The Folo by Travel Weekly

We look back at the first quarter-century and the biggest events that had an outsized impact on the travel business, from mega-events that changed the world to milestone product launches and business decisions that portended major shifts to come. In this episode, our top editors unpack the list and some of the decisions behind it, as well as those reminisces about the old times and what’s happening in travel today.  Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com Winter series: This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Oct. 6 and has been edited for length and clarity.  Related links: The 25 years that changed travel https://www.travelweekly.com/25-yearsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're taking an in-depth look at our annual Travel Industry Survey of travel agency business with then-editor in chief Arnie Weissmann and news editor Johanna Jainchill. In this episode we delve into survey data: Advisors’ use of AI – how they use it and what they’re concerned about; which travel categories are growing; advisors’ use of social media; their relationships with preferred suppliers; where they work; and what they’re booking. And, of course, whether they’re optimistic or pessimistic about their business going forward.  This survey was produced in partnership with Phocuswright, a sister brand to Travel Weekly. It surveyed more than 1,500 advisors during August and early September and was published Nov. 23. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com Winter series: This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Dec. 1 and has been edited for length and clarity.  Since this episode was published, Johanna was promoted to editor in chief, and Arnie took the title of explorer at large for parent company Northstar Travel Group.  Related links: The 2025 Travel Industry Survey https://www.travelweekly.com/industry-survey-2025 Previous Industry Surveys https://www.travelweekly.com/For-Travel-Agents/Travel-Industry-SurveySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's tradition for travel publications and others to pull together inspirational lists for travel, and late last year Power List travel company Chase Travel published a list called "26 Trips to Take in 2026."  On this episode, Karen Magee, president of Valerie Wilson Travel, and Hillary Reinsberg, head of content for card and connected commerce at Chase, talk about inspiration for the list and how it was created, consumer travel trends and, of course, specific destinations on the list itself and where travelers might get inspiration for the year ahead.  Winter series: This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Dec. 8 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com Related links 26 Trips to Take in 2026 https://trips.chase.com Travel Weekly's Preview 2026 https://www.travelweekly.com/preview-2026See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    In a so-called k-shaped economy, higher earners head up on an upward angle, but lower earners, on the lower leg of the “k” drop behind. This bifurcation is also playing out in some corners of the travel industry as ultrahigh-net worth travelers spend to snap up the top level suites, but travelers with less resources are slower to book entry-level rooms. In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin talks with hotels editor Christina Jelski and Jon Makhmaltchi, the founder of J.Mak hospitality, about how hotel companies are physically configuring their properties to appeal to those at top of the k, the pitfalls of over-relying on one market segment and how hotels and advisors are working to attract entry-level and aspirational luxury travelers. This episode was recorded Jan. 22 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com/ Stay on at the end of this Folo episode wraps for an interview with Globus family of brands’ chief sales officer Camille Olivere, by Mary Pat Sullivan, Northstar Travel Group executive vice president of marketing and partnerships. Related links Luxury hotels and the K-shaped economy: A tale of two markets https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/K-shaped-economy-for-luxury-hotels J.Mak Hospitality https://www.jmak.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many tour companies that specialize in faith-based travel, or tourism with a religious element or focus, have historically focused on trips to the Holy Land. But with the ongoing conflict in Israel, companies have shifted and pivoted, growing their portfolios elsewhere.  After tours editor Brinley Hineman reported this story in December, we decided to re-engage here with David Welch, the vice president of business development at Educational Travel Services, to look at this very dedicated market. We talk about where faith-based tour groups are traveling these days – and also why people travel to explore their religion or faith.  This episode was recorded Jan. 9 and has been edited for length and clarity.  Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com Related links: A devotion to faith-based travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/A-devotion-to-faith-based-travel Q&A with Sherif Fathy, Egypt's tourism minister https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Sherif-Fathy-Egypt-minister-tourism-antiquities Tour operators welcome flocks of Jubilee travelers in 2025 https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Tour-operators-set-to-welcome-flocks-of-Jubilee-travelers From 2023: Tour operators suspend Israel departures and brace for hard times https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Tour-operators-suspend-Israel-departures ETS https://www.etstours.