The Folo by Travel Weekly

Because Halloween is right around a (scary, dark) corner we’re shining a flashlight on a very unique, and very popular, time at Orlando parks: The spooky season.

Jamie Biesiada, Travel Weekly's editor for content innovation and retail, earlier this fall checked out Universal Orlando Resort’s annual scare-filled Halloween Horror Nights. In this episode she and host Rebecca Tobin talk about that experience in detail, what Disney offers, the psychology of scares for fun and who travel advisors should target for a Halloween vacation. 

This episode was recorded Oct. 9 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Oceania Cruises

Related links:

Dispatch, Orlando: A first time at Universal's Halloween Horror Nights https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/A-first-time-at-Universal-Orlando-Halloween-Horror-Nights

Why do we love to be scared? The appeal of Halloween Horror Nights https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Appeal-of-Universal-Halloween-Horror-Nights

A celebration of 35 years of terror https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Halloween-Horror-Nights-returns-to-Universal-Orlando-Resort

A night at Disney's 'Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party' https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/A-night-at-Mickey-Halloween-Party

Author Coltan Scrivner's Morbid Curiosity test https://www.coltanscrivner.com/morbid-curiosity-test

 

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River cruise lines, passengers and advisors have occasionally been vexed by Europe’s hot, dry summer, which has led to low water levels on some rivers that kept some ships from sailing their published itineraries. So what should advisors and river-bound passengers know about how lines monitor the rivers and come up with solutions? 

In this episode, river cruise editor Brinley Hineman and host Rebecca Tobin have a candid conversation with Jeremy Palmer, the president of tour company Tauck, which operates more than a dozen river ships in Europe, on how it has handled the season. Response teams, on-the-ground relationships, communication strategies and more – it’s a conversation that every river-selling advisor should listen in on.

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

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Oceania Cruises https://www.oceaniacruises.com

Related links:

Climate change: Tourism's hot topic https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Climate-change-Tourisms-hot-topic

Low water, high stakes: River lines take a hit to satisfy guests https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/River-cruise-lines-swallow-costs-to-move-guests

Low river waters in Europe are challenging river cruise lines and advisors https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Low-river-levels-in-Europe-challenging-lines-and-advisors

Tauck's river cruise page https://www.tauck.com/tours-and-cruises/european-river-cruises

 

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We have several exciting episodes planned for the Folo over the next month that will folo – that’s a journalism term that means to follow up with more context and reporting -- some of the biggest stories in the business. But this week, we're bringing you a bonus episode of our kick-start to the fall season: Topics we wanted to devote a little more time to.

Jamie Biesiada, our editor of content innovation and retail, had some interesting insights into her theme park coverage, so in this episode we talk about what Universal and Disney have been up to. 

And then after our second break, aviation editor Robert Silk discusses an unusual TSA test program: In certain cities, it's enabling PreCheck members to pass through security and into the terminals even if they don't have a boarding pass. 

These conversations were recorded in mid-September and have been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Oceania Cruises https://www.oceaniacruises.com

Related links:

Disney World is testing new tools to help consumers select a hotel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-World-testing-tools-consumer-hotel-selection

Disney unveils major theme park plans at D23 event https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-announces-a-slew-of-theme-park-updates-at-D23-event

At Universal Kids Resort, the focus is on fun for younger ages https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Fun-in-small-doses-at-Universal-Kids-Resort

TSA turns back the clock on the Gateside program https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/TSA-turns-back-the-clock-with-Gateside-program

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Continuing with our check-in with reporters on their top stories of the summer – and what we can expect this fall.

This week, host Rebecca Tobin talks with hospitality editor Christina Jelski, who provides an update on hotel news: The demand picture, whether Canadians are returning to the U.S., Mexico’s struggles and more.

Then, cruise editor Teri West talks about new directions in rate and the launch of the third Icon-class ship. 

And river cruise and tours editor Brinley Hineman returns to recap this summer’s low-water levels for river cruising.

