Travel Is Your Business – travel industry podcast

056 – Allison Daniels of Virgin – Traveling and Building a Better World

October 9, 2018Marc Raco Leave a Comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:28 — 52.0MB)

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Virgin and its mission of changing (travel) business for good…

Allison Daniels, Investment Manager at Virgin (a leading international investment group and one of the world’s most recognised and respected brands), joins John Matson and Bess Chapman in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser.

In this episode:

Changing business for good
Taking mundane experience or pain point and turning it into something better
Making things better from sustainability to safety videos
Capital intensive investment strategy, legacy and opportunistic
Taking people to the next frontier
Virgin Voyages – new cruise business
Whensuper-expericed people live and breathe the Virgin ethos and lead a new initiative
A new way to cruise in a sector hungry for disruption, integrate health and wellness and a beautiful ship designed in part by known designers on land, making ship work for customers, technology plays a big part
A lot more to be revealed about the ships, and the ecosystem on how the ships are built and limited suppliers
How new technology and innovation can allow Virgin to make new experiences available
Opening more hotels, how fit in voyage ecosystem
Hotels have distinguishing elements making them feel very “Virgin”, such a club that makes it feel like a members club
All rooms are chambers
Ships can sail where the hotels are, an entire Virgin experience
Virgin loyalty program, and creating a structured Virgin ecosystem
Making venture investments into innovation that have synergy to the general Virgin portfolio such as Ring
How offerings are changing because you have to do better for the customer has lasted in the industry
People now know what Virgin stands for
Brands to admire

055 – Yannis Moati of Hotels by Day – Reimagining Hotel Revenue

September 8, 2018Marc Raco Leave a Comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:39 — 58.1MB)

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Day-use hotel rooms with early check-in as a hospitality marketing and revenue hack…

Yannis Moati, CEO of Hotels by Day (gives travelers a comfortable daytime hotel room for half the price of an overnight stay), joins John Matson and Bess Chapman in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser.

In this episode:

The biggest opportunity hotel revenue management – the idea of reimagining a hotel
Revenue management is a new science, becoming complex
New orthodoxies in hotel revenue creation being developed regularly
Conversation has changed from disinterest to wanting to discuss
A niche play in nascent sector
Flexibility of hotel consumption, responding to an on demand society
A rigid check-in/out schedule doesn’t work for today’s society
Protocol, tech, marketing funnel to become more flexible one step at a time, because it’s a big operation
Hotels don’t see this as hourly play – more like a block of time
Types of hotels that Hotels by Day works with, segmenting customer base based on hotels they have
Sweet spot are 4 stars, then 3 stars, then 2 stars if they have a record of accomplishment
Customer acquisition is costly
A marketing hack to acquire new customers
Growing organically
Experience is the key in a day stay
Being on Shark Tank
Why Hotels by Day will be the winners by allowing hospitality to join when they are ready
Barely scratched surface of possible demand, giving it time to grow
Part of sharing economy, using idle space and making use of it in a different way
Technology doesn’t allow flexibility and agility to follow trends of modern society in hospitality, don’t have the right tools
And the reinvigoration of the soul by the sea
The main drive of being able to help people

054 – Chris Dankberg of Viasat – Chasing a 700mph Plane with WiFi

August 28, 2018Marc Raco Leave a Comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:10 — 56.4MB)

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The real story behind WiFi on flights with Viasat…

Chris Dankberg, who runs Partnerships for Viasat (a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected) joins John Matson and Bess Chapman in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser.

In this episode:

How Viasat is about solving really hard problems
Why WiFi is slow on flights
Prior to 5 years ago,ViaSat was about WiFi via satellite for government and private air services
People got used to texting and checking sites that were urgent for destination (weather, hotels, etc.)
The growth of market for Viasat’s tech , high capacity satellites over different frequency bands enabled differently, market wasn’t ready
Why WiFi on planes is so expensive
Allocating capacity on an as-needed basis
Unprecented bandwidth economics
The abiity that you could hand off seamlessly from ground to air started being palatable
The opportunity waited for Viasat to launch a satellite
Demand wasn’t forecasted correctly, so there wasn’t enough supply for demand
Started with business travelers with expense accounts
Battery life on laptops got better, people started using phones
Something not considered was that the whole plane would use wifi
Tech is evolving, organizing data on what is important to customers how they used it
Second and third screen use and solving that need
Pain point – trains – slower with more tunnels, different angle to sky
On the early side of making online video streaming real with companies like Amazon
Disconnecting when traveling because of little kids demanding full attention
Trips that changed Dankberg’s life, created big decisions

