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Money movement is the hidden engine powering travel and too often the root cause of stalled bookings, compressed margins, and delayed supplier payouts. In this episode, we sit down with Erich Ko, Senior GTM Partnerships Manager at Airwallex, to break down the full financial journey from traveler checkout to final supplier settlement and outline practical ways travel brands can replace slow wire transfers, hidden FX costs, and manual reconciliation with a unified, programmable global platform.

We unpack the real challenges tour operators face when pricing trips months in advance while paying suppliers in appreciating currencies. Erich explains how local payment rails, multi currency wallets, and like for like settlement reduce spreads and eliminate unnecessary fees at every stage. We also explore transparent FX with real time fee visibility, automated rules that lock in conversions at target rates, and programmatic execution that removes human delay from critical transactions.

The conversation explores how virtual card issuing increases control and speed for supplier payments, why embedded payment acceptance boosts conversion through wallets like Apple Pay and Alipay, and how flexible options like deposits and BNPL better align with traveler cash flow in today’s higher rate environment.

Canada stands out as a proving ground for globally ambitious travel brands that have outgrown domestic first banking tools. With local licensing, on the ground teams, and purpose built products, Airwallex enables seamless movement of funds across US, Europe, and Asia corridors with same day reliability and end to end visibility.

Looking ahead, speed and reliability are no longer differentiators. They are expectations. The competitive advantage lies in programmability through APIs, wallets, and flexible payout infrastructure that can adapt to AI agents, emerging distribution channels, and increasingly dynamic travel products.

The practical playbook is clear. Map your entire funds flow. Quantify the true cost including headcount and delays. Consolidate onto a single multi currency platform. Design your payments stack to be AI ready from day one.

Learn more at airwallex.com.

The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.

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Ready to meet the leaders driving the next phase of multi-day tour growth?

In this Event Preview Episode we’re taking you inside the plans for Arival 360 Valencia, a focused three-day gathering where operators, distributors, and travel tech leaders come together to talk tours, activities, attractions and this year, a significantly expanded Multi-Day Tour Program.

Building on the multi program success from Washington, DC, this isn’t just a side conversation. It’s a dedicated, strategic stream built specifically for multi-day operators looking to scale distribution, modernize tech, and build stronger partnerships across Europe and beyond.

Our first conversation features Bruce Rosard, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Arival, who shares why the expansion of the Multi-Day Stream reflects one of the biggest shifts happening in in-destination travel right now: operators moving from fragmented systems and manual processes toward scalable, connected distribution ecosystems.   

Meet the Multi-Day Leaders Before You Arrive

As part of our Travel Trends Podcast coverage, we’ll be hosting exclusive 15-minute pre-event interviews on our YouTube Channel with several of the key Multi-Day speakers including TourRadar CEO Travis Pittman, WeRoad CEO Andrea D’Amico, G Adventures GM EMEA, Brian Young, Contiki Director of Product Strategy Natasha Lawrence and more.

These short conversations are designed to help you:

• Learn more about the speakers and their companies
• Understand what’s bringing them to Arival Valencia
• Discover the partnership opportunities they’re actively exploring
• Identify who you should connect with before you even land

Think of it as strategic networking before the event begins.

A Dedicated Multi-Day Stream 

The expanded Multi-Day Tour Program brings together senior leaders from companies like Intrepid, Exxotica, Evan Evans, TTC and Much Better Adventures and more for candid, practical discussions around:

• Distribution strategy across direct, OTAs, and marketplace partners
• Connectivity challenges and API-driven integration
• Content and inventory systems for complex, multi-departure catalogs
• Channel mix optimization and margin protection
• Marketing that balances storytelling with operational discipline

Backed by Arival’s proprietary research, including new multi-day specific insights on tech adoption, channel performance, and shifting consumer demand, this stream is designed for operators looking for growth. 

