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Recorded live from Valencia, Spain, this episode brings together insights from 14 industry leaders across technology, distribution and marketing, capturing what’s actually working in travel in 2026 at Arival 360.

Multi-day tours take center stage with Dan moderating sessions with leaders from TourRadar, G Adventures, WeRoad, Contiki, The Travel Corporation, Exoticca, kimkim, Evaneos, Evan Evans and more.

And in this recording these execs share the strategies driving growth today, from gateway products that introduce travelers to the category, to smarter tech stack decisions that enhance the customer journey.

Want to dive straight into the conversations that matter most to you? Just scroll down for timestamps and guest highlights from each interview.

And don’t forget — we hope to see you at Arival 360 in Spokane, Washington, this October 13-16 2026.

Highlights & Timestamps

3m11s - Maya Patel, Sr. Specialist, Partner Marketing, Bokun

14m24s - Enrique Espinel, COO, Civitatis

31m44s - Brennen Bliss, CEO, Propellic

49m18s - Brian Young, UK Managing Director, G Adventures

1hr12m - Natasha Lawrence, Director of Product Strategy, Contiki

1hr34m - Tom Macklin, Managing Director, Evan Evans

1hr48m - Roberta Scott, Marketing Director, ATTA

1hr56m - Yenyi Fu, Head of Product, kimkim

2hr5m - Sarah Hillman, Director of Technology for CRM & Data, The Travel Corporation

2hr27m - Juanjo Duran, Chief Product & Marketing Officer, Exottica

2hr44m - Pere Valles, CEO, Exottica

3hr7m - Will Holmberg, Business Development Manager, Protect Group

3hr18m - Roberto Bermúdez, Managing Director, Go Nexus Group

3hr31m - John Boulding, Strategic Advisor

The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.

https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/

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AI that writes is no longer the headline. AI that acts is.

In the first episode of our Agentic AI Series, we sit down with Gilad Berenstein of Brook Bay Capital, Tahnee Perry, AI Expert Consultant, and Christian Watts of Magpie to break down agentic AI in plain terms. We unpack how it differs from generative AI, and why this next phase is less about single tools and more about systems of agents that can take real action across your workflows, data, and operations.

We also get candid about what this shift means for the travel industry right now. Gilad explains how agentic AI is reshaping startup economics, where technical moats are shrinking and advantages are shifting toward trust, distribution, customer lock in, and proprietary data. Christian challenges how travel tech teams think about capability, arguing that leaders need to understand what’s possible with today’s tools, not what was true even a year ago. Tahnee brings it down to reality with practical, field tested use cases, from data analysis and market research to automations that remove friction without losing the human touch.

From there, we map the traveler journey. Discovery and inspiration are rapidly moving toward chat and voice, while booking still rewards simplicity and clarity. We dig into AI visibility, including SEO, AEO, and GEO, the importance of context, and why seamless human handoffs still matter when agents fail. We also explore why travel advisors are not going away. Instead, they are becoming more valuable when they double down on taste, judgment, and human connection while automating everything else.

If you are leading a travel brand, tour operator, OTA, hotel team, or agency, this episode will give you a clearer lens on where to start, what to automate, where to stay human, and how to move forward without getting stuck in the hype.

Because the real shift is not just AI getting smarter. It is AI getting things done. And the companies that understand that early will not just adapt. They will lead.

Thanks to Maya for sponsoring this series!

👉 Listen to The Rise of Agentic AI Now

🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 7 Title Sponsors for their Support: Bokun, Civitatis, Intrepid, Kaptio, Propellic and Protect Group

The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.

https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/

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May marks Rail Month, a celebration of train travel and the growing demand for more relaxed, immersive ways to explore the world. With 31 days of festivities, including Rail Week (May 11–17), there’s no better time to spotlight why rail is having a global resurgence.

In this first episode of our 3-part Rail series, we sit down with Railbookers leaders Jim Marini (SVP, Strategic Partnerships) and Matt Foy (Senior Director, Rail and Transportation) to unpack why train travel is booming again—and why the best rail vacations make the journey just as meaningful as the destination. The clouds may look the same on every flight, but rail offers a front-row seat to the world. If you’ve ever wanted a trip that feels smoother, more scenic, and less rushed, this conversation is your roadmap.

We dive into what makes a rail journey truly iconic: the history, the cultural pull, and the onboard experience that transforms travel into something memorable. Switzerland and Italy quickly take center stage, with legendary routes like the Glacier Express and Bernina Express, along with the small decisions that elevate the experience, premium classes, panoramic dome cars, and regionally inspired dining. We also explore the often-overlooked social side of train travel, and why meaningful human connections tend to happen more naturally on rail than in the air or on the road.

From there, we expand into some of the world’s most scenic rail journeys. Think Alaska with upgraded Gold Star service, and landscapes rail does best, lakes, mountains, fjords, and valleys. Matt shares why destinations like New Zealand and Norway are especially powerful by train, and why arriving in Venice by rail is a moment in itself. We also cover Railbookers’ expansion into Asia, the growing demand for Japan’s bullet trains, and how locally hosted support makes complex itineraries feel seamless.

Plus: what defines a “grand tour,” why luxury rail is on the rise, and how travel advisors can streamline planning by packaging rail, hotels, transfers, and experiences into one cohesive journey.

Learn more at Railbookers.com and Rail Week. Be sure to join us next Tuesday for the second episode in our Rail Series with Railbookers.

The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds.

https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/