Tao Tao, Co-founder and COO of GetYourGuide, shares insights from his extensive experience in scaling an online experiences marketplace. He discusses the significant shift in traveler booking behaviors, with many opting for last-minute arrangements. Tao highlights the importance of curating unique, high-quality tours to meet evolving traveler needs while navigating the challenges of supplier relationships and commission structures. He also explores how AI is being integrated into the marketplace, ensuring a balance between customer satisfaction and supplier interests.

A Christmas Eve gift for you! We're just days away from 2025, so it's clearly time to start thinking about how you're going to grow and improve your business next year!Tourpreneur hosts Mitch Bach and Peter Syme have a conversation about what Pete calls the 70-20-10 rule for how to spend your time doing business development in the off season. (You'll have to listen to find out).We cover topics such as:Leading guide training and innovation workshopsfinding new sales partnerslooking at your financesa system for figuring out what's working and what's notAnd so much more.Thank you all so much for being supporters and listeners of Tourpreneur in 2024. We have so much in store for you for next year.Join Tourpreneur.com for free courses, resources, and full archives of all our podcastsAttend one of dozens of global meetups in 2025

The hosts share insights from their California Road Show, discussing shifting travel behaviors and the importance of food experiences in tourism. They reveal six easy fixes for tour businesses based on live audits, and explore the dynamics of direct bookings versus OTAs. Tactical advice on leveraging Google Ads, corporate partnerships, and optimizing websites for customer engagement takes center stage. Tips for maximizing potential with corporate tours and the vital role of partnerships to boost sales are also highlighted.

This episode is going to inspire and surprise you. Rodrigo Atuesta is the CEO of Impulse Travel. From humble beginnings as a guide and Couch Surfer, Rodrigo and his partners have built a DMC in Colombia that has now served over 30,000 travelers. But the way he's built it has been extraordinary, challenging assumptions about how DMCs should work, and understanding the responsibility and power that a travel company has to transform destinations.In this far-reaching conversation, Tourpreneur's Mitch Bach talks a variety of topics with Rodrigo:What he learned about hospitality and “meaningful interactions” from his days of Couch Surfinghow he participates in and hosts FAM trips with agents to promote his business and countryhow to challenge and change global stereotypes about Colombiahis approach to the “co-creation” process as a DMC working with tour operatorsthe surprising lessons learned from his experience with Booking.com’s Booking Booster accelerator programwhat true leadership … soft skills, good leadership is the capacity to reinvent yourself. Learning to be vulnerable in leadership perspectives.the importance of thinking intentionally about company culture as you build your company, not after.his discovery of how developing tourism in a community, and fostering local leadership brought change and impact to a community… watching the murder rate drop.how you can build a company as a response to a need within a community, rather than imposing your vision on a place.His team's HEART design process for product development: (Human Encounters & Connection, Economic Opportunity, Authenticity, Regenerative Narratives, Top Notch)his thinking around how to tell the story of Colombia and develop tourism in a way that improves communities and changes narrativeshow Impulse takes travelers' assumptions about what they want to do (see Pablo Escobar sights) and changes those intentions into something positivehow his DMC builds bridges with other tour operators through partnerships, creating an association, and supporting each other to grow the whole pie.Impulse's surprising “total transparency” model, in which they disclose everything down to the penny to the client!My favorite quote from the episode:"A true leader is anyone who is aware of their impact on other people, and acts on this awareness.”For more information, visit tourpreneur.com.And don't forget great upcoming TP events!the Tourpreneur California Road Show starting December 8, 2024 thanks to our partnership with GetYourGuideTourpreneurCONNECT:NYC sales & operations conference in FebruaryTourpreneur Shindigs — global small group meetups in dozens of countries around the worldVisit our global events calendar here.

In this episode of Tourpreneur, we dive into the intricacies of sustainable travel with Xavier Font, a seasoned expert in travel and sustainability. With over two decades of experience and a professorship at the University of Surrey, Xavier brings a wealth of knowledge to our discussion. We explore the necessity of rethinking travel for environmental reasons and the potential for combining work and travel for greater efficiency and satisfaction. Xavier emphasizes designing meaningful travel experiences that foster personal interactions, rather than purely focusing on technical sustainability measures. We also tackle the growth of sustainable consumer interest, the implications of certifications like B Corp, and the practical steps small to medium-sized operators can take to integrate sustainability.Join us as we unpack the opportunities and challenges facing the travel industry and discover how tour operators can lead the charge towards a more sustainable future.

