Tourpreneur Tour Business Podcast

On this episode of Tourpreneur, we delve into the world of play and its importance in creating fulfilling and engaging travel experiences.   Our guest expert—Samantha Hardcastle from The Storied Experience—discusses the various types of play and how they can be incorporated into your tours. We explore the demand for more interactive and creative experiences while learning how play promotes continuous learning and growth.   Sam and Mitch both share experiences using gamification to engage children and adults, and how we can incorporate different modes of play in travel experiences to create a comfortable and enjoyable time for the guests. We learn how play can help us grow personally and let tourists challenge themselves and their beliefs. By the end of the episode, you will have a comprehensive idea of how to infuse play into your travel experiences to make them fulfilling and enjoyable.   For show notes and more resources, visit tourpreneur.com

Mitch Bach talks with neuroscientist Paul Zak about his latest book "Immersion", and how the brain principles he's discovered can help tour operators create more engaging tours. Read Immersion here. View video + show notes on the Tourpreneur website As always, Tourpreneur+ members get accesss to bonus content, including a course on designing more immerive tours. Guest Bio Paul J. Zak is a professor at Claremont Graduate University and is ranked in the top 0.3% of most cited scientists with over 180 published papers and more than 19,000 citations to his research. Zak’s two decades of research have taken him from the Pentagon to Fortune 50 boardrooms to the rainforest of Papua New Guinea.  Along the way he helped start a number of interdisciplinary fields including neuroeconomics, neuromanagement, and neuromarketing.  He has written three general audience books and is a regular TED speaker. His latest book, Immersion: The Science of the Extraordinary and Source of Happiness (2022), identifies the neurologic basis for extraordinary experiences and uses 50,000 brain measurements to show readers how to create high-impact marketing, entertainment, training, customer experiences, and employee experiences.  The book shows that extraordinary experiences drive up customer lifetime value and provide the neurologic foundation for increased individual happiness.

Terry Jones, the founder of Travelocity and former chairman of Kayak, discusses the transformative power of AI in tourism. He emphasizes that every tour operator will be affected, but not equally. Personalization and improved user experiences are crucial for competitive advantage. Jones touches on the challenges smaller operators face and the importance of adapting to digital innovations. He highlights the evolution of consumer behavior and the potential of AI to enhance both traditional and modern travel experiences.

Amanda Walkins, associated with Wanderful and TMA, shares her expertise on fostering partnerships between tour operators and content creators. She discusses the challenges in collaboration due to training gaps and highlights the role of the Women in Travel Summit in bridging these divides. The conversation emphasizes the importance of transparency and mutual understanding for effective influencer marketing. Amanda also underscores the significance of inclusivity and learning opportunities at industry events, particularly for empowering women as decision-makers in travel.

Nikki Padilla Rivera chats with Kelly Lewis, founder of Damesly and host of the rebooted '[Women] Travel Entrepreneurs' series. In this teaser, Kelly talks about the intention behind the series and her vision for showcasing the diverse experiences of women who are building businesses in the travel industry. The stories will be valuable listening for anyone looking to start or grow a business in the travel industry, regardless of gender.https://tourpreneur.com/podcast/

Join Mitch Bach as he hosts the Tourpreneur Podcast with Dave Dennis of the Cornerstone Safety Group, Kristin Dennison, VP of Trip Experience at TrovaTrip, and Mike Megan, Executive Director with Global Expeditions Group. They discuss risk management in the travel industry and how tour operators can ensure safety for travelers.Hear their stories from TrovaTrips and Global Expeditions, learn about Cornerstone's services such as a resource library and on-call services for members, and discover how to create conditions for powerful transformation of people through travel experiences.Key timestamps:0:02:57 Risk Management and Duty of Care: A Conversation with Dave0:05:16 Discussion on Duty of Care: Legal and Moral Obligations of Tour Operators 0:07:38 "Risk Management and Safety in the Travel and Adventure Industry" 0:10:47 Prioritizing Safety in Travel Delivery and Onboarding 0:13:00 Exploring Global Risk Management and Duty of Care Obligations for Travelers 0:14:34 Risk Management Communication: A Discussion on Physical and Mental Risks 0:16:07 Crisis Management Planning for Travel Organizations 0:21:35 Discussion on Duty of Care and Secession Planning in the Workforce 0:22:44 Conversation on Crisis Response Structures and Risk Management for Field Staff 0:25:05 Conversation on Mental Well-Being and Emotional Support in the Travel Ecosystem Post-Pandemic 0:26:53 Exploring Mental Health Support for Travelers and Staff in the Post-Pandemic Landscape 0:31:27 Examining the Impact of the Pandemic on Teamwork and Mental Health in College Programs 0:33:46 Discussion on Student Burnout and Mental Health Issues in Travel Programs 0:35:32 Mental Health Training for Tour Operators and Guides 0:39:07 Setting Appropriate Emotional Boundaries for Field Staff and Office Teams 0:42:47 Setting Boundaries for Transformative Experiences 0:47:08 Conversation on Risk Management and Intentional Travel Planning 0:48:38 Discussion on Developing a Framework for the Travel Industry

