On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Geoff Thatcher about telling great stories and why they impact how people experience your brand. Geoff shares examples of his revolutionary experiential framework in action and gives his insights into staying focused, finding the right partners, forgiving allowable weaknesses, and remembering to have fun.
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
- Why experiencing new things is essential for inspiring creativity in the hospitality and experience industry
- How Geoff applies his experiential framework to create immersive and emotional experiences at theme parks, museums, and other attractions
- How to identify the right partner to help realize a shared vision
- Why understanding and translating a brand’s story into consumer experiences is crucial for creating impactful experiences
- Creative solutions that Geoff has helped to implement in theme parks and attractions across the world
- Geoff’s insights and advice for listeners planning a collaboration and why it’s critical to clarify team roles
The Experience Model and Creating Lasting Impressions
Geoff introduces the “experience model,” which comprises five elements: attract, build trust, give information, internalize the message, and challenge people to act. He draws examples from theme parks and museums, highlighting how the model is applied to create immersive and emotional experiences.
The best experiences, whether in museums or zoos, follow this experience model to attract, build trust, inform, evoke emotion, and ultimately engage visitors to be part of the story. Geoff’s model is a blueprint for attractions to engage their audience on multiple levels, leaving a lasting impression and fostering a sense of connection.
The Power of Storytelling and Trust
We dig into the significance of storytelling and trust-building in creating authentic and impactful experiences at attractions, and Geoff outlines a formula for attractions to define their enduring idea, differentiation, and target audience to guide the experience they want to deliver. He also shares the importance of collaboration and partnership in the industry, and the importance of finding the right partners that have a shared vision to create a lasting experience.
Resources:
- VIDEO Warner Brothers Abu Dhabi Opening Day Video
- Website: https://www.creativeprincipals.com/
- The CEO’s Time Machine by Geoff Thatcher
- LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffthatcher/
- LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creative-principals/
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On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Sonya Nash, Executive Director of Visit Shipshewana. She shares how she honors the local community through the work her DMO does and describes her role as creating an experience that visitors love and positively impacts the local community. Sonya also talks about a countywide collaboration she is part of and the importance of building bridges between stakeholders for the greater good.
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
- Why understanding the other party’s perspective is crucial for successful collaboration
- What role destination marketing organizations play in community branding and development, and how collaboration between various agencies impacts tourism assets and the community as a whole
- Sonya’s creative solution to challenges faced in a conservative, tech-limited community to accommodate visitors’ needs
- Why understanding and promoting cultural values within a community is essential for effective destination management
- How Sonya is working to connect and collaborate with other communities within the county to promote off-the-beaten-path experiences and cultural exchange
Branding for Destination Marketing Organizations
Our conversation started with a deep dive into the role of destination marketing organizations (DMOs) in community branding and development. Sonya shares the importance of collaboration between various agencies and why tourism has such a profound impact on the local community as a whole. We also discuss the pivotal role that DMOs play in shaping visitor expectations and experiences and how that influences the narrative and perception of a destination.
Embracing Unique Experiences
Sonya’s passion for creating unique experiences shines through as she recounts her journey from aspiring to be a school teacher to discovering her calling in the tourism and hospitality industry. Her emphasis on understanding what makes a destination unique and tapping into the interests of travelers also underscores the value of authentic and immersive experiences that resonate with visitors and allows them to disconnect and embrace a slower, more relaxed lifestyle in Sonya’s location, Shipshewana.
Overcoming Challenges Through Innovation
Our discussion touches upon the challenges faced in conservative, tech-limited communities, such as some of the destinations in Amish country. Sonya’s creative solution of leveraging the Bandwango platform to create a trail and incorporate creative offline ways to help visitors get to know the rural area and accommodate both visitors’ needs and the local community’s needs.
Resources:
- Website: https://visitshipshewana.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VisitShipshewana/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visitshipshewana/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClANSNzu4yLmTjYWtMdoegQ
- Off the Beaten Path Group Experiences: https://www.offthebeatenpath.com/
We value your thoughts and feedback and would love to hear from you. Leave us a review on your favorite streaming platform to let us know what you want to hear more of. Here is a quick tutorial on how to leave us a rating and review on iTunes!
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Emily about how her creative skills and early experience in theater led her to the hospitality industry. She walks us through a process for evaluating your brand and thinking about it from a people-first perspective and shares her approach to addressing challenges that cover planning for short-term, mid-term, and long-term needs in that order.
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
- The importance of building relationships before seeking mentorship and why creating a culture of collaboration establishes trust and open communication
- How Emily manages imposter syndrome by addressing her “shadow Emily” and seeking support to counter negative thoughts
- How to build genuine connections and create communities aligned with individual needs
- How Emily helps her clients let their weird flag fly so that all of their people can find them
- The connection between hospitality and wellness, and why Emily’s company also serves the wellness industry as they both aim at ensuring people’s well-being and contentedness
Aligning Brand Identity with Organizational Culture
I loved discussing the alignment of brand identity with organizational culture with Emily on the show. Drawing a parallel between developing a script for a story and developing a brand for a hotel, Emily highlights the interconnectedness of a business’s branding with the patterns of corporate behavior and people within an organization. Understanding your brand inside out is what helps you connect with your ideal clients.
Building Relationships and Establishing Trust in Business
Drawing from her experience in the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association International, Emily discusses the importance of building strong relationships before seeking mentorship. She talks about how to create a culture of collaboration, where open communication and trust are built through genuinely supporting and connecting with other people. On the show, we talk more about some creative ways Emily has moved through challenges and the framework she uses to keep her on the right path.