Beyond Multi-Day: AI, Culinary & Executive Strategy

While Multi-Day expansion is a major focus, the broader program also delivers:

• Executive Summit: A facilitator-led day for 100 industry leaders tackling pricing, channel strategy, product design, and scalable systems.
• AI Track & Hands-On Lab: Practical sessions on LLM distribution, evolving search behavior, and workflow automation you can deploy immediately.
• Culinary Experiences Track: Deep dives into premium product design, gastronomy partnerships, compliance, and pricing for high-value food and spirits experiences.

Special Offer - Save €100 and Be Part of the Spotlight Episode

If you are a tour operator navigating the complexities of multi-day product distribution in Europe, this year’s Valencia event is especially built for you. 

When you register with this code, let us know and we’ll make sure you’re featured in our Travel Trends Event Spotlight i

The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.

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Most travel stories skip the middle. The ferries, buses, and trains that actually move us between major gateways and the places we are dreaming about rarely get the spotlight. In this episode, we focus on that overlooked backbone of the travel ecosystem with Travelier CEO and cofounder Noam Toister, whose company is digitizing ground and sea transport across more than 100 countries and thousands of operators. If flights and hotels have long benefited from seamless booking technology, this remains one of the last major frontiers in travel and it is transforming what is possible when building an itinerary.

Noam takes us inside the operational complexity behind the scenes. Fragmented schedules, inconsistent service standards, mid route stops, and operators without digital booking systems have historically made this category difficult to navigate. Travelier built the missing infrastructure, including operator software, aggregation tools, and a fast, reliable API that allows travelers to compare real time options, see transparent pricing, and book with confidence. This foundation does more than organize a fragmented system. It opens access to secondary and emerging destinations, helping shift demand away from overcrowded hubs and toward towns, islands, and regions that benefit most from tourism.

We explore practical examples, from combining a flight and ferry from Bangkok to Koh Tao in a single booking flow, to transforming Greek island hopping from uncertainty into a streamlined plan. We also discuss how demand data is helping unlock new and underserved routes in Vietnam, Indonesia, Morocco, Costa Rica, and beyond. The conversation examines Travelier’s marketplace model across both B2C and B2B channels, its multi brand strategy including 12go in Southeast Asia and Plataforma 10 and DeÔnibus in Latin America, and how strategic acquisitions during the pandemic accelerated global expansion.

Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, Travelier is doubling down on domestic markets across Asia while scaling global distribution through a unified API that allows online travel agencies and tour operators to easily integrate non air segments. The long term vision is clear. Booking a bus or ferry anywhere in the world should be as simple and intuitive as booking a hotel. If you are interested in the future of connected travel and how we move beyond the usual hotspots, this episode charts the road and sea ahead.

Visit travelier.com to learn more. 

The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.

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Ready for a clear eyed look at how to travel smarter in 2026? Dan and Travelzoo’s Senior Editor and co-host Gabe Saglie close our 10-part Best Bets series with Susan Catto, Head of Publishing and Production at Travelzoo Canada, for a forward looking conversation on the future of travel deals and the trends shaping how we book.

This episode connects the dots between destinations, member behavior, and the offers that truly deliver value. We explore how Canadians and Americans are traveling differently this year, from longer international journeys and train powered domestic escapes to the revival of the great American road trip with Route 66’s 100th anniversary and heritage travel tied to USA 250.

We uncover where value is hiding in plain sight. Mexico’s all inclusive scene is shifting from more to better. Saudi Arabia is emerging with remarkable UNESCO sites and a new wave of hospitality. Albania is gaining ground as a Mediterranean alternative without the crowds or price tag. Closer to home, winter in Muskoka, Vancouver Island, and Nova Scotia proves that off season can offer some of the richest experiences of the year. In Asia, Singapore stands out as a seamless gateway, while Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand continue to attract repeat visitors, often through flexible air inclusive packages that make it easy to extend your stay.

If you want real savings and better experiences, timing is everything. We break down shoulder season advantages, last minute booking behavior, the rise of workcations, and why travelers are reallocating budgets toward meaningful upgrades like better seats and curated experiences. Most importantly, we talk about trust. Human vetted offers, verified stay reviews, and community driven recommendations are redefining what a great travel deal actually looks like.

