Tourism Matters

Carmen Bold
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Tourism Matters explores careers, capability and the people shaping the tourism industry. Host Carmen Bold speaks with professionals, leaders and educators from across the sector about how they built their careers, the lessons they’ve learned along the way, and where the industry is heading next. The podcast offers insight for anyone working in tourism, considering a career in the industry, or responsible for developing the next generation of talent.

  1. Aug 12

    Jason Gelineau on Luxury Cruise, Guest Experience and the Power of Your Network

    Join Carmen as she chats with Jason Gelineau, a cruise and tourism industry leader with more than 30 years of global experience, including 24 years working at sea. Jason shares how a teenage taste of Caribbean resort life sparked a career that would take him through hotels, luxury cruising, residential ships and senior leadership roles with brands including Silversea, Oceania Cruises, Seabourn, MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys. They talk about guest experience, life at sea, building Explora Journeys from a blank sheet of paper, and the role that relationships, reputation, curiosity and saying yes have played throughout Jason’s career. Today, through JAG Hospitality, Jason works across cruise, tourism and hospitality, connecting people and championing the industry. Subscribe to the Tourism Matters Newsletter What You’ll Take Away Why relationships and professional reputation can compound across an entire careerThe value of learning beyond your current role and cross-training before the next opportunity appearsWhy empathy is such an important part of tourism and hospitalityWhat Jason learned from more than two decades working at seaHow luxury guest expectations differ from other parts of the cruise marketWhat it takes to create a new luxury cruise experience from a blank sheet of paperWhy you don’t always need to feel completely ready before saying yesThe importance of mentoring, community and giving back to the next generation of tourism professionalsAbout Jason Gelineau Jason Gelineau is a cruise and tourism industry leader with more than 30 years of global experience, including 24 years working at sea across luxury, residential and contemporary cruise brands. His career has included senior roles with Explora Journeys, Seabourn, Oceania Cruises, Silversea, The World of ResidenSea and MSC Cruises. Today, Jason is Principal of JAG Hospitality, Seatrade Cruise Ambassador for Guest Experience and Wellness, Vice President of Skål International Perth, and a Featured Voice with The Forum by Forbes Travel Guide. He works with tourism, cruise and hospitality brands across guest experience, product development, wellness, luxury retail, destination strategy and industry engagement. Links & Organisations Mentioned Jason Gelineau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonagelineau/ The Forum by Forbes Travel Guide: https://theforum.forbestravelguide.com/team-member/jason-gelineau/ Seatrade Cruise: https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ Skål International: https://skal.org/ Princess Cruises: https://www.princess.com/ Silversea: https://www.silversea.com/ The World, Residences at Sea: https://aboardtheworld.com/ Oceania Cruises: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/ Seabourn: https://www.seabourn.com/ MSC Cruises: https://www.msccruises.com.au/ Explora Journeys: https://explorajourneys.com/au/en Coral Expeditions: https://www.coralexpeditions.com/ Episode Chapters 00:00 — Meet Jason Gelineau 04:50 — Growing up in Ottawa and discovering hospitality in Jamaica 10:13 — Starting in hospitality and learning the business from the ground up 15:04 — From Whistler to his first job at sea 19:56 — Guest service, empathy and understanding the traveller 24:11 — Building a career at sea and moving into luxury cruising 29:32 — Life aboard The World, a pioneering residential ship 32:56 — Oceania Cruises and stepping into senior leadership 38:39 — Facing a piracy emergency at sea 40:47 — Leaving cruise life and starting a Perth food truck 42:59 — MSC Cruises and the move into corporate development 45:32 — Building Explora Journeys from a blank sheet of paper 47:17 — Reputation, relationships and the opportunities they create 50:29 — JAG Hospitality, industry connection and Jason’s version of semi-retirement 55:05 — Mentoring, giving back and advice for the next generation Stay Connected with Tourism Matters If you work in tourism, subscribe to the Tourism Matters Newsletter. Carmen shares ideas to help tourism businesses and their people do better work, along with tourism jobs, events, learning opportunities and useful ways to connect across the industry. Follow Tourism Matters wherever you listen to podcasts, and connect with Carmen Bold on LinkedIn.

