The Folo by Travel Weekly

The Travel Industry Survey is our annual, premier research product that surveys travel advisors about their business: Booking trends, preferred products, education and support, technology uses, marketing strategies, outlook and concerns. 

This year, to dig deeper into the report’s data and talk about how it dovetails with everyday business trends, we’ve invited retail reporter Jamie Biesiada and news editor Johanna Jainchill – our chief editorial stewards of the Survey – to talk.

This episode was recorded Tuesday Nov. 12 and has been edited for length and clarity.

The Travel Industry Survey is produced in partnership with Phocuswright, the travel research company under the Northstar Travel Group umbrella.

Related links:

Travel Industry Survey: https://www.travelweekly.com/Industry-Survey-2024

Travel Industry Survey 2023: https://www.travelweekly.com/Industry-Survey-2023

Phocuswright: https://www.phocuswright.com

 

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It’s only been a few days since the election, but already we’re wondering: What will happen to travel policy under the Trump administration? 

Naturally quite a bit can change from Biden to Trump -- and even from the first Trump administration -- and in this episode we talk with Johanna Jainchill, our news editor and travel-policy reporter, and View from the Wing’s Gary Leff about what kids of changes we might expect on several fronts: visa processing and travel bans, antitrust and airline combinations, the FAA, recent rules on refunds and disclosures, plus what might become of extensive requests for information from the departments of justice and transportation. 

This episode was recorded Friday, Nov. 8 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Related links

From air mergers to visas: How Trump's win could impact travel policy https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Travel-expects-policy-changes-as-Trump-wins-the-presidency

Travel groups congratulate Trump and lay out policy agendas https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/travel-groups-congratulate-trump-on-presidency

View from the Wing https://viewfromthewing.com/

 

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In this episode, we’re talking about the positive momentum in the cruise industry with senior editor Andrea Zelinski. Now that the third quarter has closed, and our annual CruiseWorld conference is about to begin in Fort Lauderdale, we ask: What are travel advisors, analysts and the cruise lines themselves seeing in cruise – and what are some of the scenarios that would break the cruise lines' stride? 

This episode was recorded Friday, Nov. 1 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Related links

Is this cruising's 'golden era'? https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Is-this-cruising-golden-era

The biggest cruise developments this year, according to travel advisors https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Focus-on-Cruise-What-advisors-are-buzzing-about

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings breaks another performance record https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Norwegian-Cruise-Line-Q3-2024-earnings-report

CEO says new cruisers are flocking to Royal Caribbean Group https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-Group-earnings-Q3-2024

Carnival Corp. continues record streak of revenue https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-Corp-continues-streak-record-revenue

 

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The tensions in the Middle East have been front and center for more than a year, from Hamas’ attack on Israel and continuing with escalations between Israel and Iran. What does that mean for travel in the region?

Thanks to reporting by acting tours editor Tom Stieghorst, we’ve got a snapshot of travel demand – and in this episode he talks with news editor Johanna Jainchill and host Rebecca Tobin about how and where people are traveling to the region.

This conversation was recorded Oct. 18 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com

Related links:

Middle East tension stays high, and travel stays slow https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Middle-East-tension-stays-high-travel-slow

Delta extends pause on Israel flights through the end of 2024 https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Delta-extends-Israel-flight-pause-end-2024

Travel executives visit Israel with the goal to 'inspire and educate' https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Travel-executives-visit-Israel-with-a-mission

From the Window Seat: Should independent travelers engage in thorny foreign politics? https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/The-meaning-of-meaning

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In this episode we’re looking at the impacts of hurricanes Milton and Helene on Florida’s tourism economy. Florida is such an important state for tourism that whenever a hurricane slams through it’s news. Here, host Rebecca Tobin, hotels editor Christina Jelski and Peter Ricci, the director of the Tourism and Hospitality Management program at Florida Atlantic University, talk about how the recent hurricanes might reshape the tourism landscape on Florida's Gulf Coast. We also discuss short-and long-term impacts to other travel destinations like Orlando and the right kind of marketing messaging that would encourage travelers to return after a storm. 

What’s the status of tourism in the hard-hit areas of North Carolina? We’ve added links to the show notes about travel organizations' relief and fundraising efforts. 

This episode was recorded Oct. 17 and has been edited for length and clarity. It’s important to note that this is a developing story, so any information in this episode about cities or regions might be change as the hurricane recovery process continues.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com

Related links:

After Milton's wrath, experts see a reshaping of Florida's West Coast https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Reshaping-Florida-tourism-after-Milton-and-Helene

How does American Airlines prep for a hurricane? A visit to its operations center shows how https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/How-does-AA-prep-for-a-hurricane

Relief efforts:

Internova charity arm seeks to help travel professionals affected by Helene https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Internova-help-for-Helene-affected-advisors

Carnival president skydives over Tampa for hurricane relief https://www.carnival-news.com/2024/10/19/carnival-cruise-line-president-christine-duffy-skydives-over-tampa-for-hurricane-relief

Community Resources and travel information, via Explore Asheville https://always.exploreasheville.com/

 

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Earlier in this season, we talked about the popularity and trends surrounding all-inclusive resorts. But some listeners – advisors and travelers alike – may not know there’s a growing all-inclusive market in Europe. And the resorts are different from the traditional inclusive properties in Punta Cana or Cancun.

On this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and hotels editor Christina Jelski brought together three advisors -- Abbey Meyer, cofounder of Sky High Travel Advisors, Heather Huber, an advisor with Vincent Vacations; and Lynnette Pena, independent travel advisor with CS Elements Travel -- with whom she traveled to Mallorca, Spain, to see two all-inclusive resorts under the Secrets and Zoetry brands. We discuss the differences between those resorts and the traditional product; plus the difference between the Secrets and Zoetry. Who might be the best client, and why? 

