Arival Travel
@arivaltravel.bsky.social
Advancing the biz of creating amazing in-destination experiences (tours, activities, & attractions) with insights, events, & community #arivalevent
“When operators talk about growth, the 1st instinct is marketing spend. But the real opp is already there,” says Josh Halpern w/ TourOptima. He sees operators driving real revenue by improving the post-booking experience, not by increasing ad budgets:
arival.travel/article/4-ways...
arival.travel/article/4-ways...
January 28, 2026 at 3:47 PM
“When operators talk about growth, the 1st instinct is marketing spend. But the real opp is already there,” says Josh Halpern w/ TourOptima. He sees operators driving real revenue by improving the post-booking experience, not by increasing ad budgets:
arival.travel/article/4-ways...
arival.travel/article/4-ways...
🌊 Direct bookings are dipping, OTAs are making waves.
New data from Arival’s Global Operator Landscape shows OTA bookings up, direct down.
What’s driving it? AI, rising ad costs, shifting traveler habits.
What’s an operator to do in an OTA-led, AI-driven world?
👉 arival.travel/article/direct...
New data from Arival’s Global Operator Landscape shows OTA bookings up, direct down.
What’s driving it? AI, rising ad costs, shifting traveler habits.
What’s an operator to do in an OTA-led, AI-driven world?
👉 arival.travel/article/direct...
January 27, 2026 at 11:24 PM
🌊 Direct bookings are dipping, OTAs are making waves.
New data from Arival’s Global Operator Landscape shows OTA bookings up, direct down.
What’s driving it? AI, rising ad costs, shifting traveler habits.
What’s an operator to do in an OTA-led, AI-driven world?
👉 arival.travel/article/direct...
New data from Arival’s Global Operator Landscape shows OTA bookings up, direct down.
What’s driving it? AI, rising ad costs, shifting traveler habits.
What’s an operator to do in an OTA-led, AI-driven world?
👉 arival.travel/article/direct...
Your ops might be your best sales tool, and you’re probably underusing them. Josh Halpern of TourOptima explains how to drive revenue through the guest experience: arival.travel/article/4-ways...
Want more? Join him for Arival | Elevate, Thurs 29 Jan at 11am EST: arival.travel/elevate-sessions/
Want more? Join him for Arival | Elevate, Thurs 29 Jan at 11am EST: arival.travel/elevate-sessions/
January 26, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Your ops might be your best sales tool, and you’re probably underusing them. Josh Halpern of TourOptima explains how to drive revenue through the guest experience: arival.travel/article/4-ways...
Want more? Join him for Arival | Elevate, Thurs 29 Jan at 11am EST: arival.travel/elevate-sessions/
Want more? Join him for Arival | Elevate, Thurs 29 Jan at 11am EST: arival.travel/elevate-sessions/
🍩 When your tour is so original… you have to invent the category yourself! 😂 Jeff Woelker of the Underground Donut Tour shares the sweet moment Viator finally added a “donut” category after his tours were already making waves arival.travel/article/underg...
Donut Tours? Baking Up a New Experience Category | Arival
Underground Donut Tour owner Jeff Woelker shares lessons from creating a brand new category of culinary experience, and scaling across 26 cities
arival.travel
January 20, 2026 at 11:56 PM
🍩 When your tour is so original… you have to invent the category yourself! 😂 Jeff Woelker of the Underground Donut Tour shares the sweet moment Viator finally added a “donut” category after his tours were already making waves arival.travel/article/underg...
From multi-day operators to culinary to every experience maker navigating AI, distribution & demand shifts... Arival 360 | Valencia is where it all comes together.
📍 27–29 April 2026 | Sunny Valencia
🎟️ Save up to €730 w/ Holiday Savings through 27 Jan
arival.travel/event/2026-val...
📍 27–29 April 2026 | Sunny Valencia
🎟️ Save up to €730 w/ Holiday Savings through 27 Jan
arival.travel/event/2026-val...
January 19, 2026 at 11:42 PM
From multi-day operators to culinary to every experience maker navigating AI, distribution & demand shifts... Arival 360 | Valencia is where it all comes together.
