The Folo by Travel Weekly

This week our subject is Route 66, that famous highway that's practically synonymous with the term "Americana." The road was opened in 1926, which means that of next year it’s been inspiring people in song, movie, decor and travel for 100 years. And tours editor Brinley Hineman discovered that tour companies and destinations will be celebrating the centennial with new programs and itineraries.

On this episode Hineman and host Rebecca Tobin talk with Steve Born of the Globus family of brands about the popularity of Route 66 tours – and why people choose a tour for a domestic drive holiday. 

Sta...

It’s the holiday season, but it's also time for advisors and consumers alike to start thinking of travel plans for the year ahead. And to stoke interest in destinations from the Dolomites to Dominica, Power List agency Chase Travel for a second year is doing a list of inspirational travel destinations, called "26 Trips to Take in 2026." 

On this episode host Rebecca Tobin talks with Karen McGee, president of Valerie Wilson Travel, and Hillary Reinsberg, head of content for card and connected commerce at Chase, about inspiration for the list and how it was created, consumer travel tre...

Our annual Travel Industry Survey of travel agency business is live, and we're taking an in-depth look at some of the results with editor in chief Arnie Weissmann and news editor Johanna Jainchill.

In this episode we delve into survey data: Advisors’ use of AI – how they use it and what they’re concerned about; which travel categories are growing; advisors’ use of social media; their relationships with preferred suppliers; where they work; and what they’re booking. And, of course, whether they’re optimistic or pessimistic about their business going forward. 

This survey was produced in p...

We're focusing on an emerging branch of artificial intelligence called agentic AI – that is, an AI tool that can, essentially, act like a booking agent, all the way up to making a reservation on the traveler’s behalf. It acts like an agent – but is it a threat to human travel advisors? And what does agentic AI mean for the OTA model, supplier customer service and travelers themselves?

On this episode, McKinsey and Co.’s Vik Krishnan and Travel Weekly aviation editor Robert Silk talk with host Rebecca Tobin about the latest developments in agentic AI and travel a...

Your travel advisor’s expert in-destination source: Their DMC This week we’re talking about destination management companies, or DMCs, which are companies embedded in specific locations that give travel planners an ultra-boost when it comes to planning a vacation there. Insider knowledge, special tours, recommendations, an expert shoulder to lean on – that’s what a DMC can provide.

Here, senior editor for retail Jamie Biesiada and Haisley Smith, the senior vice president of partner relations at Internova Travel Group, talk about why advisors and clients are celebrating their DMC connections; why a client might choose a...

It’s time for an update on Hawaii travel. On this episode, our contributing editor for Hawaii, Christine Hitt, talks about overall stats, Maui updates, a falloff in travel from Canada and Japan -- plus our favorite island destinations and the changes at the Hawaii Tourism Authority. 

This episode was recorded Oct. 16 and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Episode sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com

Related reports

Christine Hitt's Hawaii travel Insights: https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Insigh...

This week we’re talking about a story that came to be after unveiling of Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ upcoming Skyview Regent Suite. It's a veritable mansion-at-sea with a private gym, sauna, bar and dining room that seats 12. And what's more surprising than the price? The fact that it was booked within one minute on 10 of 13 itineraries. Or perhaps that's not a surprise. Advisors tell us that there are countdowns to sales launches and wait lists for the newest crop of ultra-palatial, ultra big, ultra luxurious cruise ship suites.

This week, as CruiseWorld kicks off in Fort Laud...

Travel Weekly is proud to produce contributions from some very well-respected columnists -- people who really know the business. We have travel advisors and our own reporting staff, of course, but we also have a legal advisor, and many readers will know his name: Mark Pestronk. 

Mark, a Washington-based travel lawyer, has been writing a Legal Briefs column, and before that, a column by a different name, for officially 40 years now, and he’s often quoted in our pages. So today we’re celebrating with an episode talking with him about travel, changes, the power of advisors and...

In this episode we’re headed to Chile, the home of this year's Adventure Travel Trade Association World Summit. Our adventurous editor in chief Arnie Weissmann attended the show as a guest speaker and participant on its adventure tours, and it seemed like a good opportunity for us to talk about Patagonia, penguins and pumas. 

On this episode we tackle how the ATTA describes "adventure" travelers and what determines an adventure – also, why you should hire a guide; what to look for in the best outfitters; how overtourism may have contributed to the growth in adventure travel; and t...

South Africa based contributor Dorine Reinstein has written often about conservation efforts and tackled overcrowding on safari tours. A video this summer that appeared to show safari trucks crowding and blocking the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti raised new questions for us about guest expectations; guide pressure points and the power balance between guests and guides; and how the travel trade can get involved.

Joining us on this episode is Louise De Waal, a director and campaign manager at Blood Lions, and Anton Letegan, the managing director of EcoTraining. It’s an important, thoughtful discussion, and I wa...

Our latest cover story is titled the 25 years that changed travel. We’re looking back at the first quarter century and the biggest events that had an outsized impact on the business, from mega-events that changed the world to milestone product launches and those business decisions that portended major shifts to come.

In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, editor in chief Arnie Weissmann and news editor Johanna Jainchill unpack the list and some of the decisions behind it, as well as those reminisces about the old times and what’s happening in travel today. 

This episo...

On this episode we’re going to tuck in to a portion of the flying experience that you might be surprised to hear about: food. The aviation catering business is enormous, as our airlines editor Robert Silk determined when he walked the floor of a show devoted only to inflight eating and drinking.

In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, Silk and Joe Leader, the CEO of the International Flight Services Association, talk about the growth of good eating in all cabins, tech developments that make food service more efficient and more interesting, and why food tastes different at...

This week we're doubling down on Las Vegas – specifically to its hotel occupancy numbers, which were surprisingly weak this summer. Our hotels editor Christina Jelski has been talking with Las Vegas tourism authorities about two new campaigns designed to drive interest: a splashy marketing campaign touting “fabulous Las Vegas” as well as a more targeted effort to lure travelers with value-add promotions. 

