View From Afar

America's birthplace of the revolution is writing new chapters while honoring its historic legacy. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live from the conference floor, Martha Sheridan, president and CEO of Meet Boston, joins Afar editorial director Billie Cohen to discuss how the city balances its Revolutionary War heritage with contemporary attractions and diverse neighborhoods.

The conversation covers Boston's ongoing America 250 celebrations, which began early with events like the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party in 2023 and will culminate in a spectacular Fourth of July 2026 celebration featuring the World Cup and tall ships. Martha also discusses emerging...

New York City continues to set the global standard for urban tourism, and its newest tourism leader is ready to build on that legacy. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live from the conference floor, Julie Coker, president and CEO of New York City Tourism + Conventions, joins Afar editorial director Billie Cohen to discuss her vision for the Big Apple's tourism future.

Julie, who started her role in December 2024, brings extensive experience from leading tourism organizations in Philadelphia and San Diego. The conversation covers New York's remarkable resilience and recovery speed compared to other major metropolitan areas, particularly...

Southwest Florida is proving that beach destinations can evolve beyond sun and sand while maintaining their natural magic. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, Tamara Pigott, executive director of Visit Fort Myers, joins Afar editorial director Billie Cohen to share how she's helped transform the region into a world-class travel destination over her 25 years with the organization, including 10 years in the top position.

Tamara discusses how Fort Myers, Sanibel Island, and Captiva Island have become household names while balancing tourism growth with environmental conservation. The region stands out as the "seashell...

Maine is proving that small state thinking can yield big tourism results while staying true to its roots. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, Maine Office of Tourism Director Carolann Ouellette joins Afar editorial director Billie Cohen to discuss her unique journey back to leading Maine tourism for a second time, having previously held the role from 2010 to 2016 before launching the state's groundbreaking Office of Outdoor Recreation.

Drawing from her aviation industry background—her father was a Pan Am pilot and she worked as a flight attendant—Carolann brings a traveler's pers...

Wisconsin is proving that the Midwest can surprise travelers while breaking tourism records. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, Wisconsin Secretary of Tourism Anne Sayers joins Afar deputy editor Michelle Baran to discuss how the state has achieved three consecutive record-breaking years of tourism growth under her leadership since December 2020, expanding from six media markets in 2019 to 14 today while transforming perceptions of the destination.

A key part of Anne's strategy has been reframing Wisconsin as a four-season destination, showcasing winter activities like skiing, snowmobiling, and cozy cabin experiences to combat the...

Washington D.C. is proving that America's capital can separate politics from place while breaking tourism records. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, ⁠Destination DC⁠ president and CEO Elliott Ferguson joins Afar deputy editor Michelle Baran to discuss how the city welcomed a record-breaking 27.2 million visitors in 2024, generating $2.3 billion in tax revenue while preparing for major events like America 250 and the NFL Draft.

Ferguson, a seasoned tourism leader who's navigated everything from 9/11 to January 6th, explains D.C.'s unique challenge of marketing a destination that's both the seat of government and...

St. Louis is proving that America's heartland is ready for a renaissance, blending iconic history with entrepreneurial energy. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, ⁠Explore St. Louis⁠ president and CEO Brad Dean joins Afar editorial director Billie Cohen to discuss how the Gateway City is reimagining itself as a destination for urban exploration while celebrating major milestones like Route 66's centennial and America's 250th anniversary.

Dean, who officially started his role in February 2025, chose St. Louis over offers from New York, Chicago, and San Francisco because of the city's incredible momentum—includ...

New Orleans is proving its resilience and redefining what it means to be "built to host" major events. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, New Orleans & Company president and CEO Walt Leger joins Afar editorial director Billie Cohen to discuss how the city bounced back from tragedy to deliver an unprecedented run of iconic events—Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, Super Bowl LIX, and Mardi Gras.

