Unveiling the Power of PR: Standardization, Value, and Advocacy in the Travel Industry, with Claire Koenig
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Claire Koenig about her role as Co-Chair of the Destinations International PR and Communications Committee. We discuss in detail the creation of the Public Relations Measurement Guidelines Handbook. Claire also shares the upcoming priorities of the Committee, including an update to the Crisis Handbook,…
Collaborating for Community: Mayor Carlos Duffey and Ike English Discuss the Creeks Trail System in Jackson, Georgia
On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with two amazing guests, Mayor Carlos Duffey of Jackson, Georgia, and Ike English of the Dauset Trails Nature Center, both of whom played a pivotal role in the Creeks Trail System and Butts County’s recent recognition with the Trailblazers Award from the Georgia CVB Association….
Turning a Food Tour into a Tourism Experience, with Bonnie Hayes and Debra Smith
Bonnie Hayes is the Director for Tourism Development for the City of Thomasville, a position she has held for seven years and thoroughly enjoys. Before working for the City, Bonnie was teaching Video Broadcast in the Thomasville School System as well as being the on-air host of Thomasville Today, a local event-focused TV program. Many…
Navigating the Visitor Economy, with Josiah Brown
Josiah Brown’s mission in life is to “Inspire people forward.” After traveling 750,000+ miles promoting New York State as a travel destination and the industry that supports it, the New York Sherpa has a few stories to tell… On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Josiah Brown about the trends and…
Collaboration as a Business Strategy: Insights from Industry Leaders, with Susan Baier
A marketing strategist for over 30 years, Susan Baier founded Audience Audit in 2009 to help organizations understand their best audiences based on attitudes and needs rather than just demographics or purchase behavior. She develops custom segmentation research for marketers and agencies around the world, supporting their efforts to create marketing initiatives that are more…
Legacy Travel — a Fresh Perspective, with Rick Antonson
Travel writer and historian Rick Antonson has traveled on trains through twenty-eight American states, across nine Canadian provinces, and in more than thirty-five countries. He is co-author of a book of railway stories, Whistle Posts West: Railway Tales From British Columbia, Alberta, and Yukon. He and his two sons, Brent and Sean, circumnavigated the Northern…
Exploring the World of Culinary and Agri-Tourism, with Rebecca Mackenzie
Passionate about the interconnection between food, agriculture, tourism, arts, and culture, Rebecca has been instrumental in developing tourism products, including Prince Edward County’s award-winning Taste Trail & Arts Trail and the Culinary Tourism Alliance’s Feast On® certification program. In her role at the Culinary Tourism Alliance (CTA), Rebecca manages highly participatory and asset-based community development…
Discovering Georgia’s Tourism Highlights: Insights from the Georgia CVB’s Conference, with Nicole Mahoney
Break the Ice Media team members Rhonda Carges and Brittany Lynn attended the Georgia CVB’s annual conference and discovered a wealth of inspirational stories and ideas that the state has to offer. With a positive momentum coming off of a strong 2022, there is a lot of optimism for a bright future in Georgia tourism….
Discovering the Stories of the Great Lakes Bay Region, with Michael Hensley
Michael Hensley was born and raised just outside of Detroit in Warren, Michigan. He studied at Saginaw Valley State University for four years and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2017. After graduating, he stayed in the Great Lakes Bay Region to promote the region to tourists. He now serves as the Travel Marketing…
Navigating Mergers and Acquisitions: Why Making Your Customer the North Star is Key, with Jennifer J Fondrevay
Jennifer J Fondrevay is the founder of Day1 Ready™, a consultancy that advises forward-thinking business leaders, owners, and C-Suite executives on how to prepare for the human capital challenges of M&A. As a Fortune 500 C-Suite “survivor” of three multibillion-dollar acquisitions, Jennifer has been on all sides of the deal equation. She saw countless growth…