418. 2025 News from the ABA Marketplace in Philadelphia, with Nicole Mahoney
Release Date: 03/05/2025
445. Immersive Travel and Community Empowerment, with Florence Li
Destination On The Left
On this episode of Destination on the Left, Florence Li, Director of International Development for Songtsam Resorts, shares how her family-owned luxury boutique hotel collection has built its reputation by opening hidden doors to remote destinations in Tibet and Yunnan. She explains how Songtsam differentiates itself by offering immersive cultural experiences, empowering local communities through creative staffing solutions, and staying deeply committed to sustainability. Florence also highlights how the brand’s mission to preserve Tibetan culture and protect the environment resonates with...
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444. Reclaiming Imagination in Business, with Susan Robertson
Destination On The Left
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Susan Robertson, Possibility Architect at Sharpen Innovation and Harvard instructor. Susan shares why so many of us lose our sense of imagination as we grow up and how we can get it back by embracing curiosity and being open to mistakes. We also discuss how even the wildest brainstorming ideas can lead to real breakthroughs and role-play through a few examples to demonstrate that creativity isn’t just for artists; it’s something we can all tap into to spark fresh ideas. What You Will Learn in This Episode: How Susan Robertson...
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443. Helping Tourism Professionals Reach Gen Z Audiences, with Nathan Oyer
Destination On The Left
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with our summer intern, Nathan Oyer, who’s about to head back to Binghamton University. In this episode, you’ll hear a candid introduction with Nathan about his experiences as a TAP intern, then we’ll dive right into the training session Nathan led for our team. He shares his insights and research on what makes Gen Z tick, from their love of authentic marketing to the language and wellness trends driving their travel decisions. What You Will Learn in This Episode: Why understanding the differences between generations is key when...
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442. Sacramento’s Farm to Fork and Festival Revolution, with Mike Testa
Destination On The Left
On this episode of Destination on the Left, Mike Testa, President & CEO of Visit Sacramento, describes how his destination has diversified their focus to include festivals and events, sports, leisure markets, and culinary. He explains how positioning themselves as America’s Farm to Fork Capital has paid dividends, including booking a 10-year contract to host the Terra Madre Americas convention. Mike also discusses why tourism is not for tourists and how that plays into action through Visit Sacramento’s work and community partnerships. What You Will Learn in This Episode: Why Mike’s...
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441. The Story Behind Hands Up Holidays’ Ethical Family Adventures, with Christopher Hill
Destination On The Left
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Christopher Hill, Founder of Hands Up Holidays. Christopher takes us inside his journey from a career in finance to launching a travel company focused on eco-luxury family volunteer vacations. In our conversation, Christopher shares the story behind Hands Up Holidays, and we discuss the company’s focus on family and ethical travel with a holistic approach that ensures each journey leaves a positive impact on local communities and their visitors. What You Will Learn in This Episode: How Christopher built Hands Up Holidays by combining...
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440. Boosting Tourism Marketing Success with Owned Media Tactics, with Camille Zess
Destination On The Left
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Camille Zess, Vice President of Growth at TAP, who brings 14 years of wide-ranging expertise in digital strategy, website development, email marketing, and the ever-evolving world of AI. We discuss the “Owned” media segment of the —your website, blog, email marketing, and other assets you have complete control over. Camille shares practical tips on evaluating and optimizing these owned channels, from knowing when it’s time for a website refresh to the power of blog audits and list segmentation. Our discussion also explores...
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439. PESO Model in Action: Social Media and Shared Tactics, with Adrienne Currie and Brittany Lynn
Destination On The Left
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Adrienne Currie, Community & Marketing Manager at TAP, and Brittany Lynn, Senior Account Manager at TAP for the third installment of a special four-part series exploring the Model—a framework for creating integrated marketing plans that drive results in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry. Our conversation shines a spotlight on the “S”—shared media, and Adrienne and Brittany dive into the strategies behind creating impactful social media campaigns, from identifying your target audience to understanding the value of...
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438. Earned Media Essentials for Tourism Marketers, with Colleen Onuffer
Destination On The Left
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Colleen Onuffer for the second installment of a four-part series exploring the Model—Paid, Earned, Shared, and Owned media—in integrated marketing. Colleen shares more about earned media: what it is, why it’s critical for building credibility, and how organizations in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry can use it to tell their story more powerfully. From collaborating with influencers to maximizing media placements, she explains how earned media fits into the bigger picture and interacts with other parts of the PESO...
