Tourpreneur Tour Business Podcast

The rapid growth and adoption of reservation systems have made mission-critical tech accessible to even the smallest operators and brought much of our industry online. But just how different are all of these systems (Arival has identified more than 100), how do operators begin to choose, and what does it mean now that alignments are emerging between some tech systems and major online travel agencies? We’ll dive in and pull no punches as we talk tech and what it means to you with the CEOs of four reservation system companies. Res Tech Panelists: Chris Atkin, CEO of Rezdy Ruzwana Bashir, Co-Founder & CEO of Peek Jason Morehouse, Co-founder & CEO of Checkfront Max Valverde, CEO of FareHarbor

This operator roundtable delves into challenges and best practices around working with OTAs, managing distribution channels and building a direct and diversified sales strategy.

Chris was a prominent administrator at UEFA, the football authority in Europe, and unfortunately was laid off in his mid-forties. When looking for another career job, Chris realized he had a passion and knowledge of the Swiss Countryside, decided to buy himself a van, and start his own business as a tour operator.This is the story behind Typically Swiss Tours.

Travelers may stay in rooms, but they seek experiences, and lodging providers can be a key point of sale for operators. In this talk, we’ll hear how the world’s biggest hotel chain is approaching the Best Part of Travel, and how you can grow your sales through hotel and accommodation partners. Speaker: Susan DeBottis, VP, Tours & Activities at Marriott International

No matter how large or how small, no company is immune to the disruption that technology innovation and changing traveler demands can bring. In this session, you’ll learn how Universal, one of the leading global theme park brands, approaches some of the most disruptive forces in our industry. Plus, you’ll get their take on key trends in tech, distribution and what’s next for the guest experience. Speakers: Frank Belzer, Senior Vice President - Portfolio Sales at Universal Parks and Resorts Jenna Blumenfeld, Managing Editor at Arival

In this candid and in-depth episode of Tourpreneur, I chat with Steve Chapman of Salida Walking Tours. who walks through starting a walking tour business from scratch. Steve Chapman was a founder of his own strategic marketing consulting company and decided to sell his business in 2018. He needed a new career and turned to his hometown of Salida, which is Colorado's largest national historic district, to start a walking tour business.

Experiences, the once-fledgling tours and activities initiative of the online accommodation giant, is growing up fast. Airbnb now boasts more than 30,000 experiences around the world, a new multi-day tour division and more. This candid interview will delve into how Airbnb is working operators, and we’ll ask their head North America the questions you need answered to see if you should be working with them.

At Arival Orlando 2019, Invisible Cities’ founder shares her vision for making the invisible visible, and how tour and activity operators can have a social and local impact. Every tour operator wants their tours and experiences to have an impact. But Invisible Cities in the UK, Scotland, seeks to be transformational for its guides as well as its guests. Founded in 2016, this company trains individuals affected by homelessness to become guides and lead alternative tours – now across four cities. Invisible Cities’ founder shares her vision for making the invisible visible, and how tour and activity operators can have a social and local impact.

Stephen Oddo, CEO and Co-Founder of Walks reveals why he built he started the walking tour company and shares lessons he has learned along the way.

Four years ago, Zakia Moulaoui founded a tour operator business with a difference. Her tour company Invisible Cities recruits, trains and hire tour guides who have been affected by homelessness, addiction, and other tough life circumstances. In this candid and in-depth episode of Tourpreneur, the podcast for tour operators, we learn how to build a social enterprise in the tours and activities sector. This is not an interview with an academic or lecturer. In today's episode, you will hear from an inspirational tour operator who started her own social enterprise with no cash nor any previous business experience. Since she started in Edinburgh, Zakia has now expanded into 5 British cities. Zakia Moulaoui talks us through the highs and lows of starting, running and growing a social enterprise in the tour sector.