for the the cool thing to do on the Amalfi Coast, which is where we're going to be. Alison 00:18:19 So if this kind of speaks to you, then I definitely would encourage you to reach out because I'm really expecting these rooms to fill up fairly soon. Shannon 00:18:27 Love it. They absolutely will. So Alison, thank you so much for being on the show and I can't wait to release our big stuff coming in the future. Alison 00:18:35 So we're going to have to, we're going to have to come back and do another episode about that. Shannon 00:18:39 Oh, no. Absolutely, absolutely. Alison 00:18:41 Yeah, 100%. Shannon 00:18:44 Thanks for listening to The Retreat Leader's podcast. Learn more at the Retreat. See you next time.
"I have so many burning questions." Our podcast, Reality Escape Pod, isn't exactly short-form content. Most episodes clock in at over fifty minutes, and yet, I always feel like I didn't get enough time with the guest. "But I've still got some burning questions!" I think to myself. Or maybe I have follow up questions, but I didn't want to interrupt the flow of conversation. Luckily, we have our Bonus Aftershow. I love this format because David and I are able to have more casual conversations with our guests, rather than the more formal interview on Reality Escape Pod. The Bonus Show chats run the gamut from in-depth design discussions, to workshopping business or game ideas, to just trading battle stories of escape rooms gone awry. In the Best of Bonus, I picked some of my favorite moments from our Season 9 Bonus Aftershow episodes. I really loved hearing more stories from James Douberly about the MIT Mystery Hunt, and listening to Neil Patrick Harris talk about magic and escape rooms. Jon and Ryan from The Great Gotham Challenge kept talking about "risky puzzles" and I finally had the chance to ask them about this concept. We also got the definitive answer from Steven Medway, creator of Blood on the Clocktower, on whether townsfolk (Team Good) should be executing every day in the game. The Bonus Aftershow is included when you become a Patreon supporter of Room Escape Artist. Join today for access to our library of over 100 episodes of the Bonus Aftershow. We put a lot of love and time into creating the best possible content that supports our mission of elevating the escape room industry. We truly appreciate your support. Full Show Notes Episode Sponsors Thank you to our sponsors: Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, and Patreon supporters like you. Buzzshot Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. COGS COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout. Become a Patron Today! Supporitng us on Patreon helps to fund our work, pay our team, and it grants you access to an incredible library of bonus content including: The REPOD Bonus Show The Spoilers Club The Travelogue Series Thank you to all of our ongoing supporters
Exposure Ninja Digital Marketing Podcast | SEO, eCommerce, Digital PR, PPC, Web design and CRO
A dangerous misconception is spreading through marketing circles that's holding businesses back while competitors master an entirely new game — and believing it could cost them their competitive edge.With 800 million people now using ChatGPT to find information and make purchasing decisions, and 55% of searches resulting in AI answers, the message for marketers should be clear. Yet a pervasive myth persists: "AI Optimisation is just SEO. Nothing has changed."This couldn't be further from the truth — and the evidence is indisputable.For businesses targeting decision-makers who increasingly rely on AI tools for research and purchasing decisions, understanding these critical differences isn't just smart, it's becoming essential for survival.In this episode, I reveal:The three pieces of indisputable proof that AI Search Optimisation operates by completely different rules than traditional SEO (including why 40% of sites in AI Overviews don't even rank on Google's first page)Why top-ranking websites frequently get ignored by AI tools, whilst lesser-ranked sites leapfrog into AI recommendations — creating unexpected opportunities for smart marketersThe hidden mechanics behind how AI tools decide what to recommend, including when they skip web searches entirely and why they prefer third-party sources over brand websitesExactly why traditional SEO strategies fail when AI tools draw recommendations from Reddit, TripAdvisor, Forbes, and authority publications instead of your carefully optimised websiteThe specific types of digital PR and earned media strategies that influence AI recommendations across ChatGPT, Perplexity, and ClaudeI'll share real-world examples from almost three years of helping clients increase their AI visibility, including specific case studies of brands that have successfully navigated this new landscape, whilst their competitors remain stuck in traditional SEO thinking.As I explain in the episode:"Saying GEO is just SEO, nothing has changed, is like an archer on the battlefields of World War I looking at the first tank coming towards them and saying, 'Well, tank warfare is just like medieval warfare.' Good luck with that."If you're ready to move beyond the dangerous misconception that's holding back your competition and implement strategies that actually work in the age of AI Search, this episode provides your complete roadmap for dominating this critical new landscape.Get the show notes:https://exposureninja.com/podcast/364/Listen to these episodes next:What is AI Search Optimisation (and How To Do It)https://exposureninja.com/podcast/358/How To Create and Optimise Your Content for AI Searchhttps://exposureninja.com/podcast/363/9 Reasons Why Your Traffic Is DOWN This Yearhttps://exposureninja.com/podcast/361/
Dolly Parton BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Dolly Parton has delivered a run of headline-making moves and emotional moments in the past week. She's stoking anticipation for her upcoming Life of Many Colors Museum, set to open inside her SongTeller Hotel in Nashville in 2026. The museum promises fans an intimate look into Dolly's legendary career, including “Dolly's Hall Of Fame Exhibit,” which will feature her iconic wardrobe, awards, and personal memorabilia. Photos and teasers keep popping up on the SongTeller Hotel's Instagram, ramping up excitement for what's expected to be the largest celebration of her life and achievements, all done the Dolly way according to iHeart Radio's coverage. If that wasn't enough museum action, Dolly's Journey of a Seeker exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame is now open through September 2026, where guests can gaze at handwritten “Jolene” lyrics and the famous “9 to 5” outfits among other treasures.As for business developments, Dolly continues to expand her entertainment empire. The big financial story keeps repeating—her net worth comes in, yet again, at an eye-watering $450 million, as Forbes reported, and AOL detailed how Dollywood remains Tennessee's top tourist draw, even as it faces operational issues from the recent worker shortage thanks to changes in visa rules as noted on Disney Dining. Her lines of housewares and “Doggy Parton” pet products are growing, too, making appearances on Amazon and at national stores. Just this month, Dolly made a splash in Florida, acquiring the SkyWheel attraction in Panama City Beach and launching another Pirates Voyage dinner theater, as recounted by Dollymania and major news outlets. The Florida expansion rounds out her signature blend of family fun with observation wheels, mini-golf, dinner shows, and ropes courses—all part of Dolly's unmistakable brand.On the performance and philanthropy front, Dolly's musical has debuted in Nashville, and preparations are underway for her first Las Vegas residency, “Dolly: Live in Vegas,” covered by AOL Entertainment. Meanwhile, the internet buzzed when Dolly was named in the Hollywood Reporter's top three for the coveted Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, spotlighting her ongoing philanthropic work—especially her Imagination Library, recently celebrated in Yellowstone Public Radio for its impact across Montana and Tennessee.Social media this week has been a river of tributes, especially following the passing of country star Jeannie Seely, with Dolly sharing memories and condolences on platforms like Dollymania. The public's love for Dolly was further reflected in glowing reviews on Tripadvisor for her energetic Stampede Dinner Attraction in Pigeon Forge, which continues to earn Best of the Best status.Speculation about possible operational challenges at Dollywood has rippled through business columns, and some fans are wondering how this might affect future expansions and seasonal festivals. But nothing is confirmed about closures—everything points to Dolly's teams working overtime to keep the magic going for millions of annual visitors.The headline this week has to be Dolly's continued reign as country music's queen of entertainment and philanthropy—museum builder, business mogul, Las Vegas star, and the beating heart behind America's favorite dinner shows and theme parks.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta
This week on Good Morning Hospitality, Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley and Jamie Lane dive into the latest shifts shaping short-term rentals and travel. Vrbo's new guest cancellation policy aims to increase flexibility and bookings but raises concerns from hosts about risk and revenue stability. Tripadvisor faces investor pressure to spin off Viator, signaling how tours and experiences are becoming central to the travel ecosystem. Meanwhile, Casago doubles down on its franchise model, taking over hundreds of former Vacasa properties to push a localized, service-driven approach. Join us as we break down what these moves mean for hosts, managers, and the future of the STR industry. This episode is brought to you by Guesty! Follow the Hosts: Brandy Canaley – LinkedIn Jamie Lane – LinkedIn Michael Goldin – LinkedIn Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Good Morning Hospitality, Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley and Jamie Lane dive into the latest shifts shaping short-term rentals and travel. Vrbo's new guest cancellation policy aims to increase flexibility and bookings but raises concerns from hosts about risk and revenue stability. Tripadvisor faces investor pressure to spin off Viator, signaling how tours and experiences are becoming central to the travel ecosystem. Meanwhile, Casago doubles down on its franchise model, taking over hundreds of former Vacasa properties to push a localized, service-driven approach. Join us as we break down what these moves mean for hosts, managers, and the future of the STR industry. This episode is brought to you by Guesty! Follow the Hosts: Brandy Canaley – LinkedIn Jamie Lane – LinkedIn Michael Goldin – LinkedIn Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Et voilà, nous sommes bientôt en septembre. Pour beaucoup, les vacances d'été sont déjà terminées et reprendre le chemin du bureau ou de l'école n'est jamais une partie de plaisir. D'ailleurs, d'après une étude TripAdvisor publiée en 2022, 75% des Français souffrent de ce blues de fin des vacances. Alors, si vous voulez passer une rentrée sereine et moins douloureuse, nous avons quelques conseils pour vous ! Comment faire pour se réveiller facilement ? Comment ne pas se laisser déborder par la charge de travail qui nous attend ? Comment vaincre la nostalgie ? Écoutez la suite de cet épisode de "Maintenant vous savez". Un podcast Bababam Originals, écrit et réalisé par Maële Diallo. À écouter aussi : Comment profiter des vacances d'été pour faire le point sur sa vie ? Qu'est-ce que le birthday blues, ce sentiment de déprime le jour de notre anniversaire ? Qu'est-ce que le blues de Noël ? Retrouvez tous les épisodes de "Maintenant vous savez". Suivez Bababam sur Instagram. Première diffusion : 1er septembre 2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Στο νέο επεισόδιο του εβδομαδιαίου podcast τους, Μανίνα Ζουμπουλάκη και Ελένη Ψυχούλη μιλάνε για τις συνήθειες που αποκτούμε σε σχέση με την παρουσία μας στα social media. Ταυτίζεται η εξωτερική μας εικόνα με αυτή που παρουσιάζουμε στο Facebook και στο X; Ποιες είναι οι πλατφόρμες που προτιμάμε αλλά δύσκολα να βρεις νεαρόκοσμο σε αυτές; Είναι χαλαρή η ατμόσφαιρα στα social media ή ο κόσμος μας εξισώνει με την online συμπεριφορά μας; Πολύ περισσότερο, ένας πιθανός εργοδότης;Όσο ανεβαίνουν οι followers, αντίστοιχα ανεβαίνουν και οι haters. Ποια είναι τα χαρακτηριστικά αυτών που γράφουν τα αρνητικά και τοξικά σχόλια; Μπορεί ένα tweet να καταστρέψει μια ζωή και μια καριέρα; Τα γραπτά μένουν. Ωστόσο πόση ανοχή και άμυνες έχουμε απέναντι στο τοξικό πρόσωπο των social; Πόσο «βία» μπορεί να κρύβει ο αρνητισμός και το «θάψιμο» στο διαδίκτυο και πού φτάνει η ελευθερία αυτών που μας αντιπαθούν ή μας ανταγωνίζονται; Η ύβρις στα social media είναι υπό προϋποθέσεις ποινικό αδίκημα, αλλά τι γίνεται με τους ανώνυμους λογαριασμούς; Πόσο απαραίτητη είναι τελικά η παρουσία στα social; Καθώς μεγαλώνουμε νιώθουμε όλο και πιο άνετα με την έκθεση των προσωπικών μας στιγμών, ή απολαμβάνουμε όλο και περισσότερο την ιδιωτικότητα;
【欢迎订阅】每天早上5:30,准时更新。【阅读原文】标题:Should you trust that five-star rating on Airbnb?How to make sense of online customer reviews正文:It's summer in the northern hemisphere. And as holidaymakers travel to unfamiliar places, that means demand for online customer reviews. Want to find a restaurant that won't give everyone food poisoning, or the perfect accommodation for a city break, or a mosquito repellent that actually works? Whether you are looking on Tripadvisor, Airbnb or Amazon, you will almost certainly be guided by reviews from other people. Should you be?知识点:hemisphere /ˈhemɪsfɪə(r)/,n.one half of a sphere, especially one of the two halves of the earth divided by the equator or by a meridian.(半球;地球的半球)• The Northern Hemisphere includes most of the world's land.北半球包含世界上大部分的陆地获取外刊的完整原文以及精讲笔记,请关注微信公众号「早安英文」,回复“外刊”即可。更多有意思的英语干货等着你!【节目介绍】《早安英文-每日外刊精读》,带你精读最新外刊,了解国际最热事件:分析语法结构,拆解长难句,最接地气的翻译,还有重点词汇讲解。所有选题均来自于《经济学人》《纽约时报》《华尔街日报》《华盛顿邮报》《大西洋月刊》《科学杂志》《国家地理》等国际一线外刊。【适合谁听】1、关注时事热点新闻,想要学习最新最潮流英文表达的英文学习者2、任何想通过地道英文提高听、说、读、写能力的英文学习者3、想快速掌握表达,有出国学习和旅游计划的英语爱好者4、参加各类英语考试的应试者(如大学英语四六级、托福雅思、考研等)【你将获得】1、超过1000篇外刊精读课程,拓展丰富语言表达和文化背景2、逐词、逐句精确讲解,系统掌握英语词汇、听力、阅读和语法3、每期内附学习笔记,包含全文注释、长难句解析、疑难语法点等,帮助扫除阅读障碍。
Tripadvisor faces fresh activist pressure as investor Palliser urges the company to prioritize or sell its fast-growing Viator unit, which it values higher than Tripadvisor's entire market cap. Washington, D.C., hotels saw occupancy dip to 64% after a federal takeover of local police, though the decline mirrors broader national softening in demand. Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines launched a joint loyalty program, Atmos Rewards, and Alaska struck a deal to equip its fleet with Starlink Wi-Fi. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
La Cueva del Tesoro de Rincón de la Victoria ha sido galardonada con el prestigioso premio Travellers' Choice 2025 de TripAdvisor, que la sitúa entre el 10% de las mejores cosas que hacer en todo el mundo. Este reconocimiento, basado en las opiniones y puntuaciones de millones de viajeros reales durante los últimos 12 meses, consolida a este singular enclave de nuestra ciudad como uno de los destinos turísticos más valorados a nivel internacional. El alcalde de Rincón de la Victoria, Francisco Salado (PP), ha expresado su satisfacción por este reconocimiento: "Recibir por segunda vez consecutiva el premio Travellers' Choice es un honor que nos llena de orgullo y que confirma el trabajo realizado para convertir la Cueva del Tesoro en una experiencia turística de primera calidad. Este galardón no sólo reconoce la singularidad de nuestro patrimonio natural, sino también el esfuerzo constante que venimos haciendo por ofrecer un servicio excelente a todos nuestros visitantes. Es una magnífica carta de presentación para Rincón de la Victoria ante el mundo”. La Cueva del Tesoro representa un tesoro geológico único en Europa al ser la única cueva de origen marino visitable en el continente y una de las tres existentes en todo el mundo. Sus galerías fueron formadas por las corrientes submarinas y el oleaje bajo el nivel del agua, creando un paisaje interior extraordinario de gargantas, columnas, estalactitas y estalagmitas que fascina a visitantes de todas las edades. En su interior se han descubierto pinturas rupestres y restos arqueológicos que abarcan desde el Paleolítico hasta la Edad del Bronce, convirtiendo la cueva no solo en una maravilla natural, sino también en un importante yacimiento arqueológico que atestigua la presencia humana en la zona durante milenios. La Cueva del Tesoro ha recibido a 63.821 visitas en el primer semestre del año, un 20,81% más que en el mismo periodo del año pasado. Ya en 2024 batió un récord de visitantes pues superó por primera vez las 100.000 personas. Antonio José Martín (PP), concejal de Turismo y Cueva del Tesoro, ha destacado el significado de este premio: "El Travellers' Choice 2025 es el resultado directo de la experiencia positiva que viven nuestros visitantes. Cada reseña y cada puntuación reflejan el compromiso de nuestro equipo por mantener los más altos estándares de calidad en las visitas guiadas, la conservación del patrimonio y la atención al público. Este reconocimiento internacional nos motiva a seguir trabajando para que Cueva del Tesoro continúe siendo una referencia mundial en turismo cultural y natural”. Los premios Travellers' Choice, que se otorgan desde 2002, destacan las mejores experiencias turísticas basándose exclusivamente en las opiniones y comentarios auténticos de viajeros reales, sin cuotas de entrada ni sesgos editoriales. El galardón Travellers' Choice reconoce a las experiencias que reciben opiniones sólidas de forma constante, situándolas entre el 10% de los mejores perfiles de TripAdvisor y demostrando un compromiso excepcional con la excelencia. Este reconocimiento internacional refuerza la posición de Rincón de la Victoria como destino turístico de referencia en la Costa del Sol, complementando su oferta cultural con otros enclaves destacados como Villa Antiopa, la Casa Fuerte Bezmiliana y los Acantilados de El Cantal. Para más información sobre horarios y reservas de la Cueva del Tesoro, los interesados pueden consultar la web www.turismoenrincon.es o contactar directamente con la cueva en el teléfono 952 406 162.
