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>
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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.

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 talking about destination management companies, or DMCs, which are companies embedded in specific locations that give travel planners an ultra-boost when it comes to planning a vacation there. Insider knowledge, special tours, recommendations, an expert shoulder to lean on – that’s what a DMC can provide. DMCs aren’t new, but a recent story by Jamie Biesiada talked about why they’re suddenly on everyone’s must-have list.

In this episode with Haisley Smith, the senior vice president of partner relations at Internova Travel Group, we talk about why advisors and clients are hyping DMCs, the pitfalls and the critical need to vet your in-destination partner and what’s next for DMCs, tour operators and advisors.

We hope you enjoy this peek into travel planning – and advisors, let us know what you think of your top DMCs.

Episode sponsor 

This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com

Winter series: 

This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Nov. 17 and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Related links: 

Jamie Biesiada's cover story: DMCs help bring the wow factor https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/DMCs-help-bring-the-wow

 

 

This week we&rsquo;re talking about destination management companies, or DMCs, which are companies embedded in specific locations that give travel planners an ultra-boost when it comes to planning a vacation there. Insider knowledge, special tours, recommendations, an expert shoulder to lean on &ndash; that&rsquo;s what a DMC can provide. DMCs aren&rsquo;t new, but a recent story by Jamie Biesiada talked about why they&rsquo;re suddenly on everyone&rsquo;s must-have list.
In this episode with Haisley Smith, the senior vice president of partner relations at Internova Travel Group, we talk about why advisors and clients are hyping DMCs, the pitfalls and the critical need to vet your in-destination partner and what&rsquo;s next for DMCs, tour operators and advisors.
We hope you enjoy this peek into travel planning &ndash; and advisors, let us know what you think of your top DMCs.
Episode sponsor 
This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands <a href="https://www.globusandcosmos.com">https://www.globusandcosmos.com</a>
Winter series: 
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Nov. 17 and has been edited for length and clarity.&nbsp;
Related links:&nbsp;
Jamie Biesiada's cover story: DMCs help bring the wow factor&nbsp;<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/DMCs-help-bring-the-wow">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/DMCs-help-bring-the-wow</a>
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The travel advisor's travel-planning source -- a Winter Series episode

We look back at the first quarter-century and the biggest events that had an outsized impact on the travel business, from mega-events that changed the world to milestone product launches and business decisions that portended major shifts to come. In this episode, our top editors unpack the list and some of the decisions behind it, as well as those reminisces about the old times and what’s happening in travel today. 

Episode sponsor 

This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com

Winter series: 

This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Oct. 6 and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Related links: 

The 25 years that changed travel https://www.travelweekly.com/25-years

We look back at the first quarter-century and the biggest events that had an outsized impact on the travel business, from mega-events that changed the world to milestone product launches and business decisions that portended major shifts to come. In this episode, our top editors unpack the list and some of the decisions behind it, as well as those reminisces about the old times and what&rsquo;s happening in travel today.&nbsp;
Episode sponsor 
This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands <a href="https://www.globusandcosmos.com">https://www.globusandcosmos.com</a>
Winter series: 
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Oct. 6 and has been edited for length and clarity.&nbsp;
Related links: 
The 25 years that changed travel <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/25-years">https://www.travelweekly.com/25-years</a>

The 25 years that changed travel -- a Winter Series episode

We're taking an in-depth look at our annual Travel Industry Survey of travel agency business with then-editor in chief Arnie Weissmann and news editor Johanna Jainchill.

In this episode we delve into survey data: Advisors’ use of AI – how they use it and what they’re concerned about; which travel categories are growing; advisors’ use of social media; their relationships with preferred suppliers; where they work; and what they’re booking. And, of course, whether they’re optimistic or pessimistic about their business going forward. 

This survey was produced in partnership with Phocuswright, a sister brand to Travel Weekly. It surveyed more than 1,500 advisors during August and early September and was published Nov. 23.

Episode sponsor 

This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com

Winter series: 

This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Dec. 1 and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Since this episode was published, Johanna was promoted to editor in chief, and Arnie took the title of explorer at large for parent company Northstar Travel Group. 

Related links:

The 2025 Travel Industry Survey https://www.travelweekly.com/industry-survey-2025

Previous Industry Surveys https://www.travelweekly.com/For-Travel-Agents/Travel-Industry-Survey

We're taking an in-depth look at our annual Travel Industry Survey of travel agency business with then-editor in chief Arnie Weissmann and news editor Johanna Jainchill.
In this episode we delve into survey data: Advisors&rsquo; use of AI &ndash; how they use it and what they&rsquo;re concerned about; which travel categories are growing; advisors&rsquo; use of social media; their relationships with preferred suppliers; where they work; and what they&rsquo;re booking. And, of course, whether they&rsquo;re optimistic or pessimistic about their business going forward.&nbsp;
This survey was produced in partnership with Phocuswright, a sister brand to Travel Weekly. It surveyed more than 1,500 advisors during August and early September and was published Nov. 23.
Episode sponsor 
This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands <a href="https://www.globusandcosmos.com">https://www.globusandcosmos.com</a>
Winter series: 
This episode is part of our annual Winter Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published Dec. 1 and has been edited for length and clarity.&nbsp;
Since this episode was published, Johanna was promoted to editor in chief, and Arnie took the title of explorer at large for parent company Northstar Travel Group.&nbsp;
Related links:
The 2025 Travel Industry Survey <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/industry-survey-2025">https://www.travelweekly.com/industry-survey-2025</a>
Previous Industry Surveys <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/For-Travel-Agents/Travel-Industry-Survey">https://www.travelweekly.com/For-Travel-Agents/Travel-Industry-Survey</a>

The biggest travel stories of 2025

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