All-Inclusive Adventures with Apple Leisure's Jacki Marks

Fasten your seatbelts as we embark on a journey with Jacqueline Marks, Executive Vice President of Apple Leisure Group. Starting with a rapid-fire round revealing Jacki's travel preferences, we swiftly transition into the dynamic world of multi-brand vacations, charter air services, and the evolving landscape of all-inclusive holiday packages. Jacki also brings along insider travel tips to upgrade your vacation game and shares her unique experiences of managing corporate transitions.

Later in the show, we dig into the hottest travel deals with Jessica Deverson, discuss the controversial topic of "skip lagging", and evaluate the impact of AI on the travel industry. Plug in your headphones, sit back, and let the adventure begin!

Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

Mike Putman: Welcome to No Tourists Allowed, a podcast where two recognized travel industry executives with a combined 71 years on the inside of travel and technology give up their secrets to the thing everyone wants to do. Travel better, pay less, and see more of the world. Here are your hosts, Mike Putman and James Ferrara.

Mike Putman: Good day, everyone. I'm Mike Putman.

James Ferrara: And I'm James Ferrara. Welcome to No Tourists Allowed. It's good to be back on a somewhat consistent basis. This will be two weeks in a row, Mike.

Mike Putman: This is a record for us. I'm glad to be back. We have a very special guest today. It is very hard to have a travel podcast and be a travel professional because James and I are on the road all the time and it makes things a little difficult.

James Ferrara: And we've had some other challenges this year. Mike, this is week three of my new teeth and I'm getting progressively better. I have a Hollywood smile, that's for sure. Still tripping on my words a little bit, but I'll get there. So thank you all for your podcast patience.

Mike Putman: Mike, you mentioned we have a very special guest and you're right. We're continuing our discussions on this podcast with leaders in the travel industry, some of whom you know, and some of whom you may not be familiar with. These are all very high-level people.

James Ferrara: This week we have a good friend of ours, Jackie Marks. She is the Executive Vice President of Apple Leisure Group with a 20-year plus career with Apple and its related brands. For some of you, that might be a name that doesn't ring a bell, but amazingly, it is one of the largest leisure travel distributors in the world.

Getting to Know Jackie Marks: Travel Preferences

James Ferrara: We want you to know more about it. We're going to talk with Jackie about what brands are there. There's a whole resort management part of the business and you will recognize some of those brands, great all-inclusive resorts and famous resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.

James Ferrara: You may also not know that they are the nation's largest provider of charter flights and really the largest vertically integrated seller of all-inclusive vacation packages in the US, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and probably several other places.

James Ferrara: Let's bring on the real expert on all of this. We're going to talk about travel, both from an industry point of view, but also some personal travel things with Jackie Marks. Welcome, Jackie.

Jackie Marks: Thank you so much for having me, James and Mike. If you didn't have such a good job, I might have to hire you because you clearly know our company very well, which we appreciate.

James Ferrara: We've been great partners together with InteleTravel and Apple and all the related brands. You're also pretty cool and good to be friends with in the industry.

Jackie Marks: Yeah, we've had some fun together, for sure.

Mike Putman: I do this thing with our guests all the time. It's a rapid-fire little personal survey. We just want our listeners to learn a little bit more about you personally through your travel preferences. First question is, what is your favorite destination?

Jackie Marks: The heart of our company: Riviera Maya.

Mike Putman: For our listeners out there who might not fully understand what Riviera Maya defines, could you do that real quickly?

Jackie Marks: The destination that you fly into that most people think of is Cancun. But Cancun has multiple areas beyond just the core downtown zone. You have the Riviera Maya area, the Puerto Morelos area, and the Isla Mujeres area.

Jackie Marks: It's a destination that sometimes, if you don't understand it, you don't realize there are multiple areas. Just because you fly into Cancun doesn't mean you stay in Cancun; you stay in some of these other spectacular areas as well.

James Ferrara: I was recently in Tulum and Playa del Carmen, all of which you access through Cancun.