This is your roadmap to navigating travel trends and finding smarter value in 2026.

Thanks for joining us for this series! Don’t forget to become a member at travelzoo.com to access exclusive offers. Register for just a dollar for the first month!

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People don’t just want to go somewhere anymore, they want to feel something. That emotional shift is powering the experience economy and changing how we celebrate love, milestones, and meaningful moments. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we sit down with Cody Sudmeier, co founder and CEO of Spur Experiences, to explore why gifting moments is quickly overtaking gifting things and how shared experiences create connection, joy, and memories that last far longer than anything wrapped in a box.

We trace Spur’s origin story back to wedding registries, where modern couples were outgrowing traditional houseware lists and craving something more personal. From there, Cody walks us through what makes experience gifting actually work in real life: instant booking, non expiring vouchers, and simple swaps when plans or preferences change. He also explains the psychology behind why experiences win, with happiness showing up three times over through anticipation, the moment itself, and the memories that follow. From food tours and hot springs to doors off helicopter rides and once in a lifetime access, we explore the categories people love most and how Spur helps match the right experience to the right person.

The conversation moves from consumers to companies, where experience gifting is reshaping employee recognition and retention. Flexible access to concerts and sporting events, wellness essentials like spas and retreats, and annual experience stipends are giving teams rewards they genuinely use and remember long after a bonus is spent. We also dig into the technology making this all easier, including AI powered recommendations, market gap insights, and influencer driven discovery that increasingly guides purchase decisions, especially for younger audiences.

Whether you’re looking for a Valentine’s gift that feels thoughtful and personal, planning a wedding or milestone celebration, or designing a corporate rewards program people truly value, this one’s for you. 

Visit spurexperiences.com to learn more.

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A country this slender shouldn’t hold so much, yet Chile layers entire worlds end to end: a cosmopolitan capital set against the Andes, a desert where the night sky feels close enough to touch, vast Patagonian parks that safeguard wild silence, and a Pacific island where living tradition matters more than spectacle. In episode nine of our 10-part Travelzoo Best Bets Series, Dan and Travelzoo Senior Editor and co-host Gabe Saglie sit down with Jessica Canelo, Marketing Director at Chile Travel, to map a clear, inspiring path for traveling Chile in 2026. From what to see first and how to move smartly between regions to why community-led sustainability underpins every decision, this conversation brings Chile into focus.

We begin in Santiago, a city in the midst of reinvention. Walkable neighborhoods like Barrio Italia invite long meals and late nights, while the historic funicular to Cerro San Cristóbal delivers sweeping views that seamlessly link city and mountains. From the capital, Chile opens outward with ease. Nearby wine valleys Maipo, Colchagua, Casablanca, and Leyda tell a layered wine story, from benchmark cabernets to crisp coastal whites and the revival of heritage grapes like país and cinsault. Carmenere, once mistaken for merlot, now stands proudly as Chile’s signature, perfectly paired with smoky asados and Pacific seafood.

Then the journey stretches in every direction. Head north to the Atacama Desert, where San Pedro’s oasis culture balances cycling routes, sunrise valleys, geothermal wonders, and stargazing so pristine that observatories like ALMA peer deep into the universe. In rare years, the desert bloom transforms arid landscapes into fields of color. Fly west to Rapa Nui, five hours across open ocean, where the moai stand watch and the Tapati festival keeps cultural identity deeply rooted in everyday life. Travel south to Patagonia, where Torres del Paine’s granite towers rise above turquoise lakes and expanding parklands protect fragile ecosystems, continuing the conservation legacy championed by Chris and Douglas Tompkins.

So why 2026? Expanded airlift from North America brings Chile closer than ever, harvest season offers a vibrant winter escape for northern travelers, and September’s Independence celebrations fill the country with music, food, and open-armed hospitality. With communities guiding tourism and protecting what matters most, Chile invites travelers to slow down, go deeper, and feel more.

