Gather and Go with Brian Jewell – Details, episodes & analysis

Could a smart video strategy be your key to selling more trips? Tony Gnau believes it might be.

A former TV news reporter, founder of a video production company and author of the Amazon bestselling book “Lights, Camera, Impact,” Tony has spent his career using video to tell meaningful stories — and helping companies do the same. He joins this episode of the podcast to discuss travel organizations can use video to build trust, extend their brands and grow their sales.

Tony shares video storytelling techniques that every traveler can use. He also discusses the number-one issue making DIY videos seem unprofessional and shares a video sales funnel proved to turn viewers into buyers. Plus, we have news about a new fee tax in Mexico; a road tip about holiday season trips; and a Hot Minute about the increasing burden of taxation on tourists.

Tony had lots of great insights on how travel professionals can capture better videos on the road. Here’s his top tip for DIY travel videos:

“The camera you have in your pocket is a fantastic video camera”¦ [But] If you’re out in the field somewhere, leading a tour group, you’re in a travel environment, the sound on those cameras stinks. You can buy even just a $15-20 microphone that you can attach to your cell phone that will easily double the quality of the audio…. The #1 way to distinguish an amateur video from a professional video isn’t the video itself at all — it’s the audio. So the best way to improve your DIY video quality is to improve the audio.”

Plus, he had insightful thoughts on:

• Why your travel videos should focus on telling stories
• Making your “About Us” video stand out
• How to use guide profile videos, customer testimonial videos, and more

Learn more about Tony Gnau at tonygnau.com.

Learn more about T60 Productions at t60productions.com.

Find Ashley Runyon’s tips for Christmas trips in Select Traveler magazine.

See our latest OnSite FAM opportunities and sign up for more trip announcements here.

1:18 — Travel News: Mexico implements new cruise passenger fee

2:40 — Road Tip: Leaning into the holiday spirit on trips

6:39 — Five great familiarization tours coming in 2025

10:48 — Why so many corporate videos are awful

16:19 — The power of the video camera in your pocket

17:36 — The biggest problem with your videos is bad audio

22:10 — Why your travel videos should be all about storytelling

26:36 — Should you be on-camera in your travel videos?

32:14 — Making your “About Us” video stand out

35:11 — A video strategy for turning viewers into buyers

38:46 — How much does professional video production cost?

52:25 — Hot Minute: Are tourism taxes getting out of hand?

See the full interview with Tony, including content not in the regular episode, on our YouTube channel.

Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.

You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.

The adult group travel business isn’t dying. Just ask Brent Dalrymple.

After starting his career in the financial industry, Brent left big business in 2003 to join his parents’ small tour company in St. Louis. Since then, he has overseen enormous growth for his family business, Sunrise Tours, as well as the recently acquired Country Travel Discoveries. Brent joins this episode of the podcast to discuss how group travel has changed, why the industry constantly defies critics and how he is leading his companies in into a successful future.

Brent shares what fundamental value propositions of group travel keep new generations of travelers coming into the industry. He also shares why his companies are offering more international tours than ever and how his travelers have grown to love a more premium product. Plus, we have news about the bright outlook for group travel in 2025; a road tip about electrical outlets; and a Hot Minute about proving the group travel haters wrong.

Brent had lots of great insights on why group travel keeps succeeding despite headwinds from both the economy and culture at large. Here’s how he responds to the idea that generational change will one day render group tours obsolete:

“It has never happened”¦ Generations are not monolithic. In the baby boomers, there are people who want to do things on their own and people who like the social aspect of traveling, just like any generation. And the fact is, the baby boomers are a big group of people, so we’re in the heart of the baby boomer bulge right now. And in that population, there are a lot of people who are attracted to a more social group travel opportunity.”

Plus, he had insightful thoughts on:

• How strong relationships lead to competitive advantages
• How legacy tour operators should think about transition planning
• How to attract and develop great next-generation employees

Learn more about Sunrise Tours at travelsunrise.com.

Learn more about Country Travel Discoveries at countrytraveldiscoveries.com.

See the full results of NTA’s recent destination and tour supplier survey here.

Subscribe to Gather and Go in your favorite podcast app or by email here.

