„I was very crazy, so I had to do it“
Global Traveller Thor Pedersen talks about the joys and hardships of his ten year long journey around the entire world, reveals his favourite travel destination and gives three ultimate advices for longterm travellers.
Travel demand remains resilient, but geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and the rapid rise of AI are reshaping the industry faster than ever. In this episode, Dirk Rogl is joined by Olivier Ponti (Amadeus), Carlos Cendra Cruz (The Data Appeal Company) and Mitra Sorrells (Phocuswright) to discuss the current state of global travel. Who are the winners and losers of Summer 2026? How is AI changing traveller behaviour? Which trends are underestimated? And what should travel leader be watching on the road to ITB Berlin 2027?
What does luxury mean in 2026?
In this episode of the ITB Berlin Travel Hero Podcast, host Charlotte Lamp Davies is joined by Stuart Greif of Forbes Travel Guide and Janet Semenova of Boutique Travel Advisors to explore how luxury travel is evolving.
From personalisation and wellbeing to sustainability, authenticity and exclusive experiences, discover what today's affluent travellers value most and the trends shaping the future of luxury travel.
Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures, reflects on how travel can transform people, communities and societies. He speaks about rebuilding his company after COVID-19, why leaving the comfort zone is essential for meaningful travel and how community tourism can create real impact for local people around the world.
Camilo Navarro, COO & Co-Founder of Wheel the World, talks about the startup culture of Silicon Valley, how a personal experience revealed the barriers wheelchair travellers face and why accessible tourism is both a social mission and a major opportunity in an ageing world.
In this episode of the ITB Berlin Travel Hero Podcast, host Charlotte Lamp Davies is joined by Gitte Mikkelsen, Senior Manager at Wonderful Copenhagen, to explore women’s growing influence in destination marketing and management.
From leadership and career journeys to sustainability and positive impact tourism, Gitte shares insights on creating destinations that benefit both travellers and local communities — and what destination organisations should prioritise for the future.
„People are looking for that undiscovered hidden gem“
Wendy Olson Killion, CEO of Rome2Rio, talks about US tourism in difficult times, the benefits of AI for the industry and how traveller behaviour is shifting beyond the most well-known destinations. She also reflects on the growing interest in lesser-known places and shares personal insights, including lessons learned from cherry picking at home.
Dr. Frauke Fischer, Agentur Auf!, Business Biodiversity Expert
„The success of tourism relies on healthy Ecosystems“
Dr. Frauke Fischer, Business Biodiversity Expert at Agentur auf!, talks about her live in an African rain forest, the importance of biodiversiy for Tourism, and how AI will teach us to understand animals.
Key performance indicators (KPI) are playing an increasingly important role in the tourism industry. Key performance indicators can help sustain success, identify weaknesses, and minimize risks. This applies not only to business processes but also to issues such as sustainability, overtourism, and social integration. Martin Jahrfeld talks with Jannik Müller (Head of Market Research, Tourist Association of North Rhine-Westphalia) and Kai Partale (Senior Managing Partner, benchmark services) about strategies and opportunities in the use of KPIs.
Joschka Fischer, former German Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor, reflects on the geopolitical shifts shaping a new world order, the ambivalence of globalization and how travelling formed his character.