Destination On The Left

In today's episode, you'll hear from Joe Pulizzi, an expert in content marketing. You'll learn how content marketing can not only generate leads but become a source of revenue in its own right. Joe Pulizzi is the founder of Content Marketing Institute, a UBM company, the leading education and training organization for content marketing, which includes the largest in-person content marketing event...

In this episode, you will learn about how Travel Oregon has helped the tourism industry in that state grow exponentially under the leadership of Todd Davidson. Todd was appointed Executive Director of the Oregon Tourism Commission, also known as Travel Oregon, in June 1996, and was named Chief Executive Officer in September 2004. Under Todd's leadership, the tourism industry in Oregon has flourish...

In this episode, you'll learn about how to stand out in a crowded market from choco-preneur, Ryan Novak. Ryan is the owner of Chocolate Pizza Company, central New York's largest gourmet chocolate manufacturer. Starting as a dishwasher when he was 15 years old, Ryan had a vision to grow the business into a national brand. In 2010, at age 21, he became the owner, and has seen the company grow dramat...

In this episode, you'll learn what's so great about Britain, and how guest Gavin Landry targets potential visitors by tapping into what they love about travel. Gavin Landry serves as Executive Vice President for the Americas for VisitBritain. Gavin has a strong background in business and leisure tourism and has held several senior posts in the industry. Prior to joining VisitBritain, Gavin worked...

In this episode, you will learn about how the Bronx is growing into a global tourism destination in its own right. Olga Luz Tirado is the executive director of the  Bronx Tourism Council , a division of the Bronx overall economic development corporation. In this capacity, she plays a significant role in creating a cohesive and symbiotic relationship between arts, culture and economic development w...

In this episode, you will learn about using technology to develop a more engaging immersive creative from Julie Gilbert. Julie Gilbert is Vice President of Marketing and Brand Management for Destination Niagara USA where she leads the organization's marketing, communications, and brand management functions to increase the visibility of Niagara and its assets as a leisure and meetings destination....

In this episode, you will learn about how to work with businesses in your area to create a unified voice that can be used to create great events and market your destination to the world from Leigh Melander. Leigh Melander, Ph. D. has an eclectic background in the arts as well as consulting in strategic planning, outreach and marketing, and event planning for over 20 years. She has performed and ta...

In this episode, you will learn about the ins and outs of the food and beverage tourism industry and how to run a successful food tourism program from Erik Wolf. Erik Wolf is the founder of the world's food tourism industry and of the World Food Travel Association. He is a highly-sought speaker, thought leader, strategist and consultant, in the US and abroad, on food and drink tourism issues, and...

In this episode, you will learn about leveling up your live video by creating engaging, curated experiences from Reagan Burns. Reagan Burns started her career working for R&R Partners in Las Vegas, on the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority as a designer on the What Happens Here, Stays Here campaigns. Her career path then brought her to Baltimore and then to Rochester, NY when she decided...

In this episode, you will learn about how to best implement boots on the ground, grassroots marketing efforts from Bill Sweitzer. Bill Sweitzer joined the Canal Corporations Public Affairs Office in February of 2012, serving as Deputy Director. For the past three years, he has led the Canal Corporations marketing and education programs and spearheaded community outreach efforts across the states C...

In this episode, you'll learn about the idea of competition being a great thing for everyone involved because visitors stay longer when there's more for them to do from Elissa Leuer. As Livingston County's Director of Tourism and Marketing, Elissa is responsible for the promotion of the county's accommodations, attractions, restaurants, and events to those outside the area to encourage tourism. Pr...

In this episode, you will learn how Greek Peak Mountain Resort prioritizes providing a great experience for families from Jessica Sloma. Jessica Sloma is Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Greek Peak Mountain Resort and she has been involved with the resort since 2008. When Jessica first came to Greek Peak, she was a partner in an advertising agency in New York and was brought onboard to re...

