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August 12, 2025 29 mins
Why are younger workers walking away from remote jobs despite being more tech-savvy than any generation before them? And when it comes to travel, which loyalty programs actually deliver the perks they promise? This week, Scott Fitzgerald explores the surprising forces shaping how we connect at work — and how we get rewarded on the road.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Kentucky Focus. I'm Scott Fitzgerald. This week, we're
diving into two fascinating stories shipping, how we live and work, and.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
Even how we travel.

Speaker 1 (00:10):
First, why are younger workers turning away from remote jobs
even though technology has never been easier to use? What's
missing beneath the surface of our virtual workspaces and what
could it mean for the future of leadership.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
And company culture.

Speaker 1 (00:24):
Then, if you're a traveler, just someone curious about getting
more bang for your buck, we'll unpack the.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
Latest rankings, revealing which loyalty.

Speaker 1 (00:30):
Programs are actually rewarding your time and money which ones
might be falling behind. Again, I'm Scott Fitzgerald. This is
Kentucky Focus. Stay with us to hear insights that could
change how you think about well, work, connection, and maybe
even your next trip.

Speaker 2 (00:45):
We're back after this.

Speaker 3 (00:46):
Welcome to Kentucky Focus on the Kentucky News Network, the
show that looks at issues affecting the Commonwealth and it's citizens.
We cover state politics and history, human interest stories, sports,
and even entertainment. It's Kentucky Focus on kNN.

Speaker 4 (01:09):
Nearly half of children in foster care drop out of school,
but you can rewrite that story. Children in youth with
KASA and GAAL volunteers are more likely to succeed in school.
Change a child's story. Become a volunteer today. Learn more

(01:31):
at National KASA gl dot org.

Speaker 5 (01:35):
The Alzheimer's Association and the AD Council present the story
of Cynthia and Ed.

Speaker 6 (01:40):
My mother was always very active and independent, and she
was familiar with her neighborhood. But one day, out of
the blue, she stopped at the stop sign for much
longer than usual, and she didn't know whether she should
go forward or turn just stay at the stop sign.
She wasn't even really sure where she was at. She

(02:02):
was very concerned. It was very unsettling for her.

Speaker 7 (02:06):
It's important for you to talk to someone about it,
to bring the family in on it.

Speaker 8 (02:12):
I felt so much better after my son told me, Mom,
I don't want you to worry or be afraid.

Speaker 4 (02:17):
I'll be there for you and we'll figure it out.

Speaker 5 (02:20):
When something feels different, it could be Alzheimer's. Now is
the time to talk. Visit alz dot org slash our
stories to learn more. A message from the Alzheimer's Association
and the AD Council.

Speaker 2 (02:33):
Welcome back to Kentucky. Focus. I'm Scott Fitzgerald.

Speaker 1 (02:36):
While we're taking a look at trends that are shaping
the future of work today, we're unpacking a surprising shift
among gen Z employees. Despite growing up with technology and
remote communication tools, most are actually walking away from.

Speaker 2 (02:50):
Fully remote work.

Speaker 1 (02:51):
Recent Gallup poll shows only twenty three percent of gen
Z workers per fer fully remote roles, compared to thirty
five percent of older generations. Well, why is this happening?
Joining us to break this down is doctor Tim Curry.
He's the author of Swift Trust, Mastering Relationships in the
Remote Work Revolution. Doctor Curry's research reveals that, well, the
problem isn't screen fatigue, it's something more fundamental, a hunger

(03:14):
for a real human connection culture and belonging that technology
honestly just can't replace, Doctor Curry.

Speaker 2 (03:19):
Thanks for joining us, Scott.

Speaker 1 (03:21):
Well, your research shows us that gen Z workers are
not choosing to move away from fully remote rules, not
just because they don't like the autonomy, but because they
crave connection. Can you explain why remote work feels so
disconnected to younger employees?

Speaker 9 (03:34):
Yeah? Absolutely, I mean, I think you know younger employees
called gen Z or whatever category you want to pick.
But generally younger employees that are early in their career.
They're looking for all the same things that I imagine
we all, you know, as me as a gen xer,
we all looked for. They want belonging, they want identity,
they want deep interpersonal relationships, they want to be mentored.

(03:56):
You can't really get that through a screen. It's just
a it's not a substitute.

Speaker 2 (04:00):
Again, we're joining with doctor Tim Curry.

