Travel Is Your Business

A fireside chat on innovation between representatives of two of the most forward thinking travel groups… Rashesh Jethi (SVP Engineering for Americas & Head of Innovation for Airlines for the world’s largest GDS, Amadeus) and Bess Chapman (Operating Principal for JetBlue Technology Ventures) discuss travel tech infrastructure, innovation, and possibilities at the Travel Disruption Summit presented by Voyager HQ, and sponsored by Amadeus and Fareportal. In this episode: What AI means for the travel industry How everything has changed with hyper-cheap hyper-computing Used to depend on massive investments for AI, and now it simply requires a lot of data and smart people How machine learning sit on top of that, what it means when airlines and other travel business starts really knowing customers Machine learning is one discipline of AI, and it means you feed computer data, makes sense of data, make more personalized recommendations, much potential in marketing How it is a challenge that many players are at d

All inclusive, authentic and immersive experiences in Tanzania… Justa Lujwangana, founder of Curious on Tanzania (unforgettable, immersive, transformative experiences in Tanzania curated and led by locals), joins John Matson and Bess Chapman in the MouthMedia  Network studios powered by Sennheiser. In this episode: Justa Lujwangana on being curious means search, dig deeper, not just a typical visit Putting together guest logistics Also an operator Impetus of company, out of her own curiosities about her homeland Africa offering lot of experiential marketing, like archeology, and big venue space bring South African experience alive Having a team across the world while working from NYC Giving back to local economy, building something sustainable Experiences such as ooking classes, dancing, meeting one of more than 120 tribes Zanzabar beach Marketing strategies Giraffe as a must-see animal Curious on Tanzania is run by proud Tanzanians working together who are committed to leading and creating comprehensive, t

Creative tactics and best business practices for hotels… Andrea Martinez, President of Boom Hospitality (a hospitality consultancy firm helping boutique hotels, independent hotels, and F&B operations, open, grow, or convert their businesses with the use of creative tactics and best business practices) joins John Matson and Bess Chapman in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser. In this episode: The crucial need to properly understand your market Boom Hospitality working mostly with boutique and out-of-the-box hotels Tech in modern hospitality is so important, but not every guest is the same, simplicity is important Mirrors with digital concierge, interactive maps, fun, equipped with things guests want and will use The need to only adapt tech in a way you can adapt The boutique traveler is looking for something very specific Martinez is living a dream job, started in non profits How we make development/construction more sustainable, less destructive on the environment and actually help the

Partnering with the No. 1 travel technology partner, Amadeus, dedicated to helping travel companies launch, grow and succeed… Kerri Zeil, Head of Amadeus for Startups, Online Travel Group, Amadeus North America, Inc. (the leading provider of IT solutions to the global tourism and travel industry — Amadeus for Startups provides technology, expertise and guidance to support travel startups throughout their journey) joins John Matson in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser. In this episode: Zeil reveals the substantial work Amadeus does in travel and understanding what startups need and what brands like Amadeus can do to help Globalizing the startup program, how Zeil is in charge of the Americas How Amadeus has a lot to offer, expertise, tech, info from customers already supported, how Amadeus can grow its own business through startups No specific business model is larger than the next Travel tech startups offer opportunities to scale and provide value Amadeus originally looked at the program n

Health food and wellness content for travelers… Corey Angelo, Founder/CEO of Wanderfuel (carefully curated, seasonally rotating boxes of organic products alongside lifestyle content that educates and supports well-being while traveling) joins John Matson and Bess Chapman in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser. In this episode: How wellness touches us at all times, taking care of yourself Educating people with a great content experience, and how it makes travel better Bringing together healthy snack and amenity kits in environmentally friendly packaging Wanderfuel‘s core ethos includes nourish, relax, detox Meditation, podcasts, intent to become like a Netflix-like safe list of things tailored for type and length of travel The biggest wellness snafu on the road and being disconnected from regular wellness routines, committing to rituals and practices each day Maintaining rituals on the road Something about being on the road where you let go of being healthiest — how do you get people to carr