These conversations were recorded throughout September and have been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor: 

This episode was sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com

Stay on at the end of the Folo for a sponsored interview with Christine Peruccio, Travel Insured's AVP of sales and account management support, and Mary Pat Sullivan, the executive vice president of marketing and brand partnerships for Northstar Travel Group.

Related links: 

U.S. hotel forecast gets another bump after 'record' room sales https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/US-hotels-performing-well-in-2026-reforecast-costar-tourism-economics

How AI data centers are fueling the U.S. hospitality boom https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Strong-year-US-hotels-with-AI-data-center-building-boom

Checking in column: Tourism is taking a stand in the U.S.-Canada feud https://www.travelweekly.com/Christina-Jelski/Tourism-industry-taking-a-stand-in-U-S-Canada-feud

The Mexican sargassum surge sparks new strategies and investments https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Sargassum-surge-sparks-new-strategies-and-investments

Cruise sellers are onboard with NCL's pricing strategy https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-sellers-on-board-with-NCL-change-pricing-strategy

Cruising on Royal Caribbean's newest Icon class ship https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruising-on-Royal-Caribbean-new-Legend-of-the-Seas

Low water, high stakes: River lines take a hit to satisfy guests https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/River-cruise-lines-swallow-costs-to-move-guests

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After our Summer Series of best-of episodes ended, we’re back with all-new episodes. In the next two episodes, we're looking at the travel trends and stories our reporters have been tracking, setting the stage for longer discussions on the Folo this fall. 

Here, you'll hear from editor at large Robert Silk on fuel and ticket pricing jumps in aviation; editor of content innovation and retail Jamie Biesiada on booking patterns and advisor updates; and tours editor Brinley Hineman on brand and personnel movements. 

Next, we’ll hear from reporters on hotel, cruise and river cruise beats. And there’s more, much more, to come. 

These discussions were recorded the week of Aug. 13 and have been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor 

This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com

Related links

August airfares surge 23% year over year https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/August-airfares-were-up-23-4-percent-year-over-year

American Airlines slows holiday growth plans due to high fuel prices https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/American-slows-holiday-growth-plans-due-to-high-fuel-prices

In consolidating Insite and Costsaver, TTC bets on the power of the Trafalgar brand

https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/TTC-bets-on-the-power-of-Trafalgar

Classic Vacations CEO Melissa Krueger steps down https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Classic-Vacations-CEO-Melissa-Krueger-is-stepping-down

Blocked port call gives pause to LGBTQ+ travel providers https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Blocked-ports-calls-give-pause-LGBTQ-travel-providers

Related podcast

Trade Secrets: Is fall the new summer? Unpacking luxury travel trends at Virtuoso https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Trade-Secrets/season-seven-episode-twelve-luxury-travel-trends-with-Virtuoso

 

 

 

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We’re back with new episodes this fall.

This past week we’ve done a lot of looking back on 9/11. The terror attacks had a huge and immediate impact on travel, and the reverberations still continue to this day. On the day of the 25th anniversary, two heavy-hitters in the business – our former editor in chief and current explorer at large Arnie Weissmann and Kathy Sudeikis, the vice president of industry relations for Acendas and past president of ASTA – joined Rebecca Tobin on the Folo to talk about that day, what came next and what travel is like now. 

This episode has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor 

This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com

Related reports

Arnie Weissmann's From the Window Seat column: 25 years since 9/11: Innocence lost, resilience gained https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/25-years-after-9-11-attacks

Downtown Manhattan's 'renaissance,' 25 years after 9/11 https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Lower-Manhattan-tourism-renaissance

Why the 9/11 Memorial and Museum is a vital visitor experience https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/9-11-Memorial-must-visit-site-in-New-York

From the archives: On the first anniversary of 9/11, an industry at a crossroads https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Travel-execs-see-industry-at-a-crossroads

 

 

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In June, Carnival Cruise Line held an event in New Orleans called The Next Course, where it introduced new restaurants and menus on its upcoming ship, the Carnival Festivale, and showcased its partnership with superstar chef Emeril Lagasse, the line’s chief culinary officer. It also served as a chance to talk about the latest in foodie trends, and how those trends are showing up on Carnival’s ships.