Speaker 1 (04:01):
He is author of Swift Trust, Mastering Relationships in the
Remote work Revolution and Doctor Curry. Many assume gen z,
being digital natives, would thrive in remote environments. What does
your research suggest about the difference between comfort with technology
and the need for face to face interaction.

Speaker 9 (04:17):
Ye, Scott, that's a really good question. Because gen Zers
grew up. You know, there's always that funny story of
the little kid who looks at a magazine and tries
to swipe right right, you know, like their world has
been digital. However, the way that they've interacted digitally is
not the same as how many organizations, many especially many
larger organizations, are trying trying to implement technology to enable

(04:40):
the remote workplace. A lot of companies are just taking
the old way of working stacked it on top of
a bunch of Zoom and you know, Microsoft teams meetings.
So if you imagine, you know, your typical gen zer
might be sitting there on a Zoom meeting with the
camera off, scrolling on their phone with a TV on,
with the lack of interpersonal sort of in office interpersonal

(05:02):
environment or scaffolding kind of reinforce the corporate culture or
a shared sense of identity and purpose. People can partmentalize
their workplace, they make it a very transactional relationship, and
what they're really interested is what they're scrolling on on
their phone. Again, gen z interacting digitally with a community

(05:23):
and a bunch of people independent of what their on
task work might be that day or that out or
in that meeting. So there's a there's a failure for
us that sort of you know, not us, but failure
of larger organizations to bring in gen zers in a
digital way that that's effective or compelling. So it ends
up having like the reverse effect.

Speaker 2 (05:44):
Doctor Tim Curry joins us.

Speaker 1 (05:45):
He is the author of Swift Trust, Mastering Relationships in
the Remote Work Revolution, And doctor Curry, you mentioned swift Trust.

Speaker 2 (05:53):
Can you explain what that means.

Speaker 1 (05:54):
And why this is especially hard to develop in remote
settings for younger workers.

Speaker 9 (05:59):
Yeah. Absolutely. Swift trust is a research term that came
has its origins back in the two thousands when people
first started, you know, building virtual global teams, and a
lot of corporate research went into what makes it work,
what makes them tick, what makes them effective, and this
concept of swift trust came out, which was basically, it's
a very provisional surface layer, transactional layer of trust. I'm

(06:21):
going to trust, uh, You're gonna trust me to do
my job. I'm gonna trust You're gonna pay me if
I do my job. You know, it's it's it's until
and unless I'm proven otherwise, I'm going to assume you're
good at your job, that you're competent, reliable, and you
have a good character, and we'll get through this project.
We'll get through this team you know, team engagement, and

(06:41):
and we'll move on. And so what was constant in
all of that was that everything was temporary right well now,
and through my research into my practical experience, what I've
found is that that concept of a very provisional, transactional
type of trust, swift trust is being is being displayed
permanently in a remote work environment where it's like, Okay,

(07:03):
I'm going to log into Zoom. I'm gonna have eight
ten hours of Zoom stack on top of each other.
I'm going to do what you asked me to do.
I'm going to trust that you're gonna pay me, But
I'm not going to build all this other scaffolding and
deep into personal relationships that generally goes with the work environment.

Speaker 1 (07:17):
Great insight from doctor Tim Curry again author of Swift Trust,
Mastering Relationships in the Remote Work Revolution and doc.

Speaker 2 (07:23):
Let's talk about sort of company leaders.

Speaker 1 (07:26):
Now, what role does company culture play in the divide
and how can organizations use hybrid work models to sort
of nurture culture as well as.

Speaker 9 (07:34):
Mentor Yeah, really good question. I mean there's no like
real simple, easy answer to that. But generally, if you're
going to have a hybrid workplace, it has to be
really well thought out. I mean, I think you and
I could both probably talk about either personal experiences or friends.
We're like, oh, I got to go back to the
office three days a week. I go into the office,
none of the people I need to talk to are there,

(07:55):
so you know, I drive an hour into the office,
I get in there, and I'm zooming with somebody in
another location, and and so that has almost a double
down negative effect right where it's like, Okay, I got
all the I've got all the overhead of the commute
to the office and the old way of doing things,
but I have none of the benefits because no one
has really put in any thought to team design or

(08:17):
how I'm working, or or how we're all engaging on
a daily basis. And I think it was I think
it was Jamie Diamond, Uh, you know, head of JP
Morgan Chase, who said, you know, you can't schedule innovation
for three o'clock on a Tuesday, Right, So we're gonna
we're going to have an in office environment that's hybrid.

