Tourpreneur Tour Business Podcast

Many of you have written in asking me why I no longer produce a What I Learned This Week episode on Tourpreneur. In this short episode, I reveal what I learned in 2020 and how I am trying to be laser-focused in 2021 so I can deliver you even better content. Shane is not the only one trying to be more focused, he is in good company with Airbnb's CEO Brian Chesky calling 2021 a year of focus. Also in this audio journal, I share more about how I organize my working week as a content creator and how I stay productive despite all the distractions. A big shout out to Cal Newport's book 'Deep Work.' I also share why I turned down invites to Clubhouse and my response to those who ask me what I think about the new Arival Insider Pro subscription plan. I also give you a sneak preview of a new feature on Tourpreneur that we will be piloting shortly. Bridgerton anyone?

Peter Syme joins me today to discuss the evolving travel industry and how activity and tour businesses can survive and find success. He shares his military experiences and the lessons he’s learned from his military career. We discuss why continued education is vital and personal, and how you can research courses, and who is delivering them to ensure your time and money are spent well. Peter Syme shares what business actions to prioritize, including focusing on surviving first and adapting to provide the most effective online and offline experiences. He highlights how businesses that focus on the most difficult things and recognize that the customer is in control are the ones that succeed. He also highlights why you need to change your guest journey for the post-COVID world, the importance of understanding the interdependencies between industries, and that partnerships and outsourcing may be needed for business growth.

Oliver CEO of Ventrata, Edwin Swift IV of Historic Tours of America, and tour operator Emilie join me today to discuss and learn more about how the Ventrata booking platform and ticketing systems work. We discuss how Ventrata differs from other Rez Tech companies and why Edwin and Historic Tours of America chose to use Ventrata. Emilie quizzes Ventrata about the reporting, customization, campaigns, waivers, and translation options offered by Ventrata. We also discuss why 2021 is an excellent time to change booking platforms and why Ventrata has become popular with hop-on/hop-off tour companies.

The brand new Travel Industry Mavericks series kicks off with a discussion about the challenges facing OTAs. Peter Syme and Christian Watts join me today to discuss what is happening in the tourism industry and share their predictions for the future. We also discuss why we decided to create the Travel Industry Mavericks round table series on the Tourpreneur Podcast.

Patrick van Rosendaal, founder of BE NY, shares insights on how content creation drives success for tour operators. He emphasizes the importance of building a content factory and reveals strategies for attracting media attention. The discussion touches on the pros and cons of Instagram Reels and Facebook for audience engagement. Patrick also reflects on his transition from finance to tourism and how adaptation during the pandemic shaped his approach, stressing the need for personal branding and innovative experiences in the travel industry.

RocketRez's Joe Robinson and Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours' Kim Wark join us today to share the story of RocketRez and describe what the RocketRez experience is like from the tour and attraction’s operator point of view. Joe reveals the benefits of using an all-in-one booking, inventory, and sales solution. He highlights the onboarding experience for clients and shares how the pricing model works. Kim discusses the platform's customization options and reveals what it is like to update rates, schedules, and locations. We also discuss the tour and attraction websites where you can see the RocketRez services and solutions at work.

Marc Moscato joins us today to share the story behind Buffalo Bike Tours. He reveals what it is really like to run a company in a smaller market that has been struggling for many years but is now seeing revitalization and pockets of growth. We discuss his experience of starting a nonprofit organization and the benefits and drawbacks of running nonprofit and for-profit models. He also reveals the OTAs and marketing methods he is using and explains how to position your tour business to attract travel writers, bloggers, and your audience.

“It's going to be hard against the big boys with their war chest of cash, but there is enough room to do something different.” - Chris Torres shares why he decided to build Touriosity - an OTA with a conscience. Chris joins me today to share what Touriosity is all about and how you can register your company and tours. He reveals how tour bookings are managed and the marketing plan for 2021. Chris shares some of the lessons he has learned from the soft launch of Touriosity and the improvements he’s made in handling support requests. We discuss why local tours are not advertising on Facebook and the opportunities that are currently being missed by tour operators. Chris also shares his tips for getting your business through the next twelve months, including the benefits of having a business coach, and how collaborating with your competitors can help your tour business survive the challenges of the current global economy. Plus.. How to register your tours on Touriosity and the requirements for new and existing tour operators. How tour bookings and reservations are handled. How Touriosity is promoting its platform and future marketing plans. The lessons Chris has learned from Touriosity’s soft launch and the improvements they’ve made in handling support requests. Why Chris is taking OTA advertising to Facebook instead of Google Ads. The advantages of Facebook advertising and why it is exceptional for content targeting. How working with your competitors can help you survive 2021. Structuring your day and the value of having a business coach And Much More!

Leanne joins me today to share how she started her own tour business in 2019, navigated the challenges of 2020 and COVID-19, and is entering 2021 fully booked. She discusses the business pivots she has made to focus on the local community and shares how she is making connections through social media. She discusses OTAs, insurance, and safety. Leanne also shares three key lessons all tour operators can benefit from by going on other types of tours in other cities, continuing to tweak your tours, and volunteering and giving back to your community.

Torin and Alice join me today to share the lessons they have learned since opening their tours after lockdown. We explore the measures and policies you can put in place to run safe tours during the COVID pandemic and discuss how you can manage your team when they display symptoms or have had close contact with someone who received a positive test. Torin and Alice share how they are experiencing a rise in direct bookings and making pivots in their business to find new revenue streams. We also discuss the tour operators' role in the community and the challenges of maintaining good mental health through the pandemic.