The Folo by Travel Weekly

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100

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Oct 2026

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EN-US

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Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they’ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

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60 recent

November 9, 202638 min

Studying college-town hotels that celebrate university life

Maybe you’re dropping kids off at school, maybe you're an alum in for the big game; maybe you’re on campus for a conference or forum – maybe you’re just soaking in the lively atmosphere of a college town or its environs. But no matter what, you’re going to need a place to stay. And for the past several years, big hotel companies and universities alike are realizing that people like to stay in a hotel that’s connected to campus life. In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, hotels editor Christina Jelski and Adriana Niepa, the director of sales and marketing at The Hotel at the University of Maryland, talk about growth; The Hotel's relationship with the university; big brands like Hilton that cater to college life; how a "collegiate hotel" is its own special category; and what these hotels do to appeal to travelers outside of key milestone dates like graduation, parents' weekend and homecoming. This episode was recorded Nov. 2, with a secondary section about the Charles Hotel recorded Nov. 6, and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by Princess https://www.princess.com Related links Demand for hotel rooms near campus has brands giving it the old college try https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Demand-for-hotels-near-college-campuses Hilton launches Undergraduate brand https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hilton-launches-upper-midscale-Undergraduate-brand Sports Illustrated hotel coming to Baton Rouge, near the LSU campus https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Sports-Illustrated-hotel-coming-to-Baton-Rouge Derek Jeter invests in hospitality brand for college towns https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Derek-Jeter-becomes-investor-in-new-hospitality-concept-Alum Big man on campus: Hilton to acquire Graduate Hotels (2024) https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hilton-to-acquire-Graduate-Hotels The Hotel at the University of Maryland https://www.thehotelumd.com/ The Charles Hotel in Cambridge, Mass. https://www.charleshotel.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

November 2, 202641 min

Updated: What advisors say about the Royal Caribbean-Sandals deal

One of the biggest stories in the cruise industry has been the deal between Royal Caribbean Group and Sandals Resorts International: The companies are forming a joint venture, with Royal agreeing to acquire a 50% equity stake in Sandals. This conversation of the travel advisor perspective features Mary Alys Foutz a travel advisor who specializes in Sandals and Beaches resorts; Jesse Foutz, an advisor who specializes in Royal Caribbean; Addison Jaynes, CEO of Reliant Destinations; and Travel Weekly senior editors Teri West and Christina Jelski. In this episode: The outline of the deal and the latest updates; where advisors see synergies between the two companies; the guest experience; selling two similar -- but different -- products; the importance of education and training; and the growing strength of both the all-inclusive market and the cruise industry. This episode was recorded Oct. 29 and has been edited for length and clarity. This episode coincides with CruiseWorld – our annual conference that features top executives from all the major cruise lines. Jason Liberty, the CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, is among those who will speak with editor in chief Johanna Jainchill. Our coverage will be live this week at https://www.travelweekly.com/cruiseworld-coverage . Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Princess Cruises https://www.princess.com Related links: Royal Caribbean wants 50% of customers' vacation wallet https://www.travelweekly.com/cruise-travel/royal-caribbean-wants-50-percent-customers-vacation-wallet Risky business or smart strategy? Reaction to Royal Caribbean's investment in Sandals https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Reaction-to-Royal-Caribbean-investment-Sandals Exclusive: Jason Liberty and Adam Stewart on the Royal Caribbean-Sandals deal https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Sandals-Adam-Stewart-and-Royal-Caribbean-Jason-Liberty A Sandals top seller talks about the Royal-Sandals deal https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Sandals-top-seller-talks-about-Royal-Caribbean-deal Reliant Destinations: https://mycaribbeanluxury.com/ Marvelous Mouse Travels: https://marvelousmousetravels.com/ UPDATE: This episode was updated to correct the sponsor for this episode; it is Princess Cruises. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 26, 202643 min

A lot is riding on this year’s ski season

At Vail Resorts, CEO Rob Katz in its fiscal-end-of-year statement at the end of September said that the past winter was “one of the most challenging winters in history across the western U.S. .... snowfall and snowpack were at or near historic lows.” That may make skiers and riders a little gun shy about booking for 2026-27 -- as ski reporter Robert Silk termed it, it's a "hangover" year -- and we see that in Vail’s numbers, as its Epic Pass sales through Sept. 18 were down about 12% year over year. Here, we’re talking with ski experts Tom Foley, the director of business intelligence at Outside and Inntopia and the founder of mountain-lodging analytics firm DestiMetrics, and Stuart Winchester, the editor and host of the Storm Skiing podcast and journal, about the expectations for this year’s winter season. Is the ski pass system flawed? How big a role does snow play -- or is it the economy? Is the discussion different for major ski resorts vs smaller ski areas? And at the end of the day, the thrill of the mountains and why we’re all still bullish about the business. This episode was recorded Oct. 13 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by Oceania Cruises https://www.oceaniacruises.com Related links The ski industry faces a tough start after a tough, low-snow season https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Ski-industry-faces-slow-start-after-low-snow-season Profits and pass sales decline for Vail Resorts https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Vail-Resorts-reports-reduced-pass-sales-and-profit Activist investor wants a board overhaul at Vail Resorts https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Activist-investor-targets-Vail-Resorts Alterra names Kelly Vohs CEO https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Alterra-Mountain-Company-names-Kelly-Vohs-as-its-next-CEO DestiMetrics https://corp.inntopia.com/intelligence/destimetrics/ Storm Skiing https://www.stormskiing.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 19, 202637 min

