Say Yes To Travel

MarketScale
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Marketing

Driven by consumer desires for new experiences, innovative technologies and environmental impacts – travel is changing. Host Sarah Dandashy explores the technologies and logistics that power travel and the brands that build unforgettable experiences.

  1. 12/22/2021 ·  Video

    Streamlining the Process Behind Solving Lost and Found Issues

    Steve Sinclair appeared on “Say Yes to Travel” to discuss with host Sarah Dandashy an aspect of traveling that many people might not consider: lost and found. Everyone has had to deal with losing something somewhere at some point while on a trip, and Sinclair’s company, Bounte, helps reunite people with lost… well, bounty. The journey for Sinclair began when he was vacationing with his family and his young son’s blankets were lost at a hotel. The blankets were, mercifully, found, but the ensuing hassle and confusion chain-of-command to get them mailed and returned was too complicated. Sinclair saw a missing link in an industry. Inquring on how the hotel staff was keeping up with these kinds of issues, he discovered it was all down to “Excel and post-it notes.” “The guest experience is so critical, you got to get the technology right to deliver that guest experience,” said Sinclair. Dandashy pointed out the importance of a company like Bounte, since oftentimes “the lost and found process” is often “only as good as the person on the phone.” Sinclair deconstructed the issue into three pieces. The first point is logging, which Bounte has a simple picture-method where whomever sees an item can simply log it by taking a picture with a phone that is then captured into a company’s cloud. The item is also automatically recognized and labeled. This leads to the second problem: searching capabilities. Many places don’t even know what’s in their lost and found. They always have to go back and search. “You’re basically fumbling the ball right in front of the guest,” said Sinclair. “We have a system so that you can go and search through it really quickly.” The third issue Sinclair found is returning items. Oftentimes, this can be a nightmare. With Bounte, the guest is able to use an online system to check out and choose a shipping option, just like they would be able to do when ordering from a retailer like Amazon. When it comes to having places like hotels choose a company like Bounte to help streamline their lost and found needs, Sinclair stresses that “not making a decision about technology is making a decision about technology.”

  2. 12/14/2021 ·  Video

    Travel Restrictions Have Been Lifted, Will Medical Tourism Continue to Thrive

    Why is a nurse being featured on the Say Yes to Travel podcast? Well, Kelly Greytok, RN concierge nurse specializing in plastic surgery recovery, started out as a golf course coordinator straight out of college and then became a nurse. Greytok explained to Host Sarah Dandashy that she combined her love for travel with nursing by helping plastic surgery patients recover in hotels. She proudly maintains the motto of “exceeding the expectations of every guest every time.” However, as one can imagine, the pandemic made Greytok’s job a little tricky with traveling and elective plastic surgeries nearly coming to a halt. Alternatively, plastic surgeons pivoted and adapted quickly, like hosting Zoom consultation sessions, and Greytok is ecstatic to see that change lasting. Just in the U.S. this year alone, surgeons performed 15.6M cosmetic and almost 6M reconstructive surgeries, even with COVID-19 regulations. Greytok has noticed an increase in surgeries above the neck and believes it’s largely due to looking at oneself so frequently on Zoom meetings. Greytok added that patients desire a seamless experience and the most qualified doctors since there is a hefty price tag associated with plastic surgery. “More than ever, especially since the pandemic, people want safety, they want comfort, and they want connection,” explained Greytok. “And so I’m finding that instead of being at a house with all the other people and the crossover of nurses, they want to be in a private, luxurious hotel room… they want the privacy, and they want the great experience on their own terms.” Interested in more information and tips on plastic surgery caregiving? Subscribe to the channel and check out Greytok’s website for bookings, videos, checklists and other resources.

