John Dennis, vice president of sales and marketing for Viva Cruises in North America, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about what makes his upscale all-inclusive European river ships different and how travel advisors can expect to get commissions starting at 15 percent and with no NCFs when they sell Viva. For more information, call 833-937-8482, email [email protected] or visit www.Viva-Cruises.com.

Edouard Jean, owner of Massive Travels in New York City, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at the ASTA Global Convention in San Juan about why he started his travel agency and how he became so involved in the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA). This year helped his New York City ASTA chapter win ASTA Chapter of the Year -Small Business Excellence honors as well as the ASTA President’s Travel Advisor Leadership Award. For more information, visit www.massivetravels.com or www.asta.org.

Andrea Kruse, chief operating officer for Viva Cruises and parent company Scylla Group, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about her all-inclusive river cruise company's newest ship Viva Two, with its unusual bar placement, midway between Deck 2 and 3. Kruse gives her insight on the ship’s revolutionary design and how Viva wants to approach the U.S. market. For more information, visit www.viva-cruises.com. 

Terika L. Haynes, owner of Dynamite Travel in Melbourne, Fla., talks to James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at the ASTA Global Convention in San Juan about why the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) named her this year's ASTA Travel Advisor of the Year. Haynes, who is the first black woman to win the award, is a luxury travel advisor who has grown her business dramatically by appealing to a diverse group of clients. She's also become a major force in ASTA and serves as a role model for travel advisors everywhere. For more information, visit www.asta.org or www.sodynamite.com.

Rita McClenny, president and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about a new partnership between Virginia Tourism, United Airlines and Saks Fifth Avenue. For two weeks, the store’s windows at the corner of 50th Street and Fifth Ave. were decorated to raise awareness of Virginia’s 15 exclusive Luxury Resort Collection properties. McClenny also discusses the state’s latest travel trends, hotels, attractions and more. For more information, visit www.Virginia.org/United and www.Virginia.org.

Roger Block, president of Travel Leaders Network, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how his agency members are doing so far in 2023 and how membership is growing. Block also details the latest new programs begun by Travel Leaders, including a new cruise booking system, an upgraded Intranet, a upcoming overall booking system and improvements to Travel Leaders’ Agent Profiler. For more information, visit www.travelleadersnetwork or www.travelleaders.com.

Derrick Steinour, director of sales and marketing for the Hilton West Palm Beach, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about his resort attached to the Palm Beach County Convention Center. Steinour describes how business and multi-gen travelers can stay for the great weather, the beach and the resort’s robust facilities, including spacious suites, pool, fitness center and great culinary experiences. He also talks about the enhancements planned for public areas, standard suites, pool and food outlets to happen between June and October. For more information, visit   www.HiltonWestPalmBeach.com.

John Lovell, president of Travel Leaders Group, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last week’s Travel Leaders Network EDGE conference in Nashville about where the network stands today and how its members have recovered from the pandemic period. Lovell details how Travel Leaders is leveraging the power of its parent Internova Travel Group, what sales look like for 2023 and into 2024, and why he believes now is the absolute “best time” to be a travel advisor. For more information, visit www.traveleadersnetwork.com. 

Jennifer Hiblum, general manager of the Arlo Wynwood in Miami, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about her hotel, which is similar to the three Arlos in Manhattan and one soon in Chicago. Arlo attracts young tech-savvy guests who spend little time in their small but comfortable rooms in favor of spending more time in robust public spaces. At Arlo Wynwood, this includes an almost Olympic-sized rooftop pool and bar, fine dining in Chef Brad Kilgore's Marygold, and a full-sized gym with a yoga balcony and classes. For more information, email [email protected] or visit www.Arlohotels.com/Wynwood.

Anita Pagliasso, president of the Professional Association of Travel Hosts (PATH), talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about her growing group of host agencies and suppliers, which just completed its annual meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Pagliasso, who is also vice president of industry relations for SHM Travel Group (and a columnist for Insider Travel Report), updates us on PATH, talks about what happened at the highly interactive meeting that engaged both host agency owners and top suppliers, and what the future holds for PATH. For more information, visit www.path4hosts.com.