Tourpreneur Tour Business Podcast

YouTube for Tour Operators. We show you how Rob at TripHacks DC built a youtube channel that delivers 90% of his tour bookings. We also talk about how he got started, and how he competes in the highly competitive area of Washington DC. His tour ranks #9 out of 209 on Tripadvisor. This episode is action packed with ideas for all tour operators.

How in the world does an Israeli journalist arrive in Singapore and within a few short years develop one of the most talked-about food tours that’s featured by the Singapore Tourism Board? In this talk, Karni Tomer shares her passion, purpose and hunger for the street food of her adopted country and how it propelled her business forward.

The flexible, use-as-you-go multi-attraction pass has been on the rise around the world. But is this pass optimized for operators in the Asia Pacific region? This presentation walks through the basics of the multi-attraction pass, and explores whether it is the right choice for your business.

How do I promote my specialty tours asks an Edinburgh based tour operator? In this special Ask the Expert edition of Tourpreneur, Shane Whaley brings together tour operator, Olga the owner of Cobble Tales and a digital marketing expert and tour operator Ben Oliver of Drinking History Tours to tackle tough marketing questions. With practical and actionable advice any tourpreneur can implement, this...

Most think of online travel agencies (OTAs) as simply online resellers of other operators' products. But Taiwan-based KKDay is not your typical OTA. They are getting into customer delivery with KKDay branded experiences. In this talk, the company's regional executive director explains why.

No aspect of the travel industry is facing more challenges and change than tour operating. New technology and shifting traveler demands are compelling tour companies to change what they offer and how they offer it. This session brings leading operators from across the region to have their say on the big challenges and trends shaping their decisions today and tomorrow.

San Francisco tour founder Erik Hormann started with one Volkswagen bus and built a thriving vintage van tour business. After 5 years, he sold it to new owners, bringing the business full circle. This is his story and it is packed with lessons and advice for tour operators.

Representing some $150 billion in spend from nearly 200 million travelers across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and beyond, the Muslim traveler marketplace is large and rapidly growing. But the needs and expectations of the segment are distinct. This session will walk through the essentials

From search and shop to serving and booking, the global search giant has big plans for the in-destination industry. In this talk, Google’s head of travel partnerships for APAC gives the Google view on The Best Part of Travel, and what that means for operators of tours, activities and attractions.

After working for large tours in NYC, Jeremy knew he wanted to offer something others didn’t. His ideal tour concept was one that was customized, with fewer guests and a more personalized experience. With the ability and first-hand knowledge to take visitors to see other beautiful and culturally rich sites of New York most tours don’t cover, Jeremy knew he could do it. Confident his idea was solid...

Unless somehow Korean, Thai, Indonesian and Australian travelers all started traveling, behaving and spending the exact same way, it’s clear there’s no single Asian market. This essential roundtable assembles leading online travel agencies (OTAs) of tours, activities and attractions to discuss the diverse trends shaping varied travel markets and traveler segments from across the region.

It’s one of the fastest growing travel markets and India’s travelers are hungry for tour and activity experiences across Asia. This research presentation walks through the essentials of the Indian market, and explores how it’s growing, the unique values of Indian travelers and what operators need to know to win them over.

Anula Galewska, is a Tourpreneur, and a sustainable tourism expert. She helps small and big tourism businesses grow by improving their sustainability operations and marketing. Over the last decade, she has audited tour operators and hotels for sustainable tourism, so she's a real expert in this space. I wanted to talk to Anula Galewska because sustainable tourism means different things to differen...

“Local Experiences” are the latest buzzword, but what are they really? What does local authenticity really mean? And how do we infuse it into a traveler experience? Isn’t a tour or an activity a local experience? Here, Hong Kong-based culinary entrepreneur Cecilia Leung shares her insights on creating authentic local experiences through food, and how you can too.

From WeChat and Go-Jek to Grab, LINE, Meituan and more, Asia’s rising Super Apps are just about everywhere. Theyare offering pretty much everything and are challenging every sector of both online and offline commerce. How will they change the way your customers plan and book things to do? Walking us through the state of Super Apps and what they mean to creators and sellers of tours, activities and...

On Episode 27 of the Tourpreneur Podcast Guest Experience Expert, Josh Liebman of the Attraction Pros podcast shares his tips on how we can improve guest experience on our tours. I ask Josh what he's learned by evaluating theme parks and attractions that we can as tour operators implement in our business to improve the guest experience. How to improve guests experience on your tour with Josh Liebm...

Most online travel startups dream of big funding rounds, big profits and even bigger exits. This startup thinks about preserving Thailand’s diverse culture and supporting local communities. Achi Thamparipattra, CEO and Chief of Fun of HiveSters, sold us on her vision. In this talk, you’ll find out why.

Most tour and activity operators start with passion and follow their instinct and expertise to design great guest experiences. Tomorrow’s operators will use data analysis and careful customer observations to design experiences of the future. In this talk, GetYourGuide’s lead for Southeast Asia walks us through their data-driven journey to custom design a tour product with a partner in Indonesia, a...

We lost some audio on episode 25. so here John talks us through how tour guides of free walking tours get paid and how he is trying to pay his tour guides a full time salary.

I've never really understood how companies make money from a free walking tour and John kindly walks us (sorry for the pun) through it. He's a very passionate entrepreneur and in this episode, we had a great chat about how he got started with his tour business, how he promotes his tours, the business model behind free walking tours, managing tour guides, the OTA landscape, digital marketing etc

Asia’s iconic low-cost carrier has been methodically, if not so quietly, plotting to win big in tours, activities and attractions. In this interview, we sit down with AirAsia.com COO to discuss the carrier's plans for the Best Part of Travel.

Distribution dynamics in tours, activities and attractions are rapidly changing. Online travel agencies (OTAs) are growing fast, raising lots of capital, acquiring reservation systems and driving all sorts of innovations. This poses many important questions to operators of all sizes and segments. This roundtable of OTA leaders and operators will debate them all—and answer tough audience questions.

Christian Watts, founder of City Sightseeing San Francisco and now CEO at Magpie Travel shares his journey in the travel industry in our Tourpreneur Spotlight series. Christian Watts reveals in a candid conversation with Tourpreneur host Shane Whaley, how he moved to San Francisco and climbed the ladder in the travel industry. Christian started his career in tours and activities as a pedicab drive...

Klook has in just a few short years grown to become a leading online travel agency (OTA) for tours and activities across Asia. Now, with a $500 million war chest, they have big plans for global expansion. In this in-depth interview, get the inside scoop on one of the most talked-about companies in online travel. Learn where Klook is headed, and what it means for your tour, activity or attraction b...

An overview of the key trends and issues shaping The Best Part of Travel in Asia and what’s ahead for creators and sellers of tours, activities and attractions with Arival CEO Douglas Quinby