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Nurturing Authentic Connections
We also dig into the topic of imposter syndrome during the podcast, particularly the importance of acknowledging and addressing fear-based thoughts that are blocking your personal and professional growth. Emily shares her method of addressing her “shadow Emily” and seeking support from friends to move past any negative thoughts. This prompted our discussion on the importance of making genuine connections with others and the power of compliments and appreciation in establishing authentic, collaborative relationships.
Resources:
- Website: https://pendailey.com
- LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pendailey/about/
- LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/empendailey/
We value your thoughts and feedback and would love to hear from you. Leave us a review on your favorite streaming platform to let us know what you want to hear more of. Here is a quick tutorial on how to leave us a rating and review on iTunes!
On this episode of Destination on the Left, Megan Grant and I talk about how her tours are designed to create a positive social impact. She highlights the trends that are helping her business grow and thrive, including mindful purchasing and lone female travelers. We also discussed the importance of community and how Megan’s tours build community.
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
- What inspired Megan to start Cherish Tours during the pandemic and how she is creating a positive impact through small group tours
- How Cherish Tours supports women in business through travel opportunities and social impact
- Why Megan’s approach in the hospitality industry focuses on creating meaningful connections and experiences for her tour guests
- How Cherish Tours partners with and supports women-owned or managed businesses in the destinations they visit
- Some of the destinations Cherish Tours has almost sold out to, and the tailor-made private tours they are currently offering
- Why an abundant mindset benefits the travel industry
Embracing an Abundant Mindset
Megan dives into the concept of an abundant mindset and why we should prioritize collaboration and mutual support over cutthroat competition. She shares why she firmly believes that a rising tide lifts all boats and why the success of one woman does not diminish the opportunities available to others.
Cherish Tours exemplifies this belief by actively seeking to partner with other travel advisors, fostering an environment of collaboration and shared success. The encouragement for travel advisors to connect and partner with Cherish Tours showcases the flourishing culture of cooperation in the industry, promoting opportunities for growth and mutual support.
Empowering Women Through Travel
One of the central themes we discussed is the importance of uplifting and supporting women as travelers and industry professionals. Megan passionately describes how Cherish Tours is dedicated to providing transformative travel experiences that prioritize mindful purchasing and social impact.
The company amplifies the voices of women in business and actively supports women-owned or managed businesses and initiatives in the destinations they visit. Megan calls Cherish Tours her ‘love note to the travel industry,’ which gives women a sense of community and connection.
Tailor-Made Travel Experiences
Cherish Tours sets itself apart by creating tailor-made travel experiences that prioritize interpersonal connections, community building, and personal choice. Megan’s approach is all about bringing women of all ages and cultural backgrounds together, fostering inclusivity, and celebrating diversity.
Resources:
- Website: https://www.gocherishtours.com/
- LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-grant94/
- LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cherish-tours-llc/
- Facebook Business: https://www.facebook.com/gocherishtours/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gocherishtours/
We value your thoughts and feedback and would love to hear from you. Leave us a review on your favorite streaming platform to let us know what you want to hear more of. Here is a quick tutorial on how to leave us a rating and review on iTunes!
On this episode of Destination on the Left, Sean Hebert goes deep into the backstory of TourRadar, an organized adventure platform. He shares his perspective on the importance of trust, what adventure travelers are looking for in terms of new experiences, and how TourRadar facilitates amazing collaboration between travelers, tour operators, and travel advisors.
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
- How TourRadar evolved from a consumer-only marketplace to serving travel agents as a time-saving search engine
- How TourRadar’s recent marketing campaign “The Ultimate Travel Hack” promotes organized adventures as a fun travel opportunity
- How TourRadar collaborates with destinations and DMOs to promote sustainable tourism and creates campaigns for specific products and areas
- Why TourRadar’s Adventure Together event was conceived, and how it helps share best practices and address common challenges in the industry
- How TourRadar’s platform helps travelers and tour operators by providing trust, more choices, and a competitive marketplace
A Gateway to Adventure
Sean discusses how TourRadar serves as a platform to connect travelers, tour operators, and travel agents in over 160 countries. By giving travel enthusiasts the opportunity to access more than 2,500 operators offering a variety of experiences, including safaris, cultural tours, and white water rafting, TourRadar is a hub for adventure travel enthusiasts because it prioritizes inspiring and surprising travelers with unique experiences, fostering a deeper appreciation for organized adventures.
Exploring Sustainable Tourism and Collaborative Campaigns
We discuss why TourRadar is so passionate about promoting responsible and sustainable tourism while collaborating with destinations and destination marketing organizations (DMOs). Through innovative campaigns like “The Ultimate Travel Hack,” TourRadar emphasizes the style of organized adventures as a mode of travel rather than focusing solely on specific brands or destinations to encourage collaboration instead of competition among operators.
From Traveler Marketplace to Travel Advisor Support
Sean and I also dig into TourRadar’s evolution, particularly its transition from a consumer-focused marketplace to supporting travel advisors. This transition acknowledges the pivotal role that travel advisors play and positions TourRadar as a time-saving search engine, empowering agents to find and compare itineraries that best meet their clients’ needs.
Resources:
- Website: http://www.tourradar.com/
- LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tourradar/
- Facebook Business: https://www.facebook.com/TourRadar/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TourRadar
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tourradar/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/tourradar
- Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/tourradar/
We value your thoughts and feedback and would love to hear from you. Leave us a review on your favorite streaming platform to let us know what you want to hear more of. Here is a quick tutorial on how to leave us a rating and review on iTunes!