With views of the Pacific from Hotel Casa del Mar’s penthouse suite, Adam Deflorian sits down with Charlie Lopez-Quintana, Vice President and Managing Director of ETC Hotels, to explore how to embody hospitality from the heart. 

Key topics include:

• How this third-generation family business has created a beloved, long-term luxury brand through employee loyalty and timeless hospitality.

• The inspiring ways Shutters on the Beach and Hotel Casa del Mar supported the local community during the Palisade fires.

• Why simplicity, emotional connection and thoughtful design are the gold standard for luxury hotels.

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Produced by Brenna Darling and Chase Gohl, 2025

Senior Editorial Director of Travel + Leisure, Nina Ruggiero, discusses how to inspire readers to explore the world with Adam Deflorian on this episode of Luxury Travel Innovators.

Key topics include:

• The print-digital relationship at Travel + Leisure and why human-created content is vital to remain connected to readers.

• Changes in the way people consume media and differentiating between social media platforms.

• Top destinations from a true travel expert, as well as insights into the rise of pet-friendly hospitality.

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Produced by Brenna Darling and Chase Gohl, 2025

Adam Deflorian welcomes Greg Kennealey, CEO of Peregrine Hospitality, to the new AZDS Podcast Studio for the inaugural video recorded episode of Luxury Travel Innovators. 

Key topics include:

• Why the travel industry is particularly resilient, which feels especially relevant during the current economic climate.

• How Peregrine values an "ownership" mentality in all levels of the hospitality business.

• Greg’s “crawl, walk, run” approach when it comes to AI Innovation. 

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Produced by Brenna Darling and Chase Gohl, 2025

In episode five of Luxury Travel Innovators, Adam Deflorian travels to Pendry Park City to talk with longtime AZDS client and friend, Chris Hamaway, about what truly differentiates an ultra-luxury hotel and resort experience. 

Key topics include:

• Why storytelling is an essential part of establishing an authentic hospitality experience.

• The way Montage and Pendry properties compliment each other and how “quiet luxury” shows up for both brands to help cultivate the Montage International brand.

• Chris’ penchant for fly-fishing expeditions provide the perfect example of how the blend of camaraderie and hospitality create worthwhile experiential travel.

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Produced by Brenna Darling and Chase Gohl, 2025

In the fourth episode of Luxury Travel Innovators, Adam Deflorian talks with James Henderson about why community is one of the best parts of traveling and how experiential travel is increasingly popular with Exclusive Resorts members.

Key topics include:

• A deep dive into the portfolio growth over the years of Exclusive Resorts and what being a part of the world’s foremost members-only club is like.

• How AI positively affected the rollout of the Exclusive Resorts app to provide a more connected experience for members.

• Why disconnecting from the digital landscape and living in the moment while traveling is the current trend in the industry.

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Produced by Brenna Darling and Chase Gohl, 2025

Episode three of Luxury Travel Innovators includes a discussion with Adam Deflorian, JD O’Hara, and Albert Herrera about top travel destinations (current + emerging) and why AI can’t replace travel advisors.

Key topics include:

• AI Innovation in the Travel Agent Community 

• The “White Lotus” effect on the emerging top travel destinations.

• How the definition of luxury travel is evolving towards bespoke experiential-style travel, with a rise of popularity in the wellness travel space as well. 

Brought to you by https://www.azds.com/ 

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Produced by Brenna Darling and Chase Gohl, 2025

In episode two of Luxury Travel Innovators, Adam Deflorian discusses the rise in popularity of expedition-style travel with the CEO, Americas of Ponant Expedition Group, Sam Chamberlain. 

Key topics include:

• The intersection of luxury travel and adventure, especially in the context of expeditions to places like the Arctic and the geographic North Pole.

• Insights into sustainability efforts in the cruise industry, and how Ponant is leading the charge.

• How virtual reality is enhancing the travel experience by helping clients visualize and make informed decisions before booking.

Brought to you by https://www.azds.com/ 

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Produced by Brenna Darling and Chase Gohl, 2025

In the premier episode of Luxury Travel Innovators, host Adam Deflorian sits down with Nathan Lump, the editor in chief of National Geographic magazine, to discuss travel holistically - past, present and future. 

Key topics include:

• How National Geographic goes beyond the traditional goals of a travel brand to find the “why” of it all - why a traveler wants to go to a destination and what would they get out of that experience. 

• The way AI could come in handy with automatic language translations that are accurate and reliable across the National Geographic brand.

• Nathan’s goal of highlighting remote and random corners of the globe, whether that’s through National Geographic Expeditions, television programming, and more.

Brought to you by https://www.azds.com/ 

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Produced by Brenna Darling and Chase Gohl, 2025