View From Afar

By Afar

View From Afar is a podcast by the travel industry, for the travel industry. The travel industry is constantly evolving, and in our latest podcast, View From Afar, Afar editors talk with the changemak... more

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How many episodes does View From Afar have?

The podcast currently has 33 episodes available.

View From Afar episodes:

February 02, 2026A Hotelier Takes the Helm at Explora Journeys
How do you bring ultra‑luxury hospitality to the high seas?
For Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys, it starts with reimagining ocean travel as a floating boutique hotel experience rooted in European elegance, emotional connection, and slow‑travel sensibilities.
In this episode of View From Afar, Anna joins Afar deputy editor Michelle Baran to discuss how Explora Journeys is redefining cruising for a new generation of travelers — from sustainability innovations and destination stewardship to culinary excellence and family‑forward programming that avoids the typical mega‑ship clichés.

In This Episode You’ll Learn
How Explora Journeys blends luxury hotel DNA with ocean travel to attract the “cruise‑averse” guest.

Why European ownership and MSC Group’s maritime heritage shape the brand’s culture, design, and global mix of guests.

How Explora approaches sustainability — from LNG‑powered ships to shore‑power readiness and MSC Foundation partnerships.

What smaller‑port itineraries, longer stays, and curated excursions mean for combating overtourism.

How the brand balances sophistication with thoughtful, screen‑free family programming.
Key Moments
[06:12] Why Explora thinks of its ships as “floating boutique hotels.”

[12:40] How European elegance and a global guest mix shape the onboard experience.

[18:55] What LNG power and shore‑power capabilities mean for sustainability.

[25:10] How Explora designs itineraries to avoid crowds and support local economies.

[33:22] A monastery visit in Patmos that surprises even cruise skeptics.

[41:05] Why thoughtful kids’ programming doesn’t require waterslides.

[48:30] A preview of Explora III, Asia itineraries, and the brand’s first World Journey.
Resources
Explore Explora Journeys itineraries and ships

Learn more about the MSC Foundation

Follow Anna Nash on LinkedIn

Stay Connected
Sign up⁠ for our travel industry newsletter, Afar Advisor.

Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.

Explore our other podcasts, ⁠Unpacked,⁠ where we dig into the trickiest topics in travel, and ⁠⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.
View From Afar is part of ⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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29min
December 08, 2025Live From ILTM: How Nayara Resort's Is Solving Tourism's Hidden Housing Crisis
Nayara Resorts is confronting one of tourism's most overlooked problems—the housing crisis that forces local workers out of their communities in remote areas—by building homes for its most vulnerable employees.
In this ILTM episode, recorded live in Cannes, Leo Ghitis, CEO of Nayara Resorts, joins Afar editor in chief Julia Cosgrove to discuss how the luxury resort group is addressing both environmental devastation and social inequality in Latin America's rural communities.
Leo shares Nayara's 15-year evolution from "improvising" regenerative travel to implementing a 10-year strategic plan with environmental consultants. The results include planting 40,000 trees to restore a barren mountain in Costa Rica, creating the only carbon-neutral luxury hotel in Chile, and operating a 100 percent off-grid island resort in Panama powered entirely by solar energy.
But it's Nayara's housing project that represents its most ambitious social initiative—subdividing land near its Costa Rica properties to provide subsidized lots and mortgages to female-headed households, with no requirement that recipients continue working at the resort.
As Leo explains, meaningful luxury today isn't about escaping the world but engaging with it in a safe, sensitive way—and younger travelers increasingly choose hotels based on their positive impact rather than their amenities.
What You'll Learn
Nayara eliminated plastics 15 years ago and now operates carbon-neutral properties across Costa Rica, with its Chilean property earning the country's highest ecological certification

The resort's reforestation project transformed a barren mountain into a thriving ecosystem with birds, monkeys, and sloths after 10 years and 40,000 planted trees

Short-term rentals like Airbnb have created a housing crisis in rural tourism areas by pricing out local workers from traditional rental housing

Younger travelers ask Nayara's reservation team about environmental and community impact before asking about rates or amenities
Key Moments
[3:11] Leo reveals how hiring environmental consultants transformed Nayara from "improvising" sustainability to following a strategic 10-year plan with measurable goals
[10:36] Discussion of tourism's dark side: how fathers leave rural communities for city work and never return, leaving vulnerable families behind
[13:00] The housing project details: providing subsidized land and mortgages to female-headed households with no strings attached to employment
[21:09] Leo's observation that meaningful luxury has shifted from "extravagance and hedonistic luxury" to guests wanting to connect with nature, place, and themselves
Resources
Visit the Nayara Resorts website for property information

Read an in-depth, first-person review of Nayara Bocas del Toro in Panama on afar.com.
Discover ILTM Cannes where this conversation was recorded

Explore Nayara's sustainability initiatives and community programs

Stay Connected
⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our travel industry newsletter, Afar Advisor.