Mike Putman: All right. The next question, Jackie, is a real softball, but what is your favorite hotel or resort chain or brand?

Jackie Marks: Your listeners may not know what this is when I say it, but it would be the Hyatt Inclusive Collection, which is better known by one of our two main properties: Secrets or Dreams. Hyatt Inclusive Collection is the overarching umbrella of all of those different resort brands.

Mike Putman: And it just so happens that's your favorite brand too, huh?

Jackie Marks: It is. But I will be honest with you. Funny story that I'll share with you is that I came from a company prior to the merger that could not sell these properties due to a fiercely competitive situation.

Jackie Marks: I got so much feedback about these properties in the position I was in and I couldn't sell them. One time I tried to do a site inspection to see what all the hype was about and they actually wouldn't let me on. They knew who I was and they said, "No, you can't come on."

Jackie Marks: After we went through the merger and we got to start selling them, I finally understood what all the hype was about. Even though it is part of our company, I can say that for a long time before it was part of our company, it was something that I knew was highly demanded. I just never understood why until I could find it.

Mike Putman: I got a chance to experience it last year as well. My niece actually got married at Secrets. We had a great experience with quite a few people down there and the staff did a tremendous job. It was a very spectacular wedding.

Jackie Marks: Which Secrets were you at?

Mike Putman: Playa Mujeres.

Jackie Marks: Oh, so my daughter just a couple of months ago got married at Dreams Playa Mujeres, which is the sister property connected to Secrets.

James Ferrara: I guess my invitations to all these weddings got lost in the mail.

Jackie Marks: I think so. We kind of maxed out. We actually had the largest wedding that the destination and our chains have ever seen. We had two hundred and fifteen guests. We really rivaled many of the weddings that had been there before. They did it with grace and class and it was amazing.

Mike Putman: Great. Congratulations. My last question for you on this rapid-fire round is: what is the best excursion you've ever been on?

Jackie Marks: This is an easy answer for me. I'm going to have to give you a two-part answer. Puerto Vallarta is a destination that has more excursions that I think people don't know about and should know about.

Jackie Marks: There's an excursion in Puerto Vallarta called outdoor adventure zip line and speedboat where you take a speedboat across to this jungle area. You rappel down waterfalls, zip line through the area, and ride donkeys up the mountain to get to the area where you're going to zip line.

Jackie Marks: It's just this really fun, high-energy excursion. But I also have to say in Puerto Vallarta, we took a day trip over to Sayulita and we learned to surf. It's one of the few destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean where you can surf. So for me, that was the most memorable by far. Unique opportunities in a destination people wouldn't expect.

James Ferrara: Jackie, you're so adventurous. Mike went golfing and I had a boozy lunch.

Jackie Marks: Everybody takes their vacations differently.

Understanding Apple Leisure Group and Its Brands

Mike Putman: I had a chance to do the same thing in Puerto Vallarta and that is an outstanding experience. So thanks for letting us in a little bit. Let's turn to the company and give our travelers an understanding of what the company is and what brands are there.

Jackie Marks: There might be some confusion about what we do. Our parent company is called Apple Leisure Group. Our parent company is owned by Hyatt Hotels, which is something relatively new to us. But we've been in business for over fifty years.

Jackie Marks: When you book with us, you're not booking Apple Leisure Group; you are booking one of our six vacation brands. Four of those vacation brands we own. Two of our vacation brands we manage for other companies.

Jackie Marks: Our core brands are Apple Vacations, Funjet Vacations, and Travel Impressions. Those three brands sell everything from domestic to Europe to Mexico, Caribbean, and Hawaii with a full-service product line. Then we have a specialty brand called Blue Sky Tours, which only sells Hawaii.

Jackie Marks: Then we also manage two brands for our airline partners. I'm sure your audience has definitely heard of Southwest Vacations and United Vacations. We have such great relationships with those airline partners that they've entrusted us to run their vacation division, which is our specialty.

