<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd"><channel><title><![CDATA[The Upgrade Weekly Podcast ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Upgrade | Weekly - Hospitality industry deep dives, travel hot takes, trip reports, industry news by Anne Marie Brown, founding partner of Alpenglow Travel.  <br/><br/><a href="https://www.theupgradeweekly.com?utm_medium=podcast">www.theupgradeweekly.com</a>]]></description><link>https://www.theupgradeweekly.com/podcast</link><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 21:05:02 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/6684074.rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><author><![CDATA[The Upgrade | Anne Marie]]></author><copyright><![CDATA[Anne Marie Brown]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[annemarietravels@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:new-feed-url>https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/6684074.rss</itunes:new-feed-url><itunes:author>The Upgrade | Anne Marie</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The Upgrade | Weekly - Hospitality industry deep dives, travel hot takes, trip reports, industry news by Anne Marie Brown, founding partner of Alpenglow Travel. Luxury hospitality industry newsletter.</itunes:subtitle><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><itunes:owner><itunes:name>The Upgrade | Anne Marie</itunes:name><itunes:email>annemarietravels@substack.com</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit><itunes:category text="Business"/><itunes:category text="Society &amp; Culture"><itunes:category text="Places &amp; Travel"/></itunes:category><itunes:image href="https://substackcdn.com/feed/podcast/6684074/baae721b68fd55f77e936573095d07dd.jpg"/><item><title><![CDATA[Millennial Succession: An Interview with Ian Swain II about taking over his parent's company, Swain Destinations]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>In my first interview for The Upgrade, inspired by <a target="_blank" href="https://substack.com/profile/207747957-nadine-the-stanza">Nadine @ The Stanza</a> and her excellent interview series, I connected with my friend and peer, Ian Swain II. He recently purchased Swain Destinations from his parents, Ian and Linda Swain, who have run this incredible tour operator company for 40 years. They specialize in Australia, New Zealand, and Africa, and really are my go-to partners for Australia and NZ. I’ve known the Swain family for most of my life, and they are as similar to my own family as I have found in the industry. </p><p>Watch the interview to learn what succession actually looks like (not the TV show), and the sorts of things we millennials consider as we step into leadership roles in our family businesses.</p><p>Check out this week’s <a target="_blank" href="https://open.substack.com/pub/annemarietravels/p/16-the-upgrade-weekly-succession?r=au6iq&#38;utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&#38;utm_medium=web">The Upgrade | Weekly </a>for my full interview with Ian Swain II, as well as highlights of other millennials taking leadership positions in their family hospitality companies around the world.</p> <br/><br/>Get full access to The Upgrade  at <a href="https://www.theupgradeweekly.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">www.theupgradeweekly.com/subscribe</a>]]></description><link>https://www.theupgradeweekly.com/p/millennial-succession-an-interview</link><guid isPermaLink="false">substack:post:208580347</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[The Upgrade | Anne Marie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 31 Jul 2026 14:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/208580347/f7154ed2cefa09576b16a44ec7f89e95.mp3" length="29902604" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>The Upgrade | Anne Marie</itunes:author><itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>1869</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://substackcdn.com/feed/podcast/6684074/post/208580347/880035721da36c6080d1f00d1c5137d8.jpg"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Love Letter to Adare Manor]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>Adare Manor holds my heart. Every time I go to Ireland, I keep coming back to Adare. My parents were very close friends with Lord and Lady Waterford, and I grew up visiting their family home near Waterford in Ireland most years. Lady Caroline Waterford was Caroline Dunraven before she married. The Dunraven family built and owned Adare Manor for generations, until they sold it to become the spectacular hotel it is today.</p><p>Over the years, I've watched as Adare Manor continues to improve and expand, while still maintaining the feeling of being a family home.</p><p>The service: this is really where they go above and beyond. From the friendly doormen who know the whole history of the place, to the front desk agents and concierge who will tell you which pub has Irish music that night, this hotel pulls off being five star without feeling stuffy.</p><p>The food: burgers at the carriage house, tapas in the Tack Room, tea in the Gallery, a Michelin starred meal in the Oak Room, everything I eat there is scrumptious.</p><p>The grounds: they have an epic fairy garden onsite where I could explore for hours.</p><p>The facilities: the Ryder Cup is going to be here next for good reason - their golf course is gorgeous. The Padel Club is an incredible day spa with a private yoga room, fitness facility, jacuzzi facing the trees, steam room, sauna, and Padel courts.</p><p>Family friendly: a lot of five star hotels aren't welcoming to little kids, but Adare goes out of their way to include them. They have family lodge style accommodations that are 2 and 3 bedrooms, and tons of family friendly activities. I took Malia two years ago and she loved the falconry and receiving a special fairy key.</p><p>I always know when I send clients here, they will have an amazing time. </p> <br/><br/>Get full access to The Upgrade  at <a href="https://www.theupgradeweekly.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">www.theupgradeweekly.com/subscribe</a>]]></description><link>https://www.theupgradeweekly.com/p/a-love-letter-to-adare-manor</link><guid isPermaLink="false">substack:post:196026908</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[The Upgrade | Anne Marie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:10:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/196026908/eba7f88f8483662b1744a365ae90e4a4.mp3" length="484316" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>The Upgrade | Anne Marie</itunes:author><itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>30</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://substackcdn.com/feed/podcast/6684074/post/196026908/321fcfd8c923f8aee1b9685c435ba819.jpg"/></item></channel></rss>