Balancing Soul, Scale & Authenticity in Food Tourism (w/ Lauren Aloise of Devour Tours)

What does it take to grow a food tour company without losing what made it special in the first place? Mitch Bach talks with Lauren Aloise, co-founder of Devour Tours and now VP of Marketing and Guest Experience at Walks-Devour Tours, joins us to unpack the hard-earned lessons of scaling with soul. From cooking classes in her Madrid apartment to managing operations across continents, Lauren shares how Devour stayed grounded in hospitality, storytelling, and meaningful local partnerships—even as it greatly expanded.

Mitch and Lauren explore the tough questions many tour operators face: How do you train guides to host, not just talk? What gets lost when experiences become too polished? And how do you adapt to a tourism landscape shaped by TikTok, AI, and shifting guest expectations? This episode is packed with insight for anyone trying to grow a purpose-driven experience business—without losing the magic.

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Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Devour Tours and Lauren Aloise
• 02:23 The Origins of Devour Tours
• 05:54 Evolving the Business Model
• 11:13 The Challenges of Scaling
• 14:30 Customer Loyalty and Brand Connection
• 16:20 The Unique Qualities of Food Tourism
• 20:57 Creating Connection Through Food Tours
• 25:23 The Future of Tour Guiding and AI
• 25:48 The Impact of AI on Tourism and Hospitality
• 27:59 The Power of Shared Food Memories
• 29:25 Balancing Experience and Product in Tours
• 30:33 Investing in Guide Training and Engagement
• 33:29 Building Loyalty and Company Culture
• 34:38 Navigating the Rise of DIY Food Tourism
• 37:41 Adapting Marketing Strategies for a New Generation
• 39:19 The Value of Webinars in Customer Engagement
• 43:16 Learning from Failures and Defining Success
• 47:39 The Importance of Focus in Business Growth