(08:37):
It's got to be well thought out, and the time
in the environment you create there is really important. All
the people need to be there, The people that I'm like,
if you think of it just from an individual that
they need to see and interact with and learn from,
need to be there. Conversely, in my research, I found,
you know, look, let's let's be clear, there are some
companies that are absolutely thriving in one hundred percent remote

(08:59):
remote work place. They're generally smaller, they're generally in the
technology field, right, and they're generally and they're generally made
up of people that knew each other for ten years
right from them before times, that can finish each other's
sentences in a deep, deep trust already already created, and
to the extent they're able to extend that to the
rest of the team, they can build they can build

(09:20):
a nice, productive, innovative, sort of inclusive remote work environment.
But being cloud they're generally cloud native, meaning like they're
not sitting at a bunch of a bunch of zoom meetings,
They're not sending emails with copyalls, right, you know, right,
they're they're they're in the slack channel, they're responding with
an emoji. They're moving on, they're creating, you know, they're

(09:40):
creating a sort of a collective, a collective consciousness that
moves really fast. And the other thing I found is
that almost invariably those successful companies have a lot of
non work related you know, sort of channels and engagement
methods where you know, people can be can talk trash
about their sports team. Uh, you know a dad, dad
who takes his daughter to the Taylor swift concert to

(10:03):
share the pictures in the Swifty channel, and they create
that community in those connections that are authentic without having
an all be about on task work and on task
delivery all day long.

Speaker 1 (10:13):
Doctor Tim Curry having a fascinating conversation.

Speaker 2 (10:16):
He is the author of Swift Trust, Mastering.

Speaker 1 (10:19):
Relationships in the Remote Work Revolution, and just some great
insight here, Doc, and you can find, of course, his
publication anywhere you get your favorite publications.

Speaker 2 (10:27):
Without a doubt. We'll get to that here in just
a bit. Just a few more questions for you, Doc.

Speaker 1 (10:31):
Looking ahead, do you think fully remote work will remain
viable for younger generations or is it a hybrid model
perhaps the best path forward.

Speaker 9 (10:40):
It'll probably be a mix, I think. I think you'll
find smaller, smaller, more cloud native companies that can create
that world and succeed. I think ultimately, though, the demand
and the desire to be in an office environment will
will both inspire and drive organizations to to kind of

(11:02):
recreate what we had before, although it might look a
little different, Scott, it might be I could see a
world in which companies become hyper local. You know, my
book doesn't really address AI. I'd have a little prologue
to it. But with the with the advent of AI,
generative AI and all these AI tools sort of becoming

(11:25):
a new communication mechanism. I think people will it'll almost
be like, Okay, if I don't meet you in person,
I don't know it's real, right, right, right? And so
I think that you know, the way of selling, the
way of engaging with customers, the way of building an
office of aren't that's going to be a trend at
some point in the future where people, you know, Hey,
I live in Chicago, I'm going to go to a

(11:46):
Chicago office that's filled with Chicago people who sell to
Chicago customers. And and maybe a little bit like it
used to be decades ago that I think that might
emerge a little bit where where companies do become hybrid
and recreate that office environment, but they also put a
lot of intentional thought into who's in that office, what
are they working on, what markets are they addressing, and

(12:09):
become sort of hyper local.

Speaker 2 (12:10):
It makes sense.

Speaker 1 (12:11):
Doctor Tim Curry, author of Swift Trust, Mastering Relationships, and
the Remote Work Revolution.

Speaker 2 (12:16):
Joins us and you mentioned earlier, Doc.

Speaker 1 (12:18):
Did the tech was one of the industries that does
well with this. Are there any other industries or types
of roles where remote work will work better for younger
employees or is it just a broad generational trend across
all sectors.

Speaker 9 (12:30):
I think it's a broad generational trend across all sectors.
I mean tech tech has an advantage because a lot
of us in this industry, which i am, I'm CEO
of a cloud consulting company named Nova, we've all been remote,
hybrid remote for twenty years. But there was always a
home office. There was always a satellite office, you know

(12:51):
where people work when that's usually where most of the
engineers were, That's where things got done, that's where the
corporate culture got built, et cetera, et cetera. So we
kind of get a pass as we've had twenty years
to figure this out. I think, you know, I think
organizations where you need to be people focused or it's
a highly highly intensive customer in or engagement or interaction,

(13:13):
I think those will continue to struggle without without being
having some sort of corporate corporate culture or human connection
that that gets reinforced.