  3. 12/02/2021 ·  Video

    Say Yes To Travel Karen Bussen

    Celebrating stories of love in beautiful locations sounds like a dream job, and it is for Karen Bussen, the exclusive designer for Weddings by Palladium. Bussen joined Say Yes to Travel host Sarah Dandashy to talk about her experience and what’s trending for destination weddings in 2022. Bussen’s roots are in the hospitality industry, and that’s where her journey to wedding planner extraordinaire began. “I was working at a restaurant in New York City, and a couple loved the floral arrangement I did and asked to help with their wedding. From here, I was hooked.” Bussen learned on the job, making early morning trips to the city’s floral market. Over time, she did more than just design, helping couples plan their special day. She then joined the Palladium Group. “We had the same commitment to quality and service, and it was an opportunity to deliver an experience to couples across the world,” she said. Now, she helps brides and grooms create their dream wedding days at Palladium resorts in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. “Each resort has its own personality. The Riviera Maya is lush and natural. In Jamaica, the backdrop is the turquoise waters. The essence of the place is part of every celebration,” Bussen shared. In talking trends for 2022, Bussen mentioned that since many couples had postponed their nuptials, they're going all out. “They are adding on events and experiences like welcome parties at the beach or farewell brunches.” Another trend Bussen noted is couples wanting to incorporate the culture of the location into their festivities. “They want to integrate the flavors of the place in authentic ways. At Riviera Maya, there’s a shaman experience where they issue a blessing, which ties back to Mayan culture.”

  4. 12/01/2021 ·  Video

    Supporting Hospitality from the Inside Out

    The hospitality industry continues to evolve, and the people behind it do so, too. Joining Sarah Dandashy on Say Yes to Travel was Dan Ryan, Co-Founder of Agency 967. Ryan is a lifelong entrepreneur, industry expert, and host of the podcast Defining Hospitality. After falling in love with hospitality, Ryan spent 20 years selling and sourcing custom furniture and fixtures for hotels. Managing all aspects of it became chaotic, so he founded Agency 967 to be an intermediary. “I needed to simplify everything and work with the best in category companies, so I can shorten everyone’s journey. I’m a connector between brands and hotel designers.” Ryan used those words “shortening the journey” throughout the show and are huge for his personal brand and agency. He took on new ways to do this during the pandemic, starting Blue Canary, a cleaning training platform for hospitality. “We created a culture of safety,” he added. Ryan also started his podcast, which he was excited to do because of his natural curiosity. “It’s called Defining Hospitality because it means something different to everyone, and it even made me rethink what hospitality is.” Ryan and Dandashy also discussed trends. “Smaller rooms are here to stay. The mature hospitality industry has much to learn from Airbnb. They can equally inform each other.” On the minds of hospitality leaders, Ryan said, “The hiring crisis was a problem before and is now a serious structural issue. What work looks like after the pandemic will impact both business and personal travel.”

  5. 11/25/2021 ·  Bonus

    Say Yes To Thanksgiving

    Say Yes To Travel

  6. 11/25/2021 ·  Bonus Video

    Thanksgiving Travel Finally Sees a Rebound, Only 3% Behind 2019 Levels

    While travel is ramping up this year compared to 2021’s holiday season, it is doing so to a much greater extent than anyone had anticipated. Host Sarah Dandashy from Marketscale’s podcast Say Yes to Travel shared, “AAA projects that more than 53.4 million people with travel this Thanksgiving.” Surprisingly, she added that “This is just 3 percent shy of pre-pandemic levels.” If you are planning on traveling this Thanksgiving, Dandashy noted that the best time to leave and return home is before 11 AM on Friday or Saturday and before 12 PM on Sunday. These tend to be the best times to avoid traffic jams, as traffic is projected to be about 40 percent higher nationwide this year. Even the TSA has been noticing this trend. On November 19, they recorded the busiest day since the start of pandemic, screening over 2.2 million passengers. Another industry experiencing the impact of the rise in travel is hospitality. There is still a hiring struggle for this industry, especially within businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and airlines. Dandashy’s tip: Be mindful and appreciative of your staff if you are in this industry. She added that it is important “even more so this year just given those circumstances with those long hours not as many people working so those people are feeling overlooked and overworked. So whatever you can do to show that appreciation and be mindful for the employees you do have will go a long, long way.” Dandashy expressed her appreciation for all podcast guests and clients and added that there will be a few more episodes of Say Yes to Travel the remainder of the year featuring some phenomenal guests. As always, continue to say, “yes” to travel

  7. 11/23/2021 ·  Video

    27% of Consumers Are Stuck in the Loyalty Program Dark Ages. Can Hospitality Brands Get Them More Engaged?