A spooky travel assignment: How theme parks do Halloween

Because Halloween is right around a (scary, dark) corner we’re shining a flashlight on a very unique, and very popular, time at Orlando parks: The spooky season. Jamie Biesiada, Travel Weekly's editor for content innovation and retail, earlier this fall checked out Universal Orlando Resort’s annual scare-filled Halloween Horror Nights. In this episode she and host Rebecca Tobin talk about that experience in detail, what Disney offers, the psychology of scares for fun and who travel advisors should target for a Halloween vacation. This episode was recorded Oct. 9 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Oceania Cruises Related links: Dispatch, Orlando: A first time at Universal's Halloween Horror Nights https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/A-first-time-at-Universal-Orlando-Halloween-Horror-Nights Why do we love to be scared? The appeal of Halloween Horror Nights https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Appeal-of-Universal-Halloween-Horror-Nights A celebration of 35 years of terror https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Halloween-Horror-Nights-returns-to-Universal-Orlando-Resort A night at Disney's 'Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party' https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/A-night-at-Mickey-Halloween-Party Author Coltan Scrivner's Morbid Curiosity test https://www.coltanscrivner.com/morbid-curiosity-test See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 12, 202639 min

How one river cruise operator navigates low water in Europe

River cruise lines, passengers and advisors have occasionally been vexed by Europe’s hot, dry summer, which has led to low water levels on some rivers that kept some ships from sailing their published itineraries. So what should advisors and river-bound passengers know about how lines monitor the rivers and come up with solutions? In this episode, river cruise editor Brinley Hineman and host Rebecca Tobin have a candid conversation with Jeremy Palmer, the president of tour company Tauck, which operates more than a dozen river ships in Europe, on how it has handled the season. Response teams, on-the-ground relationships, communication strategies and more – it’s a conversation that every river-selling advisor should listen in on. This episode was recorded Oct. 6 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Oceania Cruises https://www.oceaniacruises.com Related links: Climate change: Tourism's hot topic https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Climate-change-Tourisms-hot-topic Low water, high stakes: River lines take a hit to satisfy guests https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/River-cruise-lines-swallow-costs-to-move-guests Low river waters in Europe are challenging river cruise lines and advisors https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Low-river-levels-in-Europe-challenging-lines-and-advisors Tauck's river cruise page https://www.tauck.com/tours-and-cruises/european-river-cruises See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 5, 202620 min

Folo updates: Theme park thoughts, and a surprising TSA program

We have several exciting episodes planned for the Folo over the next month that will folo – that’s a journalism term that means to follow up with more context and reporting -- some of the biggest stories in the business. But this week, we're bringing you a bonus episode of our kick-start to the fall season: Topics we wanted to devote a little more time to. Jamie Biesiada, our editor of content innovation and retail, had some interesting insights into her theme park coverage, so in this episode we talk about what Universal and Disney have been up to. And then after our second break, aviation editor Robert Silk discusses an unusual TSA test program: In certain cities, it's enabling PreCheck members to pass through security and into the terminals even if they don't have a boarding pass. These conversations were recorded in mid-September and have been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Oceania Cruises https://www.oceaniacruises.com Related links: Disney World is testing new tools to help consumers select a hotel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-World-testing-tools-consumer-hotel-selection Disney unveils major theme park plans at D23 event https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-announces-a-slew-of-theme-park-updates-at-D23-event At Universal Kids Resort, the focus is on fun for younger ages https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Fun-in-small-doses-at-Universal-Kids-Resort TSA turns back the clock on the Gateside program https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/TSA-turns-back-the-clock-with-Gateside-program See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 28, 202640 min

