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- Welcome to Mid-Century Crisis Mode
Welcome to Mid-Century Crisis Mode
We’re officially closer to 2050 than to 2000.
Alex Mustaros
July 03, 2025
In partnership with:
Today is Mid-Century Day
We’re now officially closer to 2050 than to the year 2000.
That sentence alone is enough to stir a minor identity crisis.
Where did the time go?
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about time, not in numbers, but in memory.
You see, my mother-in-law has Alzheimer’s.
She’s still quite present, still recognizes everyone, and still lights up with joy at the sound of music… quite literally.
One of her favorite things is watching, you guessed it, The Sound of Music.
She knows every word. Every note.
🎵Do-Re-Mi 🎶
She sings along with a kind of certainty that Alzheimer’s can’t touch. And every time, the room feels lighter.
That film came out in 1965. This year, it turns 60.
In contrast, 2050 is just 25 years away.
We’ve come further from Maria, the von Trapps, and the mountains than we are from mid-century.
Time keeps moving. But what stays?
Music. Memory. Places like Salzburg, where the film was made, and where the past doesn’t feel like a relic, but like something alive.
So, that leaves me with a question:
What makes something timeless, and how do you build a business that lasts?
And while we’re in building mode…
Travel Industry News & Trends
Marriott Says: Personalization, Wellness, and Nature Are the New Luxury
According to Marriott’s freshly released 2025 Intentional Traveler Report, high-net-worth travelers in Asia-Pacific are planning to spend more, expect more, and retreat further. 93 % demand personalization, 90 % prioritize wellness, and 30 % are now leaning into nature-first escapes like safaris or countryside stays. TMR
The new luxury trifecta? A green view, a sleep concierge, and a menu that knows your dietary quirks before you sit down.
St. Regis Venice Adds New Perks for Suite Stays
The St. Regis Venice (link) is offering a fresh set of benefits for suite guests in 2025. Think curated welcome rituals, private in-room aperitivos, unpacking services, and priority access to cultural events. The perks are part of Marriott’s push to elevate suite-level luxury across its top-tier brands. In Venice, it feels especially on point, refined, discreet, and perfectly timed for high season. LTA
Because nothing says Venetian elegance like someone else unpacking your suitcase while you sip a Negroni.
St. Regis Venice
Park Hyatt Returns to Vancouver in 2026
Park Hyatt (link) is making a comeback in Vancouver with a new downtown property set to open in 2026. The 180-room hotel will feature a full-service spa, rooftop restaurant, and views of the Vancouver Art Gallery. After a long absence, the brand’s return marks a new wave of luxury competition in the city’s core and a renewed focus on cultural travelers who want calm, design, and a wine list that reads like a novel. LTA
Vancouver’s luxury scene just got a penthouse upgrade. Time to iron your best neutral-toned outfit and pretend you woke up this elegant.
Heritage Line Launches New Vietnam Voyage in Bai Tu Long Bay
Heritage Line (link) has announced a new itinerary aboard its ship Ylang, sailing Vietnam’s Bai Tu Long Bay, the quieter, less-touristed neighbor of Halong Bay. Launching in September, this two-night journey combines spa treatments, Tai Chi, kayaking, and village visits, all aboard a 10-suite vessel with a wellness angle and serious style. LTA
It’s like Halong Bay… but for clients who whisper “don’t show this to anyone” before they book.
The Expert’s Guild Marketing Corner
Smart Ways to Use AI (Part 2 of 5)
Your Second Brain: Teaching AI What You Know
Last week, we showed you how to use AI as a writing assistant.
This week, we’re going a step further: Turning AI into your second brain.
That means training it to understand your style, your clients, and your preferences, so it becomes more useful, more accurate, and more you.
🟪 SECTION 1: Why This Matters
You’re not starting from zero anymore.
AI tools are blank slates until you feed them the information that matters.
That includes how you write, how you work, and how you think.
The real power begins when you teach the tool how you think, how you work, and what you already know.
That’s how you stop getting generic results and start getting answers that feel like they came from your own brain.
🟨 SECTION 2: What You Can Teach It
Your brand voice
Your client types (solo travelers, families, honeymooners)
Your preferred hotels, DMCs, or destinations
The tone you use when writing emails or social posts
Your personal workflows and repeat tasks
🟦 SECTION 3: Example Prompt
✏️ Teach It Your Voice
“I want you to write in my style. Here’s a sample of my writing:
[INSERT 1–2 PARAGRAPHS YOU WROTE].
From now on, whenever I ask you to write something, match this tone, vocabulary, and rhythm. Confirm you understand, and wait for my first request.”
🟧 SECTION 4: Pro Tips for Better Output
Use examples, not just instructions.
Be specific about your tone (e.g. “friendly but elevated,” or “casual with a sharp insight”)
Keep refining as you go. Every session helps it get smarter
Save your favorite prompts in a doc so that you can reuse them
🟥 SECTION 5: The 3 Golden Rules (Reminders)
Garbage in, garbage out.
The better the info you give, the better the results you’ll get.Don’t be afraid to train it again.
Different tools, different contexts, it’s worth repeating.Always verify.
Even a smart second brain gets things wrong. You’re still the expert.
Priming is how you go from “robotic and wrong” to “wow, did I write that?”
Once you learn it, you’ll never go back.
⬇️ Download the full guide here:
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🟫 What’s Coming Next Week:
Part 3: Build Reusable Tools and Templates that Save Hours
Special Announcement
Following the overwhelming interest in our AI discussions, I'm thrilled to announce something truly special to help you immediately leverage this power:
The FREE 5-Day AI Jumpstart Email Mini-Course for Travel Professionals!
This isn't just theory. Starting NEXT Wednesday, July 9th, you'll receive a daily email directly in your inbox with quick, actionable AI lessons designed specifically for our industry.
This mini-course is packed with pure value, designed to give you a significant head start in the world of AI.
Keep an eye on your inbox! Your AI transformation begins Wednesday, July 9th!
Be Honest: How are you feeling about this whole “AI for Travel Pros” thing? |
Sponsored by the Savvy Traveler Guides
Destination Spotlight: Salzburg, Austria
Where Time Stands Still. Beautifully
If today is Mid-Century Day, then Salzburg is the exception to the rule. Here, the past hasn’t been pushed aside. It has been polished, preserved, and lived in gracefully.
Yes, The Sound of Music was filmed here.
And yes, there are still fans singing “Do-Re-Mi” on Mirabell’s marble steps.
But Salzburg is so much more than a musical landmark.
It’s not every city that can claim both Mozart and Maria von Trapp. But Salzburg doesn’t need to shout about it. It just plays the music and lets time do the rest.
This is a city that whispers instead of shouts. Where baroque architecture, walled gardens, and quiet cafés invite you to slow down and savor. Where the idea of a timeline matters less than how the air feels when you cross a bridge at dusk.
Whether you’re wandering hidden Altstadt alleyways, lingering over lunch in a vineyard-view restaurant, or rediscovering silence in the hills above the city, Salzburg offers something rare.
The luxury of continuity.
📍 Want curated tips for where to stay, eat, and wander in Salzburg?
Download our FREE Savvy Traveler Guide to Salzburg. Designed for those who have been there, done that, and are ready to come back for the good stuff.
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