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Bruce Poon Tip, Founder of G Adventures, shares his journey of entrepreneurship,... The post Transforming Travel and Community Tourism with Bruce Poon Tip first appeared on Startup Canada.
SummaryIn this conversation, Dr. Chris L. Brown speaks with Adrian Swinscoe about the evolving landscape of customer experience (CX) and the challenges organizations face in meeting rising consumer expectations. Adrian shares his journey into the world of CX, emphasizing the importance of understanding customer needs and managing expectations effectively. They discuss the barriers to creating a customer-centric culture, the significance of having a clear vision and strategy, and the attributes of leaders who excel in delivering exceptional customer experiences. The conversation highlights the need for organizations to bridge the gap between leadership and customer experiences, as well as the importance of creating space for strategic thinking in a meeting-heavy culture. In this conversation, Adrian Swinscoe discusses the importance of customer experience and how companies can effectively engage with their customers. He shares insights from his book 'How to Wow' and emphasizes the need for businesses to empower their employees to take ownership of customer experiences. The discussion transitions into the 'Punk CX' philosophy, advocating for a back-to-basics approach that prioritizes organizational creativity and bravery. Swinscoe also highlights the role of technology in creating space for innovation and the importance of being a relentless leader focused on growth and learning.TakeawaysAdrian Swinscoe's journey into customer experience began 20 years ago.Customer expectations are rising faster than brands can keep up.Brands often struggle with managing customer expectations effectively.Communication is key to filling the expectation gap.A clear vision and strategy are essential for a customer-centric culture.Leaders must genuinely care about customer experiences.Data-driven decision-making should include personal experiences.Organizations need to reduce the number of meetings to create space for strategic thinking.Leaders should prioritize their time to focus on customer-centric initiatives.Creating a culture of curiosity and care is vital for success. Empower employees to be 'Chief Experience Officers'.Meeting customer expectations is crucial for success.Trust and reliability are foundational to relationships.Basic execution can lead to strong customer relationships.Creativity and bravery are essential in business.Creating space allows for innovation and curiosity.AI can free up time for more meaningful customer interactions.Growth can be about quality, not just quantity.Questioning the status quo is vital for progress.Leaders should aim to disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed.TitlesNavigating the Customer Experience LandscapeUnderstanding the Shift in Customer ExpectationsThe Art of Managing Customer ExpectationsBuilding a Customer-Centric CultureVision and Strategy in Customer ExperienceSound Bites"I really don't like bad service.""Our expectations as consumers are going up.""When you get it right, customers reward you.""It's a gap between vision and execution.""Block time out, make it sacrosanct.""You're all CEOs too.""It's not all roses, right? It takes work.""What would a punk version look like?""Growth is a choice.""Question everything."Chapters00:00 Introduction to Customer Experience Journey03:10 The Evolution of Customer Expectations05:59 Managing Customer Expectations09:00 Barriers to Customer-Centric Culture11:58 The Importance of Vision and Strategy14:47 Attributes of Customer-Centric Leaders18:09 Bridging the Gap Between Leaders and Customers20:55 Overcoming Organizational Barriers24:05 Creating Space for Strategic Thinking24:42 How to Wow: Lessons from G Adventures30:28 The Punk CX Philosophy: A Back to Basics Approach36:15 Creating Space for Creativity and Bravery41:44 The Relentless Customer Leader: Growth and LearningKeywordsCustomer Experience, Expectations, Leadership, Strategy, Culture, Service, Business, Management, Customer-Centric, Communication, customer experience, punk philosophy, creativity, leadership, G Adventures, business growth, employee experience, AI in business, customer success, relentless leadership
On this episode, we are joined by Susan Heinrich from Midlife Globetrotter. Susan is a Canadian writer living in Denver, Colorado. She is passionate about travel and supporting women in tourism. In 2020, she created Midlife Globetrotter, a website and platform that helps women over 40 follow their travel dreams to new places, with destination guides, practical tips and stories of her own adventures. Susan is passionate about reframing midlife as an opportunity, and explores themes of reinvention and self-discovery in her work. You can follow Susan on Instagramand Pinterest. In this episode, we talk about group tours and group tour operators, especially those that offer group trips just for women. To learn more, see Susan's blog posts about: Women's tours around the world: https://midlifeglobetrotter.com/womens-tours/ How to select a small group tour: https://midlifeglobetrotter.com/how-to-select-a-small-group-tour/ Croatia group tour with Adventure Women: https://midlifeglobetrotter.com/a-womens-sailing-trip-in-croatia/ Episode Highlights Some things to think about when choosing a group tour include: What is the pacing of the trip -- is there any free time, how often do you switch hotels? What is the group size? Small group tends to be under 14 people. Small groups have advantages in terms of the type of accommodation and the size of the tour group when exploring cities What is the activity level? Some companies like Adventure Women and Adventures in Good Company specialize in active trips and offer detailed explanations of the activity level involved in the trip If you are traveling solo, you can also look for tours that are only solo travelers When you are evaluating a group tour, be sure to read the itinerary in detail. You can also call the tour operator and see if they can give you any information on how many solo travelers there might be versus those traveling with a friend or relative. Also look at what the single supplement is. Some companies like Girls Guide to the World have private rooms by default but typically group tours are priced based on double occupancy and if you want your own room they charge a single supplement. Some companies will pair you with another solo travel as a roommate if they don't charge a single supplement. Be sure to read through the documents to understand what is included in terms of transfers and meals Understand who is guiding the trip -- is it a local or a U.S.-based guide Make sure you understand the cancellation policy and buy travel insurance If you aren't sure if a group trip is for you, opt for a private room, start with a shorter trip, feel free to opt out of activities, and maybe start with a trip in the U.S. that doesn't require a more expensive airfare. If you just want to relax or if you don't like having scheduled activities, then a group tour may not be a good fit Good tour operators for budget travelers include G Adventures (now have tours for women and certain age groups) and Intrepid Travel (who have women expeditions to places where you can meet and interact with locals in a way that you couldn't if there were men on the trip) For a luxury trip, Girls Guide to the World is a good fit and Insight Vacations is upscale and have women-only trips For nature and wildlife, Natural Habitat Adventures partner with the World Wildlife Federation and are known for wildlife trips and have women's only expeditions Adventure Women is one of the first companies to get into women only tours and typically offer four-star accommodations with active adventures Backroads is known for cycling and hiking tours and offers some just for women and they have trips that accommodate a variety of activity levels each day There are also group tour operators focused on certain destinations like Viking Women in Iceland Another themed tour is the British Book Club Tour: https://thebookclubtour.com Susan is also co-hosting an art-history based trip to Paris this spring Some women-only focused travel companies and others that have women-only trips Next Chapter Travel - small group, curated trips in Europe Next Tribe - over 45 women Gals Abroad Getaways - luxury Untethered Expeditions - adventure Adventure Women - small group adventure Adventures in Good Company - active Girls' Guide to the World - authentic, responsible (luxury) Sisterhood Travels - over 50 Country Walkers - walking/hiking Scout Escapes - mother daughter travel and group trips for women over 40 Viking Women - Iceland Explorer Chick - hiking and adventure in National Parks and abroad Insight Vacations - upscale group trips some women only Backroads - women only hiking and cycling Road Scholar - educational, some women only, over 50 Uniworld - women's cruises
Dan Christian has spent decades in the industry working at some of the world's largest travel brands: The Travel Corporation, G Adventures, Lonely Planet.Today he's the host of the Travel Trends podcast and CEO of the Acceleration Team, helping travel companies achieve rapid growth.Dan knows marketing and business transformation like nobody else, and in this episode he spills the secrets of the world's largest companies:How do the largest tour companies really make their money?What have they learned about marketing tours?How do you scale up your operations efficiently as you add new regions?What does smart growth look like?How important is brand and USP?How do you leverage technology?What are the best distribution channels for selling your tours?Are travel advisors worth working with?More information...Show notes with more of Dan's insightsTourpreneur's full event schedule including CONNECT NYC in February, and our Tour Product Boot Camp in Berlin, March 3.Join our 16,000+ tour operator community on FacebookGet our free Tour Business Toolkit by joining our Community Hub