La scelta della prossima pizzeria nella quale andare può essere molto semplice - zero pippe mentali e dove capita, al massimo non ci si ritorna più - oppure no, soprattutto se si è appassionati e si da valore ad ogni uscita dal punto di vista economico e soprattutto "gustativo". Siccome sono innanzitutto cliente, vi racconto di come valuto tutte le piattaforme per scegliere dove andare: ognuna ha un suo compito specifico e tutte vanno prese in considerazione se si vuole avere un quadro complessivo. Per quanto riguarda le recensioni, le guide e le classifiche, è impossibile valutare in maniera completa cose come i tempi di attesa, il servizio, la stabilità del prodotto per tutti i clienti; per questo si devono concentrare nel capire il potenziale legato all'impasto e alla lavorazione delle materie prime, la presenza di abbinamenti interessanti e il tipo di approccio al lavoro, monitorandoli nel corso del tempo.
"Highlighting the most interesting, entertaining, and impactful moments." Have you been feverishly refreshing your podcatcher in anticipation of the return of Reality Escape Pod? Don't worry, Season 10 of the podcast will be here in the very near future. To pass the time, have a listen to some memorable clips our editor Steve Ewing selected from each episode of Season 9. It's perfect for new listeners of the podcast or fans who want to relive their favorite moments. Full Show Notes Episode Sponsors Thank you to our sponsors: Weldwood Marketing, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, and Patreon supporters like you. Weldwood Marketing Maximize your online presence with Weldwood Marketing. It's a one-stop shop for digital marketing—specializing in web design, SEO, online ads, and best business practices. They can even manage all your integrations so you can track the customer journey from clicking on an ad to booking your game. Let Weldwood help unlock more money for your business. Special offer exclusively for REPOD listeners: Weldwood rarely offers discounts, but they did for us. REPOD listeners get 15% off Marketing Services for the first 3 months, PLUS $750 off escape room websites. Schedule your Discovery Call and mention REPOD in the notes! Visit weldwoodmarketing.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. Buzzshot Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. COGS COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout. Become a Patron Today! Supporitng us on Patreon helps to fund our work, pay our team, and it grants you access to an incredible library of bonus content including: The REPOD Bonus Show The Spoilers Club The Travelogue Series Thank you to all of our ongoing supporters
There's dominance, and then there's Janja Garnbret. By 20, she'd done what no climber, man or woman, had ever achieved: won every competition in a World Cup season. She's a two-time Olympic champion, a six-time World Champion, and the only athlete in climbing history to rule Lead, Bouldering, and Combined at the highest level. This very special episode of Feel Slovenia features an in-depth interview with Janja herself. We'll uncover a side of her that doesn't wear chalk on her hands or medals around her neck. We'll learn where she likes to take visitors to Slovenia, the climb that has eluded her but which she dreams about, whether there will be a climbing wall in her newly built house, and how her nutrition plan differs from fellow Slovenian superstar Luka Dončič. All that and more, as part of this special episode with Janja Garnbret, the GOAT of climbing.Feel Slovenia the Podcast is brought to you by the Slovenian Tourist Board and hosted by Dr Noah Charney.Sound Production: Urska Charney For more inspirational content, check out www.slovenia.info and our social media channels, including Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Tripadvisor.
On this episode, host Sagi Eliyahu talks to Freya Hurwitz, Director of Procurement at Tripadvisor. Freya shares how she brought a product management mindset to procurement and helped digitize and streamline internal processes from the ground up. She also breaks down the tension between automation and culture, the limitations of AI in negotiation and how procurement leaders can evolve into strategic business partners.Key Takeaways:(04:43) Use product management thinking to improve internal workflows.(05:38) Digitize contract processes before introducing new technology.(09:51) Reduce resistance by giving teams better process visibility.(13:51) AI tools can't yet replace human negotiation skills.(15:40) Expect AI to reshape, not replace, procurement roles.(20:08) Strategic procurement requires moving upstream in decision-making.(23:30) Traditional sales roles are fading in software procurement.(27:04) Tech advances faster than most teams can adopt.(31:51) Stay flexible — career paths and tools will keep evolving.Resources Mentioned:Freya Hurwitzhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/freyahurwitz/Tripadvisor | LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/tripadvisor/Tripadvisor | Websitehttps://www.tripadvisor.comThis episode is brought to you by Tonkean.Tonkean is the operating system for business operations and is the enterprise standard for process orchestration. It provides businesses with the building blocks to orchestrate any process, with no code or change management required. Contact us at tonkean.com to learn how you can build complex business processes. Fast.#Operations #BusinessOperations
Si ChatGPT, Gemini ou encore Grok progressent aussi vite, c'est en grande partie grâce à un ingrédient-clé : les données massives disponibles sur Internet. Et désormais, on sait un peu mieux d'où elles proviennent. Une infographie publiée par Statista a analysé les réponses fournies par ChatGPT, Perplexity, AI Overviews et le mode IA de Google pour déterminer quelles sources ces intelligences artificielles exploitent le plus.En tête du classement, surprise : Reddit apparaît dans 40 % des réponses, loin devant Wikipedia (26,3 %), YouTube (23,5 %) et même Google (23,3 %). Autrement dit, le savoir collectif et les discussions informelles des internautes sont au cœur de l'entraînement des IA. Des plateformes comme Yelp, Tripadvisor ou Facebook fournissent aussi des données précieuses… et gratuites. C'est là que le débat s'ouvre : combien de temps encore ces trésors de contenu généré par les utilisateurs resteront-ils exploitables librement ? Déjà, les ayants droit peinent à faire respecter leur propriété intellectuelle. Et pour le contenu du domaine public, la récolte continue, sans que ses auteurs touchent quoi que ce soit.Exemple parlant : depuis juin, Meta utilise vos données personnelles pour entraîner son IA, Meta AI, sauf si vous vous y êtes formellement opposé. Tout ce que vous publiez ou commentez sur Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp ou Messenger entre dans ses bases d'apprentissage. Pour l'instant, Meta AI est optimisée pour le public américain, mais la firme veut adapter son outil aux usages et à la culture européenne. En clair, vos interactions en ligne pourraient bientôt façonner un modèle pensé pour mieux répondre… à vous. Derrière la magie des réponses fluides et “intelligentes” des IA, il y a donc un constat simple : elles se construisent sur nos traces numériques, offertes souvent sans que nous en mesurions vraiment la valeur. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.
