Travel Trends with Dan Christian

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Search engines, social media, and word of mouth have long shaped how travelers discover and book their trips. But generative AI is quickly changing that, becoming a new starting point for travel inspiration, research, and planning. Recording live from Vancouver following World Travel Market (WTM), in this month’s Travel Trends Report, Dan and Marius reflect on the conversations, insights, and emerging trends shaping the future of travel marketing, and why the industry is changing faster than ever.
Drawing on findings from our latest report, we explore a key shift: AI is becoming the front door to travel, but it's not yet where bookings happen. With fewer US travelers starting their trip planning on traditional search engines and more turning to generative AI, what does this mean for travel brands? We discuss the implications for SEO, AI visibility, customer acquisition, and the future of booking, including the growing potential of agentic AI. We also share insights from live demonstrations and industry conversations that show how travel companies are moving beyond AI experimentation and starting to put these technologies to work.
But as AI becomes more capable, the human side of travel remains just as important. One particularly revealing statistic caught our attention: when given the choice between speaking with an AI phone agent or waiting for a human, only 2% of callers chose AI. We explore what this tells us about consumer trust, the importance of keeping humans involved, and where personal service continues to make a difference.
We wrap up with a look ahead to Season 8 of the Travel Trends Podcast, including our upcoming DMC series, and share how our advisory work is evolving to help travel businesses navigate AI through practical strategies, prototypes, and new technology development.
Download the full November Travel Trends Report, for a closer look at how generative AI is reshaping travel discovery, the rise of agentic booking, and why the human touch still matters. We break down the latest research, industry insights, and emerging trends to help you understand what's changing and what it means for your business heading into 2027.
👉 Listen to Travel Trends Monthly Report - November 2026 Now
🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 8 Title Sponsors for their Support: Quark Expeditions,  Intrepid, Kaptio, Propellic, Repayd, and Holafly. 
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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Queenstown is the kind of destination many of us dream of visiting. With its breathtaking mountains, stunning lakes, and world-class adventure experiences, tourism has long been at the heart of the local economy. But when COVID closed international borders and visitors disappeared almost overnight, the community faced a major challenge. It also sparked an ambitious idea: what if Queenstown could become a global hub for travel and hospitality technology, creating new opportunities beyond tourism?
In this Company Spotlight episode, Dan sits down with Roger Sharp, Chair of Technology Queenstown, to explore how that vision is becoming a reality. Roger brings decades of experience in travel technology, from building and selling lastminute.com in Australia and New Zealand to chairing Webjet and now WebBeds. He shares how Queenstown is working to attract startups, develop local talent through a partnership with the University of Otago, secure long-term private funding, and position itself as a real-world testing ground where travel technology companies can develop and trial new products with hotels, operators, and travelers.
The conversation also explores what it takes to turn an ambitious idea into something the entire community can get behind. Drawing inspiration from destinations like Bend and Bozeman, Roger discusses the importance of local support, investment, and collaboration, along with the role of WiT (Web in Travel) in putting Queenstown on the global innovation map. From economic resilience and remote work to venture capital and the growing influence of AI, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how destinations can build more diverse economies and become centres for innovation.
Learn more at technologyqueenstown.com.
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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Recorded live at Arival 360 in Spokane, this special Event Spotlight episode brings together leaders from across the tours, activities, attractions, and multi-day travel sectors to explore the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the industry heading into 2027.

Dan returned as MC of Arival’s Multi-Day Stream, following successful editions in Washington, DC, and Valencia, Spain. This year’s program turned its attention to the United States, the world’s largest travel market, and the growing opportunities for multi-day tour operators. The Multi Day stream kicked off with with a main-stage panel discussion featuring Dan Berger, the new US General Manager at WeRoad, Katy Rockett, Regional Director, Explore Worldwide and Tingting Guo, Global VP Tours4fun, exploring the rise of small-group travel and the new players reshaping the market.

Throughout the event, Dan connected with industry leaders, tour operators, technology providers, and destination experience specialists to hear what’s driving growth across the sector. From changing traveler expectations and the growing demand for small-group adventures to smarter distribution, product innovation, and the practical applications of AI, these conversations offer a firsthand look at how businesses are adapting to a rapidly evolving travel landscape.