Ant Stone, Director of Marketing EMEA for G Adventures, tells me about how Pakistan and Tibet are opening up – and that he's a backpacker at heart.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode Notes Accor CEO Sebastien Bazin said the Paris-based hotel group has 47 brands in its portfolio. And the company has plans to add more, writes Middle East Reporter Josh Corder. Bazin said at the Future Hospitality Summit in Dubai that Accor doesn't have too many brands. He noted in the era of technology, customers have enough resources to discover them all. Bazin also said it's important that no two brands are the same and that all of them are relevant. As for global growth, Bazin thinks China and India will be the largest markets in the medium- and long-term. Next, G Adventures launched a new brand this week targeting solo travelers interested in connecting with others on group tours, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. The new brand — called “Solo-ish Adventures” — is geared toward travelers not wanting to wait on others to book a trip or feel like a “third wheel” on group tours. The trips, which will run on average 12 days, will feature activities such as cooking classes and food walking tours on the first night to encourage interaction. Trips to 12 destinations are currently available under the Solo-ish brand, which G Adventures plans to increase to 60 over the next two years. Finally, Moroccan officials have expressed concern about overtourism when the country co-hosts soccer's World Cup in 2030, writes Middle East Reporter Josh Corder. Morocco expects 26 million tourists in 2030, almost double the number from 2023. Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor said the country is looking at promoting — and investing in — experiences over accommodation, which she believes would give travelers reasons to visit destinations in Morocco outside its major cities. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Group travel at it's core is often the perfect blend of solo travelers at heart who want to experience a new place whilst still having the camaraderie of traveling with others with a built-in support system, making it easier to navigate new places, handle unexpected situations, and enjoy diverse perspectives and ideas.Joined by Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures, Bruce shares the company's inspiring founding story and it's commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism. Learn about the transformative impact of group travel and how G Adventures is making a difference in the industry.[00:01:32] Entrepreneurial journey of G Adventures.[00:06:36] Evolution of travel industry.[00:08:39] Responsible travel and community tourism.[00:12:35] Ethical animal encounters in travel.[00:21:41] Group travel options.[00:23:16] Roommate matchmaking process.[00:28:28] Community bonding through travel.[00:30:34] G Adventures' Chief Experience Officers.[00:36:32] Group travel experiences.[00:39:20] Age diversity in travel.[00:43:51] Evolving travel styles.[00:45:22] Support and Reviews Importance.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/allthestivelearnedabroad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode Notes Officials in California recently launched a new tourism marketing campaign. Visit California CEO Caroline Beteta discussed it and more in an interview with Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. Beteta said California's current marketing campaign — titled “Ultimate Playground — aims to showcase a sense of play often associated with the Golden State. She described the campaign as a pivot from Visit California's long-running campaign “Dream Big,” which she added will still be a part of the organization's messaging. Beteta also touched on Visit California's work with celebrities, who frequently appear on the cover of its visitor guides. She cited Jennifer Hudson as one celebrity the organization has partnered with. Next, travel and tourism investment firm Certares was behind a consortium that acquired FTI Group, Europe's third-largest tour operator, writes Travel Experiences Reporter Jesse Chase-Lubitz. The consortium will own all of the share capital while FTI will receive about $130 million to use for its digital transformation and growth. Certartes holds stakes in G Adventures, Tripadvisor and AmaWaterways, among other travel brands. Meanwhile, Munich-based FTI has 120 subsidiaries throughout Europe. Finally, Iceland is still a popular destination for Chinese travelers while Kazakhstan has become a new favorite, reports Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia. Iceland remains one of the top 10 most coveted outbound destinations among travelers surveyed by China-based marketing company Dragon Trail International. An executive at Dragon Trail credited reality TV and social media for familiarizing Chinese travelers with Iceland. As for Kazakhstan, the easing of visa restrictions — as well as its winter resorts — have made the country more appealing for many Chinese. However, Thailand has suffered in the eyes of many Chinese travelers due to concerns about safety. Roughly 38% of those surveyed by Dragon Trail considered Thailand “unsafe” to visit.
Spring break season is seeing many Canadians jet off for sunny vacations. But between climate change and cultural tensions, what does it mean to be a responsible traveller today? Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with Bruce Poon Tip about the questions he thinks we should all be asking when it comes to booking that cruise, resort or backpacking trip. The Canadian founder of G Adventures reflects on this critical post-pandemic moment in the travel industry, and why it counts to care about the destinations you're visiting.
Episode Notes Wyndham executives say the company's efforts to fend off Choice Hotels' hostile bid weighted on its results in the fourth quarter, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O'Neill. Wyndham CEO Geoff Ballotti said its fourth quarter could have been better without the distractions from Choice Hotels' merger proposal. The company's revenue and income in 2023 both fell from the previous year, which may have been a result of Wyndham devoting resources to prevent the hostile merger. Wyndham said it's spent $75 million related to the deal so far, including answering antitrust queries from regulators. Next, Expedia Group has pulled a Vrbo ad in Canada because its use of a traditional folk song from Newfoundland and Labrador sparked an uproar, writes Executive Editor Dennis Schaal. The ad, which aired during both the Grammys and Super Bowl, used the folk song I'se the B'y as its theme. Schaal notes the ad was intended to take a dig at rival Airbnb. But the provincial government and local tourism executives demanded Expedia remove the ad because they believed using the folk song was disrespectful. Finally, Bali has implemented a tourist tax as part of its efforts to combat overtourism, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. Visitors to the popular Indonesian destination have to pay about $10, which will go toward conservation efforts and improving the island's infrastructure. Mark Howarth-Archer, an executive at tour operator G Adventures, said Bali's infrastructure can't handle the surge in tourists.
Mitch Bach speaks with Jessica Off, founder of Guess Where Trips, an e-commerce company creating physical and digital surprise road trips for customers across Canada and the U.S.Jessica is a serial travel entrepreneur, including work at G Adventures. In this episode, she talks about what led her to start an e-commerce product-based travel business, after looking into tour operating and multi-day trips.This episode will give tour operators the inspiration to think about ancillary product revenue streams that can complement their in-person business, utilizing the same destination knowledge and supplier connections to offer experiences to a new customer base!Visit Guess Where Trips home pageEpisode show notesWe talk about:the design thinking behind crafting self-guided tourswhy the element of surprise is so crucial to the experienceher experience working with content creatorshow B2C trade shows have worked out for her trying to sell her productwhy she decided to ditch multi-day surprise tripsthe importance of collecting email addresses at trade showsfinding the right market for the trips, and why big cities don't workworking with local vendors to support themMentioned in this episode:Sponsored by Google 'Things to do'Want more direct bookings and greater exposure on Google? Then go check out Tourpreneur's free course on using Google 'Things to do', a new program offering tour operators a chance to display their tours across new Google locations. Learn more here: tourpreneur.com/google
Area/TopicWorldwide, Career, Culture, Group TravelYves MarceauVP ProductG AdventuresYves Marceau joined G Adventures in 2014, taking on the role of Vice President of Product in late-2017, after running the small group adventure company's buying division for three years. Both roles place a heaving emphasis on sustainability, as G Adventures prefers to work with locally-owned suppliers in the more than 100 countries it travels to. Yves has more than 20 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry; specifically, with non-profit organizations, in product and buying, and hospitality management. Before starting at G Adventures he spent time working at Road Scholar, which was a natural step into travel given his prior 10 years spent in education as a history and French teacher. Yves has travelled to more than 70 countries and to all continents except Antarctica, which could just be his next choice for a G Adventures tour. https://www.gadventures.com/SummaryIn this episode, Yves Marceau, Vice President of Product for G Adventures, shares his journey to adventure travel and the importance of curiosity and connection in the industry. He discusses the impact of travel on individuals and communities, and the characteristics of a good guide. Yves also provides advice for aspiring adventure travel guides and emphasizes the value of group dynamics in creating meaningful travel experiences. The conversation covers different types of adventure travel, G Adventures' target audience, the National Geographic partnership, the introduction of the Geluxe travel style, solo travelers and finding connections, and favorite travel experiences.TakeawaysAdventure travel is about getting outside of your comfort zone and connecting with people and places.Curiosity and a desire to explore are essential qualities for adventure travel guides.Adventure travel can have a positive impact on individuals and communities, fostering connections and understanding.The role of a guide is to create meaningful experiences and facilitate connections among travelers. Adventure travel can vary greatly, so it's important for travelers to understand their own preferences and find a company that aligns with their travel style.G Adventures attracts a diverse range of travelers, including solo travelers, couples, and families.The National Geographic partnership offers a more cerebral and culturally immersive travel experience.The Geluxe travel style provides upgraded accommodations and unique community connections.G Adventures offers opportunities for solo travelers to share accommodations and connect with like-minded individuals.Favorite travel experiences are often defined by the unique and memorable moments that travelers encounter. Learn more about the Big World Made Small Podcast and join our private community to get episode updates, special access to our guests, and exclusive adventure travel offers at bigworldmadesmall.com.