//The Wire//2300Z August 13, 2025////ROUTINE////BLUF: ARRESTS MADE REGARDING LONG-TERM HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SLAVERY NETWORK IN NEBRASKA. CANADIAN WILDFIRES THREATEN ST. JOHNS IN NEWFOUNDLAND.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE----- -International Events-Canada: As wildfires continue to burn throughout the nation, more populated areas have begun to be placed on evacuation notice. Parts of the town of Paradise in Newfoundland were ordered to be evacuated yesterday, and the outskirts of St. Johns has been ordered to prepare for an evacuation if the Paddy's Pond Fire continues to threaten Highway 1, one of the main egress routes that would be taken if a larger scale evacuation were to be ordered at some point.Analyst Comment: The circumstances of this fire are suspicious, and local authorities are seeking information from anyone who may have details regarding a vehicle which was spotted near the origin of the fire, right before it broke out.-HomeFront-Washington D.C. - Diplomatic activities continue as President Trump's face-to-face meeting with President Putin draws near. Both leaders are scheduled to meet at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska on Friday. Analyst Comment: Though the White House specifically states that this is not a negotiation meeting with regards to the Ukraine War, the general consensus is that the war will be the main topic of discussion.Tennessee: Severe storms swept through the state overnight, resulting in the deaths of three people in Chattanooga. 6.5 inches of precipitation fell in just a few hours, causing flash floods which stopped traffic on I-24 and resulted in 6x people being rescued by swiftwater teams overnight. One person remains missing due to the flooding, and search and rescue operations continue.Nebraska: Yesterday the DoJ released details on a human trafficking network that was allegedly broken up in Omaha. 5x individuals were arrested for enslaving children to work at four different hotels, in addition to prostitution and drug trafficking. Money laundering, visa fraud, and drivers license fraud were all of the other crimes listed on the notice provided by the DoJ regarding these arrests.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comment: Most of the human traffickers arrested in Omaha were members of the Chaudhari family (a prominent immigrant family from India) which is well known for owning most of the cheap hotels in and around Omaha. It would be exceptionally foolish to conclude that this trafficking network has been shut down...these raids have only scratched the surface regarding this criminal enterprise. This is also not the first time this family has been directly implicated in human trafficking. Vishnubhai Chaudhari and Leelabahen Chaudhari (both illegal immigrants) were arrested in 2017 for the exact same human trafficking behavior in nearly the same manner in the exact same place, trafficking children to serve as slave labor for local hotels.In 2018, these people were convicted and sentenced to only a single year in prison....for enslaving children, and beating and abusing them regularly over a period of years. Now, the family tradition has continued with the arrest of 5x other direct family members. As such, whenever this new case involving this same family goes to trial in a year or so (and thus the media no longer cares about this), it is astronomically likely that everyone involved will get a slap on the wrist and continue these horrific actions once again.Of note, all of the hotels that were raided are still up on Tripadvisor and other travel websites, available for bookings. Similarly, the Super 8 motel where child slaves were rescued from in 2018 is still open for business and sports a rating of 3.7 stars. No protest activity or public outrage has been observed at these facilities so far.Analyst: S2A1Research: https://publish.obsidian.m
Love the show? Have any thoughts? Click here to let us know!This week, we're heading to the First State—Delaware! Lauren begins with the tragic tale of Mary Elizabeth Dunning and her husband, John Preston Dunning, a story that proves some choices come with devastating consequences. Then, Kenzie takes us to the charming yet eerie Addy Sea Inn in Bethany Beach. This historic bed-and-breakfast is home to the usual creaks and ghostly whispers—but what truly sets it apart is a chilling TripAdvisor review from a guest who experienced its paranormal side firsthand. Join us as we uncover Delaware's haunted past and the secrets it still keeps.--Follow us on Social Media and find out how to support A Scary State by clicking on our Link Tree: https://instabio.cc/4050223uxWQAl--Have a scary tale or listener story of your own? Send us an email to ascarystatepodcast@gmail.com! We can't wait to read it!--Thinking of starting a podcast? Thinking about using Buzzsprout for that? Well use our link to let Buzzsprout know we sent you and get a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan!https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1722892--Works cited!https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Dq_0tJvFgEFuU1ZpZQ3E_LcuLc-RrTML8fSt9ILWb6k/edit?usp=sharing --Intro and outro music thanks to Kevin MacLeod. You can visit his site here: http://incompetech.com/. Which is where we found our music!
The Pigeon Fork Dolly Parton Amusement Park, Dollywood, has been rated number one in America for 2025 according to Trip Advisor. We need to get there. But first, some GOP Arkansas legislators are looking to enact further anti-trans legislation. If enacted, the bill could lead to frivolous lawsuits against hairdressers who cut a trans teen's hair, teachers who use a student's chosen name, and nonprofits that offer support. Also, LinkedIn, not to be outdone by YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, has removed hate speech policies forbidding transphobic misgendering and deadnaming. Apple Podcasts: apple.co/1WwDBrC Spotify: spoti.fi/2pC19B1 iHeart Radio: bit.ly/4aza5LW Tunein: bit.ly/1SE3NMb YouTube Music: bit.ly/43T8Y81 Pandora: pdora.co/2pEfctj YouTube: bit.ly/1spAF5a
Dolly Parton BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.In the past few days Dolly Parton has been at the center of several headline-grabbing developments cementing her legend not only in country music but also as an entertainment and business icon. The most significant news broke on August 5th when Guinness World Records honored Dolly as an official Guinness World Records Icon to mark Dolly Parton Day. This is particularly biographically meaningful; she now boasts 11 Guinness records with achievements such as most consecutive decades with Top 10 album entries on the Billboard country chart and the longest span of No.1 hits for a female artist—her reach now celebrated not just for music but for her transformative impact on poverty relief, education, and child literacy. According to Guinness Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday, Dolly's real distinction comes from life-changing projects like her Imagination Library. The presentation took place in Nashville studios with plenty of media coverage.On the business front her profile soared again with the grand opening of Dolly Wines Bar inside Nashville's Assembly Food Hall on August 1. The wine bar features the Dolly Wines label, a collaboration between Parton Family Cellars and Accolade Wines, extending her knack for fun and hospitality to yet another enterprise. U.S. fans can sample her signature California chardonnay and pinot noir along with a peach sangria, while UK fans can enjoy exclusive rose and prosecco varieties. Social media lit up following the opening; Instagram fans flocked to post selfies under the bar's bright blue lights and a giant Jolene-inspired portrait, while media outlets like News 19 and Parade highlighted Dolly's infectious entrepreneurial spirit and ability to draw crowds with even a sip of her signature style.Her business moves continue as Parade and WYRK reported that she's prepping a $75 million Nashville hotel The Songteller, set to welcome guests in 2026, complete with music venues and a museum dedicated to her legacy—a long-term investment likely to become a central pilgrimage for fans and scholars alike.The biggest entertainment buzz of the week came from Nashville's Fisher Center at Belmont University during the premiere of Dolly: A True Original Musical, which dramatizes her life and career. Instagram exploded with scenes of Dolly stunning on the red carpet and taking the stage to announce three actresses cast as Dolly through various ages. Media outlets ranging from Country Living to Music Row covered her appearance and the enthusiastic applause for the autobiographical show, deepening her cultural footprint as both a living legend and trailblazing storyteller.If all that wasn't enough, Dollywood, her signature theme park, has just been recognized as the #1 Amusement and Water Park in America by Tripadvisor for 2025, beating out Disney and Universal Studios—a pointed reminder that Dolly's influence in entertainment, hospitality, and business simply knows no bounds.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta
President Trump picking CEA Chair Stephen Miran to fill the Fed Governor vacancy left by Adriana Kugler. Former Fed Governor Randy Krozner breaks down what that means for the future of monetary policy. Then shares of Expedia and Trip Advisor surge on the back of earnings. The outlook for the U.S. travel sector. Plus a potential way to gain alternative exposure to the gold trade. The CEO of Wheaton Precious Metals breaks down the quarter with the stock up more than 80% this year.
