It’s the holiday season, but it's also time for advisors and consumers alike to start thinking of travel plans for the year ahead. And to stoke interest in destinations from the Dolomites to Dominica, Power List agency Chase Travel for a second year is doing a list of inspirational travel destinations, called "26 Trips to Take in 2026." 

On this episode host Rebecca Tobin talks with Karen McGee, president of Valerie Wilson Travel, and Hillary Reinsberg, head of content for card and connected commerce at Chase, about inspiration for the list and how it was created, consumer travel trends and, of course, specific destinations on the list itself and where you might get ideas for the year ahead.

Episode sponsor

This episode is sponsored by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.biz

Related links

Chase Travel's 26 Trips to Take in 2026 https://trips.chase.com

Route 66 centenial: Special tours tap into nostalgia https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Special-tours-Route-66-centennial

 

 

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Our annual Travel Industry Survey of travel agency business is live, and we're taking an in-depth look at some of the results with editor in chief Arnie Weissmann and news editor Johanna Jainchill.

In this episode we delve into survey data: Advisors’ use of AI – how they use it and what they’re concerned about; which travel categories are growing; advisors’ use of social media; their relationships with preferred suppliers; where they work; and what they’re booking. And, of course, whether they’re optimistic or pessimistic about their business going forward. 

This survey was produced in partnership with Phocuswright, a sister brand to Travel Weekly. It surveyed more than 1,500 advisors during August and early September and was published Nov. 23.

This conversation took place Nov. 23 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.biz

Related links:

The 2025 Travel Industry Survey https://www.travelweekly.com/industry-survey-2025

Previous Industry Surveys https://www.travelweekly.com/For-Travel-Agents/Travel-Industry-Survey

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We're focusing on an emerging branch of artificial intelligence called agentic AI – that is, an AI tool that can, essentially, act like a booking agent, all the way up to making a reservation on the traveler’s behalf. It acts like an agent – but is it a threat to human travel advisors? And what does agentic AI mean for the OTA model, supplier customer service and travelers themselves?

On this episode, McKinsey and Co.’s Vik Krishnan and Travel Weekly aviation editor Robert Silk talk with host Rebecca Tobin about the latest developments in agentic AI and travel and where the technology could lead us. 

This episode was recorded Nov. 21 and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Episode sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com

Related links

Agentic AI turns searches into sales https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Agentic-AI-turns-searches-to-sales

Hotel and flight bookings are coming to Google's AI Mode https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Hotel-and-flight-bookings-coming-to-Google-AI-Mode

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Your travel advisor’s expert in-destination source: Their DMC This week we’re talking about destination management companies, or DMCs, which are companies embedded in specific locations that give travel planners an ultra-boost when it comes to planning a vacation there. Insider knowledge, special tours, recommendations, an expert shoulder to lean on – that’s what a DMC can provide.

Here, senior editor for retail Jamie Biesiada and Haisley Smith, the senior vice president of partner relations at Internova Travel Group, talk about why advisors and clients are celebrating their DMC connections; why a client might choose a guided tour over a DMC-curated trip; pitfalls and the critical need to vet an in-destination partner; and what’s next for DMCs and advisors.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com

Related links:

Jamie Biesiada's cover story: DMCs help bring the wow factor https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/DMCs-help-bring-the-wow

 

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It’s time for an update on Hawaii travel. On this episode, our contributing editor for Hawaii, Christine Hitt, talks about overall stats, Maui updates, a falloff in travel from Canada and Japan -- plus our favorite island destinations and the changes at the Hawaii Tourism Authority. 

This episode was recorded Oct. 16 and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Episode sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com

Related reports

Christine Hitt's Hawaii travel Insights: https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Insights

Maui's message: The comeback is on, so come back https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Maui-message-The-comeback-is-on-so-come-back

Inside the $6 million marketing campaign aimed at Maui's recovery https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Insights/Maui-tourism-recovery-marketing-campaign-details

Cruise lines sue Hawaii over new tax https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-lines-sue-Hawaii-over-new-tax

Rebecca Tobin's home away from home in Hawaii https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/House-Without-a-Key-my-home-away-from-home-in-Waikiki

 

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This week we’re talking about a story that came to be after unveiling of Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ upcoming Skyview Regent Suite. It's a veritable mansion-at-sea with a private gym, sauna, bar and dining room that seats 12. And what's more surprising than the price? The fact that it was booked within one minute on 10 of 13 itineraries. Or perhaps that's not a surprise. Advisors tell us that there are countdowns to sales launches and wait lists for the newest crop of ultra-palatial, ultra big, ultra luxurious cruise ship suites.

