Travel Industry Podcasts; 15 Excellent Podcasts for Professionals

Travel industry podcasts are growing in popularity all the time and now represent one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to learn about the industry, access actionable insights, and become aware of emerging trends. In this article, you can explore some of the very best podcasts aimed at travel professionals.

Table of Contents:

What Is the Travel Industry?
What Is a Travel Industry Podcast?
15 Excellent Travel Industry Podcasts For Industry Professionals
Explore the Latest Business Travel Trends
Land Your Dream Job in the Travel Industry

What Is the Travel Industry?

Before examining the best travel industry podcasts, it is useful to clarify what the travel industry is and what types of businesses are covered by the widely accepted definition. The travel industry is one of the single largest service sectors, with travel meaning all activities related to the movement of people from one location to another.

With this in mind, the travel industry includes all related services. Some of the main sub-sectors within the travel industry are accommodation, transportation, food and beverages, and entertainment. Businesses offering connected services, such as travel agencies, tour operators, and tourism organizations, are also included.

In the “Travel Industry: An Overview of One of the Largest Service Industries” article, you will have access to a more complete definition of the industry, as well as a breakdown of the different types of businesses included, such as airlines, hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, casinos, online travel agents, and tour providers.

What Is a Travel Industry Podcast?

Travel industry podcasts are audio broadcasts that can usually be accessed via the internet and focus on topics related to travel. This could include, for instance, restaurants, accommodation, the aviation industry, other parts of the transportation sector, entertainment providers, and travel services.

Podcasts are typically episodic in format and are digital audio files that can either be downloaded or streamed. A travel industry podcast will usually be aimed at professionals working in the sector and will aim to provide news, insights, first-hand accounts, and interviews while also providing entertainment for the listener.

15 Excellent Travel Industry Podcasts For Industry Professionals

Equipped with an understanding of what a travel industry podcast is and how these shows can be useful, it is helpful to have an idea of where to start in terms of listening. Below, you can access a list of 15 great travel industry podcasts.

1. The Skift Travel Podcast

Skift is a travel news website and platform that provides news from across the entire travel sector, including the hotel industry, transportation, the tourism industry, airlines, and more. The Skift Travel Podcast is a collection of six different podcasts that focus on daily news, travel, ideas, airlines, meetings, and the travel industry in India.

Collectively, these travel industry podcasts cover a lot of ground. You will be able to listen to interviews with leading travel industry professionals and entrepreneurs, have access to the latest industry news, receive reports from major events like the Skift Global Forum, and obtain actionable insights to improve your business operations.

Video: Skift Travel Podcast Episode

2. The Future of Tourism

The Future of Tourism is hosted by David Peacock, who is a senior advisor to Future Tourism Group at Simpleview. As with many travel industry podcasts, Peacock uses his platform to speak to industry leaders, providing listeners with interesting insights and first-hand experiences to draw upon.

Some of the topics that have been covered in podcast episodes include the use of AI and similar travel technology, the importance of embracing sustainability, the value of immersive experiences in travel, balancing the competing needs of travel businesses, travelers, and local communities, and a whole lot more.

Video: Future of Tourism Episode

3. Embark: Travel, Tech and Trust by Accenture

The Embark: Travel, Tech, and Trust podcast is a series of travel industry audio shows produced by Accenture and hosted by Emily Weiss. As the name suggests, a strong focus is placed on technology, travel trends, and the importance of establishing and maintaining trust between your business and your customers.

Specific topics covered by the podcast include technology innovations, data collection, and the role of transparency in building trust. Other episodes focus on areas like corporate travel, the functions of the front office, modern expectations for connected journeys in the airline industry, and even serious topics like combating human trafficking.

4. Eye on Travel with Peter Greenberg

Eye on Travel is one of the best travel industry podcasts for those looking for the latest news from the industry. The podcast is hosted by Peter Greenberg, the Travel Editor for CBS News and one of the world’s most acclaimed travel news journalists. He is also an author and is sometimes known as The Travel Detective.

