In this episode, news editor Johanna Jainchill talks about how we review and select the stories in our annual Year in Review report, which looks at the biggest and most impactful stories of the year.

And then she and host Rebecca Tobin talk about what made 2025 so unique, from "choppy" markets to how people booked travel, to Las Vegas' occupancy woes, to Southwest's business-model changes, to cruising’s destination island expansion -- and more.

This episode was recorded Dec. 11 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor 

This episode is sponsored by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.aflk.biz

Related reports 

2025: The Year in Review https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/2025-year-in-review

 

In this episode, news editor Johanna Jainchill talks about how we review and select the stories in our annual Year in Review report, which looks at the biggest and most impactful stories of the year.
And then she and host Rebecca Tobin talk about what made 2025 so unique, from "choppy" markets to how people booked travel, to Las Vegas' occupancy woes, to Southwest's business-model changes, to cruising&rsquo;s destination island expansion -- and more.
This episode was recorded Dec. 11 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor 
This episode is sponsored by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines <a href="https://www.aflk.biz">https://www.aflk.biz</a>
Related reports 
2025: The Year in Review <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/2025-year-in-review">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/2025-year-in-review</a>
&nbsp;

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.

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

Hosted by Rebecca Tobin, managing editor of Travel Weekly

The Folo by Travel Weekly

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week. 

In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about.  

You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do. 

Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week.&nbsp;
In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about. &nbsp;
You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do.&nbsp;
Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.

The biggest travel stories of 2025

This week we’re looking at how online travel search is evolving and how AI is changing the game. For a long time travel sites have been interested in mimicking how travel advisors qualify clients: How to present travel options and ideas to people who are at the very top of the booking funnel and don’t know when or where they want to go. But some sites are now able to facilitate a conversation about travel inspo -- thanks to generative AI. 

In this episode, Saad Saeed, the CEO of Layla, a generative AI travel search interface, talks with editor at large Robert Silk and host Rebecca Tobin about how Layla works and what Saeed's team has uncovered about consumer habits and how people really research travel.

Episode sponsor

This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com

Related links

AI tools are changing how travelers research vacation options https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/AI-tools-changing-how-travelers-research-vacation-options

This week we&rsquo;re looking at how online travel search is evolving and how AI is changing the game. For a long time travel sites have been interested in mimicking how travel advisors qualify clients: How to present travel options and ideas to people who are at the very top of the booking funnel and don&rsquo;t know when or where they want to go. But some sites are now able to facilitate a conversation about travel inspo -- thanks to generative AI.&nbsp;
In this episode, Saad Saeed, the CEO of Layla, a generative AI travel search interface, talks with editor at large Robert Silk and host Rebecca Tobin about how Layla works and what Saeed's team has uncovered about consumer habits and how people really research travel.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com
Related links
AI tools are changing how travelers research vacation options https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/AI-tools-changing-how-travelers-research-vacation-options

AI is changing how people research travel online

Egypt’s travel industry is no stranger to ups and downs, but the country, which was expecting a banner year for tourism in 2026, was thrown a curveball during the start of the Iran war, when a social media post by an assistant secretary in the Department of State directed Americans in 14 countries – including Egypt – to depart immediately. 

Visitors left, several tour and river cruise companies canceled departures. And then, there was no follow up, no change to the State Department consular sheet, no clear sign of danger – in fact, life in Cairo and other tourism hot spots in the country were decidedly normal.