Personalized photo postcards, greeting cards and cards created online and sent on the go from anywhere… Felix Wunderlich (Head of Business Development) and Greginald Spencer (Office Manager) of mypostcard.com (photos sent as postcards worldwide) join John Matson, Pavan Bahl, and Bess Chapman in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser. In this episode: When does one need to send a personalized postcard What should reaction be/feeling – happiness Physical interaction instead of digital, something tangible makes a real impact The text looks like real handwriting Process to use — download app, upload photo, the ability to have an envelope because of sensitive photos Participation in a German accelerator The app saves a lot of time Friction on the marketing side, looking at customer lifetime value Most customer acquisition via Google Adwords Growth efforts via universities, building awareness The ability to partner with major social platforms like Instagram Whether content changed that customers are

Designing customer experience in travel… Liliana Petrova, Director of Customer experience at JetBlue Airways, Visionary, Strategist, Customer Experience Professional and Blogger, joins John Matson, Bess Chapman, and Pavan Bahl in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser. In this episode: Liliana Petrova on designing for Experience is like a multi-phase cake What is movement, Technology design, how to achieve movement as fast and seamless as possible How people will feel about the brand and interactions Why the experience designer needs to be a vision thinker and can’t design in increments Facial recognition, and why with some brands it is like having a same experience like prison or the subway, and determining that will never happen like that with JetBlue as an experience Delight comes from the elements and when it works to one’s standards Designing experience is like being like a conductor of an orchestra Innovation is not building new things, but finding connections that didn’t exists before b

The world’s first influencer-driven discovery platform using social currency for travel… Gilad Goren, social entrepreneur and Founder of Raleigh&Drake, joins John Matson, Bess Chapman, and guest host Marc Raco in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser. In this episode: Gilad Goren on the future of content in the travel context, mix of personalization, instead of celebrity culture of past more local authentic voices and people who align with the travel in the way they view travel, ubiquitous and quality content throughout the journey Millennials rarely plan trips until on their way, dreaming and planning Raleigh&Drake is not setting new paradigm, instead reading the lines on how people plan their trips, helping with the tool for brands in travel space to adapt to how travelers view luxury Many people spend 45 hours on 45 websites when planning travel, but will ask friends on social media what they do and think Less than 25% trust recommendation sites, and Building a quilt of different s

Connecting travelers with local trip planners for custom itineraries to Iceland, Cuba, and Japan… Greg Buzulencia, Co-Founder/CEO of ViaHero (a marketplace for travelers to hire locals to plan their personalized trip), joins John Matson, Bess Chapman of JetBlue Technology Ventures, and Pavan Bahl (President, MouthMedia Network) in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser. In this episode: Bess Chapman [Episode 003] of JetBlue Technology Ventures (a venture capital spinoff of JetBlue Airways, keeping a pulse on tech innovation and driving deal flow through New York) joins the podcast as a host ViaHero works with locals telling people what they should be doing on a trip How, being a marketplace, ratings and reviews keeps people in check, whereas travel agents are beholden to commissions Cuba, Japan, and Colombia as countries in which Via Hero has presence Average user wants local knowledge, people who have tours or Travel Agent plan, they are there for service but want to be independent Algorithm m

Ecommerce and marketing solutions that reduce OTA reliance & increase bookings… Gaining ground in market share isn’t the only goal for hotels and hotel chains. Keeping it  — comes in at a close second. To do that in the current industry climate, many hotels must utilize specialized e-commerce solutions to make sure all online presence and marketing resources are maximizing market share opportunities. Fuel Travel, a premier hotel marketing agency, is offering just that — website design, custom hotel apps, and marketing solutions that reduce OTA reliance & increase bookings. Plus, its COO hosts a podcast which can add some “fuel” to a resort or hotel’s marketing strategy. And the one snack you have to try. Stuart Butler, COO of Fuel Travel and host of Fuel Hotel Marketing Podcast, joins John Matson and Pavan Bahl in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser.  In this episode:  How hotels can differentiate in the market  Following brand standards and following the flag is more challenging, an

