The Travel Marketing Podcast

Hosted by Propellic, Brennen Bliss

Business Marketing

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Mar 2026

Language

About the show

You’re a marketer in one of the most competitive industries. You may be tired of trying, over and over, to use the same marketing strategies that you read about online or learned about in school - but is that really going to move the needle? We all know the big brands - Booking.com, American Airlines, The Points Guy, Royal Caribbean, Marriott, VRBO, and Hertz... but what about the emerging brands that have found their path to scale? The Travel Marketing Podcast is about sitting down with successful marketing professionals in the travel, transportation, and tourism industry to learn what has worked for them, what they’ve learned along the way, and what new trends they’re noticing. We are Propellic, and we’re on a mission to create more diversity in thought for the planet. We’re doing that by helping brands - specifically travel, transportation, and tourism brands - increase their reach through intelligent marketing that travels further.

Listen to episodes

44 recent

March 11, 2026Episode 4440 min

The B2B Storytelling Playbook

In this episode, we sit down with Rami Nuseir, Head of Marketing at Stay22 and a self-described "Story Sage." Rami is a master at taking complex, "incomprehensible" technology and turning it into narratives that anyone can understand.We dive into how Stay22 achieved a staggering 187% growth in 2025 by empowering travel creators with AI-powered affiliate tools. Rami shares his "funny outsells serious" marketing philosophy, the importance of rigorous A/B testing, and why he recently declared the latest Google updates as the "last straw" for the creator community.

December 17, 2025Episode 4338 min

Beyond the Algorithm: Building a Brand with Community, Not Clicks

Discover how Katalina Mayorga built El Camino Travel into a powerhouse for the "bold woman traveler" without spending a dime on traditional ads. In this episode, Katalina shares her journey from international development to creating a brand that prioritizes deep cultural immersion and local economic impact. You'll learn how she utilizes high-end photography and "scroll-stopping" content to drive a massive word-of-mouth engine.Katalina also reveals the business strategy behind her thriving digital community, which boasts an incredible 40% repeat booking rate. Explore how niche specialization and radical brand trust can cut through the noise of the modern travel industry. Whether you're an entrepreneur or a travel enthusiast, this masterclass in community-building offers essential insights into making travelers feel seen, safe, and inspired.

December 9, 2025Episode 4235 min

How Batch Cracked The Code For Group Travel

Mike Petrakis, Co-founder & CEO of Batch, joins the podcast to discuss how they became the top app for planning group celebrations like Bachelorette parties. He dives deep into Batch's evolution from a commission-based Online Travel Agency (OTA) model to a "digital billboard" marketing engine for small businesses.In this episode, we cover the secrets to their B2C acquisition, how they leverage virality (K-Factor) , and their strategy for building a strong, well-positioned brand.Tune in to hear why Mike believes owning the customer is key in the age of AI and how Batch is building the "celebration economy".

June 25, 2025Episode 4141 min

Trailblazing Tactics: Campaign Wins, Learning Curves & KPI Mastery

In this episode of "Trailblazing Tactics," hear from Barbara, Global Director of Marketing and CRM at Summit One Vanderbilt, as she reveals the strategies that have driven success for world-class attractions. Discover how to balance innovative tactics with data-driven results, and why looking "behind the curtain" of your analytics is crucial.Key topics include:A Winning Campaign: Learn how a lead generation campaign for Legoland New York achieved an incredible 26 cents per lead and sold out its "first to play" tickets.Learning from Data: Hear the story of a "failed" campaign that was actually a success hidden by a data tracking error, highlighting the importance of data integrity.Top Marketing Channels: Discover the surprising mix of top-performing channels, where organic search provides the most growth and Connected TV performs nearly as well as search ads.Brand-Powered Performance: Understand how a strong brand is essential for boosting performance marketing and creating a deeper connection with your audience.Advanced CRM & Tech: Get insights into segmenting your audience with unique categories like "sleepers" and the importance of adopting new technologies like AI to stay ahead.

April 16, 2025Episode 4035 min

How Welcome Pickups Scale to 300+ Destinations

In this episode, Brennen Bliss sits down with Savvas Georgiou, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Welcome Pickups, to unpack how the company scaled from a scrappy marketplace for local tours into a global leader in airport transfers across 100+ destinations. They dive into performance-driven marketing, short booking windows, the value of bottom-funnel acquisition, and how Welcome approaches attribution and app strategy. Savvas also shares insights into their B2B evolution—shifting from boutique hotels to OTAs and long-tail travel agents—and why focusing on “essential trip steps” has been key to their success.

April 2, 2025Episode 3938 min

From Content Creation to Conversion: Inside Contiki's Marketing Playbook

In this episode, we dive into Contiki’s dynamic travel marketing strategies, exploring how the brand transforms content into bookings. We uncover Contiki’s approach to engaging young travelers, leveraging storytelling, social media, and influencer partnerships to drive conversions. Tune in to learn about the creative tactics and data-driven insights that make Contiki a powerhouse in youth travel marketing.

March 19, 2025Episode 3838 min

Scaling A Travel Brand With Soul

Lauren shares insights into navigating the acquisition process, maintaining brand authenticity, and balancing creativity with corporate structure.She shares insights on SEO, short-form video, influencer marketing, and paid media strategies across Google, Meta, and Bing. They explore data-driven decision-making, attribution challenges, and analytics, including frustrations with GA4. She also teases new private tours and key marketing metrics focused on revenue and occupancy.A must-listen for travel marketers and brand builders.

February 11, 2025Episode 3733 min

What Works In Organic Growth In The Travel Space

Travel Marketing Podcast by Propellic features an insightful discussion with Kevin Indig, a leading SEO expert, on the state of travel industry SEO. Kevin shares key findings from his deep-dive research into travel search trends, highlighting the role of AI, organic growth strategies, and shifting consumer behaviors. Tune in for actionable insights on how travel brands can navigate and capitalize on these industry shifts.

January 27, 2025Episode 3633 min

Insights on Luxury Travel, Sustainability, and Marketing

In this video, Brennen Bliss and Fernando Diez discuss Quasar's PPC strategy, balancing brand awareness with targeted keyword efforts. Fernando shares how they rank highly for terms like "Galapagos Cruise Reviews," driving brand recognition, while also focusing on luxury-specific keywords to attract high-intent customers and filter out price-sensitive leads. This targeted approach ensures they reach the right audience for their luxury offerings. Tune in to learn more about effective PPC strategies for luxury travel brands!

January 14, 2025Episode 3544 min

Leigh Barnes On Intrepid's Marketing Transformation

In today's dynamic travel industry, achieving the right balance between brand building and performance marketing is crucial for sustained growth. Leigh Barnes, COO at Intrepid Travel, emphasized this balance in a recent video, where he shared his perspective on how Intrepid shifted its marketing strategy.According to Leigh, after the pandemic, Intrepid made a bold move by significantly increasing investment in brand-building efforts, such as out-of-home advertising, radio, podcasts, social influencers, and PR. This rebranding strategy, coupled with a broader focus on long-term growth, has led to record-breaking results year after year, including higher bookings, profits, and brand awareness.