The Best Part of Travel
The Best Part of Travel podcast takes you inside the business of destination experiences. That’s all the things you do when you get there. It’s been an underdog sector of the wider travel industry for decades, but the world is catching on, as more people prioritize experiences over things. It’s a sector filled with passionate people, incredible stories, as well as a lot of unique and interesting challenges. In each episode, your hosts — Janelle Visser from Arival and industry veteran Stephen Joyce — will explore a different topic that’s relevant for operators of tours, activities and attractions today. Our talks with top industry leaders are peppered with the latest insights from Arival’s industry and consumer research, and salted with a bit of sass.
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Hope, Highlights & Happy Moments: Reviewing the Best Parts of Season Two
01:06:56 5 February 2026
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Themes, Trends & Trust: Experiences in 2026 and Beyond
59:42 13 January 2026
Guest Erik Blachford, Founder, Pine5 Ventures
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Popups, Pinkmas and Planning Ahead: One New York Attraction’s Approach to Special Events
57:53 9 December 2025
Guest Haley Ward, Vice President of Sales, Hudson Yards
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Safaris, Climate Strategy & Small Group Tours: Intrepid Travel’s Journey from Small Groups to Global Brand
59:57 25 November 2025
Guest James Thornton, CEO, Intrepid Travel, Intrepid Travel
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Moments, Moola & Multi-Day Tours: Booking Tech & Distribution for Multi-Day Operators
57:17 7 November 2025
Guests Travis Pittman, CEO, TourRadar Erika Sternburg, Director of Strategic Accounts, WeTravel
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Strategies, Secrets & Sea Urchin: One Food Tour Company’s Recipe to Rapid Growth
54:36 23 October 2025
Guests Oliver Mernick-Levene, Executive Director Co-Founder , Secret Food Tours Nico Jacquart, Co-founder & CEO, Secret Food Tours
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Private, Personalized & Global: Behind Context Travel’s OTA-free Expansion
57:48 18 September 2025
Guest June Chin, CEO, Context Travel
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Experiences, Economy, Evolution: The Rise of The Transformation Economy
44:16 26 August 2025
Guest Joe Pine, Author | Speaker | Advisor, Strategic Horizons LLP
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AI, Androids & Destination Experiences: Janette Roush, Chief AI Officer at Brand USA
48:48 10 July 2025
Guest Janette Roush, SVP, Innovation and Chief AI Officer, Brand USA
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What’s Next in Booking Tech with FareHarbor CEO Andrea Carini
53:33 17 June 2025
Guest Andrea Carini, CEO, FareHarbor
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Koalas, Collaboration & Cultural Attractions
50:23 16 May 2025
Guests Annabel Sullivan, Executive Officer, Cultural Attractions of Australia Catherine Hughes, Business Development Manager, Visitor Experiences, Sydney Opera House Mirjam Hilgeman, Museum Shipkeeper (Duyfken), Australian National Maritime Museum
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Top 5 Travel Trends in 2025
58:27 22 April 2025
Guest Dan Christian, Founder & Host, Travel Trends Podcast