Tourpreneur Tour Business Podcast

Guests Sherri Brown and Cherrye Moore discuss their experiences and the strategies that have helped them target new markets, focusing on both local and corporate sectors.Host Peter Syme shares his insights on effective pricing strategies, managing business growth, and best practices for training and integrating new team members.Throughout the episode, topics such as adapting to market changes, optimising group tour logistics, and customising experiences are explored.Overview00:00 Tourpreneur podcast highlights growth and challenges ahead.07:21 Local market stability crucial for business success.15:29 Shocked by flight price difference and market saturation.18:09 Long wait times impacting small group tours.24:27 Two-way conversation for efficient training methods.27:24 Challenges with growing team and shared calendar.36:49 Cater to corporate customers for better margins.40:01 Ask for budget first when planning events.44:56 Create custom Italian American group travel tours.48:12 Networking grows organically, requires old-fashioned hard work.55:13 Expanding travel services to Calabria for Americans.59:18 Senior leadership team takes strategic retreats together.01:04:19 Thank you for opportunities and challenges ahead.

Explore the strategic balancing act of expanding a tour business, weighing local opportunities against entering new markets. Discover how AI can optimize operations while maintaining essential human connections in B2B interactions. Dive into asset management and pricing strategies that cater to the evolving demographics of travelers. Unpack the significance of financial oversight and technology integration in adjusting to industry shifts. Gain insights from experienced entrepreneurs navigating the travel landscape's challenges and possibilities.

Discover innovative strategies for building successful teams as Peter McGovern shares insights on strategic hiring and aligning with core values. Emphasizing diversity and effective communication, he explains how to nurture strong internal dynamics. Explore the importance of structured planning in hiring and the challenges of remote work in today’s world. With actionable advice for entrepreneurs at any stage, this discussion highlights the essential role of company culture in fostering growth and success.

Mitch Bach talks with Brian Jewell, the Vice President and Executive Editor of Group Travel Leader, a media company representing tens of thousands of tour operators, travel agents, trip planners, many of whom have been in business for decades. Brian provides endless free resources for his community of small travel provider, and has learned countless lessons from decades in the industry.There's a whole community of small, outbound multi-day tour operators who have been in business since the years and decades after WWII, since the beginning of the explosive growth of mass tourism. Those operators are at the ends of their careers, and the companies they've built offer a huge opportunity for acquisition, and also have learned lessons about finding niche markets and solidifying their business through personal relationships.Show notesVisit Group Travel LeaderBrian on LinkedIn

In this episode, Dan & Casey from Untethered Media join Chris to delve deep into the strategies that make your marketing click.From the subtle art of Facebook ads that work like modern-day flyers, to the critical role of a well-designed website, we're covering all the bases.We'll explore why it's not just about selling but building trust with potential customers and how the first impression your site makes can be the deal-breaker.Overview00:00 Entrepreneur call-in show with experts advising.05:57 LinkedIn for B2B, Facebook for inspiration, Google Ads.07:24 Embraces marketing, but could live without social media.11:24 Ensure clear, direct messaging on website landing.13:21 Focus on customer-centric design, not personal preference.19:02 Repurposed Irish sheep blog for better traffic.22:19 Overbooked venue, enjoyed parent's restaurant, shared discovery.24:12 Assessing strategy effectiveness of client's Facebook group.29:14 "New leader, marketing strategy, customer engagement, growth."32:43 Working behind the scenes, adding more content.

Mitch Bach talks with Corey William Schneider, founder of the New York Adventure Club, about his unique approach to building a tour business focused on delivering unique, special-access experiences to primarily a crowd of locals.From those experiences, which grew out of his personal desire to explore more of his home of New York City with other likeminded friends, he pivoted during Covid towards a wide variety of virtual tours.Today the Adventure Club still does both. Corey's story can help operators everywhere understand how to develop product lines aimed at locals, and ancillary high-profit revenues through virtual tours at scale.