053 – Thomas Sparico of Brand New Matter and Gillian Morris of HitList – Venture Capital in Travel

August 22, 2018Marc Raco Leave a Comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:22 — 59.1MB)

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The state of travel, the explosion of travel technology, venture capital, and the future of the industry from the perspective of investors in the travel space…

Thomas Sparico, Founder/Managing Partner of Brand New Matter and Gillian Morris, Founder of HitList [Episode 33] join John Matson, Bess Chapman, and guest host Brandon McKenzie for a MouthMedia Network Live event recorded in front of a live audience at Experience by Knotel, an interactive space located in the heart of Noho in New York City (666 Broadway) designed to showcase the experience of working in a flexible, adaptable, always energized environment. Sponsored by Knotel – Your agile business deserves an agile space. Knotel will find, customize, and operate your ideal office while you focus on your business. Discover more at www.knotel.com

In this episode:

The fundraising landscape in travel, how it feels like someone else is getting all the money
A lot of investors have been burned in the travel industry
Location matters such as NY vs. SF
Knowing where to look, right people to talk to
B-to-B, B-to-C , and is B-to-C is the graveyard?
Liking people, liking business, taking data drven justifiable approach
Developing strategic and meaningful relationships
What Brand New Matter looks for in a company and founders
Strategic vs. nonstrategic money
Taking dumb money and how it affects a cap table
Q and A

Thomas Sparico is the Founder & Managing Partner of Brand New Matter (BNM) Ventures. BNM Ventures invests in pre-seed and seed stage companies. His current investments include Leaflink, Bizly, VenueBook, Seatboost, AirportSherpa, LYNQ, Beachy and Buster. He is an advisor to several travel industry companies including Rocketrip and Curacity. Tom is a career entrepreneur, inventor, operator and investor with 22 years of experience. He was part of the founding team at priceline.com and a named inventor on over 100 patents at Walker Digital Corp. He was the founder and CEO of Internet Travel Enterprises, led the acquisition and turnaround of Hickory Travel and the turnaround and subsequent sale of ECS to Onyx Centersource.

Gillian Morris is the founder and CEO of Hitlist, named one of the 50 Best Apps of 2016 by TIME. Before entering the start-up world, Gillian worked as a consultant, journalist, and educator in Turkey, China, the Gulf states, and Syria. Her work has appeared in/on the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Buzzfeed, CNN, CNBC, TechCrunch, The Next Web, and LifeHacker. She is a proud mentor with the School of Leadership Afghanistan and Gaza Sky Geeks and serves on the board of Data4America, a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank dedicated to bringing data and conversations to advance the understanding of policy.

052 – Ned Horneffer of Romeo Power Technology – Powering the Future of Travel

July 31, 2018Marc Raco Leave a Comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 48:06 — 55.2MB)

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Lithium battery-powered travel…

Ned Horneffer, Director of Business Development for Romeo Power Technology (creators of the world’s most energy-dense battery packs) joins John Matson and Bess Chapman in the MouthMedia Network studio powered by Sennheiser.

In this episode:

Romeo Power Technology is counting on that electrical is the future of transportation
Electrification will take over all forms of transportation, batteries tech will increase
The challenge of being able to retrofit vehicle with batteries
Startups can move quickly, they are really sold on lithium and electrification
Larger players, the secret is to find out how serious they are
Developing and getting a proof of concept for a fleet of vehicles
Regional transportation need so great, could affect regulation
Will technology affect consumer behavior, or will consumer need push technology development and adoption
Will people know how to handle it?
Flying cars
Influencing regulation as a brand
UL certification important
How battery power for aircraft can open up airports with noise restrictions
Marine sector is off and running
Norwegian strength
Battery-run cruise ships?
The danger of batteries and fires
Level of confidence in safety, tech is at a point that if you build batteries the right way they will never explode, single cell fault tolerance and pack construction avoid chain reactions
Punctures are a primary danger
Transportation is a means to an end
Appreciating the world is big when things go wrong with travel

051 – Travel Tech Infrastructure – Thinking Forward

July 27, 2018Marc Raco Leave a Comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:10 — 45.0MB)

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A fireside chat on innovation between representatives of two of the most forward thinking travel groups…

Photo credit: Eva Cruz, Crouching Tiger LLC

Rashesh Jethi (SVP Engineering for Americas & Head of Innovation for Airlines for the world’s largest GDS, Amadeus) and Bess Chapman (Operating Principal for JetBlue Technology Ventures) discuss travel tech infrastructure, innovation, and possibilities at the Travel Disruption Summit presented by Voyager HQ, and sponsored by Amadeus and Fareportal.

