Travel Trends with Dan Christian

• How Airlines are Redefining Loyalty for the Modern Traveler with KM Malta Airlines

  Send us a textWe’re excited to kick off a new three-part Loyalty Series, where we explore how airlines, hotels, and loyalty status companies are rewriting the rules of traveler engagement. In this first episode, we begin with a refreshingly simple philosophy from KM Malta Airlines: make value clear, make status meaningful, and make the journey smoother. Oliver Piers Ross, Head of Loyalty & CRM, joins us to share how a small flag carrier built a transparent currency, introduced genuinely useful status tiers, and used smart partnerships to influence traveler behavior in all the right ways.We break down Skybucks, pegged at one euro cent so members always know what they’re earning and spending. That clarity powers instant earn on takeoff and a seamless redemption slider in the booking flow so intuitive that redemptions began before the program even launched. Oliver also outlines the Traveler, Explorer, and Pioneer tiers, where milestone Skybucks can be used for seats, bags, or part-paid fares. We touch on the value of status recognition and how tools like status match, subscription boosts, and buybacks reduce friction while maintaining solid program economics.We discuss why loyalty programs can be worth more than airlines, how redemption simplicity increases conversion, and where KM Malta is headed next with a Malta-wide marketplace, exchange partnerships, and tighter CRM personalization. It’s a practical playbook for travel brands rethinking loyalty with clear value, fewer hoops, better data, and benefits that actually get used. What perk would make you switch airlines today?For more information about KM Malta Airlines, please visit https://kmmaltairlines.com/en. 👉 Listen to How Airlines are Redefining Loyalty for the Modern Traveler Now🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 6 Title Sponsors for their Support: Holafly, Propellic, PayCompass, Kaptio, Civitatis and WeRoadThe #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds. https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/

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• Event Spotlight: Adventure Travel World Summit 2025

  Send us a textRecorded live in Puerto Natales, Chile, this special Event Spotlight takes you inside the Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) — the annual gathering of global adventure leaders hosted by the Adventure Travel Trade Association.From rewilded national parks to the gravel roads of Aysén, from marble caves at sunrise to a tent shaking to the sounds of Los Jaivas, this episode captures the spirit of Patagonia — a rare mix of purpose and play.Our host, Dan Christian shares his firsthand experience cycling through Patagonia on a five-day pre-summit adventure with CicloAustral, learning the meaning of “forest bathing,” and discovering how e-bikes, small groups, and community connection redefine sustainable adventure.Along the way, we hear from an incredible lineup of storytellers, guides, and innovators from writers and filmmakers to operators and conservationists each revealing how to scale adventure tourism without losing the soul of the places we love.We wrap with a look ahead: the next Adventure Travel World Summit heads north to Quebec City in 2026, continuing the global journey of this passionate, purpose-driven community.Timestamps:9m14s - Carolina Margado, Executive Director at Rewilding Chile30m31s- Kristine Tompkins, former CEO of Patagonia, and Co-founder and President of Tompkins Conservation58m51s - Nina Kokotas Hahn, Writer and Editor1h23m - Kaiya Yu, Author 1hr39m - Aizaz Sheikh, Keynote Speaker2h4m - Gondwana Brasil - Camila Barp & Daniela Meres, Co-founders2h33m - Rob Holmes, Filmmaker 2hr48m - Isabel Hofman, Co-founder, Bike Odyssey3hr10m - Shannon Stowell - President, ATTA3hr42m - Claudia Huepe - Co-founder, CicloaustralThe #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds. https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/

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• Innovation, Leadership & the Future of Travel with Erik Blachford