So where does that leave tourism today? On this episode, host Rebecca Tobin speaks with tours editor Brinley Hineman and Malaka Hilton, an Egypt specialist and CEO of Admiral Travel International, on the fallout from the Iran war, today’s booking patterns, the psychology of travel to the Middle East and why now might be a great time to visit.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com

Related reports: 

State Department's mixed signals on Egypt prompt cancellations, client concern https://www.travelweekly.com/Middle-East-Africa-Travel/State-Department-mixed-signals-on-Egypt-prompt-cancellations

Viking reinstates Egypt river cruising after reassessment https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Viking-reinstates-Nile-cruises-after-reassessment

War in the Middle East affects some tour operations https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/War-in-the-Middle-East-affects-tour-operations

Q&A with Egypt tourism minister Sharif Fathy (January 2026) https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Sherif-Fathy-Egypt-minister-tourism-antiquities

 

Egypt&rsquo;s travel industry is no stranger to ups and downs, but the country, which was expecting a banner year for tourism in 2026, was thrown a curveball during the start of the Iran war, when a social media post by an assistant secretary in the Department of State directed Americans in 14 countries &ndash; including Egypt &ndash; to depart immediately.&nbsp;
Visitors left, several tour and river cruise companies canceled departures. And then, there was no follow up, no change to the State Department consular sheet, no clear sign of danger &ndash; in fact, life in Cairo and other tourism hot spots in the country were decidedly normal.
So where does that leave tourism today? On this episode, host Rebecca Tobin speaks with tours editor Brinley Hineman and Malaka Hilton, an Egypt specialist and CEO of Admiral Travel International, on the fallout from the Iran war, today&rsquo;s booking patterns, the psychology of travel to the Middle East and why now might be a great time to visit.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways <a href="https://www.amawaterways.com">https://www.amawaterways.com</a>
Related reports:&nbsp;
State Department's mixed signals on Egypt prompt cancellations, client concern <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Middle-East-Africa-Travel/State-Department-mixed-signals-on-Egypt-prompt-cancellations">https://www.travelweekly.com/Middle-East-Africa-Travel/State-Department-mixed-signals-on-Egypt-prompt-cancellations</a>
Viking reinstates Egypt river cruising after reassessment <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Viking-reinstates-Nile-cruises-after-reassessment">https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Viking-reinstates-Nile-cruises-after-reassessment</a>
War in the Middle East affects some tour operations <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/War-in-the-Middle-East-affects-tour-operations">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/War-in-the-Middle-East-affects-tour-operations</a>
Q&amp;A with Egypt tourism minister Sharif Fathy (January 2026) <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Sherif-Fathy-Egypt-minister-tourism-antiquities">https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Sherif-Fathy-Egypt-minister-tourism-antiquities</a>
&nbsp;
<ul></ul>

How the Iran war dealt Egypt tourism a setback

We’re continuing with our catch up on major news events of the past two months, and in this episode host Rebecca Tobin talks with our editors: Christina Jelski, who covers hotels; Teri West, who covers ocean cruising; and Brinley Hineman, who covers tours and river cruises.

What is on the radars of our editors as we move into the spring season? Some of the themes you’ll hear: What’s the latest on domestic tourism this summer, and will the FIFA World Cup bring a hospitality boom? Is cruising still strong? Why is tourism to Egypt down, and are travelers returning to Mexico?

These interviews were recorded at the end of March and have been edited for length and clarity. Since news travels quickly, some of these conversations are in need of a brief update: in the cruise section, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has come to an agreement with activist investor Elliott Investment Management to update its board of directors. In Mexico, we’re seeing signs of a booking comeback. 

And we’ll be talking more on the tourism situation in Egypt – join us next week for a full-scale discussion.

Episode sponsor 

This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways https://www.amawaterways.com

Related reports

Hospitality links

World Cup room-block cancellations dim some hopes for an outsize tourism boost
 https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/World-Cup-room-cancellations-dim-hopes-for-outsize-boost

Americans favor domestic travel amid global uncertainty https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Experts-say-more-Americans-plan-to-travel-closer-to-home

Resilient Las Vegas is showing a full house https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Las-Vegas-full-house

Cruise links 

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings overhauls board of directors https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/NCLH-overhauls-board-of-directors

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' new CEO touts his 'turnaround experience' https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/NCLH-new-CEO-touts-turnaround-experience

Norwegian Cruise Line president Marc Kazlauskas shares his vision https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Marc-Kazlauskas-Norwegian-Cruise-Line

