Travel Tech Insider

Gilad Berenstein and Cara Whitehill

Travel Tech Insider is a podcast for those building the future of travel.  Hosted by operators and investors, it’s where the smartest minds in the space go to hear bold takes, nuanced ideas, and practical insights from the people doing the work. If you’re tired of press release PR and trade-show buzzwords, this is your seat at the table.Co-hosted by industry veterans and investors Gilad Berenstein and Cara Whitehill, they are joined by guest experts from all corners of the travel & hospitality tech industry.If you would like to contribute to the conversation please reach out! 

  1. vor 19 Std.

    Travel and the Economy: Navigating Chaos

    Travel is one of the largest industries in the world, yet its economic significance is chronically underappreciated — by consumers, by policymakers, and even by the markets that price it. In the United States alone, domestic travel accounts for the vast majority of the industry’s GDP contribution — yet public discourse and government measurement almost exclusively focus on inbound international tourism. Meanwhile, the World Travel & Tourism Council estimates that travel and tourism represents over 10% of global GDP and supports more than 330 million jobs worldwide, a figure that rivals the economic footprint of manufacturing or financial services in many countries. But the industry is under siege from multiple directions simultaneously. Geopolitical instability, pandemic-era demand shocks (COVID-19, SARS, Zika), and escalating immigration enforcement are creating headwinds for both inbound and outbound travel. Labor shortages remain a structural challenge across hospitality, aviation, and ground transportation — with wage inflation, workforce attrition, and immigration policy all converging to constrain capacity. At the same time, climate change is rewriting the risk calculus for the entire sector: hurricanes, wildfires, and floods are disrupting operations, stranding real estate assets, and inflating insurance costs from Miami to Maui. This episode brings together three of the most credible voices in travel economics to examine what the data actually shows about travel’s role in the broader economy, the compounding threats reshaping the industry, and what a more durable framework for measuring and defending travel’s economic contribution might look like.   Follows Gilad Berenstein – host Cara Whitehill - host Alex Dichter — guest Ryan Propis — guest Adam Sacks – guest   Go Deeper Beyond Hormuz: How a World on Edge Is Reshaping Every Corner of Tech - North Ridge PartnersIran conflict – The impact on tourism and GCC macroeconomic outlook - Oxford EconomicsThe Case for Smarter Global Advocacy For Travel — Not More Cheerleading - Skift [$]Reimagining the $9 Trillion Tourism Economy — What Will It Take? - McKinsey & CompanyThe Future of Work in Travel & Tourism: The key trends shaping workforce strategies - World Travel and Tourism CouncilHow climate risks are impacting real estate insurance costs - JLL

    51 Min.

  2. 24. Feb.

    Private Equity Roundup & Rollups in Travel

    Private equity is playing an increasingly visible — and influential — role across travel and hospitality. From platform rollups and carve-outs to growth equity investments in scaled travel tech, PE capital is reshaping who owns what, how companies grow, and what “success” looks like beyond venture-backed exits. This episode unpacks how private equity really works, how it differs from late-stage venture capital, and why travel and hospitality have become such compelling hunting grounds for PE firms right now. We start with the fundamentals: what private equity is, how funds are structured, who the LPs are, and how different types of PE strategies — from growth equity to buyout funds — show up in travel. From there, we dig into what makes a strong PE investment target, including the metrics, moats, and operational characteristics that matter most at this stage of a company’s life. The conversation then turns to M&A strategy, including how PE firms evaluate acquisition opportunities, when rollups make sense versus single-asset plays, and what founders should (and shouldn’t) do to prepare for future M&A conversations. We also demystify the PE process itself — how firms engage with founders, what diligence looks like, and what realistic timelines founders should expect. Whether you’re a founder, operator, or investor, this episode offers a clear, candid look at how private equity is shaping the future of travel. Follows Gilad Berenstein – host Cara Whitehill - host Evelyn Duan — guest Vinay Shah — guest Go Deeper Travel industry trends and the opportunity for private equity - McKinsey & CompanyM&A trends in travel, leisure and hospitality - KPMGEconomic uncertainty ‘reshaping deal-making’ as travel and tourism M&A slows — HotelDiveThe coming wave: Consolidation in tours and experiences — PhocusWireM&A Activity Continues to Escalate in the Global Hotel Operator Sector - Goodwin