With Christina, Kyle Owusu, director of credit research and lead expert/analyst for casino and gaming coverage at Octus, and Matt Powell, CEO of the Moroch advertising agency in Dallas, we look at: Who are Vegas’...

The Folo by Travel Weekly is back with all-new episodes this fall. In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin talks to the Travel Weekly reporting team to get the lowdown on their top, favorite or most fun stories from the past two months, as well as what they’re focused on with coverage this fall.

Among the topics: short-term bookings, inbound visitors to the U.S., celebrity (and Celebrity) sailings, Las Vegas' occupancy numbers -- and a few surprises from our team. 

Featuring commentary from news editor Johanna Jainchill, retail editor Jamie Biesiada, cruise editor Teri Wes...

This year, it's all about travel brands making their entry into Europe river cruising. We’ve been surprised this year by the number of established names moving in to the Rhine, Danube and beyond: Celebrity Cruises, Trafalgar and National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions among them. 

With Lisa Fitzgerald, a river-cruise expert advisor and founder of Fitzgerald Travel, and river cruise editor Brinley Hineman, we’re exploring why each of these brands is approaching river, and how they’re doing it in different ways. We’ll also look at the popularity of emerging destinations around the world, and numbers from Viking, t...

Travel Weekly’s annual Power List is a massive undertaking to identify and rank the biggest sellers of travel. And when we say big, we mean big: The minimum for inclusion this year was agencies that sold at least $125 million in travel in 2024. But among the 70 travel agencies that made the cut, which ones grew the most?

In this episode we look at Departure Lounge, which moved almost 10 places in the rankings, after joining just last year.

Host Rebecca Tobin and retail editor Jamie Biesiada talk with owner Keith Waldon about Departure Lounge’s founding as a...

The last two episodes have covered news topics like economic uncertainty and the troubles at Newark, so this week we’re going in a different direction: Literary tourism. That is, tours and travel based on a favorite book or character. Think Bath for Jane Austen or Prince Edward Island for L.M. Montgomery. London, Paris and New York .... any place a book club can dream up, there's probably a literary tour (or could be one).

In this episode we talk about why literary tourism is growing in popularity with tours editor Brinley Hineman and Active England’s head...

We’re returning to a subject that continues to evolve: Cruise lines’ private islands and destinations. Even after this episode was recorded, Carnival opened its long-awaited Celebration Key and Norwegian Cruise Line announced big plans for Great Stirrup Cay.

Royal Caribbean Group has often been at the forefront of these discussions, with its Perfect Day projects, a planned destination in the South Pacific and a hotel in Chile for Antarctica guests. In this episode, Jay Schneider, the chief product innovation officer for Royal Caribbean International, host Rebecca Tobin and cruise editor Teri West talk about the inspiration for...

Travel advisors are often encouraged to seek out the more stable, and more lucrative, luxury market. But one question you might not have asked yourself is: What if you can’t speak the language? There’s definitely a right way to communicate with luxury-market clientele, both obvious and subtle.

On this episode host Rebecca Tobin and senior editor Jamie Beisiada talk with travel experts from Embark Beyond: CEO Jack Ezon and advisor Laura Worth, who have identified this challenge – and created a series of training modules to help advisors follow the Billionaire’s Calendar; converse beyond travel in art...

Despite what we’re hearing about close-to-home travel, Americans are still headed to Europe in large numbers and to tourism hot spots like Venice, Barcelona, Greece and Lisbon. Many of these places have also been the sites of protests over tourism – in Barcelona, for example, protesters were again using water guns to spray visitors in an attempt to make their concerns known.

Travel advisor Miriam Martinez of Revigorate, who works with and advises American clients, joins tours editor Brinley Hineman and host Rebecca Tobin to talk about whether travelers are concerned about overtourism protests and anti-tourism sentiment; how...

The opening of Universal Orlando Resort's Epic Universe park earlier this year has created new opportunities for theme-park lovers for the first time in nearly 25 years.

What's so special about the new Epic theme park? In this episode, retail editor Jamie Biesiada walks host Rebecca Tobin through innovations in ride technology, the queues and other Epic details - favorite or most surprising rides? -- and we talk about theme park performance in 2025 overall so far.

And we discuss a few new tidbits from Walt Disney World's Cool Kid summer promotion and disclose details of a...

Travel Weekly’s annual Power List is a massive undertaking to identify and rank the biggest sellers of travel. And when we say big, we mean big: The minimum for inclusion this year was agencies that sold at least $125 million in travel in 2024. But among the 70 travel agencies that made the cut, which ones grew the most?

In this episode we look at Departure Lounge, which moved almost 10 places in the rankings, after joining just last year.

Host Rebecca Tobin and retail editor Jamie Biesiada talk with owner Keith Waldon about Departure Lounge’s founding as a...

It’s getting to be mid July, but as you’ll hear from this episode, the summer travel season – both booking and traveling – is far from over.

With our guest Melissa Krueger, the CEO of Classic Vacations, we’re going to talk about all things summer-travel and summer-trend related: A comeback in Maui, traveling to Italy, a surprise getaway in the U.S. and, of course, what this season's close-in  booking window means for travelers and sellers. And: What is JOMO, and how can you apply it to your next vacation? 

This episode was recorded July 10 and...

It’s July, and despite what we’re hearing about close-to-home travel, Americans are still headed to Europe in large numbers and to tourism hot spots like Venice, Barcelona, Greece and Lisbon. Many of these places have also been the sites of protests over tourism – in Barcelona, for example, protesters were again using water guns to spray visitors in an attempt to make their concerns known.

Travel advisor Miriam Martinez of Revigorate, who works with and advises American clients, joins tours editor Brinley Hineman and host Rebecca Tobin to talk about whether travelers are concerned about overtourism protes...

It’s been an eventful year for Los Angeles tourism, but as we’re nearing the six-month mark from the devastating fires that tore through Pacific Palisades and Altadena, we wanted to look back at the hotels that were impacted or evacuated during the disaster – specifically in this episode one of a small group of luxury properties in Malibu: The 47-room Malibu Beach Inn.

