Travel Trends with Dan Christian

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AI is rewriting the rules of timeshare, and the biggest shift is simpler than it sounds: we are finally fixing communication. Recorded live at ARDA’s Spring Conference in Las Vegas, Dan sits down with two leaders working at the intersection of technology and vacation ownership, and we get concrete about what’s working right now and what’s about to change next.
This is the final episode in our 3-part series exploring the evolution of timeshare.
First, Jason Tremblay, CEO of One Agency, explains how AI moves from “cool idea” to practical application in sales and marketing. We dig into real-world use cases like turning social media comments into two-way conversations, handling skepticism at scale, and using persistent memory so a prospect’s context follows them from platform to platform. The takeaway is clear: better conversations mean better conversions, and AI makes one-to-one personalization possible without burning out teams.

Then Mike Norton, Director of Sales and Marketing at TimeShareWare, breaks down the foundation side of the equation: modern resort platforms, APIs, and the decisions resorts must make when choosing technology partners. We talk security concerns around guest and owner data, how AI can support call centers with live transcription and quality assurance, and why assigning a real internal project owner often matters more than the tool itself. If you care about timeshare technology, resort software, AI in travel, and the future of vacation ownership, this one is built for you.

Learn more at arda.org.
And if you like to be a part of those conversations in person, then you should absolutely be at ARDA's 2027 Spring Conference, which takes place April 4-7 at the Hilton Bonnet Creek in Orlando, Florida.
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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A CRM system is supposed to make life easier, but for many travel companies, implementing one becomes a costly and frustrating experience. So why do so many Salesforce and CRM projects fall short, and what does it take to get them right?
In this Company Spotlight episode, Dan sits down with Amber Halliday, Founder and Principal Consultant at Aderra Solutions, to explore the common mistakes travel companies make when implementing CRM technology and how to avoid them. With more than 15 years of experience in the travel industry, including hands-on roles in reservations, sales and operations, Amber understands the challenges from both sides.
From unrealistic timelines and budgets to overlooking frontline employees during the planning process, Amber shares where implementations tend to go wrong and why understanding how a travel business actually operates is so important. We also discuss how to approach a new implementation, when to simplify existing processes rather than carry old problems into a new system, and what to do when a project isn't going to plan.
We also look at the growing role of AI in CRM, including how it can help teams work more efficiently and why proper oversight is essential to avoid creating new problems. Whether you're considering Salesforce, improving an existing CRM or trying to get a struggling project back on track, Amber offers practical advice to help you make better technology decisions and build a system your team will actually use.
Learn more at aderrasolutions.com.
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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Booking patterns are moving in two directions at once. Some travelers are locking in premium, high-value trips months or even years ahead, while others are waiting until much closer to departure, particularly for shorter trips. It’s what we’re calling travel’s two booking clocks, and it has major implications for tour operators heading into 2027.  
In this month’s Travel Trends Report episode, Dan sits down with Travis Pittman, CEO and Co-founder of TourRadar, to unpack what TourRadar’s proprietary booking data tells us about the multi-day market. Travis shares how booking windows change based on trip length, price, age and party size, including why shorter trips are being booked later while higher-value and capacity-constrained experiences are selling much further ahead. We also look at the rise of solo travel and small groups, and why flexibility and free time are becoming increasingly important to travelers. 
Then we turn to AI and the future of travel distribution. Travis explains why travel products will need to be readable, believable and bookable as AI agents move from helping travelers research trips to actually completing transactions, and why structured content, accurate information and connected booking infrastructure will matter for both AI agents and travel advisors.  
Finally, Marius Nigond, CEO & Co-founder of iWander, joins Dan to look at the wider trends shaping travel right now, from the recent pressure on OTA stocks and the rise of personal AI assistants to investment flowing toward scarce, difficult-to-replicate travel experiences. We also explore rising costs, shifting destination demand and what operators should be thinking about as they set pricing and plan for 2027.  
Download the full October Travel Trends Report, and join us as we separate the signal from the noise and look at what the latest shifts could mean for the months ahead.
👉 Listen to Travel Trends Monthly Report - October 2026 Now
🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 8 Title Sponsors for their Support: Quark Expeditions,  Intrepid, Kaptio, Propellic, Repayd, and Holafly. 
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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Most travelers judge a tour platform by what they can see: the itinerary, the price, the reviews and the “Book Now” button. But behind every booking is a much more complicated system moving money between travellers, operators and partners around the world.
In the final episode of our three-part Multi-Day Commerce Series with TourRadar, Dan sits down with Shawn Pittman, Co-Founder and SVP of FinTech at TourRadar, to unpack the money flow behind multi-day travel and why payments become especially complex when the average booking is around $3,000.