On today's MJ Morning Show: Make Michelle Laugh Morons in the news Update: Teens who killed retired cop suing car company Car alarms no longer 'chirp' Feel Free Tonics Listening to audio at higher speeds Yelp's top sandwich restaurants features 3 Tampa spots Sydney Sweeney jeans ad Women on Hinge using app to find men to put furniture together Parking at hospital charged woman over $7000 Michelle & Julian still go to thrift shops Alarm clock anxiety How's Your Day Honey - Elisha Visit from Mike Murphy/Genesis of Tampa Claire's stores dealing with bankruptcy Top theme park in America based on Tripadvisor's readers MJ confesses to watching a really bad movie Also, Michelle & MJ watched "The Naked Gun" What is "Love Island" face New Costco in The Villages makes incredible first day sales A carnival ride snapped in half Are mosquitos in China spreading a virus?
Psy-Nation Radio Episode #092 The 92nd edition of the Psy-Nation Radio podcast hosted by Ace Ventura & Liquid Soul (Liquid Ace) is here! For this episode we have for you a guest mix by Rugrats ! We always love to hear your thoughts - feel free to send suggestions, feedback and requests to: psynationradio@gmail.com #wearepsynation Track list: 1. Protonica & Zen Mechanics - Flowstate (Iboga records) 2. Emok & Silent Sphere - Circus Sideshow (Iboga records) 3. Photonics - Citrine (Sourcecode transmissions) 4. Agmon - Watching Us (Sacred technology) 5. Infected Mushroom - Spaniard (Out of Orbit & Ido Segal remix) (Shamanic tales records) 6. Volcano & Oforia - Release Yourself (Sacred technology) 7. Acid Punks & Fungus funk - Fungus Punk (Mutant disco records) 8. Enrico Sangiuliano - The Techno Code (Avalon & Tristan Remix) (NINETOZERO) 9. Electric Universe - Bansuri (BLiSS remix) (Iboga records) 10. 8ternal Beings (Tristan & Regan Nano) - Maxwells Demon (Nano records) Rugrats Track list: 1. Tripadvisor & Rugrats - FandyKlipp 2. Rugrats - NN - (unreleased) 3. Rugrats - Super Baked (Render Remix) 4. Rugrats & Zeridium - Radio Zero One Sick 5. Rugrats & Art Materials - NN (Unreleased) 6. Braingineers & Rugrats & Xipe Totecs - That Fateful Night 7. Rugrats & Xed - Favorite Weed (unreleased) 8. Jumpstreet - BufferBoogie (Rugrats Remix) 9. Rugrats - Subway`s (unreleased) 10. Rugrats & Act One - NN (unreleased) 11. Rugrats & Jimi Green - Popular Mechanics This show is syndicated & distributed exclusively by Syndicast. If you are a radio station interested in airing the show or would like to distribute your podcast / radio show please register here: https://syndicast.co.uk/distribution/registration
Subscribe to Throwing Fits on Substack. We've got smaller things to worry about. This week, Jimmy and Larry are locking in their new schedule before (slowly) speeding into buying women's sneakers, the dangers of horizontal stripes making you look like a little boy, Chief Keef eBay filters, footie fever is ratcheting up, exposing guests who lied on the pod, getting radicalized by the Citi Bike speed limit, doing fashion vs. getting dressed, your Reddit history is forever, Lawrence bombed at the MR Awards aka the Schmoscars aka the Garmmies but he's still here to share the speech he wrote, Sydney Sweeney's generational bag chasing ignites the culture war, James' correspondence with Jeremy Fragrance culminated with quite the ask plus reading some R-rated texts with another mystery guest booking, sage unc bachelor party integration, the guns are bigger in Texas, all Waymos must be destroyed, finding your friend's dad's Tripadvisor's account kicks off the sincere recommendation revolution, how much salt is too much salt, H&M's Dimes Square collection might be a flex, the many dangers of ironic fashion, what we're getting up to at Copenhagen Fashion Week and more.
Are you up to date on this week's biggest news story? Anna and Raven will get you caught up on the trending news including ChatGPT making cheating more difficult, but only if you want it to. GenZ may be the reason that cereal is going out of style! Anna and Raven talk about why and have Producer Julie ask the Office Squad what they had for breakfast! Anna and Raven talk about the number one places to visit according to Trip Advisor, and they share what are just tourist traps, according to their experiences! Matt Healy's mom spoke out and said she was happy that she would never be Taylor Swift's mother-in-law. Raven talks about his ex-wife's mother and he and Anna ask you about your mother-in-law! Do you think it's messed up that women are using the Tea app? Find out what the app is and how people are using it do to background checks on the people they are dating! Are you up to date on this week's biggest news story? Anna and Raven will get you caught up on the trending news including the Celsius Energy Drinks recalled for containing alcohol, and the service for Ozzy Osbourne. Yesterday, Intern Luke made a comment that “Old” people don't go to movies. Anna and Raven have Luke watch Santa's Second Wife, the movie Anna and Raven created and star in! He reports on it! You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGGb3nt5Yts There is one nickname that is the most popular pet name! Find out what it is and Anna and Raven share their pet names from their spouses! Wait until you hear the nickname Anna's husband has for her! Kevin and Leslie have been dating for six months, and he just told her that he has a son that lives three states away. She is really upset and says that's something you should disclose to someone you're dating within the first week of dating. He says that besides providing child support and getting to visit over the summers and holidays, he barely ever sees his four-year-old son. His son's mom was a very brief encounter, and she had planned to move the whole time. He loves his son, but he doesn't feel like it's something he must “disclose” to someone he just started dating. What do you think? Maryann has a chance to win $3300! All she has to do is answer more pop culture questions than Raven in Can't Beat Raven!
Send us a textHello, passionate cruisers! This is Paul. This week on The Joy of Cruising Podcast, I am delighted to welcome freelance travel writer Ashley Kosciolek. Ashley is a former editor at Cruise Critic for 12 years, but I really got to know her work during her time writing mainly about cruises but also some general travel articles wrote about cruises for The Points Guy. Ashley can address virtually any cruise-related topic from the consumer side, and even make topics about as exciting as watching grass grow—like travel insurance—worth reading about. On numerous occasions over the past couple of years in response to one of her articles, I considered reaching out to her regarding visiting us on The Joy of Cruising Podcast. I finally get a chance to welcome Ashley. Ashley Kosciolek is a travel writer with nearly 20 years of experience covering the cruise industry. Following more than a decade as a staff editor at TripAdvisor company Cruise Critic, she spent four years as a senior writer on the cruise team at The Points Guy, with coverage ranging from ship reviews, destination reports, and industry news to tips articles, planning pieces and first-person features. You can also find her freelance work on Cruise.blog, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruise Radio. Ashley has sailed with every major cruise brand (and most of the lesser-known ones, too) and has been quoted as an expert by USA Today, the Associated Press, CBS, Forbes, NBC News, the Miami Herald, the Huffington Post, "Good Morning America," The New York Times, and more. You can follow her adventures on Instagram: @slyjabroni.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
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Colleen Onuffer for the second installment of a four-part series exploring the PESO Model—Paid, Earned, Shared, and Owned media—in integrated marketing. Colleen shares more about earned media: what it is, why it's critical for building credibility, and how organizations in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry can use it to tell their story more powerfully. From collaborating with influencers to maximizing media placements, she explains how earned media fits into the bigger picture and interacts with other parts of the PESO framework. What You Will Learn in This Episode: How Colleen Onuffer defines earned media and why it is considered more credible and trustworthy by consumers compared to paid and owned channels Why the Peso Model is essential for creating an integrated and effective PR strategy, and what the interconnections are between paid, earned, shared, and owned media How to approach strategic PR planning, including the importance of starting with research, setting clear goals, and understanding your audience What types of earned media tactics Colleen recommends for destination marketers, including media relations and influencer partnerships How emerging trends like artificial intelligence (AI), podcasts, and the rise of micro and niche influencers are shaping the landscape of earned media Why measurement and the Barcelona Principles are so critical for PR success, and how to plan up front to track the true impact and quality of earned placements How to start small, leverage multi-channel opportunities, and set yourself up for measurable success How Earned Media is Different from PR Destination marketers know that cutting through the noise to reach travelers is harder than ever. In a world saturated with content and advertising, earning trust and attention calls for a sophisticated mix of strategy, storytelling, and smart tactical planning. We're discussing the critical “E”—Earned Media—in the integrated PESO model this week. The Value and Challenge of Earned Media Earned media is any publicity gained through organic means rather than paid advertising. Unlike owned or paid channels, it's the result of others—media outlets, influencers, travelers, or even locals—talking about your destination. Think press coverage, travel blogger posts, influencer recommendations, glowing TripAdvisor reviews, or enthusiastic social shares. Colleen emphasizes that earned media carries higher trust among consumers. Because earned media is not paid for by a brand directly, it's often perceived as more credible or trustworthy by consumers. Mainly because brands don't control the message. Unlike owned or paid media, where the brand is the voice, earned media relies on the voices of others to push the brand or narrative. It's both valuable and vulnerable—a product of relationships, storytelling, and a bit of risk-taking. Creating an Earned Media Strategy It's tempting to jump straight to pitching, press trips, or influencer outreach. But effective PR starts with strategic foundations. Colleen recommends that travel marketers: Define Their Positioning: What's the unique appeal or challenge your destination faces? Unlock Insights Through Research: Deeply understand audience motivations, needs, and media behaviors. Set SMART Goals: How many placements? What kind of coverage, and where? Do you want to attract a niche or mass audience? Build Audience Personas: Understand their pain points, decision-making process, and where they seek inspiration. With these insights, your earned media initiatives—whether hosting writers, partnering with content creators, or launching brand ambassador programs—are more likely to land meaningful, measurable results. Resources: Website: https://travelalliancepartnership.com/ LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenonuffer/ LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tapintotravel/ We value your thoughts and feedback and would love to hear from you. Leave us a review on your favorite streaming platform to let us know what you want to hear more of. Here is a quick tutorial on how to leave us a rating and review on iTunes!
