The Tourism RESET

Is tourism growing for the sake of growing? Who benefits? And who pays the cost? Just some of the questions we unpack in this episode.This week I sat down with Tina O'Dwyer from Ireland, a renowned strategic advisor in tourism, and one of the few people I've heard put vulnerability and leadership in the same sentence in this industry. Find out why that matters more than you think.Why this is worth a listen:🌍 The three eras of tourism, what the era of navigation means and why you need to know this to make sense of what you're probably feeling right now🌍 Why vulnerability and leadership belong in the same sentence, and what that really means for how we lead🌍 Why someone said to Tina "stewardship is on all our policy documents but we don't know what it means" and why that gap matters more than you thinkIf what you've been hearing on the podcast resonates with you, join us over at thetourismreset.com. On-demand video learning built for tourism pros, teams and students, where the world's leading voices and experts come together on the topics shaping the future of the industry.

Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. My guest today is Dr. Lyla June Johnston, aka Lyla June, an Indigenous musician, author, and activist of Diné nation and European heritage. Lyla’s creativity and passion have engaged audiences around the globe. She blends her study of Human Ecology at Stanford with doctoral research focused on how pre-colonial Indigenous Nations shaped Turtle Island (now called the Americas). Lyla’s wisdom and guidance have completely reshaped how I think about the tourism industry.Here's what you'll discover in this episode:🌍 What Turtle Island really means, and why understanding this is foundational for anyone promoting travel in North America🌍 How generational trauma shapes Indigenous communities, and why tourism professionals and businesses need this context to shape how we see the world🌍 Three key challenges Indigenous communities face, and how tourism done right can support regeneration rather than extraction🌍 The critical Indigenous principles of solidarity and reciprocityEnjoyed listening? Visit thetourismreset.com, on-demand video learning for tourism pros. A great place to begin is the 5 Minute Reset series, (one expert, one topic, less than five mins).

Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. My guests today are Vitória and Alex, mother and son from Cristalino Lodge, a world leading ecotourism lodge in the Southern Amazon, Brazil.What began as a deep knowing for Vitoria grew into Cristalino Lodge, now safeguarding 11,399 hectares of rainforest (equal in size to two Manhattans). It's a world-leading research hotspot, a sanctuary of immense biodiversity, and a living classroom where over 13,000 children have explored its trails.Enjoyed listening? Visit thetourismreset.com, on-demand video learning for tourism pros, covering the topics shaping your industry. A great place to begin is the 5 Minute Reset, one expert, one topic, less than five minutes!

Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. My next guest is Dr Freya Higgins-Desbiolles, an academic powerhouse and author who's spent her career advancing justice in tourism. Freya helped create the Code of Conduct for Tourism in the Holy Land, she's co-authored books on climate justice and community empowerment, and she's working with communities worldwide to reimagine what's possible. Here's what you'll discover in this episode:🌍 Why Freya believes traditional tourism has been hijacked and by whom🌍 Why community-owned AND community-led aren't the same as community-based 🌍 Real world examples where local communities are self-determining their futures🌍 How to inform yourself. Understand what you're missing. Then choose a pathway.Enjoyed listening? Visit thetourismreset.com, on-demand video learning for tourism pros, covering the topics shaping your industry. A great place to begin is the 5 Minute Reset, one expert, one topic, less than five minutes!

Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. My guests today are Alessandra Alonso, award-winning founder of Women in Travel CIC - named one of 50 most important women in travel by Wanderlust AND Florbela, a tour guide. For two decades, Alessandra has been championing women in tourism. It started when she noticed she was always the only woman in the boardroom. Women are 54% of tourism's workforce, yet rarely are they in decision-making roles (even today). So, she built the Tour Guiding Academy to change that. It trains women like Florbela, who at almost 50 reinvented herself as a tour guide fuelled by passion, cultural heritage, and storytelling.Here's what you'll discover in this episode:🌍 "There is a lot of talent still totally invisible to industry" - where we're missing out 🌍 Alessandra's journey: from being the only woman in every boardroom to building an academy that transforms lives🌍 Why curiosity matters: "Don't do things how they've always been done"Enjoyed listening? Visit thetourismreset.com, on-demand video learning for tourism pros, covering the topics shaping your industry. A great place to begin is the 5 Minute Reset, one expert, one topic, less than five minutes!

Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. Today's guests isJeremy Sampson, CEO of The Travel Foundation. Here's what you'll hear in this episode:🌍 "All we want is a hill to die on, and if we die on that hill, so be it." (6:00 mins)🌍 "I actually walked into the interview thinking The Travel Foundation was TUI's non-profit... it left the Travel Foundation in a precarious position" (9:00 mins)🌍 "It doesn't feel right and it doesn't feel fair..." (28:03 mins)🌍 "Adaptation doesn't inspire anyone. Crisis is an endpoint to create something new" (31:30 mins)Enjoyed listening? Visit thetourismreset.com, on-demand video learning for tourism pros, covering the topics shaping your industry. A great place to begin is the 5 Minute Reset, one expert, one topic, less than five minutes!

Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. Today I sit down with three incredible women, all chiefs of impact and heads of sustainability from major travel companies.Hear from Sara King from Intrepid Travel, Shannon Guihan from The Travel Corporation, and Kasia Morgan from Exodus Adventure Travels, part of the Travelopia group, as we discuss the misconceptions surrounding their roles, why communication is critical to driving change and touch on climate anxiety and pet peeves that come with the territory.Enjoyed listening? Visit thetourismreset.com, on-demand video learning for tourism pros, covering the topics shaping your industry. A great place to begin is the 5 Minute Reset, one expert, one topic, less than five minutes!

Behind every great travel or tourism business, no matter the size is someone who asks better questions, takes consistent action, and refuses to choose between profit and purpose. In this episode, I sat down with Helen Bateman, founder of Firecrest Travel, a UK-based boutique agency with transformative travel and adventure at its heart.Enjoyed listening? Visit thetourismreset.com, on-demand video learning for tourism pros, covering the topics shaping your industry. A great place to begin is the 5 Minute Reset, one expert, one topic, less than five minutes!

Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. Today, I’m joined by the inspiring Thomas Newmark for a deep dive into the C word! Carbon. Tom is the Co-owner of Finca Luna Nueva Lodge, who is leading the way in regenerative farming and tourism in not only Costa Rica, but the world. A seasoned expert and public speaker. Previously the chair of the Greenpeace Fund of the United States. Board chair of the American Botanical Council. And Co‑founder and Board Chair of the Soil Carbon Initiative. Thomas brings decades of wisdom, and he’s not afraid to challenge the status quo. Enjoyed listening? Visit thetourismreset.com, on-demand video learning for tourism pros, covering the topics shaping your industry. A great place to begin is the 5 Minute Reset, one expert, one topic, less than five minutes!

Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. Today I’m chatting with Jonathan Coleman, CEO of Untours, the world’s first B Corp company. In this episode we dive into the fascinating founding story of Untours and the radical vision of its founder Hal Taussig. As well as what most people don’t realise about how private foundations often work. This episode pulls back the curtain on the traditional model of philanthropy and how Untours Foundation flips the script.Enjoyed listening? Visit thetourismreset.com, on-demand video learning for tourism pros, covering the topics shaping your industry. A great place to begin is the 5 Minute Reset, one expert, one topic, less than five minutes!

Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. This week’s episode is a special one, as we join the global celebration of World Female Ranger Week, a powerful movement founded by my friend, Holly Budge.Today I'm joined by Dr. Sonali Ghosh, the first-ever female Field Director of Kaziranga National Park in India. Dr. Ghosh is the 2024 recipient of the World Female Ranger Trailblazer Award for her groundbreaking work, including the creation of an all-female rhino protection unit and leading the park to its first-ever zero-poaching year. Enjoyed listening? Visit thetourismreset.com, on-demand video learning for tourism pros, covering the topics shaping your industry. A great place to begin is the 5 Minute Reset, one expert, one topic, less than five minutes!

Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. My guest today is a professor of Sustainability Marketing at the University of Surrey. Dr. Xavier Font has served as an advisor to some of the world's biggest travel brands including, Booking.com, Google, Expedia, Skyscanner, and TripAdvisor where he uses his research experience to inform efforts that can ultimately influence travellers and therefore contribute more positively to the places they visit.Tune in to learn about...The unfiltered truth about what matters to your customers (5:07 mins)Why the language we use matters, & what green hushing is (11:37 mins)Why 50% of British & German travellers felt information overload (16.34 mins)Beyond blame: A smarter way to engage travellers, with a hotel example (29:31)Enjoyed listening? Visit thetourismreset.com, on-demand video learning for tourism pros, covering the topics shaping your industry. A great place to begin is the 5 Minute Reset, one expert, one topic, less than five minutes!

Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. Today's guest is an award-winning producer and director of wildlife documentaries for BBC, Apple TV+, National Geographic, and Discovery.In an incredibly rare interview, Joe Stevens shares his journey of being inspired by Sir David Attenborough, to later working with him in the Galapagos, as well as why filming the world’s largest savannah has become one of his most important missions to date.Tune in to uncover:Why the world's most biodiverse savannah's is often overlooked by tourism prosHow ecotourism can be a catalyst for conservation with a powerful exampleJoe's journey to becoming a wildlife filmmaker & working with David AttenboroughThe transformative potential of tourism in safeguarding biodiversity in BrazilEnjoyed listening? Visit thetourismreset.com, on-demand video learning for tourism pros, covering the topics shaping your industry. A great place to begin is the 5 Minute Reset, one expert, one topic, less than five minutes!

Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. My next guest is the Author of the memoir 'The Mindful Traveller' and the sustainable travel handbook Go Lightly. Having worked as a travel writer for over a decade, Nina Karnikowski writes about travel that can help solve social and environmental problems.Tune in to discover...Why it's time to redefine luxury - not as excess, but as impact and connectionHow mindful travel can lead to more meaningful, memorable experiencesHow facing our biggest fears leads to incredible opportunities and growthSlower travel, Nina's best experiences to help inspire your own trip designsEnjoyed listening? Visit thetourismreset.com, on-demand video learning for tourism pros, covering the topics shaping your industry. A great place to begin is the 5 Minute Reset, one expert, one topic, less than five minutes!

Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. My guest today is the founder and CEO of Wanderful, a sisterhood of more than 45,000 solo women travellers across the globe and content creators. Beth Santos is also the creator of the WITS Travel Creator Summit, a leading event for women and gender diverse travel creators. In this episode, discover...Who makes 85% of travel purchasing decisionsThe myths to bust about who can travel and the questions we need to askHow to empower more women to discover places for themselves, by themselvesEnjoyed listening? Visit thetourismreset.com, on-demand video learning for tourism pros. A great place to begin is the 5 Minute Reset, one expert, one topic, less than five minutes!

Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. My next guest is a trained beekeeper and Intrepid Travel's B Corp Impact Manager. In her spare time Rochelle Turner is the co-chair of Travel by B Corp UK, and is a trustee of the Travel Foundation.In this episode, discover...What it means to be a B Corp travel business. The good, as well as the challenges Why governance is crucial for accountability and purpose-driven businessHow tourism can uplift marginalised communities and womenWhy 'good' business can be profitable and much moreEnjoyed listening? Visit thetourismreset.com, on-demand video learning for tourism pros. A great place to begin is the 5 Minute Reset, one expert, one topic, less than five minutes!

Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. My next guest is Justin Francis, the Chair of Responsible Travel, named the world’s first and largest travel company dedicated to responsible tourism. Co-founding the World Responsible Tourism Awards, Justin's vision and hard work has fundamentally changed the industry in countless ways. In this episode, discover...Justin's fascinating story and journey to becoming a pioneer of responsible tourismWhy we should feel 'fabulous' about working within tourism as a great connectorWhy regulation is crucial for addressing aviation's carbon emissionsEnjoyed listening? Visit thetourismreset.com, on-demand video learning for tourism pros. A great place to begin is the 5 Minute Reset, one expert, one topic, less than five minutes!

Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. Today's guest is an award-winning writer and strategist with 25 years of experience in tourism and climate action. Jeremy Smith, is the author of 'Transforming Travel' and 'Clean Breaks, 500 Ways to See the World', he was the co-founder of Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency, and is the co-author of the UN Tourism-led Glasgow Declaration for Climate Action in Tourism. In this episode, discover...How storytelling can help us all address climate anxietyHow Jeremy inspired 100's of travel companies to create a climate action planWhy my guest said "this is the first time I've ever talked publicly on this.."Enjoyed listening? Visit thetourismreset.com, on-demand video learning for tourism pros. A great place to begin is the 5 Minute Reset, one expert, one topic, less than five minutes!

Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. Today's guest is Thomas Turcich, who completed a seven-year journey walking across thirty-eight countries with his adopted pup, Savanna. He's the 10th person to walk around the world, walking a mind-blowing 28,000 miles. In this episode, discover...What inspired Tom to spend 7 years walking around the worldWhy walking is the ONLY way to truly see a place, whatever the destinationThe realisation Tom had of passport privilege during the journeyWhy it's worth checking out his book World WalkEnjoyed listening? Visit thetourismreset.com, on-demand video learning for tourism pros. A great place to begin is the 5 Minute Reset, one expert, one topic, less than five minutes!

Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. Today I have the inspiring Rachel Levy joining me, an award-winning filmmaker, writer and photojournalist based in Alaska whose work lies at the intersections of environmental justice, modern colonialism, and sustainable tourism.In this episode, learn about...Tourism leakage and colonial frameworks in the safari industry in TanzaniaThe dark side of the safari industry and how to best navigate a responsible tripHow to begin to turn the tide on the pervasive economic leakage and exploitationEnjoyed listening? Visit thetourismreset.com, on-demand video learning for tourism pros. A great place to begin is the 5 Minute Reset, one expert, one topic, less than five minutes.