Tourpreneur Tour Business Podcast

Prepare to get enlightened as we have an engaging chat with Catherine Warrilow, the former marketing powerhouse behind Days Out. Catherine brings her unique insights to the table, shedding light on the importance of authenticity in branding. We dive deep into the significance of aligning a brand with customer's needs, leveraging the power of storytelling, and the irreplaceable role of a well-knit team.(0:00:00) - Authenticity and Personal Branding in BrandsBrand strategy, customer need, culture, stories, and customer knowledge are key to a successful brand.(0:11:37) - Tourism Success Through Personal BrandingWe discussed finding the right team, creating a personal brand, and the success story of Days Out No.(0:24:51) - Investing in Brand Development and ContentCreate unique content quickly and easily, use AI to enhance audio, make content feel candid and authentic to humanise brand.(0:31:05) - LinkedIn Content Ideas and Networking OpportunitiesCatherine Warrilow emphasises authentic content, team building, unique messaging, and social media strategies for successful branding.

Mitch Bach begins Tourpreneur's IMPACT series with an interview with Kat Brogan of Mercat Tours in Edinburgh, Scotland, whose mission is to "make meaningful connections" through the power of storytelling.The end of the interview encapsulates the point of this new series, so be sure to listen to the end. Our IMPACT podcasts are about how travel companies around the world answer the questions: what are you doing to make a meaningful impact in your business, community and the tourism industry?Kat is leading a company that takes this seriously. Here are just some of the topics and initiatives we cover:How important it is to create a culture of trust in your team.The creation of "The Mercat Deal"—a pledge to her team and the city of Edinburgh to do right by everyone that's a stakeholder in the community.Her commitment to offering her team members a living wage, with permanent contracts, guaranteed "living hours", and profit sharing bonuses.How Kat empowers and connects with her guides through a huge variety of channels, in-person and virtually.How Kat assesses her whole customer journey to give the feedback her entire team wants, using formal and informal assessments, anonymous surveys, secret shoppers and more, in order to take a "360" look at her business and team.Mercat's participation in "Our Stories, Our City" initiative to raise money for those on the margins through the power of storytelling.Learn more:Learn about the impact they're making on Edinburgh through their Our Stories Our City initiative, in partnership with several local organizations.View The Mercat Deal, Mercat's promises to its team and community about what they're doing to ensure they're a responsible, ethical, quality participant in the local environment and global tourism industry.

Mitch Bach sits down with Joe Martin to discuss corporate bookings. Joe pivoted his marketing agency to focus on getting tour operators more corporate bookings, to reduce your dependence on tourists. Tourist come and go, often only book you once, and are dependent on the changing global tourism markets. Producing private, corporate team building experiences can be a source of recurring, stable, profitable revenue for your business. This episode is jam-packed with helpful tips on website optimization, how to connect with and market to the corporate audience, and so much more. We learn why he thinks you should think of yourself as an "experience coordinator", and he shares the 1 website tweak to potentially increase your bookings up to 25%!Visit Tourpreneur.com for show notes and more informationCome to Vienna, Austria for our Tour Leader & Guide Event Oct 18-19Come to London for a meetup on Oct 12!Visit Joe's company, Uplevel TourismIn this episode:[00:01:33] Joe talks about his path from self-taught web developer turned marketing expert.[00:04:19] Website optimization: Joe tested button options, "buy tickets" or "book now". "See dates" increased bookings by 25%.[00:09:59] Why you should shit to focusing on the corporate market.[00:13:52] High-converting websites resemble salespeople, not stores. They strategically present solutions rather than giving away too much information.[00:19:02] Finding a one-stop shop for selling.[00:22:20] Identify target corporate guests, focus on empathy.[00:25:00] Tagging, automation, and customization lead to powerful marketing.[00:32:30] Limiting tour company's capabilities, focus on current offerings. Create corporate tour page, then explore automation. Potential for additional products in the future.[00:36:05] Dial back on passive tours, be interactive.[00:38:44] Connection triangle: guide, group, place, interactivity.[00:41:34] The "Pitch Anything" book can help with messaging to your customers.

