Ep. 37 - Ticketing, Travel, and Trust: Why BookSeats is Winning Over Teams and Fans with Joseph DeMarinis

Podcast Episode Description:
In this episode of Tickets to Travel: The Business of Travel Experiences, host Mario Bauduin sits down with Joseph DeMarinis, Founder and CEO of BookSeats.com, for a deep dive into the evolution of fan travel and the technology that's reshaping how sports teams and entertainment properties connect with their audiences.

Joseph breaks down how BookSeats enables seamless ticket + hotel + flight bookings through white-label fan travel platforms for major teams like the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, and Vegas Golden Knights. From schedule release surges to global fan insights and travel-driven sponsorships, we explore how BookSeats is helping teams monetize travel, simplify operations, and build brand trust with data-rich, low-lift solutions.

This episode covers:

• The rise of event-first travel and what fans are really booking

• Why teams are turning to BookSeats instead of building travel platforms in-house

• How travel data is unlocking new revenue from sponsorships and global fan bases

• The missed opportunity for OTAs in live event ticketing

• What the future of B2B and B2C travel tech looks like for sports and music

If you’re in ticketing, sports marketing, live entertainment, or online travel, this is a must-listen episode.

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FREE TICKETS?! Yes, really. In this episode of Tickets to Travel: The Business of Travel Experiences, we’re joined by the ultimate guest list insider, Lance Dashoff, founder of Loudie — the app that’s quietly revolutionizing how fans score free concert, comedy, and festival tickets across the U.S.

From his early days at WME curating VIP access, to launching a platform that fills empty seats and fuels unforgettable nights out, Lance spills the tea on:

• Why 30–40% of tickets go unsold

• How promoters are secretly using free ticketing to boost bar sales and fan buzz

• The economics behind live events and why not all sold-out shows are actually sold out

• How Loudie helps fans and venues win — without the scammy vibes

• Why travel pros and concierges should start recommending this app yesterday

Whether you’re in LA, NYC, or stuck in traffic on the way to Philly — this is the episode you can’t afford to miss (literally).

Download Loudie, follow us @tix2travelpod on TikTok, IG, and YouTube, and grab your next night out before someone else does.

Because every ticket is a ticket to travel — and sometimes the best ones are free.

www.tttpod.com

Cheeks in Seats, Heads in Beds: Building Travel Demand Through Sports with Travis Apple

What do Orlando Magic, concierge kickbacks, and the World Cup have in common? They all come up in this no-holds-barred conversation with Travis Apple—sports sales expert, author of “Hustle Your Way to Success in Sports Sales,” and host of the podcast 52 Weeks of Hustle.

In this episode, Travis and Mario dive into how travel and tourism professionals can better understand the inner workings of sports teams, and vice versa. From starting tourism departments for major franchises to why most teams miss out on millions in travel partnerships, Travis breaks down the real opportunities hiding in plain sight.

You’ll learn:

• Why the sports industry’s real competition isn’t another team—it’s the boat, the beach, or the dinner theater

• How hotels and tour operators can actually work with sports teams for group sales and cross-promotions

• What travel professionals get wrong when pitching teams—and how to fix it

• Fan behavior trends ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

• What sports and travel sales teams can learn from each other (hint: it's not about seats or suites—it’s about strategy)

Whether you’re in travel sales, destination marketing, live events, sponsorship, or ticketing tech—this episode is a front-row seat to how sports and travel can win together.

Follow Travis @52WeeksofHustle and grab his book anywhere hustle is sold.
Follow us @Tix2TravelPod on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube
Book your next event experience at tickets.xpotravel.com