Episode 162 - What’s New in Las Vegas? PR Director Heidi Hayes

Episode 162 - What’s New in Las Vegas? PR Director Heidi Hayes

Guest: Heidi Hayes - Director of Public Relations, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Las Vegas is having a moment, but not for the reason most people think. The city is still great at the classics like casinos, nightlife, and people-watching, yet what surprised us most is how much Vegas has expanded into a true travel hub with next-level entertainment, immersive attractions, a serious food scene, and easy access to iconic outdoor adventures. We’re joined by Heidi Hayes, Director of PR for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, to break down what’s new and what’s essential. We talk standout shows and residencies across the destination, then go deep on the Las Vegas Sphere and why it’s become a must-see experience even if you’ve “done Vegas” before. From there, we dig into interactive options like Area15 and Omega Mart, plus local favorites beyond the Strip including downtown, the Arts District, Chinatown, and neighborhood restaurants in Henderson. If you’re planning your first trip or bringing family for a multi-stop road trip, we share simple, practical ideas: free icons like the Bellagio Fountains and Conservatory, the Welcome to Las Vegas sign, and how to set a gambling budget as “entertainment.” We also cover the outdoor side of a Las Vegas vacation, with quick wins like Red Rock Canyon and bigger day trips to Valley of Fire, Lake Mead, Zion National Park, and Bryce Canyon. Heidi even flags budget-friendly options, including new all-inclusive deals at Luxor and Excalibur. CHAPTER MARKERS * 0:19 Welcome And Vegas On Fire * 1:50 How Las Vegas Has Matured * 3:47 Must-See Shows And The Sphere * 7:52 Interactive Vegas At Area15 * 9:25 Hidden Gems For Food And Neighborhoods * 12:11 Red Rock And Epic Day Trips * 17:08 First-Timer Vegas Must-Dos * 19:00 New Hotels Sports And Big Events * 21:21 Budget Vegas Deals And Best Timing * 23:54 Where To Get Info And Wrap For more information: VisitLasVegas.com ► @vegas Follow us & Subscribe! FIND ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ► IG: @roundtripcolleenkelly ► FB: @roundtripcolleenkelly ► Tik Tok: @roundtripcolleenkelly GET IN TOUCH! ► Website: roundtripcolleenkelly.com ► Email: roundtripcolleenkelly@gmail.com #roundtrip #roundtripcolleenkelly #travelpodcast #lasvegas #thestrip #nevada #lasvegashotel #thesphere #lasvegasmusic #lasvegasraiders #nationalparks #casino #nightlife #lasvegastravel

Episode 161 -Sevierville, TN Travel Guide w/ Amanda Marr

Guest: Amanda Marr, Director of Marketing & Communications, Visit Sevierville You know that feeling when a place surprises you fast and then somehow sticks with you for years? That’s Sevierville, Tennessee for me. It’s set in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so you get big mountain scenery and outdoor adventure, but you also get an easy home base with true small-town warmth. Amanda Marr from Visit Sevierville joins me to share what’s new and why this area keeps giving travelers fresh reasons to come back. We get into the Smokies themselves, including why the park’s no admission fee is such a game-changer for family vacations and outdoor trips. Then we talk about how Sevierville does lodging differently: modern luxury cabins with hot tubs and views, boutique stays downtown, glamping, and even a full treehouse resort experience. If you’re the kind of traveler who thinks the place you stay sets the whole tone of the trip, you’re going to want to hear these ideas. From there, it’s all about the experiences you can’t fake. Amanda breaks down animal encounters like the sloth experience at Rainforest Adventures Discovery Zoo, plus an axolotl exhibit that connects kid curiosity to real science. We also talk bald eagles, conservation, and the American Eagle Foundation’s up-close opportunities. And of course, we go deep on Dolly Parton’s hometown pride: downtown tributes, murals, the statue, festivals, Dollywood’s latest updates, and the spots where Dolly’s story still feels close enough to touch. If Sevierville is on your spring, summer, or fall list, press play, take notes, and then subscribe, share the show with a travel-loving friend, and leave us a review so more listeners can find Round Trip. What would be your first Sevierville stop? CHAPTER MARKERS * 0:00. Welcome To Round Trip * 1:06 Why Sevierville Feels So Special * 4:12 The Smokies And Cabin Life * 6:18 Sloths, Axolotls, And Animal Encounters * 10:54 Bald Eagles Up Close * 12:52 Dolly Parton’s Hometown Downtown * 15:36 Dolly Celebrations And Live Competitions * 18:52 Dollywood Tips And New Rides * 22:26 Water Parks And Unique Places To Stay * 26:58 Dig’n Zone And Trip Planning Tools * 29:44 Getting There And Final Travel Notes For more information: VisitSevierville.com Episode in collaboration with Visit Sevierville. Broll credit to Visit Sevierville. Follow us & Subscribe! FIND ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ► IG: @roundtripcolleenkelly ► FB: @roundtripcolleenkelly ► Tik Tok: @roundtripcolleenkelly GET IN TOUCH! ► Website: roundtripcolleenkelly.com ► Email: roundtripcolleenkelly@gmail.com #roundtrip #roundtripcolleenkelly #travelpodcast #sevierville #tennesseetravel #tennessee #seviervilletn #dollywood #waterpark #animalencounters #treehouse #themepark #smokymountains

