Gather and Go with Brian Jewell

The Group Travel Leader Inc
  • 5.0 (18)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Semiweekly

Gather and Go makes you a more successful group travel pro. Whether you own a thriving tour company or are just starting on your group travel journey, this is the travel podcast you can’t afford to miss. Every two weeks, veteran group travel journalist Brian Jewell interviews tourism innovators, experts and thought leaders who share insights to help you grow your group travel program — and your profits. Plus, you’ll also get tourism news you won’t hear anywhere else, along with clever travel hacks and hot takes on the biggest issues facing group travel planners every day.

  1. May 20

    MAKEOVER: A New Way to Teach Tourism

    Does tourism education have a serious problem? Stephen Ekstrom believes it does: Too often, tourism professionals sit through workshops, webinars and conference sessions that leave them with information — but no meaningful transformation. After years working in tourism sales and destination development, Stephen co-founded Learn Tourism, a nonprofit educational platform designed to make tourism education more engaging, accessible and transformational. He joins this episode of the podcast alongside Dee Kansiime, a tourism professional from Uganda whose own career journey reflects the power education can have to change lives and communities. Stephen and Dee discuss why traditional tourism education often falls short, how accessible learning can empower tourism professionals around the world ,and why stronger education may even help destinations address issues like overtourism and community tension. Plus, we have news about a major lawsuit involving New York City’s controversial motorcoach policies and a Hot Minute about whether tourism is too often harmed by bad government decisions. Insights from Stephen Stephen and Dee had a lot of thoughtful perspective on the future of tourism education and the importance of creating learning experiences that actually change people. Here’s what Stephen had to say about what’s missing from traditional tourism education: “You could sit through a workshop, but there was nothing that you could do with the information that you received. You were simply talked at. So you might have some knowledge, but there’s no change in who you are, your behavior or the work that you get to do because of it. “The second piece that most were missing was engagement. Somebody talking at you, or that webinar that plays in the background — people weren’t actively participating in their own learning experiences. And a huge part of learning is self-discovery.” Plus, they had great perspectives on: Why tourism education needs more engagement and accessibility How education can help uplift communities in developing countries Why transferable skills matter more than job titles in tourism careers Resources Mentioned in This Episode Follow Learn Tourism on LinkedIn. Discover more about Learn Tourism at learntourism.org. Learn how to get involved with high-end group travel at selecttraveler.com/start. Key Moments From This Episode 1:17 — Travel News: American Bus Association sues New York City 2:39 — News From Us: An amazing resource for high-end group travel planners 8:43 — How Stephen Ekstrom found his calling in tourism education 11:35 — Why traditional tourism education is broken 14:13 — How accessible education empowers global tourism communities 17:28 — Does better education solve overtourism issues? 20:25 — Tourism challenges in the developing world 23:55 — Charting a career future in tourism 32:18 — Learn Tourism’s resources for tourism entrepreneurs 49:10 — Hot Minute: Is tourism always the victim of bad government? Watch the Full Interview See the full interview with Jan on our YouTube channel. About the Podcast Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly. You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.

    53 min

  2. May 6

    Surprise! Hotels Are Cheaper Than You Think

    Are hotel rooms more expensive than they used to be? Jan Freitag’s answer may surprise you. As the national director of hospitality analytics at CoStar Group, Jan has been studying hotel pricing trends for years. And he believes that in many places, hotels are more of a bargain today than they were in 2019. Jan joins this episode of the podcast to help us make sense of the mystifying world of hotel pricing. He explains how inflation, demand and labor pressures shape the rates you pay when you stay, shares his forecast for hotel pricing for the rest of 2027, and gives some tips for how you can score great hotel values for your tour groups. Plus, we have news about travel company closures at home and abroad and Brian’s reflections about when and how to wind down a travel enterprise. Insights from Jan Jan brought a data-rich perspective on the hotel business that helped illuminate the current pricing environment. Here’s what he had to say about the perceived high prices of hotels today: “They may feel expensive; the reality is the price increases in the hotel industry have actually not kept track with the inflation rate. So when you go back to 2019, you see that today’s rates are roughly 22% higher than they were then, which may sound like a lot. But CPI, the consumer price index, went up 25%. So in what economists call real terms, room rates today are actually cheaper than they were pre-pandemic.” Plus, he had great perspectives on: How demand impacts hotel pricing How the Canadian inbound dip is impacting the American hotel market Why luxury travel continues to skyrocket Resources Mentioned in This Episode Follow Jan Freitag on LinkedIn. Learn more about CoStar Group and find “Tell Me More: A Hospitality Data Podcast” at costargroup.com. Learn how to improve your group travel program with our Group Travel Essentials series. Key Moments From This Episode 1:19 — Travel News: Travel company closures at home and abroad 2:45 — News From Us: Essential education for group travel planners 6:41 — Hotels aren’t as expensive as they seem 9:07 — How hoteliers handle inflation 10:18 — The factors driving hotel prices up 13:53 — Is immigration policy impacting hotel staffing? 15:52 — Forecasting hotel trends for 2026 and beyond 17:21 — Surprising ways demand is affecting hotel prices 21:45 — The stratospheric rise of luxury travel 23:24 — Is the Canadian inbound slump impacting room rates? 25:53 — How to find hotel savings for tour groups 29:32 — How COVID disrupted the hotel renovation cycle 34:00 — Are hotels any cheaper abroad? 47:06 — Brian’s thoughts on when (and how) to close your travel company Watch the Full Interview See the full interview with Jan on our YouTube channel. About the Podcast Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly. You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.

