In Episode 5 of You Came to the Right Place, co-hosts Natasha Lair and Jen Mallia go behind the scenes of the 2026 TravelPulse Canada Readers’ Choice Awards.

Recorded just days after the event at the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, the episode offers a candid recap of the highs, hilarity and heartfelt moments that made this year’s awards unforgettable. The conversation covers everything from the explosive reactions inside the ballroom and the rise of ultra-competitive categories to music, fashion, and the meaning of the Readers’ Choice Awards to the industry.

“One of the biggest moments every year at the awards is the Canadian Travel Hall of Fame,” Lair says. “They were so honoured and appreciative, which felt really good.”

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Between them, Natasha Lair and Jen Mallia bring more than four decades of media and travel editorial experience to the mic. Ontario-based Natasha, Managing Editor of TravelPulse Canada, is warm, funny and deeply curious, known for finding the human angle and cutting through industry spin with factual, unbiased reporting. Edmonton-based Jen, Senior Editor and travel media expert, pairs two decades of travel editorial experience with charm, quick wit and sharp industry insight. From Central Canada to the West, they’ve got their ears to the ground, delivering real talk, smart analysis and just enough sarcasm to keep it interesting.

ABOUT THE SHOW

You Came to the Right Place is a Canadian travel industry podcast from TravelPulse Canada. Expect smart conversation, insider context, and the kind of straight talk that doesn’t always make it into a press release. Each episode blends candid conversations between two editors, interviews with industry leaders, advisors, destination execs, and the people behind the stories we publish. If you work in travel, you came to the right place.

In Episode 5 of You Came to the Right Place, co-hosts Natasha Lair and Jen Mallia go behind the scenes of the 2026 TravelPulse Canada Readers&rsquo; Choice Awards.
Recorded just days after the event at the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, the episode offers a candid recap of the highs, hilarity and heartfelt moments that made this year&rsquo;s awards unforgettable. The conversation covers everything from the explosive reactions inside the ballroom and the rise of ultra-competitive categories to music, fashion, and the meaning of the Readers&rsquo; Choice Awards to the industry.
&ldquo;One of the biggest moments every year at the awards is the Canadian Travel Hall of Fame,&rdquo; Lair says. &ldquo;They were so honoured and appreciative, which felt really good.&rdquo;
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Between them, Natasha Lair and Jen Mallia bring more than four decades of media and travel editorial experience to the mic. Ontario-based Natasha, Managing Editor of TravelPulse Canada, is warm, funny and deeply curious, known for finding the human angle and cutting through industry spin with factual, unbiased reporting. Edmonton-based Jen, Senior Editor and travel media expert, pairs two decades of travel editorial experience with charm, quick wit and sharp industry insight. From Central Canada to the West, they&rsquo;ve got their ears to the ground, delivering real talk, smart analysis and just enough sarcasm to keep it interesting.
ABOUT THE SHOW
You Came to the Right Place is a Canadian travel industry podcast from TravelPulse Canada. Expect smart conversation, insider context, and the kind of straight talk that doesn&rsquo;t always make it into a press release. Each episode blends candid conversations between two editors, interviews with industry leaders, advisors, destination execs, and the people behind the stories we publish. If you work in travel, you came to the right place.

Canada’s travel trade doesn’t need more spin — it needs real talk. On You Came to the Right Place, TravelPulse Canada's Natasha Lair and Jen Mallia unpack the news, trends, and tensions shaping the industry, with candid conversations and a distinctly Canadian point of view.

Between them, Natasha Lair and Jen Mallia bring more than four decades of media and travel editorial experience to the mic.

Ontario-based Natasha, Managing Editor of TravelPulse Canada, is warm, funny and deeply curious - known for finding the human angle and cutting through industry spin with factual, unbiased reporting. Edmonton-based Jen, Senior Editor and travel media expert, brings two decades of travel media experience, along with charm, quick wit and sharp industry insight.

Together, they deliver real talk, smart perspective and just enough sarcasm to keep it interesting.

