Every yin has its yang and for travel agents, they wouldn’t be able to do most of what they do without a strong wholesaler in the background providing all the flights, hotels, cruises and other product they sell every day.

Wholesale is a hyper competitive side of the travel industry, with many well-known and some less-so all duking it out with the best packages, deals and pricing to snag the sale. Technology is a key component of the wholesale game too, with the ultimate goal of being that easy-to-use warehouse for agents to grab what their clients need and put it all together to build their perfect holiday.

Today on Talking Travel, we’re digging a bit deeper into the world of the wholesalers, with three guests on this episode – James Whiting from Infinity Holidays, Steve Brady from Helloworld and Walter Nand from the young upstart brand, Rediscover Travel.

There’s something about a European river cruise that keeps Australians coming back for more, year after year, with many others discovering it for the first time and promptly getting hooked themselves.

Whether it’s the gentle, relaxed nature of travel, the rolling countryside passing by on both sides, postcard towns adorning the riverbank, or even just the food and frivolity onboard, it’s easy to see why it’s such a popular way to see the world.

Today on Talking Travel, we’re chatting to two industry leaders in river cruising – Alice Ager from Uniworld River Cruises and David Clark from Tauck – to find out more about the river cruiser of today, the itineraries most beloved by Australians and how river cruising keeps drawing people back year after year.

It’s 2024 and with every new year comes promise, excitement and motivation to make the next 12 months better than the last. For some, that may involve implementing their New Year Resolution to lower their stress by making changes to how they work.

Two people ahead of the curve on that front are our guests today on this episode of Talking Travel. Anna Shannon from Travel Agent Finder and Charlie Trevena from Destination Webinars share many synergies with their businesses which has led them to join forces and work towards some common goals.

One such goal is a shared marketing resource. Neither Anna nor Charlie each needed one full-time, but together, they can each provide part-time work and both benefit from her expertise.

Sharing workforces is a topic both ladies are passionate about, firmly believing the concept can be applied to the travel industry to help ease the immediate staff shortages and overworked agents struggling to meet the public’s lust for travel.

It’s fair to say Hawaii went through a lot in 2023. The tropical paradise that fills us with so much warmth and joy turned to darkness for four days last August as wildfires reduced much of western Maui to ruin.

But if ever a people can show resilience and build back, it’s the Hawaiians, and build they did, with plenty of promise now on the horizon for much of the affected areas.

Elsewhere on the other islands, the business of tourism continued unabated, and the U.S. state remains one of the most popular destinations for Australian travellers to visit. The relaxed vibe, warm people and energetic environment delivers everything a holidaymaker could want. In 2024, the future in Hawaii is as bright as the sun that shines down on it. Long may it continue.

On this episode of Talking Travel, recorded before the Maui fires and held back out of respect, we chat to Jennifer Gaskin from Hawaii Tourism Oceania and Andrew Stanbury from Hawaiian Airlines on some of the most exciting new attractions coming to the ‘Islands of Aloha’ and exciting new features on the way for the island’s flag airline.

It’s the last working week of the year and Christmas is nearly upon us, but for some parts of the world, the festive season brings no

Horrific earthquakes this year in Turkey, Syria and Morocco are just two examples of how nature can deliver such pain and anguish. And for those who have nothing left, the page turns to 2024 and hopes that life can be rebuilt.

One such catalyst that provides so much help is the global tourism industry, in two ways. First, initial fundraising helps to generate immediate assistance to those affected by such heartache. But secondly, travellers return to affected countries and spend their money with local businesses, rebuilding livelihoods and putting food back on their tables.

In this episode of Talking Travel, we chat to two people who work closely to ensure both of these are delivered to broken communities cleaning up from upended lives – Biheng Zhang from The Intrepid Foundation and Dennis Bunnik from Bunnik Tours.

Whatever time of year you may visit Canada, there's something magical in store for you. But when autumn and winter roll around, the excitement goes to another level.

The wide open spaces turn from a lush green into a mesmerising yellow and gold before being blanketed in a crisp white snowfall, a time when Canada is at its most popular with skiers and those craving a winter wonderland.

Whether you're indulging in this winter action or crossing the country to explore the classic architecture and French flair in the east, you're guaranteed a memorable holiday as Canada delivers time after time, making it one of the most popular and repeat destinations for Australian travellers year after year.

On today's episode of Talking Travel, we're digging deep into not just the snow but all that Canadian culture with Nathan McLoughlin from Destination Canada and Vic Naughton from Air Canada.

Travel seems to be one of the only things not being sacrificed in a cost-of-living crunch.

In fact, travellers are going the other way - devoting more of their money to seeing the world and experiencing the finer things in life, even for only a few days or weeks at a time.

Luxury hotels saw this coming years ago and have been jostling for the spotlight ever since, with a 'no holds barred' competitive approach and innovating to ensure each guest can tailor a stay exactly to their liking.

While this has led to some rather unconventional requests, hotels smile, nod and oblige, going well out of their way to appease this new breed of high-end holidaymaker. After all, a happy guest leaves a positive review.

In this episode of Talking Travel, we chat to two leading Melbourne luxury hoteliers to find out just how far the envelope has been pushed, and can be pushed, to ensure each guest leaves with a smile on their face.

Gone are the days of bellyflop contests and shuffleboard for your onboard amusement at sea - cruise ship entertainment is now big business.

Cruise ships today present Broadway-style stage show extravaganzas featuring elaborate costumes, daredevil stunts and supremely talented performers who leave audiences spellbound and cheering for an encore...or two.

But what goes into these stage spectaculars? Do travellers want to engage with familiar concepts they see in their everyday lives, such as popular game shows, or want to be left dazzled by world-class singers, dancers and storytellers? 

On this episode of Talking Travel, we chat to entertainment impresarios Shane Riley from Virgin Voyages and Carnival Australia Director of Entertainment, Jeremy Barnes, to find out more about what travellers can expect for their after-dinner entertainment on their next cruise holiday.

With a history spanning over 65,000 years, Australia's Indigenous tourism offers a profound and immersive journey into the rich cultural tapestry of its ancient land.

Indigenous tourism in Australia is a unique opportunity for travellers to engage with vibrant cultures and gain insight into ancient spiritual beliefs, practices and contemporary contributions.

On another level, Indigenous tourism promises an authentic and transformative experience, fostering a deeper understanding of Australia's remarkable heritage.

Economically, Australia's native stories are key drivers of its international tourism narrative, with visitors both domestic and overseas eager to engage with modern interpretations of these compelling stories.

In this episode of Talking Travel, explore the inner workings and the path forward for Australia's Indigenous tourism landscape with two organisations helping to write the next chapter.

There's an old saying 'Find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life'.

For many travel agents, the love of their job and helping their clients experience the wonders of the world ignites a passion that carries them through even the tougher days and on to a remarkable career full of cherished memories and stories.

In this episode of Talking Travel, we celebrate two of the legends of the Australian travel industry - Michelle Everson from Jamison Travel in Canberra and Trevor Jones of Hawthorn Travel in Melbourne.

Together, Michelle and Trevor share a professional lineage of 80 years in this industry and in that time, have amassed a world of amazing stories, wisdom and experience that will inspire generations who follow in their footsteps.