Travel Talk featuring Edward Leos, publisher of The Hotel Guide

Edward Leos, publisher, The Hotel Guide
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Your gateway to unforgettable adventures! For over 33 years, The Hotel Guide has been your trusted source for travel inspiration. Now, through exclusive interviews and insider tips, we bring you the best in luxury hotels, hidden gems, top destinations, wellness retreats, and travel trends. Whether you're planning a getaway or dreaming of your next adventure, we've got you covered. Tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube—your next journey starts here! ✈️🌍

  1. 1h ago

    Behind the Journey: Costa Rica | The Vessyl, The Retreat & Pura Vida

    This time on Travel Talk, we're doing something different. Roxann and I sit down together to take you behind our journey through Costa Rica—what we experienced, what surprised us, the people we met, and why this country left an impression on both of us. Our trip took us to two very different properties: The Vessyl and The Retreat Costa Rica. Both are rooted in wellness. Both are surrounded by the extraordinary natural beauty of Costa Rica. But each approaches the experience in its own way. We talk about what it was actually like to stay at both properties—the atmosphere, wellness experiences, food, surroundings, people, and those small moments that don't always make it into a hotel review or Instagram post. But this episode isn't just about the hotels. It's about Costa Rica itself. The landscape. The people. The pace. The sense of pura vida you hear so much about—and what it feels like when you actually experience it. We also get into something I've been thinking about more as we've traveled: The best hospitality experiences don't just give you somewhere beautiful to stay. They change the way you feel while you're there. And sometimes, you bring a little of that home with you. This is less of an interview and more of a conversation between Roxann and me about a trip we experienced together—and why Costa Rica is a place we won't soon forget. 🎙️ Travel Talk: Conversations About the Journey Behind the Journey: Costa RicaEdward & Roxann Leos Featuring our experiences at The Vessyl, The Retreat Costa Rica, and beyond. ▶️ Watch the full episode on YouTube. #TravelTalk #CostaRica #TheVessyl #TheRetreatCostaRica #PuraVida #WellnessTravel #LuxuryTravel #ExperientialTravel #TheHotelGuide

  2. Sep 16

    Kim Bennett: Reimagining How We Plan Travel | The Story Behind AtlasGuru

    Travel inspiration has never been the problem. Turning that inspiration into an actual trip is where things get complicated. In this episode of Travel Talk: Conversations About the Journey, Edward R. Leos sits down with Kim Bennett, founder of AtlasGuru, to talk about the changing way travelers discover, plan, and ultimately book their journeys. At the center of the conversation is a simple question: What if the distance between “I want to go there” and “let's make this trip happen” could become dramatically shorter? Kim shares the thinking behind AtlasGuru, why she saw an opportunity to rethink traditional travel planning, and how AI is creating new possibilities for turning inspiration into personalized itineraries. But this isn't a conversation about replacing the human side of travel. It's about connecting the pieces that have historically lived apart. Great editorial content can make someone feel something about a destination. AI can help transform that inspiration into a personalized plan. And a trusted travel advisor can bring expertise, relationships, and human judgment to actually help make the journey happen. Edward and Kim explore what that convergence could mean for travelers—and for the publishers, creators, hotels, destinations, and advisors trying to reach them. They also discuss entrepreneurship, building a travel technology company, where AtlasGuru is headed next, and what Kim believes the next generation of travel planning could look like. Why Kim Bennett created AtlasGuruHow AI is changing travel planningMoving from travel inspiration to actionable itinerariesThe relationship between content, AI, and human travel advisorsWhy personalization mattersWhere travel publishing fits into the new discovery journeyBuilding and growing a travel-tech companyWhat's next for AtlasGuruWhy technology should make travel feel easier—not less humanThis conversation also represents something important for The Hotel Guide as we work with AtlasGuru to connect 30 years of travel storytelling with a new generation of AI-powered planning. Inspire the journey. Build the itinerary. Put a human expert within reach when it's time to go. That's a travel ecosystem worth building. 🎙️ Travel Talk: Conversations About the JourneyFeaturing Kim Bennett | Founder, AtlasGuru #TravelTalk #AtlasGuru #KimBennett #ArtificialIntelligence #TravelTechnology #AITravel #TravelPlanning #TravelIndustry #TravelAdvisor #TravelMedia #TheHotelGuide