Martin shares insights into the VAT (Value Added Tax) system in Europe and how it affects UK tour operators, particularly since Brexit. We learn about Tom's (Tour Operators Margin Scheme) and its role in simplifying VAT calculations for businesses operating across European countries. However, with the UK's departure from the EU, outbound travel is now zero-rated, raising concerns about potential administrative challenges as different member states impose varying VAT registration requirements.Our guest also touches on the vital services his consultancy provides, including helping tour operators navigate regulatory complexities, obtain licenses, arrange financial security, and negotiate with banking and merchant providers. We'll explore the Tourpreneur Facebook community and the value of leveraging third-party partnerships for business growth.In addition, Martin stresses the importance of financial planning, working capital management, and developing flexible budgets. He reveals how his team assists clients with obtaining funding, creating financial models, and crafting terms and conditions tailored to their needs. We'll also delve into consumer protection legislation and the role of trade associations like Apter.So, if you're a tour operator or travel professional looking to stay ahead in the ever-changing regulatory landscape, then this is the episode for you. Get ready to gain valuable insights and practical strategies as we dive into the impact of the regulatory environment on tour operators with Martin Alcock.Overview00:00 Tourism consultant, Martin Alcock, discussed his work with travel companies, helping them navigate regulations, finance, and strategy. He specializes in obtaining licenses and negotiating corporate changes. Martin also emphasizes the importance of financial security for operators and offers assistance with banking and merchant providers.05:47 "Do you need it? Legal obligations."10:29 Consumer protection legislation ensures compensation for consumers. Liability extends to health and safety concerns. Packages are defined by combining services.14:10 Be aware of the risks; protect yourself.18:52 Flexible insurance gives operators variable cost option.22:08 Trust accounts essential due to insurance failures.24:21 Third party scrutiny important for business success.29:41 Temporary VAT exemption for UK outbound travel.34:00 Startups need terms and conditions, lawyers help.37:25 Legal responsibility for refunds when selling packages.42:47 Regulatory space offers positive and negative scenarios.45:51 Tour operator job complex; reach out for help.

In this episode we host a discussion with Daniel Alejandro Velásquez González, Founder and COO of Homefans—a sports experience marketplace—where travellers can book unique sports experiences anywhere in the world, hosted by fully-vetted local hosts.

Mitch talks with Catherine Prather of the National Tour Association (NTA) about their Travel Exchange conference, and how the buyer appointments, networking sessions, and other events can help grow your tour business.

This episode is a snippet of a Guest Coaching session, available for Tourpreneur Group Coaching members.  Guest Coach Komal Darira (Women for World) will share how she built mostly female guide teams in Delhi, a city where being a tour guide is still not considered an ideal career for a woman. While her destination is specific, you'll walk away with some ideas on how, to build a truly diverse guide team, you might need to think outside of the box. https://www.linkedin.com/in/komal-darira-61816697/?originalSubdomain=inSign up for business coaching here

Conversation with Neil Witten on how tour operators can be highly profitable and be a force for good at the same time as having a very clear purpose.   An engaging listen about how difficult and challenging doing business with a purpose is but one that when done correctly is highly rewarding.   Join us for Tourpreneur Connect Seville, November 27-30, 2023 https://tourpreneur.com/connect/   For those interested, we recommend you check out Neil's book: https://amzn.eu/d/0TLas5o

Claire Bown, an expert in tour guide training, dives into what truly makes a great tour guide. They discuss the transformation of traditional tours into engaging, interactive experiences through effective questioning and welcoming atmospheres. Flexibility and improvisation are highlighted as essential skills, enabling guides to adapt to diverse groups. Techniques for creating lasting memories in guided experiences are emphasized, especially for younger audiences. The focus shifts from performance to guest-centric connections, fostering deeper interactions.

On this episode of our entrepreneur series with Kelly Lewis, we hear from Stephanie Flor, founder of a luxury travel company that focuses on providing a unique travel experience through a beauty lens. Join us for Tourpreneur Connect Seville, November 27-30, 2023 https://tourpreneur.com/connect/ Sponsored by https://tripadmit.com/tap-to-tip/ TripAdmit’s powerful digital tipping solution that doesn’t require an app or any additional hardware, enable guests to tip without cash and guides to receive payments seamlessly. Our tipping solution is entirely digital, providing a swift, effortless, and practical way for guests to tip digitally. Thanks to our ‘Tap to Tip’ technology, guests can now make contactless payments through their iPhone or Android phone, eliminating the need for bulky card readers.