Is traveling Route 66 the best way to discover the heart and soul of America.

Austin Coop believes it is. A longtime road-tripper turned group travel professional, he has guided of groups and and down the Mother Road — and created an innovative Route 66 tour experience that travelers of all ages love.

Austin joins this episode to share why Route 66 is still an American treasure 100 years after its founding. He explains how the highway showcases the best of Americana and gives inside tips about how tour groups can get the most out of their Route 66 trips. Plus, we have news about a novel idea for an upcoming presidential library and a Hot Minute about whether fuel surcharges are robbing you blind.

Austin had a lot of insight about why Route 66 road trips still resonate with groups. Here’s what he had to say about the advantages of seeing America from the Mother Road:

“I tell everyone on my trips to take just one picture each day — one simple shot of whatever they see out the window. When you swipe through those photos after thirteen days, you can really see the transition: cornfields, the Ozarks, open flatlands, and then, suddenly, you’re crossing into New Mexico and Arizona.

It’s not the most scenic drive in America…. But there’s no other road that tells the story quite like it does. It gives you a powerful snapshot of the country.””

Plus, he had great perspectives on:

Learn more about 2 Lane America at 2laneamerica.com.

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Contact Austin Coop at [email protected].

Apply for the Collette travel opportunities at grouptravelleader.com/collette.

2:01 — Travel News: A hotel at the Trump Presidential Library?

3:10 — News From Us: Explore Spain or Japan as a Collette VIP

7:12 — How childhood experiences led Austin Coop to a career on Route 66

9:56 — Why Route 66 is still popular 100 years later

13:03 — Is the Route 66 traveler aging out of the marketplace?

15:01 — Route 66 highlights

19:27 — Navigating Route 66’s missing pieces

21:26 — Traveling Route 66 in a motorcoach

22:51 — Car caravans: A new paradigm in group travel

27:13 — What it’s like to drive Route 66 with a car group

30:29 — Creating group bonds on car caravan trips

33:53 — Unforgettable group experiences on Route 66

46:02 — Hot Minute: Are fuel surcharges a rip-off?

See the full interview with Austin on our YouTube channel.

Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.

You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.