Travel Alliance Partnership

08/07/2024

On this week's solocast, Nicole shares five powerful life lessons she's learned since graduating high school. Listen in as she discusses the importance of adopting appreciation over expectation, choosing faith over fear, managing self-talk, directing focus to cultivate positive energy, practicing radical self-belief, and find out how these life lessons can shape and enhance your personal and professional life, too.

What have you learned since graduating that would you tell your younger self if you could?

Listen here: https://travelalliancepartnership.com/podcasts/solocast-25/

08/02/2024

Every profession involves an element of sales, whether you’re pitching ideas, promoting a service, or selling a product. Understanding the sales funnel is crucial for driving prospects to make buying decisions. This week's blog explores the four main components of an effective sales funnel: Prospecting, Cultivating, Positioning, and Closing.

Read more at: https://travelalliancepartnership.com/four-components-of-the-sales-funnel/

07/31/2024

On this episode of Destination on the Left, Nicole Boyer joins us to discuss why learning how to effectively build relationships leads to business growth. We talk about the importance of being authentic and paying attention to the small details to stay top of mind with potential partners. She also shares more about her Ginger Sales Ninja brand and why you don’t necessarily have to be the loudest person in the room to be great at sales.

Listen now at https://travelalliancepartnership.com/podcasts/nicole-boyer/

07/30/2024

Recently, team member Colleen Onuffer presented alongside other PR professionals for PRSA Rochester's “From Pitch to Placement: Media Relations Wins and Case Studies." The panel shared strategies for securing national and niche placements, with Colleen talking about New York Times article she landed for our client, the Cayuga County Office of Tourism.

07/26/2024

In today’s travel industry, tour guides are more important than ever. Guides who drive business have the responsibility to enhance the travel experience by keeping guests happy, safe and inspired. This is the person who can make or break a trip; therefore, finding the right match for your group is essential.

Read more in this week's blog about what makes today's tour guides successful! https://travelalliancepartnership.com/what-makes-todays-tour-guides-successful/

07/25/2024

Last week, team members Camille Zess and Sarah Imes attended the Destinations International Annual Conference in Tampa, FL. The week was filled with engaging speakers covering current industry trends and issues, informative sessions on various technologies, and of course making wonderful connections with new and old colleagues alike. They also hosted a special dinner for clients and members at Florida’s oldest restaurant!

07/24/2024

On this episode of Destination on the Left, Nicole talks with Nikki Hellyer, Vice President of Marketing at ToursByLocals, about the importance of building a brand from the inside out and why having a purpose and principles that everyone in the company lives by gives your team the freedom to deliver excellent service every time. You’ll also hear more from Nikki about how her company used the pandemic downtime to focus on planning their future growth.

Listen to the full episode here: https://travelalliancepartnership.com/podcasts/nikki-hellyer/

07/22/2024

A big thank you to Tim Cave and ITG Travel for being a platinum sponsor of TAP Dance 2024! We are grateful for your support and the strong relationship we have built together, and love to see our TAP Tour Operators singing the praises of ITG's specialty air services, as an essential component of their group tours. Learn more at itgtravel.net.

07/19/2024

In an era where Travel & Tourism is one of the world’s most dynamic industries, the economic benefits of international travel to the United States are undeniable. This sector not only creates jobs and supports exports but also brings in significant revenue from foreign visitors. While domestic tourism is vital, international travel introduces new money into the U.S. economy, enhancing its impact. Our latest blog covers current international travel trends and strategies to boost international tourism. You can read it here: https://travelalliancepartnership.com/growth-of-international-travel-tourism-trends-in-the-united-states/

07/18/2024

A big thank you to Ann Chamberlin and AmaWaterways for sponsoring TAP Dance 2024! It was so great for our TAP Tour Operators to learn more about these amazing river cruises and the extensive group travel opportunities that they can offer with AmaWaterways. It is always a joy to work together with such a first class company, and to connect with you in person at TAP Dance!