Cruising's March Wave: Iran shakes some Med demand https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/wave-update-effect-of-iran-war-on-cruise-bookings

MSC's luxury private island will be called Sandy Cay https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/MSC-luxury-private-island-Sandy-Cay

Tour links

State Department's mixed signals on Egypt prompt cancellations, client concern State Department's mixed signals on Egypt prompt cancellations, client concern

Mexico tourism, six weeks after the crisis https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Insights/How-safe-is-Mexico-travel-now

River cruise links

At the ASTA River Cruise Expo, some river cruise lines promote slow growth https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/In-Europe-some-river-cruise-lines-promote-slow-growth

We&rsquo;re continuing with our catch up on major news events of the past two months, and in this episode host Rebecca Tobin talks with our editors: Christina Jelski, who covers hotels; Teri West, who covers ocean cruising; and Brinley Hineman, who covers tours and river cruises.
What is on the radars of our editors as we move into the spring season? Some of the themes you&rsquo;ll hear: What&rsquo;s the latest on domestic tourism this summer, and will the FIFA World Cup bring a hospitality boom? Is cruising still strong? Why is tourism to Egypt down, and are travelers returning to Mexico?
These interviews were recorded at the end of March and have been edited for length and clarity. Since news travels quickly, some of these conversations are in need of a brief update: in the cruise section, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has come to an agreement with activist investor Elliott Investment Management to update its board of directors. In Mexico, we&rsquo;re seeing signs of a booking comeback.&nbsp;
And we&rsquo;ll be talking more on the tourism situation in Egypt &ndash; join us next week for a full-scale discussion.
Episode sponsor 
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amawaterways.com">https://www.amawaterways.com</a>
Related reports
Hospitality links
World Cup room-block cancellations dim some hopes for an outsize tourism boost &nbsp;<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/World-Cup-room-cancellations-dim-hopes-for-outsize-boost">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/World-Cup-room-cancellations-dim-hopes-for-outsize-boost</a>
Americans favor domestic travel amid global uncertainty <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Experts-say-more-Americans-plan-to-travel-closer-to-home">https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Experts-say-more-Americans-plan-to-travel-closer-to-home</a>
Resilient Las Vegas is showing a full house <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Las-Vegas-full-house">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Las-Vegas-full-house</a>
Cruise links 
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings overhauls board of directors <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/NCLH-overhauls-board-of-directors">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/NCLH-overhauls-board-of-directors</a>
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' new CEO touts his 'turnaround experience' <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/NCLH-new-CEO-touts-turnaround-experience">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/NCLH-new-CEO-touts-turnaround-experience</a>
Norwegian Cruise Line president Marc Kazlauskas shares his vision <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Marc-Kazlauskas-Norwegian-Cruise-Line">https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Marc-Kazlauskas-Norwegian-Cruise-Line</a>
Cruising's March Wave: Iran shakes some Med demand <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/wave-update-effect-of-iran-war-on-cruise-bookings">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/wave-update-effect-of-iran-war-on-cruise-bookings</a>
MSC's luxury private island will be called Sandy Cay <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/MSC-luxury-private-island-Sandy-Cay">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/MSC-luxury-private-island-Sandy-Cay</a>
Tour links
State Department's mixed signals on Egypt prompt cancellations, client concern <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Middle-East-Africa-Travel/State-Department-mixed-signals-on-Egypt-prompt-cancellations">State Department's mixed signals on Egypt prompt cancellations, client concern</a>
Mexico tourism, six weeks after the crisis <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Insights/How-safe-is-Mexico-travel-now">https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Insights/How-safe-is-Mexico-travel-now</a>
River cruise links
At the ASTA River Cruise Expo, some river cruise lines promote slow growth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/In-Europe-some-river-cruise-lines-promote-slow-growth">https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/In-Europe-some-river-cruise-lines-promote-slow-growth</a>

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