Community Conversations on Tourism Partnerships and Collaboration
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I bring together three trailblazers for a candid community conversation about the heart of collaboration in the travel and tourism industry. Joining are Dave Herrell, President and CEO of Visit Quad Cities; Rebecca Mackenzie, President and CEO of the Culinary Tourism Alliance; and Sage Hamilton-Hazarika, Corridor Coordinator…
Using LinkedIn for Authentic Engagement, with Greg Star
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Greg Star, Founder of Driven Authentic Branding Solutions, who shares how he helps destinations stand out using LinkedIn. He discusses why it is important to lean into thought leadership posts both for the company profile and the people who work there. Greg shares some…
Key Insights for a Collaborative 2026, with Nicole Mahoney
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my own year-end planning process. As we look ahead to 2026, I’ll walk you through how I reflect on the past year, celebrating what worked, identifying lessons learned, and checking in on both team and personal well-being. I share everything…
Redesigning Hospitality Through Local Partnerships in Holmes County, with Jason Nies & LaVern Hershberger
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Jason Nies, proprietor of the renowned Inn at Honey Run, and LaVern Hershberger, Vice President of Homestead Furniture. This week’s show takes us to the heart of Ohio’s Amish country, where we dive into a truly unique partnership: The Inn at Honey Run’s iconic…
How to Future-Proof Your Travel Business, with Andrea Ross
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Andrea Ross, Business Advisor & Executive Coach for Travel Entrepreneurs, all about what it takes to build a successful business in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry. She explains why focusing on enterprise value and enterprise health is hugely important and why you should…
Immersive Travel and Community Empowerment, with Florence Li
On this episode of Destination on the Left, Florence Li, Director of International Development for Songtsam Resorts, shares how her family-owned luxury boutique hotel collection has built its reputation by opening hidden doors to remote destinations in Tibet and Yunnan. She explains how Songtsam differentiates itself by offering immersive cultural experiences, empowering local communities through…
Reclaiming Imagination in Business, with Susan Robertson
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Susan Robertson, Possibility Architect at Sharpen Innovation and Harvard instructor. Susan shares why so many of us lose our sense of imagination as we grow up and how we can get it back by embracing curiosity and being open to mistakes. We also discuss…
Helping Tourism Professionals Reach Gen Z Audiences, with Nathan Oyer
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with our summer intern, Nathan Oyer, who’s about to head back to Binghamton University. In this episode, you’ll hear a candid introduction with Nathan about his experiences as a TAP intern, then we’ll dive right into the training session Nathan led for our team. He…
Sacramento’s Farm to Fork and Festival Revolution, with Mike Testa
On this episode of Destination on the Left, Mike Testa, President & CEO of Visit Sacramento, describes how his destination has diversified their focus to include festivals and events, sports, leisure markets, and culinary. He explains how positioning themselves as America’s Farm to Fork Capital has paid dividends, including booking a 10-year contract to host…
The Story Behind Hands Up Holidays’ Ethical Family Adventures, with Christopher Hill
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Christopher Hill, Founder of Hands Up Holidays. Christopher takes us inside his journey from a career in finance to launching a travel company focused on eco-luxury family volunteer vacations. In our conversation, Christopher shares the story behind Hands Up Holidays, and we discuss the…
Collaboration Toolkit
Our first research study confirmed that collaboration is a constant in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. It is not a matter of if, but when and how, organizations will collaborate together. Our latest study reveals how organizations are putting collaboration into operation and how they are setting up systems and processes so that collaboration becomes a strategic part of the organization.
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