  Send us a textWant a clear-eyed look at where travel is headed next? Erik Blachford, early Expedia leader turned board member at Zillow, Hipcamp, and Fora, joins us to unpack what the future that actually works looks like — AI behind the scenes, humans up front, and real-world experiences that no screen can replace.We trace Erik’s journey from building one of the first online travel agencies to backing companies that are reshaping how people stay, plan, and explore. From outdoor escapes to modern travel advising, his perspective connects decades of innovation with what’s coming next.Erik shares how the smartest teams are using AI right now to compress product cycles, improve workflows, and sharpen marketing efficiency. He’s candid about the limits too, noting that most gains today are cost savings rather than new revenue streams. At the heart of the conversation is human connection. Travelers still crave reassurance, curation, and accountability, one reason multi-day tours remain mostly offline and travel advisors are seeing a renaissance. Platforms like Fora illustrate what “human in the loop AI” really means: powerful tools empowering trusted people. We also explore a growing countertrend to constant connectivity, including wellness travel, digital detoxes, national park road trips, RV adventures, and the return of small-group journeys. When travelers set their devices aside, communities form in trails, lodges, and around shared tables — and that’s the magic they remember.See Erik speak live at Phocuswright (Nov 18-20). Save $250 with code:TravelTrendsSpecial25. 👉 Listen to Innovation, Leadership & the Future of Travel Now🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 6 Title Sponsors for their Support: Holafly, Propellic, PayCompass, Kaptio, Civitatis and WeRoadThe #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds. https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/

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• Cycle, Hike & Adventure - The New Multi-Day Movement with Active England Tours

  Send us a textTravelers think they want Stonehenge - but what they remember is a pint shared with locals, the scent of wild hedgerows, and a guide who brings the landscape to life.In the final episode of our Emerging Multi-day Tour series, we sit down with Will Cairns, Managing Director of Active England Tours, to explore how a soft-adventure brand transforms repeat UK visitors—mostly American retirees—into lifelong fans through curation, kindness, and flexibility. From e-bikes and support vans to clever Sunday tour starts that lower hotel costs, Will shares the thoughtful decisions that create value without ever sacrificing soul.We also get candid about distribution, growth, and brand differentiation. With roughly 70% of bookings coming via trade partners and 30% direct, Active England is aiming for a balanced 60–40 mix. Will explains how to scale both sides by leading with guides—not logos—and designing themed itineraries that surprise and delight, such as pairing the Chelsea Flower Show with garden trails in the Cotswolds. He reveals why Avebury can outshine Stonehenge for immersion, how to expand beyond the usual hotspots into Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, and Scotland, and why standing apart is more sustainable than competing on price.We then go behind the scenes of Active England’s operator playbook—from choosing tech that fits your stage (migrating to Moonstride, layering Mailchimp and HubSpot) to hiring for empathy and building a strong management layer as the company grows.Whether you’re an emerging tour operator or a traveler curious about what makes a week in England truly unforgettable, this conversation is a masterclass in scaling travel the human way.For more information, please visit Active England Tours.👉 Listen to Cycle, Hike & Adventure - The New  Multi-Day Movement Now🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 6 Title Sponsors for their Support: Holafly, Propellic, PayCompass, Kaptio, Civitatis and WeRoadThe #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds. https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/

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• Event Spotlight: Arival 360 2025

  Send us a textRecorded live from Washington, D.C., Arival 360 is the premier gathering for what many call the “1% of the experiences sector.” This meticulously curated event brings together visionary creators, resellers, technologists, and leaders from across the travel ecosystem — from day tour operators and multi-day specialists to innovative startups and global platforms like GetYourGuide and Viator — all united by one goal: shaping the future of travel experiences.This special 5-hour event spotlight episode captures the energy and insight of the conference, featuring 15 exclusive interviews recorded on-site in September.Want to jump straight to the conversations that matter most to you? Scroll down for timestamps and guest highlights from each interview.Highlights & Timestamps:4m41s - Stephen Joyce, Global Travel Lead, Protect Group24m17s - Lauren Shannon, GM, Arigato Travel42m35s - Joe Pine, Author, The Transformation Economy1hr16m - Michael Zeissner, Managing Partner, FMZ Ventures 1h42m - Marica Mackenroth Brewster, CEO & Founder, Von Mack Agency2h 3m - Craig Dodge, Senior Director of Sales & Marketing, Phare, The Cambodian Circus2h24m - Cindee Brown Mills, Owner, Breathe Alaska 2h47m - Rob Keen, Co-founder, Project Expedition 3h - Arnaud (Arno) Azoulay, Founder &  CEO, Babylon Tours3h19m - Gabriela Radimáková , GabiGo s.r.o3h35m - Marc Eder, Founder, DayOf3h54m - Tony Carne, Co-founder, Videreo4h1m - Daniel Cerda, Founder & CEO, Eating with Carmen Food Tours 4h13m - Alex Ragin, CEO, Tourseta4h28m - Douglas Quinby, Co-founder & CEO, ArivalThe #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds. https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/

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