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last summer, Folo host Rebecca Tobin got the opportunity to cruise Mitsui Ocean Cruises, a line that’s based in Japan and created for and curated for and sold to Japanese travelers – but is also now marketing to North Americans. On this episode, Anthony Kaufman, a cruise veteran who is now Mitsui’s head of commercial strategies, talks about how to take a cruise experience devoted to one market and entice another, and how Mitsui is a different experience from a U.S. based cruise line with Asia-positioned ships. This episode was recorded on Dec. 5, and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com/ Related links Japan by sea https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Japan-by-sea-Mitsui-Ocean-Cruises Cruise lines increase Asia sailings to meet Japan's blossoming appeal https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Increase-Asia-sailings-with-Japan-high-demand The sun rises on Japan tourism https://www.travelweekly.com/Asia-Travel/The-sun-rises-on-Japan-tourism Mitsui Ocean Cruises https://www.mitsuioceancruises.us/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every year at this time of year we delve into our Preview issue: Every reporter on staff looks at his or her beat and, talks to their sources, reads at the tea leaves and tells our readers what to expect for the year ahead. In this episode, we’ll look at what we think 2026 has in store for hotels, cruise, tours and river cruising. Host Rebecca Tobin's guests are senior editors Christina Jelski, who covers hospitality; Brinley Hineman, who covers tours and river cruising; and Teri West, who covers cruise. Among our topics: The dominance of luxury travel in all segments, exciting new products to watch for land and sea and whether companies are bullish or bearish on 2026 bookings.  These episodes have been individually recorded over the second part of December and have been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com Related links Travel Weekly's 2026 Preview issue https://www.travelweekly.com/preview-2026  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every year at this time of year we delve into our Preview issue: Every reporter on staff looks at their beat, talks to their sources, reads at the tea leaves and tells our readers what to expect for the year ahead.  And because we do love to talk, host Rebecca Tobin split this episode into two. Our first Preview episode will focus on a chat with retail editor Jamie Biesiada about travel advisors and retail – because the people selling travel see the trends across all industry sectors. And then we’ll look at what’s happening next year in aviation with airlines editor Robert Silk. Next episode, we’ll look at what we think 2026 has in store for hotels, cruise, tours and river cruising. These episodes have been individually recorded over the second part of December and have been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.biz Related reports Our annual Preview issue: https://www.travelweekly.com/prview-2026    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, news editor Johanna Jainchill talks about how we review and select the stories in our annual Year in Review report, which looks at the biggest and most impactful stories of the year. And then she and host Rebecca Tobin talk about what made 2025 so unique, from "choppy" markets to how people booked travel, to Las Vegas' occupancy woes, to Southwest's business-model changes, to cruising’s destination island expansion -- and more. This episode was recorded Dec. 11 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.aflk.biz Related reports 2025: The Year in Review https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/2025-year-in-review  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week our subject is Route 66, that famous highway that's practically synonymous with the term "Americana." The road was opened in 1926, which means that of next year it’s been inspiring people in song, movie, decor and travel for 100 years. And tours editor Brinley Hineman discovered that tour companies and destinations will be celebrating the centennial with new programs and itineraries. On this episode Hineman and host Rebecca Tobin talk with Steve Born of the Globus family of brands about the popularity of Route 66 tours – and why people choose a tour for a domestic drive holiday.  Stay on till the end for a quick chat about Christmas market river cruising in Europe and the similarities between a Europe river cruise and a drive vacation through America’s heartland. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.biz Related links: Route 66 centennial: Special tours tap into nostalgia https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Special-tours-Route-66-centennial NTA lays out plan to increase advocay and member engagement https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/NTA-plan-increase-advocacy-and-member-engagement A Q&A with Choose Chicago CEO Kristen Reynolds https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Kristen-Reynolds-Choose-Chicago 'America the Beautiful' marketing campaign aims to rekindle inbound travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Brand-USA-America-the-Beautiful-Campaign-Seeks-to-Attract-Overseas-Visitors Cosmos tour: Highlights of Route 66 with Mother Road Festival and Albuquerque Balloon Festival https://www.cosmos.com/tour/highlights-of-route-66-with-mother-road-festival-albuquerque-balloon-fiesta/8580/?season=2026 Cosmos tour: Highlights of Route 66 https://www.cosmos.com/tour/highlights-of-route-66/8530/?season=2026 Viking's Christmas market cruises https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruise-destinations/specialty/christmas-markets/index.html Related podcast: Chase Travel's 26 Trips to Take in 2026https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/travel-inspiration-in-list-form-from-Chase-Travel  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the holiday season, but it's also time for advisors and consumers alike to start thinking of travel plans for the year ahead. And to stoke interest in destinations from the Dolomites to Dominica, Power List agency Chase Travel for a second year is doing a list of inspirational travel destinations, called "26 Trips to Take in 2026."  