TravelTube Podcast Transcript 

Host: Mark Murphy, TravelTube.com

Hey folks, it's Mark Murphy with TravelTube.com, the destination for travel experts. If you haven't signed up yet, please do so.

This week, I'm covering everything from Hilton being in the line of fire to fast food controversies, Venezuela and Central America travel concerns, top destinations around the world, credit card travel rewards, and how to plan budget trips using Google Flights.

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Hilton Hotels Controversy

You probably remember the Hampton Inn in Minneapolis tried to block ICE agents or DHS government employees from checking in. They denied anyone with a .gov email address.

What did Hilton do? They shut it down. The sign's already down, and they're out of the system. Anyone upset with the speed of that happening needs to understand—it happened quickly because it had to.

Now the crazy activists are getting signatures and going into individual Hilton branded hotels trying to get them to stop taking government business. Let me help these folks understand something: Hilton Hotels gets significant business from the federal government through contracts. These hotels are independently owned franchises that must follow certain guidelines. If they want to stay in the Hilton family, they need to allow these government employees to stay. That's how it works.

Anyone who decides to go along with the activists risks the owner's ire and substantial revenue loss. I guarantee that Hampton Inn in Minneapolis saw their revenue crater as a result. For the activists bringing petitions—you could bring 10 million signatures and it won't change anything. Trying to deny people hotel stays because they work for the federal government and you don't like their policies? Too bad.

Private companies can refuse service, sure. But then they lose the flag that drives their hotel bookings, get delisted from booking systems, and have to rebuild their brand from scratch. Good luck with that.

Fast Food Boycotts: The Chipotle Situation

First they came for the hotels, then they came for the fast food. People are now going after Chipotle because they think Bill Ackman is connected with Chipotle's management or ownership. Here's what they don't understand:

Bill Ackman is a billionaire who runs Pershing Square, an investment company. They had invested in Chipotle stock as a big institutional investor. Ackman donated $10,000 to a GoFundMe for an ICE officer, and now activists want to cancel him and Chipotle.

What they don't realize: Ackman doesn't work for Chipotle. His company sold their Chipotle stock back in November because it was underperforming. At the time of this controversy, he had no ownership stake whatsoever.

These activists didn't research this. They don't understand how hedge funds work, that owning stock doesn't mean you own or control the company. They're upset because someone worth billions donated $10,000 to a cause they don't like. Get over yourself.

People in this country should be allowed to donate to whoever they want. Should I hunt down everyone who donated to ActBlue? Of course not. Most people don't care—it's only the extremists on both ends that get worked up about this stuff.

Travel to Central America and Venezuela

Are you thinking about traveling to Central America or Venezuela? After Trump's statements about Colombia following the Venezuela action, people wondered if there would be disruptions.

Within a few days, there was a call between President Trump and Colombia's president, and things cooled down considerably. I wouldn't have concerns about traveling to Colombia, Mexico, or the Eastern Caribbean.

My recommendation: Look into getting travel insurance. If you're a travel advisor, you should offer travel insurance on every transaction. Explain the benefits and the peace of mind it provides.

Make sure policies include "cancel for any reason" coverage, especially given current uncertainties. Standard policies don't typically cover war or certain disruptions. The premium is higher for comprehensive coverage, but it's worth it.

Insurance Guidelines:

• For a $4,000-5,000 trip, budget 5-7% for insurance
• If you can afford to lose the money, you can self-insure
• For travel agents: get clients to sign a waiver if they decline insurance
• Document that you offered it—this protects you if something goes wrong

2026 Travel Outlook

The GDP reports look strong—way above predictions. Inflation is down. For those complaining that Trump didn't bring prices down on day one—he took action to lower the rate of growth. The Federal Reserve has inflation targets, typically around 2-3%.

Some prices have come down significantly. Remember eggs at the start of last year? They went way down. Gas prices are down. Your electricity bill is a different story—most of us have seen costs double in five years.

Regarding renewable energy: The green energy initiatives were supposed to lower costs, but electricity prices went through the roof. Natural gas and coal provide reliable, on-demand energy. Wind and solar require massive infrastructure that's expensive to build and maintain, with limited lifespans and disposal challenges.