Leger, a former Louisiana state legislator turned tourism leader, explains New Orleans' unique "vibe," a place where music emerges from every corner. He reveals how the ci...

Buffalo is experiencing a renaissance that's transforming America's perception of this western New York destination. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, Visit Buffalo Niagara president and CEO Patrick Kaler joins Afar editorial director Billie Cohen to discuss how grassroots community investment is reshaping the city's tourism landscape.

Kaler highlights Buffalo's architectural treasures, including one of the world's most complete Frank Lloyd Wright restoration projects at the Martin House the former Buffalo State Hospital for the Insane, which has been transformed into a boutique hotel and architecture center called the Richardson Hotel...

California's tourism powerhouse is gearing up for its biggest decade yet. In this ⁠IPW 2025⁠ episode,  recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, ⁠Visit California⁠ president and CEO Caroline Beteta sits down with Afar deputy editor Michelle Baran to discuss how nearly three decades of experience has shaped her strategy for promoting the nation's top tourism revenue generator.

Beteta reveals the counterintuitive challenge of mega-events like the ⁠2026 World Cup⁠ and ⁠2028 Olympics⁠—how they can actually deter leisure travelers despite the global spotlight—and shares lessons learned from Paris about maximizing these opportunities. She also discusses California's approach to crisis communicati...

Chicago is poised for a global spotlight with the historic appointment of Chicago-born Pope Leo. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, Choose Chicago president and CEO Kristen Reynolds sits down with Afar deputy editor Michelle Baran to discuss how her unconventional journey from Arizona tourism to Long Island destination transformation has prepared her to lead the Windy City's bold marketing vision.

Reynolds shares how Chicago is doubling down on its "Never Done, Never Outdone" campaign to celebrate the city's diversity and inclusion values, even while challenging false narratives about urban safety. <...

Fort Lauderdale—Florida's LGBTQ+ capital—has proved that staying true to your values can be the best marketing strategy of all. In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, Visit Lauderdale President and CEO Stacey Ritter sits down with Afar deputy editor Michelle Baran to discuss how her unconventional path from lawyer to politician to tourism leader has shaped her bold approach to destination marketing.

Ritter shares how Fort Lauderdale has doubled down on its "Everyone Under the Sun" campaign to celebrate diversity and inclusion, even amid challenging political climates in Florida—all while...

The single biggest thing that will improve our air travel system and make it better for everyone involved? Government investment, says Josh Earnest, Executive Vice President of Communications and Advertising of United Airlines.

In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, Josh Earnest sits down with Afar deputy editor Michelle Baran to discuss United's ambitious strategic vision, from massive international route expansion to onboard innovations like Starlink WiFi across their entire fleet.

Earnest candidly addresses the Newark Airport challenges that plagued travelers earlier this year, explaining how government-imposed flight limits have...

Los Angeles is proving that resilience and opportunity go hand in hand. In this IPW 2025 episode,  recorded live on the conference floor in Chicago, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Bureau President and CEO Adam Burke sits down with Afar deputy editor Michelle Baran to discuss how L.A. is transforming challenges into catalysts for growth.

From navigating the aftermath of January's devastating wildfires and recent protests to preparing for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics, Burke shares how the city's incredible diversity—with residents from 140 countries speaking over 220 languages—makes it uniquely positioned as a welcoming global destination.

...

What happens when a casino CEO takes on America's tourism challenges? In this IPW 2025 episode,  recorded live from the conference floor in Chicago, MGM Resorts CEO and U.S. Travel Association Chair Bill Hornbuckle sits down with Afar deputy editor Michelle Baran to discuss the state of international inbound travel.

Hornbuckle has watched Vegas transform from a "free food, free rooms, come gamble" destination to a sports and entertainment hub where, for hotels like the Bellagio, 70 percent of its revenue is non-gaming.

Now he's applying those lessons to America's bigger challenge: turning a $50 billion tourism d...