Mitch Bach speaks with Jessica Off, founder of Guess Where Trips, an e-commerce company creating physical and digital surprise road trips for customers across Canada and the U.S.Jessica is a serial travel entrepreneur, including work at G Adventures. In this episode, she talks about what led her to start an e-commerceThis episode will give tour operators the inspiration to think about ancillary product revenue streams that can complement their in-person business, utilizing the same destination knowledge and supplier connections to offer experiences to a new customer base!View the show notes hereExplore Tourpreneur.com's resourcesVisit Guess Where Trips home pageWe talk about:the design thinking behind crafting self-guided tourswhy the element of surprise is so crucial to the experienceher experience working with content creatorshow B2C trade shows have worked out for her trying to sell her productwhy she decided to ditch multi-day surprise tripsthe importance of collecting email addresses at trade showsfinding the right market for the trips, and why big cities don't workworking with local vendors to support themMentioned in this episode:Sponsored by Google 'Things to do'Want more direct bookings and greater exposure on Google? Then go check out Tourpreneur's free course on using Google 'Things to do', a new program offering tour operators a chance to display their tours across new Google locations. Learn more here: tourpreneur.com/google
Episode Notes JetBlue Airways is focusing on how it can be profitable following its failed merger with Spirit Airlines. So JetBlue is looking at ways to cut costs and offer more leisure routes, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi. JetBlue is grappling with rising costs due to new labor contracts and also has engine issues that have currently grounded seven aircraft. JetBlue Chief Financial Officer Ursula Hurley said the company would offer crew members voluntary buyouts to help offset some of those costs. The New York-based carrier also plans to defer $2.5 billion in aircraft spending to the end of the decade. And as JetBlue is increasingly targeting leisure travelers, the company is expanding service to popular destinations such as Florida, the Caribbean and Mexico. Next, protesters have blocked crucial rail access to Machu Picchu in anger over the Peruvian government's new online ticketing system for tourist attractions, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. Habtemariam reports tour operators have had to substantially alter their trips due to the lack of rail service since last Thursday. Sarah Migniac, an an executive at tour operator G Adventures, said reaching Machu Picchu could take nine hours without the train route. Migniac added that international travelers may cancel trips to Peru if traveling to Machu Picchu remains difficult. One Peruvian official said the disruption is costing the Machu Picchu site roughly $260,000 in lost income per day. Finally, Hilton has announced plans to enable guests to make requests by text at all of its hotels by the end of 2024, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O'Neill. Guests will be able to send messages via the Hilton Honors app, WhatsApp, and other platforms. Although texting customer service requests has become common in sectors such as retail and finance, some major hotel groups still require phone or face-to-face internations. Hilton is the first hotel group to require all its hotels to enable guests to make requests via text.
Travel Agent Chatter | Starting and Growing Your Travel Agency
In episode 136 Steph's co-host is Eduardo Cartaya with G Adventures. :) What's their relationship with Travel Leaders Network like when it comes to commissions? What does Eduardo see successful new advisors doing that listeners can start emulating? We need to know the secret sauce! And Eduardo breaks it down for us why single supplements are often so spendy. (Hint: It's not because the suppliers are being greedy) Lastly, we chat on if there are sales taxes that agencies need to be paying and how you find out what the situation is in your state. We do this every week! If you have travel industry questions, HAR likely has an answer :) Submit your burning question here: https://har.news/Friday15 and join us this Friday (and every Friday!) at 12CT for travel agent tips! TODAY'S RESOURCES: https://hostagencyreviews.com/friday15 (Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along with that week's questions we'll be covering!) https://hostagencyreviews.com/hostweek (Register for HAR's Host Week event!) https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/how-to-qualify-clients-travel-agent (Once you've got a lead, here's how you qualify them and find the best product) https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/elevator-pitch-examples-travel-agent (Create and polish your elevator pitch. Use HAR's brainstorming guide to help you out.) https://hostagencyreviews.com/travelagentchatter (Listen to/watch/read the stories of successful travel advisors to get inspired and pick up tips) https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agents-guide-to-charging-fees (Find your perfect fee verbiage) https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/what-do-travel-agents-do (Know the booking process before you start to look professional and ask the right questions at the right time) https://www.tax.newmexico.gov/governments/gross-receipts-tax/ (NM gross tax receipt info) https://dor.sd.gov/businesses/taxes/sales-use-tax/ (SD gross tax receipt info) https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-locations (SBA locations) https://www.score.org/find-location (SCORE office locations) https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agent-commissions (More on TA commission levels)
Travel Agent Chatter | Starting and Growing Your Travel Agency
In episode 134 Steph chats with Eduardo Cartaya from G Adventures about what family options G Adventures (and other resorts/operators) offer for advisors looking to focus on families. We also dive into what steps G Adventures takes to vet their on-the-ground partners and ensuring they're keeping the dollars in the local community to improve the welfare of those who live in the destination. Lastly, we answer the question how to handle chargebacks (and how G Adventures handles them). A reminder that G Adventures will be back on December 15th, 2024 and you can submit any questions you'd like them to answer here: https://hostagencyreviews.com/friday15 Here's a list of helpful resources for today's episode: https://hostagencyreviews.com/hostweek (Register for HAR's Host Week event!) https://hostagencyreviews.com/friday15 (Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along with that week's questions we'll be covering!) https://www.gadventures.com/travel-styles/national-geographic-journeys/ (National Geographic Family Journeys operated by G Adventures) https://www.gadventures.com/travel-styles/family/ (G Adventures family collection) https://familytravel.org/ (Family Travel Association) https://www.gadventures.com/about-us/ripple-score/ (G's measure of how much of every dollar stays in destination–Ripple score) https://www.gadventures.com/travel-styles/national-geographic-journeys/ (National geographic Journeys collection) https://www.gadventures.com/travel-styles/cruising/ (Marine collection) https://www.gadventures.com/travel-styles/geluxe/ (Geluxe – 28 experiences at superior or upgraded service level. Adults only.) We do this every week! If you have travel industry questions, HAR likely has an answer :) Submit your burning question here: https://har.news/Friday15 and join us this Friday (and every Friday!) at 12CT for travel agent tips!
We've returned to the classic format of bringing in Kelly for a discussion of the final chapters of a book! She's here to conclude not only our coverage of The Last Olympian, but also the entire first series book episodes of The Newest Olympian! After covering the last chapter, we get into loads of questions from TNO patrons. Topics include: demi-satyrs, demigod prison, best friends, knowing the most, Grey's Anatomy, The Bachelor, “You're my person.”, seafood for breakfast, opening doors, beads, tiny names, blank spaces, Upper East Side, Heroes of Olympus predictions, 90s/00s trends, celebratory drinks, and more! GET THE TNO PJO BEADS: www.thenewestolympian.com/merch Thanks to our sponsor, G-Adventures! Save big on travel adventures at www.gadventures.com/cyber-sale — Find The Newest Olympian Online — • Website: www.thenewestolympian.com • Patreon: www.thenewestolympian.com/patreon • Twitter: www.twitter.com/newestolympian • Instagram: www.instagram.com/newestolympian • Facebook: www.facebook.com/newestolympian • Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/thenewestolympian • Merch: www.thenewestolympian.com/merch — Production — • Creator, Host, Producer, Social Media, Web Design: Mike Schubert • Editor: Sherry Guo • Music: Bettina Campomanes and Brandon Grugle • Art: Jessica E. Boyd — About The Show — Is Percy Jackson the book series we should've been reading all along? Join Mike Schubert as he reads through the books for the first time with the help of longtime PJO fans to cover the plot, take stabs at what happens next, and nerd out over Greek mythology. Whether you're looking for an excuse to finally read these books, or want to re-read an old favorite with a digital book club, grab your blue chocolate chip cookies and listen along. New episodes release on Mondays wherever you get your podcasts!