    56 min

  3. Apr 29

    BONUS: Courage That Changed History

    The bravery in Birmingham inspired the word — and eventually changed history. Birmingham, Alabama, was ground zero for much of the planning, protesting and other activities that were critical to the Civil Rights Movement. On this special bonus edition of Gather and Go, we’re sharing an episode of the Alabama Civil Rights Trail Podcast that tells the stories of Fred Shuttlesworth, Martin Luther King Jr., hundreds of student activists and how their courage continues to resonate today. This episode is brought to you by the Alabama Tourism Department. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Hear more of the Alabama Civil Rights Trail Podcast and learn more about visiting Alabama’s Civil Rights sites at alabama.travel/civilrights. About the Podcast Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly. You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.

    26 min

  4. Apr 22

    100 Episodes of Your Favorite Podcast

    Gather & Go is turning 100! No, not 100 years old, of course. But this episode marks the 100th of your favorite travel podcast — and we’re celebrating in a creative way. On this special episode, guest host Erik Young puts Brian in the hot seat and interviews him about the origins of Gather & Go, the process of producing an episode, his favorite guests and more. Plus, we have news about rising hotel taxes in Chicago and bunch of amazing FAM and travel opportunities in the U.S. and around the world. Celebrating with Behind the Scenes Details For this special 100th episode celebration, Brian shares lots of behind-the-scenes details about the show, plus some secret confessions he has never revealed before. When you listen, you’ll learn what childhood hobbies led Brian into podcasting, what he loves (and dreads) about making each episode, his thoughts on whether you should start a podcast for your company, and honest reflections about some of his favorite episodes. Brian also participates in his infamous end-of-interview questionnaire — and finds the answers even more difficult than he expected. Plus, we’re pulling back the curtain on: Where we finds podcast guests How you can be on the show Our biggest takeaways from 100 episodes Resources Mentioned in This Episode Find Group Collect: The Podcast at groupcollect.com/groupcollect-the-podcast. Apply for a spot on our Kentucky student FAM at grouptravelleader.com/ky-fam. Apply to join our Savannah FAM at grouptravelleader.com/savannah-fam. Apply for Collette’s VIP Travel Opportunity in Japan or Spain at grouptravelleader.com/2026-collette-ride-along. Learn more about our upcoming travel opportunities at grouptravelleader.com/fams. Key Moments From This Episode 2:49 — Travel News: Chicago’s increasing hotel tax 4:15 — News From Us: FAM travel opportunities 9:31 — Brian’s thoughts on reaching 100 episodes of Gather & Go 11:12 — The ideas that sparked the podcast 13:03 — Is the Route 66 traveler aging out of the marketplace? 15:40 — How we make an episode of Gather & Go 21:25 — Where do we find podcast guests? 25:27 — How Brian prepares for podcast interviews 28:44 — Our favorite podcast guests so far 32:00 — Should you start your own podcast? 36:56 — How to be a guest on Gather & Go 39:10 — What Brian has learned from 100 episodes Watch the Full Interview See the full interview with Brian and Erik on our YouTube channel. About the Podcast Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly. You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.