WEDNESDAY HR 4 Ray Traendly from TK Law. The In-laws can be an issue in a divorce. Hobbies women find unattractive in men. News From The Headlines - Top tourist attraction according to Trip Advisor.
On this episode of GMH Hotels, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk explore Hilton's strategy to drive direct bookings from small business travelers, while Marriott Hotels finalizes its acquisition of citizenM hotels, expanding its lifestyle portfolio. The vanishing hotel minibar takes center stage as operators rethink in-room profit models. In travel, Tripadvisor reveals its top 2025 attractions, JetBlue doubles down on tech with its Travel Products platform, and Royal Caribbean Group plans a loyalty refresh to meet the demands of last-minute cruisers. Tune in for all the latest trends, headlines, and insights shaping the hospitality world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How did Tripadvisor become every traveler's starting point?Steve Kaufer joins Joubin Mirzadegan on Grit to break down how Tripadvisor became the internet's trusted travel companion, built on over a billion reviews and decades of trust. He also shares why early personalization fell short and how AI is finally doing what travel agents once did by understanding the traveler, but faster, smarter, and at scale.Guest: Steve Kaufer, co-founder of TripAdvisorChapters:(00:00) Trailer(00:45) Introduction(01:32) Early days of Tripadvisor(08:14) Catching the startup bug(18:42) Luck and timing(26:54) $200M: a combo of money and risk(37:37) I love creating stuff(40:45) Hardest part of being a public CEO(46:21) Never let a good crisis go to waste(51:54) An average traveler(55:49) Social proof vs artificial intelligence(1:02:59) Back in the saddle(1:09:54) Not for the faint of heart(1:12:16) What “grit” means to Steve(1:12:31) OutroMentioned in this episode: Google, Expedia Group, Barry Diller, Interactive Corporation (IAC), Uber, Dara Khosrowshahi, OpenAI ChatGPT, IMDb, CJ Affiliate (Commission Junction), Amazon, Google Chrome, Give Freely, Honey, Rakuten, Macy's, American Cancer Society, Google GeminiLinks:Connect with SteveXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins
The national museum saw over one million visitors in the past financial year, and its high rating on Tripadvisor has seen it take out the number one spot for the second year running.
When a new list of “underrated” Irish attractions makes the rounds, I always take a look. Sometimes I nod in agreement. Sometimes I roll my eyes and wonder who decided the Rock of Cashel was a hidden secret. That was my reaction to a recent ranking from SumUp, which used everything from TripAdvisor reviews to... The post Ireland's Underrated Attractions(how to add them to your itinerary & escape the crowds) appeared first on Ireland Family Vacations.
Everyone has their own expectations when it comes to summer holidays. Regardless, you don't necessarily have to travel far to have a good time. At least, that's what 31% of British people think, according to research from TripAdvisor. That's the proportion of people who plan to holiday exclusively in the UK this year. But for others, going on holiday is all about turning dreams of exotic destinations into a reality. Let's discuss some of the top domestic and international destinations for 2023. What are the best destinations within the UK? Is going to Europe really that expensive? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: Why are famous women being targeted by transvestigations? What is premium mediocre - the illusion of luxury? Is your employer tracking you while you work from home? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First broadcast: 12/07/2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of GMH Hotels, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk dive into Marriott Hotels's groundbreaking net-zero hotel project and how waning green tax breaks might affect sustainable builds moving forward. They cover Hard Rock International's expansion of its Reverb Hotels brand and analyze how the timing of the Fourth of July impacted hotel performance across the country. In travel, Delta Air Lines explores a new premium tier strategy for business fares, TSA tests a faster way to screen shoes at airports, and Tripadvisor launches a long-awaited accessible travel guide. It's a full plate of industry insights, tech updates, and travel trends worth tuning into. --- Good Morning Hospitality is part of the Hospitality.FM Multi-Media Network and is a Hospitality.FM Original The hospitality industry is constantly growing, changing, and innovating! This podcast brings you the top news and topics from industry experts across different hospitality fields. Good Morning Hospitality publishes three thirty-minute weekly episodes: every Monday and Wednesday at 7 a.m. PST / 10 a.m. EST and every Tuesday at 8 a.m. CET for our European and UK-focused content. Make sure to tune in during our live show on our LinkedIn page or YouTube every week and join the conversation live! Explore everything Good Morning Hospitality has to offer: • Well & Good Morning Coffee: Enjoy our signature roast—order here! • Retreats: Join us at one of our exclusive retreats—learn more and register your interest here! • Episodes & More: Find all episodes and additional info at GoodMorningHospitality.com Thank you to all of the Hospitality.FM Partners that help make this show possible. If you have any press you want to be covered during the show, email us at goodmorning@hospitality.fm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Crypto losses increase 66% in 2024 At first you may be saying I thought Bitcoin has been increasing in value? While that is true, you have to remember that is only one of the many thousands of cryptocurrencies that are available. According to the FBI in 2024, there was 149,686 complaints for total losses of $9.3 billion. It was somewhat surprising to learn that people over 60 years old, who I thought knew better than to gamble with cryptocurrencies, was the most with losses totaling nearly $3 billion. If you live in California, Texas or Florida that's where the most complaints came from with a cumulative loss of $3 billion. Mississippi was also largely impacted as the number of crypto scams per thousand was the highest at 42.1. Even though there are a far higher number of investors and larger dollars in stocks, the SEC reported nationwide just 583 enforcement actions for stock scams or stock complaints in 2024. These complaints included charges against advisors for untrue or unsubstantiated statements. Interesting to note there's now something called AI washing, which charges firms for making false or misleading statements about their use of artificial intelligence. It is hard to make a comparison of stock scams and fraud versus cryptocurrencies, but with the far higher number of people investing in stocks vs cryptocurrencies I think it is safe to say that your risk of being scammed in stock investments is far lower than being scammed when dealing with cryptocurrencies. So not only are you taking a higher market risk by investing in cryptocurrencies, but you are also taking on the risk of being ripped off as well. Have ETFs become too complicated? The first ETF, which stands for exchange traded fund, was launched about 30 years ago. They were simple in design and you generally bought them because they held a set group of stocks or bonds using an index and charged a low fee. Today, there are now over 4000 ETFs that are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. This is more than the 2400 individual stocks listed on the exchange. In 2024 alone, 700 new ETFs were launched and 33 of those tracked cryptocurrencies. The assets have ballooned to $11 trillion and now account for 1/3 of money invested in long-term funds. Some of that growth has come from open end mutual funds, which have lost $1.2 trillion in the past two years. There are now 1300 active ETFs, which actually manage the portfolio for you like a mutual fund. A big difference is those funds can now be sold during market hours. With open ended mutual funds, you have to wait until the close of the market and then sell at the closing net asset value for the day. Nearly half of the 1300 active ETF were launched last year. It gets difficult for investors with over 4000 choices to decide which is best. Back in 2020, Cathie Wood grew to fame with her actively managed ARK Innovation ETF. The fund shot up 150% that year and assets hit $28 billion. Today, the NASDAQ composite has a five-year cumulative return of 108% and the ARRK fund has seen a decline of 2% and the assets are now under $7 