Tourpreneur Tour Business Podcast

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.

Katy Clarke, an expert in building successful multi-day tour businesses in Italy, chats about her journey from IT to travel. She shares how podcasting and affiliate marketing can strengthen community connections. Katy discusses the importance of partnering with local tour operators to boost revenue through affiliate sales. Moreover, she emphasizes storytelling and unique experiences as key to sustainable tourism while fostering lifelong friendships among travelers. Collaboration, honesty, and creating value are essential ingredients for a thriving tour business.

The environmental and sustainability challenges with Professor Enda McGovern.   Pete was lucky enough to come across Enda when we were both presenting at the AI Summer School For Tourism last year in Ireland. What he had to say opened my mind to the real problems and challenges that travel and tourism faces and the ones that will dictate all our futures. He holds nothing back with very strong views on the future of tourism in this podcast!Join our free tour operator community of over 10,000 members.Become a Tourpreneur Member for even more contentEnda McGovern's LinkedIn00:00 Podcast introduces Edna McGovern and their impactful presentation.06:03 Uncertain climate change predictions, weather pattern shifts.08:50 Unpredictable weather challenges tourism in popular destinations.10:42 Climate change causing devastation and travel challenges.15:51 Difficulty grasping lifestyle changes, evolution of vineyards.19:37 Tourism industry criticized for carbon emissions.21:59 Capitalism vs nature: society's materialistic consequences.25:50 Changing travel patterns: closeness over long distances.30:03 Globalization's impact and the rise of wealth.33:51 Preparing for emergencies is not natural for individuals.35:35 Suggesting better leadership and preparedness for challenges.39:16 Concern over climate change and its consequences.41:24 Recommend upfront mention of business model benefits.44:14 Value, passion, sustainability, guidance in tourism industry.

Today we discuss travel trade representation with Mark Wright of The Adventure Connection.Mark is a 30 year plus veteran of the travel industry who now represents tour operators and destination management companies around the World.Representation is a little understand method in our community and it deserves more attention as a way to grow your tour operation.Join our free tour operator community!And become a member for even more contentThe Adventure Connection00:00 Best time for operators to make connections.05:40 Representation company acts as middleman, connecting operators.09:44 Investment in shows can be costly for operators, particularly small ones, in terms of both time and money. Representation offers a range of services to help, beyond just attending trade shows.13:28 Busy pre-event period: clients, meetings, presentations.14:39 Monitoring meetings, efficient follow-up vital, tailored templates.17:53 Supply chain and tour operators are affected. Marketing representation helps build relationships and increase business. Fan trips foster product experience and relationships.21:15 Increased travel to Europe as restrictions ease.24:49 Tour operators prioritize sustainability in DMC selection.30:56 Niche identification and ready-made products for operators.32:06 DMC developed toolkit to improve services.35:27 Product manager must understand industry, work in product development. Challenging for DMCs to approach them.40:26 We attend about 6-10 shows per year, including big ones like WCM and ITB, as well as smaller specialist shows. The rise of smaller shows is positive.42:48 Traditional industry cycle guides timing of activities.45:07 Need more staff to revive travel industry.

Mitch, Chris and Pete are joined by Douglas Quinby and Bruce Rosard of the amazing industry focused event, Arival to discuss how you should choose the event that will give you the best ROI.We discuss...Which event is right for youDoing your ground work before you attendWhy Tour Operators should attend ArivalGetting an ROI from eventsTimestamp02:38 Networking, deals, partnerships lead to bigger events. Start locally, understand event types, work hard.04:55 Lack of diverse buyers at Arrival event.08:21 Event success depends on preparation and networking.11:28 Importance of tourism industry and cultural differences.15:10 Tourpreneur community focuses on ROI, marathon events.18:23 Valuable education component helps professionalize arrival industry.20:18 Maximize time with 2 guys from Columbia.23:45 Reach out to industry contacts for guidance.26:52 Digital game trumps traditional events, save money.31:23 Events provide valuable learning opportunities for businesses.34:12 Open mind at events can create possibilities.38:05 Events with global operators expand product development.41:47 Connect, niche talk, latest trends, water sports, podcasting, cross learning opportunities.45:40 cost, accessibility, regional relevance.48:25 Remember the questions, have a great time.

Chris & Pete are joined by Travis Pittman, the Co-founder & CEO of TourRadar to discuss the trends in multi-day tours as well as its future.We discuss...How TourRadar startedDistribution through travel agentsSweet spot in length of multi-day toursHow multi-day will be affected by AIOnboarding new operators restarting in some destinationsJoin our free tour operator community of over 9,000 members: Join Tourpreneur+ for even more content:Visit TourRadar 

Roberto D'Alessandro, owner of Touring Italy, blends exceptional customer service with deep Italian cultural insights. He shares how local guides and personalized experiences can create unforgettable tours. The discussion touches on the challenges of managing guest expectations, especially in a post-pandemic landscape. Renée Ventrice emphasizes the emotional weight of community connections in tourism, showcasing how flexibility and understanding diverse cultures enhance client satisfaction. Together, they highlight the importance of resilience in the face of industry adversity.

Today we are discussing the environmental crisis and the impact on the travel industry by industry expert Stuart McDonald of Travel Fish.