Traveling Tribes

In this episode of the Traveling Tribes Podcast, host Jeff Gayduk sits down with longtime friend and travel industry pioneer Jonathan Zuk—dubbed by Jeff as the most interesting man in travel. From a chance reconnection in Salt Lake City to a deep dive into Jonathan’s game-changing concept of guaranteed mini-tours, this conversation uncovers how he turned post-9/11 adversity into opportunity. Hear how Zuk built Amadeo from the groun...

In this episode of Traveling Tribes, we sit down with Jake Steinman, founder of North American Journeys and the TravelAbility Summit, to explore a critical yet often overlooked segment of the travel industry—aging and accessible travel. Jake shares his journey from leading a media and events company focused on inbound tourism to becoming a champion for accessibility in travel.

We discuss how aging travelers—especially baby boomers—a...

In this episode, Jeff Gayduk sits down with Kai Boysan, CEO of Flix North America, to explore the evolution of long-distance bus travel and its integration into the broader transportation network. Kai shares his journey from Turkey to the U.S., offering unique perspectives on business practices across continents and discussing Flix’s innovative business model that has reshaped the bus travel industry.

Discover how Flix’s acquisitio...

In this episode of Traveling Tribes, host Jeff Gayduk welcomes Fred Ferguson, the new President and CEO of the American Bus Association (ABA). Fred, a seasoned industry professional with deep roots in tourism and public policy, shares his journey from his upbringing in the tourism-driven town of Park City, Utah, to his current leadership role at ABA. Together, Jeff and Fred discuss Fred's vision for the future of ABA, touching on t...

In this episode, we sit down with Shirley, a leading expert in group travel at Goway, to discuss the latest trends in the industry. We dive into the growing appeal of multi-generational family trips, special interest groups, and the increasingly adventurous destinations these travelers are seeking. From families jetting off to South Africa and Argentina to shared heritage trips to Ghana, Shirley reveals how travel is evolving beyon...

Join Jeff Gayduk on this episode of the Traveling Tribes podcast, where he sits down with special guest Paula Reynolds, founder of Paula's Concierge Tours. With over 15 years in the industry, Paula shares her journey from California's wine country to the historic cities of the East Coast.

They discuss the challenges and opportunities in the tour industry, including the impact of COVID-19 on wine tours, the rising cost...

In this episode of the Traveling Tribes Podcast, host Jeff Gayduk sits down with Karen Trevino, President and CEO of North Little Rock Tourism. The conversation dives into Karen's illustrious career and her recent induction into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame.

Karen shares her journey, beginning at the Arkansas Tourism Department at the age of 19, and discusses the evolving landscape of tourism in Arkansas. She emphasizes th...

In this episode, host Jeff Gayduk reconnects with an old friend and industry veteran, Michael Lundquist, now with Croisi Europe, a family-owned river cruise company based in Strasbourg, France. With nearly 50 years in the business, Croisi Europe boasts a diverse fleet of over 50 ships and 170 itineraries worldwide, ranging from 3 to 27 days. Lundquist highlights the company's unique value in the river cruise market, emphasizin...

In this episode of the Traveling Tribes podcast, host Jeff Gayduk interviews Luisa Mendoza of Global Tourism and Sports Entertainment (GTSE). Luisa shares her experiences at IPW, the largest tourism trade show in the U.S., and her recognition at the Women in Tourism event. She reflects on her family's immigration from Colombia and how their journey fueled her determination to succeed. Luisa recounts her diverse career in the tr...

Welcome to the Traveling Tribes Podcast, where we dive deep into group travel and tourism trends. Host Jeff Gayduk, publisher of Leisure Group Travel Magazine and author of Traveling Tribes, brings you engaging conversations with travel industry standouts and influencers.

In this episode, Jeff sits down with special guest Steve Ridgway from Criterion Travel. Steve shares insights from his extensive experience in the travel ind...

The latest episode of Traveling Tribes features a conversation between host Jeff Gayduk and guest Tim Hines. Tim, a seasoned marketer, shares insights into leveraging AI in the travel industry.

Tim's background in marketing spans over 20 years, primarily focusing on fractional CMO work. He emphasizes the importance of helping struggling companies jumpstart their marketing efforts. With experience in technology and travel sector...

Join Jeff Gayduk, host of the Traveling Tribes Podcast, in an engaging conversation with Sue Arko, a recognized expert in the group travel industry. Sue shares insights from her extensive career, spanning from owning and operating Free Spirit Vacations and Events since 1996 to her current role as project manager for the Accent Travel Network. Discover how Sue's journey into the tour business began in 1981 and evolved into pione...

In this captivating episode of the Traveling Tribes Podcast, the charismatic host Jeff Gayduk invites distinguished guests from Heritage Clubs International, the premier bank marketing organization in North America. Joining the conversation is Ted Nelson, Andy Ziegler, and Michael Ziegler. Listen as they delve into the fascinating origins of Heritage Clubs International and unravel the organization's pivotal role in supporting ...

In this episode of the Traveling Tribes Podcast, host Jeff Gayduk sits down with Catherine Prather, the dynamic representative from the National Tour Association (NTA), to delve into the challenges facing the travel industry. Prather sheds light on the ever-evolving landscape, emphasizing the resilience and adaptability of tour companies amidst global uncertainties.

A highlight of the discussion is the Tourism Cares sustainabi...

In this exciting episode of Traveling Tribes, your host Jeff Gayduk takes you on a journey through the frothy landscapes of craft beer, joined by the charismatic Glenn Smith, the founder of Brewery Tours.

Discover the hidden gems and local favorites as Jeff and Glenn discuss the symbiotic relationship between beer and travel. Whether you're a seasoned beer enthusiast or a casual traveler, this episode promises to be a refreshi...

Our special new episode features two guests, Arden from Girls Who Travel & Alex from G Adventures. Defining women in the travel business, Alex and Arden discuss both of their businesses, how they collaborate and support groups in travelling, their tips to success in the travel business and more!

G Adventures is a social enterprise as much as a small group travel company. They have been pioneers of community tourism for 30 year...

This week, we welcome Jim Marini from Railbookers Group, which specializes in creating seamless and convenient train vacations for travelers. Hear about rail travel in the U.S. and overseas, the details of Amtrak Travel, and the benefits to booking rail travel.

With Railbookers, booking a train vacation is easy, stress-free, and tailored to meet your specific needs. They offer a wide range of customizable train vacation packages t...

Time to break the ice with Nicole Mahoney as we hear about how Nicole managed her two companies through a pandemic, acquired Travel Alliance Partners, their unique marketing tactics, the marketing industry and how influencers might be the revolution of modern marketing.

Nicole Mahoney owns two companies, and Break the Ice is a marketing agency that works exclusively in the travel and tourism space. They have clients all across the ...

Our special guest this week hails from Group Travel Odyssey, but he's here today to talk about Group Experience, a great tool for tour Operators. Listen in to learn how tour operators can consolidate their planning to one place with organization and search tools, pricing options, upcoming expansions within the app, and how they give tour operators and travel agents opportunities for more business and connections in the travel i...