billion. If you're investing in an ETF to benefit from commodities, understand generally they use future contracts to track the underlying commodity. Commodity futures are not a perfect vehicle and they generally work better for speculators that do short-term trading. One exception to this is the SPDR gold shares which is a trust that holds the actual gold. In my opinion, it is far easier to analyze one company to invest in and then build a portfolio rather than trying to understand some of these ETFs that can use leverage or future contracts or whatever. I worry investors could be blindsided when they least expect it. What is a dark pool exchange? A dark pool exchange is an off the exchange platform where institutions can trade without broadcasting their buying or selling intentions publicly. People wonder why when we invest at Wilsey Asset Management we buy a company with the intent of holding it 3 to 5 years. For those who think they can do better by trading you are taking a toothpick to a gun fight. Exchanges and market makers make up nearly 87% of the daily trading volume, but these dark pools are trying to step in and do more of the trading, which I believe will leave the small investor in the dark and they might not know what certain stocks are trading at. I'm getting rather disgusted with how Wall Street is acting like the Wild West. FINRA another regulatory body seems to be OK with this and will be collecting fees from the dark pools. Fortunately, for the past two years, the SEC has not approved this form of trading, but with the new administration and the new SEC chairman, who seems to love the Wild West of trading, I'm sure we'll see more of this craziness going forward. This does not mean that investors on Wall Street cannot do well. To be frank, I don't care if we miss a penny or two on a trade since we are looking down the road 3 to 5 years, but if you're doing multiple trades per day that penny of two adds up. This also seems to be adding a lot more volatility to the markets. This volatility will scare investors out of good quality investments because of what they are seeing on a daily basis and not understanding what is going on behind the scenes. Remember if you are investor, you are investing in a small piece of a large company and there are millions if not billions of shares that are trading so don't worry about the short-term movements. Instead, make sure the investment you made was of good quality with sound earnings and a strong balance sheet that can weather any storm, even these dark pools. Financial Planning: Is Social Security Now Tax-Free? One of the major topics surrounding the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) was the taxation of Social Security. Now that the bill has been signed into law, we know that the method used to tax Social Security remains unchanged—but many seniors will still see their overall tax liability go down. Most states, including California, do not tax Social Security. Federally, between 0% and 85% of benefits are reportable as income, meaning at least 15% is always tax-free. The taxable portion is based on a retiree's combined income, which includes adjusted gross income, tax-exempt interest, and half of their Social Security benefits. This formula was not changed by the OBBB. However, the standard deduction is increasing substantially, which reduces taxable income and, in turn, lowers overall tax liability. Prior to the bill's passage, a married couple aged 65 or older would have had a standard deduction of $33,200 in 2025 ($30,000 plus $3,200 for age). Starting in tax year 2025, that deduction can be as high as $46,700—a $13,500 increase. This results from a $1,500 increase to the base deduction for all filers, plus an additional $6,000 per person for those over age 65. Importantly, this extra $6,000 per senior (up to $12,000 per couple) is not technically part of the standard deduction—it is an above-the-line deduction that can be claimed even by those who itemize. This add-on begins to phase out when Modified Adjusted Gross Income exceeds $150,000 and is fully phased out above $250,000. As a result, taxpayers in the 10%, 12%, and 22% brackets are most likely to benefit. So, while Social Security is still taxable, more of that income may now be shielded from taxes due to the expanded deductions. Additionally, the bill prevents the federal tax brackets from reverting to higher 2017 levels in 2026. The brackets will now remain at 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%, instead of increasing to 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, 35%, and 39.6%. For retirees with taxable Social Security or other ordinary income, this means lower effective tax rates moving forward. In short, Social Security is still taxable—but seniors will likely pay less, or even nothing, thanks to these changes. Companies Discussed: Tripadvisor, Inc. (TRIP), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (AMC) & KeyCorp (KEY)
Alex and Kevin are back from the long weekend, chomping at the bit to discuss their activities.. Kevin recaps his epic Fourth of July at Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, and Alex talks about his relaxing weekend. They go on to talk about the Bear season 4, people complaining about Liquid Glass again, the Stella Artois Wimbledon can, the Tripadvisor rebrand by Koto, Rob McElhenney rebrands to Rob Mac, 50 Cent turns 50, the Indonesian Boat Racing Kid, and more!
Hyatt is expanding its all-inclusive resort business globally, targeting regions like Europe, North Africa, and Asia, while maintaining an “asset-light” strategy to reduce capital demands. Meanwhile, the TSA is trialing a policy at select U.S. airports that allows travelers to keep their shoes on, as part of broader efforts to streamline security screening with new technologies. Activist investor Starboard Value has acquired a 9% stake in Tripadvisor and may pressure the company to sell off brands like Viator and TheFork to increase shareholder value and simplify its structure for potential acquisition. Inside Hyatt's All-Inclusive Bet: 9 Brands, Billions Spent TSA to Let Some Passengers Keep Their Shoes On at Security What's Next for Tripadvisor Now That it Has an Activist Investor? Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Plus: U.S. stocks set another round of records. And activist investor Starboard Value has built a 9% stake in Tripadvisor. Anthony Bansie hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Send us a textTenants are happier than owners.(and that's not the only surprising truth about new builds).I chatted Hannah Marsh, a co-founder of HomeViews, the biggest property review platform in the UK - dubbed the TripAdvisor for property - and recently acquired by Rightmove.In this episode of the podcast, she shares what she learned scaling and selling two startups. She also shared the surprising results of data on Build to Rent from Rightmove and HomeViews, and what opportunities the result - including:● Why tenants rate their experience higher than owners - challenging the assumption that ownership = satisfaction. ● The myth of sustainability - and which residents really care. Hint: it's not the young, despite media headlines. ● The features renters value most - but operators don't promote - like security and repairs. ● The branding blind spot (and opportunity) - only 56% of BTR residents know they live in a "Build to Rent" home.Guest website: https://www.homeviews.com/Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-marsh-32a82416/Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/Host website: https://www.greenresi.com/
S&P futures are pointing to a slightly higher open today, up +0.1%. Asian markets had a mixed session on Thursday. The Hang Seng dropped (0.6%) amidst weakness in property stocks while Japan's Nikkei dipped as uncertainty around trade talks weighed on sentiment. European markets are broadly higher in early trades, with the STOXX 600 up +0.3% and the FTSE 100 leading at +0.5%. President Trump announced a trade deal with Vietnam, imposing a 20% tariff on exports to the U.S. and 40% on transshipments, reduced from an earlier proposed 46%. The U.S. will face zero tariffs on exports to Vietnam, though specifics on product groups and transshipment provisions remain unclear. Companies Mentioned: Old Point Financial, Apollo Global Management, TripAdvisor
The power of stillness. That's the topic of this episode and the shiny new object chosen by Christine Maguire, Global Vice President, Commercial Business at Tripadvisor. Tune in to hear how Christine finds clarity and focus through stillness, as well as her top data driven marketing tips.