    Jason Gelineau on Luxury Cruise, Guest Experience and the Power of Your Network

  2. Jul 29

    The Business of Tourism - Alex Dykman on building Maverick Tourism, assembling a great team and digital change

    Join Carmen as she chats with Alex Dykman, founder of Maverick Tourism and Grow Tourism, about entrepreneurship and the business of tourism. Alex’s tourism career began with a chance conversation over drinks and an entry-level role with Tourism New Zealand. A few years later, several freelance projects completed while travelling through South America planted the seed for Maverick Tourism. After returning to New Zealand at the age of 24, Alex gave herself six months to turn those early projects into a viable business. More than a decade later, Maverick Tourism has grown into a team of 12, working with leading tourism businesses across New Zealand and beyond. Alex shares how Maverick found its place helping tourism operators grow direct sales, why bringing the right business partner into the company transformed what it could deliver, and how referrals, relationships and strong results fuelled its growth. The conversation also explores Maverick’s approach to recruitment and its “no dickheads” policy, why cultural fit matters alongside technical capability, and how a strong employer brand can help smaller tourism businesses attract and retain talented people. Alex also explains how industry conversations during New Zealand tourism’s recovery from COVID led her to launch Grow Tourism, an industry-led learning platform designed to provide more dynamic and relevant workforce development. Carmen and Alex discuss flexible work, employee experience, tourism career pathways, digital distribution and the rapid changes AI is creating for tourism marketing. It is an open and practical conversation about backing yourself, recognising genuine market needs, building a business around good people and continuing to evolve as the tourism industry changes. WHAT YOU’LL TAKE AWAY FROM THIS EPISODE How a chance conversation led Alex from journalism into tourismWhy early roles within destination organisations can provide valuable exposure to the wider tourism industryHow freelance tourism marketing projects became the foundation of Maverick TourismWhy Alex gave herself six months to prove the business could become viableHow face-to-face relationships and word-of-mouth referrals helped Maverick growWhy bringing complementary skills into a business can completely change its trajectoryHow Maverick approaches recruitment, cultural fit and its “no dickheads” policyWhy employer brand matters for tourism businesses that cannot compete solely on salaryPractical ways flexible work can help attract and retain talented peopleHow Grow Tourism emerged from industry conversations about workforce attraction, development and retentionWhy digital strategy and distribution are no longer optional for tourism operatorsHow AI and changing search behaviour are reshaping tourism marketingAlex’s advice for anyone considering taking an entrepreneurial leapABOUT ALEX DYKMAN Alex Dykman is the kiwi founder of Maverick Tourism and Grow Tourism, a mum of 3 and a passionate advocate for all things tourism and visitor economy. Maverick is her first business baby – a dedicated tourism marketing agency that has been helping tourism operators and destinations make the most of the digital space for more than 12 years. Alex and the team works with brands across the South Pacific and North America, combining big-picture thinking with a hands-on understanding of the stuff that actually moves the needle when it comes to visibility, direct sales and distribution. More recently, Alex launched Grow Tourism, a new venture focused on transforming the way tourism trains and develops its workforce. Grow is all about modern, practical, bite-sized learning that feels exciting and far from stuffy; helping operators better grow and retain their people - powering industry forward in the process. Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adykman/ Learn more about Maverick Tourism: https://maverick-tourism.com/ Learn more about Grow Tourism: https://growtourism.com/ ORGANISATIONS REFERENCED Tourism New Zealand: https://www.tourismnewzealand.com/ NewZealand.com: https://www.newzealand.com/ Queenstown Resort College: https://www.qrc.ac.nz/ Tourism Industry Aotearoa: https://www.tia.org.nz/ ZAC WATSON TOURISM MATTERS EPISODE Carmen also spoke with Maverick Tourism General Manager Zac Watson about his tourism career, leadership and the journey that led him to Maverick. Listen to the conversation with Zac Watson: https://www.carmenbold.com/tourism-matters-podcast/zac-watson EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction 01:14 – Meet Alex Dykman 05:37 – Alex’s early years and career ambitions 07:19 – The conversation that led Alex into tourism 13:12 – Travelling to South America and starting Maverick Tourism 17:30 – Giving the business six months to succeed 20:05 – Finding Maverick’s place in the tourism market 23:23 – The hire that changed the trajectory of the business 29:16 – Recruitment, cultural fit and the no dickheads policy 33:19 – Building a strong employer brand 38:16 – How Grow Tourism began 48:09 – Flexible work and retaining talented people 52:37 – AI, digital change and the future of tourism marketing 57:13 – Alex’s advice to her younger self 59:40 – Carmen’s key takeaways

    The Business of Tourism - Alex Dykman on building Maverick Tourism, assembling a great team and digital change