On this episode host Rebecca Tobin talks with Karen Magee, president of Valerie Wilson Travel, and Hillary Reinsberg, head of content for card and connected commerce at Chase, about inspiration for the list and how it was created, consumer travel trends and, of course, specific destinations on the list itself and where you might get ideas for the year ahead. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.biz Related links Chase Travel's 26 Trips to Take in 2026 https://trips.chase.com Route 66 centennial: Special tours tap into nostalgia https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Special-tours-Route-66-centennial    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our annual Travel Industry Survey of travel agency business is live, and we're taking an in-depth look at some of the results with editor in chief Arnie Weissmann and news editor Johanna Jainchill. In this episode we delve into survey data: Advisors’ use of AI – how they use it and what they’re concerned about; which travel categories are growing; advisors’ use of social media; their relationships with preferred suppliers; where they work; and what they’re booking. And, of course, whether they’re optimistic or pessimistic about their business going forward.  This survey was produced in partnership with Phocuswright, a sister brand to Travel Weekly. It surveyed more than 1,500 advisors during August and early September and was published Nov. 23. This conversation took place Nov. 23 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.biz Related links: The 2025 Travel Industry Survey https://www.travelweekly.com/industry-survey-2025 Previous Industry Surveys https://www.travelweekly.com/For-Travel-Agents/Travel-Industry-SurveySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're focusing on an emerging branch of artificial intelligence called agentic AI – that is, an AI tool that can, essentially, act like a booking agent, all the way up to making a reservation on the traveler’s behalf. It acts like an agent – but is it a threat to human travel advisors? And what does agentic AI mean for the OTA model, supplier customer service and travelers themselves? On this episode, McKinsey and Co.’s Vik Krishnan and Travel Weekly aviation editor Robert Silk talk with host Rebecca Tobin about the latest developments in agentic AI and travel and where the technology could lead us.  This episode was recorded Nov. 21 and has been edited for length and clarity.  Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com Related links Agentic AI turns searches into sales https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Agentic-AI-turns-searches-to-sales Hotel and flight bookings are coming to Google's AI Mode https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/Hotel-and-flight-bookings-coming-to-Google-AI-ModeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  Your travel advisor’s expert in-destination source: Their DMC This week we’re talking about destination management companies, or DMCs, which are companies embedded in specific locations that give travel planners an ultra-boost when it comes to planning a vacation there. Insider knowledge, special tours, recommendations, an expert shoulder to lean on – that’s what a DMC can provide. Here, senior editor for retail Jamie Biesiada and Haisley Smith, the senior vice president of partner relations at Internova Travel Group, talk about why advisors and clients are celebrating their DMC connections; why a client might choose a guided tour over a DMC-curated trip; pitfalls and the critical need to vet an in-destination partner; and what’s next for DMCs and advisors. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com Related links: Jamie Biesiada's cover story: DMCs help bring the wow factor https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/DMCs-help-bring-the-wow  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    It’s time for an update on Hawaii travel. On this episode, our contributing editor for Hawaii, Christine Hitt, talks about overall stats, Maui updates, a falloff in travel from Canada and Japan -- plus our favorite island destinations and the changes at the Hawaii Tourism Authority.  This episode was recorded Oct. 16 and has been edited for length and clarity.  Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com Related reports Christine Hitt's Hawaii travel Insights: https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Insights Maui's message: The comeback is on, so come back https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Maui-message-The-comeback-is-on-so-come-back Inside the $6 million marketing campaign aimed at Maui's recovery https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Insights/Maui-tourism-recovery-marketing-campaign-details Cruise lines sue Hawaii over new tax https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-lines-sue-Hawaii-over-new-tax Rebecca Tobin's home away from home in Hawaii https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/House-Without-a-Key-my-home-away-from-home-in-Waikiki  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we’re talking about a story that came to be after unveiling of Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ upcoming Skyview Regent Suite. It's a veritable mansion-at-sea with a private gym, sauna, bar and dining room that seats 12. And what's more surprising than the price? The fact that it was booked within one minute on 10 of 13 itineraries. Or perhaps that's not a surprise. Advisors tell us that there are countdowns to sales launches and wait lists for the newest crop of ultra-palatial, ultra big, ultra luxurious cruise ship suites. This week, as CruiseWorld kicks off in Fort Lauderdale, we go all-in on cruise, and with luxury advisor Carlos Edery and cruise editor Teri West, we look at what these top suites look like and what amenities they come with. Who are the customers and what do they want in a vacation? Is there a challenge of keeping up with guest expectations? And, of course, what might come next.  