Mitch Bach speaks with Jessica Off, founder of Guess Where Trips, an e-commerce company creating physical and digital surprise road trips for customers across Canada and the U.S.Jessica is a serial travel entrepreneur, including work at G Adventures. In this episode, she talks about what led her to start an e-commerce product-based travel business, after looking into tour operating and multi-day trips.This episode will give tour operators the inspiration to think about ancillary product revenue streams that can complement their in-person business, utilizing the same destination knowledge and supplier connections to offer experiences to a new customer base!Visit Guess Where Trips home pageEpisode show notesWe talk about:the design thinking behind crafting self-guided tourswhy the element of surprise is so crucial to the experienceher experience working with content creatorshow B2C trade shows have worked out for her trying to sell her productwhy she decided to ditch multi-day surprise tripsthe importance of collecting email addresses at trade showsfinding the right market for the trips, and why big cities don’t workworking with local vendors to support them

In this follow-up episode, our hosts Chris Torres, Mitch Bach, and Peter Syme delve into the increasing use of AI in the travel industry, emphasizing its impact on creating new products and services. They discuss the strategic challenges of AI adoption and the potential for customized experiences at scale, while also stressing the importance of maintaining a human touch in the digital age.The hosts raise concerns about the commercialization of the travel industry and the potential negative impacts on destinations, while also providing valuable insights on business acquisitions, the future of travel, and targeting niche market segments such as cruise ship passengers. Throughout the episode, they emphasize the value of creating unique and engaging experiences, and provide actionable advice for operators looking to enhance their businesses. Plus, they share information about free resources and coaching opportunities to help operators take their businesses to the next level. Tune in for practical advice, expert insights, and thought-provoking discussions on navigating the ever-evolving landscape of the travel industry.Overview00:00 Pine discusses mass customization and AI opportunities.05:43 Consider hotels for city stays to personalize experiences.10:16 Embrace failure as part of creative process.13:41 Marketing hidden gems creates its own challenges.17:14 AI travel planner focuses on commercial experiences.21:54 Consider demographics, repeat customers, marketing strategy questions.24:45 Established business with cash flow & opportunities.28:52 Old businesses face opportunity in rejuvenation and acquisition.30:12 Boomers retiring and impacting business market.34:59 Creating useful, unique content is key.40:01 Personalized technology offers customized travel experiences.43:35 Use technology to create emotional, surprising experiences.47:26 Single operators may struggle to secure contracts.49:53 Cruises cater to least adventurous travelers' needs.54:17 Tailored marketing crucial for diverse cruise clientele.56:03 "Category Pirates" book encourages unique business strategies.58:48 Online audiences remain undervalued despite digital presence.

In this episode, AI technology expert Marius Nigard explores the impact of AI-driven tools in personalizing travel experiences. They discuss the economic implications, collaborative opportunities, and the importance of storytelling in engaging independent travelers. Topics include real-time personalization, AI in the travel industry, revenue optimization, and the future of guided tours.

Chris Torres kicks things off by discussing the three paths for business owners: low road (staying small), middle road (scaling up to a moderate size), and high road (scaling up to a big company), emphasizing the importance of aligning these choices with personal and business goals. Mitch Bach joins in to emphasize the significance of personal fulfillment and passion in business, while Peter Syme shares valuable insights and advice on navigating potential industry disruptions in 2024.Throughout the episode, our hosts tackle questions from the community and provide expert advice on reaching customers, marketing strategies, scenario planning, and the debate around scaling up businesses. With a mix of humor, candid insights, and actionable tips, this episode will equip you with the knowledge and inspiration to take your tour business to the next level.So, grab your favorite beverage, settle in, and let's dive into the latest in the world of travel entrepreneurship.Overview00:00 Marketing coaching call discusses 2024 trends and success.06:43 Global unrest could disrupt travel in 2024.09:53 Product experimentation is crucial for success.11:23 Virtual travel trend set to grow further.16:03 Testing tour logistics with friends and family.20:04 Target female solo travelers, analyze audience data.21:39 New operators often neglect marketing, leading to slow growth.25:26 Build personal brand, market unique experiences effectively.27:17 Linda seeks collaboration with international travel agents.33:14 Building agent relationships through valuable information exchange.34:42 Misunderstandings about agency's travel services, communication hurdles.38:02 Create batch of content and publish strategically.42:58 Transformational travel offers emotional fulfillment and change.44:38 Appealing to slow travelers through storytelling and photos.50:01 Small companies can lead to success and happiness.51:39 Prefers small business for work-life balance.54:51 As a business owner, learn to say no.58:43 Tourpreneur.com offers business coaching and resources.