Discover essential B2B marketing strategies designed for tour operators looking to impact corporate clients. Learn how to build a strong brand and create engaging content. Hear about the importance of SEO and targeted ads on platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook. Gain insights on lead nurturing techniques such as email marketing. This conversation promises to equip you with tools to position yourself as a trusted industry expert and boost your revenue!

Airbnb's ambitious push into the experiences market faces a mix of excitement and skepticism. After previous setbacks, the company is determined to refine its offerings, emphasizing collaboration with tour operators. Challenges include pricing strategies and the risk of relying on non-professional hosts. The importance of API connectivity and curating high-quality experiences is also highlighted. Can Airbnb leverage its brand and resources to finally succeed in this competitive arena? The conversation dives deep into what needs to change for this venture to thrive.

Mitch Bach interviews three tour guides and operators who have become extremely popular on TikTok:Megan Marod (@themegandaily)David Harry (@the_london_spy)John O'Sullivan (@oneminutetours)These guides have all harnessed the power of TikTok in different ways that suits their personality, goals, and markets. But they have one thing in common: they say the key to success is showing up authentically.In this episode they tell their story and share their tips and strategies on a variety of topics:What videos of theirs had viral successHow to build authenticity and develop your own unique styleBatch creation and other tips to streamline the creation processHow to engage with your audience (and handle negative comments)Their experience with the Creator Fund and its monetization potentialWhether and how to develop brand partnershipsCollaborating with content creatorsShould you show up as a brand or an individual?How they measure success on the platformIf you're interested in working with content creators, Tourpreneur has a new short course from an experienced creator on how to pitch and negotiate with creators, and criteria to look for when deciding who to partner with. Available to anyone with a Professional Membership.Show notes & more on tourpreneur.com!

The tour and activities industry is facing challenges, including a slowdown in bookings and rising costs, prompting operators to adapt their offerings. A lively debate unfolds about the true potential of AI amidst concerns that it may be overhyped. Google’s anti-trust ruling and its impact on travel search is another hot topic. The importance of strong brand identity and innovative marketing strategies also takes center stage, while new EU data tracking regulations are reshaping how operators collect and manage data in this evolving landscape.

Excuse the length of this episode, but I jealously didn’t want to stop interviewing this week’s guest, Kyle Campbell, who runs her small-group multi-day tour company, Sudden Journeys. For some of you listening, this might be the episode you need to hear to relase yourself from the burden of thinking you have to keep producing more content to sell your tours.At first glance, this episode’s title might put you off: what do the seemingly “soft” words like vulnerability and empathy have to do with the hard realities and hustle of growing a tour business? Kyle shows you the answer is: everything! Her multi-day small group tour company has been built (and has doubled in size this past year) based on a strategy of thinking deeply about how to connect meaningfully with her guests, and how to express herself and her business authentically and vulnerably. She’s not posting often on social media, but when she does, it’s personal, thoughtful, and she’s built a small but fervent community of people who connect deeply with her message, and book her tours. Her commitment to being open and honest resonates deeply with her social media audience, and you'll hear about how important tour design is, from the welcome dinner ice breaker questions and tablescape to designing large periods of rest in her itineraries, to allow guests to leave feeling truly revitalized.***Also, Kyle will be at Tourpreneur CONNECT, our multi-day tour operator conference in Marrakesh, Morocco in November if you want to meet her! ***Key Episode TakeawaysCreating unforgettable experiences and connecting with travelers on a deeper level is crucial in the travel industry.Using evocative imagery, storytelling, and personal vulnerability can engage and inspire travelers.A “dimensional experience” that goes beyond facts and dates is more memorable and impactful.Travel has the power to transform and connect people, and it is important to create trips that leave travelers refreshed and with a deeper understanding of themselves and the world.Surprise and delight are powerful tools for designing memorable moments on tours.Creating a group experience that allows for autonomy and connection is key to fostering a sense of community among guests.When hiring and training tour leaders, it is important to find individuals who are passionate, organized, and willing to learn.ResourcesShow Notes on Tourpreneur.comSudden Journeys websiteA sample Instagram post showing how Kyle uses long-form storytelling with a simple, evocative images to create a mood that connects with her audience.Here’s an example of Kyle’s itinerary document that is also deep storytelling along the wayMentioned in this episode:Join us for our TourpreneurCONNECT conferences!November 18-20 we're hosting CONNECT:Multiday in Marrakesh, Morocco, focused on learning and partnership building for multi-day tour businesses. And from February 17-19 we're hosting CONNECT:Profit in New York City for all tour operators looking for the latest sales and marketing skills to grow your business. Visit tourpreneur.com for more information.