Speaker 1 (13:21):
And finally, for you, Doc, what advice do you have
for young professionals trying to build their careers basically in
this evolving work landscape.

Speaker 9 (13:28):
I would say, find a mentor and and find a connection.
And what I mean by that, Scott is look if
it means if your if your company is remote, go
spend two days at the at the you know, shared workspace,
we work whatever you might have locally, just to get
the vibe, just to get the energy, just to just
to get that human interaction. And I would I would say,

(13:49):
if your if your organization doesn't actually provide any office that,
if it is a remote organization, do what you can
to you know, find a mentor, find connections, build authentic relationships.
Put your camera on if you can. You know, if
you're the only one on the zoom call with your
camera on, be the example, be the one, because people
will remember that. They will they will remember that, hey,

(14:10):
you're the one that has a camera on. So all
of a sudden, you start to reveal, Like we build
trust traditionally by revealing parts of ourselves over time, right,
people get to know us through layers. And you've got
to keep trying to find ways of engaging with people authentically,
which means taking an interest in understanding and learning more

(14:30):
about them as well. And I think the more you
do that in a corporate environment, not only will you
be more successful, but I think you know, if you're
a gen Z or your young you know, entry level
into your into your career path, you'll find it, you'll
find it more fulfilling, and you'll ultimately be more successful.

Speaker 2 (14:45):
Doctor Tim Curry, I'm so glad we were able to
catch up.

Speaker 1 (14:48):
You are the author of Swift Trust, Mastering Relationships in
the Remote Work Revolution.

Speaker 2 (14:52):
And where can folks find your publication doc?

Speaker 9 (14:55):
You can find us on Amazon. We are there with
all the other great, great publications, and you find us
on good Hope everyone takes a chance to look us up.
And thanks so much for your time, Scott.

Speaker 1 (15:04):
You bet, And you're also the CEOs give your company
one more time, so folks if they want to take
a look at your company too, You've just got some
great inside here.

Speaker 9 (15:11):
Yeah. Absolutely so. I'm CEO of a company called Nova.
We are. We are a cloud and AI professional services
company across North America and Latin America and doing a
lot of really fun stuff. You know, I mentioned that
other edge of edge of the edge of evolution and
edge of discovery around the AI world. We're knee deeping
all of that as well.

Speaker 1 (15:30):
Doctor Tim Curry, thank you so much, my friend, have
yourself a great day, and I hope well let's talk
again sometime soon.

Speaker 9 (15:35):
I like I like your ribe anytime. Scott.

Speaker 2 (15:39):
We are discussing child development with some experts. Tell me
what's the normal development of say a two year old?

Speaker 1 (15:45):
Hi, so saying two to forward phrases and engaging in
pretend to play?

Speaker 2 (15:50):
And what about social development.

Speaker 7 (15:54):
Being enthusiastic about the company of other children.

Speaker 2 (15:57):
Thank you.

Speaker 10 (15:58):
It's time to change how we view it. ELT's growth.
It's not just physical. There are milestones your child should
reach in how he plays, learns, speaks, and acts. A
delay in any of these areas could be a sign
of a developmental problem, even autism. The good news is
the earlier it's recognized, the more you can do to
help your child reach his full potential. Talk with a doctor.

(16:18):
Visit CDC dot gov, slash act early or call one
eight hundred CDC info a message from the US Department
of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Learn the signs.

Speaker 5 (16:29):
Act early in Kentucky call five oh two eight, five two, seven,
seven nine nine, or visit kyautism dot org.

Speaker 1 (16:40):
Whether it's one last summer getaway or planning ahead for
full escape, it's prime time to stretch your travel dollars. Today,
we're taking you really behind the curtain of the twenty
twenty five twenty twenty six US News and World Reports
Best travel reward program rankings, from free flights to first
class perks to hotel up great and loyalty wins.

Speaker 2 (17:00):
Which program delivers the most bang for your buck?

Speaker 1 (17:03):
Joining us is Elizabeth von Tursch, a senior travel editor
at US News, to help us to code the rankings
and cut through the fine print and share expert tips
on how you can make every point count. So whether
you're a season jet center or planning your first trip,
we'll get you going in the right direction. Good morning
to you, Elizabeth. Let's start with the big picture. How
do the rankings work and why are these travel reward

(17:26):
lists so valuable for consumers?