    In this episode of Say Yes to Travel, Host Sarah Dandashy invited John Wolfe, CEO of House Advantage on the show. The two discuss Wolfes’ background in the gaming industry,  his move to owning businesses that center on consumer loyalty and understanding consumers’ habits.  They later dive into the importance of using the current pandemic-associated challenges to see the opportunities for growth and new ways of doing things. Wolfe says the data they collect in how people make buying decisions and understand consumer habits is essential in loyalty. But also, so is the security of that data. In establishing a cyber-security company, Wolfe says, “if our whole lives are immersed in technology as it has been during the pandemic,” cyber-security is a safe counter bet. “People wake up every day in other countries and spend their entire day looking for ways to plunder companies wealth.” Wolfe doesn’t consider his work as a job but an extension of his passions and lifestyle. “I tend to invest, build where I live and spend all my time.” Wolfe attributes the success of his companies to viewing things from a consumer-first attitude and mentality. Wolfe admits that “My companies don’t look related, but understanding lifestyle consumer habits, data, the laws around protecting data and the technology of protecting that data all fit.” Wolfe said there wasn’t a science in how things came together but more of seeing opportunities and going after solutions to needs. " We look for things we have to offer during the shutdowns and challenges.” For example, Wolfe developed a new home unit called Hack Trap. With internet lifestyle technology connected to appliances, cameras, and monitors at home, they saw a need for home data protection. “With people working from home, and all of the technology, there was a convergence of needs that we’ve met,” says Wolfe. It’s essential to embrace new areas as a business. Wolfe believes, “There isn’t a concern that doesn’t have an opportunity tied to it. If you look at it the right way, you can exploit an opportunity. I’ve never seen a problem that doesn’t have an opportunity.”

  8. 11/18/2021 ·  Video

    Is the Hotel of the Future Based on Digital Asssets?

    The pandemic pushed the hospitality industry to the brink. However, crisis often breeds innovation and creativity. So, what’s next for the hotel ecosystem? Brian Esposito, CEO of Esposito Intellectual Enterprises, is developing a new cryptocurrency-focused hotel concept. He joined Say Yes to Travel host Sarah Dandashy to discuss it. Esposito’s holding company includes 75 entities operating in over 25 different industries, two of those being hospitality and crypto. He founded his company to build a world as he sees it and wants to contribute to it. “I want to add value, connect the dots, and enhance the guest experience.” Esposito noted that several areas of hospitality are booming post-pandemic, including private aviation and wellness travel. He said that it’s an exciting time and the perfect one to do something completely different. “I’m working on a new hotel concept with digital assets. Properties are at a discount now, and this could be a source of new profitability when the currency is crypto,” Esposito said. Travelers may spend more in digital currency but need a space to do that. Reinventing the traditional hotel infrastructure is part of the concept. “It would likely include private residencies for the crypto community. But it’s bringing this abstract concept into a familiar environment.” Another idea for these hotels is to remove the ballroom and replace it with a digital exchange floor. “Ballrooms are a burden and often bleeding money. The model would be to create a crypto exchange trading floor. It’s using an institutional model people know to introduce something new so people will want to get involved,” Esposito shared.

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About

Driven by consumer desires for new experiences, innovative technologies and environmental impacts – travel is changing. Host Sarah Dandashy explores the technologies and logistics that power travel and the brands that build unforgettable experiences.

Information

  • Creator
    MarketScale
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2021
  • Episodes
    98
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Say Yes To Travel