In this episode we take that conversation even further with Carnival’s vice president of food and beverage Juan Fernandez and cruise editor Teri West. We talk about changes in dining hours, dining styles, drinks and more and how those changes dovetail or diverge with how consumers eat and drink on land. Plus: How Carnival developed its relationship with Lagasse and the new restaurants on the Festivale.

Summer Series

This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This conversation was recorded July 9 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor 

This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com

Related links:

Carnival and Emeril Lagasse embrace the latest culinary trends https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-and-Emeril-embrace-the-latest-culinary-trends

Carnival introduces new culinary concepts for upcoming ships https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-and-Emeril-Lagasse-introduce-new-culinary-concepts

Reservations are open for the Carnival Festivale https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Reservations-open-for-Carnival-Festivale

How weight-loss meds are changing travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/weight-loss-meds-changing-travel

Focus on culinary travel: Savoring the experience https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Focus-on-culinary-travel-Savoring-the-experience

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Whether you’re an advisor with river-bound clients, or if you’re a traveler yourself, a river cruise is likely is just part of a multicomponent trip with pre- and post-cruise tours or city stays known as extensions. Extension options are getting more and more complex, with travelers adding on not just more extensive options from the river cruise lines but tours from third-party operators or a bespoke land trip.

In this episode tours and river cruise editor Brinley Hineman and Angela Hughes, CEO of Trips & Ships Luxury Travel in Winter Garden, Fla., talk about the options and where river-bound travelers are headed, whether it’s better to add a pre- or post-trip tour and how to position a longer European vacation. 

Summer Series

This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded June 26 and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Episode sponsor 

This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com

Related reports 

River cruise lines add full land tours to create longer vacations https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/River-cruise-lines-add-full-land-tours

A real win-win for river cruising: Land-based extensions https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/benefits-for-selling-pre-and-post-river-cruise-land-tours

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Travel Weekly cruise editor Teri West has been reporting on various developments in the industry, and many of them seem to have one thing in common: They’re taking place in the Bahamas. The country has invested in cruise port development and is courting ultra-luxury lines; meanwhile, the private island experience continues to expand and lines like Royal Caribbean International are putting its biggest cruise ships on short-cruise itineraries to the Bahamas from South Florida.

West talks with Robert Sands, the director of cruise and maritime facilitation at the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, about creative growth, priorities and some pretty big increases in visitor numbers. If you’re selling Caribbean cruises or are a fan of cruising, you'll want to listen in.

Summer Series

This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode recorded May 29, 2026, and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com

Related links 

In the Bahamas, some big cruise projects are in the works https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Bahamas-cruise-projects-in-the-works

 

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This new crop of ultra luxury cruise lines is fascinating, not just because many of them are associated with well known hotel brands, but because they’re appealing to a newer, younger demographic; one that might not have cruised -- or thought about cruising. What’s the appeal for them?

In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and cruise editor Teri West talk with Christina Schlegel, the owner of Bluetail Travel, and Paul Tumposky, the chief revenue officer of Fora Travel, a about the appeal of lines like Four Seasons Yachts, Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection and Explora Journeys and the new pathways they’re opening up in cruising.

Summer Series

This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded May 29 and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com

Related links: 

New luxury lines are connecting with a new generation of cruisers https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/New-luxury-lines-connecting-new-generation-of-cruisers

Orient Express’ first ship evokes the glamour of a bygone era https://www.travelweekly.com/Luxury-Travel/Orient-Express-Corinthian-preview

Aman at Sea opens for charter and group bookings https://www.travelweekly.com/Luxury-Travel/Amangati-opens-for-charter-event-sales

On the Record: Four Seasons Yachts’ CEO Ben Trodd https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Ben-Trodd-Four-Seasons-Yachts

Ritz-Carlton luxury with ‘less is more’ touches on its first ship https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Ritz-Carlton-luxury-with-less-is-more-touches-on-Evrima

Bluetail Travel: https://www.bluetailtravel.com

Fora Travel: https://www.foratravel.com

 

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