Why Tour Operators Matter More In 2026

About this episode

Dan Christian discusses the resurgence of tour operators in travel with Terry Dale, highlighting the importance of trust and integrity in the industry.

Send us Fan Mail Travel feels more unpredictable than it did a few years ago, and that’s exactly why guided travel is winning again. In this Captains of Industry episode, Dan sits down with Terry Dale, President and CEO of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), to unpack what’s really driving the surge in tour operators, packaged tours, and high-touch planning in 2026. Terry explains how USTOA is built on integrity and why trust has become a deciding factor for travelers who ca...

People in this episode

Host: Dan Christian

Guest: Terry Dale

Topics covered

• guided travel
• tour operators
• travel trends
• high-touch planning
• trust in travel

Keywords

• tour operators
• packaged tours
• travel unpredictability
• USTOA
• 2026 travel trends

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: United States Tour Operators Association

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