📍 27–29 April 2026 | Sunny Valencia
🎟️ Save up to €730 w/ Holiday Savings through 27 Jan
arival.travel/event/2026-val...
📍 27–29 April 2026 | Sunny Valencia
🎟️ Save up to €730 w/ Holiday Savings through 27 Jan
arival.travel/event/2026-val...
✈️ Experiences make the trip. Erik Blachford shares why IRL human connection is taking center stage in travel. 🎒 Listen now: arival.travel/podcast
#experiences #toursandactivities #tourismindustry
#experiences #toursandactivities #tourismindustry
January 16, 2026 at 5:59 PM
✈️ Experiences make the trip. Erik Blachford shares why IRL human connection is taking center stage in travel. 🎒 Listen now: arival.travel/podcast
#experiences #toursandactivities #tourismindustry
#experiences #toursandactivities #tourismindustry
Meet travelers exactly when they are ready to book with Google Things To Do (GTTD) Ads. These ads reach high-intent guests at the "inflection point" between planning and booking on Google Search and Maps.
Full guide: arival.travel/article/google...
Full guide: arival.travel/article/google...
January 15, 2026 at 12:10 AM
Meet travelers exactly when they are ready to book with Google Things To Do (GTTD) Ads. These ads reach high-intent guests at the "inflection point" between planning and booking on Google Search and Maps.
Full guide: arival.travel/article/google...
Full guide: arival.travel/article/google...
🚨 Last chance for Super Early Bird through 13 January! Save up to $1,330 on Arival 360 | Spokane — 13-16 October 2026
4 days of ideas, growth & connection in the PNW’s most inspiring city 🌲
🎟️ 100% risk-free:
arival.travel/event/2026-spo...
4 days of ideas, growth & connection in the PNW’s most inspiring city 🌲
🎟️ 100% risk-free:
arival.travel/event/2026-spo...
January 12, 2026 at 10:11 PM
🚨 Last chance for Super Early Bird through 13 January! Save up to $1,330 on Arival 360 | Spokane — 13-16 October 2026
4 days of ideas, growth & connection in the PNW’s most inspiring city 🌲
🎟️ 100% risk-free:
arival.travel/event/2026-spo...
4 days of ideas, growth & connection in the PNW’s most inspiring city 🌲
🎟️ 100% risk-free:
arival.travel/event/2026-spo...
💬 Insider Pro Meetup: Choosing or Changing Your #BookingTech
📅 Jan 15 | 🕚 11am EST / 5pm CET
Why do 40% of #touroperators still not use a booking system? What's working & what’s not?
Hear from real operators + Arival experts. RSVP 👉 arival.travel/event/2026-ins...
📅 Jan 15 | 🕚 11am EST / 5pm CET
Why do 40% of #touroperators still not use a booking system? What's working & what’s not?
Hear from real operators + Arival experts. RSVP 👉 arival.travel/event/2026-ins...
January 9, 2026 at 10:17 PM
💬 Insider Pro Meetup: Choosing or Changing Your #BookingTech
📅 Jan 15 | 🕚 11am EST / 5pm CET
Why do 40% of #touroperators still not use a booking system? What's working & what’s not?
Hear from real operators + Arival experts. RSVP 👉 arival.travel/event/2026-ins...
📅 Jan 15 | 🕚 11am EST / 5pm CET
Why do 40% of #touroperators still not use a booking system? What's working & what’s not?
Hear from real operators + Arival experts. RSVP 👉 arival.travel/event/2026-ins...
🌍 What’s really shaping the future of #experiences? Checkout 6 megatrends defining 2026:
1️⃣ Tech & AI
2️⃣ OTA vs Direct
3️⃣ Commoditization
4️⃣ New global travelers
5️⃣ Climate & overtourism
6️⃣ IRL’s comeback
📖 Dive in: arival.travel/article/touris...
