The Insider Travel Report Podcast

Captain Serena Melani, master of Explora II, talks with Michaela Guzy of Insider Travel Report about leading the luxury ship and her groundbreaking role as one of the few female captains in the cruise industry. Melani discusses her career journey, her approach to managing a diverse international crew and creating an intimate yacht-like guest experience. For more information, visit www.explorajourneys.com. 

David Tobin, CEO of Dream Escape, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about creating tailor-made luxury journeys in the U.K. and Ireland, providing deep knowledge, exclusive experiences and end-to-end service for time-poor clients. Tobin also discusses Dream Escape’s 20th anniversary, its expansion into events and consultancy, and its commitment to working closely with travel advisors. For more information, visit www.drea...

Captain Josef Husmann, captain of Sea Cloud Spirit, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how luxury sailing under actual cloth sails makes cruising more sustainable, adventurous and romantic. Husmann also describes the teamwork required on board and the importance of sailing traditions. For more information, visit www.seacloud.com. 

Mario Naar, owner of Miami’s Chevre, chef Claudio Giordano and sommelier Nils Lackner, otherwise known as the "cheese” guy, the “fish” guy, and the "wine” guy, talk with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how they lead a “cultivated journey” aboard Sea Cloud Spirit through Corsica and Sardinia. They share how Sea Cloud Spirit’s top-quality ingredients and immersive food and wine focus create an unforgettable luxury sailing ex...

Bob Bradley of The Pampered Cruiser, a Virtuoso agency, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about why Sea Cloud Spirit is a perfect fit for Virtuoso advisors and their luxury clients seeking an intimate, all-inclusive sailing experience. Bradley highlights the ship’s romantic hand-raised sails, spacious staterooms with verandas, unique small-port itineraries, and onboard perks like fine dining, a full spa, and Virtuoso-ex...

Simon Mayle, event director for the ILTM North America luxury travel show, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report, about this year’s event, scheduled for Oct. 8-10 at the Baha Mar resort in the Bahamas. The event, which features more than 500 luxury buyers (advisors) and 500 luxury suppliers, will be co-located this year with the PROUD Experiences LGQBT+ show. Mayle tells us all about the many benefits of attending I...

Mario Naar, owner of Miami’s Chevre, chef Claudio Giordano, and sommelier Nils Lackner (the "cheese guy," "the fish guy," and the "wine guy") talk with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about leading a special “cultivated journey” aboard Sea Cloud Spirit through Corsica and Sardinia. They share how Sea Cloud Spirit’s top-quality ingredients and immersive food and wine focus create an unforgettable luxury sailing experience. For mo...

Angie Licea, president of Global Travel Collection, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the debut of Arrive, the company’s new luxury advisor conference designed to replace Elevate. Licea shares how the event delivered curated one-on-one meetings, innovative engagement sessions, advisor and partner recognition, and networking that inspired record attendance and immediate sellouts for next year’s event. She a...

Mirell Reyes, CEO North America, and Kevin Smith, chief sales officer North America for Sea Cloud Cruises, talk with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about expanding the brand’s presence in North America. They outline the appeal of the all-inclusive, luxury sailing experience—from hand-raised sails and intimate itineraries to strong commission opportunities and group incentives for travel advisors. For more information, visit www...

Petra Zierer, cluster director of sales at Kempinski Palace Portorož, talks with Olivia Liveng of Insider Travel Report about why this five-star hotel on Slovenia’s Adriatic coast is a must-book for luxury travelers. Zierer shares the hotel’s unique blend of historic palace charm and modern design, its spa offerings using local ingredients, and immersive culinary and outdoor experiences in Portorož and Piran. For more information, ...

Lindsay Pearlman, newly appointed president of Travel Leaders Network, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about his vision for the network, including strategic growth, a more personalized approach to agency support, and major tech tools like Agent Profiler and Snap. Pearlman discusses recruitment success, the importance of targeted training, and why travel advisors remain critical as travelers seek more complex, customiz...

Marilyn Conroy, executive vice president of business development at Riviera Travel, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about why travel advisors are central to Riviera’s growth strategy. Conroy highlights the brand’s high commissions (up to 18%), lucrative group policies, solo traveler options, and guaranteed guest satisfaction. Conroy also shares updates on new ships, training resources, and enhanced support tools for a...

Bonnie Garrett, business development manager for the West Coast at CIE Tours, joins James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about what makes CIE Tours a top choice for booking group travel. She highlights the ease of managing groups thanks to dedicated support, strong earning potential for travel advisors, and exceptional guest satisfaction—boasting a 95 percent satisfaction rate backed by more than 90 years of expertise. To lea...

Mihaela Rupnik Cek, director general at TourSlove/TourismSlovenia, talks with Olivia Liveng of Insider Travel Report about what makes Slovenia a standout European destination—from Lake Bled and Ljubljana to the country’s commitment to sustainability and authentic local experiences. Cek highlights Slovenia’s unique blend of alpine and Mediterranean landscapes, immersive cultural activities, and diverse gastronomy, as well as its foc...

Alan Henman, assistant commissioner of tourism for the U.S. Virgin Islands, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about record-breaking growth driven by strong airlift and increased cruise calls. He shares updates on new hotel openings and renovations across St. Thomas and St. Croix, plus refreshed marketing campaigns. Henman also highlights tools available to travel advisors to help them sell the islands. For more informat...

Paul Pennicook, interim CEO of Experience Turks and Caicos, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the destination’s new DMO structure and how it supports sustainability, inclusiveness and competitiveness. He outlines developments including new hotels in South Caicos, high ADRs on Grace Bay, expanded outreach to consortia like Virtuoso, and a renewed focus on travel advisor education and fams. For more information, vis...

Lewis Louis, CEO of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about why Saint Lucia is gaining traction with travel advisors. He outlines new development incentives, regenerative tourism initiatives, and how the island is channeling qualified travel leads directly to advisors through its Saint Lucia Expert program. For more information, visit www.stlucia.org. 

Fiona Ashton, event manager for the International Golf Travel Market (IGTM), talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how this niche, B2B event connects top golf tour operators with resorts, courses and tourism boards from 45 countries. Ashton explains how hosted buyers are vetted and supported—with hotel and flight subsidies—and outlines the 2024 show format, which includes a golf tournament, one-to-one meetings...

Marva Williams, CEO and director of tourism for Discover Dominica, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how new nonstop flights from Newark and Miami are driving interest from North American travelers. She highlights Dominica’s eco-luxury appeal, including upscale resorts, natural wonders and the upcoming Valley of Desolation cable car. Williams also discusses cultural draws like Carnival, the World Creole Music Fest...