Travel Agent Chatter | Starting and Growing Your Travel Agency
Welcome to Friday 15! In episode 132 Steph chats with Lori Speers, CEO and Owner of Levarte Travel about previous Friday15 questions, Disney & charge fees, and new agent “Must Haves”. Here's a list of helpful resources for today's episode: https://hostagencyreviews.com/hostweek (Register for HAR's Host Week event!) https://hostagencyreviews.com/friday15 (Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along with that week's questions we'll be covering!) https://hostagencyreviews.com/friday15 (Complete list of F15s: Sort Friday 15 episodes by tags) https://hostagencyreviews.com/page/travel-advisor-research-reports/ (HAR's research reports with data on fees, who charges, how much, what for, and lots of other good stuff!) https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agency-websites (A list and comparison of the travel agency websites options) https://www.happiestthingstravel.com/ (Disney Travel Advisor Planner – digital and hard copy available) https://www.practicallymagic.co/ (Theme Park Itinerary Software for Advisors) https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/what-is-gds (Learn what the GDS is and who needs it) https://hostagencyreviews.com/hosts/levarte-travel (Levarte's profile on HAR) https://levartetravel.com/ (Levarte's website) Nov 17 (TPI), Off for Black Friday. Dec 1 (G Adventures) https://hostagencyreviews.com/hostweek (Register for Host Week! It's free. It's fun. It's full of info to grow your agency!) We do this every week! If you have travel industry questions, HAR likely has an answer :) Submit your burning question here Har.News/Friday15 and join us this Friday (and every Friday!) at 12CT for travel agent tips!
TRICK OR TREAT! Enter to win an exclusive SMS Marketing TRICK or a $5 Crumbl TREAT at https://ellenyin.com/trickortreat Enter to win a $4,999 travel credit from G Adventures by October 31st (valid for US listeners only): https://gadventures.com/wishlistCatch up on our previous Income Report episodes at: https://ellenyin.com/incomereportIt's time for our Q3 2023 Income Report, brought to you by our amazing friends at Theory Planning Partners! We have been publicly sharing our income reports for our business since 2019, making this our fifth year now of reporting exactly what our business makes spends and profits every 90 days. We've been doing this practice for so many years because we really believe that financial transparency is the future and that we all benefit when we collectively share our insights and our data. This is part of our advocacy work as a media platform that creates content through a financially transparent lens. Thank you for sharing and taking part in this important conversation; I hope it inspires you to be more transparent in whatever way makes sense for you in terms of money conversations.We will also be bringing Kaitlyn Carlson from Theory Planning back on the pod to discuss the retirement planning options that entrepreneurs have - as well as the strategy she recommends the most. Let's dive into everything that happened in Q3!View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/IbfpxTp9z6RTA3lKTvurU65tXag?utm_source=copy_urlLinks mentioned in this episode: How We Shot Up Nearly 100 Spots In The Podcast Charts With Live Events: https://link.chtbl.com/AOzjBgCgSign up for a free trial with Norby: https://ellenyin.com/norbyCheck out Theory Planning Partners: https://theoryplanning.com/@theoryplanningpartnersThis Wealth Advisor's Investment Strategy To Grow A $15M Portfolio And Retire On $165K/Year: https://link.chtbl.com/7BuSVxwtHow Much Is Enough In Your Business? Wealth Advisor Shares Shocking Truth: https://link.chtbl.com/U05UjFBxCEO Collective Expert Roundtable #1: https://link.chtbl.com/TvHTGsdHCEO Collective Expert Roundtable #2: https://link.chtbl.com/62Dz42khCEO Collective Expert Roundtable #3: https://link.chtbl.com/J20mpUf7CEO Collective Expert Roundtable #4: https://link.chtbl.com/UIlpkND6Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quizIf you enjoyed today's episode, please:Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceoSign up for our text notifications at ellenyin.com/superfan so you can be the first to know when a new case study has dropped!Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you.Follow (+) our show for new episodes every Monday & Wednesday
Enter to win a $4,999 travel credit from G Adventures by October 31st (valid for US listeners only): https://gadventures.com/wishlist Listen to Kirsten Roldan's full episode detailing her email marketing strategy: https://link.chtbl.com/HSZCGZAjAccess the transcript of this episode HERE: https://otter.ai/u/VBEfgQ--uTuMOrzBz_WTaJd5Hfo?utm_source=copy_urlIf you enjoyed today's episode, please:Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceoSign up for our text notifications at ellenyin.com/superfan so you can be the first to know when a new case study has dropped!Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost youFollow (+) our show for new episodes every Monday & Wednesday
Enter to win a $4,999 travel credit from G Adventures by October 31st (valid for US listeners only): https://gadventures.com/wishlist We love a woman with a strong stance on marketing, and today's guest does not disappoint.Kirsten Roldan is a firm believer that millionaires send emails. Period. Her program - Million Dollar Email - makes businesses social media optional by helping CEOs scale revenue to the million dollar mark with only a small email list. To show she walks the walk, Kirsten achieved that milestone herself with a then-list size of 500 subscribers.Rather than take a ten thousand foot view of her email strategy, we get granular in today's case study by dissecting one single email that made $24,000, going line by line with a fine tooth comb. We'll get into all the details - open rate, click-through rate, subject line, time of send, order in the email sequence, CTA, and more. Not one to shy away from polarizing strategies, Kirsten also lets us in on how she sends 5-10 emails a DAY during a launch while sustaining a low unsubscribe rate, why she doesn't bother segmenting her list for most email sends or tracking open rates and clicks in real-time, and why she won't give her students email templates. This thought-provoking conversation is fire, and not just because of the hot takes. Let's analyze.View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/p9x_UjS2troekuTIxDNCPCwzTtM?utm_source=copy_urlConnect with Kirsten:Claim your spot on Kirsten's waitlist for Million Dollar Emails: https://kirstenroldan.com/mde-waitlistLook at Kirsten's opt-in form: https://kirstenroldan.com/Million Dollar Peace Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/million-dollar-peace/id1503757464https://instagram.com/kirstenroldanIconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quizIf you enjoyed today's episode, please:Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceoSign up for our text notifications at ellenyin.com/superfan so you can be the first to know when a new case study has dropped!Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo
Episode Notes Maui faces a long road to a full tourism recovery after wildfires decimated the western part of the island last month. Travelers have largely been slow to return to Maui out of sensitivity to local residents, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. Although Hawaii tourism officials have said most of Maui is ready to welcome tourists, Habtemariam reports some travel businesses believe it's too soon for visitors to come back. Alaska Air Group Chief Financial Officer Shane Tackett said a subset of travelers aren't eager to vacation in a destination still suffering. In addition, airlines are continuing to cut flights to Maui in response to the wildfires. Habtemariam adds tour operators have been cautious about taking guests back to Maui. G Adventures is considering making a return to the island in October or November. Its Vice President of Product Yves Marceau said it doesn't want travelers to feel like they're going back too early. Next, Marriott International is making progress in reducing its carbon footprint ahead of its 2030 target. But the company's emissions data reveals its greenhouse gas emissions increased last year, reports Head of Research Wouter Geerts. Geerts writes Marriott has some of the best tracking of emissions of any hotel company. That reporting showed the company's scope 1 and 2 emissions rose by 2.5% in 2022 compared to 2021. Scope 1 and 2 emissions are all emissions from activities under operational control for hotel companies. Geerts notes Marriott is still on track to reach its 2030 emissions goal. But he adds the company needs a 5.4% annual decline in emissions to hit its target. Finally, Spirit Airlines stunned investors and even its competitors with its forecast of a steep third-quarter operating loss, reports Jay Shabat, senior analyst for Skift publication Airline Weekly. Spirit anticipates its third-quarter operating margin to be between negative 15-16%. The company had forecast in August the figure would be roughly negative 7%. Shabat notes that fuel prices have increased sharply in recent weeks while demand has softened. Spirit also expects total revenue for the third quarter to decrease from what was previously forecast. The poor forecast follows a rough first half for Spirit. Only Hawaiian Airlines performed worse in terms of operating margin in the first half of this year among major U.S. carriers.