Join us next Tuesday for the finale of our 10-part Travelzoo Best Bets Series. Become a member at travelzoo.com to access exclusive offers.

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Big rooms. Bigger ideas. And a roadmap for what’s next in global tourism. In this event preview episode, we’re joined once again by Deborah Rothe, Director of ITB Berlin, to unpack what’s coming when more than 100,000 travel professionals from 170 countries converge in Berlin this March. From Angola’s host-country spotlight to Thailand’s major presence, we highlight the regions gaining momentum and the early signals that often shape the year ahead.

At the heart of ITB Berlin 2026 is a powerful guiding theme: leading tourism into balance. Deborah breaks down what that really means in practice, sustainable growth that still drives revenue, AI that builds trust and boosts conversion, and innovation that respects human values. On the eTravel Stage, expect hands-on demos showing how AI is transforming distribution, personalization, and service. Across marketing and strategy tracks, we explore how partnerships and value chains are evolving in real time, while destination sessions reframe accessibility and data-driven stewardship as true commercial advantages that increase yield and smooth seasonality.

For attendees, this episode doubles as a practical playbook. We share how to set clear goals, pre-book meetings using the ITB app and Navigator, plan efficient routes across 40 halls, and uncover high-impact sessions beyond the main stages. You’ll also hear field-tested tips, from why printed briefings still sharpen focus, to how pairing business cards with AI-powered follow-ups turns conversations into real pipeline.

We zoom out as well, spotlighting ITB’s expanding global footprint and the launch of ITB Americas in Guadalajara, where regional depth and early signals come together to form lasting partnerships.

If you’re heading to Berlin, or tracking the trends shaping 2026, this episode sets the stage. 

For more information, visit itb.com/en. 

The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.

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The moment a guide stops narrating a place and starts guiding a person, everything changes. That idea anchors this season finale with Joe Pine, the visionary behind The Experience Economy and his latest book The Transformation Economy, alongside Jake Haupert, Co-founder of the Transformational Travel Council (TTC). Together, they lay out a clear and practical roadmap for turning great trips into identity shaping journeys that deliver true return on time invested.

We explore encapsulation, the four part process of prepare, experience, reflect, and integrate, and show how it can elevate any itinerary. Preparation sets intention and sharpens self awareness. On trip experiences unfold at the exact moment travelers are most open to change, away from daily routines. Reflection locks in meaning and memory. Integration sustains momentum through coaching, community, and new habits. Jake connects this framework to the TTC PATH model, sharing real world examples from advisors, conservation groups, and destinations redesigning guest journeys, training guides in human centered skills, and embedding regenerative outcomes into their offerings.

Why is this moment happening now? Demographic shifts, digital overload, and a growing hunger for purpose are moving demand beyond experiences toward transformation. We also examine AI’s emerging role as an engine for mass customization, helping diagnose motivations, adapt experiences in real time, and support post trip integration, while freeing people to do what only humans can do: build trust, ask better questions, and hold space for change.

For tour operators, destinations, hotels, and advisors, this conversation serves as a blueprint. Elevate guides from logistics to mentorship. Design intention setting and daily reflection into your product. Offer integration as a service, not an afterthought. Above all, step fully into the reality that you are in the transformation business.

To go deeper after listening, visit transformational.travel/getstarted. You’ll find a 10% discount code for Transformational Travel Council programs, a link to purchase Joe’s book, and free access to the State of the Industry Report. Most importantly, it’s a practical guide to TTC’s foundational frameworks and the perfect next step for anyone ready to start designing transformational journeys.

Season 6 of the Travel Trends Podcast brought together some of the most influential voices shaping the future of travel. Across the season, we featured 20+ industry leaders spanning sustainability, loyalty, aviation, emerging tour operators, in-destination experiences, and AI - each offering candid insights, bold ideas, and practical perspectives on what’s next.

