Ireland isn’t just about Saint Patrick’s Day, it’s also the birthplace of Halloween, or Samhain, as it was originally known. Siobhan De Paor, a shaman or spiritual leader of the community, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the true origins of Halloween at the very site historians believe where it all began. That site is on a priva…

Marilyn Cairo, vice president of sales for Classic Vacations, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report at the recent Signature Travel Network conference in Las Vegas about her transition to Classic Vacations after 32 years in the hotel and resort industry. Cairo highlights Classic’s growth into more than 100 global destinations with a focus on…

Michele D'Agostino, co-founder of Secret Atlas expedition micro cruises, talks with Olivia Liveng of Insider Travel Report about micro cruises, intimate journeys aboard small ships designed to explore remote and pristine destinations with minimal environmental impact. D'Agostino explains why micro cruises offer a more personal and immersive experie…

Manujaya Fernando, deputy general manager, sales and marketing for the Heritance Aarah Maldives, talks with Angela Hughes of Insider Travel Report about the resort's appeal to multi-generational families, honeymooners and destination weddings. Fernando details the resort's luxury service, including butlers for all guests, with family-friendly and a…

David Gilroy, sustainability manager for the Puca Festival in Trim and Athboy, Ireland, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the Puca festival’s connection to the ancient Celtic celebration of Samhain, which later became Halloween in the U.S. Gilroy explains the historical significance of the Hill of Ward and Trim Castle, highlightin…

Karin Kopano, general manager of The Ned, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about her two-year-old boutique hotel located in one of the trendiest neighborhoods of Manhattan. Set in the former NoMad Hotel, The Ned offers multiple restaurants, bars, Ned’s Club and a rooftop bar, meaning you never really have to leave the property.…

Nathan Parr, a travel advisor from the Travel and Cruise Desk in Oregon, speaks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report at the Signature Travel Network’s 2024 conference in Las Vegas. Parr discusses winning Signature's sales excellence award and shares his passion for travel in Thailand, emphasizing its broad appeal. Parr explains how Signature's r…

Mike, a Disney imagineer responsible for many of the interiors on Disney Cruise Line’s new Disney Treasure, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about what this family focused cruise ship features in an interview just a day after last week’s christening. Disney Treasure offers signature rotational dining, great kids clubs, family-o…

Muwas Siddeek, facilities manager for Underneath the Mango Tree in Dickwella, Sri Lanka, talks with Jennifer Lutz of Insider Travel Report about what makes the 22-room boutique hotel special and how the beach resort’s wellness program includes Ayurvedic treatments. For more information, visit Under the Mango Tree. For more information, visit www.cr…

Odhran Dunne, chief executive of Visit Derry, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about Derry Halloween, Europe’s largest Halloween festival held in Derry, Northern Ireland. Dunne discuss the city’s historic roots, the festival's origins as a community event, and its evolution into a major celebration attracting more than 100,000 attendee…

Emma Kearney of Titanic Belfast talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about why her museum remains a must-visit, even for returning guests. The latest updates to Titanic Belfast focus on the story after the Titanic’s sinking, including new galleries that explore personal stories of passengers, shipbuilders and Robert Ballard, the ocean expl…

Annie Fitzsimmons, Embark Beyond’s editor in chief in charge of content, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about her new role developing content for the clients and prospective clients of the host agency’s travel advisors. Using video and engaging social media and more, Fitzsimmons is creating a whole new way to market luxury tr…

Jamie Jones, owner of WhirlAway Travel and a member of the Signature Travel Network board, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about her insights into her role on the board, the advantages of Signature’s marketing, technology and training support, and her enthusiasm for its nonprofit initiative, Travel Elevates. Jones emphasizes her agenc…

Jack Ezon, managing partner of Embark Beyond, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his innovative Virtuoso host agency and its equally out of box annual conference, held last week in Los Cabos, Mexico. Ezon has his advisors and preferred partners engage in a series of games, contests and networking exercises to collectively t…

Karl Kannstadter, vice president of content strategy for exploration at the Signature Travel Network (STN), talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about his efforts to elevate the profile of adventure travel, including expedition cruises, safaris and active travel experiences for STN travel advisors. By creating tools and resources for advis…

Jim Heilman, vice president-product development for AREA15, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his four-year-old immersive entertainment attraction, which features experiences, art, restaurants and stores, as well as event spaces. Since we interviewed AREA15 back in 2020, it’s grown substantially and now is about to welcome…

