We're returning to Mexico this episode, this time with our Mexico contributor Meagan Drillinger, who just wrapped up a month's worth of travel on the Yucatan peninsula, and Rodrigo Esponda, the managing director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board. Overall the demand picture for Mexico tourism is looking bright, thanks to the country's proximity, entry protocols and commitment to remaining open for travel. In this episode we also talk about the big trends for 2022 travel - specifically, how and where to get off the beaten path, discover Mexico's Magical Towns and where to connect with culture and nature.

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

Episode sponsor:

This episode of the Folo by Travel Weekly is sponsored by Princess Cruises.

Related reading:

News from Tianguis: Mayan train is back on track https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico- Travel/Mayan-train-Mexico-Tianguis-Yucatan?ct=mexico

Los Cabos, a feast for the senses: https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Los-Cabos-is- a-feast-for-the-senses?ct=mexico 

Gunfire reported at beach in Cancun: https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Gunfire- reported-Cancun-beach?ct=mexico 

Allianz survey: Top three international holiday destinations are all in Mexico: https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Allianz-survey-2021-holiday- destinations?ct=mexico 

Off-the-grid vibe in Bacalar beckons the adventurous: https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico- Travel/Bacalar-reemerging-Quintana-Roo-hot-spot

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ski season is upon us. It’s been several months since we’ve talked about ski vacations, but with ski areas and resorts now opening around the country, this week we’re talking to two experts: Molly Mahar, the president of Ski Vermont, and Dan Sherman, the chief marketing officer of Ski.com, about the upcoming season. With Robert Silk, our ski reporter, we examine the demand for this year’s slopes for and skiers and riders, Epic- and Ikon-pass sales, new mountain technology and, finally – what does make skiing and snowboarding so great?

This episode was recorded Wednesday, Dec. 1 and has been edited for length and clarity.

In the discussion, we reference a previous episode: A recording earlier this year with Rusty Gregory, the CEO of Alterra, and Natalie Ooi, a professor at Colorado State University, about how the pandemic had changed skier and rider behavior and how ski resorts had adapted to the new reality. Check that out here: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/ski-industry-survives-thrives

Episode sponsor:

This episode of the Folo by Travel Weekly is sponsored by Princess Cruises.

Related reading:

Club Med returns to North American slopes with Quebec resort: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Club-Med-back-to-North-American-slopes-with-Quebec-resort

Season-pass and hotel demand indicate top year for ski slopes: https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Season-pass-and-hotel-demand-indicate-top-year-for-ski-slopes

Vail resorts will forecast wait times for ski lifts in app: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Vail-Resorts-innovation-forecasts-wait-times-for-ski-lifts

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our cover story this week on the appeal of Africa’s wide-open spaces, written by our South Africa-based contributor Dorine Reinstein, seemed like the perfect time to sit down with Sherwin Banda, the president of African Travel, and his colleague Lucille Sive, the CEO of the Travel Corp.'s Africa division, and talk about traveler patterns, new safari products, conservation efforts and more. This episode was recorded Friday, Nov. 19 was edited for length and clarity.

However, just after the editing was completed, the newest variant of the coronavirus was identified, and within a day, countries, including the U.S., rushed to close their borders. It shows, again and again, how quickly things can change in the travel landscape and how travelers, advisors and podcast hosts have to reassess and pivot.

When listening to this episode it’s important to keep in mind that the conversation took place before omicron came to light. But there’s still value in talking about Africa’s travel options, because even if clients can’t or don't wish to travel, there’s planning and dreaming to be done.

Episode sponsor:

This episode of the Folo by Travel Weekly is sponsored by Princess Cruises.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Nov. 22 we published our annual Travel Industry Survey, which looks at travel agency business, from revenue to product focus to marketing techniques, agency affiliations, preferred arrangements, air sales and more.

On this episode we’ve asked editor in chief Arnie Weissmann and news editor Johanna Jainchill, who oversaw the Travel Industry Survey, to talk about some of the data we saw this year, and how it dovetails with overall travel trends and buying patterns.