Sign up for our podcast newsletter,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.

Explore our other podcasts,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Unpacked,⁠⁠⁠⁠ where we dig into the trickiest topics in travel, and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.
View From Afar is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.
This ILTM special series was recorded live in Cannes, France. View From Afar is a production of Afar. The podcast is produced by Aislyn Greene and Nikki Galteland.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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24min
December 05, 2025Live From ILTM: How Langham Balances 160 Years of Heritage with Modern Luxury
Langham Hospitality Group is proving that heritage brands can innovate without losing their soul, transforming historic buildings into contemporary luxury destinations while maintaining the personal service that defines true hospitality.
In this ILTM⁠ (International Luxury Travel Market), recorded live in Cannes, Bob van den Oord, CEO of Langham Hospitality Group, joins Afar editor-in-chief Julia Cosgrove to share how he's guided the 160-year-old brand through thoughtful expansion that honors its British legacy while embracing modern wellness, design, and guest expectations.
Bob discusses Langham's journey from opening Europe's first grand hotel with elevators in 1865 to current projects converting iconic buildings—from Chicago's former IBM building to Bangkok's historic Custom House—into luxury properties that tell compelling local stories. The brand now operates with what Bob calls "a British heart, an Asian soul, and a global mindset," creating spaces where posh pubs coexist with traditional Chinese medicine spas and cooking schools share space with world-class bars.
Bob also explores the challenge of attracting Gen Z talent to hospitality through specialized academies and how the "Langham Way" of unscripted, authentic service remains the brand's non-negotiable standard across all properties.
What You'll Learn
The "Langham Way" emphasizes unscripted, authentic service where staff have freedom to engage personally with guests and tell their own stories

Modern luxury travelers seek "freedom of time and freedom of space," driving Langham to expand room sizes to 50 square meters and invest millions in garden landscapes

Langham selects properties with compelling stories—from Venice's glass factory to Boston's Federal Reserve bank—that help connect guests to local heritage

The brand operates four specialized academies (Chinese cuisine, traditional Chinese medicine, pastry, and bar) to attract and develop young talent in hospitality
Key Moments
[2:30] Bob reveals why he decided to add a "posh pub" to the London property, proving luxury can embrace unexpected elements
[3:37] Discussion of a guest's "love letter" describing how staff remember his martini preference and cappuccino style, embodying the Langham Way
[9:53] Bob explains Langham's wellness expansion, from traditional Chinese medicine spas to pickleball courts and partnership with Sleep Matters for comprehensive sleep programs
[13:27] The talent challenge: How Langham's academy system aims to make hospitality "sexy again" for Gen Z workers
Resources
Visit the Langham Hospitality Group website for property information and bookings

Read our coverage of Langham on afar.com, including a conversation between Bob and Afar senior deputy editor Jennifer Flowers.

Discover ILTM Cannes where this conversation was recorded
Stay Connected
Sign up⁠ for our travel industry newsletter, Afar Advisor.

Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.