    53 Min.

  3. 30.12.2025

    Season Three Season Finale

    As we close out Season 3 of Travel Tech Insider, we’re stepping back to reflect on the conversations, debates, and signals that defined the past year—and to look ahead at what 2026 may have in store for travel, hospitality, and the technology shaping it all. We kick things off at the macro level, asking our guests to share one or two defining lessons from 2025. Those insights span far beyond any single theme—touching on investing, AI, business building, travel behavior, and even how leaders are adapting personally in a rapidly changing world. We’ll also hear from our investors on one standout investment from 2025 that they’re particularly excited about, alongside a look back at which major industry trends truly hit the mark this year. From there, we revisit the core topics that shaped Season 3, offering fresh perspective, candid reflections, and a few hot takes along the way. We unpack what’s really happening in the vacation rental market, the growing influence of social commerce, and the continued evolution of AI from experimentation to infrastructure. We explore the expanding role of FinTech and stablecoins in enabling frictionless, agent-driven commerce, examine cruising as a microcosm of innovation in travel, and reflect on why corporate travel remains in flux amid shifting work patterns and economic pressures. We also touch on the state of private equity and rollups in travel, and what consolidation signals about the maturity of the sector. We close the season by turning our gaze forward, asking each guest to share their predictions, priorities, and areas of focus for 2026. From emerging business models to changing power dynamics and new opportunities on the horizon, this season finale ties together the threads of Season 3 while setting the stage for what comes next. Follows Gilad Berenstein – host Cara Whitehill - host Max Niederhofer — guest Besty Mulé — guest Sarah Kopit — guest Go Deeper How AI Bookings Will Rewrite the Travel Company Playbook - Bain & CompanySkift Megatrends 2026 - SkiftHot Travel Startups 2026 - PhocusWireClear Skies for Corporate Travel in 2026 - Morgan Stanley2026: Going Public. Going Global. Going Big. - Arival Travel

    49 Min.

  4. 23.12.2025

    Corporate Travel (Still) in Flux

    When we last visited the corporate travel side of the industry with OG Steve Singh about a year and a half ago, most of us were still kicking tires on ChatGPT and “agents” still referred to humans. Fast forward to today, and the implications of agentic AI are reaching into every nook and cranny of even the most slow-moving corners of the industry, like corporate travel. With travelers getting more comfortable relying on LLMs to help them plan leisure travel, will they naturally extend that usage for their business trips? And if so, what would that mean for the managed travel industrial complex that exists to optimize the budget and policy rules for corporate travel? Everything feels up for grabs, from how suppliers distribute their inventory and service the traveler, to how corporate travel managers ensure compliance and keep travelers safe, to how the TMCs (travel management companies) to whom much of this responsibility has been outsourced continue to earn the right to even exist. On the M&A front, we’re seeing the gravitational force of scale take hold, with AMEX GBT’s acquisition of CWT (and subsequent rumors of them being up for sale) and Navan’s recent IPO. And we haven’t even gotten to GDSes or NDC yet. What does business travel look like for all these stakeholders in this moment of extended transformation? We’ll dig in with two industry experts to unpack where corporate travel is headed. Follows Gilad Berenstein – host Cara Whitehill - host Cory Garner — guest Jay Boehmer — guest Go Deeper Deloitte: Corporate Travel Forecast a Mixed Bag Amid Complex Conditions - DeloitteHow Corporate Travel & Payments Could Change by 2030 - PhocusWireThe State of Corporate Travel and Expense 2025 - SkiftMeet Tomorrow’s Business Travelers - AMEX Global Business TravelHow artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of travel and expense management - ITBrief

    55 Min.

  5. 09.12.2025

    Cruising into the Future: How Technology Is Transforming the High Seas

    The cruise industry has quietly become one of the most fascinating — and technologically advanced — corners of the travel sector. Once viewed as a niche for retirees and sun-seekers, it’s now riding a powerful wave of innovation, luxury, and digital transformation. From ultra-high-end yachts to fully connected smart ships, cruising has evolved into a microcosm of where travel is headed next. In this episode, we unpack the major trends shaping the modern cruise market — and explore what makes it such a compelling space for travelers, technologists, and investors alike. From the luxury side of the industry, global hospitality icons like Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Belmond, and Aman are extending their brands into the water, bringing the same elevated design and service ethos that they’re known for on land. At the same time, around-the-world itineraries and the rise of residential cruise lines — floating communities where travelers actually live aboard — are blurring the lines between hospitality, real estate, and adventure. Then there’s the family dimension. Cruising has become a top choice for multi-generational travel — offering everything from kids’ discovery camps to Michelin-level dining for grandparents — all within a single, self-contained experience. And while sustainability is often a buzzword across the travel industry, cruising may actually be leading the way. From LNG-powered vessels and advanced waste treatment systems to experiments with alternative fuels and onboard recycling ecosystems, major cruise operators are investing billions to minimize their environmental footprint. But perhaps the most underappreciated story — at least for the digital crowd — is the astonishing level of connectivity that exists onboard. In many ways, cruise lines have already built what other sectors of travel are still chasing — a truly connected trip experience, where data flows across every stage of the customer journey. In today’s conversation, we’ll bring together several leaders from across the sector to explore the forces driving this boom. Welcome aboard!   Follows Gilad Berenstein – host Cara Whitehill - host Shane Buksh — guest Thatcher Brown — guest Sam Chamberlain — guest Captain Bill Wright — guest   Go Deeper State of the Cruise Industry Report 2025 - Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)Inside the Strange and Lonely Test Run of a New Cruise Ship - Wall Street Journal [$]Next Growth Phase for Cruises and a New Sustainability Test - SkiftVirtuoso’s New Vice President of Global Cruise Shares Current and Future Trends - Travel Age WestGen Z and millennials fuel cruise industry rebound - Hospitality Today