This area has been also challenged by the subsequent closure of the Pacific Coast Highway that links it to western Los Angeles, so on this episode we’re talking with managing director Geoffrey Day and...

This week we’re talking about our annual "Focus on LGBTQ+" travel cover story. This year, the headline was “A chill in the air for Pride,” and the report by news editor Johanna Jainchill looked at why some international LGBTQ travelers are rethinking visits to the U.S. – both for Pride events and in general.

With Canadian travel advisor Dean Nelson, of Departures by Dean, and Stacy Ritter, the president and CEO of Visit Lauderdale, we talk about the size of the LGBTQ+ travel demographic and what U.S. destinations that are popular among the LGBTQ community – like Fort...

Today is all about travel brands making an entry into Europe river cruising. We’ve been surprised this year by the number of established names moving in to the Rhine, Danube and beyond: Celebrity, Trafalgar and National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions among them. 

With Lisa Fitzgerald, a river-cruise expert advisor and founder of Fitzgerald Travel, and river cruise editor Brinley Hineman, we’re exploring why each of these brands is approaching river, and how they’re doing it in different ways. We’ll also look at the popularity of emerging destinations around the world, and numbers from Viking, the biggest r...

We’re returning to a subject that we’ve talked about before on the Folo, but that just keeps continuing to grow and evolve, that’s cruise companies’ private islands and destinations. With us this week is Jay Schneider, the chief product innovation officer for Royal Caribbean International. And Royal Caribbean has been at the forefront of these discussions with its Perfect Day projects and now is moving forward with a destination in the South Pacific and a hotel in Chile for Antarctica guests on its Silversea brand. 

In this episode, cruise editor Teri West and Schneider talk abou...

The opening of Universal Orlando Resort’s Epic Universe park has created new opportunities for theme-park lovers for the first time in nearly 25 years. What’s so special about the new Epic theme park? 

In this episode, retail editor Jamie Biesiada walks host Rebecca Tobin through innovations in ride technology, the queues and other Epic details – favorite or most surprising rides? -- and we talk about theme park performance in 2025 overall so far.

And we discuss a few new tidbits from Walt Disney World's Cool Kid summer promotion and disclose details of a new nighttime parade...

What is going on with summer travel? As Americans prepare to take to the roads and skies, we’ve heard a lot of mixed messages from travel companies about what this year might bring: Just a few weeks ago we spoke on the Folo podcast about “chop” and “noise” in projecting future booking patterns.

In this episode Hopper lead economist Hayley Berg returns to talk about her data: Whether Americans are traveling and, if so, where their summer plans might take them. We talk about the obvious destinations and the hidden gems -- plus one great summer-booking tip. With...

The last two episodes have covered news topics like economic uncertainty and the troubles at Newark, so this week we’re going in a different direction: Literary tourism. That is, tours and travel based on a favorite book or character. Think Bath for Jane Austen or Prince Edward Island for L.M. Montgomery. London, Paris and New York .... any place a book club can dream up, there's probably a literary tour (or could be one).

In this episode we talk about why literary tourism is growing in popularity with tours editor Brinley Hineman and Active England’s head...

What the heck is going on at EWR? Undoubtably the biggest news in travel this past week has to be the mess at Newark Airport in New Jersey. What started as complaints of unusual delays on one day in April has unfolded into a huge story about air traffic control system breakdowns, controllers on leave and the DOT’s request for billions of dollars to be earmarked for upgrades and fixes.

With aviation editor Robert Silk and aviation expert and consultant Bob Mann, we break down what happened, why Newark is so hard to manage and what th...

We’re still in first-quarter earnings season, but we’ve been watching travel company results closely, to give us some signs on which way the travel industry is heading. The conclusion? There’s not really one yet – as you’ll hear here, results and predictions are up, down and sideways.

In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, news editor Johanna Jainchill and hospitality editor Christina Jelski look at both U.S. traveler sentiment and the inbound travel markets and what the numbers are telling us – and what we might expect to see next – and why is everyone talking about the “noi...

As you’ll hear in this discussion, it’s Earth Month, and we couldn’t not have an episode about sustainability efforts within travel. Here, host Rebecca Tobin speaks with Paula Vlammings, the chief impact officer of nonprofit Tourism Cares, and Travel Weekly hospitality editor Christina Jekski about some of the hot topics of 2025.

Topics we cover: Solutions to overtourism; why travelers don’t want to pay more for green travel initiatives; and whether recent shifts in U.S. policy will have an impact on sustainability efforts.

This episode was recorded April 24 and was edited for leng...

It's still a niche trend, but maybe not for long: Younger travelers are increasingly seeking out alcohol-free tours. The rise of tour options for sober and sober-curious travelers comes as more people are cutting back on booze -- or eliminating it altogether.

In this episode we’re examining the trend with Heather Leisman, the president of EF Ultimate Break, and tours editor Brinley Hineman. Among our topics today: What is sober curious travel, whether zero-proof and mocktail culture have contributed to the trend, what’s the vibe on a sober tour and how travel options can be expa...

After the new Department of Government Efficiency began making cuts to the federal workforce, Travel Weekly began looking at the effect of those cuts on travel advisors, particularly those who are Washington-based and may have clients who are employed by the government. 

And we decided to go further with a reader survey about the effects of government cutbcks on travel. Retail editor Jamie Biesiada and host Rebecca Tobin talk about the results of that survey today, which included overall concerns our survey respondents had about travel, and whether their clients are feeling anxious about traveling abroad.

With Seatrade Cruise Global opening this week, it’s the industry’s time to hear from the biggest voices in cruise, and we’re adding our voices here. Host Rebecca Tobin, cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and news editor Johanna Jainchill look at a wrapup to Wave season, whether tariff talk or stock market convulsions have impacted the business and what to expect from two big cruise ship debuts this week.

And we say farewell to Andrea: We talk about our favorite stories from her three years at Travel Weekly, and where she’s headed next – and her serendipit...

In this episode we talk about a phenomenon that has surfaced after President Trump took office: A cooling of travel demand to the U.S. from Canada. And as we’re seeing now, the demand drop may be deeper than originally thought.