07/17/2024

On this episode of Destination on the Left, Nicole talks with Subramania Bhatt, Founder and CEO of China Trading Desk. We discuss Chinese travel trends and how his company keeps a finger on the pulse of Chinese travelers’ international aspirations. We discuss why the old days of large-group travel are behind them and why they seek authentic experiences in 2024. Subramania walks us through the return of the Chinese traveler and where the top five outbound markets are for them right now.

Listen now at https://travelalliancepartnership.com/podcasts/subramania-bhatt/

07/16/2024

Our CEO Nicole Mahoney recently sat down with Growth Igniters® Radio for a conversation about collaboration and coopetition. Partnering with competitors can be valuable, but it takes a different type of leadership to reach the full potential of these relationships - listen in to learn more!

https://businessadvance.com/growth-igniters-radio/the-keys-to-leading-from-coopetition-to-collaboration-with-nicole-mahoney/

07/12/2024

Through our work on a marketing campaign to create behavior change and promote sustainability, we started with research to understand the best way to inspire change in behavior. We found a five-concept theory presented in a report on boaters’ environmental views and a six-step theory of change published by conservation organization Rare and combined them to form seven steps. These seven steps, or components, are a key part of how we can inspire sustainable tourism through our marketing efforts. Read more at https://buff.ly/3W0g1YH

07/11/2024

Yesterday, team members Colleen and Riley had the opportunity to explore parts of the NYS Birding Trail with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. They got to learn all about birding, explore several parks and trails in Upstate NY, and have some fun with the Merlin ID birding app. They came back with valuable information to use for our work with the NYS Birding Trail and a new appreciation for a hobby that is popular with so many!

07/10/2024

In the latest episode of the show, our guest Debra Fine, a former engineer and author of "The Fine Art of Small Talk," provides insightful advice on making genuine connections through conversation. She shares her insights on the power of showing genuine interest in others, sharing personal experiences, and seeking commonalities.

Debra's practical tips on initiating engaging conversations, asking open-ended questions, and gracefully exiting conversations are a game-changer for anyone looking to improve their networking skills. We also discuss how to exit a conversation gracefully without feeling responsible for someone feeling abandoned and how to show appreciation when ending a conversation. https://buff.ly/4bDAZlW

07/08/2024

Our team had a blast this past week celebrating the holiday weekend and our first Summer Friday of the year! Whether it was on a road trip or just relaxing close to home, we got to enjoy some beautiful weather and quality time with loved ones (humans and pups alike) 🎆

How did you spend your holiday?

07/04/2024

As we take a break this week to celebrate Independence Day, we wish you a celebration full of fun, laughter, warm weather, and making fantastic memories with friends and family. We also hope our Canadian community members had an enjoyable holiday on Monday!

07/03/2024

A big congratulations to TAP Tour Operator Partner Anderson Vacations on their recent win of the Agents Choice Award for Favorite Domestic Tour Operator in Canada! Your dedication to strong relationships with travel advisors and exceptional customer service is outstanding and we are so happy for you!

06/28/2024

How often are you engaging in meaningful, in-person dialogues? More importantly, how effective are you at listening during these interactions? In our fast-paced world, much of our communication has become one-sided. People are quick to share their thoughts but often fail to listen actively. Real understanding comes from listening, not just talking. Our latest blog offers 10 tips to elevate your communication skills with active listening.

Learn more here: https://buff.ly/3zlpKRO

06/26/2024

This week on the show, marketing expert Mary Charleson, President of Five Minute Marketing and founder of Carry On Queen, discusses the power of understanding your audience and how it helps you grow your business. Mary shares her insights on simplifying marketing strategies and understanding the importance of dominant channels. Join us to find out more about the power of focused marketing tactics, aligning what you create with your ideal audiences’ needs, and the value of providing valuable, consistent content.