Questions or comments? Contact us at mail@travelpulse.com

Canada&rsquo;s travel trade doesn&rsquo;t need more spin &mdash; it needs real talk. On&nbsp;You Came to the Right Place, TravelPulse Canada's Natasha Lair and Jen Mallia unpack the news, trends, and tensions shaping the industry, with candid conversations and a distinctly Canadian point of view.
Between them, Natasha Lair and Jen Mallia bring more than four decades of media and travel editorial experience to the mic.
Ontario-based Natasha, Managing Editor of TravelPulse Canada, is warm, funny and deeply curious - known for finding the human angle and cutting through industry spin with factual, unbiased reporting. Edmonton-based Jen, Senior Editor and travel media expert, brings two decades of travel media experience, along with charm, quick wit and sharp industry insight.
Together, they deliver real talk, smart perspective and just enough sarcasm to keep it interesting.
Questions or comments? Contact us at <a href="mailto:mail@travelpulse.com">mail@travelpulse.com</a>

You Came to the Right Place, by TravelPulse Canada

You Came to the Right Place: TravelPulse Canada’s Podcast

TravelPulse Canada’s Readers’ Choice Awards: Behind the Scenes of the Travel Industry’s Biggest Night

In episode six of You Came to the Right Place, Natasha Lair and Jen Mallia sit down with Ian Patterson, Country Manager for MSC Cruises Canada, to discuss what's driving demand among Canadian cruisers, the growing popularity of short sailings and MSC Yacht Club, and how the cruise line is expanding its Fly & Cruise options for Canadian travellers.

Patterson also shares insights on MSC Opera's new Dominican Republic homeport, the arrival of MSC World Europa in the Caribbean, what advisors should know about MSC World Asia, and the booking trends shaping the cruise market heading into 2027.

Whether you sell cruise regularly or are looking for new opportunities, this episode offers practical insights into one of the industry's fastest-growing cruise brands.

Episode 6 of You Came to the Right Place is now available on all major podcast platforms.

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Between them, Natasha Lair and Jen Mallia bring more than four decades of media and travel editorial experience to the mic. Ontario-based Natasha, Managing Editor of TravelPulse Canada, is warm, funny and deeply curious, known for finding the human angle and cutting through industry spin with factual, unbiased reporting. Edmonton-based Jen, Senior Editor and travel media expert, pairs two decades of travel editorial experience with charm, quick wit and sharp industry insight. From Central Canada to the West, they’ve got their ears to the ground, delivering real talk, smart analysis and just enough sarcasm to keep it interesting.

ABOUT THE SHOW

You Came to the Right Place is a Canadian travel industry podcast from TravelPulse Canada. Expect smart conversation, insider context, and the kind of straight talk that doesn’t always make it into a press release. Each episode blends candid conversations between two editors, interviews with industry leaders, advisors, destination execs, and the people behind the stories we publish. If you work in travel, you came to the right place.

In episode six of You Came to the Right Place, Natasha Lair and Jen Mallia sit down with Ian Patterson, Country Manager for MSC Cruises Canada, to discuss what's driving demand among Canadian cruisers, the growing popularity of short sailings and MSC Yacht Club, and how the cruise line is expanding its Fly &amp; Cruise options for Canadian travellers.
Patterson also shares insights on MSC Opera's new Dominican Republic homeport, the arrival of MSC World Europa in the Caribbean, what advisors should know about MSC World Asia, and the booking trends shaping the cruise market heading into 2027.
Whether you sell cruise regularly or are looking for new opportunities, this episode offers practical insights into one of the industry's fastest-growing cruise brands.
Episode 6 of You Came to the Right Place is now available on all major podcast platforms.
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Between them, Natasha Lair and Jen Mallia bring more than four decades of media and travel editorial experience to the mic. Ontario-based Natasha, Managing Editor of TravelPulse Canada, is warm, funny and deeply curious, known for finding the human angle and cutting through industry spin with factual, unbiased reporting. Edmonton-based Jen, Senior Editor and travel media expert, pairs two decades of travel editorial experience with charm, quick wit and sharp industry insight. From Central Canada to the West, they&rsquo;ve got their ears to the ground, delivering real talk, smart analysis and just enough sarcasm to keep it interesting.
ABOUT THE SHOW
You Came to the Right Place is a Canadian travel industry podcast from TravelPulse Canada. Expect smart conversation, insider context, and the kind of straight talk that doesn&rsquo;t always make it into a press release. Each episode blends candid conversations between two editors, interviews with industry leaders, advisors, destination execs, and the people behind the stories we publish. If you work in travel, you came to the right place.