On this discussion, Natasha Lair-McKenty, the managing editor of TravelPulse Canada, and McKenzie McMillan, a travel advisor at Vancouver-based The Travel Group, about what some Canadian travelers are thinking and why, the importance of the Canadian market to the U.S. travel businesses, where they’re going instead of the U.S. and how advisors are...

This week we’re talking again about Southwest Airlines, which shocked some of its loyal customers about two weeks ago by getting rid of its long-advertised “bags fly free” perk. But that’s just one in a series of changes Southwest is making that make it seem, well, less like Southwest and more like traditional legacy airlines: Adding extra-legroom seats, eliminating open seating and updating its loyalty strategy.

In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, airlines editor Robert Silk and Hospitio founder Brad Beakley break down some of the changes and ask -- why? How will flyers benefit? What els...

How has the Trump administration has been impacting hotels and travel? One might look at the visitation numbers in the Palm Beaches area of Florida, where President Trump's Mar a Lago estate is located, to see one impact of a “Trump bump” on visitation. Another aspect is the immigration crackdown -- and whether the administration's plans to deport illegal workers has had any impact within the hospitality business.

In this episode, Travel Weekly hotels editor Christina Jelski and Peter Ricci, the director of the Hospitality and Tourism Management program at Florida Atlantic University, talk about both topics.

Travel advisors are often encouraged to seek out the more stable, and more lucrative, luxury market. But one question you might not have asked yourself is: What if you can’t speak the language? There’s definitely a right way to communicate with luxury-market clientele, both obvious and subtle.

On this episode host Rebecca Tobin and senior editor Jamie Beisiada talk with travel experts from Embark Beyond: CEO Jack Ezon and advisor Laura Worth, who have identified this challenge – and created a series of training modules to help advisors follow the Billionaire’s Calendar; converse beyond travel in art...

Nearly everybody gets travel inspiration from the social media accounts they follow, or from accounts that are shown on their feeds. Today we’re looking at the people who have charted a path down food and travel influencing – or, as they like to be known, content creators – but specifically by and for Black food and travel businesses and travelers. And we’re mingling this with a new study from MMGY that talks about the size and scope of the Black travel market, now up to a spend of $145 billion in 2023, mostly on transportation and food and beverage.

Talking...

Last week, Cruise Planners CEO Michelle Fee and Norwegian Cruise Line sales exec John Chernesky joined cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and host Rebecca Tobin to talk about the new cruise-ship class of 2025. This week, they're talking about Wave season, the industry’s period of big sales and good deals, and general trends. 

Is year’s Wave a wave or a tsunami? Other topics of note: Does Wave start in January, or has it moved backwards into the holiday season? And what’s the story with onboard spending?

This week, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings will report its Q4...

We’re back with new episodes of the Folo, and we’re kicking it off with two back-to- back episodes about cruise. And why not -- it’s Wave season. 

In this first episode we have three cruise industry experts talking about the new ships coming out in 2025: Cruise Planners CEO Michelle Fee; Norwegian Cruise Line senior vice president of North America sales John Chernesky; and Travel Weekly cruise editor Andrea Zelinski. From big ships to small, in the luxury and contemporary categories, what drives cruisers to these ships? Is big better? How have these new cruise ships e...

One trend we've noticed taking shape recently is the rising popularity of women-only tours. From on-the-ground adventures in far flung destinations like Saudi Arabia and Morocco to a luxurious river cruise in France’s wine country, there are options galore for today’s so-called “queenagers.” 

In this episode, reporter Tom Stieghorst shares his insights and his reporting, and Shirnett Fleet, the chief marketing officer of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, talks about what women-only tours offer, where the trend is headed and why it's moved from niche to mainstream.

This episode is part of our annual Winter Se...

This week we’re featuring the second half of a special episode of Trade Secrets, a sister podcast to the Folo by Travel Weekly that is co-produced by Jamie Biesiada, a senior editor at Travel Weekly, and Emma Weissmann, the executive editor of TravelAge West.

In this episode, Jamie and Emma take a rapid-fire look at 25 trends for 2025, starting in the mid-teens and working their way up to Number 25. This second half is a little more travel industry- and advisor- focused. Let us know if you're seeing any of these trends come to the fore at your ag...

This week on the Folo by Travel Weekly we are featuring a special episode of Trade Secrets, a sister podcast to the Folo that is co-produced by Jamie Biesiada, a senior editor at Travel Weekly, and Emma Weissmann, the executive editor of TravelAge West. In this episode, Jamie and Emma take a rapid-fire look at 25 trends for 2025. 

This episode is split into two parts: The first, which you're listening to here, focuses on consumer-related travel trends that Emma and Jamie think will be popular. The second half, which is a little more travel industry- and advisor- focused, w...

We’re turning to every traveler’s favorite – or least favorite – topic this week, and that’s airfares. After aviation editor Robert Silk wrote an article on which way air prices are trending in 2025, we asked Scott Keyes, the founder of Going -- an app that combines software and human Flight Experts to uncover flight deals and mistake fares and send them to its 2 million-plus members -- to come onto the episode with Silk and host Rebecca Tobin.

Together, we unpack the numbers further and ask: Why are fares trending upward? What does that mean for airfare bargain-hu...

In last week’s episode we delved into the trends and predictions for several aspects of the travel business: aviation, cruise, hotel and the outlook for travel advisors. This week, host Rebecca Tobin asks Tom Stieghorst, our interim cruise and river cruise editor, to share some of his findings for 2025. We draw on a new survey from the U.S. Tour Operators Association to look at what tour operators are most concerned about. And, of course, we look at top destinations for travelers this year. 

In the last section of the episode, we have the final piece of...

Welcome to our annual Preview episode, where we gaze into our crystal ball and draw on interviews with expert sources to talk about what we’ll be seeing in the next 12 months, travel-wise. 

In this episode we examine the overall health of the business, changes in the luxury sector and what might happen on the aviation-regulatory-merger front, especially with the Trump administration set to enter.

Featuring: Host Rebecca Tobin and four of Travel Weekly’s senior editors: Jamie Biesiada, who covers retail; Andrea Zelinski, who covers cruise; Robert Silk, who covers aviation; and Christina Jelski, who c...