    56 min

  5. Apr 8

    DRIVEN: The Tour Op Finding Success on Route 66

    Is traveling Route 66 the best way to discover the heart and soul of America. Austin Coop believes it is. A longtime road-tripper turned group travel professional, he has guided of groups and and down the Mother Road — and created an innovative Route 66 tour experience that travelers of all ages love. Austin joins this episode to share why Route 66 is still an American treasure 100 years after its founding. He explains how the highway showcases the best of Americana and gives inside tips about how tour groups can get the most out of their Route 66 trips. Plus, we have news about a novel idea for an upcoming presidential library and a Hot Minute about whether fuel surcharges are robbing you blind. Insights from Austin Austin had a lot of insight about why Route 66 road trips still resonate with groups. Here’s what he had to say about the advantages of seeing America from the Mother Road: “I tell everyone on my trips to take just one picture each day — one simple shot of whatever they see out the window. When you swipe through those photos after thirteen days, you can really see the transition: cornfields, the Ozarks, open flatlands, and then, suddenly, you’re crossing into New Mexico and Arizona. It’s not the most scenic drive in America…. But there’s no other road that tells the story quite like it does. It gives you a powerful snapshot of the country.”” Plus, he had great perspectives on: Taking risks on new travel concepts Using tours to build meaningful relationships Creating unforgettable moments for tour groups Resources Mentioned in This Episode Learn more about 2 Lane America at 2laneamerica.com. Follow 2 Lane America on Facebook or Instagram. Contact Austin Coop at austin@2laneamerica.com. Apply for the Collette travel opportunities at grouptravelleader.com/collette. Key Moments From This Episode 2:01 — Travel News: A hotel at the Trump Presidential Library? 3:10 — News From Us: Explore Spain or Japan as a Collette VIP 7:12 — How childhood experiences led Austin Coop to a career on Route 66 9:56 — Why Route 66 is still popular 100 years later 13:03 — Is the Route 66 traveler aging out of the marketplace? 15:01 — Route 66 highlights 19:27 — Navigating Route 66’s missing pieces 21:26 — Traveling Route 66 in a motorcoach 22:51 — Car caravans: A new paradigm in group travel 27:13 — What it’s like to drive Route 66 with a car group 30:29 — Creating group bonds on car caravan trips 33:53 — Unforgettable group experiences on Route 66 46:02 — Hot Minute: Are fuel surcharges a rip-off? Watch the Full Interview See the full interview with Austin on our YouTube channel. About the Podcast Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly. You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.

    50 min

  6. Mar 18

    Do You Know How to Lead Your Gen Z Team?

    Gen Z team members could be your greatest asset — but only if you know how to lead them. Andrea Mata has been working with Gen Z for more than a decade, and she knows what makes them tick. As a clinical psychologist, she has learned what makes Gen Z different than previous young professionals and how workplace leaders can set them up for success. Andrea joins this episode of the podcast to discuss how tourism entrepreneurs can work with Gen Z team members to build positive relationships and profitable businesses. She shares what really motivates these young people and the hidden superpowers they might bring to your travel team. Plus, we have news about tour companies resuming trips to the Middle East and a Hot Minute about how your competitors are beating you in the marketplace. Insights from Andrea Andrea had a lot of great perspective about what it takes to lead Gen Z to productivity and satisfaction. Here’s what she had to say about how to lead them with clarity and kindness: “You want to set high expectations, but then you want to pair that with high support. And so you want to be very, very clear and communicate what those expectations are…. You want to have smart goals laid out for them and you want to be communicating with them on a regular basis. Get rid of one year evaluations and move towards twelve week evaluations.” Plus, she had great perspectives on: How common mental health challenges are for Gen Z Why clear values and vision are critical for retaining Gen Z employees How Gen Z workers fit into multigenerational teams Resources Mentioned in This Episode Learn more Andrea Mata at andreadmata.com. Follow Andrea Mata on LinkedIn. Level up your group travel game with free resources at grouptravelleader.com/start. Key Moments From This Episode 1:34 — Travel News: Tour companies are returning to the Middle East 2:56 — News From Us: The best free resource for new tourism pros 8:01 — How Andrea Mata knew Gen Z was in trouble 11:04 — How widespread are Gen Z’s problems? 18:00 — How Gen Z is progressing in the workplace 19:12 — Tips for leading Gen Z travel pros 21:53 — Why purpose is critical for Gen Z job satisfaction 24:37 — Leading Gen Z in multigenerational teams 29:05 — Is Gen Z bringing its mental health problems to work? 31:12 — Are work leaders surrogate parents for Gen Z? 33:54 — Gen Z’s workplace superpowers 46:32 — Hot Minute: How your competitors are beating you Watch the Full Interview See the full interview with Andrea on our YouTube channel. About the Podcast Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly. You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.

