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.

For more episodes, visit www.ttpod.com

For Fan Travel Packages, visit www.bookseats.com

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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

Episode Title: From World Cup to Burning Man: The Ultimate 2025–26 Event Travel List

Ready to plan your next unforgettable adventure? In this episode of Tickets To Travel, we're breaking down the Top 10 global events worth booking a flight (and maybe a payment plan) for in 2025 and 2026. From the massive stadiums of the FIFA World Cup to the surreal sands of Burning Man, we’re covering the sports, music, fashion, and cultural experiences that are driving the next wave of travel.

Host Mario Bauduin serves up pro tips on when to book, where to stay, and how to travel smart — including:

• How to save money for Coachella without selling a kidney

• Why Milan-Cortina's Winter Olympics may be your luxe ski pass excuse

• Booking secrets for Tomorrowland, Glastonbury, and Cape Town Jazz

• The myth, the mud, and the magic of festival season

Whether you're a fan, a planner, or a passport stamp collector, this episode is your VIP pass to the world’s hottest travel-worthy events.

Ready to lock in your seat before prices surge?
Head to tickets.xpotravel.com — your global ticket hookup for concerts, festivals, sports, and once-in-a-lifetime events.

Follow us for travel hacks, ticket alerts, and behind-the-scenes access:
TikTok | Instagram | YouTube → @Tix2TravelPod

🌍 Travel smart. Party smarter. Because unforgettable travel starts with a ticket.

Whether you’re training for your first 5K or plotting your sixth World Marathon Major, this episode goes the distance.

We’re joined by Neal Sheridan, media strategist and marathon runner, who breaks down how global marathons aren’t just personal milestones—they’re massive travel events that shape entire city economies. From hotel bookings to recovery rituals, Neal shares insider tips on planning the perfect run-cation and reveals what travel brands should be doing to win over this loyal, high-spending audience.

🏃‍♂️ What we cover:

• How Neal’s retail media background at large brands shaped his runner’s mindset

• The travel patterns of marathoners—and their friends, family, and fans

• Why hotels, airlines, and DMOs are missing out by not catering to this lifestyle market

• What a smart travel package looks like for Boston, New York, Chicago, and beyond

• How brands can activate in ways that matter—from compression gear to post-race comfort

• The hidden opportunity to create loyalty before the starting gun even fires

💬 Follow us on socials for more behind-the-scenes travel strategy:
🎧 TikTok | IG | YouTube: @Tix2TravelPod
🌍 More episodes + show notes: www.tttpod.com

🧠 Got a brand, destination, or race that’s redefining travel? DM us or tag us with your story. Because in this space; Every Ticket is a Ticket to Travel.

Live Event Tickets? tickets.xpotravel.com

Festival season is here—and so is Alex Mac, our go-to live music and event strategist. In this high-energy episode of Tickets to Travel, we dive deep into the travel trends, ticketing behaviors, and cultural moments shaping the global music festival scene in 2025. From Ultra’s surprise Sia set in Miami to Lollapalooza's genre-bending lineups and the Backstreet Boys invading the Sphere in Vegas, Alex unpacks how streaming, Gen Z culture, and city infrastructure are redefining how (and why) we travel for live events.

We break down:

• Why Lollapalooza sold out in hours (and what it means for hotel and flight pricing)

• Coachella’s strategy for staying genre-agnostic and culturally iconic

• What makes a “hard ticket” vs. “soft ticket” act—and why it matters to travel pros

• How the Sphere in Las Vegas is challenging traditional touring economics

• The rise of festival flight pricing, soft ticket strategies, and the Spotify effect on live lineups

Whether you're a travel professional, festival producer, or music-loving jetsetter—this episode gives you the backstage pass to summer 2025’s festival frenzy.

📱 Follow Us:

Instagram | TikTok | YouTube: @Tix2TravelPod

🌐 More episodes at: www.tttpod.com

Live Event Tickets? https://tickets.xpotravel.com/

🎙️ Episode 31 – "Body Slams & Boarding Passes: Life as a Traveling WWE Super Fan

What happens when your love for pro wrestling turns into a passport-stamping, ringside-seat-hunting, global adventure? Meet Z and Matt—power couple, travel pros, and certified WWE superfans—who’ve attended over 100 events across 7+ countries, racked up 100,000+ air miles, and become fan-famous faces on screen.

In this episode of Tickets to Travel: The Business of Travel Experiences, host Mario Bauduin dives deep into:

• What it takes (and costs!) to travel the world for wrestling

• Behind-the-scenes looks at VIP ticketing, fan hospitality, and working with On Location

• Why fans have fans, and how Z and Matt are advocating for a better fan club experience

• The emotional moment of stepping onto the WrestleMania stage

• How WWE is more than entertainment—it's global community, production art, and passion in motion

Whether you're in the travel industry, event planning, or just a curious fan, this episode is a main event you don’t want to miss. 🤼✈️

👉 Follow us for more stories at the intersection of travel, fandom, and live events: 📸 Instagram: @tix2travelpod
🎵 TikTok: @tix2travelpod
📺 YouTube: @tix2travelpod

🎧 Subscribe and listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your pods!

www.tttpod.com

Live Event Tickets? tickets.xpotravel.com

In this episode of Tickets to Travel: The Business of Travel Experiences, we dive headfirst into the global travel ripple effect created by HBO’s The White Lotus. From Maui to Sicily to the newly released Season 3 set in Thailand, the series has done more than spark memes — it’s ignited a luxury tourism boom that’s flooding real destinations with curious fans… and a few questionable tan lines.

We explore:

• 📈 Real tourism data from Hawaii, Italy, and Thailand post-airing

• 🎬 Plot-driven insights for superfans (yes, we talk about Piper nooooooo! in a proper Southern accent)

• 🌱 How travelers can explore White Lotus locations without contributing to overtourism

• 💼 What hospitality pros and VIP experience providers can learn from the show’s impact

Whether you're dreaming of a Sicilian cliffside breakfast or planning your Thailand itinerary after binging Season 3, this episode gives you the insight — and the travel etiquette — to do it right.

✈️ Watch the show. Book the trip. Respect the locals.

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @Tix2travelpod
🐦 Tweet us your favorite #WhiteLotus moment: @Tix2travelpod
🌍 More travel business insights: www.tttpod.com

Live Event Tickets? tickets.xpotravel.com