Todd Smith on Tech, Travel & Diplomacy at Sea | VanBassador

🚢 Todd Smith, Founder & CEO of AdventureSmith Explorations, believes small-format expedition cruising is one of the most powerful tools for transforming travel — and maybe even diplomacy.

🌍 In this latest VanBassador interview, hosted by Josh Halpern, Todd shares how he went from guiding in Alaska to building a global brand that brings travelers face-to-face with breaching whales, calving glaciers, and delicate ecosystems — from the Galápagos to the Mediterranean. But this is more than just adventure travel.

Todd dives into:

✅ Why small-format cruising is the antidote to over-tourism

✅ How automation and tech are helping operators scale connection, not just operations

✅ What travelers really want in 2025 — and why last-minute bookings are on the rise

✅ A bold vision for "floating diplomacy" — getting stakeholders on a ship to solve big global challenges together

💬 "If you can create an emotional connection with a place, people will fight to protect it."

It's one of the most inspiring conversations we've had — and essential viewing for tour operators, DMCs, DMOs, and anyone shaping the future of travel.