Episode Notes Airnbnb's New York City listings for short-term stays dropped 77% over a three-month period during which the city enacted stringent host registration rules. A major New York City hotel operator believes that decrease will contribute to a significant tailwind for hotels next year, reports Executive Editor Dennis Schaal. An New York City-based hotel executive, who declined to be identified, said Airbnb's struggles could give his company a boost. The hotelier noted that revenue per available room for city hotels was already projected to jump roughly 10% in 2024 from pre-Covid levels. He added the figure could rise at least three percentage points given the clampdown on Airbnb listings. However, Schaal writes not everyone in the hotel industry agrees. Some hotel owners have argued that Airbnb's inventory numbers are too low to significantly impact hotels in New York City. Next, Morocco was hit by a massive earthquake last week that caused nearly 3,000 deaths. Yet several tour operators are organizing trips in the country, writes Travel Experiences Selene Brophy. Although some tour operators decided to cancel or suspend operations following the deadly earthquake, Intrepid Travel and G Adventures have chosen to reroute trips away from areas most heavily affected. In addition, Journey Morocco, which provides multi-day tours around the country, confirmed it would be operating all of its trips. However, the company's founder Redouane Ouadi said some tours to impacted areas would be modified. Finally, JetBlue Airways CEO Robin Hayes said it's selling flights it can't fly due to the ongoing air traffic control shortage, reports Edward Russell, editor of Skift publication Airline Weekly. Hayes said at an aviation conference that Washington hasn't done enough to ease the operational limits from lower staffing levels. He urged the government to grant airlines waivers to flight rules at busy New York City-area airports well in advance. Russell writes airlines would be better able to plan schedules maximizing the number of seats to New York with fewer flights. Russell adds the waiver is needed because airlines are required to use their slots and runway timings 80% of the time or risk losing them. United CEO Scott Kirby said the air traffic control shortage could cause hundreds of flight delays that wouldn't have occurred in the past.
Episode Notes Some hotel executives have expressed concerns about the security and reliability of today's generative artificial intelligence. However, industry experts are confident that AI will make room pricing more profitable, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O'Neill. Former IHG executive Jeff Edwards said revenue management would be the perfect use for the technology because it is too complex for humans to manage in real-time. Future tech could also enable dynamic pricing for individual rooms. O'Neill notes an extra-spacious room appearing frequently on social media could, in theory, command higher rates. Ryan King, an executive at hotel software services firm Shiji Americas, said revenue management software platforms could assign specific rates for certain rooms based on perceptions of those rooms. O'Neill also writes that today's revenue management systems often struggle to handle non-room revenue, including spending in hotel restaurants and spas. We head to San Francisco next. Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam writes the city's struggling downtown is holding back its tourism recovery. Although some neighborhoods outside of San Francisco's downtown have seen an increase in visitors, Habtemariam reports several tour operators aren't enthusiastic about taking groups to the center of the city. One tour operator, G Adventures, said it now starts tours in Las Vegas instead of San Francisco and that it has reduced the time its tours spend there. Another tour operator said he avoids group trips to the city. Local officials recently launched a global marketing campaign called “Always San Francisco” in an attempt to counter the city's negative reputation. San Francisco Travel Association Chief Marketing Officer Lynn Bruni-Perkins said the organization wants to remind the public that the majority of visitors to the city last year said they wanted to return. We finish today in India, the host of the Cricket World Cup this fall. The country is racing to have budget hotels ready for the start of the event in October, writes Middle East and Asia Reporter Amrita Ghosh. The rush to provide cricket fans more budget accommodation options comes as event organizers expect to see an enormous demand for tickets. Budget hotel operator Oyo said it will add 500 hotels in host cities to its portfolio over the next three months. An Oyo executive said the hotels will be located near tournament venues. In addition, India-based online travel company MakeMyTrip has unveiled plans to increase its inventory of homestay properties during the cricket season.
Buckle up as we journey into a world where travel and hands-on scientific discovery intertwine! In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Marisa Rodriguez, founder of Ancient Odysseys, a unique travel adventure bridging the gap between science enthusiasts and archaeologists worldwide. Marisa shares her journey from her first dinosaur dig in Wyoming to coordinating global digs and creating unforgettable, meaningful experiences for participants. James, our anthropology aficionado, brings his insights to the table as we discuss the thrill, challenges, and social aspects of these adventures. But there's more! Jessica Deverson, our trusted "deals guru," enlightens us about the emerging trends in adventure travel and expedition cruising. We explore fantastic deals from top-rated companies like G Adventures and Celebrity Cruises, ensuring you get the best bang for your buck on your next escapade. Lastly, we share some of our recent travels, and we also dive into the controversy surrounding the practice of 'skiplagging'. So, whether you're an adventurer at heart, a science enthusiast, or just looking for your next vacation idea, this episode has something for you. Press play now to start your adventure and don't forget to share your thoughts with us on our website and social media platforms. Learn more about Ancient Odysseys. _ Produced by Podcast Studio X. No Tourists Allowed Website. No Tourists Allowed Instagram.
The podcast's very own host, British journalist and travel writer, Laura Sanders, documents her journey through Peru with small group tour specialists G Adventures. South America's third-largest country, Peru is a land of deserts, glaciers, lakes and jungles. But it's most famous for Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas. Learn more about this powerful civilisation as Laura makes her way through Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. Laura then treks to Rainbow Mountain, an overnight social media success story, before sleeping beneath the jungle canopy in an eco-cabin just outside of Porto Maldonado. Hang on until the end, when Laura answers your questions about Peru, preparing for the Inca trail, and travelling with G Adventures.See Laura's itinerary and the other tours on offer with G Adventures here.Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).
For a long time we've suspected that more travel agencies than not were charging their clients for their services, much like many professional service-oriented businesses like financial advisors, or accountants, or consultants. This year we put some actual data to the trend – we surveyed our readers. And the results might have surprised you. But today on the Folo, Travel Weekly retail editor Jamie Biesiada and host Rebecca Tobin tackle the question of fees again, this time with a travel advisor, Jamie Jones, the president of WhirlAway Travel, who will share her perspective. We'll look at some of the many types of fees. And we'll do a lightning-round-style response to some of the reasons why advisors don't charge. This episode was recorded April 20 and was edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by G Adventures https://www.gadventures.com Related links: Fees: by the numbers cover story https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Fees-by-the-numbers The Trade Secrets podcast: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Trade-Secrets/Does-charging-a-fee-mean-my-client-owns-me WhirlAway Travel: https://www.whirlawaytravel.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Trade Secrets is on a brief hiatus to gather questions for season four, but in the meantime, hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are sharing some of their favorite episodes of the show. We'll be back with new episodes in May! This week, Jamie's pick: Whenever Jennifer Doncsecz, president of VIP Vacations, is traveling, she always wears pink. She started years ago, and since then, she uses pink on VIP's logo, website, and even the Victorian house where the agency is located. That, combined with a number of other strategic measures, has helped Doncsecz solidify her agency's branding, making it instantly recognizable. This week, senior editors Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada delve into all things branding with Jennifer, who uses the four Cs: Credibility, consistency, customer service and clout. This episode was sponsored by G Adventures. https://www.gadventures.com/ Further resources: VIP Vacations on the web Jennifer on Instagram New travel advisor businesses that will help the industry build back better Outsourcing for travel advisors: Recommendations for the hired help you need Travel Genius Websites, websites for travel agents Tique, branding, websites and systems design Canva, for designing assets Fiverr, for freelance business services Some more sage words of advice from Jennifer on different topics: Move it, don't lose it Women helping women Need advice? Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098 Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com Theme song: Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We occasionally talk about a sea-change within the cruise industry but this time we mean it. In the past two years, three of the four cruise companies have turned over their top jobs. Royal Caribbean Group chairman and CEO Richard Fain stepped down as CEO as of January 2022, after serving in that role since the late 1980s. He was replaced by Jason Liberty, the company's CFO. In mid-2022, Carnival Corp. chairman and CEO Arnold Donald announced that he would step down, to be replaced by Josh Weinstein, the company's chief operating officer. And just last month, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings chairman and CEO Frank Del Rio said he would step down this summer and that Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Harry Sommer would step up into the "sea-suite." (We should note that, as of now, the fourth company, MSC Cruises, is still helmed by Pierfrancesco Vago.) Cruise editor Andrea Zelinski looks at the changing of the guard in this week's Focus on Cruise cover story. And on this episode, with Signature Travel Group CEO Alex Sharpe, we explore the changeover a little more and get of the sense of the people behind and ahead of the industry's trajectory. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by G Adventures www.gadventures.com Related reports: Focus on cruise: Changing the guard https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Focus-on-Cruise-Changing-of-the-guard On the record: A Q&A with Carnival Corp. CEO Josh Weinstein https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Carnival-Corp-Josh-Weinstein Travel advisors expect a smooth transition at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Travel-advisors-expect-smooth-leadership-transition-NCLH Arnold Donald, retiring from Carnival, reflects on changing cruise culture https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Retiring-Arnold-Donald-reflects Travel advisors praise Richard Fain for his commitment https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Advisors-praise-Fain-as-he-departs-Royal-Caribbean Richard Fain's Covid-era video from March 2020: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Richard-Fain-addresses-agents-Get-ready-for-better-times-ahead Alex Sharpe https://join.sigtn.com/about-signature/our-executive-team/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the past two months senior editor Nicole Edenedo has published two cover stories about Black travel experiences. In the first, Black travel professionals talk about strides the industry is making in terms of more inclusive marketing, Black history tours and other initiatives. Her second report, even more personal, is about two experiences she recently had with tours and events that showcase and celebrate Black history, culture and community. One of the initiatives launching this year is the Soulful Epicurean itinerary from AmaWaterways. To delve deeper into this cruise and what it means for Black travelers, representation and river cruising in general, Edenedo invited on Jazzmine Douse, director of national accounts at AmaWaterways, and Jackie Williams, the founder of NuVibe Travel Experiences, who was instrumental in creating the itinerary. This episode was recorded March 3 and has been edited for length and clarity. Since then, the popularity of the soulful Epicurean itinerary has been solidified: Ama's website say that this year's cruise is at capacity. The line in 2024 now has two of these itineraries running, plus a new itinerary that will operate along the Nile in Egypt. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by G Adventures https://www.gadventures.com Related reports AmaWaterways Soulful Epicurean cruise https://www.amawaterways.com/soulful-2023 Jackie Williams of NuVibe: https://nuvibeluxetravel.com/about/ Black travel: inclusion in action https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Black-travel-Inclusion-in-action Signs of progress https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Signs-of-progress AmaWaterways to bring Black heritage itinerary to Egypt https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/AmaWaterways-Black-heritage-itinerary-in-Egypt See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Trade Secrets is on a brief hiatus to gather questions for season four, but in the meantime, hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada are sharing some of their favorite episodes of the show. We'll be back with new episodes in May! This week, Emma's pick: all things client relations with Jennifer Jacob. Jennifer is the COO and co-founder of Tique, a travel advisor brand and systems design studio, and the former founder of Explorateur Travel. They tackle qualifying clients, keeping track of — and using — client data, breaking up with clients and beyond. You'll also learn about Jennifer's “pushback channel,” which often leads to the “bless and release.” Hear about all that and more this week on Trade Secrets. This episode was sponsored by G Adventures. https://www.gadventures.com/ Further resources: Tique on Instagram and on the web Jennifer's book recommendations, “Crucial Conversations” and “Radical Candor” Trade Secrets episode on charging fees Explorateur Travel, the agency Jennifer founded From TravelAge West: New travel advisor businesses that will help the industry build back better From TravelAge West: Five ways for travel advisors to deal with (or fire) problematic clients Travefy's webinar on firing clients Need advice? Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098 Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com Theme song: Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's been an exciting month for people who follow college basketball, as March Madness wraps up in Texas. But what you may not consider when you think about the tournament is the incredible travel engine that exists in the background, from fan and team transportation to hotels and big-ticket entertainment to smaller spend like meals and rideshares. Host Rebecca Tobin traveled to Houston for the final matchup in the men's games, along with Matt Traub, the managing editor of sister publication SportsTravel. But ahead of the Final Four we sat down with Travel Weekly's deputy managing editor, Gerry Bourbeau, a college hoops fan and a former sportswriter, to talk about the size of the sports-travel market, its post-lockdown rebound, the travel spend generated by the basketball tournament and how host cities prepare to greet fans and keep the fun going. We also pinpoint major cities that are hosting major sporting events and where sports travel is growing by leaps and bounds (looking at you, pickleball). This episode was recorded March 30 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by G Adventures https://www.gadventures.com Related links The SportsTravel podcast: Hosting the Men's Final Four in Houston https://www.sportstravelmagazine.com/janis-burke-and-holly-kesterson-hosting-the-mens-final-four-in-houston/ Sports travel and tours is on a hot streak https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Sports-tourism-high-demand Vegas' lucky numbers: A record year for airport traffic, casinos https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Insights/Las-Vegas-tourism-numbers-for-2022 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As a 22-year-old, after backpacking around the world, Bruce Poon Tip, founder of tour operator G Adventures and the current chairman of G Travel Community, basically invented a new type of travel product that emphasized more local experiences and interactions, and sought a deeper connection with destinations and the people who live there. Over the years, G Adventures has become a leader in this kind of travel all over the world. The company's brands have won numerous awards — including several TravelAge West WAVE awards. Tip himself has emerged as a strong voice for responsible travel, writing books, speaking around the world — including at the United Nations — and recently producing “The Last Tourist,” a feature film. In this episode, Tip returns to Humans of Travel to talk about his view of the travel industry today. (He was previously on the podcast in April 2020 talking about his background and the early days of his company.) Now, Tip shares his take on how the COVID-19 pandemic changed the travel industry and what it taught him personally, as well as how he sees the state of responsible travel and community engagement today. Tip also discusses how he sees G Adventures evolving to continue to be a leader in the industry. Throughout the episode, listeners will hear Tip share his insights on what travel advisors can do to improve their business and build better relationships with their customers. As one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the travel industry, Tip has very straightforward thoughts on how agents can achieve their goals. It's a conversation with one of the true visionaries in travel, and you won't want to miss it. Know a great Human of Travel who has a compelling story to share? Send us an email at letters@travelagewest.com. This sponsored interview was conducted by Kenneth Shapiro, Vice President/Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of TravelAge West. This episode is sponsored by G Adventures. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Humans of Travel, April 27, 2020: Bruce Poon Tip on Lessons From Getting Fired, Asian Representation and Founding G Adventures on Two Maxed-Out Credit Cards G Adventures Planeterra “Looptail” By Bruce Poon Tip “Unlearn, The Year the Earth Stood Still” By Bruce Poon Tip “The Last Tourist” Film ABOUT YOUR HOST Emma Weissmann is the Managing Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. ABOUT THE SHOW TravelAge West's podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry's notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Alaska's summer travel season is about to kick off, and this year the cruise industry is looking at a record deployment (The link to that article is below). In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and Travel Weekly aviation editor Robert Silk, who has just returned from Alaska, brought back Kirsten Dixon, a well known hotelier and hospitality expert in the state, to talk about how to travel in Alaska in the winter, Dixon's involvement with the Iditarod dogsled race, this summer's tourism highlights and whether travel in the state is "back." This episode has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by G Adventures https://www.gadventures.com Related reports: Cruise lines tap into Alaska demand with record deployment https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-lines-tap-Alaska-demand-with-record-deployment New tours and summer events await travelers to Alaska https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/New-tours-special-events-await-summer-visitors-to-Alaska Experiencing Alaska through local events https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Experiencing-Alaska-through-local-events Robert Silk's visit to Fairbanks: https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/The-Fairbanks-nightlife Robert Silk's experience heli-skiing in Alaska with Chugach Powder Guides: https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Focus-Ski-Mountain-Travel-2023-Powder-days Kirsten Dixon's Within the Wild company https://withinthewild.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this special bonus episode before the official launch of Season 2, join Carli as she sits down with Alex from G Adventures. G Adventures has been a leader in small group adventure travel for more than 30 years. Like Girls Who Travel, G Adventures is also on a mission to redefine the way travelers see the world. Carli and Alex will discuss our partnership, including our upcoming trip to Portugal and an exciting giveaway from G Adventures! Learn more about G Adventures and International Women's Day here: https://www.gadventures.com/international-womens-day/ To learn more about The Last Tourist, visit here: https://thelasttouristfilm.com/
Our first ever HwP LIVE episode features a panel discussion that recently took place on campus in partnership with the team at the Adventure Travel Trade Association. Three industry experts joined us to discuss the importance of destination stewardship in everything that we do in tourism and travel, from Marketing to Management. Panelists included Steve Lima from G Adventures, Tracy Michaud from the University of Southern Maine, and Heather Heverling from Audley Travel. Listen in for a really fun conversation that addresses some of the critical elements tourism managers should consider as we move into a new era of travel!