Episodes are recorded from different locations around the world. In addition to sharing the latest news, Greenberg discusses hidden gem destinations and speaks to guests from inside the industry, who share their experiences.

Video: Peter Greenberg: Oakland: Like a Local

5. ITB Travel Hero Podcast

The ITB Travel Hero Podcast is one of the most inspiring travel industry podcasts, as it has a strong focus on highlighting the stories of people within the industry who have achieved major success.

Episodes take different formats, from deep-dive discussions to a ‘blind date’ concept, where people from the industry meet each other for the first time in front of the microphone. Listeners will be able to stay up-to-date with the latest information, learn about key trends, and hear from leaders of major travel and hotel brands.

Video: ITB Berlin

6. Destination on the Left

Destination on the Left is a travel industry podcast that explores the travel and hospitality sectors. In particular, the host of the show, Nicole Mahoney, speaks to those involved in travel management, along with thought leaders, consultants, marketing experts, creatives, and others at the forefront of travel businesses.

Mahoney dives into her guests’ experiences, successes, failures, and the lessons they have learned along the way. Subjects that have been explored across existing shows include the latest travel marketing trends, the challenges facing independent hotels, the role of technology, and how to optimize your recruitment strategy.

7. No Vacancy News Podcast with Glenn Haussman

Glenn Haussman owns the No Vacancy News website and hosts one of the most popular travel industry podcasts around, the No Vacancy News Podcast. The show is aimed at professionals and leaders within the industry, as well as those with more of an outside interest in how businesses operate.

Guests on the show range from CEOs to travel influencers and other big names. A particular focus is placed on the hotel sector, and a wide variety of topics are covered, with examples ranging from the best digital marketing strategies to the importance of managing the online reputation of your business.

Video: No Vacancy Live Intro!

8. The Strategic Travel Entrepreneur

The Strategic Travel Entrepreneur is a weekly travel industry podcast centered around sharing actionable business strategies. Listeners can access tips that will help them to drive their business forward.

The show is hosted by Rita M. Perez, who made her name as a travel advisor, marketing strategist, and cruise industry expert. Perez speaks to guests from across the different sectors of the travel industry, discussing topics like marketing, sales, the guest experience, managing business partnerships, and optimizing your use of technology.

Video: Strategic Travel Entrepreneur Podcast Intro

9. Tourpreneur Tour Business Podcast

Tourpreneur is a platform aimed at tour companies, with the core aim being to create a community of small businesses that can help one another. The Tourpreneur Tour Business Podcast embraces this basic concept, providing useful information to help leaders take their businesses to the next level.

Every episode of the podcast will provide insights that can help you improve aspects of your day-to-day operations so your business can ultimately become more profitable. These insights come from the host, Shane Whaley, as well as from expert guests. The podcast format has also been gradually shaped by listener feedback.

Video: Tourpreneur Call-in Show: Business Growth and Marketing

10. Travel Agency Chatter with Steph Lee

Produced by Hotel Agency Reviews, the Travel Agency Chatter podcast is an audio series that will primarily appeal to travel agents, travel advisors, and offline and online travel agency leaders. Episodes predominantly take the form of interviews with expert guests, who come on to share their own stories.

Along the way, you will be able to learn from the experiences of travel agents and advisors from different specialist areas, including leisure, corporate, and group travel. Episodes are typically 30 to 45 minutes long and will cover topics like common obstacles, key strategies, and marketing tactics.

Video: Vol. 27: Travel Agency Chatter

11. The Business of Travel

The official podcast produced by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the Business of Travel is a weekly travel industry podcast that is ideal for anyone invested in corporate travel and related activities.

Episodes will typically feature interviews with major figures throughout the industry. These thought leaders share their stories and discuss the major issues that are shaping the business travel landscape. Topics covered include business travel events, employee management, managing carbon emissions, technology, and women in the workplace.

