Travel Trends with Dan Christian

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A jersey can do what a guidebook cannot: it gets you welcomed. That single idea opens the door to a much bigger trend, the rise of sports tourism as one of the most powerful forces in experiential travel today. With the FIFA World Cup 2026 set to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and cities like Toronto preparing to take center stage, the momentum behind sports-led travel is only accelerating.
In this episode, Dan is joined by co-host Aizaz Sheikh, Senior Marketing Leader in Adventure Travel and a lifelong soccer fan, bringing both an operator’s perspective and a genuine passion for the game to the conversation. Together, they sit down with Brandon Ehrhardt, VP of Marketing at Expedia Group, and Daniel Velásquez, Founder and COO of Homefans, to unpack what both the data and on-the-ground experience are revealing. Brandon shares the true scale of sports travel, why it’s a structural shift rather than a seasonal spike, and how travelers are increasingly extending their trips well beyond match day. We also explore the “spillover effect,” where demand expands into nearby cities as fans optimize for price, stay longer, and explore more.
Daniel explains why the future of sports travel goes far beyond tickets. It’s about locally led, immersive experiences that shape what happens before, during, and after the match, from food and rituals to logistics, safety, and that hard-to-replicate sense of community. Along the way, we discuss groundhoppers, iconic derbies, stadium nostalgia, and how even mid-sized cities can transform during major events, as well as emerging categories like endurance and participation travel.
If you work in travel marketing, distribution, or advising clients, this conversation is packed with practical insights on packaging, curation, and where the real revenue opportunity lies as sports tourism continues to scale globally.
👉 Listen to The Rise of Sports Travel 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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The “timeshare” stereotype is officially outdated.
Recorded live from the Bellagio at ARDA’s Spring Conference in Las Vegas, Dan sits down with the leaders redefining vacation ownership into something far more flexible, digital, and experience-led than most travelers realize. This conversation explores how the category is evolving, what’s driving growth, and what today’s owners expect from modern travel experiences.
This is the first episode in our 3-part series exploring the evolution of timeshare.
We begin with ARDA President and CEO Jason Gamel, who breaks down ARDA’s role in shaping the industry, from advocacy and research to elevating its global story.
From there, we discuss into the trends fueling this transformation:
 Points-based flexibility 
 Personalization and app-first experiences 
 AI-driven engagement 
 Rising expectations from modern travelers 
Jared Saft (COO, Westgate Resorts) shares how “bespoke” timeshare is coming to life, from destination-driven resort design to partnerships and loyalty programs that deliver immediate value.
Scott Weisz (EVP, Marriott Vacations Worldwide) brings the owner perspective, reflecting on how the experience has evolved through the lens of a “timeshare kid.”
Derek DeSalvia (EVP & Chief Customer Officer, Hilton Grand Vacations) explains how the customer journey is shifting, from multi-generational travel to the expectations of younger buyers.
We close with Catherine Lacey (SVP, Member Experience & Events, ARDA), who shares insights from the conference, key takeaways on experience design, and new research showing strong demand from Gen Z and millennial buyers, along with a positive outlook for summer travel.
Learn more at arda.org.
Be sure to join us next Tuesday for the second episode in our series with ARDA.
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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Payments are where travel brands quietly win or lose trust, often only becoming visible after something goes wrong: a declined card, a messy refund, a spike in chargebacks, or a drop in checkout conversion that’s hard to explain. In this episode, we dig into one of the most overlooked parts of the travel business, even though it directly impacts revenue, cash flow, and the ability to scale globally.
Dan sits down with Will Plummer, CEO of Repayd, to unpack why travel payments are uniquely complex. From high booking values and long lead times to cancellations, multiple suppliers, FX exposure, and unclear merchant of record structures, the challenges run deep. Will explains how merchant of record models work in practice, why localized acquiring can improve authorization rates, and how trust accounts and insurance-backed protection can help build confidence for travelers paying months in advance.
We also get tactical on what to fix first. We cover how to map your end-to-end payment flow, identify revenue leakage across cross-border fees and foreign exchange, and reduce friction without overloading checkout with unnecessary payment options. Will shares what’s changing quickly, from network tokens by Visa and Mastercard to stricter PCI expectations for phone payments, as well as how improved reporting and AI-driven analysis are turning payment data into smarter business decisions.
If you’re focused on checkout conversion, payment processing, chargebacks, FX strategy, or supplier payouts, this episode will give you a clearer framework for what modern payments should look like and where to start.
Learn more at repayd.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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Agentic AI is quickly becoming the difference between a travel experience that feels generic and one that adapts to you in real time. In the final episode of our Agentic AI Series, Dan sits down with three builders deep in the work: Jeff Kischuk, CEO of Tripian, Jessie Fischer, Founder and CEO of GuestOS, and Marius Nigond, CEO of iWander. Together, they break down what “agentic” really means for travel in 2026, AI that can make decisions, not just generate content, and the infrastructure required to make it work reliably and at scale.
We get into tangible use cases you can immediately picture, from iWander creating dynamic, in-destination audio tours and recommendations, to GuestOS running hotel phone lines with AI teammates that capture conversations and turn guest needs into action. We also explore Tripian’s role as the critical data layer, structuring and connecting travel data so AI agents can deliver relevant, contextual, and dependable experiences. For anyone in tours and activities, hospitality tech, or travel startups, this conversation shows how agentic AI can reduce friction while still preserving what travelers value most, meaningful human moments.
We also take an honest look at the challenges ahead: fragmented tech stacks, overtourism, personalization that risks crossing into discomfort, and the misconception that any one company will “own” the traveler. From data ownership to dynamic, real-time itineraries, including complex scenarios like cruise timing, this episode maps the trust layer the industry needs before AI-driven booking truly scales.
Thanks to Maya for sponsoring this series!
👉 Listen to The Rise of Agentic AI Part 3 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 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/