In this episode, you will learn about how listening to your customers can open up many doors from Mark Hoffmann. Mark Hoffmann is president and founder of Sports Leisure Vacations, Sacramento's largest and oldest packaged tour and travel company. There he orchestrates the company's many facets of operation from escorted tours and travel agencies services to receptive, meeting, planning, and incent...

In this episode, you'll learn about focusing your limited marketing dollars on the visitors who are closest to your destination from Devon Perry. Devon Perry joined Visit South Jersey as marketing director in 2015. In this role, she closely shadowed the executive director, and when the opportunity presented itself, she was well acquainted with the position and truly the best choice to lead Visit S...

In this episode, you will learn about how everyone can chip in to drive visitors to a region and the economic impact that provides from Rachel Laber Pulvino. Rachel Laber Pulvino is a Rochester native who has the privilege of promoting her hometown on a daily basis as the Director of Public Relations and Communications for Visit Rochester. In this role Rachel is regularly reaching out to regional,...

In this episode, you will learn about social enterprises in the travel and tourism industry and how they can really drive social change and positively benefit communities from Mike Rea. Mike Rea is a social entrepreneur who has been committed to creating philanthropic value and impact for more than 15 years. Mike has been President & CEO of Tourism Cares since July 2013, building on its momentum t...

In this episode, you will learn about ways to grow economic development and give a destination a sense of place that thrills residents and visitors alike. Kal Wysokowski is president of the Canal Society of New York State, Commissioner for the New York State Canal Corporation, and Commissioner for the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. With all of those volunteer roles, Kal still has time f...

In this episode, you will learn about the importance of having a strategy for everything you do and not just trying whatever you think of to see what sticks. For Morgan Painvin, it's all about hitting the bullseye of results. Her quiver of arrows is vast and varied from strategic partnerships and micro-niche placements to national features and creative ideas. The award-winning campaigns that defin...

In this episode, you will learn about five of the biggest travel trends to pay attention to in 2018. Nicole Mahoney started Break the Ice Media in 2009 in response to the evolving needs of small to medium-sized businesses, in particular, the rise of social media. Break the Ice Media is a boutique marketing and communications firm with a focus on travel, tourism, food, wine, and hospitality. As CEO...

In this episode, you will learn about making the most of your resources and entering into collaborations to create a lasting impression on visitors from Hillarie Logan-Dechene. Hillarie Logan-Dechene's career has been about building the capacity of not-for-profit organizations. As the Wild Center's Director of Philanthropy, she is responsible for all membership and development activities and works...

In this episode, you will learn about how to use Pinterest to drive visitors to your content from Louise Cottrell. Originally from the Bay Area, Louise Cottrell is a Pinterest marketing strategist working with travel content creators and business owners to generate traffic, grow their audience and increase sales. She does Pinterest account management as well as consulting and training for bloggers...

In this episode, you will learn about why differentiation is the name of the game and why you need to provide unique, niched experiences to attract visitors to your destination from Ed Healy. Ed Healy is Vice President of Marketing for Visit Buffalo Niagara where he is responsible for VBN's destination marketing strategy. His responsibilities include overseeing all sales and marketing communicatio...

In this episode, you will learn how regions don't influence a travelers decision on where to go, and how to get them to come to your destination from Josiah Brown. Josiah Brown is best known the New York Sherpa and has logged over 600,000 miles throughout New York State over the last 13 years. He is the brain and the passion behind New York's Best Experiences. The Sherpa lives for recommending the...

In this episode, you will learn about providing a great customer experience and building partnerships that help you do that from Tom Mulliez. Tom is a father, husband, entrepreneur, and the visionary behind iTREKKERS. Tom founded the company in 2014 after realizing that bringing together vetted professional captains and guides on one platform would help guarantee everyone a better experience in th...

In this episode, you will learn about how restaurants featuring local wine makes such a huge impact from Michael Warren Thomas. Michael Warren Thomas owns Savor Life and products and hosts four radio shows focusing on gardening, wine, food, and travel. He started his first show, Naturally Green, in April 1994. He's added several shows since then including For the Love of Food, a show all about foo...