Explore our other podcasts, ⁠Unpacked,⁠ where we dig into the trickiest topics in travel, and ⁠⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.
View From Afar is part of⁠ ⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.
This ILTM special series was recorded live in Cannes, France. View From Afar is a production of Afar. The podcast is produced by Aislyn Greene and Nikki Galteland.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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18min
December 05, 2025Live From ILTM: Virtuoso CEO Matthew Upchurch on Humanizing the Exceptional in an Age of AI
For more than four decades, Matthew Upchurch has been a driving force behind how high-end travel is sold, experienced, and understood. As CEO of ⁠Virtuoso⁠ , one of the world's leading luxury travel networks, he's championed human connection in an increasingly digital world and advocated for the enduring value of trusted advisors and transformative, purpose-driven travel.
In this ILTM episode, recorded live in Cannes, Afar cofounder Joe Diaz sits down with Matthew to discuss how the luxury sector is evolving, what personalization really means today, and where he sees the next opportunities for meaningful travel experiences.
The conversation explores how AI is reshaping the advisor role, why debriefing clients is the most underrated skill in the business, and how intergenerational collaboration is breathing new life into travel advising.
What You'll Learn
•       Matthew's philosophy of "automate the predictable so you can humanize the exceptional" and how AI amplifies rather than replaces advisors
•       The critical difference between service (what you do) and hospitality (how you make someone feel doing it)
•       Why the quality of the post-trip debrief is the number one factor that separates transactional agents from trusted advisors
•       The concept of "unique ability teams" and why pairing right-brain
relationship builders with left-brain logistics experts creates exponential
value
•       How the travel advisor profession has evolved from GDS "human ATMs" to unchained creative professionals
•       The "FOMO to Slowmo" trend and other shifts in how luxury travelers
approach their journeys
Key Moments
•       [02:00] Matthew introduces his most quoted line: "Automate the predictable so that you can humanize the exceptional"
•       [03:30] Will Guidara's definition of hospitality: "Service is that thing you
do. Hospitality is how you make somebody feel doing that thing you do"
•       [05:00] The framework: what do you do before, during, and after travel—and why the debrief matters most
•       [08:00] Anne Scully's game-changing question: "If you could change one thing about that trip, what would it be?"
•       [09:30] The evolution of travel advisors from the 1950s Pan Am era through GDS to the iPhone-enabled present
•       [12:00] The unique ability concept: what drains you vs. what recharges you, and building teams around this distinction
•       [14:00] Chip Conley's wisdom: "I'll lend you some of my EQ for some of your DQ"—the power of intergenerational collaboration
•       [18:00] The creative tension of sophisticated travelers: returning to beloved places vs. exploring the new
•       [20:00] Why advisors should help clients think strategically about their "most valuable non-renewable asset"—free leisure time
Resources
•       Learn more about Virtuoso and their global network of travel advisors
•       Read Patrick Lencioni's The Advantage and Five Dysfunctions of a Team,
referenced by Matthew
•       Explore Chip Conley's book Wisdom at Work: The Making of a Modern Elder
•       Learn about ILTM Cannes where this conversation was recorded
Stay Connected
⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠ for our travel industry newsletter, Afar Advisor.

Sign up for our podcast newsletter,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.

Explore our other podcasts,⁠⁠ ⁠Unpacked,⁠⁠⁠ where we dig into the trickiest topics in travel, and⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.
View From Afar is part of⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.
This ILTM special series was recorded live in Cannes, France. View From Afar is a production of Afar. The podcast is produced by Aislyn Greene and Nikki Galteland.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
26min
December 04, 2025Live From ILTM: How Matter of Form Helps Luxury Travel Brands—From Aman to Belmond—Find Their Voices
Matter of Form is proving that luxury travel brands need therapy—not to fix what's broken, but to discover what makes them singular in a sea of "elevated experiences" and "art of luxury" clichés.
In this ILTM episode, recorded live in Cannes, Anant Sharma, founder and CEO of Matter of Form, joins Afar cofounder Joe Diaz to dissect why luxury hospitality has become awash with homogenized language and how brands can reclaim their confidence through clarity of purpose. With 60 people working across continents, the London-based Matter of Form has transformed hospitality giants like Aman Resorts, Belmond, Mandarin Oriental, and Lindblad by finding the unspoken truths within organizations.
The conversation explores luxury travel's eight percent compound annual growth and $1.38 trillion market size, and why bigger isn't always better when everyone's competing with identical promises.

What You'll Learn
The luxury travel market's growth creates more competition and pushes brands toward clichéd language like "elevated experiences" and "being in the heart of" destinations

Successful luxury brands must identify which aspect of their guests' personality they're appealing to and deliver on that singular promise

Matter of Form provides three key values: outside perspective, forcing clients to make time for change, and understanding what's not explicitly stated

Organizational design and stakeholder values reveal more about a brand's true identity than their marketing materials
Key Moments
[2:25] Anant traces his path from magazine-obsessed kid with authority issues to luxury brand consultant via a 10-year transformation journey with Aman Resorts
[7:36] The homogenization problem: "You can't tell people how to feel. You need to invite them into a stage that makes them feel something"
[10:17] Why branding is like therapy: helping intelligent, creative leaders see past their blind spots and find what's naturally special about their culture
[12:20] Joe identifies the core issue: luxury brands lack confidence to step into who they truly are, and matter of form gives them permission to be themselves
Resources
Visit the Matter of Form website for case studies and insights

Listen to Anant's podcast, What The Luxe, exploring modern luxury concepts

Learn about ILTM Cannes where this conversation was recorded

Stay Connected
⁠Sign up⁠⁠ for our travel industry newsletter, Afar Advisor.

