Embracing plus-size travelers could be the key to unlocking big business.



That's the message Jeff Jenkins has spent his life spreading. As creator of the popular blog Chubby Diaries and host of the NatGeo TV show "Never Say Never," Jeff has created a formidable following of people who look to him for advice on traveling while large. He joins this episode of the podcast to discuss how travel companies are missing an opportunity to welcome plus-size travelers into their communities — and how they can fix that mistake.



Jeff shares his perspective on the billion-dollar potential of the untapped plus-size travel market. He also recommends simple ways travel organizations can make their trips more attractive to customers of any size. Plus, we have news about a famous brand entering the river cruise market; a Road Tip about picking the perfect travel water bottle; and a Hot Minute about the biggest way the U.S. government is failing travelers.















Insights from Jeff Jenkins



Jeff had a lot of great insight about how the travel industry is failing to welcome — and capitalize on — diverse body shapes. Here's what he suggested about the untapped potential in plus-size travel:




“42% of America is overweight or obese. We’re looking at 160 million people that you all aren’t catering to at all. I feel like that’s billions of dollars left on the table.... I did an independent study one time where I asked 'If travel was more accessible to you, would you take more trips?' 98% said yes."









Plus, he had insightful thoughts on:




* The cultural forces holding people back from travel



* Simple techniques for accommodating larger travelers



* Why traditional travel marketing is failing companies and their customers





















Resources Mentioned in This Episode



Learn more about Jeff Jenkins at his blog Chubby Diaries.



Watch Jeff's show "Never Say Never" on Amazon.



Get Brian's favorite travel water bottle here.



Apply to attend our OnSite FAM in Savannah here.



See all our FAMs and sign up for email notifications at grouptravelleader.com/fams.











Key Moments From This Episode



1:38 — Travel News: Celebrity is launching a river cruise brand



2:45 — Road Tip: The best water bottle for travel



10:31 — Join us for a FAM trip to Savannah



15:19 — Jeff Jenkins’ mind-blowing travel moment



17:56 — Cultural forces holding people back from travel



19:23 — How travel is catching on in the Black community



24:31 — Are plus-size travelers getting left behind?



27:17 — How big is the potential for plus-size travel?



28:50 — How to make travel more accessible for every body