Tickets to Travel

It's the grand finale of Season One of Tickets to Travel Podcast, and we end with Fan Travel Stories! For Episode 52, we head to Las Vegas with Greenwich, CT mom and former TV personality Dorothy Cascerceri-Simone—known to many as Dorothy on TV. Dorothy shares how a group of moms pulled off a 48-hour escape to catch the Backstreet Boys opening night at The Sphere, balancing family life with fandom and finding a little magic of their own.

From the nostalgia of Avalon '99 and boy-band crushes, to VIP dinners at Encore, cabanas by the pool, and unforgettable Sphere visuals, Dorothy's story proves that every ticket is a ticket to travel. Along the way, she reflects on her years as a celebrity journalist, the evolution of Las Vegas, and how fan travel can be both glamorous and soul-restoring.

Episode 51 – Beyond Burnout: Rewriting Success in Events, Travel, and Hospitality with Mike Messeroff

The events, travel, and hospitality industries are built on curating joy for others—but what happens when the professionals behind the experiences run out of joy themselves?

In this episode, we sit down with Mike Messeroff, a former JetBlue leader turned transformational coach, who has walked away from corporate perks and global adventures only to discover the real key to thriving: presence, clarity, and self-hospitality.

From managing partnerships at JetBlue Vacations to pouring cocktails in Breckenridge, Mike's career journey reveals the hidden cost of "selling fun" while quietly burning out. Today, he helps executives, event planners, and hospitality leaders rewrite the script by treating themselves like their most honored guests.

We explore:

• Why burnout is baked into the "programming" of events and hospitality professionals

• How mindfulness and micro-moments of presence can transform leadership on high-stress event days

• The difference between chasing fun and finding freedom in your career

• Why self-hospitality isn't fluff—it's the foundation for long-term success

If you've ever wondered why the perks of the job don't always equal fulfillment, or how to recalibrate without walking away from the industry you love, this conversation offers a practical blueprint for change. Learn more about Mike's mission at www.self-hospitality.com

Ep. 50 – Why OTAs Missed the Concert: The Untapped $10B Ticketing Opportunity with Eric Taraby

For a decade, the travel and ticketing industries have circled each other without truly connecting. In this milestone 50th episode of Tickets to Travel: The Business of Travel Experiences, host Mario Bauduin sits down with ticketing technologist and consultant Eric Taraby to finally pull back the curtain on why online travel agencies (OTAs) still struggle to integrate live event tickets into their booking flows.

From Super Bowls and Taylor Swift concerts to the rise of F1 and global stadium investment, fans are increasingly booking trips around events — not destinations. Yet despite the growing demand, the systems powering ticket supply, APIs, and secondary marketplaces remain largely misunderstood in the travel space.

Eric shares a decade of insights spanning Ticket Evolution, TickStock, and Global Ticket Supply, offering a rare inside look at the hidden distribution networks behind live event ticketing. Together, Mario and Eric explore:

• Why OTAs embraced tours and attractions but overlooked sports and concerts

• The backend challenges of merging ticketing inventory into global travel platforms

• How secondary marketplaces like StubHub, SeatGeek, and Vivid Seats reshaped consumer trust

• The untapped opportunity for hotels, OTAs, and destinations to monetize event-driven travel

• The future of global event tourism — and what happens when fans become "guests"

If you're a travel executive, ticketing insider, or just a fan who books trips around your favorite shows and teams, this episode delivers both a crash course and a crystal ball for the future of ticketing and travel.

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Ep. 49 – Fiji, Festivals & the Future of Travel with Steve Pirie-Nally

What does it take to turn a trip into a life-changing experience? Steve Pirie-Nally has the answer. From staging Diplo's unforgettable Antarctica performance to reimagining Gen Z spring breaks in Fiji, Steve has spent his career blending culture, entertainment, and purpose in ways that inspire and connect people.

In this episode of Tickets to Travel, we explore how the South Pacific is becoming a hotspot for sports tourism, music festivals, and wellness-focused, multi-generational travel. Steve shares insider stories about building travel packages that sell out years in advance, why "people of influence" often move more tickets than celebrities, and how destinations like Fiji are breaking into the American market.

If you work in ticketing, travel, or live events—or simply love hearing how unforgettable experiences are designed—this episode delivers fresh insights and bold ideas from one of the industry's most creative minds.

Listen now to learn:

• Why packaging is the secret weapon for Gen Z and family travel

• How sports, music, and wellness trends are driving tourism in the South Pacific

• The power of community in creating loyal, long-term travelers

• What's next for destination events and superfan experiences

Ep. 48 – Expedia OGs Talk Online Travel Origins, Ticketing & Vegas Demand with Daniel Wathen

What do Las Vegas call centers, hotel sort order manipulation, and Taylor Swift ticket chaos have in common? They're all part of the wild evolution of travel and ticketing—seen through the eyes of industry veteran Daniel Wathen.

In this episode, Daniel joins host Mario Bauduin to unpack over 25 years of online travel, from the early days at Las Vegas Reservation Systems and TravelScape to Expedia's global rise. They trade stories from the OTA front lines, reveal how hotels learned to revenue manage (thanks to folks like them), and explain why Las Vegas demand is shifting in 2025.

Topics covered include:

• The link between hotel parity and ticketing transparency

• Why dynamic pricing isn't always revenue management

• The rise of event travel and how destinations can plan for it

• Las Vegas economics, Canadian last-minute travelers, and the cost of $50 cocktails

• How tour routing and hotel strategy can maximize margins for artists and promoters

If you're into the business of travel, ticketing, or entertainment-driven demand, this one delivers both insight and nostalgia.