This year’s research was conducted via a partnership with MMGY.

Read the entire survey: https://www.travelweekly.com/Industry-Survey-2021

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

This episode was recorded Friday, Nov. 19 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor:

This episode of the Folo by Travel Weekly is sponsored by Princess Cruises.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big news in travel this week is – finally -- the reopening of the borders in the U.S. to general travel, an event that’s been eagerly awaited by people in the travel industry.

On this episode we’re talking with Peter Vlitas, the executive vice president of global supplier relations for Power List travel company Internova, and Caroline Donaldson, the director of product and commercial operations for U.K.-based Barrhead Travel, about demand, particularly from the United Kingdom, for U.S. vacations, family reunions and the ever-popular shopping getaway.

We’re also taking a quick look at Americans traveling abroad, so we’re including an excerpt from our recording with Jennifer Tombaugh of Tauck and Sally Black of VacationKids talking about U.S. travel demand to Europe, the interest in outdoorsy, secondary markets, the trouble with return-testing to the U.S. and the excitement of this year’s Christmas Markets.

The interview with Vlitas and Donaldson was recorded Friday, Nov. 12, and the interview with Tombaugh and Black was recorded on Nov. 4. Both have been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor:

This episode of the Folo by Travel Weekly is sponsored by Princess Cruises.

Related reading/listening:

The U.S. has reopened for travel. Cities are eager for visitors: https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/After-604-days-US-doors-open-and-cities-are-eager-for-visitors

Emotional reunions as U.S. lifts restrictions on travel:

https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/As-rules-ease-travelers-head-to-US-for-emotional-reunions

Biden lays out entry rules for U.S.-bound travelers:

https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Rules-for-entering-US-from-foreign-countries

Forum by Greg Webb, CEO of Travelport, on welcoming international travelers:

https://www.travelweekly.com/Articles/Welcome-back-global-travelers

Previous Folo by Travel Weekly podcast with Jennifer Tombaugh and Sally Black on family travel:

https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/new-vaccines-what-next-for-family-travel

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Family travel: More kids can be vaccinated – what’s next?

I’ve been wanting to do a family-travel episode for some time, and this seemed like the perfect time to do it: The CDC has just authorized the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, and our reporting shows that at least some family travelers are now more eager to explore the globe, with vaccinated kids in tow. In this episode we’ve brought together two family-travel experts: Jennifer Tombaugh, the president of global tour operator Tauck, and Sally Black, the president of the travel agency VacationKids, to talk about immediate demand and booking trends.

But this episode is so much more – yes, we talk about where travelers want to go now, and why. But Jennifer and Sally go beyond Covid to talk about the critical importance of family travel: Inspiring confidence among kids, ways to change the family dynamic, making friends on the road, and what family vacations might look like in the future.

This episode was recorded Thursday Nov. 4 and was edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Princess Cruises.

Related reading:

Covid shots approved for kids may give family travel a boost: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Covid-shots-approved-for-kids-may-give-family-travel-a-boost

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

Tauck launches Andorina river cruise vessel in Portugal: https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Tauck-launches-first-river-ship-Portugal

CruiseWorld conference information: www.cruiseworldshow.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we’re circling back to an issue that we’ve discussed on previous Folo episodes: Diversity and inclusion within travel. An example is Intrepid Travel, a global tour operator that refreshed its brand last month; in its press release explaining its new mission and vision it said that it was taking steps to create a more inclusive brand and, as such, was working with six consultants on specific areas to create and sustain allyship and accountability, like LGBTQ-plus, size inclusivity, modern colonialism, greenwashing and travel for the Black, Indigenous and people of color communities.

It seemed notable that Intrepid was highlighting specific areas to help it mold ethical marketing guidelines. And so we sat down with Mikey Sadowski of Intrepid and Evita Robinson, the founder of Nomadness Travel Tribe and a consultant and speaker on BIPOC travel issues, for a frank talk about the need, and the work, on inclusivity and to examine how Intrepid trips are marketed and structured for BIPOC travelers.

