Brian Jewell

Lexington

Executive Editor at The Group Travel Leader

Brian a travel journalist, executive editor of The Group Travel Leader family of magazines, and host of the Gather and Go podcast.

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Articles

One Mom's Journey from Guide to Owner

1 week ago | grouptravelleader.com | Brian Jewell

What would it take for you to grow in your tourism career? For Lorna Holland, it took a customer who believed in her. After years as a freelance tour director, Lorna and her husband took a client’s idea and turned it into not one but two tour companies. Today they operate TourDCWithUs and VaFeltre Tours in addition to raising a young daughter and managing home life in Italy.
OnSite in Louisiana

2 weeks ago | grouptravelleader.com | Brian Jewell

Louisiana’s capital city region is full of big flavors and colorful characters. That’s what seven tour operator and travel planner readers of The Group Travel Leader discovered during a five-day familiarization tour hosted by the Louisiana Office of Tourism. The hub-and-spoke tour, which was based in Baton Rouge and featured excursions into nearby towns and parishes, showcased Cajun culture, wonderful wildlife, fascinating local history and some of the best food in the capital city and beyond.
Looking Ahead to Summer

2 weeks ago | grouptravelleader.com | Brian Jewell

Idon’t know about you, but I can’t wait for summer. In my hometown of Lexington, Kentucky, mid-May can be hot, cold, sunny, rainy, windy — or an unpredictable mix. But whatever the weather is like, by this time in late spring, I’m usually eager for summer to begin. There’s a lot to love about summer. School is out, the weather is nice, the world tends to slow down a bit. I’m looking forward to all those things.
Surfing and Beer? There's a Tour For That

3 weeks ago | grouptravelleader.com | Brian Jewell

Surfing, stretching and drinking… in a group trip? As a burnt-out fitness professional, Mantas Zvinas was looking for a group vacation that didn’t exist. So he created one for himself. That inspired the founding of SurfYogaBeer, a tour company that has become popular among the young and active. Mantas joins this episode of the podcast to tell his group travel story, explain how his trips build friendships between strangers and share tips for aspiring tourism entrepreneurs.
Revealed: Black Travel's Hidden Heroes

1 month ago | grouptravelleader.com | Brian Jewell

Today’s Black travelers are standing on the shoulders of giants. David Jackson is on a mission to make sure these hidden heroes finally get their stories told. After spending most of his career in hospitality, meetings and destination management, David answered the call to join some colleagues in resurrecting the historic Green Book, a segregation-era resource for Black travelers.
Now is the Time to Get Into Student Travel

1 month ago | grouptravelleader.com | Brian Jewell

The student travel industry is ripe with opportunity. Gaurav Namit believes there’s unlimited potential for this tourism market segment. As a board member of the Student and Youth Travel Association, and vice president of Four Winds Tour and Travel, he has seen many eras of student and youth travel. Gaurav joins this episode of the podcast to discuss why student travel is so important, what’s driving its impressive growth and how travel professionals can get involved.
The "Super Spenders" Shaping Group Travel… and How to Reach Them

2 months ago | grouptravelleader.com | Brian Jewell

Your ideal travel customer may be easier to reach than you think. Everybody says they they love travel, but some people actually demonstrate that with their spending. Anna Cashman, head of B2B brand insights for GetYourGuide, has dug deep into the data to find the “super spenders” that shape the group travel industry — and who are poised to be your best customers. She joins this episode of the podcast to share who these super spenders are and how you can reach them.
Break Out with a Great Breakfast

2 months ago | grouptravelleader.com | Brian Jewell

When was the last time you treated your group to a really wonderful breakfast on the road? I’m a sucker for a great breakfast. I don’t mean a continental breakfast — even the trendy upgraded kind with a couple of hot dishes set out alongside the yogurt and pastries. I’m talking about a breakfast with real scrambled eggs (not from a box), bacon, biscuits, fresh fruit and more. If there’s an omelet station or an opportunity for made-to-order pancakes, even better.
ABA Marketplace Impresses New CEO Fred Ferguson

2 months ago | grouptravelleader.com | Brian Jewell

PHILADELPHIA — Nearly 3,000 transportation and tourism professionals gathered for the American Bus Association Marketplace, which took place February 1–4 in Philadelphia. The event, which has become the largest group travel tradeshow in North America, generated some 7,000 room nights for Philadelphia hotels and about a $5 million economic impact for the city.
Can AI Make You A Better Guide?

2 months ago | grouptravelleader.com | Brian Jewell

Does artificial intelligence spell the beginning of the end of the tourism profession? Or can using AI make you a better guide and help you build a more profitable company? Micky Kandola believes AI is nothing but good news for guides, tour operators and other tourism professionals. As a veteran tour director, he has found ways to leverage the power of AI to get better and faster at his work, and he loves helping others do the same.