People are choosing experiences over things — but what happens when even experiences risk becoming commodities? In this episode of the Best Part of Travel podcast, Joe Pine, co-author of The Experience Economy and author of the forthcoming book on The Transformation Economy, joins hosts Janelle Visser and Stephen Joyce to talk about experience design, commoditization, and how tour and activity operators can design experiences that are not just memorable, but life changing. 

Key topics include:

• The economic evolution from commodities to goods and services to experiences… to what’s next.

• How travel brands can encourage repeat business by offering experiences focused on personal transformation.

• Commoditization, differentiation and standing out in a “sea of same.”

• What it takes to design travel experiences that are not only memorable, but meaningful — and even transformational.

• The upcoming Arival 360 conference in Washington, D.C.

If you’re in the business of experiences, this conversation will challenge how you think about travel, guests, and the future of the industry.

👉 Resources & Links:

• Escaping the Tour Commoditization Trap: https://arival.travel/article/escaping-the-tour-commoditization-trap/ 

• The Experience Economy by Joe Pine and James Gilmour: https://www.amazon.ca/Experience-Economy-New-Preface-Authors/dp/1633697975/ 

• The Transformation Economy book by Joe Pine (forthcoming): https://www.amazon.ca/Transformation-Economy-Guiding-Customers-Aspirations/dp/B0DS4649VL 

• Arival 360 | Washington DC and the Executive Summit: https://arival.travel/event/2025-washington-dc/ , https://arival.travel/event/2025-washington-dc-exec-summit/ 

The Best Part of Travel podcast is brought to you by Arival. Season Two is sponsored by Protect Group.