This episode was recorded Oct. 27 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com Related links:  Focus on Cruise cover story: The megasuite is bigger than ever https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/The-cruise-megasuite-is-bigger-than-ever Regent Seven Seas Prestige suite will reach for new levels of opulence https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Skyview-Regent-Suite-unveiled-for-Seven-Seas-Prestige From the archives: A look at luxury accommodations at sea (August 2005) https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/A-look-at-luxury-accommodations Luxury Cruise Connections https://luxurycruiseconnections.com/ CruiseWorld: https://www.cruiseworldshow.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel Weekly is proud to produce contributions from some very well-respected columnists -- people who really know the business. We have travel advisors and our own reporting staff, of course, but we also have a legal advisor, and many readers will know his name: Mark Pestronk.  Mark, a Washington-based travel lawyer, has been writing a Legal Briefs column, and before that, a column by a different name, for officially 40 years now, and he’s often quoted in our pages. So today we’re celebrating with an episode talking with him about travel, changes, the power of advisors and, of course, his time on Jeopardy.  Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by Europe Express https://www.europeexpress.com At the end of this episode, stay on for a special, bonus discussion about the latest from Europe Express between CEO Parik Laxminarayan, and Mary Pat Sullivan, the executive vice president of marketing partnerships for Northstar Travel Group, Travel Weekly's parent company. Related links Latest Legal Briefs column: After 40 years, this much is constant https://www.travelweekly.com/Mark-Pestronk/After-40-years-this-much-is-constant From 2010: A quarter-century of legal advice from Mark Pestronk https://www.travelweekly.com/News-at-TW/A-quarter-century-of-pro-bono-advice-for-Travel-Weekly-readers Mark Pestronk’s Legal Briefs column archive https://www.travelweekly.com/mark-pestronkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we’re headed to Chile, the home of this year's Adventure Travel Trade Association World Summit. Our adventurous editor in chief Arnie Weissmann attended the show as a guest speaker and participant on its adventure tours, and it seemed like a good opportunity for us to talk about Patagonia, penguins and pumas.  On this episode we tackle how the ATTA describes "adventure" travelers and what determines an adventure – also, why you should hire a guide; what to look for in the best outfitters; how overtourism may have contributed to the growth in adventure travel; and the thrills of adventuring on Chiloe Island.  This episode was recorded Oct. 17 and has been edited for length and clarity.  Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Europe Express https://www.europeexpress.com Related links: Travel Weekly’s adventure travel coverage https://www.travelweekly.com/adventure-travel Arnie Weissmann’s From the Window Seat column “Is Tuscany an adventure destination” https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/Is-Tuscany-an-adventure-destination The Adventure Travel Trade Association https://www.adventuretravel.biz/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Africa based contributor Dorine Reinstein has written often about conservation efforts and tackled overcrowding on safari tours. A video this summer that appeared to show safari trucks crowding and blocking the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti raised new questions for us about guest expectations; guide pressure points and the power balance between guests and guides; and how the travel trade can get involved. Joining us on this episode is Louise De Waal, a director and campaign manager at Blood Lions, and Anton Letegan, the managing director of EcoTraining. It’s an important, thoughtful discussion, and I want to add that both Louise and Anton urged me to emphasize that we’re looking to educate and create a dialogue on sustainability on the savanna – not to point fingers.  This episode was recorded Sept. 23 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Europe Express https://www.europexpress.com Related links Dorine Reinstein's coverage for Travel Weekly: https://www.travelweekly.com/dorine-reinstein Safaris that go beyond the Big Five are catching on https://www.travelweekly.com/Middle-East-Africa-Travel/Safaris-that-go-beyond-the-Big-Five-are-catching-on The elephant in the room: Overturism in Africa https://www.travelweekly.com/Middle-East-Africa-Travel/Overtourism-in-Africa EcoTraining https://www.ecotraining.co.za/ Blood Lions: https://bloodlions.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our latest cover story is titled the 25 years that changed travel. We’re looking back at the first quarter century and the biggest events that had an outsized impact on the business, from mega-events that changed the world to milestone product launches and those business decisions that portended major shifts to come. In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, editor in chief Arnie Weissmann and news editor Johanna Jainchill unpack the list and some of the decisions behind it, as well as those reminisces about the old times and what’s happening in travel today.  This episode was recorded Sept. 26 and has been edited for length and clarity.  Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Europe Express https://www.europexpress.com Related links: The 25 years that changed travel https://www.travelweekly.com/25-years  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.