Leasing long-term rentals and converting them into outstanding vacation homes which provide landlords higher income and eliminate vacancy risk with Vacayo… Isabel Berney (COO/Co-Founder) and Truth Oladapo (CEO/Co-Founder) of Vacayo join John Matson and guest host Jenny Silber (VoyagerHQ) in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser. In this episode: Examining the short term rental market, how much a revenue property can hold, developing a propriety pricing algorithm, scraping websites to see the highest earning potential of homes, and owners can earn at least 40% more at least with short term stays added into the mix instead of long-term leases How this is an arbitrage model, and the risk is potentially in any miscalculation in revenue-generating potential of a home — but with historic data, and the fact that the vacation market is growing, the risk appears to be low How the model is different and not just profit sharing, so some risk is involved Additional risks of a downturn in travel, a major s

Merchandising content platform for flight shopping… Robert Albert, CEO of Routehappy (the industry standard for airline rich content, acquired by ATPCO) joins John Matson and Nick Vivion in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser. In this episode: The most commonly desired amenity in travel: seat, then WiFi Selling a singular vision when pitching/building Routehappy How it is not actually all about price An entire ecommerce category that’s comeditized, we all about the experience from that moment on Explaining products and services customers are happier, and the industry does better How it was obvious to him that every customer needed this Why Albert feels it has felt like spreading a religion, every meeting is positive, but not necessarily a priority all the time It is an organic experience, brick by brick building the path forward for the company and the recognition of the need How the pace of building the company has helped them build it right, solving a complex problem, and why the company

Real-time explanation what and why happens and what to expect during your flight, and a tool for anxious flyers… One in three people experience anxiety when flying. Now there is an app that can help. Viktorina Lintsova, Managing Director of SkyGuru joins John Matson and Nick Vivion (tnooz) in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser. In this episode: The most anxious moments for flyers Pre-boarding, why the anxiety, anticipation and fear of the unknown The inspiration for SkyGuru, with the idea from a pilot and psychologist, who wanted something to be there and support people when he couldn’t be there with them Like having a pilot and psychologist in the seat next to you One in three people experiencing psychological discomfort, many altering plans due to psychological stresses Money left on table for airlines, why airlines haven’t addressed this Is a loss of cognitive function due to anxiety a safety issue? Freemium vs. pro versions, anxious passengers gravitate to the pro version, which support

Events, publications, education, and technology for the travel industry with Northstar… Tom Cintorino, EVP of Digital for Northstar Travel Media (the leading B2B information, business intelligence, commerce and events platform serving the travel industry) joins host John Matson in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser. In this episode: How Northstar’s team of outstanding editors, ground-breaking journalists, engaging educators and savvy directors is unrivaled in the Travel Industry In-depth articles explore the industry’s most critical issues Education platforms for travel agents and meetings planners about global travel destinations How events play a role in travel industry relationships, because we’re human and we need to meet, and how that concept is right in the center of travel The many publications of Northstar including Travel Weekly, Travel Weekly Asia, Travel Weekly China, TravelAge West Travel technology such as Phocuswright, Inntopia, Web in Travel Meetings & Conventions in the

Last minute travel subscription service, cheap tickets in exchange for a monthly fee… Rama Poola, CEO of SkyHi (the first on-demand service for commercial airline tickets.), joins John Matson and Nick Vivion (tnooz) in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser. In this episode: About SkyHi’s most interesting recent use case, with people using it to go to Sundance Film festival, one click and they were ready to fly to Salt Lake City How last minute travel is a bit of a business case Looking at how removing all pricing allows free flowing travel action How SkyHi wasn’t originally targeting corporate travelers, and was marketed toward digital nomads, but realized business people were joining How an experience in Lisbon created an idea for the business Why technology has been traditionally stifled in the travel industry The way SkyHi found a strategic partner out of Hungary who had done this before The business model of SkyHi OTAs seem to want to haggle for the business, they want the customer to buy,