Sign up for our podcast newsletter,⁠ ⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.

Explore our other podcasts,⁠ ⁠Unpacked,⁠⁠ where we dig into the trickiest topics in travel, and⁠ ⁠⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.
View From Afar is part of⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.
This ILTM special series was recorded live in Cannes, France. View From Afar is a production of Afar. The podcast is produced by Aislyn Greene and Nikki Galteland.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
14min
December 04, 2025Live From ILTM: Cutting Through the "Sea of Sameness"—Catherine Powell's Vision for AmaWaterways
AmaWaterways is expanding river cruising's appeal beyond its traditional audience, drawing in solo travelers, active families, and wellness-focused guests who are discovering this style of travel for the first time.
In this ILTM (International Luxury Travel Market) episode, recorded live in Cannes, Catherine Powell, the new CEO of AmaWaterways, joins Afar editor in chief Julia Cosgrove to reveal the brand's fresh visual identity and expansion plans, including eight new European ships and pioneering Colombian routes.
Catherine brings expertise from Disney Parks and Airbnb to the family-founded company, applying her knowledge of memorable guest experiences to river cruising.
Under her leadership since early 2025, AmaWaterways is cutting through the "sea of sameness" with distinctive branding and curated experiences, from Smithsonian journeys to Soulful Experiences cruises celebrating Black culture. The conversation also explores the brand's pioneering spirit—and how it maintains intimacy while scaling.

What You'll Learn
AmaWaterways is launching several new ships through 2027, including the AmaRudi (named after co-founder Rudi Schreiner)

Every AmaWaterways ship has a dedicated wellness host leading programs from morning yoga to differentiated hiking levels for "gentle walkers" and active adventurers

The brand offers specialized cruises including Adventures by Disney partnerships, Soulful Experiences, Latin Touch, and Smithsonian Journeys to connect like-minded travelers

Solo travelers are thoughtfully accommodated with dedicated tours, strategic table arrangements with a fifth chair, and inclusive programming during holidays
Key Moments
[1:59] Catherine unveils AmaWaterways' brand refresh at ILTM, explaining the need to stand out in a market full of "blue and gold sameness"
[4:26] Discussion of Catherine's Disney and Airbnb background: deconstructing hospitality to its core elements of welcome, communication, care, and surprise
[6:18] Julia shares her personal experience sailing with young children, highlighting how crew members embodied the family-founded company's warmth
[13:35] What wellness on board looks and feels like
[16:31] Catherine's vision for innovation: from Colombia's Magdalena River infrastructure to using AI to enhance rather than replace human connections
Resources
Visit the AmaWaterways website for cruise information and bookings

Explore our river cruise coverage featuring AmaWaterways on afar.com

Discover ILTM Cannes where this conversation was recorded
Stay Connected
Sign up⁠ for our travel industry newsletter, Afar Advisor.

Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.

Explore our other podcasts, ⁠Unpacked,⁠ where we dig into the trickiest topics in travel, and ⁠⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.
View From Afar is part of ⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

This ILTM special series was recorded live in Cannes, France. View From Afar is a production of Afar. The podcast is produced by Aislyn Greene and Nikki Galteland.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
20min
December 02, 2025Live From ILTM: Inside Forbes Travel Guide's 67-Year Legacy of Defining Luxury
Forbes Travel Guide has been the gold standard for luxury hotel ratings for more than 60 years, and its anonymous inspections remain one of the travel industry's most influential forces. In this ⁠ILTM⁠ (International Luxury Travel Market) episode, recorded live in Cannes, Hermann Elger, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide, joins Afar co-founder Joe Diaz to reveal how the guide maintains its integrity while expanding beyond hotels into cruise lines, air travel, and emerging luxury categories.
The conversation covers how Forbes protects inspector anonymity—even from Hermann himself—and why the Standards Advisory Committee includes industry voices to ensure ratings evolve with traveler expectations. Hermann also explores how the five-star standard has become synonymous with excellence across industries and shares its expansion into river cruises, the Edge List for emerging properties, Star Bars, and the Icons List for legendary establishments.
What You'll Learn
Forbes Travel Guide inspectors remain anonymous even to the CEO, with only two people knowing their identities to maintain rating integrity