This episode was recorded on Thursday, Oct. 21, and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor:

This episode of the Folo by Travel Weekly is sponsored by Princess Cruises.

Related:

Intrepid Travel's ethical marketing guidelines

Intrepid Travel completes a brand and product refresh

Why travel marketers need to diversify influencer campaigns

Previously on the Folo: Black voices in travel and perceptions of diversity

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we’re headed to Wales with our golf reporter (whose official day job is our aviation editor) Robert Silk, who recorded this episode at the International Golf Travel Market show with Jason Thomas the director of culture, sport and tourism for Wales, and Dave Redmond, senior partner with Maryland-based Epic Golf Travel.

IGTM this year was held in Wales, and in this episode the trio talks about the benefits of playing links courses in Wales – and why more American golfers don’t choose Wales over its famous golf-kingpin neighbors, Scotland and Ireland. The conversation tackles golfers’ travel mindsets, as well as how Wales may plan to approach marketing its greens.

This episode was recorded Oct. 20 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Hurtigruten Expeditions.

Related reading:

How golf has thrived during the pandemic, and how drive-market golfers could become destination golfers: https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Golfs-ace-in-the-hole

Lesser-known golf destinations aim to make the cut: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Lesser-known-golf-destinations-aim-to-make-the-cut

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we’ve heard time and again from travel agencies on the Folo podcast, travel advisors have been working overtime on Plan B … or Plan C or D … to get their travelers on the road. One catchphrase that has cropped up recently is “trip stacking,” where travelers will plan two trips simultaneously, in the hopes that at least one of them will take off as planned. But advisors have also become experts in other styles of pivots: trip switching, substituting and rescheduling.

In this episode acting retail editor Christina Jelski and host Rebecca Tobin talk with Amina Dearmon, the owner of Perspectives Travel, and Sylvia Lebovitch, the president of SL Travel Advisors, about perfecting the travel pivot, how they talk with travelers about options, real-life examples of trip saves and how they’ve found the silver lining.

This episode was recorded Oct. 1 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Related:

Travel advisors save the day with backup plans: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Backup-plans-save-the-day

From August: Delta’s spread brings new layers of travel concern and uncertainty: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Delta-spread-brings-new-layer-of-travel-concern-uncertainty

Folo by Travel Weekly episode: Europe and the art of the pivot: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Europe-travel-art-of-pivot

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we’re traveling to the Aloha state with our contributing editor for Hawaii, Tovin Lapan, and experts Frank Haas, a consultant and former Hawaii Tourism Authority executive; Gail Stringer, who owns the Hawaii General Store in Seattle, and Terry Uemura, a travel advisor at Hawaii General Store Travel.

Hawaii has been very serious about managing inbound travel, but it can be confusing, for example, Gov. David Ige’s recommendation – not a formal mandate -- that people not travel to the islands. So we’ll talk about that, as well as about ways to manage tourism on the islands; demand and rates; and some of our favorite new travel programs, some off-the-beaten path tips and a few forever favorites.

This episode was recorded Thursday, Oct. 7, and has been edited for length and clarity. On Oct. 8, Hawaii rules changed again, this time on Oahu, where Ige and Honolulu mayor Rick Blangiardi eased restrictions on dining capacity and other gatherings.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Hurtigruten Expeditions.

Related reading:

Travel battles blowback from Hawaii governor's 'don't come' comment https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Travel-battles-blowback-from-Hawaii-governors-dont-come-advice

Oahu eases restrictions on gatherings as Covid-19 cases drop https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Oahu-eases-restrictions-Covid-cases-drop

On Oahu, visitors show vax records and businesses adapt to Covid rules

https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/On-Oahu-visitors-show-vax-records-and-businesses-adapt-to-Covid-rules

Hawaii offers vacations with a purpose https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Insights/Malama-Hawaii-blends-vacations-with-volunteer-work

'Inspired' changes at a refreshed Halekulani

https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Inspired-changes-at-a-refreshed-Halekulani

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.