Jackie Marks: Six really amazing brands. Everything from your hotel, your air, your excursions, and your transfers. All of our brands are about packaging all the aspects of the trip into one.

The Value of Packaged Vacations and Charter Flights

Jackie Marks: For your audience that hasn't bought a package before, the value of a package with us is that by bundling all of the things, we get what is called net rates because they're not displaying the hotel rate publicly like a land-only product would be.

Jackie Marks: By getting reduced rates in a packaged environment, we're able to offer the customers a better deal by putting it all into one vacation versus componently shopping for their vacation.

James Ferrara: I tell customers and have for years that the packaging concept in travel can save them thirty to thirty-five percent in value as opposed to them trying to do it a la carte, piece by piece. That's my estimation, but it comes after many years of doing this.

Jackie Marks: You are spot on, James. Also, by having one provider that's taking care of all those details, that adds a level of convenience and confidence for the traveler as well.

James Ferrara: We tend to feel on the retail side that if we can sell a package with charter air, which is privately secured air by the company—either they own the planes or they have secured all the seats—that's where the best overall package rates come into play.

Jackie Marks: Absolutely. On the charter air side, one of our philosophies has been providing the best nonstop service to get our customers to destinations. The airline industry is tough; there have been a lot of schedule changes, takedowns, and delays.

Jackie Marks: Over the years, we've believed in controlling the product for the best experience for the customer. We go out and secure four hundred thousand seats across the nation from many of the major gateways like Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver, and St. Louis.

Jackie Marks: By controlling the air experience, we've purchased those seats on an existing carrier like Frontier or Sun Country, or we've gone and gotten an entire aircraft like Swift Air and used Allegiant planes. We basically rent their planes for a period of time in which we are servicing the customer to the destination.

Jackie Marks: This allows us to get them there early in the morning and come back later in the day on nonstop flights in gateways where nonstop flights are minimal or very high priced. Because we've secured a flat rate across the board, it's a very unique thing that has differentiated our experience.

Jackie Marks: The last thing I will say regarding packaging it all together is that we also have an insurance product that covers everything you buy. If you componently shop, it would cost you a lot to protect your vacation.

Jackie Marks: Our insurance product covers your tours, your car rental, your hotel, and your air. If you cancel, all components of your vacation are protected.

Resort Management and the Hyatt Inclusive Collection

James Ferrara: To our listeners, these are things that you really want to start a discussion with your professional travel advisor about. The idea of package vacations, charter air, and travel insurance. Jackie, let's go beyond what you've described. There's also the resort and resort management end of your business, right?

Jackie Marks: We are a very vertically integrated company. We really want to ensure the experience you have is something that we can put our name on. We have a ground handler that takes care of you in the destination. When you arrive in many of our core destinations, that ground handler is getting you to your hotel and taking you on excursions.

Jackie Marks: As James mentioned, we also have a hotel management company: the Hyatt Inclusive Collection. We have a hundred and fifty hotels where we are managing the hotel experience, including Secrets, Dreams, Zoëtry, and Breathless.

Jackie Marks: We work with hotel owners to run their hotels for them and give the level of service we think a customer deserves. Our division is Hyatt Inclusive Collection. Prior to that, it was called AM Resorts. Once we were acquired by Hyatt Hotels, it became Hyatt Inclusive Collection.

Jackie Marks: There are a hundred and fifty hotels from Mexico and the Caribbean, and we're growing rapidly in Europe now. It is a little different; a Secrets in Greece is going to be very different than a Secrets in Mexico. A European product is going to fit more of the European model. But the same attention to service, food, and experience goes without saying across all 150 resorts.

The Rise and Evolution of All-Inclusive Resorts

James Ferrara: One of the trends that Mike and I have talked about a lot lately is this incredible growth in all-inclusive vacations amongst our listeners and travelers in general. At my company, we saw a tripling of all-inclusive vacation sales through the pandemic up till today. What is it that resonates so much?

