Travel Trends with Dan Christian

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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 OneTwoGo 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.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/

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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!
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/

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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.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/

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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.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/

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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.
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/