Ross Mollison, founder and impresario of SpiegelWorld, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his “alternative” shows now playing in Las Vegas and other venues. From the Absinthe circus to the theater where Atomic Saloon is performed, SpiegelWorld specializes in funny, raunchy performances with circus acts that are almost the a…

Gina Weyer, vice president of training, and Nolan Burris, talent development consultant, both with the Signature Travel Network, talk with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how Signature is using AI to streamline tasks, improve communication and support travel advisors. They emphasize the importance of combining technology with human experti…

Karen Yates, executive vice president of information technologies for Signature Travel Network, a member-owned travel agency cooperative, speaks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the group's latest technological advancements, including artificial intelligence (AI). She explains how Signature is helping travel advisors adopt AI to boost …

Terrence O’Donnell, senior vice president and general manager of Caesars Palace, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about Caesars Palace’s completely renovated luxury villas and suites, which comes as Caesars itself is reinventing itself with new restaurants, new gaming, new accommodations and new suites in Nobu. For more informa…

Phillip Duffy, tour director for CIE Tours, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the Ireland South Daytripper, which allows guests to stay in one hotel in Adare while taking daily excursions across Ireland. Highlights include the Cliffs of Moher, Dingle Peninsula, the Ring of Kerry, Blarney Castle, Cork, and the port of Cobh. Flying …

Kelly Messina, senior director of leisure travel for the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report on the eve of the second Formula 1 Grand Prix, an event that was a major success for the entertainment capital Messina details how Vegas has become a center for sports, previews new and updated re…

Alissa Blair, senior reservation coordinator for Celtic Tours, talks about the new tour programs featured by Celtic Tours for 2025 and how Celtic Tours has something for everyone. Blair details new escorted tours as well as new independent tours and also how easy it is to customize with Celtic Tours. For more information, visit www.celtictours.com.…

Louis Murphy, proprietor of the Dunraven in Adare, Ireland, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the appeal of CIE Tours’ “Day Tripper” experience, allowing travelers to stay at the Dunraven while exploring attractions like the Blarney Castle, the Cliffs of Moher and Ring of Kerry. Murphy shares the Dunraven’s rich history, Irish cha…

Jackie Friedman, president of Family Bonds Foundation, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how this travel industry charitable group is moving beyond Internova to get contributions to select those in need and get contributions from the entire industry. With Nov. 13 celebrating Kindness Day, Friedman, who also is president of…

Ash Tembe, vice president of global field sales at AIC Hotel Group, talks with Amanda Carlow of Insider Travel Report about his company’s brand-new AVA Resort Cancun, a 1,600-room complex with multiple restaurants, a 66,000-square-foot spa, a massive AVA Bay pool area, a nightclub and even a bowling alley. AVA is perfect for large groups, but also …

Denis Moriarty, owner of Moriarty’s, speaks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about his family business near Killarney, Ireland, which has operated for over 60 years. The shop offers Irish heritage items, including wool products, tweeds, hand-woven garments, traditional crafts and a unique 60th-anniversary jewelry collection. Located along th…

Pradeep Raman, managing director of The Surrey, a Corinthia Hotel, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his newly refurbished property, which quite literally was rebuilt from the ground up. The newest addition to Corinthia’s hotel group, The Surrey offers 100 completed renovated rooms and suites; Casa Tua, an already trendy r…

Sean Davoren, co-founder of Caherconnell Stone Fort in County Clare’s Burren region, speaks with Alan Fine about his family’s 300-year-old sheep farm and partnership with CIE Tours. Since 2012, Caherconnell has hosted sheepdog demonstrations where trained dogs skillfully herd sheep across rugged terrain, showcasing traditional Irish farming. The si…

Christian Porcayo, social media manager for Hyatt Vivid Grand Island, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about this new Cancun property, the first of the new Hyatt Vivid brand, which is designed for Generation Z and a younger group of adult guests. Hyatt Vivid has great food, an innovative design, extensive pools and a beach club…

Paul Salmon, owner of Rockhouse Hotel & Spa, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the history of his celebrated resort, which is celebrating 50 years. To commemorate that anniversary, Rockhouse has published a book detailing the celebrity guests, the evolution of the property and why it’s become such an iconic resort in Negri…

Jason Block, CEO of Atlanta-based WorldVIA, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his growing travel business, which includes a large host agency that is part of Travel Leaders Network. Block, who is the son of former Travel Leaders President Roger Block, talks about how he got into the industry and what services WorldVIA offe…

Adam Deflorian, CEO of AZDS Interactive, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his innovative company, which provides marketing solutions and B-to-C booking engines for top luxury hotels. The big news now is AZDS will develop booking engines that travel advisors can use to book those same hotels as it develops a B-to-B solutio…