Jackie Marks: Part of the reason all-inclusive grew is because there weren't a lot of other places people could go initially. Cruises were shut down, Disney was questionable due to the number of people, and Europe was shut down.

Jackie Marks: First, we thank the market for giving us a try because that really exploded our business from people who hadn't thought that all-inclusive was their thing. I think the reason why some people didn't think it was their thing is that there was a stigma in the past that has been gone for a while, but until you experience it, you don't realize that.

Jackie Marks: A lot of people used to think all-inclusives were like herding cattle through buffets—low quality and mass market. That couldn't be further from the truth. After COVID, as more people experienced them, they started sharing their experiences on social media.

Jackie Marks: They started realizing the dining was incredible. The shows at the resort became way more than they remembered. It's not just a Michael Jackson show everywhere you go. There are beach parties, spas, large water parks, and cigar shops for those after-dinner experiences.

Jackie Marks: These resorts continue to try to top each other. Every resort is remodeling to keep up with the Joneses. The all-inclusive experience is so much more than the stigma it had gotten years ago. It really has become this immersive choice. There's a resort for you out there; you just have to know what you're looking for.

Mike Putman: I can remember twenty or thirty years ago when all-inclusives were limited to just a few brands in certain regions. It was great for couples, but there was typically a beach restaurant, a lobby restaurant, a couple of bars, and maybe some canoes.

Mike Putman: Today, the breadth of opportunities is amazing. There are sports bars, discos, and games by the pool. It's amazing how upscale and diverse they have gotten. At Secrets, there were six or seven specialty dining restaurants. You could literally experience a different type of cuisine every single night and have the flexibility that it's all paid for. You can relax and not worry about spending additional money.

James Ferrara: And kind of apropos for our podcast, there are more opportunities to get off-property also or to have the local culture brought on-property so that you're having an authentic travel experience if you do this right. Some people carry the misconception that you're going to be shut in on the property and it'll be generic.

Jackie Marks: I think sometimes people think, "If I stay at an all-inclusive, I'm less likely to go off-site because I've spent all this money." But the reality is the all-inclusive is such a value that when you go off-property, you're only going for maybe a half a day.

Jackie Marks: You're going into town, you're doing Chichen Itza, you're going over to Isla Mujeres. It doesn't take away from the fact that you've got the value and a great experience on property. I always say if you know what kind of excursions you want to do, stay a little bit closer to those.

Jackie Marks: If you're in Isla Mujeres, it can be two hours to get to the ruins, so you probably don't want to stay there if seeing the ruins is important to you. But if you're interested in snorkeling and going across the ocean to a really cool beachy island where you get to go to beach bars and barter, then Isla Mujeres is the perfect location for that.

Jackie Marks: Your advisor knows the best place for you to stay. The more you tell them, the more they can pair up the right resort and destination for you.

Top Value Destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean

Mike Putman: You used the word value several times. A lot of times when we're talking about travel, consumers say they want a "cheap" vacation. Really, no one wants a cheap vacation; people want a great vacation at a great value. What are the better value locations to travel to in the Caribbean?

Jackie Marks: Mexico will always be your best value nine times out of ten over your traditional Caribbean islands, with the exception of Punta Cana. Your Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, and Riviera Maya areas tend to bring the best value.

Jackie Marks: The reason being is there are more flights into that destination than any other destination that we serve. The more flights that go in, the lower the price. The more hotels, the lower the price, because there's a competitive nature that causes prices to stay low.

Jackie Marks: It's not because it's a poor experience. It's just typical supply and demand. When you get into destinations in the Caribbean islands, they tend to be more expensive because there isn't a lot of airlift and there aren't many hotels.

Jackie Marks: Punta Cana would be the one exception in the Caribbean islands where there are a lot of hotels and flights, so you do get that better deal. It's not all Mexico destinations, though. Cabo, for example, is harder to get to, so that is a little bit more of a higher-priced Mexico destination.