#tourismtrends #ArivalInsights #tourismindustry
1️⃣ Tech & AI
2️⃣ OTA vs Direct
3️⃣ Commoditization
4️⃣ New global travelers
5️⃣ Climate & overtourism
6️⃣ IRL’s comeback
📖 Dive in: arival.travel/article/touris...
#tourismtrends #ArivalInsights #tourismindustry
January 7, 2026 at 9:03 PM
🌍 What’s really shaping the future of #experiences? Checkout 6 megatrends defining 2026:
1️⃣ Tech & AI
2️⃣ OTA vs Direct
3️⃣ Commoditization
4️⃣ New global travelers
5️⃣ Climate & overtourism
6️⃣ IRL’s comeback
📖 Dive in: arival.travel/article/touris...
#tourismtrends #ArivalInsights #tourismindustry
1️⃣ Tech & AI
2️⃣ OTA vs Direct
3️⃣ Commoditization
4️⃣ New global travelers
5️⃣ Climate & overtourism
6️⃣ IRL’s comeback
📖 Dive in: arival.travel/article/touris...
#tourismtrends #ArivalInsights #tourismindustry
From mountain hippie vibes to major growth strategy 🌱
Intrepid CEO James Thornton explains how sustainability became travel’s competitive edge.
🎧 arival.travel/podcast/
#SustainableTravel #TravelForGood #TourismTrends #IntrepidTravel #TravelPodcast #MultidayTours
Intrepid CEO James Thornton explains how sustainability became travel’s competitive edge.
🎧 arival.travel/podcast/
#SustainableTravel #TravelForGood #TourismTrends #IntrepidTravel #TravelPodcast #MultidayTours
December 30, 2025 at 5:30 PM
From mountain hippie vibes to major growth strategy 🌱
Intrepid CEO James Thornton explains how sustainability became travel’s competitive edge.
🎧 arival.travel/podcast/
#SustainableTravel #TravelForGood #TourismTrends #IntrepidTravel #TravelPodcast #MultidayTours
Intrepid CEO James Thornton explains how sustainability became travel’s competitive edge.
🎧 arival.travel/podcast/
#SustainableTravel #TravelForGood #TourismTrends #IntrepidTravel #TravelPodcast #MultidayTours
Season’s greetings from #TeamArival 🎁🌍
As 2025 wraps up, we’re taking a moment to celebrate you, the incredible creators, operators, and innovators shaping the future of travel experiences.
Wishing you a joyful holiday season ✨ and a bright, bold 2026 ahead.
As 2025 wraps up, we’re taking a moment to celebrate you, the incredible creators, operators, and innovators shaping the future of travel experiences.
Wishing you a joyful holiday season ✨ and a bright, bold 2026 ahead.
December 23, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Season’s greetings from #TeamArival 🎁🌍
As 2025 wraps up, we’re taking a moment to celebrate you, the incredible creators, operators, and innovators shaping the future of travel experiences.
Wishing you a joyful holiday season ✨ and a bright, bold 2026 ahead.
As 2025 wraps up, we’re taking a moment to celebrate you, the incredible creators, operators, and innovators shaping the future of travel experiences.
Wishing you a joyful holiday season ✨ and a bright, bold 2026 ahead.
🚀 2026: Going Public. Going Global. Going Big.
Arival’s Bruce Rosard breaks down the big shifts in the experiences sector:
📈 IPOs & consolidation
🤖 Real AI impact
📲 Social = bookings
🚡 Multi-day goes mainstream
⛷️ Hit the slopes with Bruce here: arival.travel/article/year-i...
#tourismtrends
Arival’s Bruce Rosard breaks down the big shifts in the experiences sector:
📈 IPOs & consolidation
🤖 Real AI impact
📲 Social = bookings
🚡 Multi-day goes mainstream
⛷️ Hit the slopes with Bruce here: arival.travel/article/year-i...
#tourismtrends
December 23, 2025 at 12:13 AM
🚀 2026: Going Public. Going Global. Going Big.