2:18 — Travel News: Destinations and suppliers anticipate group tour growth

3:49 — Road Tip: The perfect travel extension cable

8:24 — Take Gather and Go with you

13:59 — Why Brent Dalrymple left big business to join his family’s tour company

15:45 — How Brent doubled down on group travel during the pandemic

19:13 — How the tastes of adult travel groups are changing

20:46 — Why group travel isn’t dying — and never will

24:22 — How first-timers react to their group travel experiences

25:36 — How Sunrise Tours creates camaraderie among tour passengers

26:38 — How today’s adult groups calculate travel value

33:10 — How legacy tour operators should plan for business transitions

37:32 — Tips for up-and-coming tourism entrepreneurs

38:45 — How Brent finds great young employees

50:16 — Hot Minute: Shutting down the group travel haters for good

Thanks to our sponsor Louisville Tourism for making this episode possible. Learn more about group travel to the Bourbon City at gotolouisville.com/travel-professionals.

Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.

You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.

There’s a world of fun waiting for groups in Coastal Mississippi, and we have insider tips on how to find it.

If you’re looking for the best food, hotels and activities along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, Zach Holifield is the guy to help you find it. A lifelong Mississippi resident, Zach has spent most of his career promoting tourism in Mississippi and now helps tour operators, group leaders and other travel professionals put together their ideal getaways in Coastal Mississippi. He joins this episode of the podcast to share his favorite places to eat, sleep and play in the region.

Zach tells us about the many cities, towns and villages along the Mississippi Gulf Coast that offer charm, history, culture and abundant seafood for visitors. Plus, he’s offering a free all-expenses-paid trip to Coastal Mississippi for one lucky Gather and Go listener and their guest. Check out this episode to find out how to register for the giveaway!

Enter the giveaway for a free trip to Coastal Mississippi at coastalmississippi.com/gtl.

Connect with Zach Holifield on Facebook.

Follow Zach Holifield on LinkedIn.

4:17 — The many faces of Coastal Mississippi

8:36 — Coastal Mississippi’s top tour group activities

11:53 — Can’t-miss restaurant recommendations on the Mississippi coast

19:50 — Authentic Mississippi cultural encounters

25:46 — Student group adventures in Coastal Mississippi

30:27 — Mardi Gras, Mississippi-style

32:59 — Win a free trip to Coastal Mississippi

Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.

You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.

Is phone-free travel really possible?

Patrick Marsden believes that it’s not only possible — it’s thrilling. A lifelong traveler and one of the tourism industry’s leading mental health advocates, he is on a mission to help people make the most of their travel experiences by disconnecting from digital devices. He joins this episode of the podcast to share how disconnected experiences can help people rediscover the joy of travel.

Patrick talks about how he discovered the growing mental health crisis; how he helps people break their phone addictions on the road; and the the unique advantages of group travel for helping people take disconnected trips. Plus, we have news about an airline redeploying mothballed jets; a road tip about planning ahead for sweaty days; and a Hot Minute about how much work you should do while you’re traveling.

Patrick had lots of insights about how group travel can create space for people to boost their mental health through phone-free travel. Here’s one of his most significant comments:

“By encouraging guests to disconnect from their devices, they will have a better experience, and it will be more meaningful. But there has to be a business case. The guest has to want this”¦. I think there is going to be more of a groundswell among customers of having the option. I would suggest saying ‘If you want to have a digital disconnect experience, we can provide the infrastructure for you to do that.'”

Plus, he had great things to say about:

• The travel industry’s opportunity to help people find mental wellness
• Why phone-free travel is both possible and liberating
• How travel professionals can enhance pre-trip and post-trip enjoyment for their customers

Learn more about MaCher at macher.com.

Learn more about the Switch Off Take Off program at switchofftakeoff.com.

Follow Patrick Marsden on LinkedIn.

Get free downloadable resources from The Group Travel Leader at grouptravelleader.com/start.

1:31 — Travel News: American Airlines is reactivating mothballed jets

2:34 — Road Tip: Extra clothes for sweaty days

10:41 — Why Patrick Marsden left banking for travel

13:01 — How tourism can tackle the mental health crisis

17:29 — What does an authentic trip actually look like?

19:44 — Why group trips are better for your mental health

21:28 — Making the pitch for phone-free travel

27:27 — How much should travel planners push for disconnected trips?

32:55 — The science of maximizing travel enjoyment

48:35 — Hot Minute: Are you working too much when you travel?

Thanks to our sponsor Coastal Mississippi for making this episode possible. Learn more about Coastal Mississippi’s travel experiences for groups at coastalmississippi.com.

Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.

You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.

Knowing the right people can save you a lot of money — and a lot of headaches — when planning group tours to popular destinations. The insider’s secret to planning secret tours is to let local experts do the planning for you.

