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34. 2026 Travel Trends, Review Site Red Flags & AI Trip Planning with TravelZoo's Head of Publishing, Susan Catto
In this powerful episode of the Travel Chicks Podcast, Melissa sits down with Susan Catto, Head of Publishing & Production for TravelZoo Canada, former New York Times travel writer, and a leading global voice on real-world travel trends, consumer behaviour, and how to navigate the fast-changing world of online travel reviews.
With over 30 million TravelZoo members’ data at her fingertips and decades of industry experience, Susan shares practical, insider knowledge that every traveler needs before booking their next vacation.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
✨ Top Travel Trends for 2026
– Why “bucket list travel” is still booming
– The rise of small-ship cruising and personalized experiences
– Why domestic travel—especially within Canada—is at an all-time high
✨ How to Decode Travel Reviews Like an Expert
– How to spot fake reviews across Google, TripAdvisor, Trustpilot, and more
– Why 3-star reviews are often the most accurate
– What consistency patterns reveal (and when to walk away)
– How TravelZoo builds its internal trust scores and validates partners
✨ Smart Pre-Travel Research Strategies
– The best way to use search filters inside review platforms
– Which review comments matter and which ones you should ignore
– How to read reviews based on your travel style, not someone else’s
✨ Cuba Travel Reality Check
– Why Cuba is cheap right now
– What travelers need to know about service levels, food, and infrastructure
– When the “cheap deal” isn’t worth it
✨ AI Trip Planning — Should You Trust It?
– How AI can speed up research
– What not to rely on AI for
– How to combine AI with human expertise for the best results
Susan also shares deeply personal reflections on family travel, creating memories before life gets in the way, and why waiting for “someday” is the biggest mistake travelers make.
If you love this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe!
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By Melissa Mackey | Travel Host | Transformation Catalyst
3
44 ratings
In this powerful episode of the Travel Chicks Podcast, Melissa sits down with Susan Catto, Head of Publishing & Production for TravelZoo Canada, former New York Times travel writer, and a leading global voice on real-world travel trends, consumer behaviour, and how to navigate the fast-changing world of online travel reviews.
With over 30 million TravelZoo members’ data at her fingertips and decades of industry experience, Susan shares practical, insider knowledge that every traveler needs before booking their next vacation.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
✨ Top Travel Trends for 2026
– Why “bucket list travel” is still booming
– The rise of small-ship cruising and personalized experiences
– Why domestic travel—especially within Canada—is at an all-time high
✨ How to Decode Travel Reviews Like an Expert
– How to spot fake reviews across Google, TripAdvisor, Trustpilot, and more
– Why 3-star reviews are often the most accurate
– What consistency patterns reveal (and when to walk away)
– How TravelZoo builds its internal trust scores and validates partners
✨ Smart Pre-Travel Research Strategies
– The best way to use search filters inside review platforms
– Which review comments matter and which ones you should ignore
– How to read reviews based on your travel style, not someone else’s
✨ Cuba Travel Reality Check
– Why Cuba is cheap right now
– What travelers need to know about service levels, food, and infrastructure
– When the “cheap deal” isn’t worth it
✨ AI Trip Planning — Should You Trust It?
– How AI can speed up research
– What not to rely on AI for
– How to combine AI with human expertise for the best results
Susan also shares deeply personal reflections on family travel, creating memories before life gets in the way, and why waiting for “someday” is the biggest mistake travelers make.
If you love this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe!
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