Travel Talk featuring Edward Leos, publisher of The Hotel Guide

What if the best way to experience a destination is to step outside the resort? Belize is a country of extraordinary natural beauty, rich cultural traditions, and experiences that go far beyond its beaches. But what does it take to build a hospitality brand that truly reflects the place it calls home? On this episode of Travel Talk: Conversations About the Journey, I sit down with Ian Lizarraga, Chief Operating Officer of The Belize Collection, for a fascinating conversation about hospitality, entrepreneurship, cultural authenticity, and the future of travel in Belize. Ian shares his unexpected journey from banking into hospitality, how his understanding of Belizean culture helped shape his career, and why he believes luxury, sustainability, and authenticity can coexist. We explore how The Belize Collection is creating experiences that connect travelers with the country itself—from rainforest lodges and coastal escapes to local kitchens, communities, cuisine, and traditions. We also discuss the evolution of Belize as a destination, the importance of preserving cultural identity while growing a hospitality business, and why meaningful travel should extend far beyond the walls of a hotel. Because great hospitality isn't just about where you stay. It's about how deeply you experience the place. Join us for a conversation about the people, places, and purpose behind The Belize Collection. 🎙️ Travel Talk: Conversations About the Journey Hosted by Edward R. Leos, Publisher of The Hotel Guide. Subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping travel, hospitality, and the journeys that define us. #TravelTalk #TheBelizeCollection #Belize #LuxuryTravel #Hospitality #ExperientialTravel #TheHotelGuide

This time on Travel Talk, we're doing something different. Roxann and I sit down together to take you behind our journey through Costa Rica—what we experienced, what surprised us, the people we met, and why this country left an impression on both of us. Our trip took us to two very different properties: The Vessyl and The Retreat Costa Rica. Both are rooted in wellness. Both are surrounded by the extraordinary natural beauty of Costa Rica. But each approaches the experience in its own way. We talk about what it was actually like to stay at both properties—the atmosphere, wellness experiences, food, surroundings, people, and those small moments that don't always make it into a hotel review or Instagram post. But this episode isn't just about the hotels. It's about Costa Rica itself. The landscape. The people. The pace. The sense of pura vida you hear so much about—and what it feels like when you actually experience it. We also get into something I've been thinking about more as we've traveled: The best hospitality experiences don't just give you somewhere beautiful to stay. They change the way you feel while you're there. And sometimes, you bring a little of that home with you. This is less of an interview and more of a conversation between Roxann and me about a trip we experienced together—and why Costa Rica is a place we won't soon forget. 🎙️ Travel Talk: Conversations About the Journey Behind the Journey: Costa Rica Edward & Roxann Leos Featuring our experiences at The Vessyl, The Retreat Costa Rica, and beyond. ▶️ Watch the full episode on YouTube. #TravelTalk #CostaRica #TheVessyl #TheRetreatCostaRica #PuraVida #WellnessTravel #LuxuryTravel #ExperientialTravel #TheHotelGuide

Travel inspiration has never been the problem. Turning that inspiration into an actual trip is where things get complicated. In this episode of Travel Talk: Conversations About the Journey, Edward R. Leos sits down with Kim Bennett, founder of AtlasGuru, to talk about the changing way travelers discover, plan, and ultimately book their journeys. At the center of the conversation is a simple question: What if the distance between “I want to go there” and “let's make this trip happen” could become dramatically shorter? Kim shares the thinking behind AtlasGuru, why she saw an opportunity to rethink traditional travel planning, and how AI is creating new possibilities for turning inspiration into personalized itineraries. But this isn't a conversation about replacing the human side of travel. It's about connecting the pieces that have historically lived apart. Great editorial content can make someone feel something about a destination. AI can help transform that inspiration into a personalized plan. And a trusted travel advisor can bring expertise, relationships, and human judgment to actually help make the journey happen. Edward and Kim explore what that convergence could mean for travelers—and for the publishers, creators, hotels, destinations, and advisors trying to reach them. They also discuss entrepreneurship, building a travel technology company, where AtlasGuru is headed next, and what Kim believes the next generation of travel planning could look like. Why Kim Bennett created AtlasGuru How AI is changing travel planning Moving from travel inspiration to actionable itineraries The relationship between content, AI, and human travel advisors Why personalization matters Where travel publishing fits into the new discovery journey Building and growing a travel-tech company What's next for AtlasGuru Why technology should make travel feel easier—not less human This conversation also represents something important for The Hotel Guide as we work with AtlasGuru to connect 30 years of travel storytelling with a new generation of AI-powered planning. Inspire the journey. Build the itinerary. Put a human expert within reach when it's time to go. That's a travel ecosystem worth building. 🎙️ Travel Talk: Conversations About the Journey Featuring Kim Bennett | Founder, AtlasGuru #TravelTalk #AtlasGuru #KimBennett #ArtificialIntelligence #TravelTechnology #AITravel #TravelPlanning #TravelIndustry #TravelAdvisor #TravelMedia #TheHotelGuide