It’s time for our semi-annual drop-in to the ski industry. Dan Sherman of Ski.com, ski blogger and podcaster Stuart Winchester and our in-house ski reporter Robert Silk talk about the major trends for skiers and riders, namely, Japan and Europe. There's big demand for ski vacations this year: Why?

We talk about the tricks to scoring cheaper-than-the-window ticket pricing, which at some resorts is now at or above $300. And the big question each December: Where is everybody headed this year? 

This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of ou...

Travel Industry Survey is our annual, premier research product that surveys travel advisors about their business. To dig deeper into the report’s data and talk about how it dovetails with everyday business trends, we’ve invited retail reporter Jamie Biesiada and news editor Johanna Jainchill to talk about what the survey said about booking trends, preferred products, education and support, technology uses, marketing strategies, outlook and concerns.

This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded Nov. 12 and has been...

It’s time for our annual Year in Review discussion, where we look back at some of the biggest travel-related stories and trends of 2024. Joining us on this episode is news editor Johanna Jainchill, the architect of our Year in Review report, and retail editor Jamie Biesiada, to talk (among others) about travel “normalization,” the embrace of generative AI, a big year for cruise, companies that went under in 2024, American Airlines’ failed NDC strategy and the Taylor Swift effect on travel. 

This episode was recorded Dec. 13 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Related articles<...

This week’s travel trend is the growing popularity of women-only tours. From on-the-ground adventures in far flung destinations like Saudi Arabia and Morocco to a luxurious river cruise in France’s wine country, there are options galore for today’s so-called “queenagers.” 

We’ve asked reporter Tom Stieghorst to share his insights and his reporting, and Shirnett Fleet, the chief marketing officer of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, to talk about what women-only tours offer, where the trend is headed and why it's moved from niche to mainstream.

This episode was recorded Nov. 21 and has been edited f...

It’s time for our semi-annual drop-in to the ski industry. It’s the unofficial start to the season, so it seemed like a perfect time to gather a few experts -- Dan Sherman of Ski.com, ski blogger and podcaster Stuart Winchester and our in-house ski reporter Robert Silk -- to talk about the major trends for skiers and riders, namely, Japan. And Europe. There's big demand for ski vacations this year: Why? We talk about the tricks to scoring cheaper-than-the-window ticket pricing, which at some resorts is now at or above $300.

And the big question each...

Black Friday has become a bona fide travel phenomenon, encompassing not only the day itself and the burgeoning Travel Tuesday, but stretching into an entire season.

To talk about trends in length of the sales, destinations on sale and other observations, we’ve invited Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper, and Travel Weekly senior editor for hospitality Christina Jelski to talk about what they’ve seen this year.

This episode was recorded Thursday Nov. 22 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Related links: 

Black Friday travel promotions extend well before and a...

The Travel Industry Survey is our annual, premier research product that surveys travel advisors about their business: Booking trends, preferred products, education and support, technology uses, marketing strategies, outlook and concerns. 

This year, to dig deeper into the report’s data and talk about how it dovetails with everyday business trends, we’ve invited retail reporter Jamie Biesiada and news editor Johanna Jainchill – our chief editorial stewards of the Survey – to talk.

This episode was recorded Tuesday Nov. 12 and has been edited for length and clarity.

The Travel Industry Survey is produced in partnersh...

It’s only been a few days since the election, but already we’re wondering: What will happen to travel policy under the Trump administration? 

Naturally quite a bit can change from Biden to Trump -- and even from the first Trump administration -- and in this episode we talk with Johanna Jainchill, our news editor and travel-policy reporter, and View from the Wing’s Gary Leff about what kids of changes we might expect on several fronts: visa processing and travel bans, antitrust and airline combinations, the FAA, recent rules on refunds and disclosures, plus what might b...

In this episode, we’re talking about the positive momentum in the cruise industry with senior editor Andrea Zelinski. Now that the third quarter has closed, and our annual CruiseWorld conference is about to begin in Fort Lauderdale, we ask: What are travel advisors, analysts and the cruise lines themselves seeing in cruise – and what are some of the scenarios that would break the cruise lines' stride? 

This episode was recorded Friday, Nov. 1 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Related links

Is this cruising's 'golden era'? https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Is-th...

The tensions in the Middle East have been front and center for more than a year, from Hamas’ attack on Israel and continuing with escalations between Israel and Iran. What does that mean for travel in the region?

Thanks to reporting by acting tours editor Tom Stieghorst, we’ve got a snapshot of travel demand – and in this episode he talks with news editor Johanna Jainchill and host Rebecca Tobin about how and where people are traveling to the region.

This conversation was recorded Oct. 18 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episod...

In this episode we’re looking at the impacts of hurricanes Milton and Helene on Florida’s tourism economy. Florida is such an important state for tourism that whenever a hurricane slams through it’s news. Here, host Rebecca Tobin, hotels editor Christina Jelski and Peter Ricci, the director of the Tourism and Hospitality Management program at Florida Atlantic University, talk about how the recent hurricanes might reshape the tourism landscape on Florida's Gulf Coast. We also discuss short-and long-term impacts to other travel destinations like Orlando and the right kind of marketing messaging that would encourage travelers to return...

Earlier in this season, we talked about the popularity and trends surrounding all-inclusive resorts. But some listeners – advisors and travelers alike – may not know there’s a growing all-inclusive market in Europe. And the resorts are different from the traditional inclusive properties in Punta Cana or Cancun.

On this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and hotels editor Christina Jelski brought together three advisors -- Abbey Meyer, cofounder of Sky High Travel Advisors, Heather Huber, an advisor with Vincent Vacations; and Lynnette Pena, independent travel advisor with CS Elements Travel -- with whom she traveled to Mallorca, Spain, to see tw...

We’re now in the run-up to the holidays, also known as the festive season. And it’s a busy time for travel advisors planning their clients’ last big trip of the year. But this year, things are a little different. 

