The Best Part of Travel Podcast

In this season three premiere, Arival CEO and co-founder Douglas Quinby speaks with Civitatis CEO Andres Spitzer. With a background spanning entrepreneurship and Amazon, Andres brings a fresh, tech-forward perspective to some of the experiences sector’s most pressing issues. From its strict curation approach to AI-powered personalization to what Spanish and Portuguese-speaking travelers are looking for, this is a conversation packed with insights for any operator or industry professional thinking about where the market is headed in 2026 and beyond.

With Special Guest: Andres Spitzer (CEO, Civitatis)

In the season two finale of The Best Part of Travel, co-hosts Janelle Visser and Stephen Joyce reflect on the standout themes and conversations from the past year. Sharing highlight clips from their favorite episodes, they explore what’s shaping the future of experiences, from trust, differentiation, and quality-driven travel to AI adoption, collaboration between attractions, and human connection. The episode closes with a special reveal of a new Arival event location for 2026.

With Co-hosts: Stephen Joyce (Protect Group) & Janelle Visser (Arival)

In this episode of The Best Part of Travel, we sit down with former Expedia CEO and experienced travel industry leader Erik Blachford to cut through the “trends” hype and focus on what’s truly shaping travel experiences in 2026 — from AI, travel planning and the K-shaped economy to the growing demand for screen-free “IRL” experiences and the enduring importance of human connection.

With Special Guest: Erik Blachford (Travel Industry Veteran)

In this special holiday episode, we get into the spirit… of Pinkmas. We explore how Edge NYC at Hudson Yards Experiences uses seasonal activations, as well as partnerships, premium upgrades, and creative pop-ups to stay relevant year-round and inspire repeat visitation. VP of Sales Haley Ward shares strategies for delivering memorable moments, driving demand, refreshing products, and building an attraction from the ground up… hard hat included. 

With Special Guests: Haley Ward (Hudson Yards Experiences)

In this episode of The Best Part of Travel, we sit down with James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Travel, to explore why multi-day tours are taking off, and how authentic small group experiences, people-first leadership and a thoughtfully integrated climate strategy have been essential to Intrepid’s success.

With Special Guests: James Thornton (CEO, Intrepid Travel)

This episode explores the rapidly evolving world of multi-day tours and the technology that supports them. Co-hosts Janelle Visser and Stephen Joyce speak with Travis Pittman of TourRadar about distribution and connecting user-generated content with bookable products, and with Erika Sternburg of WeTravel about managing complex multi-supplier trips and enabling multi-day operators with booking and payments tech.

With Special Guests: Travis Pittman (TourRadar), Erika Sternburg (WeTravel)

Secret Food Tours co-founders share how they expanded to 100+ cities while keeping experiences personal and delicious. They discuss the balance between technology and human touch, organic growth versus acquisition, and how they built a fan base with over 50,000 five-star reviews — plus a few unforgettable food stories.

With Special Guests: Oliver Mernick-Levene (Co-founder & Executive Director, Secret Food Tours), Nico Jacquart (Co-founder & CEO, Secret Food Tours)

Can tour operators grow without OTAs? Context Travel CEO June Chin shares why private, personalized experiences are fueling loyalty and growth. Discover how embracing personalization, building credibility through word-of-mouth and travel advisors, and leveraging AI are helping Context scale globally while keeping travelers at the heart of the journey.

With Special Guest: June Chin (CEO, Context Travel)

As experiences risk becoming commodities, Joe Pine — co-author of The Experience Economy and author of the forthcoming The Transformation Economy — joins hosts Janelle Visser and Stephen Joyce to discuss the next evolution of the economy. The episode explores how travel brands can design experiences that stand out, foster repeat business, and create not just memorable but transformational moments for guests.

With Special Guest: Joe Pine (Author, The Experience Economy and The Transformation Economy)

In this episode, hosts Janelle Visser and Stephen Joyce explore how AI is shaping the travel experiences sector, with insights from Brand USA’s Chief AI Officer, Janette Roush. Topics range from AI’s impact on website traffic and trip planning to its role in content creation, language translation, destination marketing, and gender representation in tech. The conversation also previews the upcoming AI Forum for Destination Experiences at Arival 360 in Washington, DC.

With Special Guest: Janette Roush (Chief AI Officer, Brand USA)

What’s Next in Booking Tech with FareHarbor CEO Andrea Carini

Listen in on a conversation between FareHarbor CEO Andrea Carini and Arival CEO Douglas Quinby. Join podcast hosts Janelle Visser and Stephen Joyce to dig into some of the issues from the conversation, including restech pricing models, the growth of OTA bookings, FareHarbor’s recently implemented 2% API booking fee, the applications of AI in booking tech, and the evolution and future of the booking tech landscape.

With Special Guest: Andrea Carini (CEO FareHarbor)

How Australian Attractions Work Together to Deliver Elevated Experiences

Traveling Down Under for this episode, hosts Janelle and Stephen explore how Australian cultural attractions are collaborating to attract more travelers by offering elevated, VIP, immersive experiences for both international and domestic travelers.

With Special Guests: Annabel Sullivan (Cultural Attractions of Australia) Catherine Hughes (Sydney Opera House) &  Mirjam Hilgeman (Duyfken Ship / Australian National Maritime Museum)

Kicking off the new season, Janelle Visser and Stephen Joyce are joined by Dan Christian to dive into the top five trends shaping travel this year. From AI and TikTok to OTAs, overtourism, and the rise of affluent travelers, this episode unpacks what operators need to know now.