Responsible travel & tourism with a group adventure travel operator… Eduardo Cartaya, Regional Sales Manager of G Adventures (G Adventures is a Toronto-based adventure travel company with a wide selection of small-group tours, safaris and expeditions) joins John Matson and Nick Vivion (tnooz) in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser. In this episode: Cartaya shares how the way constructing travel was going to a purpose, then G Adventures realized that was why people were traveling with them – because it was both affordable and immersive The impact made from altering the local supply chain, insisting on using locally owned business, immersive attractions, spending money more responsibly than other operators in the field How the company can make more money, make a difference simply by showing people a fantastic vacation Marketing/customer acquisition, going after the immersive travelers who want to do something exceptional and to give back as much as they take Trying to impact everyone that

An international network of co-living spaces… What does it mean to be location independent? Dane Andrews, Co-Founder and Head of Growth at Roam (a co-living and co-working community testing the boundaries between work, travel and life adventure) joins John Matson and Nick Vivion (tnooz) in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser. In this episode: How Roam provides for people interested in “Nomadicism”, solving logistical things, and how the difference is the people and the community available the instant you’re in a new city How usually you just get to know people when you’re leaving and can’t get deep with people, really know them – and Roam allows you to have people in your life in that city immediately, with authentic interaction, with the spaces set up that way A lot is about architecture of space, designer by trade, the social dynamics of hospitality, with a focus more than most co-working providers How, while looking like an urban city, it is not about price per square foot, and more about

Daily bag and luggage storage as part of the sharing economy… Every year, millions of travelers have the same experience when they check out of their AirBnB: what do they do with their luggage when trying to take in the sights on their last day of the trip? This is the story of someone who had to leave a street-wide amount of luggage under a staircase while traveling, and how they turned that into a business venture — “an AirBnB for luggage.” Selin Sonmez, Co-founder of Knock Knock City, a storage network connecting travelers, commuters and urbanites to nearby local shops that brings the sharing economy to short-term storage of luggage and personal Items, joins hosts John Matson (VoyagerHQ), Nick Vivion (tnooz), and Brandon McKenzie (MetroButler) in the MouthMedia Network studios in New York, powered by Sennheiser. In this episode: Why AirBnBs for luggage are bubbling up suddenly, including because of how established AirBnB has become, the shared economy mindset, and how it is becoming an instinct to shareHo

Utilizing tourism as a force to solve United Nations global sustainability goals… The decisions travelers make on their trips have a lasting impact on the global community. Whether an elephant wrangler added to an Instagram story, or the hotels travelers choose to stay at, how can travelers align travel itineraries to align with the UN’s goals for sustainability. Kelley Louise, Founder of Impact Travel Alliance (a non-profit organization and community for travelers and travel professionals interested in improving the world via travel and tourism) joins hosts John Matson and Nick Vivion (tnooz) in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser. In this episode: Louise discusses the nature of the global goals for the UN, and how, while many doubt the travel industry can solve them, the travel industry can be a significant force of meeting those goals Global goal number one, no poverty, and using tourism as a force to solve that Launching an initiative last year of hosting a multi-chapter event, with sev

Making a real income as an outstanding AirBnB Host… Evelyn Badia, Founder of The Hosting Journey, joins Pavan Bahl and Brandon McKenzie (MetroButler), in a conversation about her journey as an AirBnB Host and coach for other hosts, in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser. In this episode:   Badia’s work as an AirBnB Host and AirBnB Coach, teaching how to do AirBnB right Her prior work as a producer for TV commercials Why she started hosting when economy shifted, before AirBnB was popular. Living with strangers vs. losing your house, and learning about this from a NY Times article A lot of people start AirBnB out of necessity, and then decide they like it How Badia had too much time on her hands, then started traveling, then moved from casual hosting to it as a full time job, then a hosting coaching career (in part due to her lawyer) When AirBnB hosting became a six figure income for Badia How she never stopped because the economy never picked up, and jobs were never the same How she was talk