Speaker 2 (17:28):
Right now?

Speaker 7 (17:29):
Good morning, Scott, Thank you so much for having me
so Our rankings are really geared toward the everyday traveler,
so we try to keep them as simple as possible.

Speaker 8 (17:38):
The biggest factor.

Speaker 7 (17:39):
In our rankings is how quickly a member can earn
a free hotel night or flight with that program, so
kind of just the most straightforward benefit of rewards programs
right there.

Speaker 9 (17:51):
Now.

Speaker 7 (17:51):
We do also consider some additional benefits perks such as
free room upgrades, free checked bags, and then we take
into consideration and how large the program's network is too.
Are you going to be able to find a hotel there,
are you going to find a direct flight with that airline?

Speaker 8 (18:07):
So all of those things kind of wrap into our rankings.

Speaker 7 (18:11):
And they are really important right now especially, things are
always changing with rewards programs, and never more than the
past couple of years they've they've really made some big changes,
so it's always nice to stay up to dates, and
we lay them out very clearly in terms of where
they are strongest and maybe which programs do best in
which category.

Speaker 1 (18:31):
Joining us is Elizabeth von Urs and your travel editor
at US News and where, of course, are taking apart
the travel rewards program rankings and lisabits, what are the
top airline hotel rewards programs for twenty twenty five in
twenty twenty six, and what makes them stand out from
the rest.

Speaker 8 (18:49):
Of course, So at number one we have Alaska Airlines
Mileage Plan.

Speaker 7 (18:52):
Now this program has been number one for eleven consecutive
years now, so a very strong program, mainly.

Speaker 8 (18:59):
For how easy it is to earn a free flight.

Speaker 7 (19:01):
You're going to earn based on how many miles you
fly and not how much you're spending, so if you're
not wanting to spend a bunch on.

Speaker 8 (19:07):
Your airline ticket. Number two, we have United Mileage Plus.

Speaker 7 (19:11):
Now that program is really great for those who maybe
aren't flying all the time because there's a wide array
of ways that you.

Speaker 8 (19:17):
Can earn and use points through that program.

Speaker 7 (19:20):
So everyday things like shopping at Walmart or dining at
a local restaurant are going to earn you points.

Speaker 1 (19:26):
There, that's already an impressive list. How about the rest
of the top.

Speaker 7 (19:30):
Five American airlines? Advantage and this one really stands out
for its huge network, So if you're looking for a
lot of flight options, this one offered the most flights
available to book with points.

Speaker 1 (19:42):
Interesting and again Elizabeth Vonturche joining as senior travel editor
at US News and they of course have their report
out on the best travel rewards program rankings.

Speaker 2 (19:53):
So Elizabeth, let's talk perks. What're kind of added benefits
of travelers seeing?

Speaker 1 (19:58):
Oh, in the best rated programs is the lounge access
is the upgrade and maybe the wave fees.

Speaker 7 (20:03):
Absolutely, so lounge access is getting a little bit harder
to come by.

Speaker 8 (20:08):
So but with our top programs, you are going to.

Speaker 7 (20:11):
Be able to access that lounge a little bit earlier
than some other programs.

Speaker 8 (20:15):
So especially Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, their participation.

Speaker 7 (20:19):
In the One World Alliance allows them to use partner lounges,
so that's a really nice benefit there. Obviously, the free
checked bag is a huge perk, so whether you're getting
that through elite status or through a credit card, a
co branded credit card, that can be a really worthwhile
perk to have. And then specifically for airlines, you know,

(20:41):
free seat upgrades to those seats seem to be getting
smaller and smaller, so the war upgrades you can get,
the better.

Speaker 2 (20:46):
Great conversation.

Speaker 1 (20:47):
Elizabeth Vonturs joining US Now senior Travel editor with US News,
and we're taking a look at some of those.

Speaker 2 (20:52):
Airline parks and rewards programs.

Speaker 1 (20:54):
Is folks not like going to wind up summer travel,
but obviously start hitting the road when it comes to
holiday travel as well. So when you know when we're
talking perks, as we mentioned the best radio programs we
were talking about the lounge access. But for airline rewards,
how important, Elizabeth is network size and number of daily
flights in choosing a program.

Speaker 7 (21:16):
So that makes up a little percentage of our methodology,
So we lean heavily on how quickly you can earn
a free flight, but it does factor in the network
and really, you know, that depends on the member and
what they're looking for, right, So if a direct flight
is really important to you, maybe look at those programs
with that higher network score, like American airlines are United.

