What do your favorite jeans have to do with the future of travel?

Travel has been through more than its share of ups and downs over the past three years. And as travel planners and promoters look to the future, forecasting trends isn’t easy. In this episode, Gather and Go host Brian Jewell shares how the history of blue jeans sheds can help us understand cultural trends that will impact the tourism industry in the coming years.

His presentation, Travolution: Cultural Trends That Are Reshaping Tourism, was delivered April 19, 2023 at STS Domestic Showcase in Huntsville, Alabama. We’re sharing the entire talk in this episode. Don’t forget to scroll down for links to many of the resources and past episodes he mentions.

Brian’s talk included lots of helpful data. Here’s a copy of the presentation slides with links to underlying research sources.

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The Changing Face of Group Travel with Contiki’s Ian Kynor

On this episode of the Gather and Go podcast, Ian Kynor of Contiki explains why young adults are embracing group travel.

Equalizing Opportunities in Tourism with Stephanie Jones

Diversity advocate Stephanie Jones joins the podcast to talk about creating pathways to success in tourism for underrepresented groups.

3:35 — How tourism is like your pants

9:54 — Finding travel trends in the midst of trauma

14:07 — Affordability: How rising prices are changing the travel landscape

15:23 — The upward trajectory of hotel pricing

23:13 — Community: How America’s friendship crisis impacts tourism

28:28 — The value of travel for building relationships

31:22 — Diversity: How travelers want to see themselves reflected on trips

38:17 — How much do travelers value diversity?

40:28 — How travel can change culture for the better

Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators and travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they work with, as well as destination marketers, museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes a featured conversation with a smart and influential travel leader. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.

You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.

Have questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send them to us at podcast@grouptravelleader.com.

Thanks for listening!