Mary will also be talking more about why she loves networking and being involved in industry associations, and shares some of the opportunities gained through the connections she has made. Listen here: https://buff.ly/3KZcYuH

06/26/2024

One of the unique benefits of the TAP Dance conference is a post-FAM that is open to both tour operators and suppliers. This is a fantastic opportunity for our members to continue building relationships with each other, as they explore and experience the host destination. Several members of our TAP team recently joined the TAP Dance 2024 post-FAM, and forged deeper connections with many of our TAP tour operators, Guild members, and supplier delegates, while travelling throughout Southern Indiana. They experienced a live candy making demonstration at a historic family owned shop, went on a wildlife safari that included feeding many animals up close and personal, and witnessed an impressive glass art demonstration with some unique techniques - among many other fascinating and scenic stops. The tour finished off with a stay at the historic French Lick Resort and a tour of the equally impressive historic West Baden Resort.

Go SoIN Schimpff's Confectionery

06/24/2024

Our latest blog offers a closer look at the evolution of the DMO and the significant impact they can make through community partnerships. Specifically, we share examples of how showcasing authentic experiences lead to economic development success, the benefits that result from a shift to sustainable destination management and taking on a greater role within the community. https://buff.ly/4c5LZK9

06/20/2024

We are currently revamping our "Best Practices" for hosting travel webinars, and thought this would be a great opportunity to pool the collective wisdom from our brilliant community!

If you do presentations regularly (OR if you are a travel advisor who regularly attends webinars) what are your best tips?

Do you prefer images, text, or video on your PowerPoint slides?

How do you ensure your presentations are engaging, inspiring, and professional?

Do you memorize your presentation, or read from a script? Do you have your camera on or off?

How do you prepare for unexpected tech issues?

We'll compile your advice and share our tips too, and together we can help make sure the travel webinars in our community stand out from the crowd, and show off your destinations and travel products!

06/19/2024

This week on the podcast, we welcome Tiffany Gallagher, Vice President of Operation from Civitas, who empowers destinations with the resources to strengthen economic and community development through innovative funding models. She shares more about creative funding opportunities designed as a benefit-based vehicle to move the travel industry forward.

Tiffany gives us some exclusive insights into the success stories of TID implementation and the game-changing implications of Civitas Pro. We also discuss the Civitas Pro database and why they created a one-stop shop for all data related to funding for DMOs and other organizations that operate tourism programs. https://buff.ly/3Vs3L3a

06/18/2024

At TAP we believe strongly in learning from each other (through connection, community and collaboration), and the Destination on the Left podcast is built on this foundation. Our guests share their challenges and successes, and inspire us each week with their creativity and collaborative projects that are transforming the travel industry. If you would like to share with us, please reach out to schedule an interview with Nicole!

06/14/2024

This week’s blog outlines how we foster connections at TAP to build a strong team. In the blog, we share more information about our company culture, how we make sure our meetings have a purpose, how we build connections through mentoring, and how we utilize light-hearted celebrations to have a strong, tight-knit team even though we work remotely.

Connection creates a productive and efficient workplace. Our company is intentional about fostering connection in these four ways.

06/13/2024

And just like that, another successful TAP Dance is in the books! We had an absolute blast making meaningful connections with all of the TAP partners and members. Stay tuned for even more photos from this exciting week and comment below with your favorite memory from TAP Dance 2024!

06/12/2024

Nicole recently had the pleasure of being featured on the Desuckify Work podcast, where she shared insights on creating a strong company culture, the impact of training and onboarding, and our agency's evolving vision. So, she's excited to share her conversation with TJ Bennett on the show.

They discuss why meetings need a clear agenda, purpose, and defined attendee list and how structured meetings enhance productivity, foster collaboration, and reduce the need for impromptu, confusing gatherings. Nicole also emphasizes the importance of proper training and onboarding for employee confidence and performance and why investing in training and support is so important for creating a positive work experience and boosting business growth.

We invite you to listen to the full episode for our in-depth insights and discussions on creating a purpose-driven work environment and empowering employees across different generations: https://buff.ly/3z9D0sv

06/11/2024

🎈 We are having so much fun soaring to new heights at TAP Dance 2024! It's not just about the breathtaking views—it's about the incredible connections and collaborations happening right here on the ground.

06/10/2024

The wait is over! TAP Dance 2024 is officially underway, and we are so happy to see many of you join us in Southern Indiana for a spectacular celebration of travel, community and collaboration. Be sure to share your snapshots from this week using the hashtag .