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The new era of outdoor resort features are bigger and more ambitious than a mere pool and a row of canvas-topped cabanas. There are waterslides; surf simulators; cabanas that look like living rooms; creative landscaping; and food and beverage from A-list chefs.

As hotels editor Chrisina Jelski explored in a cover story this summer, the pool-upgrade trend ties in several pandemic-era trends: Bleisure, family travel, outdoor vacations and spending more to upgrade their vacations. And of course, a resort's investment in waterpark upgrades can pay dividends in terms of increased rates and ancillary revenue. We talk about all this and more with Jelski and Michael Scioscia, the general manager of the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes.

This episode was recorded Sept. 22 and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Episode sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Air France/KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.biz

Related links

Resorts make a splash with waterparks https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Resorts-make-a-splash-with-waterparks

JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/mcojw-jw-marriott-orlando-grande-lakes/waterpark/

 
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The deadly earthquake that struck Morocco Sept. 8 had some serious repercussions for tourism, particularly as Morocco has become a popular place to visit. Last year more than 10 million tourists visited Morocco overall; at the time of the quake, for example, Intrepid Travel had more than 600 guests in the country.

In this episode, we go behind the scenes of Intrepid's decision-making strategy, with Intrepid CEO James Thornton, tours editor Nicole Edenedo and host Rebecca Tobin. What’s the communication strategy for an operator with guests on the ground? What’s the right way to render assistance? And then – when’s the right time to return, and how? And how does a company reassure travelers that it’s ok to visit (in this episode, Thornton says that Intrepid put a link for future travelers on its website’s home page, but since then, the link has been moved; the info can be found here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/travel-alerts

This episode was recorded Monday, Sept. 18 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Air France/KLM Royal Dutch Airlines: www.afkl.biz

Related reports:

Intrepid Travel: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/us

Intrepid’s Natalie Placko on how to support Morocco after the quake https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Natalie-Placko-Intrepid

Arnie Weissmann’s column: In Morocco, lives upended but goals remain https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/In-Morocco-lives-upended-but-goals-remain

Tour operators resuming Morocco trips https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Tour-operators-resume-Morocco-trips

New tours highlight Intrepid Travel’s partnership with Morocco tourism https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/New-Intrepid-Travel-Morocco-tours

 
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We’re back with new episodes of the Folo by Travel Weekly!

This past summer we’ve been serving up our “best of” episodes, so to catch our listeners up on the biggest trends of the past two months, our reporting team gathered together to talk about their biggest, most interesting and most popular articles that broke while we were on break.

At the end of the episode, reporters also talk about the trends they’re interested in covering this fall. Demand is part of the big picture, as well as sustainability, extreme travel and a few other trends that you’ll want to keep on your radar.

This podcast is hosted by Rebecca Tobin and features senior editors: Andrea Zelinski, Jamie Biesiada, Robert Silk, Nicole Edenedo and Christina Jelski.

This episode was recorded Sept. 14 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Air France-KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.com

Related links:

Advisors view Carnival Corp.'s reorganization favorably https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Travel-advisors-view-Carnival-reorg-favorably

It's another busy summer for Europe travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Insights/Sumer-travel-again-booming

Agents adjust trips as heat wilts Southern Europe: https://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/Record-heat-wilts-Southern-Europe

With the Northeast Alliance over, American shifts to Philly https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/American-Airlines-shifts-focus-Philadelphia

A visit to Maui, a month after the Lahaina fires: https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Aloha-and-welcoming-hospitality-for-visitors-on-Maui

Related podcast episodes:

Why don't people stop traveling https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/why-dont-people-stop-traveling

Why travel is going all-in on pickleball https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/Why-resorts-and-cruise-lines-are-going-all-in-on-pickleball

The sport of extreme sitting: Traveling to sit down https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/The-sport-of-extreme-sitting

 

 
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What do a young expat in Paris, the chain of White Lotus hotels, a wizard in England, a group of brunch-loving BFFs in New York and a certain iron throne all have in common? They’re all part of monster-hit movies and TV shows that have spawned wanderlust for travelers, a trend that appears to be accelerating perhaps due to the sheer volume of content available for streaming during the pandemic.

In this episode, senior editor Nicole Edenedo, Simon Hudson, a professor of tourism at the University of South Carolina and Lily Szemplinski, owner of Passport Stamps Travel, come together to discuss this trend and how movies and TV shows drive client bookings.

This episode is the last in our summer series featuring some of our most memorable recent episodes. This episode was initially published June 5, 2023, and has been edited for length and clarity.  

New episodes of the Folo start Monday, Sept. 18!

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.com

Related links:

Set Jetting puts the spotlight on destinations https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Set-jetting-puts-spotlight-on-destinations

The Folo podcast: Advisors talk about film-crew travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo/lights-camera-travel

From the archives: Tabloid tourism https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Tabloid-tourism

 
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For a long time we’ve suspected, due to strong anecdotal evidence, that more travel agencies than not were charging their clients for their services, much like professional service-oriented businesses do, like financial advisors, accountants or consultants. Earlier this year we put data to the trend. And the results might surprise you.

In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and retail editor Jamie Biesiada talk with Jamie Jones, the president of Whirlaway Travel, who will share her perspective. We’ll look at some of the many types of fees. And we’ll do a lightning-round-style response to some of the reasons why advisors don’t charge.

This episode is part of our summer series featuring some of our most memorable recent episodes. This episode was originally published April 24 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.biz

Related links:

Fees: by the numbers cover story https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Fees-by-the-numbers

 
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A surprising amenity that’s growing at certain luxury resorts around the world is not bath products, golf courses or thread counts. It’s chickens, goats, vegetables and orchards. And travelers are eager to tour and pitch in at these working farms, an area where foodie culture, wellness and outdoor life intersect.

In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and hospitality editor Christina Jelski dig in about resort farms, orchards and food-to-table operations with Kurt Bjorkman of the Ranch at Laguna Beach and Sarah Fazendin of Videre Travel.

This episode is part of our summer series featuring some of our most memorable recent episodes. This episode was originally published May 22 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor

This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations https://www.algvacations.com

Related links

Growing trend: Agricultural tourism https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Focus-on-Hotels-2023-Growing-trend-Agricultural-tourism

The Ranch at Laguna Beach https://www.theranchlb.com/

Videre Travel https://videretravel.com/
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