Stacy Barry shares all the details in this episode of the Gather and Go Podcast. As the second-generation owner of Sharin’ the South Tours, she and her family have been helping groups discover the best of Nashville, Memphis and the Smokies for decades. Today, she’s pulling back the curtain on the world of receptive operators and sharing the secrets she uses to plan exceptional group trips.

Stacy talks about how her local network gives her special access to exclusive experiences, how her services can help tour planners save money, and why familiarization trips are a key part of her strategy for launching an outbound tour division. Plus, we have news about Amsterdam’s changing attitude toward tourism; a road tip about building your travel delay survival kit; and a Hot Minute about curbing bad visitor behavior.

Stacy had lots of insights about how receptive operators can leverage their position to create value for traveler planners. This might have been the most interesting:

“A lot of partners give me receptive rates. I’m getting receptive rates most places, and you are not. I have that relationship with hotels and vendors. I have contracted, negotiated rates that never change, even if it’s busy season. I’m still going to get that same rate. And they’re rates that would never be for an outbound tour operator. So even if I’m planning it all for you and putting the work in, and even if I add a markup for my time, it’s still not what you would think, because my rates for things are lower than yours. It may be the same cost, but you’re not going to have to put any of the work in.”

Plus, she had great things to say about:

• How receptive operators partner with group leaders
• How she helps people find affordable hotels in crowded destinations
• Why familiarization tours are critical to her plans for expansion

Email Stacy at stacy@sharinthesouth.com.

Register for OnSite FAM opportunities at grouptravelleader.com/fams.

1:28 — Travel News: Amsterdam is trying to decrease tourism

2:51 — Road Tip: A travel delay survival kit

14:36 — How Stacy Barry found her way back to travel

19:11 — What is a receptive operator, anyway?

21:32 — A receptive tour operator’s economies of scale

24:32 — Do receptive operators play nicely with group leaders?

28:19 — Secrets for saving money in popular tourist destinations

37:03 — Using FAM tours to build an outbound business

50:03 — Hot Minute: Using FAM tours to build an outbound business

Thanks to our sponsor Coastal Mississippi for making this episode possible. Learn more about Coastal Mississippi’s travel experiences for groups at coastalmississippi.com.

Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.

You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.

Breakthroughs in brain science may be able to boost the joy in travel — but only if the tourism industry will embrace them.

Milena Nikolova is on a mission to help the industry do just that. As a behavioral economist and founder of BehaviorSmart, she leverages brain science and psychology to help tour companies and destinations build more enjoyable and sustainable travel experiences. She joins this episode of the podcast to introduce us to the ways behavioral insights can elevate the entire tourism ecosystem.

Milena talks about how she discovered the potential of brain science to impact tourism; how travel providers can hack the human brain to create better memories; and the scientific reasons why travelers don’t make sustainable choices. Plus, we have news about why hotel occupancy is both rising and falling; a road tip about optimizing your post-trip surveys; and a Hot Minute about tourism’s risk of losing the working class.

Milena had lots of insights about how travel professionals can leverage behavioral insights to boost they’re customers’ travel joy. This might have been the most impactful:

“Our contemporary culture of multitasking and living fast has actually reduced our ability to enjoy ourselves and benefit from holidays. In many situations, people are on holiday, but they slide on the surface of it”¦.

“One of the biggest challenges we can tackle is making sure people leave digital devices on the side and mindfully connect to where they are”¦. A guide can do miracles just by planting moments of mindfulness throughout the story they’re telling. These moments can be the most long-lasting memories people take home.”

Plus, she had great things to say about:

• The biggest scientific discovery the travel industry is neglecting
• The “say/do” gap in sustainable travel
• How behavioral insights can impact destinations for the better

Follow Milena Nikolova and BehaviorSmart on LinkedIn.

Find BehaviorSmart resources at behavior-smart.com.

Follow The Group Travel Leader on your favorite social media platforms:

• Facebook: facebook.com/grouptravelleader
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/GroupTravelPubs
• Instagram: instagram.com/thegrouptravelleader
• TikTok: tiktok.com/@thegrouptravelleader
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-group-travel-leader-inc.

Follow Brian Jewell on LinkedIn.

2:02 — Travel News: Hotel occupancy is rising”¦ and falling

3:28 — Road Tip: Optimizing your post-trip surveys

19:10 — How Milena Nikolova blends brain science and travel

25:54 — Why travelers don’t follow through on sustainability initiatives

32:25 — Using behavioral insights to improve destination impact

37:07 — Brain science tips for creating better travel memories

52:56 — Hot Minute: Is travel at risk of losing the working class?

