Travel Trends with Dan Christian

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Rail is having a real moment, and not for the reasons most people think. The tracks haven’t changed, but how travelers see them has. In 2026, rail is no longer the alternative to flying or driving. It’s becoming the experience itself. To close out our Rise of Rail Series with Railbookers and Rail Month itself, Dan sits down with Railbookers CEO Frank Marini to unpack what’s really driving the rail renaissance and why more travelers are choosing the journey itself, not just the destination.
We also get practical about the misconceptions that hold first-timers back, from “can you even get there by train?” to the real anxieties around luggage, station timing, and transfers. Frank explains how Railbookers packages rail, hotels, sightseeing, and logistics into one seamless journey, whether it’s a scenic route through Switzerland, high-speed travel in Italy, a North American classic like The Canadian, or a future-forward itinerary in Japan.
Finally, we go deep on AI in travel and why rail is one of the most complex categories to digitize. Frank shares how his time studying AI at MIT shaped his thinking, how Railbookers is building internal tools like its Fast Track knowledge system, and where AI can add value next, from search and quality control to smarter, data-driven recommendations. Whether you’re a travel advisor, building travel tech, or simply looking for a better way to explore, this episode offers a clear view of where rail is heading through 2030.
Learn more at Railbookers.com and Rail Month. 
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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If you’re still managing tours through email threads, spreadsheets, or a “Contact Us to book” form, you’re not just adding admin, you’re likely leaving revenue on the table. In this Company Spotlight, Dan sits down with Sam Jeffries, Senior Growth Marketing Manager at Bokun, to break down what it really takes to sell more tours and activities in 2026: instant booking, smarter distribution, and the connectivity needed to show up wherever travelers are searching and buying.
We start with Bokun’s origin story during Iceland’s tourism boom and how it has evolved into a global booking platform used by both independent operators and major attractions. From there, we get practical. Sam explains why expanding your reseller network can unlock step-change growth, how to choose the right mix of local, niche, regional, and global partners, and how to ease into OTAs by allocating only a portion of your inventory. He also shares what the data shows when operators move from direct-only to a multi-channel strategy, and what realistic performance gains look like.
We also explore how travel discovery is changing. AI planning tools and generative search increasingly favor businesses that are widely referenced online and fully bookable with live availability. We discuss Bokun’s AI-assisted onboarding, the importance of open APIs and standards like OCTO, and where collaboration across travel tech is heading. Plus, we touch on Bokun Launchpad, an initiative designed to help bring new experiences to market in partnership with the industry.
Learn more at Bokun.io.
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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Filters, dropdowns, and endless tabs are starting to feel like the old internet, and travel is right at the center of that shift. In the second episode of our Agentic AI Series, Dan speaks with Ben Manzi, Co-founder and COO of Maya, Michelle Denogean, CMO of Mindtrip, and Brianna MacNeil, Director of AI Products and Personalization, TravelAI, to unpack what “agentic AI” really means for both travel companies and travelers, especially now that AI agents can do far more than chat. They can pull real-time pricing, generate quotes, draft emails, build itineraries, and increasingly help solve the hardest part of travel, making decisions.
We get concrete on where the value shows up first, eliminating repetitive, low judgment work across email and messaging, accelerating internal workflows, and helping smaller travel brands punch above their weight. We also dig into what needs to go right for trust, including grounding agents in real data, cleaning up outdated content, and selecting the right models so costs and latency stay under control. For destinations and marketers, we explore the emergence of a new “listening layer” within conversational planning, and why AI SEO and generative engine optimization now depend on answering real traveler questions, not just publishing evergreen content.
Looking ahead, we discuss persistent travel memory and why the long term winners may be the brands that truly understand the traveler across contexts, not those that simply layer on a chatbot. We close with what must remain human, taste, community validation, and the on the ground moments that make travel meaningful.
Thanks to Maya for sponsoring this series!
👉 Listen to The Rise of Agentic AI Part 2 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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Rail is having a moment and not just as a way to travel, but as a way to experience the world differently. As part of Rail Month, we are diving deeper into the category in this second episode of our The Rise of Rail Series with Railbookers, this time focusing on the return of luxury rail.
Luxury rail travel is back, and it is no longer just about getting from point A to point B. Dan sits down with Railbookers leaders Gareth Jones, Director of Product Development, and Tyler Wallinger, Director of Virtual Events, to unpack what “luxury” really looks like on rails today, from elevated service and spacious suites to curated off train excursions that feel private, personal, and unforgettable. Along the way, we spotlight some of the world’s most iconic journeys, including the Venice Simplon Orient Express, Glacier Express Excellence Class, Rovos Rail in Southern Africa, and India’s Maharaja Express.
We also get practical about how a luxury rail itinerary actually comes together, why some journeys allow for five star hotel extensions and multi city add ons, while others are designed as fully immersive, all in experiences with limited cabin inventory and carefully choreographed schedules. Gareth and Tyler share why culinary is at the heart of luxury rail, with fine dining in intimate settings, locally sourced ingredients, thoughtful wine pairings, and seamless accommodation of dietary needs. It is hospitality on rails, where attention to detail and consistent service create an experience that can feel even more personal than a traditional luxury cruise.
Finally, we explore who today’s luxury rail traveler really is, from milestone celebrations like anniversaries, honeymoons, retirements, and birthdays, to a growing segment of repeat guests who experience one iconic train and immediately plan the next. For travel advisors, this episode offers clear positioning language to help sell the category, including how luxury rail compares to river and ocean cruising as a luxury land cruise, blending scenery, culture, and storytelling just beyond your window.
Learn more at Railbookers.com and Rail Month. 
Be sure to join us next Tuesday for the final 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/

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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/