    1 Std. 3 Min.

  6. 02.12.2025

    Adventures in FinTech: Stablecoins, Blockchain and Crypto

    Fintech has quietly become one of the most transformative forces in the travel industry — shaping how we pay, how we earn and redeem loyalty, and increasingly, how companies manage global transactions behind the scenes. From B2B payment flows between hotels, OTAs, and suppliers to B2C innovation in digital wallets, loyalty currencies, and embedded finance, fintech is no longer just an enabler — it’s a strategic differentiator. Fintech also plays a role in the expanding agentic AI space. After all, agents can’t really “agent” without the ability to execute a transaction. How will autonomous digital agents transact on behalf of travelers? What role could blockchain and digital identity play in enabling trusted, frictionless payments between humans and machines? We’ll also examine the regulatory shifts reshaping the playing field — including the GENIUS Act and other global efforts to modernize payment infrastructure and consumer protection. Follows Gilad Berenstein – host Cara Whitehill - host Randall Davies — guest James Lemon — guest Go Deeper What’s up with stablecoins after the GENIUS Act? - BrookingsAre Stablecoins the Game-Changer for Cross-Border Payments? - Edgar Dunn & CompanyThe 2025 McKinsey Global Payments Report - McKinsey & CompanyKYAPay: Toward an Open Payment and Identity Layer for Agentic AI - ***KYAPay.ai & Skyfire.xyzWhitepaper***The era of payment stablecoins has arrived - Deloitte

    58 Min.

  7. 25.11.2025

    The AI Effect (Part 3): Agentic AI & Future of Personalization

    Show Notes Agentic AI is the latest buzzword in travel tech — but beyond the hype, it raises big questions about how travelers will discover, plan, and book their journeys. Will the power of agentic AI reinforce the dominance of OTAs like Expedia and Booking, or will it open the door for smaller travel brands to compete on equal footing? In this episode, we explore what agentic AI means for personalization in travel retailing and service delivery: how it could reshape loyalty, rewire customer expectations, and redefine the role of intermediaries versus suppliers. We’ll look at emerging best practices, potential pitfalls, and the debates shaping how our industry adapts to this next era of AI-driven travel. This week we are joined by two leaders building for this new agentic world, Kosta Krauth, CTO of Bilt, the next-gen loyalty and payments platform, and Charles Packer, Co-Founder & CEO of Letta, the operating platform for building stateful agents.   Follows Gilad Berenstein – host Cara Whitehill - host Kosta Krauth — guest Charles Packer — guest   Go Deeper 4 scenarios on the future of agentic AI in travel - PhocusWireReady for takeoff: Reimagining travel and hospitality with agentic AI - Google CloudPersonalized agentic AI experiences are coming - Fast CompanySeizing the agentic AI advantage - McKinsey QuantumBlackEnabling Personalized Long-term Interactions in LLM-based Agents through Persistent Memory and User Profiles - Rebecca Westhäußer, Wolfgang Minker, Sebatian Zepf

    1 Std. 4 Min.

  8. 11.11.2025

    Agentic AI (Part 2): The Emerging AI Tech Stack

    Generative AI is not only impacting how travel is bought and sold as we heard in Part 1 of our AI Effect series, it’s also impacting how companies are building and delivering the travel services that are bought and sold. Companies used to stockpile servers, engineers and access to bandwidth, all of which required considerable capital. In this new AI era, anyone can use Replit or Lovable to spin up their own travel app in a matter of hours. Companies no longer need teams of expensive engineers to code up a new application — the just need a Cursor subscription and a few developers with some free time to vibe code. Legacy infrastructure is getting deprecated in favor of AI-based solutions that didn’t exist a few months ago. So what does the enterprise tech stack look in this era of AI? Is it proving to be more cost-effective than the legacy platforms our industry was built on? Is it unlocking opportunity for startups with fresh ideas to take share from incumbents? Or is it enabling the incumbents to finally catch up to startups in terms of speed of innovation? Or is it a combination (or collaboration) of both? Follows Gilad Berenstein – host Cara Whitehill - host Josh Dow — guest SJ Sawhney — guest Go Deeper From Prompts To Products: The Business Of No-Code AI Is Booming - Forbes [$]McKinsey Technology Trends Outlook 2025 - McKinsey & CompanyThis Week in Lessons from (Technical) Founders - Gilad BerensteinBuilding the Foundation for Agentic AI - Bain & CompanyAgentic AI in the enterprise: An evolution, not a revolution - Red Hat Blog

    58 Min.
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Travel Tech Insider is a podcast for those building the future of travel.  Hosted by operators and investors, it’s where the smartest minds in the space go to hear bold takes, nuanced ideas, and practical insights from the people doing the work. If you’re tired of press release PR and trade-show buzzwords, this is your seat at the table.Co-hosted by industry veterans and investors Gilad Berenstein and Cara Whitehill, they are joined by guest experts from all corners of the travel & hospitality tech industry.If you would like to contribute to the conversation please reach out! 

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  • Erstellt von
    Gilad Berenstein and Cara Whitehill
  • Jahre aktiv
    2023 - 2026
  • Folgen
    34
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    © 2026 Travel Tech Insider
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