Video: The Business Travel Podcast: Spotlight

12. Travel Talks – The Business Travel Podcast

Travel Talks – The Business Travel Podcast is one of the most popular travel industry podcasts covering the subject of business travel. This includes business travel trends, major events, and other relevant topics.

Episodes are relatively concise, trimming much of the fat so you can really focus on the important insights, alongside ‘how to’ guides, some of the main subjects covered by the podcast have included building traveler confidence, creating a sustainable business travel strategy, controlling travel costs, and advice on working as a business travel booker.

Video: Travel Talks episode 10

13. The Airline Weekly Lounge

For anyone with an interest in travel industry podcasts that cover the airline industry, the Airline Weekly Lounge is a must-listen. With a new episode dropping every week, you will be able to piece together a large amount of expert advice that you can start to put into practice in your own business setting.

Much of the conversation is focused on maximizing revenue and profit, with great insights that can be put into action quickly. At the same time, you will hear the latest industry news and learn about all of the major developments.

Video: Airline Weekly Lounge Live

14. Low Season Traveler Insider Guides

The Low Season Traveler Insider Guides podcast has carved out a unique niche among travel industry podcasts by focusing squarely on the low seasons of various travel destinations around the world.

As a result, listeners can learn about what different destinations provide during their low seasons, how they cope with reduced demand, and what efforts are made to promote tourism outside of peak times. In addition, the podcast speaks to locals from the destinations, who provide details of why low season can be such a good time to travel.

15. Travel Trends with Dan Christian

Finally, Travel Trends with Dan Christian is a podcast that emerged in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is one of the most insightful travel industry podcasts, and, as you might expect, a strong emphasis is placed on ensuring listeners have an understanding of the emerging trends in the field of travel.

Expert guests share their experiences in the industry, speak about the trends they see disrupting the industry, and tell stories about their own trials and tribulations, as well as their major successes. The podcast provides tips that can be put into practice immediately and tries to focus on topics listeners may not have thought about.

Video: S2/E1: Travel Trends

Explore the Latest Business Travel Trends

If you are focused on the area of business travel and want to know how to appeal to this demographic, travel industry podcasts can help. However, it is also important to have a basic understanding of the major trends that corporate travelers are looking for, from self-booking tools to healthy eating options.

In the “The Latest Business Travel Trends Business Travelers Desire” article, you can learn much more about the specifics of business travel marketing, including ideas that will help you stand out from competitors.

Land Your Dream Job in the Travel Industry

As you can ascertain from the various travel industry podcasts listed, many different careers are spread across sectors like accommodation, the restaurant industry, airlines, and OTAs. Once you identify where you want to work, you need to take the necessary steps to present yourself as a great candidate.

In the “Travel Careers: Tips to Find a Career in the Travel Industry” article, you will find a comprehensive list of strategies you can use to stand out from the competition, boost your career prospects, optimize your applications, and improve your chances of landing your dream job in the industry.

The podcasts mentioned are all valuable to professionals working in the travel industry because they cover the topics that really matter, like emerging trends, marketing strategies, technology, and customer service. Many of these podcasts are also designed to share first-hand experiences, which can help you optimize your travel business.

Want to Explore More Podcasts in Other Industries?

Travel industry podcasts are a great source for hoteliers and travel industry professionals to gain more insight into industry trends. The following articles lists podcasts in other related industries:

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Revfine.com is a knowledge platform for the hospitality & travel industry. Professionals use our insights, strategies and actionable tips to get inspired, optimise revenue, innovate processes and improve customer experience. You can find all hotel & hospitality tips in the categories Revenue Management, Marketing & Distribution, Hotel Operations, Staffing & Career, Technology and Software.

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This article is written by:

Martijn Barten

Hi, I am Martijn Barten, founder of Revfine.com. With 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, I specialize in optimizing revenue by combining revenue management with marketing strategies. I have successfully developed, implemented, and managed revenue management and marketing strategies for individual properties and multi-property portfolios.

Travel Industry Podcasts; 15 Excellent Podcasts for Industry Professionals

What Is the Travel Industry?

What Is a Travel Industry Podcast?