In this episode of Tourpreneur, Mitch Bach interviews Chris Foxcroft-Hibbs, the owner of Happy Lifestyle Accounting. Chris specializes in working with tourism businesses, including guides and operators. The episode focuses on income taxes and strategies for tour guides and operators to consider. Chris emphasizes the importance of making sure all transactions are recorded properly and all debts are in order. He also suggests working with a good accountant to help maximize deductions and ensure profitability.The discussion emphasizes the joys that can come from proper tax planning and preparation.[00:02:52] Tax strategy for small businesses.[00:04:54] Saving on your tax bill.[00:07:09] S corp taxation benefits.[00:10:50] Finding Personal Benefit of Business Deductions.[00:14:34] Chart of Accounts and Deductions.[00:18:21] LLC vs Series LLC.[00:21:54] Budgeting strategies.[00:27:34] Educational tour operations.[00:28:57] Cash vs Accrual Accounting.[00:34:05] Profit Planning and Growth.[00:35:54] Business Metrics to Track.[00:39:51] Building a healthy accountant-client relationship.[00:42:45] Fixed pricing in accounting.[00:46:12] Operational Efficiency.Help us keep this community alive by becoming a member of Tourpreneur+ https://tourpreneur.com/plus/ - This helps us bring in speakers, run events and provide even more value to our community. All for less than a coffee per day!

With so much discussion in the Tourpreneur Community about the good, the bad and the ugly of AI, Chris Torres advises on why he feels a lot of operators are missing the revenue opportunities it brings.AI is transforming the tourism industry by offering personalised experiences, hybrid tours, and self-guided options that can increase revenue and profits for businesses.00:00 💰 AI is a game-changer for tourism businesses, that can drive revenue and profit while transforming society as we know it.01:47 💻 🌍 Hybrid tours can boost brand exposure and profits by providing both digital and in-person experiences throughout the customer journey.02:25 🤖 An AI Avatar guide offers personalised travel experiences from booking to insights during the trip.04:54 💻 🌍 Hybrid tourism experiences that blend digital and in-person elements with the help of AI can increase revenue.05:35 💰 AI-delivered self-guided options for customers unable to book in-person experiences.06:36 🌍 Mac Adventure's switch to a fully self-guided model shows the exponential growth potential of the fast-growing self-guided travel sector.07:30 💡 Understand the impact of AI on business and embrace its potential for generating revenue.Join our free community of over 10,000 tour operators

Ben Gollan, a former lawyer turned accidental entrepreneur, found job satisfaction in running sandwich tours in New York City called A Man and his Sandwich, shares insights on team building, niche food tours, and effective outsourcing.00:00 🍔 Former lawyer turned accidental entrepreneur finds job satisfaction in running sandwich tours in New York City after being inspired by niche tour operators and starting as a hobby.08:27 🏠 Airbnb's website relaunch in 2022 impacted experienced hosts' organic business, but CEO Brian Chesky promises a renewed focus on experiences in 2023.16:28 🥪 Team building should be simple, fun, and interactive, with a shareable hook like the hot dog sandwich debate, and alternative ingredients can be used if needed.22:38 🍔 Niche food tours use SEO optimization, content creation, and media coverage to expand their reach and engage with passionate audiences.26:58 🥪 A Man and his Sandwich promotes unique tourism experiences through storytelling, nostalgia, history, and purpose.33:03 🚶‍♂️ Ben shares how identifying opportunities and capitalizing on luck led to success in the tour industry, while pursuing passions and avoiding burnout in the sandwich business.37:46 👥 Learn to outsource effectively and build a team to work on your business, not in it, as demonstrated by Ben's experience running 45 online classes during the busiest week before Christmas 2020 and seeking assistance from other hosts for hosting and tours.41:45 🥪 An open face sandwich is still a sandwich... or is it?   Visit Ben's WebsiteBen Gollan on LinkedIn

Ruth Franklin, a B2B tour business expert, shares her journey to success and strategic insights. She emphasizes the importance of a concise pitch deck and meticulous documentation for partnerships. Ruth reveals how targeted networking on LinkedIn generated substantial revenue. She discusses the value of connecting with industry leaders at trade shows, urging listeners to build relationships and add value to stand out. Mat Newton joins her to highlight effective engagement strategies, showcasing how preparation and follow-up can yield significant opportunities.