This week, as CruiseWorld kicks off in Fort Lauderdale, we go all-in on cruise, and with luxury advisor Carlos Edery and cruise editor Teri West, we look at what these top suites look like and what amenities they come with. Who are the customers and what do they want in a vacation? Is there a challenge of keeping up with guest expectations? And, of course, what might come next. 

This episode was recorded Oct. 27 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com

Related links: 

Focus on Cruise cover story: The megasuite is bigger than ever https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/The-cruise-megasuite-is-bigger-than-ever

Regent Seven Seas Prestige suite will reach for new levels of opulence https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Skyview-Regent-Suite-unveiled-for-Seven-Seas-Prestige

From the archives: A look at luxury accommodations at sea (August 2005) https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/A-look-at-luxury-accommodations

Luxury Cruise Connections https://luxurycruiseconnections.com/

CruiseWorld: https://www.cruiseworldshow.com

 

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Travel Weekly is proud to produce contributions from some very well-respected columnists -- people who really know the business. We have travel advisors and our own reporting staff, of course, but we also have a legal advisor, and many readers will know his name: Mark Pestronk. 

Mark, a Washington-based travel lawyer, has been writing a Legal Briefs column, and before that, a column by a different name, for officially 40 years now, and he’s often quoted in our pages. So today we’re celebrating with an episode talking with him about travel, changes, the power of advisors and, of course, his time on Jeopardy. 

Episode sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Europe Express https://www.europeexpress.com

At the end of this episode, stay on for a special, bonus discussion about the latest from Europe Express between CEO Parik Laxminarayan, and Mary Pat Sullivan, the executive vice president of marketing partnerships for Northstar Travel Group, Travel Weekly's parent company.

Related links

Latest Legal Briefs column: After 40 years, this much is constant https://www.travelweekly.com/Mark-Pestronk/After-40-years-this-much-is-constant

From 2010: A quarter-century of legal advice from Mark Pestronk https://www.travelweekly.com/News-at-TW/A-quarter-century-of-pro-bono-advice-for-Travel-Weekly-readers

Mark Pestronk’s Legal Briefs column archive https://www.travelweekly.com/mark-pestronk

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In this episode we’re headed to Chile, the home of this year's Adventure Travel Trade Association World Summit. Our adventurous editor in chief Arnie Weissmann attended the show as a guest speaker and participant on its adventure tours, and it seemed like a good opportunity for us to talk about Patagonia, penguins and pumas. 

On this episode we tackle how the ATTA describes "adventure" travelers and what determines an adventure – also, why you should hire a guide; what to look for in the best outfitters; how overtourism may have contributed to the growth in adventure travel; and the thrills of adventuring on Chiloe Island. 

This episode was recorded Oct. 17 and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Europe Express https://www.europeexpress.com

Related links:

Travel Weekly’s adventure travel coverage https://www.travelweekly.com/adventure-travel

Arnie Weissmann’s From the Window Seat column “Is Tuscany an adventure destination” https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/Is-Tuscany-an-adventure-destination

The Adventure Travel Trade Association https://www.adventuretravel.biz/

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South Africa based contributor Dorine Reinstein has written often about conservation efforts and tackled overcrowding on safari tours. A video this summer that appeared to show safari trucks crowding and blocking the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti raised new questions for us about guest expectations; guide pressure points and the power balance between guests and guides; and how the travel trade can get involved.

Joining us on this episode is Louise De Waal, a director and campaign manager at Blood Lions, and Anton Letegan, the managing director of EcoTraining. It’s an important, thoughtful discussion, and I want to add that both Louise and Anton urged me to emphasize that we’re looking to educate and create a dialogue on sustainability on the savanna – not to point fingers. 

This episode was recorded Sept. 23 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Europe Express https://www.europexpress.com

Related links

Dorine Reinstein's coverage for Travel Weekly: https://www.travelweekly.com/dorine-reinstein

Safaris that go beyond the Big Five are catching on https://www.travelweekly.com/Middle-East-Africa-Travel/Safaris-that-go-beyond-the-Big-Five-are-catching-on

The elephant in the room: Overturism in Africa https://www.travelweekly.com/Middle-East-Africa-Travel/Overtourism-in-Africa

EcoTraining https://www.ecotraining.co.za/

Blood Lions: https://bloodlions.org/

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Our latest cover story is titled the 25 years that changed travel. We’re looking back at the first quarter century and the biggest events that had an outsized impact on the business, from mega-events that changed the world to milestone product launches and those business decisions that portended major shifts to come.

In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, editor in chief Arnie Weissmann and news editor Johanna Jainchill unpack the list and some of the decisions behind it, as well as those reminisces about the old times and what’s happening in travel today. 

This episode was recorded Sept. 26 and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Europe Express https://www.europexpress.com

Related links:

The 25 years that changed travel https://www.travelweekly.com/25-years

 

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