Jackie Marks: Sometimes people think they're getting a cheap price because it's Cancun. It is not cheap because it's Cancun. Cancun and Riviera Maya are some of the best experiences I've ever had. Again, supply and demand drives the pricing.

Pro Travel Tips and Using Hotel Apps

James Ferrara: Jackie, you travel a lot. How about sharing some intel for our listeners? What do you do to make the experience better for yourself? Is there something you do to speed your way through the airport or something you do at the hotel?

Jackie Marks: I especially get to apply that when I travel with friends and family who aren't experienced travelers. The number one thing that I always do is use the hotel apps. Hyatt Inclusive Collection has an app that you can download before you go.

Jackie Marks: That app gives you an idea of everything on property: restaurant choices, the days they're open, and whether they have a dress code. These are things you want to prepare for before you get to the resort. It gets the excitement going when you're watching them do beach volleyball or bingo by the pool.

Jackie Marks: Using a hotel's app is a must, especially if you want to go to the spa because you can pre-book some of that stuff. The less you spend in the destination trying to understand the resort, the better your experience will be.

Jackie Marks: There are hidden gems at these hotels. Some people didn't realize on this last trip for my daughter's wedding that there was amazing coffee every morning in the ice cream parlor at Dreams Playa Mujeres. By day three, somebody said, "I didn't realize they had all these specialty coffees."

Jackie Marks: You don't want to miss those opportunities. Do your homework. Get on the app, do your research, and start making a little bit of a plan. Not that you want to be super scheduled out, but just be knowledgeable when you arrive.

Corporate Culture and the Hyatt Acquisition

James Ferrara: That's great advice. You have come through some big transitions at this company—Mark Travel, Apple, and now Hyatt. As an executive, can you share your learnings from so much change and differences in corporate cultures?

Jackie Marks: Twenty-seven years of being in travel, a lot has changed. When I first started, the internet wasn't even a thing. We started out as family-owned, then we merged with Mark Travel and Apple Leisure Group and became a private equity-held company. As of November of 2021, Hyatt bought us.

Jackie Marks: Through each of those journeys, you learn and adapt to different leadership and expectations. But by far, the thing that I love about Hyatt is that when you have the support financially and strategically of a company like that, you can do a lot. There are more risks you can take.

Jackie Marks: When you're smaller and family-owned, you have to be careful because one decision can be very costly. Being part of a big company gives you more bandwidth to explore different ideas and stay ahead of where the world is going.

Jackie Marks: The big buzz right now is the future of ChatGPT. We're trying to figure that out and spending the time to understand how we make travel advisors successful in that world. How does the consumer engage with AI technology? Hyatt has made a massive investment in leisure travel and the all-inclusive segment. Business travel is changing, so we are in a very good place.

Jackie Marks: We think big but we act small. At the heart of it, our CEO, Mark Hoplamazian, is a humble and kind man, and that transcends through the organization. We'll keep growing, but we'll never lose that family-oriented nature. Relationships matter, kindness matter. I don't see myself ever retiring.

James Ferrara: Well, your success and the company's success are very well understood. We wish you the best and are very excited to see what's coming next. Mike and I want to thank you for spending time with our listeners.

Mike Putman: Yes, Jackie, thanks so much. Even though it's a brand that consumers may not know, I'm sure many have taken trips utilizing your services. It's great to get the backbone of that. We really enjoy the partnership as well.

Jackie Marks: It's very mutual. I have greatly appreciated the vision you guys have, and this podcast is another chapter in your story. Thank you for letting me be part of it.

Current Travel Deals: Resorts and All-Inclusives

James Ferrara: All right. We're happy to have our very special guest. She's really not a guest anymore; she's on every week. Jessica Daverson, who scans the globe for travel deals for our listeners. Jessica, what do you have for us this week?

Jessica Daverson: This week I actually have a handful of resort offers. Usually, I try to mix it up with cruises, but there are tons of offers out there right now for hotels, resorts, and all-inclusives. Whether you want to travel last minute in the next couple of months, in 2023, or if you're booking for 2024.