Asheville, North Carolina, is known for many things: a pristine location in the Blue Ridge Mountains, an incredible arts and music scene—and more recently, Hurricane Helene, one of the most destructive storms in U.S. history. But since the storm hit in September 2024, the town has invested heavily in rebuilding, and it (and most of Western North Carolina) are eagerly welcoming visitors once more.

In this special IPW 2025 episode, recorded live from the conference floor in Chicago, Vic Isley—president and CEO of Explore Asheville—sits down with editorial director Billie Cohen to discuss what she loves...

In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live from the conference floor in Chicago, Visit Philadelphia president and CEO Angela Val shares her hope that "everybody sees each other as human beings first." And she explains how Philadelphia's core value as the City of Brotherly Love means that no matter your lifestyle, religion, race, or ethnicity, "in this place you will be able to be yourself, feel a sense of belonging and be welcomed."

Val sits down with Afar deputy editor Michelle Baran to discuss Philadelphia's "In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union" initiative, the groundbreaking TED Democracy event...

Charleston hid their tea instead of throwing it in the harbor—and that's just one of the surprising stories that the historic city has to share with visitors.

In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live from the conference floor in Chicago, Explore Charleston president and CEO Helen Hill sits down with Afar editorial director Billie Cohen to share how Charleston recently broke records for hotel nights and airport passengers—and how the city has expanded its tourism impact over the years.

As Charleston celebrates more than 350 years of history and gears up for America's 250th anniversary, Hill...

How can the U.S. more warmly welcome international travelers? U.S. Travel Association president Geoff Freeman has a few ideas.

In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live from the conference floor in Chicago, Geoff Freeman sits down with Afar deputy editor Michelle Baran to talk about the state of international inbound travel.

As the U.S. travel industry works to recover from a $12 billion loss in international tourism revenue while preparing for America's 250th anniversary, the U.S. Travel Association is encouraging international visitors to book their tickets to come and enjoy a series of...

How do you redefine luxury hospitality in 2025? For Maud Bailly, the CEO of four of Accor’s luxury hotel brands—Sofitel, Sofitel Legend, MGallery and Emblems—it starts with empathy. 

In this episode of View From Afar, she chats with host Jennifer Flowers about how she’s reshaping luxury hospitality through bold sustainability, diverse teams and a global vision rooted in local impact. 

In this episode you’ll learn: 

The distinct identities of Sofitel, Sofitel Legend, MGallery and Emblems and how they serve distinct types of travelers. 

How Accor Group is utilizing AI t...

Anne Kalosh is the editor of Seatrade Cruise News and she has decades of experience covering the cruise industry—so much experience, in fact, that she recently appeared on Netflix’s Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney. 

On this episode of View From Afar, she joins host Aislyn Greene at Seatrade Cruise Global for a deep dive into the ways cruising is evolving to attract new travelers. From groundbreaking sustainability efforts to the growing influence of local communities—this is the future of cruising. 

On this episode you’ll discover: 

How Gen Z and millennia...

Cruising is evolving—and appealing to more people than ever. Live from Seatrade Cruise Global, this episode of View from Afar, unpacks the cruise news and innovations that surprised and inspired host Aislyn Greene and Afar co-founder Joe Diaz, during the world’s largest cruise industry conference. 

From hydrogen-powered ships to hotel brands getting in on the action, these are the cruising trends to watch in 2025. 

On this episode you’ll learn: 

Why the value proposition for cruising has never been...

Welcome to View From Afar, a podcast by the travel industry, for the travel industry.

In our inaugural episode, we hear from Barbara Muckermann, the first female CEO of Kempinski Hotels, a 128-year old global brand. 

On this episode, Barbara chats with Afar senior deputy editor, Jennifer Flowers, about her plans to restore Kempinski’s luxury legacy, why places like Munich’s Nymphenburg Palace are key to the brand’s future, and what it takes to succeed as a woman—and elevate others— in the male-dominated hospitality industry. 

Inside the Hotels Where...