Service accounts for the majority of scoring over facilities—a property can have dated décor but achieve five stars through exceptional service

The Guide has expanded to include Verified Air Travel Awards, cruise and river cruise ratings, the Edge List for up-and-coming properties, Star Bars, and the Icons List

Standards evolve through an industry Advisory Committee that ensures ratings reflect current luxury expectations while maintaining consistency
Key Moments
[3:28] Discussion of how Forbes maintains inspector anonymity and why third-party verification matters more than ever in the age of online reviews
[6:11] Hermann reveals the Guide's expansion strategy: cruise lines, air travel awards, Edge List, Star Bars, and Icons List to cover the full luxury travel journey
[10:11] Behind the curtains of how these iconic lists come together.

Resources
Visit the Forbes Travel Guide website for star ratings and travel planning

Explore the Verified Air Travel Awards and Edge List for emerging properties

Discover ILTM Cannes where this conversation was recorded
Stay Connected
Sign up⁠ for our travel industry newsletter, Afar Advisor.

Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.

Explore our other podcasts, ⁠Unpacked,⁠ where we dig into the trickiest topics in travel, and ⁠⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.
This ILTM special series was recorded live in Cannes, France. View From Afar is a production of Afar Media. The podcast is produced by Aislyn Greene and Nikki Galteland.
View From Afar is part of ⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
15min
December 02, 2025Live From ILTM: Fora's Mission to Modernize the Travel Advisor Model
Fora Travel is proving that the travel advisor industry can evolve beyond traditional gatekeeping while maintaining professional excellence. In this ILTM (International Luxury Travel Market) episode—recorded live in Cannes—Henley Vazquez, cofounder of Fora Travel, joins Afar cofounder Joe Diaz to share how she's transforming a legacy industry by saying "yes" to a new generation of travel entrepreneurs who don't fit the traditional full-time advisor mold.
Henley discusses her journey from running a traditional agency to launching Fora in 2021, frustrated by having to turn away talented people who couldn't commit to full-time travel planning due to other careers or family obligations. The conversation covers Fora's innovative technology like "bookable quotes" that update in real-time, price monitoring AI that alerts clients to rate changes, and how the platform turns advisors into "wingpeople" rather than middlemen.
Henley also explores the challenge of maintaining community intimacy while scaling to thousands of advisors and why transparency and human connection remain essential even as AI transforms the industry.
What You'll Learn
Fora operates as a host agency with a $299 annual membership fee, splitting commissions with advisors while handling all back-office operations

The platform's "bookable quote" feature allows clients to book travel in real-time while keeping advisors in the loop for expert guidance

Fora employs 180 staff members, with half being engineers focused on modernizing legacy travel technology

Price monitoring AI tracks all bookings and alerts advisors and clients when rates change by more than 5 percent or $50
Key Moments
[2:01] Henley explains how COVID pushed her to rethink the industry: "I was tired of saying no to people" who had travel expertise but couldn't work traditional advisor hours
[5:59] Joe reveals he's actually a Fora advisor himself, surprising Henley and demonstrating the platform's accessibility to non-traditional users
[8:41] Discussion of scaling community through chapters, with local leaders organizing everything from partner events to hiking meetups across 92 countries
[12:37] Henley's vision for advisors as "wingpeople not middlemen"—using technology to handle administrative tasks while humans provide expertise when it matters most
Resources
Visit the Fora Travel website to learn about becoming an advisor

Explore Fora's annual conference that grew from 40 to 800-plus attendees

Learn about ILTM Cannes where this conversation was recorded
Stay Connected
Sign up⁠ for our travel industry newsletter, Afar Advisor.

Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.

Explore our other podcasts, ⁠Unpacked,⁠ where we dig into the trickiest topics in travel, and ⁠⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.
This ILTM special series was recorded live in Cannes, France. View From Afar is a production of Afar Media and part of the Airwave Media podcast network. The podcast is produced by Aislyn Greene and Nikki Galteland with assistance from Jenn Flowers, Julia Cosgrove, and Joe Diaz.

