Travel Trends with Dan Christian

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The most dangerous moment in travel isn’t a storm, a strike, or a missed connection. It’s the moment a traveler reaches the payment page... and decides not to book.
We call it booking anxiety, and new research sponsored by Protect Group, in partnership with Phocuswright and Web in Travel, puts hard data behind a challenge the industry has long underestimated.
In this episode, Dan sits down with Stephen Joyce, Global Strategy Lead – Travel, Tours & OTAs at Protect Group, to explore why traveler confidence often disappears at checkout. They unpack why today's travelers worry just as much about losing valuable vacation time as they do about losing money, why disruption risk feels more real than ever, and why flexibility has become one of the biggest drivers of conversion. The research shows many travelers would rather pay a little more for peace of mind than choose the cheapest non-refundable fare, and that knowing a full refund is possible if plans change is one of the strongest motivators to complete a booking.
The conversation then turns to practical solutions. Stephen shares how flexible fare options, refund protection, deposits, and pay-over-time plans can reduce friction, increase conversion rates, and build trust long before the checkout page. They also explore the role of AI in the booking journey, why trust and accountability will become even more important as AI adoption grows, and what every travel brand can do today to turn hesitation into confidence.
Whether you're an airline, OTA, tour operator, destination, or travel advisor, this episode offers valuable insights into one of the biggest—and most overlooked—opportunities to increase bookings: removing the fear that stops customers from clicking "Book Now."
Learn more at protect.group.
Sign up to get an exclusive preview of Protect Group's Global Booking Anxiety Study 2026.
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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Hop-on hop-off buses are often a traveler's first introduction to a destination, yet the technology powering that experience hasn't changed much in years. Audio commentary can be expensive to produce, difficult to update, and nearly impossible to maintain across dozens of languages. In this Company Spotlight, Dan is joined by iWander CEO and Co-founder Marius Nigond and CTO and Co-founder Antoine Nigond to explore how AI is transforming sightseeing for operators around the world.
The conversation traces iWander's evolution from an AI travel companion to a B2B platform serving the sightseeing industry, including its work with City Sightseeing Worldwide. Marius and Antoine explain how operators can use AI to deliver more engaging visitor experiences while gaining valuable insights into traveler behaviour through the iWander platform.
We also take a closer look at Hoho Studio, iWander's AI powered content platform. Operators can upload existing scripts or audio, automatically validate and update content, translate it into multiple languages, and generate natural sounding narration in a fraction of the time and cost of traditional production. Beyond efficiency, we explore how AI opens the door to personalized commentary tailored to different interests, from history and architecture to family friendly storytelling, while ensuring content stays accurate and up to date.
Finally, we discuss the broader business opportunity. AI isn't just helping operators reduce production costs, it's creating new ways to engage travellers throughout their journey, drive in destination revenue, and deliver richer, more memorable sightseeing experiences.
Watch the full platform demonstration on the Travel Trends YouTube channel and learn more iwander.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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Getting sick while traveling is more common than most people realize. Whether it's food poisoning, a fever, an injury, or an unexpected illness, navigating a foreign healthcare system can quickly become one of the most stressful parts of any trip. You may not speak the language, know where to go, or trust the care you're receiving.
In this Company Spotlight, Dan sits down with Max Levine, CEO and Founder of Awayward, a virtual healthcare platform designed specifically for international travellers. Max shares the personal travel experiences that inspired him to launch the company and explains why calling your family doctor back home often isn't enough when local prescriptions, licensing, and healthcare systems come into play.
They discuss how Awayward connects travelers with vetted, English speaking doctors who are licensed in the country they're visiting, providing trusted medical care wherever the journey takes them. The conversation also looks at why travel healthcare is becoming increasingly important for tour operators, travel advisors, employers, hotels, and study abroad programs as part of their duty of care.
Max also discusses where AI can improve the travel healthcare experience, where human expertise remains essential, and why access to trusted medical care is becoming an important part of the overall travel experience.
Whether you're a frequent traveler or work in the travel industry, this conversation offers practical insights into one of the most overlooked aspects of travel planning.
Learn more at awayward.com.
For corporate travel, visit awayward.com/corporate-travel.
For study abroad, visit awayward.com/study-abroad.
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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Mentorship can be the difference between building a successful career in travel or leaving the industry altogether. In this episode, Dan sits down with Penny Spencer, Chair and Founder of the Travel Industry Mentor Experience (TIME), to discuss how the not for profit mentoring program has helped hundreds of travel professionals across Australia and New Zealand and why it's now launching in Canada.
Penny explains how the six month program matches mentors and mentees, why experienced leaders volunteer their time, and how mentorship helps professionals build confidence, strengthen leadership skills, overcome imposter syndrome, and prepare for the next stage of their careers.
She also shares what excites her most about bringing TIME to Canada and how stronger connections between Canada, Australia, and New Zealand can help develop the next generation of travel leaders.
Whether you're a travel advisor, tour operator, agency owner, supplier, or an emerging leader looking to grow your career, this conversation is a reminder that sometimes the greatest investment our industry can make is in its people.
Learn more at travelindustrymentor.ca.
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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Sonder was once one of the most recognizable names in modern hospitality. Then, almost overnight, it disappeared. Now, it's back in a very different form. In this breaking news episode, Dan sits down with John Lyotier, Co-founder and CEO of TravelAI, to discuss the company's acquisition of the Sonder trademarks and domain portfolio, including Sonder.com, and why it's relaunching the brand as an AI powered, curated guide to the world's best urban stays. The acquisition includes the brand and intellectual property only. It does not include Sonder's former operating business, properties, leases, or staff.
John shares the inside story behind the acquisition, what it was like navigating a trustee led bankruptcy process, and why his team believed the Sonder name was worth bringing back. The conversation also explores the realities of building and scaling travel companies, the lessons entrepreneurs can take from bankruptcy and capital markets, and why TravelAI has focused on acquiring trusted travel brands while remaining founder owned and profitable.
The discussion then turns to the future of AI in travel. John explains TravelAI's vision for a traveler owned memory layer, how AI can deliver more meaningful personalization without starting from scratch on every trip, and why the new Sonder is designed to combine machine intelligence with thoughtful human curation. It's a fascinating look at how an iconic travel brand can be reimagined for a new era and what that could mean for the future of travel discovery, personalization, and trust.
Learn more at sonder.com.
The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds. 
https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/