This episode was recorded Monday, Oct. 7, and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Episode sponsor

This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com

Stay on at the end of his episode for an interview with AmaWaterways' Michal Maguire, vice president of marketing, conducted by Mary Pat Sullivan, the executive vice president of marketing and brand partnerships for Travel Weekly. 

Related reports

Hyatt is counting on advisors to promote Europe all-inclusives to Americans https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hyatt-promotion-Europe-all-inclusives

After a demand boom for all-inclusives, signs point to a slowdown https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Slowdown-all-inclusive-demand

AMResorts showcases its stable of European all-inclusives (from 2022) https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/AMResorts-showcases-Europe-all-inclusives

 

 

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We’re now in the run-up to the holidays, also known as the festive season. And it’s a busy time for travel advisors planning their clients’ last big trip of the year. But this year, things are a little different. 

In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and retail editor Jamie Biesiada talk with travel advisors affiliated with the Gifted Travel Network – Jamey Duffy of Duffy Destinations and Robin Hutson of Luxe Recess – as well as Gifted chief sales and marketing officer Vanessa McGovern, to talk about this year's pace of bookings, where people are going, what they want out of their vacations, and tips for travelers heading out of town during the holidays. 

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com

Related links:

Home-based agent insight: Festive season gets going https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Insights/Festive-season-gets-going

Gifted Travel Network https://www.giftedtravelnetwork

Luxe Recess: https://www.luxerecess.com

Duffy Destinations: https://www.duffydestinations.com

 

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At the beginning of September the U.S. Department of Transportation began an investigation into airline loyalty programs of American, Delta, United and Southwest. The goal, it said, was to protect consumers from potential unfair, deceptive or anticompetitive practice. And as DOT secretary Pete Buttigieg said, airline rewards programs have become a “meaningful part of the U.S. economy and a major part of the airline business model.” How big? The trade group Airlines for America has estimated that there are nearly 30 million U.S. airline-industry credit card holders. 

In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, aviation editor Robert Silk and Nick Ewen, senior editorial director at The Points Guy, take a look at the DOT probe and a new bill that targets loyalty points. Plus we talk about the value of the programs to consumers, and how to best to use those points, top perks and more. 

This episode was recorded Tuesday Sept. 24 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor

This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com

Related links

The DOT probe into loyalty programs: Necessary move or overreach? https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/DOT-airline-rewards-probe-analysis

Sen. Dick Durbin takes aim at airline loyalty programs in new bill https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Durbin-bill-airline-loyalty-programs

The Points Guy https://thepointsguy.com/

 

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Cruising in Alaska has ballooned in popularity since the pandemic. The lines have invested newer, bigger ships and stretched the season longer. But as growth occurs, concerns of overtourism rise, too. The capital, Juneau, is introducing passenger limits in order to curb crowding, and other ports are watching the move closely.

On this episode, host Rebecca Tobin talks with cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and Russell Dick, the CEO of Alaska native corporation Huna Totem, which has been working in cruise port development for 20 years, on the current situation in the Last Frontier. Huna Totem has a different perspective on cruise growth, and its port-development plan is one its on which its hoping to expand.

This episode was recorded Sept. 6 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways: https://www.amawaterways.com

Related links:

Huna Totem Corp. https://www.hunatotem.com/

Alaska's cruise conundrum https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Alaska-cruise-conundrum

On the Record: Carnival Corp.'s Robert Morgenstern on the future of Alaska cruising https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Robert-Morgenstern-Carnival-Corp-Alaska-cruising

Royal Caribbean is partnering to bring free Internet access to downtown Juneau https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Alaska-cruise-conundrum

Tyler Hickman of Icy Strait Point on growth and managing Alaska cruising https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Tyler-Hickman-Icy-Strait-Point

Cruise lines tap Alaska demand with record deployment https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-lines-tap-Alaska-demand-record-deployment

 

 

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One of the more ambitious plans to come out of cruising’s pandemic pause was from Royal Caribbean International: a world cruise on the Serenade of the Seas. It was notable for being an extremely long cruise, at 274 days, and from a contemporary line – a brand not used to the nuances of a lengthy voyage. And not only did Royal Caribbean embark on what it called the Ultimate World Cruise, it took on social media influencers who chronicled the trip on a day-by-day – and even hour by hour – basis.

The cruise wrapped this month in Miami, with Royal Caribbean brass joining the Serenade for its last few days down the eastern seaboard. On this episode, host Rebecca Tobin talks with Royal’s senior vice president of sales, service and trade marketing Vicki Freed about the endeavor: Why it was conceived, how it blossomed into a nearly yearlong cruise, a big advisor sale and lessons learned for a (possible) future world cruise.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com

Related reports:

Royal Caribbean International: www.royalcaribbean.com

A TikTok sensation, Royal Caribbean's world cruise comes to an end https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Ultimate-World-Cruise-analysis

Cruise Insight: A new era of world cruising https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/Holland-America-world-cruise-new-era

The Ultimate World Cruise is a social media bonanza https://www.travelweekly.com/Richard-Turen/This-might-be-the-worlds-biggest-cruise-story

Michael Bayley talks Icon and the world cruise at CruiseWorld https://www.travelweekly.com/CruiseWorld-Coverage/Bayley-talks-Royal-Caribbean-world-cruise-and-Ikon-of-the-Seas

Travel advisor books top suite on Royal's world cruise https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Travel-advisor-books-top-suite-Royal-Caribbean-world-cruise

 

 

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