" Horror is the excitement of the unknown." It's dark all around you. You clutch your flashlight with trembling hands, but the beam of light blinds you when it hits a wall of fog. In the swirling mist ahead, eerie creatures wander the grounds between you and your goal. You must use your knowledge of the inhabitants of this place to save yourself and your friends. Welcome to Lockhill. Bill Dalitsikas, owner of Lockhill Escape Game in Athens, Greece, is the master of horror, when it comes to escape rooms. The Sanatorium premiered at the #5 spot on the TERPECA awards, and Chapel & Catacombs was voted the #1 escape room in the world in 2022. (Both games also won Golden Lock Awards.) He joins us on REPOD to talk about his inspiration, thoughts on what makes for a good horror escape room, and the Athens escape room scene. These games are massive, and it's absolutely wild that for the most part, Bill designs and builds these games all by himself. I really loved hearing him talk about using actors as puzzles in his games. It's one of the many mechanics that make his games feel like real live video games. Indeed, he was heavily inspired by Silent Hill, Mansions of Madness, and Betrayal at House on the Hill. It became very clear as we talked to Bill that his motivation isn't to scare the players as much as possible; rather it's to give the players the best experience possible. That's why he has three different game modes for The Sanatorium: Day Mode where it's less scary with more focus on the puzzles, Night Mode where the focus is on the actors and scares, and Midnight Mode where players get the best of both worlds—maximum puzzles and maximum scares. Even if you're not a fan of horror games, I think you will find this conversation compelling. Hopefully it will convince you check out the games at Lockhill next time your are near Athens. Full Show Notes Episode Sponsors Thank you to our sponsors: Weldwood Marketing, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, and Patreon supporters like you. Weldwood Marketing Maximize your online presence with Weldwood Marketing. It's a one-stop shop for digital marketing—specializing in web design, SEO, online ads, and best business practices. They can even manage all your integrations so you can track the customer journey from clicking on an ad to booking your game. Let Weldwood help unlock more money for your business. Special offer exclusively for REPOD listeners: Weldwood rarely offers discounts, but they did for us. REPOD listeners get 15% off Marketing Services for the first 3 months, PLUS $750 off escape room websites. Schedule your Discovery Call and mention REPOD in the notes! Visit weldwoodmarketing.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. Buzzshot Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. COGS COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout. Become a Patron Today! Supporitng us on Patreon helps to fund our work, pay our team, and it grants you access to an incredible library of bonus content including: The REPOD Bonus Show The Spoilers Club The Travelogue Series Thank you to all of our ongoing supporters
Send us a textIn this one, Mike and Cody are going on a trip in their favorite rocketship (a Y-Wing) looking for a great vacation destination. Now obviously Naboo is a top contender, but which planets should we avoid? Let's check space tripadvisor!NEW SITV MERCH!JOIN THE PATREON!https://linktr.ee/sitvpodAlbum art by @haileycomet_tattooHailey Comet TattooSupport the showSupport the show
This week on By the Bi, Angela sits down with a very cheeky Bradford to unpack his latest solo travel adventures—and let's just say, things got spicy. From spontaneous Sniffies hookups and steamy cruise room encounters to massages that definitely crossed into naughty territory, Bradford's been making the most of life on the road.Join us for a candid, hilarious, and oh-so-saucy episode as we explore the thrills (and occasional chaos) of solo play, sexual spontaneity while traveling, and the stories you definitely won't hear on TripAdvisor.Tune in for Bradford's wild ride—and maybe get inspired for your own next cheeky adventure.Want to help us out? Sure you do!!!Help us out on Patreon and join our Discord chat hereFind us on social media!!!On Twitter @BytheBiPodcastOn Facebook BytheBiPodcastOn Instagram @BytheBiPodcastOr email us herePlease donate to Bi+ Visibility by clicking the link here!Leave some feedback for us on whatever medium you listen to your podcasts on! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
" Challenging yourself is how you produce growth in your own life." Countless late nights, occasional tears, and many great conversations later, we did it. We made it to 100 episodes of REPOD! We've had so many incredible guests come on the show, fully willing to share the secret sauce to their success. These guests have been a treasure trove of creative inspiration. From discussing how to create immersive sets, to tricks for directing a player's attention, from how to effectively market your business to creating puzzles, our guests didn't gatekeep or pull their punches. To celebrate, we're taking a look back through the archives and picking some noteworthy clips. These were all things our guests said that really resonated with us – personally, professionally, or on a creative level. Each of these clips fundamentally changed how we think about something. Maybe it gave us a new perspective on leadership, like Elan Lee's clip about "other people's work." Or perhaps it was Christine Barger going against industry norms by allowing filming in her escape room. Others were more philosophical, like Alexander Gierholz's musings on the dissonance of escapism. Many of these clips helped shape the way we think about immersive design, such as Linda Klein talking about "experiential mixers" or Tommy Honton's "adrenaline map." It's been an amazing 100 episodes of Reality Escape Pod. I hope our guests have also inspired you in your creative journey. And if they did, we'd love to hear about it. Let us know if there's anything we missed that especially resonated with you. Thank you all for listening and for all your support! Episode Sponsors Thank you to our sponsors: Weldwood Marketing, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, and Patreon supporters like you. Weldwood Marketing Maximize your online presence with Weldwood Marketing. It's a one-stop shop for digital marketing—specializing in web design, SEO, online ads, and best business practices. They can even manage all your integrations so you can track the customer journey from clicking on an ad to booking your game. Let Weldwood help unlock more money for your business. Special offer exclusively for REPOD listeners: Weldwood rarely offers discounts, but they did for us. REPOD listeners get 15% off Marketing Services for the first 3 months, PLUS $750 off escape room websites. Schedule your Discovery Call and mention REPOD in the notes! Visit weldwoodmarketing.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. Buzzshot Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. COGS COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout. Become a Patron Today! Supporitng us on Patreon helps to fund our work, pay our team, and it grants you access to an incredible library of bonus content including: The REPOD Bonus Show The Spoilers Club The Travelogue Series Thank you to all of our ongoing supporters
"It's the first science-based escape room." If you ask an escape room enthusiast about entanglement puzzles, what likely springs to mind are those intertwined, bent metal nails that you need to separate. However, for Paul Kwiat, an entanglement puzzle is something else completely. Professor Kwiat is an acclaimed physicist, specializing in quantum physics, including quantum entanglement, along with quantum cryptography, dense-coding, quantum teleportation, entanglement distillation, and most recently, optical quantum gates. Phew! But what's a physicist doing on REPOD? Besides his many other accomplishments, Professor Kwiat has also created LabEscape, the first science-based escape room. Most of the puzzles in his games are built on different science phenomena such as magnetism, thermodynamics, and polarization. Many of these are rather advanced principles that would be taught at a college-level course. These are not games for kids! Professor Kwiat explains that he had three goals when creating his escape room. One—to show that science can be both relevant and accessible. Two—to show that these scientific effects are aesthetically beautiful. Three—that science is fun! His love of science and physics is certainly infectious. We couldn't resist the opportunity to chat about quantum mechanics, including quantum computers, and cryptography. I truly appreciated that he took the time to explain all these principles to us, even if it meant crushing my romantic notions of how quantum entanglement works. This episode is a bit different, but I think you'll certainly learn something. Episode Sponsors Thank you to our sponsors: Weldwood Marketing, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, and Patreon supporters like you. Weldwood Marketing Maximize your online presence with Weldwood Marketing. It's a one-stop shop for digital marketing—specializing in web design, SEO, online ads, and best business practices. They can even manage all your integrations so you can track the customer journey from clicking on an ad to booking your game. Let Weldwood help unlock more money for your business. Special offer exclusively for REPOD listeners: Weldwood rarely offers discounts, but they did for us. REPOD listeners get 15% off Marketing Services for the first 3 months, PLUS $750 off escape room websites. Schedule your Discovery Call and mention REPOD in the notes! Visit weldwoodmarketing.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. Buzzshot Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. COGS COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout. Become a Patron Today! Supporitng us on Patreon helps to fund our work, pay our team, and it grants you access to an incredible library of bonus content including: The REPOD Bonus Show The Spoilers Club The Travelogue Series Thank you to all of our ongoing supporters