The Folo updates: The newest in hospitality, cruise, river cruise

Continuing with our check-in with reporters on their top stories of the summer – and what we can expect this fall. This week, host Rebecca Tobin talks with hospitality editor Christina Jelski, who provides an update on hotel news: The demand picture, whether Canadians are returning to the U.S., Mexico’s struggles and more. Then, cruise editor Teri West talks about new directions in rate and the launch of the third Icon-class ship. And river cruise and tours editor Brinley Hineman returns to recap this summer’s low-water levels for river cruising. These conversations were recorded throughout September and have been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode was sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com Stay on at the end of the Folo for a sponsored interview with Christine Peruccio, Travel Insured's AVP of sales and account management support, and Mary Pat Sullivan, the executive vice president of marketing and brand partnerships for Northstar Travel Group. Related links: U.S. hotel forecast gets another bump after 'record' room sales https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/US-hotels-performing-well-in-2026-reforecast-costar-tourism-economics How AI data centers are fueling the U.S. hospitality boom https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Strong-year-US-hotels-with-AI-data-center-building-boom Checking in column: Tourism is taking a stand in the U.S.-Canada feud https://www.travelweekly.com/Christina-Jelski/Tourism-industry-taking-a-stand-in-U-S-Canada-feud The Mexican sargassum surge sparks new strategies and investments https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Sargassum-surge-sparks-new-strategies-and-investments Cruise sellers are onboard with NCL's pricing strategy https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-sellers-on-board-with-NCL-change-pricing-strategy Cruising on Royal Caribbean's newest Icon class ship https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruising-on-Royal-Caribbean-new-Legend-of-the-Seas Low water, high stakes: River lines take a hit to satisfy guests https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/River-cruise-lines-swallow-costs-to-move-guests See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 21, 202628 min

The Folo returns: Catching up with air, advisor and tour news

After our Summer Series of best-of episodes ended, we’re back with all-new episodes. In the next two episodes, we're looking at the travel trends and stories our reporters have been tracking, setting the stage for longer discussions on the Folo this fall. Here, you'll hear from editor at large Robert Silk on fuel and ticket pricing jumps in aviation; editor of content innovation and retail Jamie Biesiada on booking patterns and advisor updates; and tours editor Brinley Hineman on brand and personnel movements. Next, we’ll hear from reporters on hotel, cruise and river cruise beats. And there’s more, much more, to come. These discussions were recorded the week of Aug. 13 and have been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com Related links August airfares surge 23% year over year https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/August-airfares-were-up-23-4-percent-year-over-year American Airlines slows holiday growth plans due to high fuel prices https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/American-slows-holiday-growth-plans-due-to-high-fuel-prices In consolidating Insite and Costsaver, TTC bets on the power of the Trafalgar brand https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/TTC-bets-on-the-power-of-Trafalgar Classic Vacations CEO Melissa Krueger steps down https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Classic-Vacations-CEO-Melissa-Krueger-is-stepping-down Blocked port call gives pause to LGBTQ+ travel providers https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Blocked-ports-calls-give-pause-LGBTQ-travel-providers Related podcast Trade Secrets: Is fall the new summer? Unpacking luxury travel trends at Virtuoso https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Trade-Secrets/season-seven-episode-twelve-luxury-travel-trends-with-Virtuoso See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 14, 202634 min

New episode: A conversation on 9/11: How travel has changed in 25 years

We’re back with new episodes this fall. This past week we’ve done a lot of looking back on 9/11. The terror attacks had a huge and immediate impact on travel, and the reverberations still continue to this day. On the day of the 25th anniversary, two heavy-hitters in the business – our former editor in chief and current explorer at large Arnie Weissmann and Kathy Sudeikis, the vice president of industry relations for Acendas and past president of ASTA – joined Rebecca Tobin on the Folo to talk about that day, what came next and what travel is like now. This episode has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com Related reports Arnie Weissmann's From the Window Seat column: 25 years since 9/11: Innocence lost, resilience gained https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/25-years-after-9-11-attacks Downtown Manhattan's 'renaissance,' 25 years after 9/11 https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Lower-Manhattan-tourism-renaissance Why the 9/11 Memorial and Museum is a vital visitor experience https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/9-11-Memorial-must-visit-site-in-New-York From the archives: On the first anniversary of 9/11, an industry at a crossroads https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Travel-execs-see-industry-at-a-crossroads See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 7, 202631 min

Carnival dining, Emeril's influence and what cruisers want to eat -- A Summer Series episode

In June, Carnival Cruise Line held an event in New Orleans called The Next Course, where it introduced new restaurants and menus on its upcoming ship, the Carnival Festivale, and showcased its partnership with superstar chef Emeril Lagasse, the line’s chief culinary officer. It also served as a chance to talk about the latest in foodie trends, and how those trends are showing up on Carnival’s ships. In this episode we take that conversation even further with Carnival’s vice president of food and beverage Juan Fernandez and cruise editor Teri West. We talk about changes in dining hours, dining styles, drinks and more and how those changes dovetail or diverge with how consumers eat and drink on land. Plus: How Carnival developed its relationship with Lagasse and the new restaurants on the Festivale. Summer Series This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This conversation was recorded July 9 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com Related links: Carnival and Emeril Lagasse embrace the latest culinary trends https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-and-Emeril-embrace-the-latest-culinary-trends Carnival introduces new culinary concepts for upcoming ships https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-and-Emeril-Lagasse-introduce-new-culinary-concepts Reservations are open for the Carnival Festivale https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Reservations-open-for-Carnival-Festivale How weight-loss meds are changing travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/weight-loss-meds-changing-travel Focus on culinary travel: Savoring the experience https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Focus-on-culinary-travel-Savoring-the-experience See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.