James Ferrara: That's perfect for our podcast so far. We just had Jackie Marks from Apple Leisure Group on and talked all-inclusives and resorts.

Jessica Daverson: Perfect timing. First up, I have Hyatt Zilara Cancun. This is an all-inclusive resort in Cancun. You might be groaning and saying, "Oh, I've done Cancun," but this is an ultimate getaway at a Mayan-inspired adults-only retreat.

Jessica Daverson: It's on the pristine beaches of Cancun's Zona Hotelera. The resort captures the natural splendor of the destination. It is the pinnacle of luxury and it's all-inclusive. Right now, their offer is save up to twenty percent on any bookings, but if you stay five nights, you'll get another night free.

Jessica Daverson: You can book now through the end of August for travel through the end of October. If you're looking for that last summer hurrah, this is a really great offer for you.

Mike Putman: That's a heck of a deal.

Jessica Daverson: You were just mentioning Jackie Marks and ALG. I have an offer from Funjet featuring the Inclusive Collection, which is part of Hyatt. They have a special offer called "Just Wanna Have Sun."

Jessica Daverson: It features all the newest resorts of 2023. This is for stays through the end of the year in five brand-new resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean. You know the Inclusive Collection is known for unlimited luxury and endless privileges.

Jessica Daverson: These new hotels include Impressions by Secrets, Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts, and Secrets Spa & Resorts. These are formerly AM Resorts. Right now there are savings up to 40%, exclusive perks, and $200 in resort credits for travel through the end of 2023.

James Ferrara: Did Jackie put you up to this? It's a very good coincidence.

Jessica Daverson: It's funny because I really didn't know Jackie would be here. It just goes to show you what we were saying was true: there is incredible value in these travel experiences. Be the first to see it and experience it at an incredible value.

Jessica Daverson: Last but not least, I swear I didn't do this on purpose, but Funjet has Marriott International Hotels. This is for people looking to save on 2024 travel. This applies to the Marriott International brand, but specifically, we want to highlight Hawaii.

Jessica Daverson: With the most oceanfront hotels in Hawaii, Marriott offers a huge variety, including newly transformed resorts with stunning infinity pools and large sandy beaches. They hope you travel mindfully and connect with the culture.

Jessica Daverson: The offer is available from now through the end of the year to book, but the travel window is all of 2024. It's not just one rate across the board; it's different savings on all different Marriott stays in 2024.

Mike Putman: Those are some great deals, Jessica. I'm sure Jackie will appreciate the plug. Her company has such a wide breadth of product, it's hard not to have a special section on your podcast and not mention at least one of their offers.

Jessica Daverson: Spoiler alert: for next week I'll bring you a bunch of cruise offers, so I hope your guest is a cruise guest.

James Ferrara: We'll try to work that out. Thank you so much, Jessica.

Navigating Airfare Challenges and Skip-Lagging

James Ferrara: So Mike, last time we talked a little bit about skip-lagging, right? The practice of booking a flight that flies through somewhere you actually want to go, but you book the flight to a further destination and get off at the connection point.

James Ferrara: Because of the way fares are constructed and competition, you could potentially save a lot of money. It's a kind of hack. You and I have debated this a couple of times, but I want to let you know that this morning I was interviewed by the Huffington Post on this.

James Ferrara: In the last couple of weeks, there have been some pretty harsh examples of enforcement by the airlines. They consider this rule-breaking and hacking their system.

Mike Putman: Acknowledged. This is a strategy that some people deploy.

James Ferrara: I saw there was a high school kid last month flying from up north through Charlotte. The American gate agent looked at his driver's license and said, "I see you live in Charlotte, but your ticket says you're going to Wichita." He canceled the kid's flight.

James Ferrara: I was at a farmers market this weekend and there was a little girl at an entrepreneur section selling wares. Her sign said, "Cookies a dollar fifty a piece or you can get a dozen for twelve dollars."

