70 episodes
Destination Everywhere Andy McNeill & Todd Bludworth
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- Society & Culture
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5.0 • 738 Ratings
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Come along for travel adventures of a lifetime, as we join hospitality and travel entrepreneurs Andy McNeill and Todd Bludworth in search of the world’s best meeting and travel destinations. They’re checking-in with celebrities in the know, hospitality experts and native connoisseurs to discover inspirational venues and things to do. Explore the world’s most unique and desirable hotels, exotic foods with top chefs, and must-do experiences along the way. Andy and Todd go back to their favorite travel destinations and explore new places, while bringing you along.
Andy and Todd are the founders of American Meetings, Inc. (AMI), a global meetings management and destination sourcing firm that has led them to event production in over one hundred countries.
Andy McNeill, AMI’s CEO and Founder, has over 30 years of experience in the global meeting management and hospitality services, making him a thought leader in the hospitality and meetings industry. Born and raised in South Florida, Andy began his love of travel by experiencing the Bahamas and other Caribbean islands as a child with his family who were avid boaters. Seeing different cultures lit the passion of travel. When he started AMI, the company compelled him to travel extensively, exposing him to the best hotels and locales in the world. He is a true veteran of the hospitality and meetings industry, and contributes to a weekly blog series on the topic of professional meeting management. Bringing a wealth of event management knowledge to the AMI team, Andy firmly believes in the strategic meeting management model, and provides the practice as a consulting service to Fortune 500 clients.
Sharing the mic with Andy is his business and life partner Todd Bludworth. As an Army brat, Todd has lived abroad his entire childhood, including Germany, Florida, Hawaii and Kansas, before his family settled down in the Washington, D.C. area. His father traveled the world as Army Liaison for the US Senate, and always brought exciting gifts home to the family. This fascinated Todd, and his desire to see the world never waned. In Todd’s early career, he managed a political campaign, then later became a Special Events Manager in South Florida for an Anheuser-Busch distributor. He spent seven years working on some of the state’s largest and most successful sporting and social events, before he started traveling the world to produce meetings and events on almost every continent. In 2005, Todd joined AMI as Chief Marketing Officer then became a Principal owner in 2006.
Whether you’re seeking a corporate meeting venue, or simply have a passion for unique travel experiences, hear from Andy, Todd and their special guests: Business experts, historians, hotel general managers and famous chefs from the region… all know their way around the greatest places to stay, the best activities, and the top restaurants to provide the best overall meeting or destination travel experience. So come along to the best places to stay and the most amazing adventures to do through The Destination Everywhere Podcast.
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Top 4 Orlando Hotels And Interview With James Beard-Nominated Chef Kevin Fonzo
Attracting more tourists than even New York City, Orlando is a top global travel destination and the fastest-growing metro area in Florida. While it’s nearly impossible to think of Orlando without thinking of its iconic theme parks, the city hosts hundreds of conferences and conventions each year - also making it a top business travel destination.
Today we will be focusing on 4 signature Orlando hotels that are great for vacationers and business travelers alike. We will also interview Orlando resident and James Beard, Nominated Chef Kevin Fonzo. We are very excited to explore this great American city on this episode of Destination Everywhere: Orlando.
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Top UK Event Destinations Outside London (Spotlight Episode)
As great as London may be, it tends to be the place that most people go – and stay in – when they visit the UK. If you need event destinations outside the capital, consider these cities (which are easily accessible by air). Join Todd Bludworth in this Spotlight Episode as he explores the best place to host your next event with Pip MacFarlane.
