​Today’s Guest

In this episode I speak with Leon Lightman of The Dining Experience & The Bucketlist Adventures. Leon is an entrepreneur and creator of multiple communal dining experiences across three continents. More recently he is also co owner of The Bucketlist Adventures.  Prior to creating the The Argentine Experience (a dining experience he hosted in his own home), Leon was a multi award winning tour leader for Gap Adventures. It was during his time as a tour leader in Argentina that Leon identified a problem he could solve. What started out as an alternative solution for his fellow tour leaders quickly became one of Tripadvisors top rated experiences. ​You’ll Learn

Some of the topics I covered with Leon include:

• How you are usually judged more on you ability to trouble shoot during problem times than you are when everything is going great.

• How people are engaged more by people who love what they do.

• How you only need a few clients to give you everything you need.

• How you should home in and develop your area of genius.

What I like about my conversation with Leon was that he’s taken the time to identify what he really wants from his life and then reverse engineered his businesses to deliver it.

​Mentioned in the show

Websites: www.thebucketlistadventures.com

Linked-in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leon-lightman-7568709b

People buy from people and how you sell the opportunity of the holiday experience is what makes you unique.

​Today’s Guest

In this episode I speak with Cara Sutherland of Pocketknife Consultant. 

Cara has worked in both the private and public sector for over 15 years as a gallery curator, museum director, project manager and more recently, as a consultant helping small businesses to overcome challenges and create practical solutions to achieve their goals.

If you’re wondering what the future of your travel business might look like then this episode will be perfect for you.

​You’ll Learn

• People buy from people and how you sell the opportunity of the holiday experience is what makes you unique.

• If you know you’re not being genuine to yourself customers will trust their gut and they’ll know something doesn’t feel right.

• When you’re providing a service you need to accept that not every customer is going to like your business aesthetic, your offer or even your personality. It’s not personal and when you accept that, it’s incredibly freeing.

What I learned from my conversation with Cara is that some of the most effective things we can do in our businesses are completely within our control and can be as simple as defining what success looks like to us and being genuine in everything we do.

​Mentioned in the show

Websites: https://pocketknifeconsultant.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Pocketknife-Consultant-111534273969944/

Linked-in: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/cara-sutherland-3209208b

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepocketknifeconsultant/

Episode webpage: https://www.nichetravelbrands.com/podcast-episode-6.html

If you enjoy this episode, please make sure you subscribe to the show. Subscribing is free it just means you’ll  always be the first to hear about new episodes when they’re released. 

Your customers will respect you more when you show you care more about their experience than the money in your pocket. 

​Today’s Guest

In this episode I speak with Chase Boehringer of The Bucketlist Lifestyle & The Bucketlist Adventure.

Chase was a small town guy in Oregon, working long hours as a caregiver and settling in every area of life. When his life was flipped upside down he wrote a bucket list that he used as a blueprint for a life of exhilaration, connection, and adventure. 

Chase became an expert travel hacker and adventure addict, with the passport stamps and scars to prove it!

​You’ll Learn

Some of the topics I covered with Chase include:

• How saying no to customers who aren’t the right fit for your products and services can actually make you more money in the long run.

• How you should put 100% of your knowledge and wisdom out into the world to show your future customers that you are the number one person in your chosen field.

• How your customers and potential customers will respect you more when you show you care more about their experience than the money in your pocket.

What I liked about my conversation with Chase was how he’s taken an idea that was initially beyond his wildest dreams and turned it into a business that he lives and breathes every second of the day.

​Mentioned in the show Websites: www.thebucketlistlifestyle.com / www.thebucketlistadventures.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/chase.boehringer

Linked-in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-boehringer-a3283698

Today’s Guest

In this episode I speak with Shalene Dudley of Latitude Concierge Travels. An Ontario based travel business specialising in destination weddings, honeymoons, babymoons and other speciality group trips. 

Birthdays, anniversaries and reunions, Shalene has seen them all!

She is also part of a select number of people in the world who can call themselves a Walt Disney World Imagineer. Having worked on projects in Walt Disney World resorts, parks and cruise ships.