Thanks to our sponsor Coastal Mississippi for making this episode possible. Learn more about Coastal Mississippi’s travel experiences for groups at coastalmississippi.com.

Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.

You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.

If anyone knows how to find the best of a destination, it’s Andrew Zimmern.

The TV icon, culinary expert and travel legend has visited — and eaten — nearly everywhere. From “Bizarre Foods” to “Family Dinner,” his shows have shaped the travel tastes of people the world over. Andrew joins this episode of the podcast to share insights from his time on the road and give us the secrets to creating authentic and memorable travel experiences.

Andrew talks about his unlikely path to stardom, how travel has changed during his lifetime and what travel professionals can do to show their customers the best of the world. Plus, we have news about Americans’ growing appetite for international travel; a road tip about finding the perfect group restaurant reservation; and a Hot Minute about the impact of overtourism on American cities.

Andrew had no shortage of wisdom from his life on the road that tour operators can leverage in planning culinary trips and other kinds of adventures. But his most impactful statement might have been about the power of travel itself:

“Travel is transformative. I don’t know anything else other than personal tragedy that can change a human being. You go away on a trip, you have to ask questions, you don’t know where you’re going, you have to be curious. You take more risks. You do things you would never do at home.

“Taking all those risks, you import some of that wisdom and that healthy bravado and that curiosity. You bring that back home and it expands your horizons. You become more patient, tolerant and understanding with other people.”

Plus, he had great things to say about:

• How technology has changed today’s travelers
• How how to uncover the best local cuisine
• How to arrange “secret” meals for tour groups

Learn more about traveling with Andrew Zimmern in Sicily at modernadventure.com.

Learn more about Andrew’s shows and projects at andrewzimmern.com.

Follow Andrew Zimmern on Substack.

Access Mastercard Economic Institute’s “Travel Trends 2024” report here.

Find Gather and Go on YouTube.

1:41 — Travel News: Americans are traveling abroad in record numbers

2:53 — Road Tip: Finding restaurants for group meals

12:01 — How Andrew Zimmern went from addict to icon

17:34 — Zimmern’s take on how travelers have changed (for better or worse)

23:31 — Traveling authentically in the age of Instagram

34:17 — A new opportunity to travel alongside Andrew Zimmern

54:30 — Hot Minute: Are American cities suffering from overtourism?

Thanks to our sponsor Coastal Mississippi for making this episode possible. Learn more about Coastal Mississippi’s travel experiences for groups at coastalmississippi.com.

Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.

You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.

Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.

Thanks for listening!

There’s a world of business opportunity in group travel for professionals savvy enough to find it.

Case in point: Tamika Carter. After several false starts and failed attempts to succeed as a retail travel agent, she found success with groups, launching two group travel businesses and then founding Group Travel Academy. She joins this episode of the podcast to share insights from her experiences and giving advice for how to discover hidden opportunities in group travel.

Tamika talks about the biggest myths that are holding travel agents back from succeeding with groups and gives ideas about how smart travel sellers are leveraging the power of group travel in new ways. Plus, we have news about Americans’ travel plans for this summer; a road tip about keeping your travel toiletries stocked; and a Hot Minute about who’s responsible for the rising cost of travel.

On why travel agents are missing opportunities in group travel:

“There’s a myth in the industry that we as travel agents have to master individual bookings before we grow to groups. But that is a myth — that is not true. You can start with group travel and just have a group travel business and sustain your business from there. Or you can use your group travel business to funnel down to individual clients who want you to book individual trips for them, because they can see what a great job you did on the group trip they experienced with you.”

On the benefits of selling to groups:

“If you’re dealing with affinity groups, you’re dealing with one person. They’re just bringing all those other people along with them. That’s the key — work with one person and have them bring others along to fulfill your group trip”¦.

“With group travel, there’s an opportunity to eliminate so many of the challenges that are out there with regard to individual travel bookings. Because a lot of times we get calls from people with regard to individual travel. They don’t know where they want to go, where they want to travel, and have no idea about the budget. But the good thing about group travel is that you can tell them where to go, you can tell them when to travel, you can tell them about all the experiences they will have on that group trip. You just create that exciting itinerary that you can sell over and over again.”

On the importance of focus in group sales:

“People tend to get FOMO when it comes to being in the travel industry. They think they should be serving everyone, when in fact what they should be doing is solidifying themselves as an expert by identifying a clean niche and target market of the people they want to serve. It will make them an expert in the industry and help them be able to turn down business that they don’t want.“

Learn more about Group Travel Academy at grouptravelacademy.com.