  3. Jul 8

    Molly Dobbins: Connecting Classrooms to Tourism Careers

    Episode Description Join Carmen as she speaks with Molly Dobbins, Tourism and Hospitality Gateway to Industry Schools Program Coordinator at the Queensland Tourism Industry Council. Molly is passionate about empowering the next generation of tourism and hospitality professionals by connecting students, educators and industry. In her role, she works closely with Queensland schools to help students better understand the breadth, depth and opportunity that exists across tourism, hospitality and events. In this conversation, Carmen and Molly discuss how we can do a much better job of showing young people, and their parents, that tourism is a genuine, rewarding and long-term career path. They also explore the importance of getting students out of the classroom and into real tourism businesses, where they can see and experience the people, pathways and possibilities that exist across the industry. Molly also shares her own tourism career journey, from studying tourism in high school to working with operators, writing award submissions, contracting with small tourism businesses and now advocating for the next generation through her work with QTIC. What You’ll Take Away Why tourism is often still seen as a “while you figure life out” job, rather than a long-term career pathwayHow consistent language could help students, parents and educators better understand tourism career opportunitiesWhy hands-on industry experiences are so important for attracting young people into the sectorThe role parents play in shaping young people’s perceptions of tourism and hospitality careersHow schools and industry can work together to build stronger career pipelinesWhy attitude, curiosity and willingness to learn still matter so much to tourism operatorsHow foundational workplace skills, including communication, customer service and reliability, can be taught and developedWhy entrepreneurship should also be part of the tourism careers conversationAbout Molly Dobbins Molly Dobbins is the Tourism and Hospitality Gateway to Industry Schools Program Coordinator at the Queensland Tourism Industry Council. Through her work, Molly helps connect Queensland schools with the tourism, hospitality and events industries, supporting students and educators to better understand the career pathways available across the sector. Having studied tourism herself in high school before going on to complete a double degree in business management and international hotel and tourism management, Molly brings both personal experience and industry insight to her work. Her career has included roles with Tourism Tribe, Fun Over 50 Holidays, award writing, marketing support for small tourism businesses, and now workforce and education advocacy through QTIC. Molly is passionate about helping young people see tourism as an industry full of purpose, people, passion and possibility. Connect with Molly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-dobbins-125b86168/ Connect with Carmen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmen-bold/ Organisations Referenced Queensland Tourism Industry Council: qtic.com.auGateway to Industry Schools Program: dtet.qld.gov.au/training/employers/gateway-schoolsUniversity of Queensland: uq.edu.auTourism Tribe: tourismtribe.comFun Over 50 Holidays: funover50holidays.com.auParadise Resort Gold Coast: paradiseresort.com.auQueensland Tourism Awards: qtic.com.au/queensland-tourism-awardsEpisode Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Molly Dobbins 03:01 Molly’s journey into tourism education 05:52 Studying tourism and business during COVID-19 08:53 Building networks and saying yes to opportunities 12:00 Entering the industry during a challenging time 14:55 Entry-level roles and learning how tourism businesses operate 18:00 Molly’s current role connecting schools and industry 21:03 Barriers to young people seeing tourism as a career 22:40 The importance of engaging parents in tourism career conversations 24:29 Wages, awareness and other barriers to tourism careers 26:32 Why tourism needs more consistent career language 28:20 Showing the fun, purpose and possibility of tourism 30:35 Building stronger relationships between education and industry 32:30 Creating hands-on experiences for students 34:25 What operators are saying about young workers 36:50 Teaching foundational workplace skills 40:22 Encouraging entrepreneurship in tourism 42:40 Tourism, small business and the future of the industry

    Molly Dobbins: Connecting Classrooms to Tourism Careers

  4. Jun 18

    James Coughlan: 25 years in cruise, from galley to gangway and into the world of entrepreneurship