Speaker 8 (21:38):
But if you're willing to be a little bit more
flexible on your flight times, you.

Speaker 7 (21:41):
Could definitely look at ones that don't have quite as
large as a network.

Speaker 1 (21:45):
Elizabeth von Tursch is our guest. She's the senior travel
editor at US News. And Elizabeth, what did your research
reveal about hotel programs, especially in terms of geographic reach
and value for casual travelers.

Speaker 8 (21:58):
Yes, so Choice Privileges was our number one program this year.

Speaker 7 (22:03):
Now not quite the largest program with in terms of network,
so Wyndham and Marriott obviously have more properties, but Choice
does have quite a large diversity, and where they really
excel is their elite status.

Speaker 8 (22:16):
So starting at just ten nights, you're going to see some.

Speaker 7 (22:19):
Really attractive perks like free room upgrades, early check in,
late checkout. With other larger programs, you're not going to
see all three of those benefits until about twenty five
or even forty nights.

Speaker 8 (22:30):
So a really really nice benefit for choice.

Speaker 2 (22:32):
Absolutely, it is just a wealth of knowledge.

Speaker 1 (22:34):
If you're planning on traveling maybe some more this summer,
even the holiday season, you want to pay attention. Elizabeth
von Tursh is joining US. You can read the report
at US News and World Reports. She's the senior travel
editor there.

Speaker 2 (22:46):
And Elizabeth.

Speaker 1 (22:47):
How much do affiliated credit cards impact of program's overall
ranking or value to members?

Speaker 8 (22:52):
Yes, Scott, so we do factor in credit cards.

Speaker 7 (22:55):
We look at whether or not members can earn points
with a credit card, because that's really a nice way
to kind of boost your points, of course, and we
also look at what.

Speaker 8 (23:04):
Benefits a credit card can provide. Now, we look mainly
at the entry.

Speaker 7 (23:09):
Level credit cards, so those under one hundred and fifty
dollars annual fee, so we're not looking at.

Speaker 8 (23:15):
You know, the Chase Sapphire with a nearly eight hundred
dollars annual feed now, but we look to see what
benefits those offer, and really the co branded ones if
you know you're going to be taking a few flights.

Speaker 7 (23:27):
With that airline, especially for airlines, the perks through that
can really be worth it, like the free check bag.

Speaker 1 (23:34):
Nice and Elizabeth Bonters joining us again talking about travel benefits.

Speaker 2 (23:37):
Just a couple more.

Speaker 1 (23:38):
Questions for you, Elizabeth. You also looked at how easy
it is to redeem awards. What should travelers know about
redemption rules or availability before they commit?

Speaker 7 (23:46):
Absolutely, so looking at where you can redeem your points
is really important.

Speaker 8 (23:52):
You want to make sure.

Speaker 7 (23:53):
Your points have the most value, so really that's where
our earning rate comes into play. We made sure that
those programs at the top really have a pretty valuable
point system. So with Choice Privileges, for example, starting you're
going to stay on average about nine nights before you
earn enough points for a free night.

Speaker 8 (24:11):
Through that program. That's a pretty strong average.

Speaker 7 (24:13):
Window Rewards was also up there too, and a really
fun tip too is with World of Hyatt. So if
you're looking to stay at a luxury property with points.

Speaker 8 (24:23):
World of Hyatt has a really great.

Speaker 7 (24:25):
Deal on some of their most luxurious properties like Park Hyatt,
there's not a huge swing in the number of points
required for their entry level all the way up to luxury,
so that's a nice option too.

Speaker 1 (24:36):
And are there any up and coming programs Elizabeth or
brands that traveler should keep an eye on right now?

Speaker 2 (24:41):
Yes.

Speaker 7 (24:41):
I would say that Jet Blue specifically for airlines, they
offer some really nice benefits. It's a little smaller network,
but later this year they are going to partner with
United to really expand their footprint there.

Speaker 8 (24:54):
And then in terms of hotels, you know, if you
like to stay in boutique properties, some of the smaller
brand like Leaders Clubs, small small or jury hotels, preferred hotels,
they offer some really great perks even to entry level members.

Speaker 1 (25:09):
Ow great insights today from Elizabeth Vonteure. She is with
US News and World Report and they are out with
their rewards ranking program. And final question for you, Elizabeth,
what's your best advice for someone looking to pick maybe
the right program.

