408. Insights from the National Tour Association Travel Exchange Part One, with Nicole Mahoney
Release Date: 12/18/2024
434. Leveraging Lifestyle Media to Boost Tourism, with Liza Graves
Destination On The Left
On this episode of Destination on the Left, Liza Graves shares her journey growing a 100% digital lifestyle publication that she started as a way to help small businesses through the recession. She talks about why it is important to find your North Star and how that can guide you through the ups and downs. We talk through some of the unique ways that StyleBlueprint helps DMOs and tourism businesses reach a traveling audience. What You Will Learn in This Episode: How Liza launched StyleBlueprint during the Great Recession to help support local businesses and why that mission has been the...
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433. Authentic Encounters and Sustainable Growth in Luxury Travel, with John Nguyen
Destination On The Left
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with John Nguyen, CEO of Heritage Line. In our conversation, John shares his passion for his home in Southeast Asia and describes his luxury cruise line, how he developed it, and how they deliver on unique experiences by going to places that most tour operators cannot access. John describes partnerships that he has built with competing river cruise companies to help develop sustainable practices and facilitate connections between locals and international visitors that make a positive impact. What You Will Learn in This Episode: How John...
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432. Building a Magnetic Resort Culture, with Sean McCarron
Destination On The Left
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Sean McCarron, General Manager at the Conrad Orlando, about why the magic of any resort is in the people who give it soul. We talk about building a team and a culture that inspires. As Sean explains, there is one team, one mission and one goal. We also discuss external collaborations and partnerships that have been successful for the Conrad Orlando, including partnerships with local attractions, shopping malls and nonprofits. What You Will Learn in This Episode: Why Sean believes building a strong team culture is the single most...
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431. Rainbow Air’s Approach to Coopetition in Niagara Falls Tourism, with Patrick Keyes
Destination On The Left
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Patrick Keyes, Sales and Marketing Manager at Rainbow Air Helicopter Tours in Niagara Falls, about why he believes in coopetition and how collaborations with his competitors have helped him be successful. Patrick explains why being a first call partner to your local and regional DMO is so important, and how you can position yourself to be that partner. He also offers valuable advice on how to work collaboratively at trade shows to build success. What You Will Learn in This Episode: How Patrick developed a regional, visitor-centric...
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430. Transforming Tours with Storytelling, with Mitch Bach
Destination On The Left
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Mitch Bach, partner at Tourpreneur and CEO of TripSchool, about the shift from information-driven tours to experience-driven journeys, where emotional connection, creative storytelling, and human interaction are now the most valuable takeaways for travelers. Mitch introduces listeners to the concept of the “emotion economy” and offers inspiring examples, from immersive historical reenactments to sensory food experiences, that help tour operators leave a lasting impact on their guests. What You Will Learn in This Episode: Why...
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429. Revolutionizing the Home Exchange Market, with Emmanuel Arnaud
Destination On The Left
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Emmanuel Arnaud, CEO of HomeExchange. He shares the remarkable journey of how he went from being a frustrated user of traditional home exchange platforms to founding his own company. We dig into the heart of the sharing economy and how home exchanging not only makes travel more accessible and sustainable but also turns local hosts into enthusiastic ambassadors for their communities. What You Will Learn in This Episode: How Emmanuel turned his personal frustration as a home swap user into launching Guest to Guest and ultimately becoming...
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428. From Attractions to Experiences, with Laurel Greatrix
Destination On The Left
On this episode of Destination on the Left, Laurel Greatrix and I explore why today’s travelers are seeking out the experience first and planning trips around it. She shares the top types of experiences that travelers are searching for and explains why they allow visitors to explore a destination more deeply. What You Will Learn in This Episode: Why today’s travelers are increasingly planning trips around experiences rather than destinations, and what this shift means for destination marketers What types of travel experiences are trending right now, from outdoor adventures to immersive,...
