To take your travel program to the next level, there’s no replacement for expert advice.
Travel magazines, conferences and social media can give you lots of advice about places to go and what to do when you get there. But they’re not always optimized for delivering expertise on how to innovate your products, streamline your operations and grow your profits.
Fortunately, there’s a solution for that. Our podcast, “Gather and Go,” features interviews with thought leaders, industry pros and smart strategists who will give you big ideas and practical tips for leveling up.
Here are five episodes from this year that you may find especially useful. Listen to each episode or find the entire library at grouptravelleader.com/podcast.
Handling payments? don’t get swiped!
Is taking credit card payments — or using the wrong cards when you travel — costing your business more than it should? Greg Bottenhorn thinks travel planners need to keep a close eye on the way they use and process cards, both to keep their clients’ funds safe and to keep their costs low. As chief marketing officer at fintech company Jassby, he specializes in helping tour operators leverage payment technology to meet their needs in innovative ways. On this episode, he walks you through the world of travel payments and shows you how to save time and money.
grouptravelleader.com/handling-payments-dont-get-swiped
The “super spenders” shaping group travel
Your ideal travel customer may be easier to reach than you think. Everybody says they love travel, but some people actually demonstrate that with their spending. Anna Cashman, head of B2B brand and insights for GetYourGuide, has dug deep into the data to find the “super spenders” who shape the group travel industry — and who are poised to be your best customers. On this episode, she shares who these super spenders are and how you can reach them. She also suggests ideas for developing products and messaging that will resonate with those travelers.
grouptravelleader.com/the-super-spenders-shaping-group-travel-and-how-to-reach-them
Adventure travel myths BUSTED
Adventure travel is for everyone, no matter their age or fitness level. That’s what Shannon Stowell believes. As CEO of the Adventure Travel Trade Association, Shannon is on a mission to help more people discover the joy of adventure tourism and learn how to do so responsibly. On this podcast episode, he busts common myths around adventure travel and helps you discover the adventure style that will thrill and delight your travelers. He puts to rest the misconception that older travelers don’t like adventure and shares a framework for traveling as respectful guests in the places we visit.
grouptravelleader.com/adventure-travel-myths-busted
And… ACTION: video tips to sell more trips
Could a smart video strategy be your key to selling more trips? Tony Gnau believes it might be. A former TV news reporter and founder of a video production company, Tony has spent his career using video to tell meaningful stories — and helping companies do the same. On this episode, he talks about how travel organizations can use video to build trust and grow sales. Tony shares video storytelling techniques that every traveler can use. He also discusses the most common issue making DIY videos seem unprofessional.
grouptravelleader.com/and-action-video-tips-to-sell-more-trips
Don’t miss the boat on this travel trend
It’s not just you — everybody really is talking about river cruising right now. Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, knows exactly why. On this podcast episode, she unpacks the popularity of river cruising and helps you understand how you can make it work for your group. Colleen explains the core value propositions that make river cruises popular with travelers. She examines how river cruising differs from ocean cruises and land tours, breaks down the economics of cruise pricing and gives tips for booking the river cruise that’s right for you.
grouptravelleader.com/dont-miss-the-boat-on-this-travel-trend