● Edinburgh
○ The Scottish capital is the perfect spot for history, spectacular views, and a traditional experience of Scotland
○ Choose a venue in the historic Old Town, with the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle, or the bustling, neoclassical New Town
○ In the evenings, unwind with a scotch and classic Scottish dishes such as haggis, black pudding, or Scottish smoked salmon
○ Looking for a fun bonding activity? Try traditional Scottish ceilidh dancing (pronounced kay-lee)
● Manchester
○ The UK’s “second city”, Manchester, has a large international airport, so it’s perfect for welcoming your global guests
○ Vibrant city in the north of England
○ Home to one of the world’s best-known soccer clubs, Manchester United
○ Great nightlife in Manchester, so ideal for unwinding after a busy day of meetings
○ Also close to Liverpool, the music capital of the UK
● Brighton
○ 30 mins from London Gatwick Airport, one hour from central London
○ Arty seaside town - not quite the Florida Keys, but a great example of a British seaside town
○ May is Brighton Festival season, a big arts festival showcasing music, dance, theater, performance art, and more
○ Brighton Pride takes place in August. Brighton is considered the “LGBTQ+ capital of the UK” and is known for its open-minded community and fun atmosphere
○ Opt for an event venue on the seafront for views over the English Channel
● Birmingham
○ Birmingham is around an hour northwest of London by train (worth mentioning that all big cities are very reachable by train in the UK!)
○ Huge, very multicultural city
○ Head to Cadbury World to enjoy the most famous British chocolate
○ Opt for the city center, cultural hub Digbeth or historic Jewellery Quarter for the best event venues in the middle of the action
○ This is the place to be to sample a huge array of different cuisines
● Belfast
○ Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland and just a short hop across the sea from Great Britain (the main island of the UK)
○ It’s a lot less busy than the big English cities, so ideal for a more laid-back atmosphere
○ The Ballyhackamore district is the “brunch capital of Belfast”, earning it the nickname “Ballysnackamore.”
○ The Titanic was built in Belfast in 1912, and there is a popular Titanic Museum
○ If you want to make the most of your time in Northern Ireland, be sure to head out to Giant’s Causeway, north of Belfast, for one of the country’s most striking natural features
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The Coolest Meeting and Event Spaces in NYC (Spotlight Episode)
On this spotlight episode of The Destination Everywhere Podcast, our hosts Andy McNeill and Todd Bludworth share their favorite meeting and event spaces after 20 years of planning corporate gatherings in New York City. From iconic and historical ballrooms in Manhattan to an industrial-chic former steel factory in Brooklyn, you will discover some of the best venues to host small and large groups and provide an unforgettable experience.
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Exploring The Vibrant And Historic Amsterdam With Alessio Colavecchio And Remi Oerlemans
Amsterdam, "The Venice of the North," is the capital of the Netherlands and is renowned for its historical attractions, amazing art, and its well-preserved old neighborhoods. It's one of the most culturally diverse cities on the planet - drawing more than 5 million international visitors each year.
Today, we’ll be exploring Amsterdam with the General Manager of The Hilton Amsterdam, Alessio Colavecchio. And sharing the stage is Remi Oerlemans, the creator and owner of Amsterdam’s De Deli and Borri Box, with his take on this incredible city.
We are excited to explore this great European capital city on this episode of Destination Everywhere: Amsterdam.
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As Old As The Stone Age: Exploring The Historic City Of Madrid With Fiorella Simoes and Maria Jose Jorda
Madrid, the capital of Spain and the second largest city in the EU after Berlin, is a financial and cultural hub located in the center of the Iberian Peninsula. With its renowned museums, delicious cuisine, and year-round sun, it's no wonder why it is one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations, attracting over 6 million visitors a year.
Todd Bludworth and Andy McNeill explore Madrid with Fiorella Simoes, the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Rosewood Villa Magna Hotel. Sharing the stage with her is Maria Jose Jorda, the CEO of GastroCult, a company specializing in curated gastronomy and cultural tours of Spain. We are excited to explore this great European capital city on this episode of Destination Everywhere: Madrid.
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Where To Find The Best Eco-Friendly Hotels In The US
As global warming and the climate crisis become top of mind for many travelers, finding eco-friendly hotels is becoming a more significant factor in travel decisions. You’re doing your part to help the environment by staying at one of these sustainable resorts. In this spotlight episode, Andy McNeill and Todd Bludworth present their top hotel picks that possess a Silver Lead Certification and above. They discuss how these admirable establishments are built to save money, reduce carbon emissions, and provide a healthier environment for both workers and guests.
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Customer Reviews
Great show!
Love this show and look forward to the episodes. I learn a lot!
The Best!!!
Learned so much & very entertaining Fantastic Podcast Every minute is worth your time!
Excellent
Excellent podcast. Interesting conversations. Great podcast.