  3. Sep 9

    The Journey - Josh Stanley, Founder, The Vessyl

    What happens when you stop thinking about hospitality as a place to stay—and start thinking about how a place can change you? On this episode of Travel Talk: Conversations About the Journey, Edward R. Leos sits down with Josh Stanley, founder of The Vessyl, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, wellness, nature, purpose, and the vision behind creating a different kind of hospitality experience. Josh's story isn't simply about developing a property in Costa Rica. It's about building something he believes should exist. The conversation explores the thinking behind The Vessyl, why Josh chose to challenge traditional ideas of hospitality, and his belief that where we stay can have a deeper impact on how we feel, think, connect, and ultimately live. But like most worthwhile journeys, the finished product is only part of the story. Josh and Edward get into the risk of entrepreneurship, what it takes to move an idea from vision to reality, the importance of staying true to the original mission, and the inevitable moments when building something different means refusing to follow the easier path. They also explore the growing intersection between hospitality, wellness, nature and meaningful travel—and why today's traveler may increasingly be looking for something more than luxury amenities and beautiful surroundings. This is a conversation about creating with intention. About believing that hospitality can leave people different than it found them. And about the journey of an entrepreneur willing to build around that belief. In This Episode: The story and vision behind The VessylWhy Josh Stanley entered hospitalityBuilding a different kind of guest experienceEntrepreneurship, risk and staying committed to an ideaThe relationship between nature, wellness and travelWhy meaningful hospitality goes beyond amenitiesCreating experiences that have a lasting impactThe future vision for The VessylPurpose, growth and the journey behind building something from the ground up🎙️ Travel Talk: Conversations About the JourneyJosh Stanley | Founder, The Vessyl People. Places. Purpose. And the journeys that shape who we become. Subscribe to Travel Talk for conversations with entrepreneurs, athletes, hospitality leaders, creators and people building lives—and businesses—worth talking about. #TravelTalk #JoshStanley #TheVessyl #CostaRica #Hospitality #WellnessTravel #ExperientialTravel #LuxuryTravel #Entrepreneurship #PurposefulTravel #TheHotelGuide

  4. Aug 31

    Victor Oladipo: Beyond the Game | Faith, Resilience & Finding Purpose

    Victor Oladipo’s story has never been just about basketball. From becoming an NBA All-Star and one of the league’s most dynamic players to navigating injuries, setbacks, uncertainty, and the realities that come with competing at the highest level, Victor’s journey has demanded something beyond talent: resilience, perspective, and belief. In this episode of Travel Talk, Edward R. Leos sits down with Victor Oladipo for a conversation that goes beyond statistics, contracts, and what happened on the court. It’s about the person behind the player. They explore the experiences that have shaped Victor, the lessons that come when the path you envisioned suddenly changes, and the importance of faith, purpose, family, and identity when basketball can no longer be the only thing defining you. For an athlete who spent years being measured by wins, points, performance, and expectations, the bigger question becomes: Who are you when the game isn't the center of everything anymore? That’s where this conversation gets interesting. Victor opens up about his journey, the mindset required to keep moving forward, and how adversity can change your definition of success. The discussion also looks at life beyond basketball and the opportunities that emerge when you begin seeing yourself as more than the profession that first made people know your name. This isn't simply an NBA conversation. It's a conversation about reinvention. About getting knocked down and having to decide what comes next. About recognizing that some of life's hardest seasons can also force us to discover what actually matters. And ultimately, about understanding that your greatest chapter doesn't necessarily have to be the one everyone already knows you for. 🎙️ Travel Talk with Edward R. LeosFeaturing Victor Oladipo | Professional Basketball Player Faith. Resilience. Purpose. Beyond the Game. NBA journey • adversity and resilience • injuries and setbacks • faith • identity • purpose • personal growth • life beyond basketball • reinvention • defining success #VictorOladipo #TravelTalk #NBA #MiamiHeat #Basketball #Faith #Resilience #Purpose #AthleteMindset #PersonalGrowth #Reinvention #EdwardLeos #TheHotelGuide

