Travel is better when you don’t drink.

That’s what Darci Murray believes. A longtime travel professional, Darci realized years ago that she had developed an unhealthy relationships with alcohol — and that it was negatively impacting her travel experience. She joins this episode of the podcast to share the journey that led her to start the alcohol-free tour company Hooked.

Darci discusses the explosion of interest in “sober curious” and “sober supportive” travel. She gives us an inside look at how she builds thrilling alcohol-free trips to destinations around the world shares secrets of helping travelers connect in deep and meaningful ways. Plus, we have news about a tourism coalition pushing back on trade policy; a Road Tip about making non-drinkers feel special on your trips; and a Hot Minute about the way your trips might be making your customers better people — or worse.

Darci had a lot of hard-won insights into the ways alcohol dependency has infused the tourism industry. Here’s what she had to say about why she thinks travel is better without booze:

“There are so many hours lost in the itinerary that are just sitting around looking for the happy hour. At hooked, we start early and see way more than the average tour company. We focus on what I call full sensory experiences. When you’re not drinking, all your senses are intact, so I try to play off that.”

Plus, she shared really helpful perspectives on:

Follow Hooked on Instagram.

Learn more about Hooked and upcoming tours on their website.

Apply to attend our Alabama FAM tour here.

1:52 — Travel News: Tourism coalition calls for trade policy changes

3:11 — Road Tip: Accommodating alcohol-free travelers

6:41 — Reserve your spot on our Alabama FAM tour

13:30 — How a young-adult group trip sent Darci Murray down a bad road

14:44 — How alcohol negatively impacts the travel experience

17:05 — Transitioning to alcohol-free living and traveling

20:56 — Sober-curious, sober-supportive, gray-area drinking?

24:14 — The incredible rise of mocktails

27:00 — Who joins an alcohol-free group trip?

28:28 — Where Hooked travelers go

29:55 — How alcohol-free travel supercharges relationship building

35:43 — Is alcohol-free travel poised to grow in the future?

36:39 — How to make alcohol-free travelers feel special on your trips

46:31 — Hot Minute: Do your trips make travelers better or worse people?

See the full interview with Darci 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.