10 Must-Listen Podcasts for Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Professionals

I’ve had the joy of hosting Destination on the Left—an award-winning podcast spotlighting the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry—since 2016. My team and I believe that community collaboration and partnerships are essential for the growth and prosperity of every organization in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry. We are all stronger together, and our listeners and guests share this belief. We champion tourism because we know that it supports economic development and can make or break entire regions.

As someone who believes growth and learning go hand in hand, I stay plugged in to what’s happening across our space by tuning into a variety of travel industry podcasts. Below is a curated list of standout shows every travel, tourism, and hospitality professional should have in their queue. Give them a listen—and if one sparks something for you, hit subscribe!

1. Destination on the Left

Naturally, I’m kicking off the list with Destination on the Left. For nearly a decade, I’ve had the privilege of hosting conversations with passionate professionals from across the globe who are shaping the future of travel, tourism, and hospitality. The show zeroes in on tourism marketing—with a special spotlight on creativity and collaboration. From airlines, hotels, and attractions teaming up on travel packages, to regional alliances crafting unified destination campaigns, this podcast highlights how working together leads to powerful results. Each episode dives into innovation and impact from every corner of the industry, featuring voices from DMOs, accommodations, attractions, tour operators, travel advisors, and industry consultants alike.

2. No Vacancy with Glenn Hausman

No Vacancy with Glenn Hausman is a show I have been listening to for many years. Glenn focuses primarily on the hotel and hospitality industry. His guests are industry insiders who will give you a glimpse of how the biggest brands operate. As described on the podcast website, this show is: “a fun, fast-paced genre-bending program peeling back the travel business veneer. Perfect for road warriors, leisure travelers and industry insiders, we look behind-the-scenes of the travel business by sharing stories, experiences, and with interviews featuring the industry’s biggest names.”

3. Skift Podcasts

This is another long-standing series of shows. Skift Podcasts publishes four podcasts each week, and you can subscribe to the ones that interest you the most. I subscribe to the Skift Travel Podcast, which brings me the latest industry trends and thought leadership from an international perspective.

4. DMOU- Destination Marketing University

DMOU is a show launched by longtime industry thought-leader, Bill Geist. I enjoy Bill’s format of three questions plus a bonus round. Bill takes a lot of care in selecting and preparing questions for his guests, with a focus on sharing innovative case studies and evolving philosophies in destination marketing.

5. Destination Marketing Podcast

Destination Marketing Podcast is hosted by Adam Stoker of Relic Agency. This show focuses on real-world tips and perspectives from people in the field of marketing within the tourism industry. This show promises no fluff and actionable strategies and tactics. The topics are as varied as marketing attribution, managing budgets, stakeholder engagement and branding your destination.

6. The Tourpreneur

The Tourpreneur Podcast focuses exclusively on the Experiences industry. It reaches tour and activity operators, travel technology companies, and other industry folks interested in the travel experiences industry. What I love about this show is its focus on operating a successful experiences-based business. Pete, Mitch, and Chris interview tour operators and industry professionals to uncover their stories, strategies, and lessons learned.

7. The Future of Tourism Podcast

The Future of Tourism Podcast is a series of candid conversations with industry leaders, luminaries and visionaries. They cover the challenges and opportunities facing the travel and tourism industry today. It’s hosted by David Peacock, Senior Advisor to the Future Tourism Group at Granicus/Simpleview.

8. No Tourists Allowed

In this podcast two recognized travel industry executives (with a combined 69 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. I find the content informative and entertaining, and I love the candor and chemistry that these two show hosts bring to the microphone. No Tourists Allowed is a great show to help you understand the world of travel, travel agencies, and how to successfully sell travel.

9. Destination Saratoga: All Access

This show is hosted by one of TAP’s clients, Discover Saratoga. I believe we can learn from each other, and this is a great example of how a DMO is using this medium to celebrate, amplify and connect with local stakeholders. For things to do, where to go, who’s who, and what’s new—Destination Saratoga: All Access is your ultimate guide to Saratoga County! From iconic attractions and can’t-miss events to hidden gems and inspiring local stories, this podcast offers exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes access every other Friday.

10. Travel Beyond Podcast

If you are looking for inspiration on sustainable tourism, Visit Bend Oregon’s Travel Beyond Podcast is best-in-class. Bend, Oregon is a fast-growing city and outdoor adventure destination. They are becoming a leader in sustainable travel, aiming to ensure that tourism benefits everyone. The local travel industry is funding projects that make life better for Bend residents and preserve the environment everyone relies on.