In this episode, we meet Tristan Dowell, Global Vice President of Luxury, Lifestyle & Leisure for Hyatt Hotels Corporation.

Tristan highlights the company's expansion through acquisitions and the development of new brands and properties.

Dowell also introduces Hyatt Privé, an invitation-only program for luxury travel advisors, and discusses the company's commitment to sustainability through its World of Care initiative.

During the conversation, Tristan discusses the resilience of the travel industry and the creativity that emerged during the pandemic. He emphasizes the importance of keeping the conversation and engagement with the industry alive, sharing ideas and experiences. He also highlights trends he's seeing across the industry, including the focus on well-being, the demand for villas and suites, the connection to nature and communities, and the importance of culinary experiences.

He mentions the Miraval brand and its transformational well-being experiences. Dowell concludes by sharing his favourite travel experiences and destinations.

Useful Links:

• Tristan's favourite Hyatt hotels are Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt Buenos Aires and Park Hyatt Tokyo.

• His favourite non-Hyatt hotel is The Datai in Langkawi

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Background
• 03:03 The Growth of Hyatt
• 08:56 Tristan's Passion for Travel
• 12:38 Hyatt's Expansion and New Openings
• 26:26 Sustainability and the World of Care Initiative
• 33:52 The Post-COVID Bounce Back in the Travel Industry
• 40:18 Trends in the Travel Industry: Well-being, Villas, and Culinary Experiences
• 43:08 The Miraval Brand and Transformational Well-being
• 50:23 Tristan's favourite Travel Experiences and Destinations including Buenos Aires, Rome, Chicago, and Manchester

Keywords

Tristan Dowell, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, luxury travel, acquisitions, brands, properties, Hyatt Privé, sustainability, World of Care, post-COVID, bounce back, resilience, creativity, engagement, trends, well-being, villas, suites, nature, communities, culinary experiences, Miraval brand, travel experiences, destinations

In this episode, we meet Patrick Monney of Travelquest.

Patrick and his business partner Hector focus on designing trips to unique and lesser-known destinations, such as Morocco, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Algeria. They explore these places themselves to add a personal touch to their recommendations.

Patrick's background as a journalist and dentist gives him a unique perspective on travel. Post-COVID, Patrick explains that people are eager to travel but often prefer familiar destinations. He encourages clients to explore off-the-beaten-path locations and offers personalized trip designs to help.

You can find Patrick on LinkedIn or Instagram and visit his company website at https://travelquest.com.mx/.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Background of TravelQuest
• 01:10 Focus on Unique and Off-the-Beaten-Path Destinations
• 03:20 Differentiating TravelQuest's Offerings
• 06:33 Working with Travel Agents and Designing Customized Trips
• 09:11 Post-COVID Travel Demand and Popular Destinations
• 11:26 Memorable Trips and Undiscovered Gems
• 13:31 Market Recovery and Travel Trends
• 20:28 Attracting Attention from Hotels and Suppliers
• 24:38 Patrick's Perfect Vacation and Relaxation
• 27:34 Contacting Patrick and TravelQuest

In this episode, we meet Jorge Franz, SVP of Tourism and Industry Relations at Houston First.

Jorge gives us an overview of Houston First and its role as the destination marketing organization for Houston. He also shares his own background and how he got into the tourism industry.

We then asked Jorge to highlight the diverse offerings of Houston, including Space Center Houston, the Museum District, and the culinary scene.

He emphasizes Houston's commitment to providing unique and memorable experiences for VIP travellers and offers insider tips, such as visiting the Cistern and enjoying authentic cowboy meals.

George also discusses Houston's medical tourism and the city's efforts to highlight African-American history and culture. He finishes by inviting travel buyers to consider Houston as a new destination and emphasizes the importance of the travel industry to the city.

Takeaways

• Houston First is the destination marketing organization for Houston, promoting the city as a great place to visit.
• Houston offers diverse attractions, including Space Center Houston, the Museum District with its 19 institutions, and a vibrant culinary scene.
• Houston provides unique and memorable experiences for VIP travellers, such as behind-the-scenes tours at Space Center Houston and authentic cowboy meals.
• The city is a hub for medical tourism, with world-class institutions offering executive medical checkups and specialized departments for international patients.
• Houston is committed to highlighting African-American history and culture, offering signature experiences that explore the city's African-American heritage.
• Travel buyers can reach out to Houston First for support in creating itineraries, accessing unique experiences, and connecting with decision-makers in the industry.

Reach out to Jorge and his team at Houston First. You can find Jorge on LinkedIn here.

Keywords

Jorge Franz, Houston, Houston First, destination marketing organization, tourism, Space Center Houston, Museum District, culinary scene, VIP experiences, insider tips, medical tourism, African-American history, travel industry

Chapters

• 00:12 Overview of Houston First
• 06:39 Houston's Attractions: Space Center Houston and the Museum District
• 09:51 Houston's Culinary Scene
• 13:02 Personalized Services for Travel Buyers
• 17:11 Memorable Experiences: George Ranch Historical Park and Houston Signature Experiences
• 19:48 Insider Tips: The Cistern, Hilton Americas View, and Houston's Shopping District
• 21:34 Undiscovered Gem: Taipei, Taiwan
• 24:25 Favourite Hotel: Four Seasons in Doha
• 30:49 Favorite City: Barcelona
• 31:14 Perfect Vacation: Adventuring with Family in Singapore and Taiwan
• 32:52 Houston as a New Destination