​You’ll Learn

Some of the topics we covering include:

• How it’s important to get feedback from your clients so you can improve your products and service.

• How turning people away who don't fit your niche frees up more time to serve the clients you want to serve.

• How shared experiences allow you to connect with your clients.

What I liked about my conversation with Shalene is how she has taken ideas and best practice from her previous careers and used them to deliver an outstanding customer experience in her travel business.  

Mentioned in the show

Inside the Magic Kingdom by Thomas K Connellan

Email: shalene@latitudeconciergetravels.com 

Website: www.latitudeconciergetravels.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latitude_concierge_travels/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatConTravels/​

In this episode I speak with Sheree Mitchell, President & Founder of Immersa Global. A boutique inbound tour operator and DMC in Portugal specialising in highly exclusive experiences for the discerning client. Sheree is also known within the industry as a thought-leader and speaks regularly at travel and tourism conferences throughout the U.S. and Europe. If you’re a travel agent responsible for generating leads and enquiries, or you're thinking of going it alone and starting your own travel business, this episode is for you. Some of the topics we covering include:

• Why it’s important that you know your Unique Selling Proposition (USP), what you are offering and what type of clients you want to serve.

• Why you should only sell products and services that you’ve tried, tested and fallen in love with yourself.

• Why having a network of people who trust you and can refer you to others is so much more valuable than the best marketing campaign you can imagine. What I liked about my conversion with Sheree was her simple and practical advice that can be implemented in any travel business of any size. At the end of this episode, make sure you visit our website where you can find the show notes, plus the links mentioned during my conversation with Sheree.

Show webpage: https://www.nichetravelbrands.com/podcast-episode-3.html If you enjoy this episode, please make sure you subscribe to the show. Subscribing is free it just means you’ll  always be the first to hear about new episodes when they’re released. 

In this episode I speak with Cathy Bartrop of Travelguru.tv, a travel promotion and video production specialist. 

We discussed why video content is critical for marketing your travel business and how you can even use Cathy’s videos free of charge to help close sales.

Cathy has a wealth of experience marketing travel brands and an unwavering passion for creating video content that truly brings a destination to life. Cathay can often be found with little more than an iphone, creating travel video content for tourist boards, tour operators and cruise lines.

Cathy's work has appeared on numerous social media platforms and websites including TTG.com, Silver Travel Adviser and telegraph.com.

If you’ve ever thought about using video in your travel business then this episode will be perfect for you. You’ll get the information and tools you need to start creating video content to boost your bookings.

Some of the main topics we covering include: • How you need little more than a mobile phone to start creating video content for your travel business. • Tips and advice for planning and creating videos from your own trips. • The big do’s and don’t for capturing quality video to wow your clients.

What I liked about the interview with Cathy was her passion and knowledge for her industry and her willingness to share her top tips and advice to help you with your own video production. 

At the end of this episode, make sure you visit our website where you can find the show notes, plus the links mentioned during my interview with Cathy.

Show webpage: https://www.nichetravelbrands.com/podcast-episode-2.html

In this episode I speak with Carol Savage of Not In The Guidebooks.

Carol is an entrepreneur and CEO with a track record of starting and growing businesses.

Carol’s previous roles include Global Marketing Director for adventure travel business Exodus Adventures as well as being the first ever entrepreneur to have been offered twice the amount she was asking for on BBC TV show Dragons Den.

Today, Carol is CEO & Founder of Not in the Guidebooks, a global platform bringing together the very best authentic, immersive and responsible travel experiences from cooking classes in Tuscan farmhouses to cycling tours of the Vietnamese mountains, all designed and delivered by local hosts.

We discussed a whole range of things from what most excites her about the future of travel to what character traits have helped her get to where she is today.

If you’re a travel agent running your own business then this episode is perfect for you.

Some of the topics we covered include:

• How now is an ideal time to take stock and refocus.

• How it’s really important to understand what you stand for and what your brand is about.

• Why it’s important to understand your clients intent so that you can serve them better.

What I liked about the interview was how positive about the future Carol is and how she has really practical advice based on her past experiences as a business owner.

At the end of this episode, make sure you visit our website where you can find the show notes, plus the links mentioned during my interview with Carol.