Ivan Eskildsen, minister of tourism for Panama, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how his country is developing a strategy to feature indigenous and sustainable tourism beyond the beaches and the bustle of Panama City. Interviewed at the recent Travel Leaders Network EDGE conference, Eskildsen describes how Panama is trying to highlight its culture and people for travelers. For more information, visit www.tourismpanama.com. 

Cindy Tyo of North Dakota’s Travel Travel, the recipient of the Travel Leaders Network’s Associate of the Year Award for 2022, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about her award and her travel agency. The award honors the top travel agency among hundreds of Travel Leaders Network associate member locations nationwide. For more information, visit www.travelleaders.com. 

Guenter Steinbrunner, Windstar Cruises' fleet hotel general manager, and Richard Maier, the hotel general manager of Star Pride, talk with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the similarities and differences between the three original Wind class ships and the three renovated Star class vessels, as well as the differences between the original Star class suites and those in the new inserted section as a result of the $250 million dollar upgrade and stretch. For more information, visit AdvisorHub.WinstarCruises.com or www.windstarcruises.com.  

Peter Tobler, director of food and beverage for Windstar Cruises, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the changes he has implemented on all six of the lines ships and in each of the restaurants based on what he has learned from sailing since cruising resumed. Tobler observes there's a trend toward plant-based foods, and foods without sugar, oil or salt (SOS). For more information, visit www.windstarcruises.com.

Sara Butruff of Minnesota’s Galaxy Travel talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about getting the Golden Legacy Award, the agency group's highest honor given to a travel advisor who exhibits outstanding professionalism and commitment to both Travel Leaders and to the travel industry as a whole. The award, which Butruff received last month at Travel Leaders' EDGE conference, honors an associate whose career achievements best exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit and highest quality standards of the franchise system. For more information, visit www.travelleaders.com.

Nikolina Brnjac, Croatia’s minister of tourism, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how her country is faring this summer, just a year after Croatia became literally the first European country to open its borders to U.S. travelers. Brnjac details the newest tourism campaigns being launched by Croatia and highlights the destinations that every traveler should experience for themselves. For more information, visit www.croatia.hr.

Alex Jackson, director of programming at M Social in Times Square, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the innovative programs he has created at this lifestyle boutique hotel on the north end of the square, just a short walk to all the major attractions in midtown Manhattan. For example, for national "sexual wellness" month and through September, the hotel teamed with female-run Dame products to offer guests a healthy adult play kit as an in-room amenity. For more information, click on M Social Times Square.

How are destinations approaching the luxury market? And how are they working with travel advisors to help them plan and book their clients’ luxury vacations. In this panel from our Virtual Roadshow series, you’ll hear from four global destinations that are focused on the luxury market, including Fort Lauderdale, Israel, Thailand and Rwanda. Panelists include  Caitlan Etchevers, senior business development manager for Visit Lauderdale; Yael Golan, consul and director, southern region USA for the Israel Ministry of Tourism; Pintida Harnpanpongse, public relations manager, New York office for the Tourism Authority of Thailand; and Mandi Stefanak, director North America for Visit Rwanda.

Chris Prelog, president of Windstar Cruises, takes Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report on a tour of Star Pride, the sixth and final Windstar ship to resume sailing and the third to be completely renovated. Having been stretched an additional 80 feet as part of a $250 million dollar Star class upgrade, Star Pride has 50 new cabins, a new pool deck, two new restaurants, and a larger spa and fitness area, as well as newly renovated crew areas. For more information, visit AdvisorHub.WinstarCruises.com or www.windstarcruises.com.

Lindsey Epperly, founder and CEO of Jetset World Travel, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how her new “teams” concept has helped train and mentor her independent contractors, and grown her Virtuoso-affiliated agency’s business. Epperly has written for Insider before and we have also posted her training videos, so this Is the first of a series of interviews with her on how you can improve your agency’s business practices and become more profitable. For more information on Epperly’s agency, visit www.jetsetworldtravel.com.