  5. Aug 13

    The Evolution of Travel Coaching

    What if travel could be more than an escape, a vacation, or another destination checked off the list? In this episode of Travel Talk, Edward R. Leos sits down with Sahara Rose De Vore, founder of the Travel Coach Network (TCN), for a conversation about the deeper power of travel, the evolution of travel coaching, and why she believes the industry has an opportunity to think differently about the way we help people experience the world. Sahara shares the story behind the creation of the Travel Coach Network and the gap she saw in the traditional travel industry. Rather than focusing solely on where someone should go, travel coaching starts with a different question: Why do you want to travel in the first place? That distinction opens up an entirely different conversation. Edward and Sahara explore how travel can influence personal growth, relationships, confidence, well-being, career decisions, and the way people see both themselves and the world around them. Travel isn't simply about the destination. Sometimes the most important part of the journey is who you become because you took it. They also look at the business behind the movement. Sahara discusses how TCN has evolved, what she has learned while building a community of travel coaches, and her vision for expanding the network and bringing greater awareness and credibility to travel coaching within the broader travel and hospitality industries. In this conversation: Why Sahara created the Travel Coach NetworkWhat travel coaching actually is—and how it differs from traditional travel planningThe growing role of purpose and intentionality in travelHow travel can become a catalyst for personal transformationBuilding and growing a community around a new categoryWhat's next for TCN and the travel coaching movementOpportunities for travel coaches, advisors, hotels, destinations, and hospitality brandsWhy the emotional impact of travel may matter just as much as the itinerary itselfAt its core, this episode is about something bigger than travel coaching. It's about the power of travel. The places we visit matter. But so do the conversations we have, the people we meet, the perspectives we gain, and sometimes the decisions we make when we return home. For anyone working in travel, hospitality, coaching, wellness, entrepreneurship, or simply looking for more meaning from the way they experience the world, this is a conversation worth hearing. 🎙️ Travel Talk with Edward R. LeosFeaturing Sahara Rose De VoreFounder, Travel Coach Network Travel isn't only about where you go. It's about what the journey does to you. #TravelTalk #SaharaRoseDeVore #TravelCoachNetwork #TravelCoaching #TravelIndustry #TransformationalTravel #PurposefulTravel #MeaningfulTravel #Hospitality #TravelPodcast #TheHotelGuide

  6. Aug 6

    From Texas A&M to the NFL... and the Art World

    What happens when one of college football's top quarterbacks steps away from the game after an NFL to pursue an entirely different calling? In this episode of Travel Talk, Edward Leos sits down with Kellen Mond—former Texas A&M quarterback, NFL quarterback, and now emerging artist—for one of the most authentic conversations you'll hear about identity, purpose, and life after professional sports. For many athletes, football defines who they are. For Kellen, it became the foundation for discovering who he could become. Together, we explore his remarkable journey from leading Texas A&M on the national stage, to achieving his dream of playing in the NFL, to embracing a new creative chapter in the art world. 🏈 Life as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in Texas A&M history🎯 The transition from college football to the NFL🎨 Why Kellen chose to pursue art after football🙏 The role faith has played throughout his journey💡 Reinvention, resilience, and finding purpose beyond your career🔥 What success really looks like when you're willing to evolve This conversation isn't just about football. It's about courage. It's about letting go of one identity to embrace another. And it's about discovering that your greatest purpose may begin after everyone thinks they've already written your story. Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, creative, or someone navigating a major life transition, Kellen's story is a powerful reminder that reinvention is possible—and often necessary. Subscribe to Travel Talk for conversations with the leaders, innovators, athletes, and visionaries shaping business, hospitality, travel, and life. 🎙 Hosted by Edward R. LeosCEO & Publisher, The Hotel Guide #KellenMond #TexasAM #NFL #CollegeFootball #TravelTalk #EdwardLeos #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #Faith #Purpose #Athlete #Art #SportsPodcast #Motivation #Reinvention