Market Changes for 2026:

• Hotels previously occupied by asylum seekers will free up inventory
• This will make certain markets more attractive and affordable
• Real incomes have improved by about $1,000 per person
• Based on GDP growth and manufacturing onshoring, more jobs are opening
• Trade deficit closed by more than half, back to 2009 levels

Focus on outcomes, not politics. What policies work? What are the results? Numbers don't lie, politicians do—on both sides.

Chase Travel and Top Destinations

Chase Travel published their 2026 destination picks with key themes:

Adventure and Nature:

• Botswana and Okavango Delta (I've been there—amazing but watch out for hippos!)
• Canadian Arctic
• Chile's Atacama Desert
• Dominica for whale migrations

Coastal Escapes:

• Albanian Riviera (I've been there, wouldn't be my first choice)
• Phu Quoc, Vietnam
• French Coast

Iconic Journeys:

• Route 66
• Italy's Dolomites

Cultural Immersion:

• Guadalajara, Mexico
• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (great street food, but combine with Singapore and Thailand for better experience)

Event-Driven Travel:

• Solar eclipse viewing in Spain

Trending: Experiences and purpose-driven travel continue to grow. People want discovery and authentic experiences beyond all-inclusive resorts.

Under-the-Radar Gems: Places like Ecuador offer diverse experiences—Amazon, highlands, multiple climates—all in one compact country.

Chase Travel Rewards Strategy

Here's my formula: For every 100,000 miles earned, it equates to about $1,000 in value.

Example: If a trip costs $600 cash, but I can book it with 30,000-35,000 Chase points (worth about $300-350), I use points all day long. That's getting a $600 ticket for $300-350 worth of points.

When I pay cash instead of points:

• Business trips (tax deductible)
• When the points-to-dollar ratio doesn't make sense

Chase's portal offers excellent value compared to American Express, which typically overvalues redemptions. Airlines keep changing redemption rules and making points harder to earn and more expensive to use.

My recommendation: Chase Sapphire, hands down, beats most other travel rewards programs.

Google Flights: Finding Budget Travel Deals

Let me show you how to discover amazing travel deals and new destinations using Google Flights.

How to use the Explore feature:

1. Go to Google Flights
2. Enter your home airport (mine is Fort Lauderdale)
3. Leave destination blank
4. Click "Explore"
5. Select "one week trip in next six months" (or customize)

Example from Fort Lauderdale:

• Dallas: $65 round trip
• New York: $56
• Seattle: $211
• Los Angeles: $222 round trip on Delta nonstop

Pro tips:

• Always select "nonstop only" to avoid 24-hour routing nightmares
• Filter by specific months
• Click on destinations to see flight details
• When flight prices are low, hotel prices are often soft too

Real example: Fort Lauderdale to LAX in late January:

• Delta nonstop: $222 round trip (7 AM departure, returns on red-eye)
• Choose your seat: $322 round trip
• Extra comfort: $342 round trip

That's $161 each way for cross-country travel—dirt cheap.

When to Use Travel Advisors vs. DIY

Use DIY (like Google Flights) for:

• Simple point-to-point domestic travel
• Budget hotel stays
• Quick getaways
• Flexible travel dates

Use a travel advisor for:

• All-inclusive resorts in Mexico or the Caribbean
• International travel
• Four-star properties and above
• Family vacations (especially if you only get two weeks off)
• When you want insider knowledge and advocacy

For travel advisors listening: Don't turn away business because it's not "luxury enough." I've spent $250,000-350,000 annually on travel. Sometimes I need a Hampton Inn for an overnight business stop. Sometimes I want the Peninsula with all the perks. The smart advisor serves both needs.

Nobody books 100% of their travel through a single channel. Consumers choose based on what they're trying to accomplish. Be the advisor who understands that.

Final Thoughts

Travel advisors find better deals than you can on your own, especially for higher-end travel. If you're booking budget trips, DIY might work fine. But for four-star and above, overseas trips, all-inclusives, or family vacations—don't blow your limited vacation time. Explore channels you might have ignored.

Sign up at TravelTube.com, especially if you're a travel advisor or industry professional. We're opening the platform soon for travel suppliers and destinations, so you'll get insights from the people creating the products and experiences travelers want.

Until next time, follow the podcast, follow us on social media, and sign up at the site.