Arival’s Bruce Rosard breaks down the big shifts in the experiences sector:
📈 IPOs & consolidation
🤖 Real AI impact
📲 Social = bookings
🚡 Multi-day goes mainstream
⛷️ Hit the slopes with Bruce here: arival.travel/article/year-i...
#tourismtrends
Arival’s Bruce Rosard breaks down the big shifts in the experiences sector:
📈 IPOs & consolidation
🤖 Real AI impact
📲 Social = bookings
🚡 Multi-day goes mainstream
⛷️ Hit the slopes with Bruce here: arival.travel/article/year-i...
#tourismtrends
🎥 New Arival video series: Inside Experiences is live!
From AI to boat tours to baby koalas 🐨, it’s all in our DC 2025 recap.
👉 Watch + read: arival.travel/article/inside...
📺 Subscribe @ArivalTravel on YouTube to catch every episode!
From AI to boat tours to baby koalas 🐨, it’s all in our DC 2025 recap.
👉 Watch + read: arival.travel/article/inside...
📺 Subscribe @ArivalTravel on YouTube to catch every episode!
Inside Experiences: A New Video Series from Arival | Arival
From AI in action to what’s new in multi-day to the youngest attendee, here’s a few conversations we captured around Arival 360 | Washington, DC
arival.travel
December 18, 2025 at 11:41 PM
🎥 New Arival video series: Inside Experiences is live!
From AI to boat tours to baby koalas 🐨, it’s all in our DC 2025 recap.
👉 Watch + read: arival.travel/article/inside...
📺 Subscribe @ArivalTravel on YouTube to catch every episode!
From AI to boat tours to baby koalas 🐨, it’s all in our DC 2025 recap.
👉 Watch + read: arival.travel/article/inside...
📺 Subscribe @ArivalTravel on YouTube to catch every episode!
📦 Arival Wrapped 2025: Your favorite stories, standout research, must-read guides & can’t-miss podcasts all in one place.
From AI to OTAs to the future of booking tech… this is what moved the experiences industry.
🚀 The adventure continues in 2026: arival.travel/article/arival...
From AI to OTAs to the future of booking tech… this is what moved the experiences industry.
🚀 The adventure continues in 2026: arival.travel/article/arival...
December 18, 2025 at 12:35 AM
📦 Arival Wrapped 2025: Your favorite stories, standout research, must-read guides & can’t-miss podcasts all in one place.
From AI to OTAs to the future of booking tech… this is what moved the experiences industry.
🚀 The adventure continues in 2026: arival.travel/article/arival...
From AI to OTAs to the future of booking tech… this is what moved the experiences industry.
🚀 The adventure continues in 2026: arival.travel/article/arival...
🚀 From scrappy startup to iconic NYC attraction, Haley Ward’s journey with Hudson Yards Experiences and @EdgeNYC is a masterclass in leadership and innovation. Evolving leadership styles, empowering teams, and #Pinkmas await... tune in: arival.travel/podcast #tourismpodcast
December 16, 2025 at 10:11 PM
🚀 From scrappy startup to iconic NYC attraction, Haley Ward’s journey with Hudson Yards Experiences and @EdgeNYC is a masterclass in leadership and innovation. Evolving leadership styles, empowering teams, and #Pinkmas await... tune in: arival.travel/podcast #tourismpodcast
🎙️ Insider Pro Meetup: 2025 Year in Review with Experience This!
📅 Dec 11, 11 am EST
Join Bruce Rosard, Lori Timony & Christian Watts for a 2025 recap + a look at what’s ahead in 2026.
Will Christian dare to go a full minute without talking AI? 😉
RSVP: arival.travel/event/2025-ins...
📅 Dec 11, 11 am EST
Join Bruce Rosard, Lori Timony & Christian Watts for a 2025 recap + a look at what’s ahead in 2026.
Will Christian dare to go a full minute without talking AI? 😉
RSVP: arival.travel/event/2025-ins...
December 10, 2025 at 4:46 PM
🎙️ Insider Pro Meetup: 2025 Year in Review with Experience This!
📅 Dec 11, 11 am EST
Join Bruce Rosard, Lori Timony & Christian Watts for a 2025 recap + a look at what’s ahead in 2026.
