411. Social Media Tips for Travel Advisors, with Nikita France
Release Date: 01/15/2025
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_outlineOn this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Nikita France, Founder of Travel Agent Collective, who shares her story of how she helps travel agents build their businesses by building their personal brand. She offers great actionable advice on how to stand out on social media so you can build authority, confidence, and trust with potential customers.
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
- How Nikita transitioned from consulting for Caribbean hotels to founding Travel Agent Collective
- Why personal branding is crucial for travel agents and the methods to build trust and authority in the industry
- How Nikita advises travel agents to use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook to position themselves as industry experts
- Why email marketing is an indispensable tool for travel agents and how to effectively use personalization and conversational tones
- How to leverage TikTok trends and move followers to other platforms, ensuring higher engagement and conversions
- Nikita’s insights and practical advice on repurposing content and using AI to optimize your marketing efforts
The Story Behind Travel Agent Collective
After consulting for Caribbean hotels and spotting a gap in travel advisors’ marketing strategies, Nikita founded Travel Agent Collective in 2017. Starting as a basic content solution, it has evolved into a comprehensive platform that provides vital marketing tools for travel advisors.
The pandemic posed unprecedented challenges for the travel industry. Launching her company in November 2019, Nikita quickly pivoted her messaging to assist travel advisors in handling client cancellations and rescheduled trips. The conversation around personal branding was never more relevant, as maintaining a strong social media presence during the pandemic proved essential for staying top-of-mind with clients.
Why Personal Branding Builds Authority
Personal branding isn’t just about self-promotion—it’s about building trust and establishing authority in your field. For travel advisors, this means cultivating an authentic presence that speaks directly to potential clients. “People relate to people,” Nikita emphasizes. “A strong personal brand lays the groundwork for authentic connections.”
Nikita advises blending personal content with business updates to reach as many potential travelers as possible. For example, you could share a mix of family photos and client success stories on Facebook. This humanizes your business, making clients feel more connected to you as a person. On Instagram, maintain a conversational tone like speaking to a friend at a cocktail party. And on LinkedIn, focus on thought leadership: share your industry insights and success stories to establish yourself as an authority.
Using Social Media Effectively
Each social media platform serves a different purpose, and Nikita shares her tips on how you can use each platform effectively as a business.
Facebook: Maintain a business page and use your personal page for broader reach. Share a mix of personal and business content to stay authentic.
Instagram: Use a business profile for better insights. Personal stories can blend with business updates to help you stay top of mind with travelers.
LinkedIn: Approach it as a platform for thought leadership. Share industry insights and behind-the-scenes content to build authority.
Engagement is key to social media’s effectiveness. Nikita stresses that your tone should be conversational, not salesy. Your stories and successes should subtly showcase your expertise without overt selling.
Resources:
- Website: https://www.travelagentcollective.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikitafrance/
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