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View From Afar is a podcast that spotlights the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel.
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On this episode of View From Afar, host Michelle Baran talks with Colorado Tourism Office director Tim Wolfe about why the state that invented destination stewardship is having its biggest year yet—and what the rest of the country can learn from it.
On this episode of View From Afar, host Billie Cohen talks with Louisiana Office of Tourism assistant secretary Doug Bourgeois about why the Pelican State—from Cajun country to the Mississippi Delta—is one of America’s great culinary and cultural destinations.
On this episode of View From Afar, host Billie Cohen talks with Discover Puerto Rico CEO Jorge Perez about how a 31-night Bad Bunny residency became the catalyst for the island’s best tourism numbers in history—and what comes next.
On this episode of View From Afar, host Billie Cohen talks with Visit Detroit president and CEO Claude Molinari about why Detroit—the birthplace of Motown, the American automobile, and deep-dish pizza—is done apologizing and ready for its close-up.
On this episode of View From Afar, host Michelle Baran talks with Discover South Carolina executive director Duane Parrish about why the Palmetto State—from Hilton Head to the Blue Ridge foothills—is one of America’s most underrated travel destinations.
View From Afar S2, E8: IPW 2026 | Visit Seattle’s Tammy Canavan on a New Waterfront and a Big Summer
On this episode of View From Afar, Michelle Baran talks with Visit Seattle president and CEO Tammy Canavan about how America’s most Northwest city rebuilt its tourism identity—one light rail stop, art festival, and pike place crab cake at a time.
On this episode of View From Afar, host Billie Cohen talks with Brightline Holdings CEO Nicolas Petrovich about why private passenger rail is finally having its moment—and what it will take to get America moving.
On this episode of View From Afar, host Billie Cohen talks with Visit Florida Keys and Key West CEO Kara Franker about why Key West—home of Fantasy Fest, the Conch Republic, and one of America’s most welcoming communities—refuses to be anything but itself.
On this episode of View From Afar, host Michelle Baran talks with Visit Huntington Beach president and CEO, John Urdi, about why Surf City, USA is so much more than a day at the beach.
On this episode of View From Afar, host Michelle Baran talks with Wyoming’s new executive director of tourism, Domenic Bravo, about why the Cowboy State is so much more than Yellowstone.
View From Afar S2, E3: IPW 2026 | Wyoming’s Domenic Bravo on Building a Destination Beyond Its Icons
On this episode of View From Afar, host Michelle Baran talks with Wyoming’s new executive director of tourism, Domenic Bravo, about why the Cowboy State is so much more than Yellowstone.
On this episode of View From Afar, host Michelle Baran talks with U.S. Travel Association president and CEO, Geoff Freeman, about what it will take to welcome the world back to America.
On this episode of View From Afar, hospitality leader Anna Nash reveals how Explora Journeys blends luxury hotel sensibilities with slow travel, sustainability, and thoughtful design to reimagine life at sea.
On this episode of View From Afar: Live From ILTM, Nayara CEO and cofounder Leo Ghitis reveals how his resorts blend sustainability, social impact, and extraordinary natural beauty to create meaningful luxury for the next generation of travelers.
On this episode of View From Afar: Live From ILTM, Langham Hospitality Group CEO Bob van den Oord reveals how a 160-year-old brand is redefining luxury with space, time, and service that feels personal.
On this episode of View From Afar: Live From ILTM, Virtuoso CEO Matthew Upchurch reveals why “automate the predictable, humanize the exceptional” is the mantra shaping the future of luxury travel.
Live From ILTM: How Matter of Form Helps Luxury Travel Brands—From Aman to Belmond—Find Their Voices
On this episode of View From Afar: Live From ILTM, Afar cofounder Joe Diaz talks with Anant Sharma about the creative origins of Matter of Form, the Aman pitch that changed everything, and why luxury brands must choose a single promise—and the confidence to live it.
On this episode of View From Afar: Live From ILTM, AmaWaterways CEO Catherine Powell speaks to the brand’s relaunch, fleet expansion, family and wellness offerings, and the role of technology in delivering personalized river cruise experiences.
In this episode of View From Afar: Live From ILTM, Henley Vazquez of Fora Travel describes how the company modernizes travel advising—combining real‑time booking tools, price monitoring, and in‑person community to empower advisors and make professional trip planning accessible to more travelers.
On this episode of View From Afar: Live From ILTM, Hermann Elger, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide, explains how rigorous standards, anonymous inspections, and new awards are redefining luxury travel for today’s discerning guest.
In this episode of “View From Afar,” Intrepid Travel CEO James Thornton explains how small‑group adventure travel, Indigenous co‑design, and B-corp commitments are shaping a more responsible tourism future.
On this episode of “View From AFAR,” safari industry veterans Nicky Fitzgerald and Joss Kent discuss how social media, overcrowding, and poor regulation are threatening East Africa’s iconic wildlife migration.
On this episode of “View From Afar,” Martha Sheridan, president and CEO of Meet Boston, talks about how this most American of cities is celebrating in 2026.
On this episode of “View From Afar,” Julie Coker, president and CEO of New York City Tourism and Conventions talks about NYC’s plans for its 400th birthday.
On this episode of “View From Afar,” Tamara Pigott, executive director of Visit Fort Myers, shares how she’s transformed southwest Florida into a world-class destination that offers much more than gorgeous beaches.
On this episode of “View From AFAR,” Carolann Ouellette, President of the Maine Office of Tourism, on how the outdoors is essential to the state’s economy and its communities.
On this episode of “View From Afar,” Anne Sayers, the Wisconsin Secretary of Tourism, talks about the state as a four-season destination—and the warm hospitality of Wisconsinites.
On this episode of “View From AFAR,” Brad Dean, President and CEO of Explore St. Louis, discusses why he chose the Gateway City over offers from New York and Chicago and how America’s heartland is ready for a renaissance.
On this episode of “View From AFAR,” Elliott Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC, discusses separating politics from place and D.C.'s record breaking tourism year.
On this episode of “View From AFAR,” Patrick Kaler, president and CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara, talks about Buffalo’s rich architectural and Black history.