The Next Wave of Cruise Travel: MSC's Ian Patterson Dishes on What's Selling, What's Changing and What's Next

In Episode 4 of You Came to the Right Place, co-hosts Natasha Lair and Jen Mallia sit down with Canadian media personality, travel writer, and parenting expert Kathy Buckworth to unpack one of the biggest trends advisors are navigating right now: multi-generational travel.

Fresh off a trip to Club Med in the Dominican Republic, Buckworth shares what really happens when you put three generations on one vacation—from car seats on planes to splitting suitcases with diapers and formula. The conversation dives into the logistics advisors don’t always see, the emotional dynamics at play, and why destination familiarity matters.

“Who needs more naps—granddad or the baby?”

Buckworth brings real credibility, and this is not another fluffy “multi-gen travel is trending” conversation—it’s what actually happens when you put grandparents, adult kids, and toddlers on one trip (tantrums, logistics, exhaustion), alongside practical takeaways advisors can use.

ABOUT THE HOSTS
Between them, Natasha Lair and Jen Mallia bring more than four decades of media and travel editorial experience to the mic. Ontario-based Natasha, Managing Editor of TravelPulse Canada, is warm, funny and deeply curious, known for finding the human angle and cutting through industry spin with factual, unbiased reporting. Edmonton-based Jen, Senior Editor and travel media expert, pairs two decades of travel editorial experience with charm, quick wit and sharp industry insight. From Central Canada to the West, they’ve got their ears to the ground, delivering real talk, smart analysis and just enough sarcasm to keep it interesting.

ABOUT THE SHOW
You Came to the Right Place is a Canadian travel industry podcast from TravelPulse Canada. Expect smart conversation, insider context, and the kind of straight talk that doesn’t always make it into a press release. Each episode blends candid conversations between two editors, interviews with industry leaders, advisors, destination execs, and the people behind the stories we publish. If you work in travel, you came to the right place.

In Episode 4 of You Came to the Right Place, co-hosts Natasha Lair and Jen Mallia sit down with Canadian media personality, travel writer, and parenting expert Kathy Buckworth to unpack one of the biggest trends advisors are navigating right now: multi-generational travel.
Fresh off a trip to Club Med in the Dominican Republic, Buckworth shares what really happens when you put three generations on one vacation&mdash;from car seats on planes to splitting suitcases with diapers and formula. The conversation dives into the logistics advisors don&rsquo;t always see, the emotional dynamics at play, and why destination familiarity matters.
&ldquo;Who needs more naps&mdash;granddad or the baby?&rdquo;
Buckworth brings real credibility, and this is not another fluffy &ldquo;multi-gen travel is trending&rdquo; conversation&mdash;it&rsquo;s what actually happens when you put grandparents, adult kids, and toddlers on one trip (tantrums, logistics, exhaustion), alongside practical takeaways advisors can use.
ABOUT THE HOSTS Between them, Natasha Lair and Jen Mallia bring more than four decades of media and travel editorial experience to the mic. Ontario-based Natasha, Managing Editor of TravelPulse Canada, is warm, funny and deeply curious, known for finding the human angle and cutting through industry spin with factual, unbiased reporting. Edmonton-based Jen, Senior Editor and travel media expert, pairs two decades of travel editorial experience with charm, quick wit and sharp industry insight. From Central Canada to the West, they&rsquo;ve got their ears to the ground, delivering real talk, smart analysis and just enough sarcasm to keep it interesting.
ABOUT THE SHOW You Came to the Right Place is a Canadian travel industry podcast from TravelPulse Canada. Expect smart conversation, insider context, and the kind of straight talk that doesn&rsquo;t always make it into a press release. Each episode blends candid conversations between two editors, interviews with industry leaders, advisors, destination execs, and the people behind the stories we publish. If you work in travel, you came to the right place.