Welcome to the season three finale of Trade Secrets! This episode, hosts Jamie Biesiada and Emma Weissmann are flipping the tables a bit and interviewing each other. Find out if they've always envisioned being writers, how they found the travel industry, who's a Swiftie, who believes in ghosts and more. This is the season finale, but we'll share some favorite episodes and moments from Trade Secrets every other week until season four premieres this May. This episode was sponsored by G Adventures. Further resources: Jamie on Instagram ASTA names TW's Jamie Biesiada journalist of the year Emma on Instagram TravelAge West's 50th anniversary story: Travel milestones from the last 50 years Emma's story about climbing Mount Kilimanjaro Need advice? Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098 Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com Theme song: Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This this year, thanks to several back-to-back, major weather systems, several West Coast resorts are looking at snow totals in the 600-inches-plus range that might keep the season going well into spring. This month also marks the runup to Mountain Travel Symposium, our annual ski and mountain-destination conference, and our Focus on Ski and Mountain Travel cover story. In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin and Robert Silk, who covers ski and mountain travel for Travel Weekly, talk with Tom Foley, senior vice president of business intelligence at Inntopia, and Patrick Lacey, the public relations manager at Palisades Tahoe, about mountain ecosystems, how those snow totals impact visitation, this year's lodging trends and how to get people to move from trying skiing to actually becoming a skier. This was recorded March 17 and was edited for length and clarity. Episode Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by G Adventures. At the end of this episode, stay on for a bonus interview with Jeremy Brady, national sales manager for G Adventures, and Mary Pat Sullivan, the executive vice president of marketing for Northstar and Travel Weekly. Related reports: Travel Weekly's ski and mountain coverage: https://www.travelweekly.com/ski-travel Focus on ski and mountain travel, 2023: Powder days for skiers of all levels: https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Focus-Ski-Mountain-Travel-2023-Powder-days Snowpack piles up at ski resorts in California and Utah https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Snowpack-piles-up-Utah-California Focus on ski and mountain travel 2022: Driving diversity on the slopes https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Focus-Ski-Mountain-Travel-Driving-diversity-on-the-slopes Palisades Tahoe: https://www.palisadestahoe.com Inntopia: https://www.inntopia.com Mountain Travel Symposium: https://www.mtntrvl.com Inntopia and Mountain Travel Symposium and owned by Travel Weekly parent company Northstar Travel Group. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good morning from Skift For daily updates in your inbox, subscribe to the Skift Daily newsletter at skift.com/daily. It's Monday, March 20, 2023 And now, here's what you need to know about the business of travel today. American Airlines has opted to withhold 40 percent of its airfares from traditional retail channels on April 3, infuriating travel agents who had vehemently argued the impending removal would hurt business travelers, reports Corporate Travel Editor Matthew Parsons. Parsons writes the American Society of Travel Advisors pleaded in a letter to American Airlines to push the removal to the end of 2023. The trade group said that many corporate travel agencies and distribution systems would be unable to quickly implement New Distribution Capability, technology that gives airlines more control over airfares. The society also contended that travel agencies' struggles in using the technology would disrupt the booking process, claims that American Airlines refuted. Next, Cambodia has made significant investments to improve the visitor experience at Angkor Wat, its most popular tourist attraction. But Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam writes its strategy includes controversially relocating communities near the famous temple complex, moves that threaten their livelihoods. Habtemariam reports Cambodian officials have relocated nearly 10,000 people as part of its efforts to preserve the temples and maintain its UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The Cambodian government has given residents land plots of land far from Angkor Wat in exchange for their relocation. Mark Howarth-Archer, an executive at tour operator G Adventures, said the government is using threats to Angkor Wat's heritage status as a reason to move villages. Habtemariam notes that many residents of the relocated villages had established businesses to serve visitors to Angkor Wat. Although one local travel executive argued those forced to relocate weren't being left out to dry, Howarth-Archer said participating in the tourism industry would be a challenge for them. Habtemariam writes that some relocated residents are living roughly 45 minutes away from Angkor Wat by motorbike. Finally, Greek carrier Aegean Airlines rode its country's tourism boom to a third consecutive profitable quarter, reports Jay Shabat, Senior Analyst at Airline Weekly, a Skift brand. Shabat writes Aegean recorded a 2 percent operating margin in the fourth quarter. That's a 1 percentage point increase from the same period in 2019. Shabat adds any fourth quarter profit for a Greek airline is considered a victory, with the country's carriers typically posting losses during the winter. While Athens experienced a slight drop in fourth quarter airport traffic from 2019 levels, major Greek island resorts saw double digit increases from the same timeframe. For more travel stories and deep dives into the latest trends, head to skift.com. To find these stories and more insight into the business of travel, subscribe to Skift daily newsletter at skift.com/daily.
New concepts and trends have been identified in the wellness travel sector this year. And several deal with how travelers are seeking help with the fallout, or the recovery, from the pandemic: Safe-space social settings to help people deal with the “loneliness epidemic”; anxiety relief; and water therapies – wild swimming, anyone? And like in many sectors, the sky's the limit when it comes to premium accommodations, treatments and amenities. In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, hospitality editor Christina Jelski and Tammy Pahel, the vice president of spa and wellness operations for the Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, talk about why travelers are seeking out self care – and how they're doing it. This episode was recorded March 10 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by G Adventures https://www.gadventures.com Related reports: Wellness travel's coolest, ‘wild' new trend has some travelers ready to plunge in https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Wellness-industry-new-wild-trend-has-some-in-travel-ready-to-plunge-in Identifying the wellness travel trends for 2023 https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Wellness-travel-trends-2023 Carillon Miami Wellness Resort https://www.carillonhotel.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Julie Patterson, the founder of Wanderfully Planned, attributes a lot of her success in the travel industry to her mentor, Whitney Shindelar, the owner and founder of Undiscovered Sunsets and the host of the Masters in Travel podcast. But asking someone to be your mentor is asking them to commit time and effort that could otherwise be used developing their own business. In short, it's a big ask, but the rewards can be even bigger on both sides. In this episode of Trade Secrets, learn about how Patterson and Shindelar have made the mentor-mentee relationship work for both of them in many positive ways, and get their advice on finding a mentor, building community in a digital-first world and more. This episode was sponsored by G Adventures. Further resources: Whitney Shindelar Undiscovered Sunsets on Instagram Masters in Travel on Instagram Masters in Travel podcast Masters in Travel Community + Think Tank Masters in Travel Community (free) Julie Patterson Wanderfully Planned on Instagram Wanderfully Fammed, her fam trips for advisors TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards application Humans of Travel podcast featuring Vicki Freed Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Powered by TravelAge West Need advice? Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098 Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com Theme song: Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As the Folo by Travel Weekly marks its 3-year anniversary -- it began publishing in early 2020, when the ground was shifting under our feet -- host Rebecca Tobin invites some of the hosts of podcasts by Travel Weekly and sister publication TravelAge West to talk about our journeys, what we've learned through podcasting – and a little bit about our backgrounds and what we want to bring to our listeners. This episode features Jamie Biesiada, a Travel Weekly senior editor, and Emma Weissmann, managing editor of TravelAge West. Jamie and Emma co-host the Trade Secrets podcast, which publishes every other week. Jamie also is the founder of capsule podcast Selling the Mouse, and Emma hosts the monthly podcast Humans of Travel, which relaunches March 13. Plus, be on the lookout for The Last Resort, a new podcast from Travel Weekly by hospitality editor Christina Jelski, coming soon! Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by G Adventures https://www.gadventures.com Podcast links: The Folo by Travel Weekly: https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Folo Trade Secrets https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Trade-Secrets Humans of Travel https://www.travelagewest.com/Podcasts/Humans-of-travel Selling the Mouse https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Selling-the-MouseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2023 could be the Year of Recovery for travel, but how do we ensure we travel responsibly? We're bringing you a May 2022 conversation with industry expert and entrepreneur Bruce Poon Tip, best known for founding the travel company, G Adventures and author of the bestselling book Looptail: How One Company Changed the World by Reinventing Business. Bruce also produced a new documentary called “The Last Tourist.” which dives into the trillion-dollar travel industry and how it needs change. Hosts: Nora Ali Producer: Bella Hutchins Production, Mixing & Sound Design: Daniel Markus Music: Daniel Markus & Breakmaster Cylinder Senior Producer: Katherine Milsop Full transcripts for all Business Casual episodes available at https://businesscasual.fm
What to expect at the airport this holiday season. Is “Air-maggedon” over? How are inflation - and maybe recession - affecting travel? How do airfares and hotel rates compare to prior years? We unwrap it all in our all-singing, all-dancing Holiday Extravaganza to rival the Macy's Parade (not really). But we DO share really useful insider tips for how to navigate the crowds and travel better. Plus, did you know Black Friday and Cyber Monday apply to your vacations, not just the mall? Deal Guru Jessica Deverson has the list of holiday offers with some of the deepest discounts and most valuable freebies we've seen in years. Norwegian Cruise Line. G Adventures. Royal Caribbean Cruises & more. ‘Tis the season to travel! _ Produced by The Greenville Podcast Company.