Will Christian dare to go a full minute without talking AI? 😉
RSVP: arival.travel/event/2025-ins...
📅 Dec 11, 11 am EST
Join Bruce Rosard, Lori Timony & Christian Watts for a 2025 recap + a look at what’s ahead in 2026.
Will Christian dare to go a full minute without talking AI? 😉
RSVP: arival.travel/event/2025-ins...
🎧 The Best Part of Travel — Spotify Wrapped Style
A few highlights from our 2025 podcast and if you haven’t yet, now’s a great time to tune in on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts 🎙️
👉 arival.travel/podcast/
A few highlights from our 2025 podcast and if you haven’t yet, now’s a great time to tune in on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts 🎙️
👉 arival.travel/podcast/
December 9, 2025 at 12:32 AM
🎧 The Best Part of Travel — Spotify Wrapped Style
A few highlights from our 2025 podcast and if you haven’t yet, now’s a great time to tune in on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts 🎙️
👉 arival.travel/podcast/
A few highlights from our 2025 podcast and if you haven’t yet, now’s a great time to tune in on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts 🎙️
👉 arival.travel/podcast/
🎟️ Event travelers are booking online, but not through travel sites; they go where the tickets actually are.
This is a big missed chance to pair event tickets with local experiences. These travelers aren’t just attending… they’re exploring.
arival.travel/article/travel...
This is a big missed chance to pair event tickets with local experiences. These travelers aren’t just attending… they’re exploring.
arival.travel/article/travel...
Travel Websites Missing Out on Event Travelers
Travel companies are missing a big opportunity in event travelers: while they’re increasingly booking online, they’re not booking through travel sites
arival.travel
December 3, 2025 at 12:19 AM
🎟️ Event travelers are booking online, but not through travel sites; they go where the tickets actually are.
This is a big missed chance to pair event tickets with local experiences. These travelers aren’t just attending… they’re exploring.
arival.travel/article/travel...
This is a big missed chance to pair event tickets with local experiences. These travelers aren’t just attending… they’re exploring.
arival.travel/article/travel...
More screens. More loneliness. But travel still connects us. 🌍
Intrepid Travel CEO James Thornton on why multi-day tours are booming and why that’s good news for humanity.
🎧 arival.travel/podcast/
#MeaningfulTravel #HumanConnection #TravelForGood #MultidayTours #IntrepidTravel #tourismpodcast
Intrepid Travel CEO James Thornton on why multi-day tours are booming and why that’s good news for humanity.
🎧 arival.travel/podcast/
#MeaningfulTravel #HumanConnection #TravelForGood #MultidayTours #IntrepidTravel #tourismpodcast
December 1, 2025 at 4:59 PM
More screens. More loneliness. But travel still connects us. 🌍
Intrepid Travel CEO James Thornton on why multi-day tours are booming and why that’s good news for humanity.
🎧 arival.travel/podcast/
#MeaningfulTravel #HumanConnection #TravelForGood #MultidayTours #IntrepidTravel #tourismpodcast
Intrepid Travel CEO James Thornton on why multi-day tours are booming and why that’s good news for humanity.
🎧 arival.travel/podcast/
#MeaningfulTravel #HumanConnection #TravelForGood #MultidayTours #IntrepidTravel #tourismpodcast
🏆 𝗔𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 - 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮
The results are in! We’re excited to reveal the 2025 North American Arival TourReview Spotlight Awards Top 150 Tours & Attractions! arival.travel/article/2025-n...
The results are in! We’re excited to reveal the 2025 North American Arival TourReview Spotlight Awards Top 150 Tours & Attractions! arival.travel/article/2025-n...
November 26, 2025 at 7:29 PM
🏆 𝗔𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 - 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮
The results are in! We’re excited to reveal the 2025 North American Arival TourReview Spotlight Awards Top 150 Tours & Attractions! arival.travel/article/2025-n...
The results are in! We’re excited to reveal the 2025 North American Arival TourReview Spotlight Awards Top 150 Tours & Attractions! arival.travel/article/2025-n...
