Brand USA Talks Travel

Kristin Dunne and Dawnielle Tehama introduce the innovative Wayfinder framework, a strategic approach that helps destinations balance tourism with community priorities, foster economic growth, manage risks, and adapt to evolving challenges. Discover how this model enables destinations to thrive while safeguarding their unique character for future generations. Kristin Dunne is Director, Destination Stewardship at Miles Partnership and Co-Deputy Chair at Tourism Industry Aotearoa. Dawnielle Tehama is Senior Associate Principal at Coraggio Group and Executive Director at Willamette Valley Visitors Association.

Explore how Fort Worth, Texas has become a global model for music-driven tourism. Mark is joined by Bob Jameson, CEO of Visit Fort Worth, and Shain Shapiro, Founder of Sound Diplomacy, to discuss strategies that blend music and cultural policy to elevate tourism, economic growth, and quality of life. Learn how data-informed insights, initiatives like the Fort Worth Music Office, and support for local artists are transforming Fort Worth into a cultural hub.

Movies have the unique power to create emotional connections and inspire us to explore the world. Mark sits down with Erik Nachtrieb and Charlie Hartsock, the team behind SetJetters — a groundbreaking mobile app that brings film tourism to life. SetJetters allows fans to step into the scenes of their favorite films with pinpoint accuracy. With over 7,000 iconic locations from more than 1,500 movies, this app transforms movie magic into real-world adventures. As Erik and Charlie put it, “Come for the movie, stay for the experience.” Erik Nachtrieb, CEO, and Charlie Hartsock, CFO, share the story behind SetJetters and why they believe it can revolutionize the way we experience the places we've seen on screen.

Group travel has strong growth ahead and is more demographically diverse than ever, according to Brian Jewell, VP & Executive Editor of The Group Travel Leader. In this episode, Brian debunks stereotypes concerning group travel and explains why the future looks bright. He also shares insight into international groups and faith-based group travel.

We kick off the new year with Jenny Southan, Founder and CEO of U.K. travel trend forecasting agency Globetrender. Jenny shares Globetrender's 5 big travel trend predictions for 2025, from appealing to travelers' sense of nostalgia to uplift from Asia.

Take a journey through some of the top moments of 2024 with insights from Geoff Freeman, Julie Coker, Elliott Ferguson, Cambria Jones, Nick Hentschel, Liz Bittner, David Gilbert, Katie Streater, Taylor Ruoff Snider, Mike Mangeot, Jeremy Jauncey, Sophie Morgan, Nick Hall, Seth Orozco, and Fred Dixon. This special year-end review offers a curated audio tour of the year’s most intriguing conversations. Hear a highlight that catches your interest? Dive deeper by exploring the full episode in our podcast feed. Thank you for joining us this year—safe travels, and we’ll see you in 2025!

Mark and Sammy Malave Jr., Manager of Creative Insights at Getty Images, explore how visuals can transform travel marketing. Discover how Getty Image’s VisualGPS informs creative decisions with data, learn about common image licensing challenges, and understand why authenticity matters. This episode is packed with actionable advice for marketers, content creators, and creatives alike.

Daniel Wiener and Matt Clarke share how KAYAK empowers travelers, explain how destinations utilize their services, and happily debunk common travel planning myths. Daniel Wiener is KAYAK's Senior Director of Ad Sales and Data Partnerships, and Matt Clarke is Vice President of North America Marketing.

From what started as a family passion for David to now being named one of the top five private airlines in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler, David Zipkin chats with Mark about his company Tradewind Aviation. You’ll get a glimpse into the exclusive world of luxury private aviation, plus, sustainable practices that are shaping the future of air travel. David Zipkin is the co-founder of Tradewind Aviation.

Mark quizzes Michelle Denogean about Mindtrip’s proposition for consumers and businesses and how it differs from other products. She also delivers solid career advice for upward mobility in any company. Michelle Denogean is Chief Marketing Officer at Mindtrip and author of GrowUp: Take Your Startup To The Next Level.