Episode 160 - Guest: Jane Wooldridge : Glamping Without The Guilt And With Toilets

Guest: Jane Wooldridge - Award-winning travel and business journalist & Author of Frommer’s Comfort in the Wild:100+ Idyllic Nature Destinations, No Roughing It Required You can love wild places and still want high-thread-count sheets. Travel journalist and author Jane Wildridge joins me to talk about Frommer’s Comfort in the Wild, a beautiful, practical guide to 100+ nature destinations where you get the hiking, wildlife, and wide-open views without the misery factor. If the idea of camping has ever stopped you from booking the trip, this conversation is your permission slip to do it differently. We dig into what “no roughing it required” really means, from a jaw-dropping stay in Cambodia where you can zipline into camp and unwind with gourmet food, to an ingenious Montana farm near Glacier National Park that turns grain silos into cozy, self-contained lodging with the one amenity we both agree is non-negotiable: a bathroom. Along the way, Jane shares how comfort-forward travel can still bring you closer to conservation, local culture, and the kind of outdoor quiet that resets your whole nervous system. We also explore expedition cruising and why small ships have become one of the most comfortable ways to reach remote nature destinations, including Antarctica. Think “safari at sea” vibes: intimate groups, incredible wildlife access, and a warm, welcoming place to come back to at the end of the day. Plus, we get into elevated treehouses, creative stays, and how to choose an experience that fits your real-life comfort level so you actually go. If you like smart travel ideas, unforgettable nature stories, and planning tips you can use right now, hit follow, share this with your favorite travel buddy, and leave a review so more listeners can find Round Trip. CHAPTER MARKERS * 0:19 Welcome And Guest Introduction * 1:30 Why Comfort Belongs In Nature * 4:55 Cambodia Luxury Camp With Zipline * 6:43 Montana Silo Stays Near Glacier * 9:26 Expedition Ships And Antarctica * 12:07 Treehouses With Real Amenities * 14:26 Wildlife Moments And Nature’s Pull * 15:26 The Core Message Get Outside * 18:05 How To Reach Us And Subscribe For more information: frommers.com janewooldridge.com ► IG: @frommers | @janewooldridge ► FB: @FrommersTravelGuides You can find Frommer’s Comfort in the Wild:100+ Idyllic Nature Destinations, No Roughing It Required on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books & Books. Follow us & Subscribe! FIND ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ► IG: @roundtripcolleenkelly ► FB: @roundtripcolleenkelly ► Tik Tok: @roundtripcolleenkelly GET IN TOUCH! ► Website: roundtripcolleenkelly.com ► Email: roundtripcolleenkelly@gmail.com #roundtrip #roundtripcolleenkelly #travelpodcast #camping #glamping #wild #adventuretravel #frommers #guidebook #traveljournalist #treehouse #antarctica #ziplining

Episode 159 - A Chic Girls Trip Guide To Rome With Hotel Picks And Built-In Activities