In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and retail editor Jamie Biesiada talk with travel advisors affiliated with the Gifted Travel Network – Jamey Duffy of Duffy Destinations and Robin Hutson of Luxe Recess – as well as Gifted chief sales and marketing officer Vanessa McGovern, to talk about this year's pace of bookings, where people are going, what they want o...

At the beginning of September the U.S. Department of Transportation began an investigation into airline loyalty programs of American, Delta, United and Southwest. The goal, it said, was to protect consumers from potential unfair, deceptive or anticompetitive practice. And as DOT secretary Pete Buttigieg said, airline rewards programs have become a “meaningful part of the U.S. economy and a major part of the airline business model.” How big? The trade group Airlines for America has estimated that there are nearly 30 million U.S. airline-industry credit card holders. 

In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, aviation editor Rober...

Cruising in Alaska has ballooned in popularity since the pandemic. The lines have invested newer, bigger ships and stretched the season longer. But as growth occurs, concerns of overtourism rise, too. The capital, Juneau, is introducing passenger limits in order to curb crowding, and other ports are watching the move closely.

On this episode, host Rebecca Tobin talks with cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and Russell Dick, the CEO of Alaska native corporation Huna Totem, which has been working in cruise port development for 20 years, on the current situation in the Last Frontier. Huna Totem has a different...

One of the more ambitious plans to come out of cruising’s pandemic pause was from Royal Caribbean International: a world cruise on the Serenade of the Seas. It was notable for being an extremely long cruise, at 274 days, and from a contemporary line – a brand not used to the nuances of a lengthy voyage. And not only did Royal Caribbean embark on what it called the Ultimate World Cruise, it took on social media influencers who chronicled the trip on a day-by-day – and even hour by hour – basis.

The cruise wrapped this month in Miami, with Royal Ca...

Southwest is having an unusual moment: An aviation industry stalwart that’s typically posted solid results, it has attracted the attention of activist investor Elliott Investment Management, which is calling for change, including the ouster of chairman Gary Kelly and CEO Bob Jordan.

In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, aviation editor Robby Silk and guest Gary Leff, author of the View from the Wing blog, discuss Southwest’s headwinds, why Elliott is so keen to make changes and why Southwest is such an unusual company in the aviation space.

Update: On Tuesday, Sept. 10, Southwest made chan...

There's been a rise in demand for all-inclusive resorts, which have gotten more numerous -- and upscale -- in recent years. But in a recent story, hotels editor Christina Jelski reported that at Hyatt, a major player in the market, growth in revenue per available room for its all-inclusive properties slowed in Q2. And we heard from executives from Hyatt to Sandals that demand is moderating or normalizing as the postpandemic travel boom begins to ebb.

What’s happening for all-inclusives, and what should advisors and travelers expect next? We talk about his vacation category with Jelski an...

In this episode we talk about the evolution of the term “overtourism,” which has been used a lot this summer as the post-pandemic tourism boom has continued on. The flash point was protests in Barcelona, where protesters squirted outdoor diners with water guns and chanted “tourists go home.” But it’s not the only place where residents and travelers are feeling frustrated.

Our tours editor Nicole Edenedo, in writing about the Barcelona protests, wrote that travel experts "pointed out that a pitfall in discussing "overtourism" is how the term is often used as a blanket statement.” Today we’re teasin...

Welcome back to the Folo by Travel Weekly. After our annual summer break, we’re back with all-new episodes! We’re kicking off this series with a discussion into what’s happening on Maui, a year after the devastating, deadly fires.

The conversation builds off a cover story written by news editor Johanna Jainchill, who is joined by Sherry Duong, executive director of the Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau, and David Taylor, marketing director at Maui activities operator Kai Kanani.

In the episode Johanna, Sherry, David and host Rebecca Tobin talk about the anniversary of the fi...

On this episode we’re delving into one of the more unique aspects of the cruise experience, and that’s the part that takes place on land. We’re talking, of course, about private islands and private destinations: areas on land that are managed by the cruise line and provide a dedicated area and special amenities to cruise passengers.

Senior cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and Cruise Planners advisor Mike Matthews talk with host Rebecca Tobin about the appeal of these places, the explosion of upgrades and expansions and why this is taking place.

This episode is the...

In this episode we look at a company called Black In that's building tours to celebrate Black history and support Black-owned businesses in each destination. Our guests are the founders of Black In: Martinique Lewis, the creator of ABC Travel Greenbook and the president of the Black Travel Alliance, and Ashley Company, the owner of Jelani Travel. Tours editor Nicole Edenedo leads the discussion about Black In, how the tours are created and why.

In the second half of the episode, we discuss where the travel industry is overall in terms of diversity programs and inclusion efforts...

We’ve got a two-parter episode for you this week. In our first segment we’re talking about one of the more heartwarming hospitality trends we’ve seen recently: Dogs in residence at hotels.

Hotels editor Christina Jelski brings on Joel Morales of Castlerock Asset Management, which manages the Bobby Hotel in Nashville, and Rauni Kew of the Inn by the Sea in Maine to talk about some of the logistics of training and managing a lobby dog; how it benefits the guests and the hotel; and the rescue, shelter, training and adoption partnerships that all feed into t...

Imagine a guided tour, and your transportation is a Boeing 757 outfitted with 50 first-class seats. And the plane will fly you around the world in ultimate comfort to off-the-beaten-path locations to get rare glimpses of wildlife, immerse you in local culture and stay at fine, luxury resorts. Though it's not cheap to buy a seat on one of these tours, the world of private-jet touring is a steadily growing niche.

In this episode, Ann Epting, Abercrombie & Kent's senior vice president of private jet and special interest travel, and Rob Clabbers, the president of Q Cruise + Travel talk with...

Earlier this year, Carnival Corp. ordered an 180,000-gross-ton ship that will be the fourth in its Excel class. The very next day, Royal Caribbean International came through with another order for another Oasis class vessel -- its seventh. And after the episode was published, Carnival ordered a fifth Excel class ship. These ships, which all clock in the 6,000-passenger-plus size, will join megaships from MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line.

With Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class Utopia of the Seas debuting in Port Canaveral this week, it seemed like a perfect time to revisit this phenom. In this episode...