Subscribe now and join us for season seven this March, as we continue to explore how industry leaders are shaping the future of travel for 2026 and beyond.

🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 6 Title Sponsors for their Support: Holafly, Propellic, PayCompass, Kaptio, Civitatis and WeRoad

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History lovers, wine enthusiasts, and weekend escape artists will feel right at home in Niagara on the Lake. In episode eight of our 10-part Travelzoo Best Bets Series, Dan and Travelzoo Senior Editor and co-host Gabe Saglie travel to Niagara-on-the-Lake, selected as part of Travelzoo’s Canada Best Bets for 2026, alongside Brianne Hawley from Tourism Niagara-on-the-Lake to explore why this lakeside town deserves a spot at the top of your 2026 travel list. Set where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario, the destination offers 19th-century streets glowing in winter, half a million tulips in spring, bike friendly waterfront paths in summer, and harvest season tastings that linger into fall. With four nearby border crossings and strong value for U.S. travelers, it is an easy trip that still feels intimate, handcrafted, and deeply local.

We explore the region’s cool climate wine strengths, from elegant Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to the area’s iconic ice wine. You will hear how subzero harvests create a concentrated sweetness balanced by bright acidity, making ice wine more refreshing than expected and surprisingly versatile in cocktails, desserts, and savory dishes. Nearly 40 wineries anchor a broader tasting scene that includes breweries, cideries, and distilleries. The culinary offering rises to match, with farm driven vineyard kitchens, refined dining in historic hotels, classic high tea at the Prince of Wales, and a new wave of restaurants quietly chasing Michelin recognition without losing the town’s charm.

Culture makes Niagara-on-the-Lake a true year round destination. The Shaw Festival runs across most of the year, jazz and classical performances bring music into intimate winery spaces, and winter delivers its own energy with outdoor hydrotherapy circuits, skating rinks with DJ nights, and fireside tastings. Whether you are planning a romantic wellness escape, a bachelorette weekend built around wine, a family trip pairing Niagara Falls with small town magic, or a midweek team retreat with vineyard dinners, the logistics are simple and the experiences come together effortlessly.

New episodes drop every Tuesday, each featuring local experts who bring these Best Bets to life. Become a member at travelzoo.com to access exclusive offers.

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The biggest surprise in travel tech right now isn’t a model, it’s a movement. From a 20 page memo to a Series C and $1.5B in annual sales, Fora’s rise has been powered by a community of 11,000 advisors, a product organization that ships fast, and a deep belief that hospitality is fundamentally human. Dan sat down with Co-founder and Chief Product & Technology Officer, Jake Peters at Fora’s NYC headquarters to trace how a modern travel agency evolved into a full stack platform that blends e-commerce speed with the craft of advising.

Jake opens the door on Fora’s “better equation” for travel: equip advisors with world class tools, give suppliers precision distribution, and offer travelers live, transparent choices they can book at midnight. We dig into the nuts and bolts, from secure card vaults and AI powered booking ingestion to faster commission payouts and an itinerary and proposal builder that turns forwarded PDFs into polished, client ready plans. The breakout hit is bookable quotes with live rates and perks that drive real time upsell without friction. Up next is a client booking experience designed to capture last minute DIY trips while keeping the advisor at the center.

We go deep on applied AI, including transforming unreadable GDS text, matching partner deals, generating social content, and embedding an agent that can add clients from voice notes, build proposals, and launch quotes on command. Jake is candid about legacy hotel systems, how Fora structures AI work across pods, and why human in the loop guardrails still matter when accuracy counts. We also talk scale, covering groups, cruise, a flights desk moving from email to interface, and plans to hire 55 engineers in New York to complete the end to end workflow.

This conversation is for advisors who want leverage, hoteliers who want targeted demand, and builders who want to ship where the impact is obvious. If you’re curious how AI, community, and product discipline can truly change how travel is sold without losing the soul of service, you’ll come away with a clear view of what’s working now and what’s coming next.

Learn more at foratravel.com

The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.

https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/