    51 min

  7. Mar 4

    Native Tourism: Warm Welcomes and Tough Topics

    Dawnielle Tehama wants you to know her story. Like many Indigenous people throughout North America, Dawnielle is proud of where she comes from. And as an educator and advocate in the travel industry, as well as an enrolled Modoc citizen of the Klamath Tribes, she believes that sharing Native stories through tourism can be transformational for communities and visitors alike. Dawnielle joins this episode of the podcast to discuss how groups can discover the diversity and riches of America’s Native communities — and do so in meaningful, respectful ways. She shares stories about how food can be a gateway to cultural encounters and speaks honestly about confronting difficult topics in travel. Plus, we have news about a cruise line’s dress code change and a heartfelt message for everyone in tourism who has been impacted by recent conflict and violence. Insights from Dawnielle Tehama Dawnielle had a lot of great perspective on how travel planners can find meaningful experiences with Native communities. Here’s what she had to say about the importance of authenticity: “We’re tasked with trying to help the traveler identify how to have a culturally authentic, non-performative experience. We don’t want to just say, ‘Hey, put on this costume and do this thing for a group’ when it’s actually regalia and it’s something that’s very near and dear to us. And often there’s a story, there’s ceremony, there’s a purpose for everything that we’re doing.” Plus, she had great perspectives on: How tourism can uplift Indigenous communities How to make sure your visit makes a positive economic impact Finding the best sources of information and expertise in Native areas Resources Mentioned in This Episode Learn more about the American Indigenous Tourism Association at americanindigenoustourism.org and discover the association’s map and other resources at destinationnativeamerica.com. Follow Dawnielle Tehama on LinkedIn. Browse our collection of over 250 group tour itineraries at grouptravelleader.com/itinerary-listings. Key Moments From This Episode 1:39 — Travel News: Norwegian changes its dining dress code 2:55 — Road Tip: A one-touch tool for creating travel videos 6:59 — News From Us: The world’s best itinerary collection 12:03 — The wide world of Indigenous travel experiences 15:34 — Finding authentic encounters with Native communities 19:00 — The best sources for info on visiting Native groups 20:40 — Encountering Indigenous cultures through food 26:20 — Dealing with dark moments in Native history 33:00 — How tourism can uplift Indigenous communities 35:40 — Contributing economically to Native artists and entrepreneurs 51:48 — A heartfelt message to tourism’s hurting community Watch the Full Interview See the full interview with Dawnielle on our YouTube channel. Thanks to our sponsor Louisville Tourism for making this episode possible. Learn more about group travel to the Bourbon City at gotolouisville.com/travel-professionals. About the Podcast Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly. You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.

    59 min

  8. Feb 18

    Is Self-Doubt Sinking Your Travel Biz?

    If you have ever suffered from imposter syndrome, you’re not alone. Stacey Cabell has been there too — and it almost stopped her from launching her successful travel business. A former high school dropout, she had overcome her own self-doubt to find her way to winning. And now she’s helping other tourism professionals do the same. Stacey joins this episode of the podcast to discuss the many negative thoughts and self-defeating mindsets that hold travel pros back. She tells her own story of dealing with imposter syndrome and shares insights on managing risk without succumbing to fear. Plus, we have news about a drop in transatlantic air traffic and a Hot Minute about whether the travel industry is a good fit for young parents. Insights from Stacey Cabell Stacey had a lot of hard-won insights on how doubt and negativity impact a travel seller’s work. Here’s what she had to say about dealing with imposter syndrome: “The imposter syndrome never goes away. There’s not a pill for it that you can take. I’ve been lucky enough over the last few years is to learn exercises that help bring me back to say, hey, that’s imposter syndrome. Don’t listen to it.” Plus, she had great perspectives on: Different marketing strategies for different market segments What role AI can — and can’t — play in a sales pipeline Keeping your pipeline flowing when you’re busy with other things Resources Mentioned in This Episode Follow Stacey Cabell online and learn about her courses and coaching at staceycabell.com. Join Stacey Cabell’s Book Club on Facebook. Apply to attend our OnSite FAM tour in Kentucky at grouptravelleader.com/mb-fam. Key Moments From This Episode 1:07 — Travel News: Transatlantic air travel is on the decline 2:27 — News From Us: Join us for a student travel FAM in Kentucky 6:33 — From high-school dropout to successful travel entrepreneur 9:25 — The value of travel industry training 11:56 — Why Stacey Cabell took a chance on a friend — and herself 14:26 — How imposter syndrome haunts travel pros 19:06 — Managing fear and financial risk in group travel 22:54 — Is mindset training woo-woo nonsense? 25:20 — Mindset resources for travel pros on a budget 42:39 — Hot Minute: Is there a place for young parents in travel? Watch the Full Interview See the full interview with Stacey on our YouTube channel. About the Podcast Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly. You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.

    47 min
See All (104)

5
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Gather and Go makes you a more successful group travel pro. Whether you own a thriving tour company or are just starting on your group travel journey, this is the travel podcast you can’t afford to miss. Every two weeks, veteran group travel journalist Brian Jewell interviews tourism innovators, experts and thought leaders who share insights to help you grow your group travel program — and your profits. Plus, you’ll also get tourism news you won’t hear anywhere else, along with clever travel hacks and hot takes on the biggest issues facing group travel planners every day.

Information

  • Creator
    The Group Travel Leader Inc
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    104
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022 The Group Travel Leader Inc.
  • Show Website
    Gather and Go with Brian Jewell

You Might Also Like