James Ferrara: The application of that same logic is that if you worked at American Airlines, you would say a consumer has to eat every one of those if they buy a dozen. If they don't, they're breaking the rules.

Mike Putman: It's tricky. That's a big discount for a dozen cookies, actually. I think that kid needs a little talking to.

James Ferrara: Another thing about the airlines—I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore. I went to book a flight from New York to Orlando, two of the most competitive markets in the system.

James Ferrara: I can fly from any of three airports with thousands of flights, and Orlando is a huge airport with lots of inventory. I'm booking over thirty days in advance and the coach ticket came out at eleven hundred dollars. I just couldn't believe it.

James Ferrara: I complained to Mike and Mike said, "Oh, it's you, James. You don't want to fly at four o'clock in the morning." But Mike did come back, being a good professional, and found a much cheaper flight on a discount airline.

James Ferrara: I do draw the line at that because I would like a seat, I would like to bring a bag, and I would like to know the plane is going to show up. I don't trust those kinds of airlines. But if you have someone knowledgeable advising you, you can usually do something about high airfares. Don't you agree?

Mike Putman: Absolutely. You have to be a little flexible. I happen to live in a B-tier city, so our nonstop flight choices are limited. I'm used to having to change planes.

Mike Putman: If you want nonstop flights and you're not willing to go on a low-cost carrier, you may have to pay the piper. But eleven hundred dollars for Newark to Orlando is extremely high.

James Ferrara: A good strategy that some listeners wouldn't think of is that I'm actually going to book a fully refundable fare, which is about twelve hundred dollars, and then sit on it for a while. Airfares have been dropping through the last month.

James Ferrara: It's possible airfares will get better closer to my travel dates, and then I can drop the refundable fare and grab a better one. Without sounding like a commercial, I urge our listeners to work with a professional travel advisor who can do these sorts of things for you.

Looking Ahead: Future Trips and AI in Travel

Mike Putman: Absolutely. It typically doesn't cost you a penny more. James, other than going down to Orlando, what's your next trip?

James Ferrara: After Orlando, my next trip is out west to Santa Fe for a company event. I love Santa Fe. The history, the desert southwest, and the food are great. I'm staying at a legendary Hilton resort just outside of town. What about you?

Mike Putman: I am staying put for a while. I don't have any immediate plans until October. Being gone for twenty days has put me in a family deficit, so I'm staying home for a while.

James Ferrara: Then you and I are going to Malaga in Spain later in the year.

Mike Putman: Yep. I've got India, London, Malaga, and Cancun all before the end of the year. We also took a look at some other stories recently in the news, particularly around AI.

Mike Putman: Mike and I sat through a big presentation earlier today. It seems every other article in the travel industry press is about AI and ChatGPT. We're looking at how these new technologies can help travelers like our listeners, help travel advisors, and smooth business operations.

James Ferrara: It's a very exciting time. We've been deploying AI and machine learning for quite some time to help filter hotels, so it's not totally new. But the natural language processing is different.

James Ferrara: Before, you typically had to code things for developers to pull information. Now you can say things like, "Show me all the hotels in Miami Beach that have spas and allow cigar smoking."

James Ferrara: The data has not changed so much; it's the ability to use natural language to pull information out of these systems. We're just scratching the surface.

Mike Putman: Exciting times for a lot of reasons. I think we will give our listeners a break.

James Ferrara: We're finishing on time for once. That feels good. I really want to thank Jackie Marks and Jessica Daverson. Please share the love and let people know about our pod if you're enjoying it.

James Ferrara: You can also go to NoTouristsAllowed.com if you want to provide feedback or ask any questions for us to answer on air. We really do appreciate your listenership.

Mike Putman: Very grateful to you all for being here with us. Looking forward to the next couple of weeks. Bye-bye for now.

Mike Putman: Thank you for listening to another episode of No Tourists Allowed. We'll see you next week. No Tourists Allowed is produced by Podcast Studio X.