Tourpreneur Tour Business Podcast

Mikaela Toczek, founder of More to Explore in Slovenia, blends her skills as a documentary photographer with her passion for guiding. She discusses how 'conscious photography' enhances guest experiences by encouraging mindfulness while capturing memories. Mikaela shares insights on balancing social media with authentic moments, the art of vertical photography, and the importance of visual storytelling. She emphasizes being fully present in nature and building connections with local cultures as essential to enriching travel experiences.

**Don't forget to register for our upcoming conference: TourWeek, Nov 10-13!**The whole TP gang of Mitch, Peter, Chris and Kyle were in London together recently for a Tourpreneur party. And our friends at GetYourGuide emailed and said—hey, while you're in London, do you want to take a tour?We said, sure! When we asked what it was, they said: trust us, this is a good one.They weren't kidding.It was such an interesting experience that we surprised the owner-guide by asking him to record an impromptu podcast episode right after finishing his 3-hour tour of Afro-Carribean Foods of Brixton, London.Obi owns Gorgeous Tours UK, and operates African and Caribbean food tours in Brixton, London's historically black neighborhood, sharing deeply personal stories of his Nigerian family's immigration experience alongside the complex cultural evolution of the area.What began six years ago as a slow-starting venture inspired by his wife's suggestion during a Bangkok food tour has transformed into a thriving full-time business running twice daily, six days a week, thanks to an unexpected boost from Beyoncé's London concerts in May 2023 that brought thousands of American tourists seeking authentic cultural experiences.His tours combine eight to nine food tastings with intimate storytelling that doesn't shy away from difficult truths about gentrification, historical neglect, and community displacement, instead embracing honest narratives that guests appreciate for their authenticity. Operating as a solo entrepreneur, Obi faces the classic scaling challenges of managing all aspects of his business while maintaining the personal touch and local relationships that make his tours special.

Stuart McDonald, founder of Travelfish and a Southeast Asia travel expert, joins Matthew Barker of Horizon Guides, specializing in quality travel content. Together, they dive into the chaotic impact of AI on travel writing, discussing its implications on job security and content quality. The duo critiques the rise of AI-generated experiences, stressing the need for genuine human connection in travel. They also ponder over the superficiality that technology often brings, advocating for meaningful interactions over curated photo ops in an increasingly automated world.

Lauren Aloise, co-founder of Devour Tours and VP of Marketing at Walks-Devour Tours, shares her journey in food tourism, discussing how to scale a company while staying true to its roots. She emphasizes the importance of storytelling and strong local partnerships in creating memorable experiences. Lauren tackles the challenges of training guides to foster connections over information and adapting to modern trends like AI and social media. Her insights on maintaining authenticity amid expansion provide valuable lessons for purpose-driven businesses.

Madison Rifkin, Founder of Mount, discusses how her platform connects short-term rental hosts with local tour businesses. She dives into the power of social video, emphasizing the importance of her "Creator Army" in creating engaging content that converts viewers into bookings on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Madi shares insights on authentic storytelling and how tailored marketing strategies can meet diverse guest needs. Her journey, starting Mount at just 12, demonstrates her innovative approach to evolving the tourism sector.

Janette Roush, SVP of Innovation and Chief AI Officer for Brand USA, shares her insights on integrating AI into the tour business. She simplifies complex AI concepts for operators, encouraging them to embrace technology rather than shy away. The discussion highlights AI's transformative potential in enhancing operational efficiency and personalized services. Janette emphasizes the balance between human insight and AI capabilities and suggests practical first steps for tour operators eager to innovate while maintaining that essential human touch.

Jonathan Coleman from the Untours Foundation and Zakia Moulaoui Guery of Invisible Cities discuss tourism's potent role for social good. They explore how the Untours Foundation invests in travel ventures that spark positive community change. Zakia shares her work training people affected by homelessness to become tour guides, shedding light on their hidden stories. The conversation highlights the importance of partnerships, community engagement, and innovative funding strategies, pointing towards a future where tourism uplifts and empowers marginalized voices.

Lisa Chen, CEO of ToursByLocals, and Sherif Abiza, Chief Community Officer of Withlocals, discuss critical themes in the tour guide industry. They tackle guide poaching and emphasize the need for trust and integrity among platforms. The duo highlights the importance of personal connections and adopting a marketing mindset for guides. They also delve into leveraging video content to enhance guide visibility and the rising influence of social media in travel. Their passion for sustainable tourism shines through as they advocate for collaboration to elevate local tour experiences.

Nicole Mahoney, head of Travel Alliance Partnership, unravels the power of B2B partnerships for tour operators. She shares her journey of building collaborative models post-9/11, emphasizing the strategic benefits of resource sharing and enhanced marketing. The conversation highlights the role of Destination Marketing Organizations in boosting visibility and insights. Mahoney also addresses the importance of cultivating a 'coopetition' mindset among operators, urging a shift from fear to growth for long-term success.

Benjamin Sann is the CEO of Tour Optima, a communications platform and white-labeled app solution that offers streamlined messaging between your business and your guests, guides, and internal team.Communication is everything. How are your guests receiving the itinerary and important updates? How are they being prompted to review and tip the guide at the end of the tour? How do you handle group communication blasts throughout a multi-day tour?In this episode we talk about how to streamline your communications flow throughout the entire customer journey, from pre-booking to on-tour to post-tour follow-up. Ben is filled with great advice for when and how you should be communicating with your customers, this is a must-listen!For more show notes, visit tourpreneur.comJoin our 20,000 member Facebook group!Our annual conference, TourWeek 2025 is open for registrations!Timestamps00:00 Introduction to Tour Optima01:37 Understanding Communication in Tourism03:05 Streamlining Operations for Multi-Day Tours05:54 Enhancing Guest Experience Through Communication09:10 The Balance of Communication and Engagement10:15 Simplifying the Customer Journey12:46 Real-World Communication Challenges16:54 Ideal Communication Map for Tours20:26 Integrating Technology in Tour Operations26:20 Optimizing Customer Communication in Tours30:31 Enhancing Pre-Booking Communication Strategies32:05 Balancing Customer and Operational Journeys34:19 Streamlining Vendor Communication for Tours35:35 Leveraging Data for Marketing and Customer Insights40:05 Understanding Customer Booking Behavior44:12 The Future of Technology in Tour Operations