Three Generations, One Itinerary: Parenting Expert Kathy Buckworth on Selling Multi-Gen Travel

In Episode Three of You Came to the Right Place, hosts Natasha and Jen sit down with Johanna “Joey” Silver, a travel consultant with Expedia Cruises in St. Albert, Alberta.

With more than eight years in the industry, Joey shares how she found her niche in curated, experience-driven travel, and why those “from-scratch” itineraries are where she thrives. She talks about the growing demand for immersive travel, the rise of set-jetting (yes, Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings fans, this one’s for you), and how advisors can turn one-time bookings into long-term relationships built on trust.

From client anxiety around global travel to shifting booking behaviours, Joey offers insight on navigating uncertainty and why transparency and realistic expectations matter more than ever.

Plus, in this episode’s Pulse Check, Joey weighs in on underrated trends, red-eye flights, and why “Eye of the Tiger” might just be the unofficial anthem of Canadian travel.

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Between them, Natasha Lair and Jen Mallia bring more than four decades of media and travel editorial experience to the mic. Ontario-based Natasha, Managing Editor of TravelPulse Canada, is warm, funny and deeply curious, known for finding the human angle and cutting through industry spin with factual, unbiased reporting. Edmonton-based Jen, Senior Editor and travel media expert, pairs two decades of travel editorial experience with charm, quick wit and sharp industry insight. From Central Canada to the West, they’ve got their ears to the ground, delivering real talk, smart analysis and just enough sarcasm to keep it interesting.

ABOUT THE SHOW

You Came to the Right Place is a Canadian travel industry podcast from TravelPulse Canada. Expect smart conversation, insider context, and the kind of straight talk that doesn’t always make it into a press release.Each episode blends candid conversations between two editors, interviews with industry leaders, advisors, destination execs, and the people behind the stories we publish. If you work in travel, you came to the right place.

In Episode Three of You Came to the Right Place, hosts Natasha and Jen sit down with Johanna &ldquo;Joey&rdquo; Silver, a travel consultant with Expedia Cruises in St. Albert, Alberta.
With more than eight years in the industry, Joey shares how she found her niche in curated, experience-driven travel, and why those &ldquo;from-scratch&rdquo; itineraries are where she thrives. She talks about the growing demand for immersive travel, the rise of set-jetting (yes, Game of Thrones&nbsp;and Lord of the Rings fans, this one&rsquo;s for you), and how advisors can turn one-time bookings into long-term relationships built on trust.
From client anxiety around global travel to shifting booking behaviours, Joey offers insight on navigating uncertainty and why transparency and realistic expectations matter more than ever.
Plus, in this episode&rsquo;s&nbsp;Pulse Check, Joey weighs in on underrated trends, red-eye flights, and why &ldquo;Eye of the Tiger&rdquo; might just be the unofficial anthem of Canadian travel.
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Between them, Natasha Lair and Jen Mallia bring more than four decades of media and travel editorial experience to the mic. Ontario-based Natasha, Managing Editor of TravelPulse Canada, is warm, funny and deeply curious, known for finding the human angle and cutting through industry spin with factual, unbiased reporting. Edmonton-based Jen, Senior Editor and travel media expert, pairs two decades of travel editorial experience with charm, quick wit and sharp industry insight. From Central Canada to the West, they&rsquo;ve got their ears to the ground, delivering real talk, smart analysis and just enough sarcasm to keep it interesting.
ABOUT THE SHOW
You Came to the Right Place&nbsp;is a Canadian travel industry podcast from TravelPulse Canada. Expect smart conversation, insider context, and the kind of straight talk that doesn&rsquo;t always make it into a press release.Each episode blends candid conversations between two editors, interviews with industry leaders, advisors, destination execs, and the people behind the stories we publish. If you work in travel, you came to the right place.

TravelPulse Canada’s Readers’ Choice Awards: Behind the Scenes of the Travel Industry’s Biggest Night

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