Guest: Megan Kudla, Producer & Travel Writer Rome is iconic, but it can also feel like a lot, especially when you’re trying to pick the right neighborhood, book tickets, and squeeze the “big stuff” into a short stay. We wanted a plan that feels chic, simple, and actually doable, so I brought on my producer Megan Kudla to break down her Rome girls trip and the exact choices that made two nights feel full without feeling frantic. We talk through the Chic in Italy Set Jet Stays package from Minor Hotels Collection, including what you get, how customizable it is, and why built-in breakfast matters more than people think when you’re sightseeing all day. Megan shares what it’s like staying at nHow Roma after its renovation, how walkable the area is for Rome first-timers, and the kind of modern comfort that makes it easy to recharge before heading back out to the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, and the city’s endless layers of history. Then we get practical: how long to stay in Rome, how to think about a short Rome itinerary, and why Vatican tickets and Colosseum tickets should be booked online ahead of time. Megan also shares the standout experience from her trip, a custom Fiat 500 tour with a local guide who tailored the route to what she’d already seen, turning Rome travel tips into something you can actually feel in real time. We also touch the Venice and Milan legs of the Italy itinerary, with add-ons like Murano glass, mask-making, and a Milan cosmetics workshop. If you’re planning travel to Rome and want fewer decisions with better results, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a friend who loves Italy, and leave a review with your best Rome question so we can answer it next. Chapters: * 0:00 Meet Megan And The Rome Plan * 1:08 Why Rome Works For Friends * 3:02 Chic In Italy Package Breakdown * 5:18 First Impressions Of Rome * 6:49 NOW Roma Style And Rooms * 8:56 Walking Rome From A Smart Base * 10:32 Breakfast Perks And Ludo Dinner * 12:52 How Long To Stay In Rome * 14:40 Vatican And Colosseum Ticket Tips * 16:18 The Fiat 500 Tour Finale * 20:18 Venice And Milan Extras Plus How To Book For more information: minor-hotels.com ► IG: @minorhotels | @avani_hotels | @nhcollection | @nhow | @nhowroma | @avanivenice | @nhcollectionmilanocitylife Email: reservations@minor-hotels.com Mention «CHIC IN ITALY» in the subject line when making your enquiry with preferred dates of travel, number of guests and full booking details Follow us & Subscribe! FIND ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ► IG: @roundtripcolleenkelly ► FB: @roundtripcolleenkelly ► Tik Tok: @roundtripcolleenkelly GET IN TOUCH! ► Website: roundtripcolleenkelly.com ► Email: roundtripcolleenkelly@gmail.com #roundtrip #roundtripcolleenkelly #travelpodcast #italy #rome #girlstrip #italytravel #chicinitaly #minorhotels #nhow #fiat500 #travelexpert

Episode 158 - Inside St. Regis Venice: Art, History, And Hidden Luxury

Guest: Audrey Huttert, General Manager of The St. Regis Venice Water taxis, soft pastels, and a view that steals your breath—our Venice journey starts inside the St. Regis Venice, a historic palazzo reimagined with contemporary art and quiet, personal service. We sit down with General Manager Audrey to trace the hotel’s path from Europa Regina and Britannia days to its 2019 rebirth, and we unpack how design choices—Scarpa-inspired lines, Monet-hued rooms, and curated installations—turn a storied address into a living gallery on the Grand Canal. Food lovers get their moment on the heated terrace at Gio’s, where Venetian ingredients meet a Puglian soul, while night owls follow us to the St. Regis Bar for the signature Bloody Mary and then to the Arts Bar for bespoke cocktails served in hand-blown Murano glass. We talk location strategy too: steps to Piazza San Marco, a stroll over the wooden Accademia Bridge to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and evenings at La Fenice. If you’re timing a trip, we weigh the case for winter’s hush, October’s golden calm, and the high-energy pulses of the Biennale and the Film Festival. To deepen the craft story, we ferry to Murano and bypass the tourist shows for the oldest working glass factory, Barovier & Toso. Watching masters shape molten color reframes every glass on your table, and a night at NH Collection Murano Villa—tucked behind historic doors with modern lofted rooms—lets the island’s rhythm slow you down. By the end, you’ll know how to choose a suite with the right view, where to book, when to come, and how to explore Venice with intention so the city gives more back. Love travel stories that double as a guide? Follow, subscribe, and leave a quick review to help others find the show—and tell us your perfect Venice month so we can tailor future tips. CHAPTERS: * 0:00 Welcome And Venice Tease * 0:49 Meeting The St. Regis GM * 2:32 Hotel History And Rebirth * 5:55 Arrival By Water And First Impressions * 8:50 Dining At Gio’s And Bars * 12:45 Suites, Views, And Design * 16:40 Venice Then And Now * 19:10 Neighborhood, Museums, And Access * 21:06 How To Book And When To Visit * 25:10 Collaborations, Art, And The Garden For more information: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/vcexr-the-st-regis- venice/overview/?scid=f2ae0541-1279-4f24-b197-a979c79310b0 ► IG: @stregisvenice Follow us & Subscribe! FIND ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ► IG: @roundtripcolleenkelly ► FB: @roundtripcolleenkelly ► Tik Tok: @roundtripcolleenkelly GET IN TOUCH! ► Website: roundtripcolleenkelly.com ► Email: roundtripcolleenkelly@gmail.com #roundtrip #roundtripcolleenkelly #travelpodcast #stregis #venicetravel #venice #venicehotel #hotel #marriott #hoteltips #italytravel #italytips #suite