G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip joins the podcast to share his vision for how mindful travel can make the world a better place. The post How Travel Can Change the World with Bruce Poon Tip appeared first on The Group Travel Leader | Group Tour and Travel Destinations, Attractions & More.
Paul Barbato has traveled to over 70 countries Paul AKA Barbs and I met through Gus Rosted. Gus is one of the attendees at the Extraordinary Travel Festival. Gus recommended Barbs as speaker at the festival. I knew Barbs and his YouTube channel, Geography Now! and thought he would be a great addition in Armenia. Barbs agreed to participate in the festival and also to join me on Counting Countries. Barbs has had tremendous success with his YouTube channel with over 3 million subscribers. Barbs's success was not overnight but nearly a 10 year grind of perfecting his craft and attracting new followers. Barbs is also on a quest to travel to every country in the world, but at his own pace. Unsurprisingly, he also enjoys the oddities of geography during his travels, including salients. As many of you have heard, Stefan Kraswoski and I have teamed up to host the Extraordinary Travel Festival, the world's largest gathering of accomplished travelers. This will take place in Yerevan, 2022. We are excited to produce this event to help grow our community while organizing great events, and hosting some amazing experiences. You will see and meet former guests from this show like Francis Tapon, Debjeet Sen, Per Besson, and Audrey Walsworth in Armenia. Please go to ExtraordinaryTravelFestival.com to see our speakers, our sponsors, and some of the trips we are hosting. Check back often since there are frequent updates. If buying a ticket, please use code ETF to save $50. Hope to see you in Yerevan. I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons: Lucy Shoe, Phillip Jones, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Thor Pedersen, and Adam Hickman for supporting this podcast. They help pay for the production of this podcast. You can support this podcast by going to Patreon.com/CountingCountries. You can also support Counting Countries be writing a review or sharing this podcast with a travel lover. My patrons hear extra content, like an additional 35 minutes of my last conversation with Lucy Shoe and with this conversation with Barbs, only for you. You will also hear from Thor at the end of the Barbs interview. For the last 2 years plus, I have been interviewing Thor to track his progress in traveling to every country in the world without flying. My patrons hear this fascinating interviews at the time of the recording. You will hear only a snippet at this time. And as a side note, Barb's mom makes a brief appearance while I attempt to say hello in Korean and not impress his mother. I was in Chicago for this recording while Barbs was in LA. Please listen in and enjoy. Thank you to my Patrons …. Lucy Shoe, Phillip Jones, Thor Pedersen, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles & Ted Nims. Be the first on your block to sport official Counting Countries apparel! And now you can listen to Counting Countries on Spotify! And Alexa! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today! And write a review! About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who've spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter's Dance, written, performed, and provided by Mundi. About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: Hit The Road: India, 7000 KM To Go, and Photos From Chernobyl. He is the producer of two travel documentaries: Hit The Road: India and Hit The Road: Cambodia. Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has traveled so far and keep up with his journey at GlobalGaz.com How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are 193 member states. The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are 226 countries and territories. The Traveler's Century Club states that there are 329 sovereign nations, territories, enclaves, and islands. The Most Traveled Person states that there are 949 unique parts of the world. The Nomad Mania divides the world into 1301 regions. SISO says there are 3,978 places in the world. Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. An analysis of these lists and who is the best traveled by Kolja Spori. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if from some of these links like if you order from Amazon/Agoda/etc. Or book a trip through G Adventures. PS Thanks!
For more than a decade, Paula Vlamings has worked at the intersection of tourism and sustainability. She is currently the Chief Impact Officer at Tourism Cares, a travel industry nonprofit whose mission is to be a catalyst of positive social, environmental, and economic impact for the people and places of travel.Prior to Tourism Cares, Paula was the Executive Director of The Planeterra Foundation, the nonprofit foundation of the global travel company, G Adventures, where she pioneered incubating social enterprises supporting women, youth, and indigenous communities into the tourism supply chain. Paula spent over 10 years in politics which provided her with a unique set of skills in diplomacy, fundraising, and cross-sector collaboration. Paula's sustainability work includes leading a national multi-stakeholder Food for the Parks initiative at the Institute at the Golden Gate, a program of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. That effort resulted in a national policy change to more sustainable practices in our nation's parks, in collaboration with First Lady Michelle Obama's Council on Environmental Equality.For full show notes and to access resources mentioned in this episode, head to https://www.lotussojourns.com/podcast-episodes/episode79Learn more about Lotus Sojourns and ways to be a part of the community here.Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women.Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns or @souloftravelpodcastLOVE these conversations...support the production of this podcast by making a donation here! Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor.) Paula Vlamings(Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing and production by Rayna BoothSupport the show
Travel is back! Nora and Scott sit down with industry expert and entrepreneur Bruce Poon Tip, best known for founding the travel company, G Adventures and author of the bestselling book Looptail: How One Company Changed the World by Reinventing Business. Bruce also produced a new documentary called “The Last Tourist.” Hosts: Nora Ali & Scott Rogowsky Producer: Bella Hutchins Production, Mixing & Sound Design: Daniel Markus Music: Daniel Markus & Breakmaster Cylinder Senior Producer: Katherine Milsop VP, Head of Multimedia: Sarah Singer Full transcripts for all Business Casual episodes available at https://businesscasual.fm
On this episode of The Travel Agents, Brian and Will are joined by friend Guarav to discuss the majestic country of India. Brian talks about his experience traveling along the Indian Golden Triangle which includes Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra. Traveling through the tour company G Adventures, Brian visits the Taj Mahal, drinks Chai, and gets head massages. G adventures is a sustainable tourism country with a focus on making travel a force for good in everything they do. G Adventures is not a sponsor of this podcast, we just like them a lot. Speaking from a different perspective, Guarav highlights his experiences visiting India. Having visited the country several times in his life, Guarav talks about his experience having family and what it's like to visit as someone who speaks the native language(s). India is an incredible country with a rich and vibrant history. Deeply rooted in spirituality, India is a country that welcomes all.Follow us on InstagramFollow the show and never miss an episode on:Apple - Spotify - Google - AmazonSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thetravelagents)
Today we travel with Pam Mandel to Branson, Missouri, where she finds a state of confusion and an unexpected plot twist in the familiar Passover story. Pam's work has appeared in Seattle Met, Lonely Planet, the San Francisco Chronicle, DK Eyewitness, Afar, AAA's Via Magazine, G Adventures, and the Best Women's Travel Writing. She co-founded The Statesider, an award-winning publication that curates the most interesting stories about US travel and culture. She's at work on a screenplay based on her gritty coming of age travel memoir, The Same River Twice, A Memoir of Dirtbag Backpackers, Bomb Shelters, and Bad Travel. Nerd'sEyeView.com (Nerd'sEyeView.com)
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