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437. Paid Media Tactics That Work in Travel and Tourism, with Colleen Senglaub
Destination On The Left
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Colleen Senglaub, Digital Account Manager at TAP, for the first installment of a four-part series exploring the Model—a foundational framework for integrated marketing plans in travel, tourism, and hospitality. We dig into the “P” of PESO—Paid Media. Colleen shares her expertise on digital advertising, breaking down today’s must-have channels, including Meta (Facebook and Instagram), Google, programmatic, and connected TV campaigns. They also touch on emerging platforms like Pinterest and TikTok, offering fresh ideas for...
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436. Inspiring Confident Communication, with Karen Laos
Destination On The Left
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Karen Laos, a communication expert and confidence cultivator, about the most common mishaps that we make when communicating, and practical advice on how to avoid them. We discuss the importance of communication as a woman, the benefits of building strong relationships, and why being interested is a better strategy than being interesting. She also gives us easy phrases and questions to help us start creating deeper connections today. What You Will Learn in This Episode: How Karen Laos discovered the power of confident communication, from...
info_outlineThis is the first of a two-part series from the ABA Marketplace, in which we discuss how the industry is evolving, the biggest opportunities ahead, and strategies shaping travel’s future. In this episode, you’ll hear from five inspirational tourism leaders about topics including the rise of slow tourism and experiential travel.
In this episode, you’ll hear from these remarkable leaders:
- Sally Altman, Director Of Global Sales From Travel Advocates: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-altman/
- Mitch Bach, CEO of Trip School: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchellbach/
- Marlene Kay Smith, Sales Manager Of Traverse City Tourism: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlenekaysmith/
- Lew Myers, III, Director Of Policy, Research, And Impact At American Bus Association: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lew-myers-iii-38b605126/
- Joe Lannan, Executive Director Of Visit French Lick West Baden: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelannan/
Insights from ABA Marketplace in Philadelphia
Join us for some golden nuggets from the American Bus Association (ABA) Marketplace in Philadelphia. We’ll explore how the travel sector is evolving, uncover some significant opportunities on the horizon, and discuss strategies driving the future of travel.
Sally Altman, Director Of Global Sales From Travel Advocates
Sally highlights Travel Advocates’ ability to address last-minute hotel sourcing needs and discusses the value of networking and volunteering at shows like ABA for building relationships. She emphasizes listening to colleagues and clients and integrity as keys to her success. For her, it’s those long-term relationships, not just short-term transactions, that drive her career.
Mitch Bach, CEO of Trip School
I loved hearing Mitch Bach, CEO of Trip School and host of the Tourpreneur Travel Business Podcast, share his thoughts on the travel industry’s shift toward building communities and why success lies in building emotional connections with potential clients. He advises new professionals to network actively at events like ABA; his philosophy is to ‘smile and say hello to everybody’!
Marlene Kay Smith, Sales Manager Of Traverse City Tourism
Marlene shares her excitement for upcoming opportunities in 2025, like Traverse City’s international fireworks and its growing collaboration with local partners to attract visitors. She talks more about the trend for “slow tourism,” where travelers favor immersive experiences and connections with the environment. She fondly describes ABA Marketplace as a place to form deeper connections and foster valuable business relationships.
Lew Myers, Director Of Policy, Research, and Impact at American Bus Association
Lew and I discuss the importance of data-driven research and policy advocacy to support the bus and tourism sector. He discusses the foundation’s initiatives, such as scholarships, fundraising events, and research efforts, to strengthen the industry’s competitiveness against other travel modes, such as airlines and cruises. He describes ABA Marketplace as a vibrant, relationship-centered event akin to a family reunion.
Joe Lannan, Executive Director Of Visit French Lick West Baden
Joe focuses on his plans to strengthen local partnerships to improve visitor experiences at his destination. As a leader new to the travel and tourism sector, we discuss why he prioritizes empathy, data-driven decision-making, and collaboration as a leader. Joe appreciates ABA Marketplace as an invaluable platform for networking and gaining fresh perspectives.
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