Powering Travel

Travel demands resilience, and leadership in the travel industry requires even more. Ariane Gorin, Chief Executive Officer of Expedia Group, joins Elisabeth to share her personal journey, leadership philosophy, and perspectives on the future of travel.



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The meals we remember most aren’t just about flavor — they’re about where we are, who we’re with, and the sense of place on the plate.

In this episode, Chef Julian Hagood joins Elisabeth to explore how travel and food intertwine. Julian shares his journey from New York to Seattle, where he transformed an abandoned bodega into one of ...

Travel rewards those who remain curious and immerse themselves in the local culture. For longtime host of “The Amazing Race” Phil Keoghan, missing those opportunities means missing the entire point of the journey.

In this episode, he joins Elisabeth for an inspired conversation about the lessons he’s learned from a lifetime of travel...

Traveling with family can create memories that last a lifetime. But what’s the secret to making those moments truly extraordinary?

Actor and singer Jaime Camil joins host Elisabeth Goodridge to unpack what authentic travel experiences with family look and feel like.

Jaime reflects on how his father sparked his love for travel, teac...

Does a meaningful trip create happiness? Elisabeth sits down with Harvard professor and bestselling author, Arthur Brooks, to explore why travel is one of the most powerful tools we have for building joy. 

Arthur shares what he considers the three "macronutrients" of happiness and how travel delivers them through a change in rou...

Curious what it takes to make your vacation rental stand out? Discover the secrets of remarkable hosting from Alex Lluch, the proud owner of Villa Fabulosa, one of Vrbo’s Vacation Rentals of the Year. Joining guest host and Expedia Group’s Vice President of Vacation Rental Partnerships, Tim Rosolio, Alex shares the inspiring story of how he entered the vacation rental world and what it t...

More than just a lush and vibrant place to visit, Thailand recently took center stage on the global screen in season three of “The White Lotus.” Elisabeth Goodridge sits down with show actor Tayme Thapthimthong to talk about what it was like filming for an international audience, how the sh...

Back and better than ever, it's season five of Powering Travel! With so many new forces influencing how travelers find their next destination, the industry is evolving at lightning speed. This season, stay ahead of what inspires travelers and what turns a good trip into a great one. Join our new host, Elisabeth Goodridge, an award-winning travel editor and avid explorer, as she sits down...

Ever wondered how to boost your Vrbo bookings? This week, Sam chats with Travis Gibbon, a savvy Vrbo host in the Hilton Head market, who shares insider tips on maximizing your listing’s potential ahead of peak booking season. Travis dives into flexible cancelation policies, adjusting minimum night stays, and setting competitive rates. He also explains how to use t...

Expedia’s annual Unpack™ outlook is here, using data-driven insights to uncover upcoming travel trends for 2025.  Samantha Lopez is joined by Amanda Maltos, an industry leader and communications expert from Expedia Group, to dive into the data gathered from more than 25,000 travelers in this year's Unpack™ Report. Some key findings include travelers addin...

With entrepreneurship on the rise, vacation rental hosts and savvy travel advisors are seizing opportunities to grow and make a positive impact in the industry. In this episode, Vrbo host Michelle Ruber and travel advisor Rebecca Smiley, share their insights on growing their businesses with Expedia Group. Michelle talks about how Vrbo’s platform empowers hosts to ...

How can destinations reinvent themselves to attract travelers year-round? In this episode, Samantha Lopez is joined by two key figures in French tourism, Sophie Mandrillon from Atout France and Loic Chovelon from Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, to explore how their organizations are reshaping tourism in the off season. They discuss their partnership with Expedia Group...

The cost of travel is on the rise, and so are our customers' expectations. So how can travel providers keep up? Expedia Group's head of B2B Lodging Marketing, Brandon Ehrhardt, joins the podcast to share insights from our latest research on traveler behavior. Compared to travelers booking on other platforms, Expedia Group travelers are shown to spend 21% more on properties and stay 11% long...

As fraud becomes more sophisticated, it’s crucial for travel businesses to stay one step ahead. In this episode of Powering Travel, Samantha Lopez is joined by Amit Ghosh, Head of Fraud and Risk Portfolio at Expedia Group, to discuss increasing threats in the travel industry. Amit shares his insights on the growing challenges posed by AI advancements and phishing ...

As vacation rentals rise in popularity, it's more important than ever to ensure your listing stands out. Angela Page, Director of Account Management for Vacation Rentals at Expedia Group and a Vrbo host herself, shares her tips for optimizing your property listing to attract the right guests and provide a great experience. Some of her advice includes how the right settings can help you a...

Everyone deserves to feel safe and welcome while traveling. However, Expedia Group’s latest research reveals that Black, Latino, LGBTQIA+ travelers, and those with disabilities still face significant barriers that hinder their travel experiences. Lawrence Phillips, CEO of Green Book Global, shares how his platform empowers Black travelers with authentic reviews and resources, helping the...

When opening a new property, securing those initial bookings can be challenging, especially when competing against established properties. Susana Ramírez Horta, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Tafer Hotels & Resorts, shares how she leverages Expedia Group's tools to increase visibility for both new and established properties. Susana explains that as Tafer prepares to open a...

In today’s market, travelers have seemingly endless options for where to stay. How can businesses boost their visibility to ensure that travelers are making bookings with them? We hear from Carlos del Pino at Original Group who has tapped into Expedia’s extensive B2B partner network and launched a pay-per-stay Accelerator, to boost visibility, making it easier to fill rooms–especially du...

Data and cookies have long been used in advertising to understand, target, retarget, track, and report on the purchasing journeys of consumers. Now that third-party cookies are being phased out, travel marketers and advertisers need to rely on first-party data to build strategic campaigns that effectively connect with travelers. In this episode, we take a closer look at first-party data ...