SELECT Insights

In light of the recent Coronavirus situation, Mike and Karen weigh in with their recommendations, suggestions and alternative focuses for travel advisors as the travel industry looks to overcome this challenge.

Since it's launch, AMA Waterways has been setting the industry's standard for luxury river boating. Its focus on quality, culture, employee happiness and passion has helped grow the company from 1 small river boat in Europe to a successful company with over 20 vessels sailing rivers through Europe, Vietnam, Cambodia and Africa. Tune-in for the inside scoop from co-founders Kristen Karst and Rudi Schneider to learn the story behind AMA, its success and how the company was built on love.

Mike and Karen take a break from their travels to catch up on recent news, travel and trends.

Mike and Karen take a break from their travels to catch up on recent news, travel and trends.

Finally back in New York headquarters, Mike and Karen sit down with The Dorchester Collection team for a stimulating conversation on how the iconic brand has built its culture of trust, creativity and individuality and its incredible service standards.

Finally back in New York headquarters, Mike and Karen sit down with The Dorchester Collection team for a stimulating conversation on how the iconic brand has built its culture of trust, creativity and individuality and its incredible service standards.

This week, we pull out one of the all-time fan favorite episodes from the Season One archives. Listen to the rebroadcast of Mike and Karen's conversation with Nicolas Graf, Associate Dean of the NYU Tisch Center of Hospitality, for a great discussion on changing consumer demands and valuable career paths and skill sets for today's world.

This week, we pull out one of the all-time fan favorite episodes from the season one archives. Listen to the rebroadcast of Mike and Karen's conversation with Nicolas Graf, Associate Dean of the Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality at NYU, for a great discussion on changing consumer demands and valuable career paths and skill sets for today's world.

In the last episode of the ILTM Cannes series, Mike and Karen spend some time with Andrea Fillipi, Vice President of Global Sales for Belmond, who gives us the inside scoop on the brand's acquisition by the luxury retail conglomerate, LVMH. Experience goes a long way in the luxury hospitality travel, and Andrea's extensive background and understanding of the industry gives us incredible insights on changing trends and shifting client expectations.

In the last episode of the ILTM Cannes series, Mike and Karen spend some time with Andrea Filippi, Vice President of Global Sales for Belmond, who gives us the inside scoop on the brand's acquisition by the luxury retail conglomerate, LVMH. Experience goes a long way in the luxury hospitality travel, and Andrea's extensive background and understanding of the industry gives us incredible insights on changing trends and shifting client expectations.

Jennifer Virgilio from Queen of Clubs joins Mike and Karen for the third episode in the ILTM Cannes series to discuss how the experience industry has evolved and how the ability to have clients prioritized and VIP in more ways than one is the key differentiator when using a travel advisor. For all things hard to access in the United Kingdom - Queen of Clubs is your go-to partner!

Jennifer Virgilio from Queen of Clubs joins Mike and Karen for the third episode in the ILTM Cannes series to discuss how the experience industry has evolved and how the ability to have clients prioritized and VIP in more ways than one is the key differentiator when using a travel advisor. For all things hard to access in the United Kingdom - Queen of Clubs is your go-to partner!

The second installment in the ILTM Cannes series, Mike and Karen find time with Siobhan Butler of Adams & Butler to talk about the company's growth in Ireland, the ever-changing destination. Hear how Adams & Butler started by renting private properties, or "hidden gems", to organizing accommodations for stars like Michael Jackson and working with travel advisors to customize itineraries for clients.

While attending the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) event in Cannes, Mike and Karen sit down with Andy Swann, founder of Swann Voyages and a founding partner of the SELECT In-Country Partners program. Specializing in arranging France itineraries that go above and beyond the regular experience, Andy gives us the insider's scoop on how his company has been successful in the region and how Swann Voyages is capitalizing on niche markets. From working with wedding planners to collaborating with museum tour guides, Andy pushes his team to go beyond the cookie cutter tours and constantly create fresh, unique itineraries for each customer.

Being a travel advisor is more than just booking hotels, flights and cruises - an advisor is also tasked with creating significant relationships between clients and the destinations they visit. Gregg Kaminsky, a Tzell Travel Group advisor and founder of R Family Vacations, shares how he helps create meaningful connections in the LGBT community through travel by hosting LGBT Group cruises and using his expertise in all things inclusive travel.

AccorHotels is the well-known name behind 39 different hotel brands across 110 countries. Listen in to hear Meenaz Diamond, SVP of Global Sales, walk us through her background as a daughter of a hotelier, discuss the memorable 21C brand and it's unique art spaces, and explain how AccorHotels is constantly innovating to create new experiences for its customers. From Sofitel to Fairmont, there's no doubt that this European brand has made its mark on travel!

Recording in the New York studio for the first time in Season Two, Mike and Karen take time to reflect back on some of their favorite episodes they're recorded, places they've traveled to so far this year and recent happenings in the industry based on feedback from listeners.

Tune-in to this special episode with Geoffrey Kent, co-chairman and founder of the luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent, for a walk down memory lane. In this live interview for advisors and clients, Geoffrey speaks with Travel Leaders Group CEO, Ninan Chacko and shares his favorite destinations, his wildest travel experiences, and a look into what's next for Abercrombie & Kent. When it comes to creating travel experiences that leave an impression, Abercrombie & Kent is sure to deliver.

Marketing a high-quality product to your consumer is no easy feat, but when your "product" is delivering outstanding travel experiences, the challenge is heightened. Jeremy Clement and Rob Keen, cofounders of Project Expeditions, discuss how they've learned to tap into consumer trends and build relationships with the advisor community to grow their business and consistently deliver experiences that go above and beyond.

You may not think of Tzell Travel Group and its sister businesses across Travel Leaders Group as your typical "incubator", but as we've discovered throughout our advisor series, an incredible collection of enterprenuers call these businesses home. These entrepreneurs have built exceptional businesses through a combination of their own expertise, passion and unrivaled reach and resources of the agencies they call home. Eric Hrubant, leader of CIRE Travel, a Tzell Travel Group business, is one of these exceptional stories. You want audacious goals and unrelenting commitment to excellence? Then Eric is the guy for you.