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427. Sustainable Marketing Through Pinterest, with Meagan Williamson
Destination On The Left
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Meagan Williamson about Pinterest for travel brands. She shares actionable strategies for using this powerful, often overlooked platform to amplify discovery, boost SEO, and support long-term marketing success. In this episode, she breaks down how Pinterest differs from other social media, why its visual search engine is perfect for the travel and tourism industry, and how its evergreen content can drive results for months—or even years—after posting. What You Will Learn in This Episode: How Meagan’s journey from travel blogger to...
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426. Novel Tourism and Place-Based Storytelling, with Marilyn Higgins
Destination On The Left
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with novelist Marilyn Higgins and explore how fiction can make history more accessible and relevant, shedding light on how 19th-century issues echo in today’s world. We also discuss the growing trend of novel tourism, where travelers experience destinations through the lens of stories and literature. This trend sparks new ways to experience and celebrate unique places through the magic of narrative and place-based journeys. What You Will Learn in This Episode: How Marilyn’s personal connection to Upstate New York and the Erie Canal...
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425. Make Your Copywriting Magnetic, with Genevieve White
Destination On The Left
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Genevieve White, travel copywriting expert and Founder of Campion Comms & Coaching, about why there’s so much important work that needs to happen before you ever put pen to paper when you’re writing copy for your travel organization. Genevieve walks us through the customer journey, from the dreaming phase to planning and booking, explaining how your copy should meet travelers where they are, every step of the way. She also shares her favorite recipe for establishing a relatable and confident tone of voice and reveals how...
info_outlineWelcome to the first of a two-part series from NTA, where we dive into tour and travel trends, partnerships, and challenges shaping the industry. In our conversations, we explore the rise of transformative travel, the international tourism rebound, and innovations in payment systems—all key trends driving the travel industry forward into 2025.
In this episode, you’ll hear from these industry leaders:
- Kelly Dean: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellydeanottawa/
- Kim Ricaurte: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-ricaurte-510588285/
- Patrick McIntyre: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-mcintyre-2b61914
- Sheryl Porto: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-porto-489189b1/
- Zach Harrison: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-harrison-a63481194/
In my interviews at the NTA, each guest shares examples of successful collaborations from DMOs and hotels to technology providers that help them create unique and memorable travel experiences.
Kelly Dean from Ottawa Tourism
Kelly emphasizes transformative and experiential travel, including immersive experiences such as culinary tourism and engaging deeply with local cultures. She shares more about how the travel industry can grow and adapt post-pandemic to meet evolving consumer expectations for the future.
Kim Ricaurte from Airwallex
We discuss Kim’s approach to helping people embrace new solutions without criticizing their existing methods, and she emphasizes the importance of partnership and support through these transitions. Kim also discusses significant trends in financial technology, particularly a shift away from traditional credit cards to alternative payment methods such as Google Pay, Apple Pay, and local systems like ACH, and explains the benefits of educating travel operators on these new financial solutions.
Patrick McIntyre from Image Tours
Patrick shares some new things he is working on for 2025—including a new Greek tour. He digs into the importance of responding to customer feedback and making tweaks that keep itineraries fresh and attractive to travelers. Building stronger relationships with your clientele helps support sales. Patrick describes the NTA Travel Exchange as “new” and says it’s an exciting place to learn, get to know some new people, and continue to develop relationships with people he’s already met.
Sheryl Porto from Merani Hotel Group
Sheryl and I dig into the exciting resurgence in international travel, particularly in Niagara Falls, USA, highlighting the unique cross-border tourism challenges and opportunities between the US and Canada. She shares her thoughts on the recovering international market post-pandemic and anticipates seeing significant business growth in 2025, especially from the Indian market.
Zach Harrison from Anderson Vacations
Zach and I discuss his focus on small-group travel, especially in remote Canadian areas. He highlights the shift from large 55-passenger buses to smaller 16-passenger groups, which allows for more intimate travel experiences and access to unique destinations that larger buses cannot reach, such as early morning wildlife tours in the Rockies. Zach also shares the importance of mentorship in the evolving travel industry, acknowledges generational gaps, and emphasizes the warm, collaborative community fostered at the NTA Travel Exchange.
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