When Bad Sh*t Happens to Good People on Holiday: Legal Lessons for the Travel Industry

Send us Fan Mail A single incident can turn a “dream trip” into a legal and operational nightmare, and most travel businesses don’t realize where they’re exposed until it’s too late. We kick off the 2026 Travel Trends and Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) Adventure Travel Series with an honest look at the legal risks behind every itinerary. Dan, alongside co-host Shannon Stowell, CEO of ATTA, sits down with two leading voices in travel law, Jeff Ment of The Ment Law Group and Chun Wright of The Law Office of Chun T. Wright. Together, they unpack what actually protects an adventure travel operator when things go wrong, from serious injuries to partner disputes to fast-moving cross-border complaints. The conversation breaks down duty of care in practical terms, including vendor vetting, layered supplier relationships, and why tour operators are often held accountable even when a DMC or local provider is running the activity. They also highlight the highest ROI legal moves for small and mid-sized operators, such as clear and properly accepted booking terms and conditions, and the critical insurance conversations too many companies overlook, especially when it comes to exclusions. Along the way, they explore why even the most trusted partnerships still require contracts, how settlement agreements can prevent repeat disputes, and how crisis planning doesn’t need to be complex but does need to be real, documented, and practiced. The episode also tackles a growing trend in 2026: using AI tools like ChatGPT for legal documents. The group explains why generic outputs often fail to reflect the realities of your business, can create more work later, and may even compromise confidentiality. Finally, the discussion zooms out to succession planning and acquisition readiness, covering what buyers are really looking for, from intellectual property and brand value to organized records and a clear understanding of EBITDA. If you run tours, sell travel, or manage suppliers, this is a conversation worth listening to with a notepad in hand. Start by identifying one legal gap you can address this month. Learn more adventuretravel.biz. The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds. https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/