⚠️ Tours & Experiences: Fragmented today, consolidated tomorrow?
No standards. No ratings. 1,000+ listings for the same tour.
The sector is booming—but chaos won't scale. Consolidation is coming.
👉 Don’t get lost in the shuffle: arival.travel/article/consol...
No standards. No ratings. 1,000+ listings for the same tour.
The sector is booming—but chaos won't scale. Consolidation is coming.
👉 Don’t get lost in the shuffle: arival.travel/article/consol...
The Coming Wave: Consolidation Ahead for Tours & Experiences
Once the after-thought of the travel industry, the tours and activities sector has come a long way. The time for supply side consolidation has arrived.
arival.travel
November 25, 2025 at 7:30 PM
⚠️ Tours & Experiences: Fragmented today, consolidated tomorrow?
No standards. No ratings. 1,000+ listings for the same tour.
The sector is booming—but chaos won't scale. Consolidation is coming.
👉 Don’t get lost in the shuffle: arival.travel/article/consol...
No standards. No ratings. 1,000+ listings for the same tour.
The sector is booming—but chaos won't scale. Consolidation is coming.
👉 Don’t get lost in the shuffle: arival.travel/article/consol...
🚨 Final hours to save up to €850 on the event of the year for the European experiences industry!
Arival 360 | Valencia is where the future of tours, activities & attractions takes shape.
🎟️ Lock in Autumn Advantage pricing (ends after 25 November): arival.travel/event/2026-val...
Arival 360 | Valencia is where the future of tours, activities & attractions takes shape.
🎟️ Lock in Autumn Advantage pricing (ends after 25 November): arival.travel/event/2026-val...
November 24, 2025 at 10:15 PM
🚨 Final hours to save up to €850 on the event of the year for the European experiences industry!
Arival 360 | Valencia is where the future of tours, activities & attractions takes shape.
🎟️ Lock in Autumn Advantage pricing (ends after 25 November): arival.travel/event/2026-val...
Arival 360 | Valencia is where the future of tours, activities & attractions takes shape.
🎟️ Lock in Autumn Advantage pricing (ends after 25 November): arival.travel/event/2026-val...
🍊 The future is calling. Are you The Tomorrow Operator?
Join us at Arival 360 | Valencia, 27–29 April 2026 – AI, overtourism, shifting demand... it's time to lead, not follow. Real talk. Real strategies. Real operators. Save up to €850 through 25 Nov!
arival.travel/article/the-to...
Join us at Arival 360 | Valencia, 27–29 April 2026 – AI, overtourism, shifting demand... it's time to lead, not follow. Real talk. Real strategies. Real operators. Save up to €850 through 25 Nov!
arival.travel/article/the-to...
November 21, 2025 at 12:54 AM
🍊 The future is calling. Are you The Tomorrow Operator?
Join us at Arival 360 | Valencia, 27–29 April 2026 – AI, overtourism, shifting demand... it's time to lead, not follow. Real talk. Real strategies. Real operators. Save up to €850 through 25 Nov!
arival.travel/article/the-to...
Join us at Arival 360 | Valencia, 27–29 April 2026 – AI, overtourism, shifting demand... it's time to lead, not follow. Real talk. Real strategies. Real operators. Save up to €850 through 25 Nov!
arival.travel/article/the-to...
Forget glossy brochures — travelers trust real moments now. @TourRadar's Travis Pittman says “raw-thentic” social content is what inspires people to actually book. 🌍
🎙️ Listen to the full conversation on The Best Part of Travel: arival.travel/podcast/
🎙️ Listen to the full conversation on The Best Part of Travel: arival.travel/podcast/
November 19, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Forget glossy brochures — travelers trust real moments now. @TourRadar's Travis Pittman says “raw-thentic” social content is what inspires people to actually book. 🌍
🎙️ Listen to the full conversation on The Best Part of Travel: arival.travel/podcast/
🎙️ Listen to the full conversation on The Best Part of Travel: arival.travel/podcast/