In this episode:

What AI means for the travel industry
How everything has changed with hyper-cheap hyper-computing
Used to depend on massive investments for AI, and now it simply requires a lot of data and smart people
How machine learning sit on top of that, what it means when airlines and other travel business starts really knowing customers
Machine learning is one discipline of AI, and it means you feed computer data, makes sense of data, make more personalized recommendations, much potential in marketing
How it is a challenge that many players are at different maturity in technology stacks
Many are moving to open APIs to encourage growth and innovation
Photo credit: Eva Cruz, Crouching Tiger LLC
Regulation issues an inhibitor to innovation, but most regulation is to keep us safe
Be respectful of regulation that’s there
GDPR an example
What it means that not all travel providers can keep up with changes at the same pace
Antiquated innovation all around
The biggest white space for disruption in airports
Why airports will be the malls of the future
Airports can be an oasis of commerce and relaxation
Prescreening and biometrics, making screening fast track, frictionless
Identifying you as a traveler, then providing you a contextual experience and a reference to what is available around you
Amadeus believes in tapping into the creative energy of anyone, supporting innovation
Overhyped technology (personal opinion) is blockchain
Bags as a huge white space, RFID, and more
How NDC change Amadeus’ current setup, and the next evolution in standard with a lot of interest from customers
AR and VR in the travel space, ideal use-cases, and why they could just become another screen we get used to
Using VR to book trips and for in-flight entertainment, shopping, training – and what are the challenges?
A lot of opportunity for companies to help other companies make money
What is looked for by Amadeus venture fund

050 – Justa Lujwangana of Curious on Tanzania – Accessing Africa

July 20, 2018Marc Raco Leave a Comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:20 — 49.7MB)

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All inclusive, authentic and immersive experiences in Tanzania…

Justa Lujwangana, founder of Curious on Tanzania (unforgettable, immersive, transformative experiences in Tanzania curated and led by locals), joins John Matson and Bess Chapman in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser.

In this episode:

Justa Lujwangana on being curious means search, dig deeper, not just a typical visit
Putting together guest logistics
Also an operator
Impetus of company, out of her own curiosities about her homeland
Africa offering lot of experiential marketing, like archeology, and big venue space bring South African experience alive
Having a team across the world while working from NYC
Giving back to local economy, building something sustainable
Experiences such as ooking classes, dancing, meeting one of more than 120 tribes
Zanzabar beach
Marketing strategies
Giraffe as a must-see animal

Curious on Tanzania is run by proud Tanzanians working together who are committed to leading and creating comprehensive, thematic travel experiences that make a positive, sustained difference to destinations and local people throughout Tanzania. They call this experiential travel – travel that goes deeper into the lives of those whom we all visit, and creates lasting relationships and true cultural exchange.

049 – Andrea Martinez of Boom Hospitality – Next Level Hotels

July 6, 2018Marc Raco Leave a Comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:26 — 45.3MB)

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Creative tactics and best business practices for hotels…

Andrea Martinez, President of Boom Hospitality (a hospitality consultancy firm helping boutique hotels, independent hotels, and F&B operations, open, grow, or convert their businesses with the use of creative tactics and best business practices) joins John Matson and Bess Chapman in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser.

In this episode:

The crucial need to properly understand your market
Boom Hospitality working mostly with boutique and out-of-the-box hotels
Tech in modern hospitality is so important, but not every guest is the same, simplicity is important
Mirrors with digital concierge, interactive maps, fun, equipped with things guests want and will use
The need to only adapt tech in a way you can adapt
The boutique traveler is looking for something very specific
Martinez is living a dream job, started in non profits
How we make development/construction more sustainable, less destructive on the environment and actually help the environment
Building a hotel within a mountain in a way that doesn’t hurt things around it
How it is important that social media and marketing about a project must be part of the conversation from the beginning and a priority, design, construction management guest experience, PR
Special cookies Martinez is obsessed with for a snack
An approach to driving to a hotel or a destination?
Methods of discovery – seeing online, Instagram, website, how common each method is
People wanting to go somewhere they saw and then researched
The need to be careful about defining local experiences
Bringing true authentic local experiences by partnering with and creating alliances with local destinations
Martinez’s experience in Latin America, Florida, bigger cities in US, Toronto
Politics plays a big role in how one develops because permits are different