What do Taylor Swift, March Madness, Formula 1 and a tiny weekend festival in Florida have in common? They’re all events-based travel, a category that is bringing in a tidal wave of business -- and standing the travel-booking process on its head.

In this episode host Rebecca Tobin talks with senior editor Nicole Edenedo; Kier Matthews, vice president of global luxury sales for On Location Experiences, a wholesale and hospitality supplier for sports and entertainment events; and Douglas Quinby, the CEO of Arival, about the types of events people travel for, who’s doing the traveling, how much...

Wellness travel is entering a new golden era: Spending is predicted to grow to $1 trillion annually in the next three years, according to the Global Wellness Institute. So what does it mean to travel for wellness in 2024?

In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, senior editors Robert Silk and Christina Jelski and news editor Johanna Jainchill delve into their recent wellness-travel trips: Mindful surfing in Costa Rica, exclusive golfing at the new Sensei resort in California and a traditional wellness retreat in the Berkshires. What is “hard” and “soft” wellness travel? Is wellness travel expensive, or is that just a p...

Wanted: Travel agency seeks enthusiastic advisors eager for training.

Good travel sellers need training – on systems, on suppliers, on sales tactics and more. How does a travel agency train up new advisors? How long does it take to create a great advisor?

In honor of the 2024 Power List of the world's biggest travel agencies, which goes live this week, we're celebrating great travel agents by reissuing this episode. Folo host Rebecca Tobin and retail editor Jamie Biesiada speak with Gayle Smith and Sam Johnson of Prescription Travel -- hosted by Montecito Village Travel, No. 40 on th...

Welcome to our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly episodes. In honor of Juneteenth, this week we're highlighting an episode about Henderson Travel, the first Black-owned, accredited travel agency in the U.S.

Among the topics owner Gaynelle Henderson and host Rebecca Tobin discuss: How Henderson Travel came to be in Atlanta in the 1950s, convincing Black Americans to travel abroad, its eventual focus on travel in West Africa, and the agency’s work with Black giants like Martin Luther King Jr.

This episode was initially pu...

With this year’s NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference just wrapped, it is a good time to look at the state of U.S. hotel business. And what we heard might surprise you. According to industry researchers STR, growth of RevPAR – that’s “revenue per available room” -- is now projected to be 2% this year, down from 4%. And luxury-hotel RevPAR growth is now predicted to be down 0.2%, instead of up 5%.

But is this downgrade troubling, or is it just a correction from the last few years of postpandemic growth? At the conference, hotel executives talked up the return...

Last month ultra low cost carrier Frontier made a surprise pricing move: It introduced a package of fare products designed to pull passenger away from its traditional unbundled offering.

In this episode, Travel Weekly aviation editor Robert Silk and Cranky Flier founder Brett Snyder discuss with host Rebecca Tobin: Why did Frontier make this move? What are the challenges facing ultra-low cost carriers? And will there be a response from its nearest discount-fare competitor Spirit?

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com https://www...

On this episode we’re delving into one of the more unique aspects of the cruise experience, and that’s the one that takes place on land. We’re talking, of course, about private islands – or destinations – that are managed by the cruise line and provide dedicated spaces and special amenities to cruise passengers.

Senior cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and Mike Matthews, an advisor with Cruise Planners, talk with host Rebecca Tobin about the appeal of private cruise destinations, the explosion of upgrades and expansions and why this is taking place. Why some cruisers specifically seek out itinerarie...

This week we return to one of our favorite topics on the folo: The post-pandemic cost of travel. With pricing remaining high, we are continually asking our sources whether they’re seeing any resistance. In this episode, Travel Weekly's hotels editor Christina Jelski and host Rebecca Tobin talk about whether travelers on the upscale and luxury end of the travel spectrum are beginning to balk at high prices -- especially those who might be considered "aspirational" luxury travelers. We look at a new report from Mastercard Economics Institute, and examine data from travel consortium Virtuoso. The conclusion? As they sa...

In the past few years, travel agencies have been inundated with business from travelers seeking expert advice and booking assistance on their travel. At the same time, we saw an influx of travel advisors into the business and some career-shifting during Covid from people who wanted to follow their passions. But good travel advisors need training – on systems, on suppliers, on sales tactics and more.

How does a travel agency train up new advisors? How long does it take to create a great advisor? What do experienced advisors need to know if they're planning on mentoring someone ne...

We’re talking about final rules from the U.S. Department of Transportation about when and how airline passengers qualify for a refund. This rule is widely seen as a win for customers -- but there is at least one provision of the rule that could make things tricky for parts of the travel-sales business. In addition, the DOT ruled on when flyers must be told about certain ancillary fees.

In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin goes over both rules with Laura Chadwick of the Travel Technology Association and our aviation editor Robert Silk.

This ep...

In this episode we look at a new company called Black In that's building tours to celebrate Black history and support Black-owned businesses in each destination. Our guests are the founders of Black In: Martinique Lewis, the creator of ABC Travel Greenbook and the president of the Black Travel Alliance, and Ashley Company, the owner of Jelani Travel. Tours editor Nicole Edenedo leads the discussion about Black In, how the tours are created and why. In the second half of the episode, we discuss where the travel industry is overall in terms of diversity programs and inclusion efforts...

Imagine a guided tour, but instead of a luxury coach your transportation is a Boeing 757 outfitted with 50 first-class seats -- and the plane will fly you around the world in ultimate comfort to off-the-beaten-path locations to get rare glimpses of wildlife, immerse yourself in local culture and/or stay at famous, luxury resorts. This mode of travel exists, and though it's not cheap to buy a seat on one of these tours, it's a steadily growing niche.

Earlier this year, a handful of media and travel advisors were able to get a look at luxury tour operator...

The Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Miami Beach in April is a great time for cruise lines to break news, and its annual State of the Industry panel is where business leaders head to hear the latest about trends, straight from the CEOs' mouths.

In this episode cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and host Rebecca Tobin go over what was talked about from the Seatrade stage: Big ship orders, vacation demand, additions to the private island scene, and how tech upgrades have changed and improved the cruise experience.