With Special Guest: Dan Christian (Travel Trends Podcast)

To wrap up the first season of the Arival Voice of Experiences podcast, hosts Stephen and Janelle reflect on their favorite moments and listener favorites. This finale features highlights from the top five ranked episodes and dives into hot topics including personalization, AI, guest experience, and unique strategies from leaders in the space. It’s a thoughtful look back—and a peek at what’s ahead for the tours and activities industry.

Guests: Peter Brown (Big Bus Tours), Christian Watts (Magpie Travel), Kelsey Tonner (Guest Focus), Emmanuel Marot (Google), Johannes Reck (GetYourGuide)

Jon Owen discusses how Go City’s pass model drives value for travelers and attractions alike. They unpack pricing challenges, market trends, and how city passes can help manage tourism flows and boost off-the-beaten-path experiences.

With Special Guest: Jon Owen (Go City)

Martin Harlow shares why a solid distribution strategy is crucial for tour and activity operators. From choosing the right OTAs to building relationships and managing channels, this episode dives into best practices for expanding reach and visibility.

With Special Guest: Martin Harlow

This episode explores the LGBTQ+ travel market with guides Glenn Tkach and Rebecca Fisher. They discuss tour design, representation, queer history, and the powerful role of storytelling and inclusivity in tourism.

With Special Guests: Glenn Tkach (Forbidden Vancouver Tours), Rebecca Fisher (Beyond the Bell Tours)

Christian Watts explores how AI is reshaping tours and attractions—from personalized planning to content creation. The conversation dives into balancing automation and human interaction, ethical use of AI, and its impact on storytelling and brand trust.

With Special Guest: Christian Watts (Magpie Travel)

Kelsey Tonner breaks down the growing market of corporate tours and how tour operators can tap into premium opportunities through tailored offers, AI-enhanced planning, and understanding client pain points for better sales outcomes.

With Special Guest: Kelsey Tonner (Guest Focus)

Tom McGarry shares how Holiday Extras fosters a collaborative culture while embracing AI and data to enhance customer experience. From flexible bookings to automated support tools, they’re reshaping how travel services are delivered.

With Special Guest: Tom McGarry (Holiday Extras)

Stephen and Janelle recap the Hot Topics panel from Arival 360 Berlin, diving into issues around access to attraction tickets and how to better manage concentrated tourism through off-the-beaten-path experiences. Collaboration between OTAs, operators, and destinations is key.

With Special Guests: Roisin O’Sullivan (Walks), Luuc Elzinga (Tiqets), Gudrun Thorisdottir (Gray Line)

Johannes Reck shares the origin story of GetYourGuide, from a student trip in Beijing to building one of the world’s most recognized travel platforms. Hear his thoughts on innovation, parenthood, the future of experiences, and the delicate balance of CEO life in an ever-evolving travel landscape.

With Special Guest: Johannes Reck (GetYourGuide)

Stephen and Janelle dive into a wide-ranging conversation with Emmanuel Marot, Director of Product Management at Google. They explore the evolving role of AI in travel, from personalization and trip planning to the challenges of fragmentation, search visibility, and the promise of tools like Gemini.

With Special Guest: Emmanuel Marot (Google)

Ana Araque shares her journey from hospitality and operations to founding immersive, movie-inspired experiences. From her early days at The Shard to post-pandemic innovation, Ana talks about designing purpose-driven travel experiences that connect people through stories and iconic characters.

With Special Guest: Ana Araque (Imagine Experiences)

A Cup of Tea with Catherine Warrilow at Paddington Station

Catherine Warrilow reflects on her journey in tourism and brand strategy. She unpacks how small operators can stand out through brand consistency, niche targeting, and community-building. It’s a thoughtful conversation filled with smart insights on measuring impact beyond vanity metrics.

With Special Guest: Catherine Warrilow

Jessica Dante, Founder of Love and London, shares the inspiration behind her content-driven company and how video has become central to her brand’s growth. She offers actionable tips for tour operators on leveraging TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to drive engagement and bookings.

With Special Guest: Jessica Dante (Love and London)

Peter Brown, Director of Business Development at Big Bus Tours, shares his journey from tour guide to leading one of the world’s most iconic sightseeing brands. With over 20 years in the industry, Peter reflects on risk management, team leadership, music, and what it means to be part of the “Best Part of Travel” club.

With Special Guest: Peter Brown (Big Bus Tours)

Douglas Quinby, CEO and Co-founder of Arival, sits down with Scott O’Neil, CEO of Merlin Entertainments—one of the largest attractions companies in the world with brands like Madame Tussauds, Legoland, and the London Eye. Recorded live at Arival 360 Orlando, this conversation dives into leadership, AI, entrepreneurship, and the balance of business and family.

With Special Guest: Scott O’Neil (CEO, Merlin Entertainments)

Your hosts dive into the world of both online and offline marketing, with insights from industry professionals across different specialties. The conversation spans useful marketing resources and real-world tactics used by leading brands in tours and experiences. Bonus: resource links included in the show notes.

With Special Guests: Nate Andrew (Blend Marketing), Brennen Bliss (Propellic), Renee Ventrice (Cork & Keg Tours)