048 – Kerri Zeil of Amadeus North America – That White Glove Startup Approach

June 26, 2018Marc Raco Leave a Comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:15 — 66.0MB)

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Partnering with the No. 1 travel technology partner, Amadeus, dedicated to helping travel companies launch, grow and succeed…

Kerri Zeil, Head of Amadeus for Startups, Online Travel Group, Amadeus North America, Inc. (the leading provider of IT solutions to the global tourism and travel industry — Amadeus for Startups provides technology, expertise and guidance to support travel startups throughout their journey) joins John Matson in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser.

In this episode:

Zeil reveals the substantial work Amadeus does in travel and understanding what startups need and what brands like Amadeus can do to help
Globalizing the startup program, how Zeil is in charge of the Americas
How Amadeus has a lot to offer, expertise, tech, info from customers already supported, how Amadeus can grow its own business through startups
No specific business model is larger than the next
Travel tech startups offer opportunities to scale and provide value
Amadeus originally looked at the program narrow lens, and it has has gown enormously
The program has grown year after year, created a partner community to add value, each program looked at uniquely, providing value across the board
Expertise in various areas of travel and working to harness that, and how internal partners want to help
Help startups launch at scale
High quality startups coming into the program and being able to be choosier to come in and can rise to the top, while helping virtually anyone coming in the door
How Amadeus doesn’t invest or take equity
When Amadeus cannot help some companies with APIs or tech solutions, but that company might fall into the area of venture partnerships and then introduce to that internal partner
Looking for companies even outside of core values, but can find ways to plug in that can enhance the business, that can bring value within tech stacks, exploring blockchain a bit, in-destination activity,
Axa as a great startup story, another is Freebird (a very unique idea) which developed into a partner with Amadeus
Is there a secret sauce possible at Amadeus for working with startups (think white glove approach)
Amadeus is located in Spain, how it interacts with the Americas
Pitching in front of The Dragons Den
Getting calls from around the world from people who want to help
How Amadeus created a blueprint for people for this program to work globally, leaders of company started to recognize this is happening everywhere,
Bankok and Singapore are big spots
A cultural shift
Commonality across startups, enthusiasm, the travel industry as a whole isn’t an industry to get into, infrastructure moves at snails pace, complicated and regulated, can be frustrating and difficult to understand, in a discovery phase for info and data to be even do diligence on Amadeus’ part, give startups some hope
The industry has attention on, and is engaging, startups to help dig out from technological past, recognizing the need for advancement
Why the travel industry is likely in for the long haul in commitment and funding, albeit cautious and focused approach, at a crossroads of the old travel industries and innovators
The need to not disrupt cash cow at companies while getting out of same things that keep happening – that’s the right path
Continuing to shape the future of travel

047 – Corey Angelo of Wanderfuel – Traveling Well

June 12, 2018Marc Raco Leave a Comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:02 — 43.1MB)

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Health food and wellness content for travelers…

Corey Angelo, Founder/CEO of Wanderfuel (carefully curated, seasonally rotating boxes of organic products alongside lifestyle content that educates and supports well-being while traveling) joins John Matson and Bess Chapman in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser.

In this episode:

How wellness touches us at all times, taking care of yourself
Educating people with a great content experience, and how it makes travel better
Bringing together healthy snack and amenity kits in environmentally friendly packaging
Wanderfuel‘s core ethos includes nourish, relax, detox
Meditation, podcasts, intent to become like a Netflix-like safe list of things tailored for type and length of travel
The biggest wellness snafu on the road and being disconnected from regular wellness routines, committing to rituals and practices each day
Maintaining rituals on the road
Something about being on the road where you let go of being healthiest — how do you get people to carry it with you?
Coaching yourself, how you’ll feel after, and combining it with interesting and fun content experiences
The travel industry is investing in its consumer
Working closely to scale offering including with American Airlines, wellness zones in major airports, livening up atmospheres, and working with strong partners
Angelo’s “Zen place”, and pole vaulting
Inspiration and a moment of exhale when training for a marathon
The moment it all clicked
Staying curious, exploring more