Travel Trends with Dan Christian

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As the travel industry looks ahead to 2027, standing out is becoming harder than ever. Performance marketing is more competitive and expensive, AI is flooding the market with content, and travellers have more choices at their fingertips than ever before. So what makes someone choose your brand, trust it and keep coming back?
In the first episode of our three-part Marketing Series, sponsored by Propellic, Dan is joined by Laurel Greatrix, Chief Communications Officer at Tripadvisor; Roman Townsend, Managing Director at Belvera Partners; and Fabio Bin, Co-Founder and CMO of WeRoad, to explore why brand, PR and human connection matter more than ever.
The conversation explores how AI is changing the way travellers discover brands, why reputation is increasingly shaped by everything from Reddit and social media to podcasts and AI-generated recommendations, and what it really takes to earn trust in a crowded marketplace.
Laurel shares how Tripadvisor builds trust through authentic traveller reviews, real photos and experiences that make planning and booking easier. Roman explains why effective PR is about much more than promoting products, and how thought leadership, credibility and genuinely interesting stories help travel brands stand out with both media and customers.
Fabio takes us behind the scenes of WeRoad's community-driven approach to marketing, sharing how the company has built a distinctive brand around bringing people together rather than simply selling destinations. From its recognizable visual identity to its organic social strategy, WeRoad offers a compelling example of what happens when customers become part of a brand's story.
We also explore the growing role of AI in marketing, where it can make teams more efficient, where it risks making brands sound the same, and why the experiences people have with a company still matter more than any marketing campaign.
As travel marketers plan for 2027, this conversation is a timely reminder that getting noticed is only half the challenge. Building a brand people remember, trust and genuinely want to be part of is what makes the difference.
And this is just the beginning. Stay tuned for the next two episodes in our Marketing Series, where we'll explore Performance Marketing & Data Attribution and AI Visibility in Travel, with more industry leaders sharing their perspectives on what's next for travel marketing.
👉 Listen to The 2027 Travel Marketing Playbook Part 1: Brand, PR & the Human Advantage 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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Can travel do more than take us somewhere new? Can it actually change the way we see the world?
Recorded live on stage at G Adventures' GX Summit in Cambodia, this special episode brings Dan together with Bruce Poon Tip, Founder of G Adventures, for an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation about the power of travel to change lives, strengthen communities and make a real difference in the places we visit.
Bruce shares the story behind GX, which was created following the pandemic to bring travelers, creators, media and local communities together to experience the impact of community tourism firsthand. With Cambodia as the backdrop, the conversation explores what happens when tourism benefits the people who call a destination home, creating economic opportunities, supporting local businesses and helping communities thrive.
We also explore Bruce's philosophy of transformative travel, why he believes there's an important difference between being a tourist and an explorer, and how stepping outside our comfort zones can challenge our perspectives and bring us closer to people from different cultures. Bruce makes a compelling case for travel as a force for peace, connection and greater understanding.
The conversation also takes an honest look at some of the industry's biggest challenges, from overtourism and private equity to the pressure for constant growth, and what it will take to build a more responsible and sustainable future for travel.
Recorded in front of a live audience in Cambodia, this is a conversation about why we travel, the impact we leave behind and the responsibility we have to make that impact a positive one.
What's one trip that changed the way you see the world?
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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AI is rewriting the rules of timeshare, and the biggest shift is simpler than it sounds: we are finally fixing communication. Recorded live at ARDA’s Spring Conference in Las Vegas, Dan sits down with two leaders working at the intersection of technology and vacation ownership, and we get concrete about what’s working right now and what’s about to change next.
This is the final episode in our 3-part series exploring the evolution of timeshare.
First, Jason Tremblay, CEO of One Agency, explains how AI moves from “cool idea” to practical application in sales and marketing. We dig into real-world use cases like turning social media comments into two-way conversations, handling skepticism at scale, and using persistent memory so a prospect’s context follows them from platform to platform. The takeaway is clear: better conversations mean better conversions, and AI makes one-to-one personalization possible without burning out teams.

Then Mike Norton, Director of Sales and Marketing at TimeShareWare, breaks down the foundation side of the equation: modern resort platforms, APIs, and the decisions resorts must make when choosing technology partners. We talk security concerns around guest and owner data, how AI can support call centers with live transcription and quality assurance, and why assigning a real internal project owner often matters more than the tool itself. If you care about timeshare technology, resort software, AI in travel, and the future of vacation ownership, this one is built for you.

Learn more at arda.org.
And if you like to be a part of those conversations in person, then you should absolutely be at ARDA's 2027 Spring Conference, which takes place April 4-7 at the Hilton Bonnet Creek in Orlando, Florida.
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 CRM system is supposed to make life easier, but for many travel companies, implementing one becomes a costly and frustrating experience. So why do so many Salesforce and CRM projects fall short, and what does it take to get them right?
In this Company Spotlight episode, Dan sits down with Amber Halliday, Founder and Principal Consultant at Aderra Solutions, to explore the common mistakes travel companies make when implementing CRM technology and how to avoid them. With more than 15 years of experience in the travel industry, including hands-on roles in reservations, sales and operations, Amber understands the challenges from both sides.
From unrealistic timelines and budgets to overlooking frontline employees during the planning process, Amber shares where implementations tend to go wrong and why understanding how a travel business actually operates is so important. We also discuss how to approach a new implementation, when to simplify existing processes rather than carry old problems into a new system, and what to do when a project isn't going to plan.
We also look at the growing role of AI in CRM, including how it can help teams work more efficiently and why proper oversight is essential to avoid creating new problems. Whether you're considering Salesforce, improving an existing CRM or trying to get a struggling project back on track, Amber offers practical advice to help you make better technology decisions and build a system your team will actually use.
Learn more at aderrasolutions.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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Booking patterns are moving in two directions at once. Some travelers are locking in premium, high-value trips months or even years ahead, while others are waiting until much closer to departure, particularly for shorter trips. It’s what we’re calling travel’s two booking clocks, and it has major implications for tour operators heading into 2027.  
In this month’s Travel Trends Report episode, Dan sits down with Travis Pittman, CEO and Co-founder of TourRadar, to unpack what TourRadar’s proprietary booking data tells us about the multi-day market. Travis shares how booking windows change based on trip length, price, age and party size, including why shorter trips are being booked later while higher-value and capacity-constrained experiences are selling much further ahead. We also look at the rise of solo travel and small groups, and why flexibility and free time are becoming increasingly important to travelers. 
Then we turn to AI and the future of travel distribution. Travis explains why travel products will need to be readable, believable and bookable as AI agents move from helping travelers research trips to actually completing transactions, and why structured content, accurate information and connected booking infrastructure will matter for both AI agents and travel advisors.  
Finally, Marius Nigond, CEO & Co-founder of iWander, joins Dan to look at the wider trends shaping travel right now, from the recent pressure on OTA stocks and the rise of personal AI assistants to investment flowing toward scarce, difficult-to-replicate travel experiences. We also explore rising costs, shifting destination demand and what operators should be thinking about as they set pricing and plan for 2027.  
Download the full October Travel Trends Report, and join us as we separate the signal from the noise and look at what the latest shifts could mean for the months ahead.
👉 Listen to Travel Trends Monthly Report - October 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/