Charlie Robertson, president and CEO of American Cruise Lines (ACL), talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his company’s dramatic growth on America’s rivers, lakes and coastal waterways. ACL has launched a series of innovative new ships that have helped it become the dominant player in domestic cruising—and Robertson says it w…

Stephen Cotter, managing director of CIE Tours International, speaks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the Ireland South Day Tripper, a unique “land cruise” experience that allows travelers to stay in a single hotel in Adare and take day trips to Ireland’s iconic destinations. This all-inclusive tour covers most expenses, letting guests…

Scott Koepf, chief strategy officer for Cruise Planners (CP), talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report, about the comprehensive training and education CP offers to turn newbies and experienced advisors into top-selling pros. At last month’s CP World, CP unveiled even more programs such as a River Cruise Academy, a CP Learning Genie and…

Brian Shultz, chief technology officer of Cruise Planners (CP), the billion-dollar host agency and franchisor, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the latest technology being launch by CP for its member agencies. Shultz reveals CP’s new artificial intelligence solution, a dedicated version of AI called Maxx Intelligence whic…

Vicki Freed, senior vice president of sales, guest services and TK of Royal Caribbean International, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about her cruise line’s new private destination, Perfect Day Mexico, set to debut on the coast near Costa Maya in 2027. Freed tells you how you can sell this new dedicated destination. It will fe…

Joe Leon, vice president-sales, Americas at Silversea, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about Silversea's latest news, the World Cruise 2027, Venetian Society and more. For more information, visit www.silversea.com. All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are available on our Youtube channel (youtube.com/insidertravelrep…

Jacki Marks, global head of trade brands for ALG Vacations (ALGV), talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at this month’s Ascend conference in Cancun about ALGV’s campaign to promote the value of travel advisors, the new ALGV Active Pro program and Luxe by ALGV, the growing luxury program. For more information, visit www.algvacations…

Ray Snisky, group president of ALG Vacations (ALGV) talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last week’s Ascend conference in Cancun about the benefits of being owned by Hyatt and new branding for ALGV. He also reveals the new destinations served by ALGV, including Europe, the Middle East, Maldives and more. Even more important Snis…

Heidi Clarke, executive director of the Sandals Foundation, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the foundation’s many programs in Jamaica and around the Caribbean. During the recent Jamaica Love event on the island, travel advisors and journalists got the chance to see a program where Sandals helps teach Jamaican school chil…

Theresa Scalzitti, chief operating officer for Cruise Planners (CP), talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the recently concluded CP World, the host agency franchisor’s annual conference. Scalzitti also describes some of the major new marketing initiatives launched by CP this year, reveals new training and education programs, …

Gebhard Rainer, the new CEO of HX (formerly known as Hurtigruten Expeditions) talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his new brand from a veteran provider of expedition cruises sailing to the polar regions and beyond. Rainer talks about the reasons behind splitting HX from Hurtigruten, which continues to offer Norwegian coastal…

Jeff Anderson, co-president of Avoya Travel, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about three new initiatives that will dramatically change his host agency. These gamechangers include a higher premium commission program for its well-known Live Leads program, an expansion of its Elite 100 program for its top advisors which pays 100 …

Michele Fee, founder and CEO for Cruise Planners, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the myriad tools and programs her host agency has developed to help its advisors, including a revolutionary artificial intelligence (AI) app that offers dedicated Cruise Planners content. Fee also provides an update on sales across all segm…

Gary Barteling, managing director of Bartelings' Private Jet Tours, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how he is delivering a luxury travel experience once synonymous with Pan Am World Airways, which ceased operations in 1991. Bartelings is offering two trans-Atlantic tours priced at nearly $60,000 per seat and fully commissionable…

Travel Experts’ executive team, consisting of Sharon Fake, executive director; Claire Canady, director-NC operations; and Heather McIntyre, director of technology and finance, talk with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about Travel Experts’ history, vision and culture going back to its start in 1989. That’s when Susan Ferrell, Travel Expe…

Ken Muskat, managing director-U.S.A. for Scenic Group, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how the luxury expedition and river cruise line is doing in the U.S. market today. Interviewed onboard Scenic Eclipse in one of the ship’s rare visits to New York, Muskat talks about the success of the Scenic Eclipse ships, the very di…

Adam Stewart, executive chairman of Sandals Resorts International, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about last week’s “Jamaica Love” event in Montego Bay, where 1,000 top advisors, suppliers, government officials and Sandals staff gathered to celebrate the destination and the resort company. Stewart also discusses the legacy of…