What happens when you stop thinking about hospitality as a place to stay—and start thinking about how a place can change you? On this episode of Travel Talk: Conversations About the Journey, Edward R. Leos sits down with Josh Stanley, founder of The Vessyl, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, wellness, nature, purpose, and the vision behind creating a different kind of hospitality experience. Josh's story isn't simply about developing a property in Costa Rica. It's about building something he believes should exist. The conversation explores the thinking behind The Vessyl, why Josh chose to challenge traditional ideas of hospitality, and his belief that where we stay can have a deeper impact on how we feel, think, connect, and ultimately live. But like most worthwhile journeys, the finished product is only part of the story. Josh and Edward get into the risk of entrepreneurship, what it takes to move an idea from vision to reality, the importance of staying true to the original mission, and the inevitable moments when building something different means refusing to follow the easier path. They also explore the growing intersection between hospitality, wellness, nature and meaningful travel—and why today's traveler may increasingly be looking for something more than luxury amenities and beautiful surroundings. This is a conversation about creating with intention. About believing that hospitality can leave people different than it found them. And about the journey of an entrepreneur willing to build around that belief. In This Episode: The story and vision behind The Vessyl Why Josh Stanley entered hospitality Building a different kind of guest experience Entrepreneurship, risk and staying committed to an idea The relationship between nature, wellness and travel Why meaningful hospitality goes beyond amenities Creating experiences that have a lasting impact The future vision for The Vessyl Purpose, growth and the journey behind building something from the ground up 🎙️ Travel Talk: Conversations About the Journey Josh Stanley | Founder, The Vessyl People. Places. Purpose. And the journeys that shape who we become. Subscribe to Travel Talk for conversations with entrepreneurs, athletes, hospitality leaders, creators and people building lives—and businesses—worth talking about. #TravelTalk #JoshStanley #TheVessyl #CostaRica #Hospitality #WellnessTravel #ExperientialTravel #LuxuryTravel #Entrepreneurship #PurposefulTravel #TheHotelGuide

Victor Oladipo’s story has never been just about basketball. From becoming an NBA All-Star and one of the league’s most dynamic players to navigating injuries, setbacks, uncertainty, and the realities that come with competing at the highest level, Victor’s journey has demanded something beyond talent: resilience, perspective, and belief. In this episode of Travel Talk, Edward R. Leos sits down with Victor Oladipo for a conversation that goes beyond statistics, contracts, and what happened on the court. It’s about the person behind the player. They explore the experiences that have shaped Victor, the lessons that come when the path you envisioned suddenly changes, and the importance of faith, purpose, family, and identity when basketball can no longer be the only thing defining you. For an athlete who spent years being measured by wins, points, performance, and expectations, the bigger question becomes: Who are you when the game isn't the center of everything anymore? That’s where this conversation gets interesting. Victor opens up about his journey, the mindset required to keep moving forward, and how adversity can change your definition of success. The discussion also looks at life beyond basketball and the opportunities that emerge when you begin seeing yourself as more than the profession that first made people know your name. This isn't simply an NBA conversation. It's a conversation about reinvention. About getting knocked down and having to decide what comes next. About recognizing that some of life's hardest seasons can also force us to discover what actually matters. And ultimately, about understanding that your greatest chapter doesn't necessarily have to be the one everyone already knows you for. 🎙️ Travel Talk with Edward R. Leos Featuring Victor Oladipo | Professional Basketball Player Faith. Resilience. Purpose. Beyond the Game. NBA journey • adversity and resilience • injuries and setbacks • faith • identity • purpose • personal growth • life beyond basketball • reinvention • defining success #VictorOladipo #TravelTalk #NBA #MiamiHeat #Basketball #Faith #Resilience #Purpose #AthleteMindset #PersonalGrowth #Reinvention #EdwardLeos #TheHotelGuide