This episode was recorded Thursday April 11 and has...

What do Taylor Swift, March Madness, Formula 1 and a tiny weekend festival in Florida have in common? They’re all events-based travel, a category that is bringing in a tidal wave of business. And travelers' passions for concerts, sports and meaningful travel experiences is totally reversing the way people research and plan travel -- as you'll hear here!

In this episode host Rebecca Tobin talks with senior editor Nicole Edenedo, Kier Matthews of On Location Experiences, a wholesale and hospitality supplier for sports and entertainment events, and Arival CEO Douglas Quinby about the types of events people ar...

Wellness travel is entering a new golden era: Strong growth is predicted in the next three years, according to the Global Wellness Institute. So what does it mean to travel for wellness in 2024?

In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin welcomed senior editors Robert Silk and Christina Jelski and news editor Johanna Jainchill. They delved into wellness-travel trips -- mindful surfing in Costa Rica, exclusive golfing at the new Sensei resort in California and a stay at a traditional wellness-themed resort -- that formed the basis for a Travel Weekly cover story about the myriad experiences that make...

Since the door plug blowout on Alaska Airlines flight 1282, Boeing has been in the news constantly: A temporary grounding of the 737 Max 9, investigations and fallout from the Alaska flight, and also the problems of production delays and new orders. Airline executives, regulators, politicians and the flying public have all voiced concerns about Boeing -- all leading up to the resignation on March 25 of CEO David Calhoun, who will leave the company at the end of the year.

Host Rebecca Tobin tackles the Boeing situation with aviation editor Robert Silk and David Slotnick, the senior aviation business reporter...

On this episode we dig deep into spring-travel trends with Hayley Berg, a researcher at the travel company Hopper. Among our topics: Where people are going in March and April – Orlando and Vegas, yes, but also some places that might surprise you. How much people are willing to spend, and how airfare compares to previous years. We talk about types of spring break travelers.

And we talk about this year's unusual trends: Japan, the Paris Olympics, solar eclipse travel, set-jetting and dupes.

This episode was recorded Friday, March 15 and has been edited for length and cl...

We’ve got a two-parter episode for you this week. In our first segment we’re talking about dogs in residence at hotels. Hotels editor Christina Jelski brings on Joel Morales of Castlerock Asset Management, which manages the Bobby Hotel in Nashville, and Rauni Kew of the Inn by the Sea in Maine to talk about some of the logistics of training and managing a "lobby dog"; how it benefits the guests and the hotel; and the rescue, shelter, training and adoption partnerships that all feed into this pretty awesome trend. This segment was recorded March 8 and has been edit...

Spirit and JetBlue on March 4 ended their merger plans, saying that regulatory obstacles won’t permit the airlines to close the deal in a timely fashion. But before the news broke, we’d recorded an episode with aviation editor Robert Silk and antitrust lawyer Scott Wagner to talk about antitrust law and the past, present and -- what we thought -- might be the future of the deal. We talk about why the approach of the judge who struck down the merger deal may have some additional ramifications for the industry. Do presidential administrations impact antitrust decisions? And is the...

In honor of Black History Month, our retail editor Jamie Biesiada shone a spotlight on Henderson Travel Service, the first Black-owned, accredited travel agency in the U.S. And on this episode of the Folo, Henderson Travel Services president Gaynelle Henderson, the daughter of founders Freddye and Jacob Henderson, shares more of the stories and history of the agency, its challenges and successes.

Among the topics: How and why Henderson Travel was founded in Atlanta in the 1950s, convincing Black Americans to travel abroad, its focus on travel in West Africa, and the agency’s work with gi...

Carnival Corp. last week placed its first cruise ship order since the beginning of the pandemic: It will add 180,000-gross-ton ship to Carnival Cruise Line that will be the fourth in its Excel class. The very next day, Royal Caribbean International also announced an order, for another Oasis-class ship. Both clock in the 6,000-passenger-plus size, on par with other new ships coming into the industry. 

This week host Rebecca Tobin talks the era of megaships with cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and Geoff Cox, the vice president of sales and marketing for Power List agency KHM Travel Group. A...

Just in time for Valentine's Day: Some couples are not simply opting for traditional wedding-and-honeymoon travel; they're bringing their friends along for a buddymoon or expanding their trip into a megamoon. The expansion of the destination wedding into a full-blown extravaganza comes as romance travel has never been hotter, and advisors have to bring their A-game to manage these complex group bookings.

In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin talks with hotels editor Christina Jelski and Courtnie Nichols, the founder of the wedding- and celebration-travel focused agency Travel Bash, about these trends: Why couples are opting for bigger...

Travel advisors Eizabeth Caran of Outlander Travel and Jennifer Kellum of Neverland and Main Travel talk with Travel Weekly cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and Folo host Rebecca Tobin about the world’s newest, biggest cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas.

What sets this ship apart from other ships in the Royal Caribbean International fleet, and what does it mean for the industry overall?

Among our topics, we’ll discuss the Icon’s new neighborhoods and where to hang out, family-friendly cabins, how the ship appeals to a true multigenerational vacation, tweaks to small details that h...

We’re again talking about family travel, but today we’re focusing specifically on the kids club – that marvelous space in a hotel, resort or cruise ship where kids can play supervised by staff. This episode is based off hotels editor Christina Jelski’s cover story about the evolution of kids clubs: how resorts are pouring significant investment into them to make them bigger, better, with more activities and more design upgrades to impress any parent, let alone the kid.

We also talk with travel advisor Deb Swacker about how much the kids club plays a role in trave...

Produced in partnership with research company Phocuswright, our annual Travel Industry Survey examines nearly every aspect of travel agency business: What type of travel they’re booking, who their clients are, demographics, business models, how much travel they book in terms of sales figures, how much money they make from those travel sales, marketing tactics, social media, concerns and future outlook.

On this episode we’re going to take it a step further. Host Rebecca Tobin delves into the data with Johanna Jainchill, who helped architect and publish the survey, as well as retail editor Jamie Biesiada, who...