We get into everything from local payment processing and foreign exchange to deposits, payment plans, trust accounts and operator payouts. Sean explains why structures like FBO accounts matter when you’re holding money on behalf of suppliers, and what it takes to manage bookings where itineraries change, operators have different terms and payments may be spread across months.
Then we look at what’s coming next. Sean shares how AI travel planning, conversational search and user-generated content could make complex trips easier to understand and book, while new social commerce tools are creating opportunities for creators and travel advisors to sell multi-day experiences in entirely new ways.
Multi-day travel may be one of the most complex products in travel, but that complexity is also creating some of the industry’s most interesting opportunities. As technology makes these trips easier to discover, sell and pay for, the question is how much bigger the category can become.
Learn more at tourradar.com.
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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35+ voices. Seven hours. One extraordinary adventure travel community.
There’s something special about a gathering where old friends greet you with a hug, new connections quickly become friendships, and people genuinely want to help each other succeed. That’s the spirit of the Adventure Travel World Summit, and Quebec City gave us an unforgettable setting for its biggest and best edition yet.
As the official podcast partner, Travel Trends was proud to return for our third ATWS Event Spotlight, recorded September 14–17, 2026. This one breaks a major record for our Event Spotlights: seven hours of conversations featuring more than 35 speakers from across the global adventure travel community, in mostly 15-minute segments you can explore at your own pace.
We kick things off with ATTA CEO Shannon Stowell and Board Chairman Erik Blachford, setting the scene for a remarkable few days. Marie-Hélène Hudon from Bonjour Québec shares the host destination’s perspective, while keynote speakers Leigh Barnes from Intrepid Travel and Aizaz Sheikh bring insights on the industry’s direction.
From there, we meet some of adventure travel’s fastest-growing tour operators, exceptional cycling companies, writers, destination leaders, and the technology and marketing teams helping these businesses thrive. These conversations bring together people building businesses, creating meaningful experiences and working through the challenges facing our industry. They share the trends they’re watching, lessons from their own journeys, and ideas to help you prepare for success in 2027.
Along the way, we reflect on what made Quebec so magical. From the Pre-Summit Adventures to the Day of Adventure, the shared experiences gave people a chance to connect long before they sat down for a meeting. That generosity, curiosity and love of adventure carried through the entire Summit. It’s what makes the ATTA community so special, and why so many of us keep coming back.
We close with ATTA President Gustavo Timo looking ahead to 2027, followed by Magí Castelltort Claramunt of Turespaña announcing next year’s host destination: Almería in Andalucía, Spain.
A heartfelt thank you to the ATTA team, our hosts in Quebec, and everyone who sat down with us and shared their time, stories and ideas. We hope these conversations bring a little of the Summit’s energy to wherever you’re listening, spark something useful for your business, and inspire you to join this incredible community next year.
Choose a conversation, discover someone new, and come along for the adventure. We’d love to see you in Spain!
Timestamps:
0m0s - Shannon Stowell, CEO, Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) & Erik Blachford, Independent Director & Board Chairman | ex-CEO Expedia/IAC Travel 
18m48s - Marie-Helene Hudon, Director of Business Development, Trade & PR, Alliance de l'industrie touristique du Québec (Bonjour Quebec)
28m42s - Kimberly Daley, Chief Operating Officer, Transcend Cruises
40m47s - Rodrigo Atuesta, Chief Impact Officer, Impulse Travel Colombia
52m33s - Nina Kokotas Hahn, Chief Strategist, VP of Marketing & Director of Content Strategy, Red Thread Strategy & Storytelling
1hr6m - Aizaz Sheikh, Marketing Leader, Aizaz Ventures Inc
1hr16m - Marcelo Meneses, Owner/CEO, Neotropic Expeditions
1hr32m - Jessica Canelo, Marketing Director, Chile Tourism Board
1hr44m - Rob Holmes, Founder and Chief Strategist, GLP Films
2hr1m - Matthew Newton, CEO, Leatherback Travel
2hr10m - Kay Allen, Manager Regional Marketing & Communications, Japan National Tourism Organization 
2hr27m - Leigh Barnes, President North America, Intrepid
2hr55m - Christian Wolters, President for Canada and GM of Marketing for North America, Intrepid 
3hr09m - Jessica Haire, Founder Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association 
3hr21m - Stacey Funt, Founder, LH Adventure Travel 
3hr32m - Isabel Hofman, Founder, Bike Odyssey
3hr44m - Carlos Pizarro Figueroa, Local Guide, ChiliTrip Tours
3hr52m - Marc Giraud, General Manager, Vanuatu Tourism Office 
4hr4m - Josh Halpern, Chief Commercial Officer, TourOptima
4hr17m - Todd Smith, Founder & President, and Lis Larson, Senior Content & Marketing Strategist, AdventureSmith Explorations
4hr26m - Maria Elena Price and Monica Price, BikesPlus and ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours
4hr39m - Nic Shaw, Director, South African Tourism Services
4hr54m - Eric Segalstad, VP & Partner, Gondwana Ecotour
5hr04m - Marc Ruffet, Partner & Head of Growth, Go Beyond
5hr13m - Cari Gray, CEO & Founder, Gray & Co 
5hr22m - Jared Alster, Chief Strategy Officer & Co-founder, Dune7
5hr38m - Al Check, Co-founder, Odyssey
5hr49m - Dale Schober, Founder & CEO, Radventures 
6hr01m -  Julie Thorner, President & Founder, LiquidSpark
6hr15m - Raffaele Di Biase, Co-founder, BirdsChile
6hr24m - Paloma Zapata, CEO, Sustainable Travel International
6hr35m - Gustavo Timo, President, Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA)
6hr44m - Magí Castelltort Claramunt, Director, Turespaña
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds. 
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/