Join the Group Travel Planners United Facebook group here.

Follow Tamika Carter on YouTube.

Find our “Getting Started in Group Travel” page at grouptravelleader.com/start.

Read Deloitte’s 2024 Summer Travel Survey here.

1:31 — Travel News: More Americans staying home due to travel cost

2:50 — Road Tip: Never run out of toothpaste again

12:06 — How Tamika Carter fought for her career in group travel

19:13 — Myths travel agents believe about selling group trips

23:35 — The economics of selling group travel

26:29 — Identifying non-traditional group travel opportunities

37:05 — Up-and-coming group travel ideas

54:10 — Who is responsible for the high price of travel?

Thanks to our sponsor Coastal Mississippi for making this episode possible. Learn more about Coastal Mississippi’s travel experiences for groups at coastalmississippi.com.

Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.

You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.

Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.

Thanks for listening!

Is there a formula for delivering a powerful tourism experience?

Joe Pine thinks there is. An acclaimed business consultant and author of “The Experience Economy,” Joe has developed a framework that helps professionals everywhere leverage the power of experience to cultivate strong customer relationships. He joins this episode of the podcast to discuss how travel businesses can succeed in the experience economy and where the future of business may be headed.

Joe shares five ways travel businesses should optimize their experiences to earn rave customer reviews. Plus, we have news about Google’s foray into AI-based itinerary planning; a road tip about the power of slowing down your tours; and a Hot Minute about whether artificial intelligence is a threat to tour operators.

On leveraging the power of experiences:

“Understand that the experience is the marketing. In today’s experience economy, the experience that is staged out there is going to determine whether people come back again and whether they tell people about it.”

On why great experiences require drama:

“Understand that when you’re staging experiences, work is theater. Your workers are on stage whenever they are in front of guests. You need to direct them to act and help them create that great experience. You need to have dramatic structure that rises up to a climax and comes back down again. If you have a flat experience where not much happens, it’s not very memorable. You need to design the time that customers spend with you.”

On the demand for transformative travel experiences:

“People increasingly desire life-transforming experiences. When we travel is when we’re most open to change. We get out of our daily quotidian lives and open up to new vistas. That’s when we expose ourselves to new ways of thinking and new ways of being. So we can change through the travel that we have.”

“A transformation is when you guide customers in achieving their aspirations. It’s through transformative experiences that we change.”

Follow the development of Joe Pine’s new book “The Transformation Economy” on Substack at transformationsbook.substack.com.

Subscribe to Joe’s Field Notes newsletter at strategichorizons.com/contact.

Follow Joe Pine on LinkedIn.

1:17 — Travel News: Google introduces AI itinerary planning

2:24 — Road Tip: The power of slowing down your trips

14:58 — How Joe Pine became an experiential business guru

19:35 — How experiences took over the economy

22:00 — Keys to competing in the experience economy

29:57 — Why transformation is the next economic frontier

37:51 — How experiences give small businesses a leg up

48:19 — Hot Minute: Should tourism professionals be worried about AI?

Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.

You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.

Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.

Thanks for listening!

Are you delivering what your customers really want from their travel experience? What about what they really need?

Travel has incredible potential to impact people and change lives. But according to recent research data, there’s a gap between the significant experiences travelers are searching for and what the tourism industry often delivers. In this episode of the podcast, Gather and Go host Brian Jewell shares how tourism leaders can tap into the power of travel to create transformational moments for their customers.

His presentation, Untapped: Travel’s Hidden Power to Solve People’s Deepest Problems, was delivered March 21, 2024 at STS Domestic Showcase in Little Rock, Arkansas. We’re sharing the entire talk in this episode. Don’t forget to scroll down for links to the slide deck and key moments from the presentation.

Brian’s talk included lots of helpful data. Here’s a copy of the presentation slides with links to underlying research sources.

9:40 — What do people want from their travel experiences?

11:45 — Revisiting “The Case Against Travel”

16:14 — Travel’s untapped potential

19:53 — Solving travelers’ problems

27:51 — Solving destinations’ problems

30:53 — Solving society’s problems

41:53 — One question that will change your approach to travel

Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a podcast that helps travel organizers and industry professionals plan, promote and lead better trips. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators and travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they work with, as well as destination marketers, museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes a featured conversation with a smart and influential travel leader. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.

You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.

Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.

Thanks for listening!