Speaker 2 (25:21):
Especially if they don't travel frequently.

Speaker 7 (25:23):
I would say, if you're not a frequent traveler, look
for the ways that you can earn.

Speaker 8 (25:28):
Points on everyday purchases. So I kind of I like
to call it a set.

Speaker 7 (25:31):
It and forget it approach where things like United you
can sign up for their dining program where anytime you're
dining at a restaurant that is part of that program,
you automatically get points.

Speaker 8 (25:41):
Same thing with Lift.

Speaker 7 (25:43):
And Uber, a lot of programs partner with them anytime
you can kind of link accounts or connect your credit card.

Speaker 8 (25:49):
And have that automatically add up.

Speaker 7 (25:51):
Is really helpful for those who aren't specifically flying all
the time.

Speaker 9 (25:54):
Well.

Speaker 1 (25:54):
Great insights today from Elizabeth von Tourche at US News
and World Report. If you're looking to travel smarter and
stretch those loyalty points even further.

Speaker 2 (26:02):
Their annual rankings are a must read.

Speaker 1 (26:04):
You can always check out the full list of best
airline hotel rewards programs at usnews dot com, Forward slash
Travel and of course has always pack your patients and
plan ahead and.

Speaker 2 (26:15):
Make those miles work right for you. Elizabeth, thanks so
much for joining US. I hope we can talk again soon.

Speaker 8 (26:20):
Thank you so much, Scott, lovely to be here, and.

Speaker 2 (26:22):
Again a big thank you too.

Speaker 1 (26:23):
Senior travel editor for US News, Elizabeth von Turshen. Here's
to you finding that perfect travel plan and getting that
much need to get away when the time is right,
we're back to wrap things up after this.

Speaker 2 (26:34):
I'm Scott Fitzgerald. This is Kentucky Focus.

Speaker 3 (26:40):
If you have an.

Speaker 11 (26:41):
Injury, illness, COVID substance use, or mental health concerns and
need help. There are many reasons Kentuckians leave their jobs.
Retain Kentucky can help. If you are thinking of leaving
your job or left your job recently, visit Kyretain dot
org or call eight five nine five six two three

(27:03):
two five one to learn about services, resources and research
to help Kentucky workers stay at work or return to work.
Retain Kentucky is funded by the US Department of Labor
and the Social Security Administration under a grant award to
the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training. One hundred percent
of grant funding is from federal funds. Let's keep Kentucky working.

(27:27):
Call Retain Kentucky at eight five nine five six two
three two five one, or visit Kyretain dot org.

Speaker 1 (27:36):
And that's going to wrap things up by this week's
Kentucky Focus. From the shifting tides of workplace connection to
unlocking the best travel rewards. We've certainly covered a lot
of ground this week, and there's plain to think about
as these trends continue to evolve again. Thanks to Elizabeth
von Turs, Senior travel editor for US News, and of
course Dotor Tim Curry, but more importantly, thank you the

(27:57):
listener for making time for is each week here on
Kentucky Folks, I guess we try to bring you the
story instead of bly to your life and how they
affect you on a day to day level. If you
have any comments or questions, feel free to email is
confidence Gerald at iHeartMedia dot com against com Fitzgerald at
iHeartMedia dot com. I speak for all of us at
the Kentucky News Network and of course at Kentucky Focus

(28:18):
when I say stay safe, take care of each other,
and most importantly, don't take yourself so seriously. We're back
next week here on Kentucky Focus.

Speaker 3 (28:28):
Kentucky Focus on the Kentucky News Network, the show that
looks at issues affecting the Commonwealth and it's citizens. We
cover state politics and history, human interest stories, sports, and
even entertainment. It's Kentucky Focus on kNN.

Speaker 12 (28:48):
The best words to hear at the TSA security checkpoint.
You're good to go, so check before you jet of
we delays at TSA security checkpoints by making sure you
have an acceptable form of ID that means a real ID, passport,
or other acceptable forms of identification.

Speaker 4 (29:05):
Visit TSA dot gov slash id to check the full
list of acceptable IDs. Avoid travel delays by checking ID requirements,
and you're good to go. Snakes, zombies.

Speaker 10 (29:17):
Public speaking, the list of fears is endless, but the
real danger is in your hand when you're behind the wheel.
Distracted driving is what's really scary, and even deadly. Eyes forward,
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