View From Afar is part of⁠ ⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
18min
October 08, 2025The Business Case for Purpose-Driven Travel: Lessons From Intrepid's CEO
How do you build a travel company that prioritizes purpose over profit—and still succeed? For James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Travel, it starts with transparency, ambition, and a commitment to local communities.
In this episode of View From Afar, he chats with Afar director of podcasts Aislyn Greene about how he's steering one of the world's most beloved adventure travel companies through challenges like overtourism, climate change, and the evolving expectations of modern travelers.
In this episode you'll learn:
How Intrepid creates its annual Not Hot List of emerging destinations and ensures they're ready for sustainable tourism.

Why the company banned elephant rides in 2014 and how transparency drives trust with travelers.

What it takes to become a B Corp- certified travel company—and why it took three years.

How Intrepid co-designs trips with Indigenous communities and women-focused travel groups.
Don't miss these moments:
[01:45] How James Thornton got into the travel space.
[03:00] Examples from Intrepid's 2025 Not Hot List, including the island in Croatia that was a military zone until the 1980s—and why it's perfect for travelers seeking authentic experiences.
[10:30] Why women are the primary decision-makers in travel and how Intrepid is responding with women-only expeditions.
[18:00] The challenging three-year journey to B Corp certification and why it was worth it.
[24:00] James's pandemic-era crisis leadership and his open letter to travelers.
[32:00] The loneliness pandemic and why human connection matters more than ever in travel.
Featured in this episode
Intrepid's 2025 Not Hot List destinations including Vis Island, Croatia; Sierra Leone; and the Tian Shan Mountain Range, Kyrgyzstan

Intrepid's women-only expeditions in Jordan, Morocco, Iran, India, Turkey, and many more countries

Intrepid's Reconciliation Action Plan for Indigenous tourism in Australia
Resources
Explore Intrepid's 2025 Not Hot List

Download Intrepid's open-source B Corp Guide for purpose-led businesses

Explore Intrepid Travel's trips and experiences
Stay Connected
Sign up⁠ for our travel industry newsletter, Afar Advisor.

Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.

Explore our other podcasts, ⁠Unpacked,⁠ where we dig into the trickiest topics in travel, and ⁠⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.
View From Afar is part of ⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
42min
September 03, 2025Has East Africa's Great Migration Become Too Popular?
In July 2025, a video from veteran safari guide Nick Kleer went viral, showing more than 150 safari vehicles crowding a single wildebeest crossing in Tanzania's Serengeti. The chaotic scene sparked outrage and raised urgent questions about overtourism in East Africa's most iconic wildlife destinations. But the issue is much more nuanced.
In this episode of View From Afar—the first in a larger safari series that will continue into 2026—Afar senior deputy editor Jennifer Flowers speaks with two veteran safari industry leaders about the crisis threatening the Great Migration and what can be done to ease overtourism, while protecting wildlife and local livelihoods.
Guests
Nicky Fitzgerald - Co-founder of Angama, with 45 years in the safari industry

Joss Kent - CEO of &Beyond, lifelong Kenya resident and conservation advocate
In this episode you'll learn
How social media's "seven-second soundbites" have reduced the year-round Great Migration to a single Instagram moment

Why guides face enormous pressure to deliver river crossings, even when it harms wildlife

The role of government regulation, park fees, and resource management in controlling crowds

How global hotel brands entering the safari space are changing the landscape

What travelers can do to experience the migration responsibly
Key moments
[03:13] How the industry arrived at this moment

[07:56] Why this isn't just about river crossings - every major wildlife sighting faces vehicle pressure

[10:16] The complex question of who's responsible: guests, operators, guides, or governments

[20:28] The Ritz-Carlton Masai Mara controversy and environmental impact concerns

[30:05] How to encourage travelers to see the migration responsibly

[33:42] The role of social media

[39:33] What's at stake if the industry doesn't change course
Resources
Read Jenn's full interview with safari guide Nick Kleer (who filmed the viral video)

Read the transcript of the episode

Learn more about Angama's safari lodges

Explore &Beyond's lodges and experiences

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠Behind the Mic⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our other podcasts, Unpacked, where we dig into the trickiest topics in travel, and ⁠Travel Tales⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.
View From Afar is part of ⁠Airwave Media⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠[email protected]⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
51min

FAQs about View From Afar:

How many episodes does View From Afar have?

The podcast currently has 33 episodes available.

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