This episode starts with Intrepid’s President North American, Leigh Barnes and closes with Bruce Rosard, Arival Co-Founder and CCO and is filled with insights from both established industry leaders and emerging companies, discussing where the biggest opportunities are and what travel businesses should be thinking about as they plan for 2027 and beyond.
Highlights & Timestamps
5s - Leigh Barnes, US General Manager, Intrepid Travel
17m04s - Kristin Dorsett, GM, Experiences, Tripadvisor
34m45s - Heather MacDonald, President, Gibbons Whistler
52m26s - Sahara Rose De Vore, CEO & Founder, The Travel Coach Network
1hr00m15s - Caitlin Montgomery, Group Director of Revenue, Magnicity
1hr11m02s - Tingting Guo, Global VP, Tours4fun
1hr27m31s - Dan Berger, General Manager, United States, WeRoad
1hr50m41s - Katy Rockett, Regional Director, Explore Worldwide
2hr03m37s - Christian Watts, CEO, Magpie Travel
2hr24m45s - Sean Hebert, VP, The Americas, Goway
2hr38m41s - Sarah Sprague, COO, Batch
2hr54m01s - Bastien Delapré, COO, Secret Food Tours
3hr06m55s - Susan Sanderson, Rezometry
3hr19m40s - Dan Moore, COO, The Adventure Hub
3hr29m35s - Tom Monroe, Owner, Tom's Christian Tours
3hr48m25s - Dale Schober, Founder & CEO, RADventures Canada
4hr04m57s - Stephanie Piano, Trade Partnerships Manager, By Iris Co.
4hr15m33s - Sara Margulis, Co-founder & CEO, Honeyfund
4hr28m01s - Louis Juergens, Co-owner, Alaska Galore
4hr38m48s - Lauren Shannon, Partner/General Manager, Arigato Japan
4hr57m00s - Asgeir Baldurs, CEO, Arctic Adventures
5hr15m24s - Ben Holz, Founder, AnyKai
5hr28m14s - Katrina Demers, VP, Pursuit
5hr44m17s - Jessica Johns, Head of Sales, Sojern
5hr54m53s - Bruce Rosard, Co-founder & COO, Arival
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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“Pet-friendly” is a term we see everywhere in travel, but what does it actually mean? For many travelers, it still comes with frustrating restrictions, unexpected fees, and limited options. In this episode, Dan sits down with Luis Zamora, Co-Founder and CMO of PetsVivo, to explore the growing pet travel market, what pet owners really want, and why hotels and destinations could be missing out on a major opportunity.
Luis shares insights into the rise of pet travel, including how changing attitudes toward pets are influencing travel decisions and spending habits. We discuss why travelers are willing to spend more with businesses that genuinely welcome their pets, and what hotels can do to create a better experience. From clearer pet policies and more transparent fees to thoughtful amenities that make a real difference, Luis explains how small changes can help properties attract more guests and encourage repeat bookings.
We also explore some of the biggest opportunities in pet travel, from RV adventures and national parks to wellness retreats designed for people and their pets. As more travelers look to include their four-legged companions in their vacations, destinations and travel businesses have an opportunity to rethink how they cater to this growing audience.
Finally, we look at how AI and search are changing the way travelers discover pet-friendly accommodations. Luis shares why clear information, relevant content, and authentic guest reviews are becoming increasingly important for hotels looking to stand out online.
For hotels, destinations, travel advisors, and anyone looking to better serve this growing market, this conversation offers practical insights into what it takes to move beyond simply allowing pets to creating experiences that make travelers and their companions feel genuinely welcome.
👉 Listen to Why Pet Travel Is Booming and What Hotels Are Getting Wrong Now
🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 8 Title Sponsors for their Support: Quark Expeditions,  Intrepid, Kaptio, Propellic, Repayd, and Holafly
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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Booking travel shouldn’t mean entering the same client details over and over, chasing commissions months after a trip, or juggling multiple platforms just to book a hotel. In this Company Spotlight episode, Dan sits down with David Shull, CEO and co-founder of Tern, to explore how the company is simplifying the way travel advisors and host agencies run their businesses.
David shares the challenges that inspired Tern, including the behind-the-scenes administrative work that can take up 80 to 90% of an advisor’s day. From client management and itinerary planning to payments, compliance and commission tracking, Tern brings the tools advisors need into one platform. The goal is simple: less time spent on admin and more time building relationships, serving clients and growing their businesses.
One of the biggest announcements is the launch of Hotels by Tern, a new hotel booking platform taking aim at one of the travel industry’s most persistent headaches: getting advisors paid. With guaranteed commissions automatically reconciled and paid to agencies and host agencies within seven days of checkout, Tern is changing the way hotel bookings work, making the process faster, simpler and more financially predictable for travel advisors.
David also discusses how Tern handles payment processing, disputes and chargebacks, along with its approach to 24/7 hotel reservation support. We look at how the company is using AI to manage routine requests, support personalized email marketing and give advisors more time to focus on what matters most.
As technology continues to reshape the travel industry, this conversation offers a look at what happens when innovation is built around the people actually using it, and how removing everyday frustrations can help travel advisors build stronger, more profitable businesses.
Learn more at tern.travel.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds. 
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/