    From Texas A&M to the NFL... and the Art World

  7. Jul 13

    THG Hospitality Index Unveiled

    Luxury hospitality has never looked better. Yet many of the world's most beautiful hotels are becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish from one another. In this episode of Travel Talk, Edward R. Leos, CEO & Publisher of The Hotel Guide, introduces the THG Hospitality Index™—a proprietary framework designed to help luxury hotels, boutique resorts, destination marketing organizations, and hospitality companies evaluate what truly creates long-term brand authority. Rather than measuring popularity or guest satisfaction alone, the THG Hospitality Index™ examines the strategic factors that separate memorable brands from those competing on similarity. During this episode we discuss: • Why luxury hospitality is entering an "Authority Economy"• The growing Authority Gap facing hotels around the world• The eight pillars of the THG Hospitality Index™: Narrative DifferentiationEmotional PositioningCultural IdentityExecutive VisibilityExperience OriginalityEditorial ReadinessDigital AuthorityPartnership AlignmentYou'll also learn why future hospitality leaders won't simply compete through larger rooms, better amenities, or lower prices—but through stronger positioning, clearer storytelling, authentic leadership, and deeper emotional connections with guests. Whether you're a hotel owner, general manager, marketing executive, resort developer, investor, destination organization, or hospitality professional, this conversation provides practical insights into building a brand guests remember—and recommend. The THG Hospitality Index™ was developed after more than three decades of hospitality and publishing experience to help organizations identify opportunities, strengthen market positioning, and build lasting authority in an increasingly competitive industry. Request your private THG Hospitality Index™ Assessment THG Hospitality Index™ The Travel Talk Podcast explores: Luxury & Boutique HospitalityHotel LeadershipBrand StrategyHospitality MarketingLuxury Travel TrendsExecutive InterviewsDestination MarketingWellness TravelHospitality InnovationNew episodes every week. Website: The Hotel Guide #Hospitality #LuxuryHotels #BoutiqueHotels #TravelTalk #HotelLeadership #HospitalityMarketing #BrandAuthority #LuxuryTravel #HotelManagement #DestinationMarketing #HospitalityInnovation #THGHospitalityIndex #TheHotelGuide #TravelIndustry #HotelBranding

  8. Jun 2

    "Hospitality, Technology, & Game Changer"

    The future of hospitality won't be shaped by properties alone—it will be shaped by people.In this episode of Travel Talk, I sit down with Anna Blue, one of the industry's most respected voices on leadership, workforce development, and social impact, for a conversation that couldn't be more relevant as hospitality enters a new era.Fresh off discussions surrounding the upcoming Hospitality Creator Summit, we explore a topic that's becoming impossible to ignore:How do hospitality brands remain human in an increasingly digital world?Anna shares lessons from her leadership journey, her work with hospitality organizations across the country, and why the industry's greatest competitive advantage may not be technology, amenities, or marketing—but people.In this episode, we discuss:• Why talent development will define the next generation of hospitality leaders• The growing intersection of hospitality, media, and creator influence• Key workforce challenges facing hotels and travel brands today• Building cultures that attract and retain exceptional people• The importance of purpose-driven leadership• What hospitality leaders should be paying attention to heading into 2027• Insights surrounding the evolution of the Hospitality Creator Summit and its impact on the industryAs hospitality continues to evolve, one thing remains constant: great experiences begin with great people.Whether you're a hotel executive, marketer, entrepreneur, creator, destination leader, or hospitality professional, this conversation offers valuable perspective on where the industry is headed—and how to position yourself for what's next.🎙 Hosted by Edward Leos, CEO & Publisher of The Hotel GuideSubscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of luxury travel, hospitality, tourism, and guest experience.#HospitalityCreatorSummit #Hospitality #TravelTalk #Leadership #HotelIndustry #HospitalityLeadership #Tourism #HotelManagement #CreatorEconomy #TravelIndustry #BlueMossGroup #AnnaBlue #TheHotelGuide #HospitalityMarketing #FutureOfHospitality

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Your gateway to unforgettable adventures! For over 33 years, The Hotel Guide has been your trusted source for travel inspiration. Now, through exclusive interviews and insider tips, we bring you the best in luxury hotels, hidden gems, top destinations, wellness retreats, and travel trends. Whether you're planning a getaway or dreaming of your next adventure, we've got you covered. Tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube—your next journey starts here! ✈️🌍

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