This week’s  Eye on Travel broadcasts from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We’ll have another update on not just the Boeing 737 Max but the upcoming Congressional hearings about the overall relationship between the FAA and the airlines and manufacturers they are supposed to regulate. Arnie Weissmann, Editor-in-Chief of Travel Weekly, joins us in Saudi Arabia to discuss the opening of the Kingdom — and the restored UNESCO World Heritage site of Diriyah Gate. He argues that there’s no travel destination with a story as unique as well as the special circumstances that brought very few visitors here before — with many more coming now. And all of this happening in the shadow of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi a little more than a year ago. Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, discusses the spike in global tourism and human connectivity – and where it meets hospitality. Raha Moharrak, the first Saudi woman to summit Everest, speaks about the immense change women in Saudi Arabia have experienced and how she — and the rest of the country– is adjusting. And Her Royal Highness Princess Adhwa also stops by to discuss the radical progression of female rights. There’s all this and more as Eye on Travel broadcasts from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

Photo Credit: Alessandra Taryn Bea, With the legendary Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority

Click here to listen to the show streaming live from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 7, 2019.

Have a travel question? Then ask Peter. E-mail him at peter@petergreenberg.com, or tweet your questions to @petersgreenberg (include #AskPeter).

Arnie Weissmann, Editor-in-Chief at Travel Weekly, joins us in Saudi Arabia to discuss the opening of the Kingdom – welcoming leisure travelers, adjustments for tourists and locals alike. Arnie argues that there’s no tourist destination with a story as unique as Saudi Arabia and the special circumstances that have brought visitors here before. He chats about Arab hospitality, culture and the controversial elephant in the room – the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Arnie and Peter then discuss Westernization and what’s concerning for travelers.

Filip Boyen, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide, speaks about the Kingdom setting its own standards. He further explains how hotels achieve five stars as well as how they maintain and lose them. Filip then talks about the expansion of new destinations on Forbes Travel Guides’ lists and more on the surprising lives of its incognito inspectors.

Raha Moharrak, Public Speaker, traveler & the first Saudi woman to summit Everest, speaks about the immense change Saudi Arabia has experienced and how lucky she feels to be able to drive, be celebrated as an athlete and more in her own country — she’s proud. Women are more and more involved in local community and she’s really excited to see what else is coming in the country’s evolution. She discusses her self-expression and the obstacles she encountered when getting ready to climb Everest. She talks about evolution (and the resistance that comes with it), discovering the beauty in Saudi Arabia and the barriers and walls that still need to come down.

Her Royal Highness Princess Adhwa talks to Peter about everything from growing up in Irvine, California to the recent progression of female rights in Saudi Arabia. Princess Adhwa then speaks about planning authentic experiences at Traveling Panther, the country’s rich and extensive culture, and why these are exciting times for Saudi Arabians. She also discusses women being able to drive and some of the biggest changes the country faces.

Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, meets with his old friend Peter to discuss the spike in global tourism and human connectivity – and where it meets hospitality. Jerry talks about the Saudi nation opening its doors to tourists, and he hopes that tourism will give travelers the opportunity to see the real Saudi Arabia. They then dive into the murder of Washington Post correspondent Jamal Khashoggi and how the country is working to move forward from the unfortunate situation. Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Gate is new on the block and Jerry explains the rich history behind the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the building of new infrastructure around the country, sustainability and talks about the Saudi Crown Prince.

Joe Brancatelli, Founder of JoeSentMe.com, joins the program to talk about a worsening problem – frequent flyer miles – and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get any better. He argues that the airlines continue to believe that they can bait customers into not redeeming their miles. Joe then shares that travelers may be better off with a cashback program on their credit cards because it’s a better return for most travelers, and he explains why. “Unregulated lottery” is what Joe calls it. He talks about the American Express and Delta relationship and says that neither the airlines nor the banks deserve our sympathy.