    Join Carmen as she speaks with James Coughlan, founder of Shorex Australia, about his 25-year journey through the cruise industry. James began his career as a chef, working in high-pressure kitchens before joining Crystal Cruises and stepping into life at sea. What started in the galley eventually led him into shore excursions, where he discovered a new side of the cruise industry: guest experience, destination knowledge, local operators and the complex world that sits just beyond the gangway. In this episode, James shares what cruise ship life taught him about standards, service and resilience, and how saying yes to opportunities shaped his career. He also talks about the shift from ship life to shore-side roles, the impact of COVID on the cruise and tourism sector, and the decision to launch Shorex Australia in 2023. This conversation is a fascinating look inside cruise tourism, but it is also a story about career evolution, backing yourself, building trust, and understanding the value of local tourism experiences. What you’ll take away What life on board cruise ships can teach you about standards, service and resilienceHow James moved from chef to shore excursions and built a long-term career in cruise tourismWhy saying yes, staying open and building relationships can change the direction of your careerWhat shore excursions are and how they connect cruise lines with local tourism operatorsWhy destination knowledge and guest trust are so important in delivering great visitor experiencesWhat James learned from moving from employee to business ownerWhy Shorex Australia is focused on local relationships, sustainable growth and understanding each destination properlyWhat tourism operators need to know if they want to work with the cruise industryAbout James James Coughlan is the founder of Shorex Australia and has spent around 25 years working across the cruise and tourism industry. His career began in hospitality and commercial kitchens, including time at Bathers’ Pavilion in Sydney, before he joined Crystal Cruises as a chef. While working at sea, James moved from the galley into shore excursions, where he discovered the world of destination experiences, guest service and cruise operations. After more than a decade at sea, James transitioned into shore-side cruise operations and spent many years working with inbound cruise programs across Australia. In 2023, he launched Shorex Australia, a locally focused business delivering shore excursion programs and destination experiences for cruise lines visiting Australia. James brings deep practical knowledge of cruise tourism, local product development, guest experience and the importance of building strong relationships across the industry. Connect with James on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-coughlan/ Discover more about Shorex Australia: https://www.shorexaustralia.com Organisations and resources referenced Shorex Australia: https://www.shorexaustralia.comCrystal Cruises: https://www.crystalcruises.comBathers’ Pavilion: https://www.batherspavilion.com.auTAFE NSW: https://www.tafensw.edu.auIntercruises: https://www.intercruises.comCLIA Australasia: https://www.cruising.org.auAustralian Cruise Association: https://www.australiancruiseassociation.comUnreasonable Hospitality: https://www.unreasonablehospitality.comEpisode chapters 00:00 Introduction and tourism operator call-out 01:31 Welcome James Coughlan 03:38 James’ early life, first jobs and chef apprenticeship 07:49 Learning high standards in professional kitchens 09:54 Joining Crystal Cruises and life at sea 15:14 Moving from chef to shore excursions 17:14 What shore excursions are and how they work 20:07 Destination knowledge, guest trust and service excellence 25:55 Career progression, leadership and knowing when to move on 35:43 Transitioning from ship life to shore-side cruise operations 42:43 COVID, industry change and seeing a new opportunity 47:48 Launching Shorex Australia and backing himself 53:55 What Shorex Australia does differently 59:29 The next stage of growth, including a new Cairns rainforest experience 1:02:27 Advice for tourism operators wanting to work with cruise 1:05:52 Carmen’s closing reflections

    James Coughlan: 25 years in cruise, from galley to gangway and into the world of entrepreneurship

  5. Jun 11

    Stephen Ekstrom: Learning, Storytelling and Better Tourism Experiences

    EPISODE DESCRIPTION This week on Tourism Matters, I sit down with Stephen Ekstrom, CEO, co-founder and self-described nerd whisperer at Learn Tourism. Learn Tourism is a non-profit academy creating smart, immersive learning and promotional experiences for tourism professionals, destination marketers, trade associations and communities around the world. This conversation takes a slightly different path from the usual Tourism Matters format. It is open, thoughtful and wide-ranging, touching on sustainable tourism, economic viability, storytelling, workforce development, career pathways, AI, frontline teams and the role of human connection in great visitor experiences. Stephen and I explore what sustainability really means in tourism, not just environmentally, but socially, culturally and economically. We also talk about why tourism businesses need to be commercially sound, why learning should sit at the heart of strong tourism teams, and why storytelling can completely change the way visitors experience a place. We also get into one of my favourite topics: tourism careers. Why do so many people fall into this industry rather than intentionally choose it? Why do we lose talented people? And how can we help people see the skills, pathways and possibilities available in tourism? WHAT YOU’LL TAKE AWAY FROM THIS EPISODE • Why sustainable tourism must include people, place and profitability • Why economic viability matters for tourism operators • How learning and professional development can strengthen tourism teams • Why tourism careers often have a visibility and perception problem • How transferable skills shape tourism career pathways • What AI can and cannot replace in tourism • Why human connection is still central to great visitor experiences • How storytelling helps visitors feel more connected to a place • Why frontline teams need appreciation, empowerment and licence to create memorable moments • Stephen’s career journey and the creation of Learn Tourism ABOUT STEPHEN Stephen Ekstrom is the CEO and co-founder of Learn Tourism, a non-profit academy supporting tourism professionals, destination marketers, trade associations and communities through immersive learning experiences. Stephen has worked across sales, product development, consulting, attractions, experiences and destination development. His work has taken him into communities and destinations across North America and beyond, helping tourism organisations think differently about learning, visitor experience, economic development and sustainable tourism. CONNECTING WITH STEPHEN Learn Tourism: https://learntourism.org Stephen Ekstrom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenekstrom/ CONNECT WITH CARMEN Website: https://www.carmenbold.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmenbold/ EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction and setting the scene 01:37 Sustainable tourism and community engagement 02:15 Economic viability in tourism 05:10 Learning and growth in the tourism industry 08:03 Personal journeys in tourism 13:47 The importance of authenticity and connection 19:19 Career pathways in tourism 22:42 The role of AI in tourism 25:19 Storytelling in tourism 28:16 Engaging frontline staff in storytelling 32:22 Appreciation, empowerment and guest experience 36:58 Personal stories of kindness and hospitality 38:48 Career highlights and the birth of Learn Tourism

    Stephen Ekstrom: Learning, Storytelling and Better Tourism Experiences

  6. May 27

    Solo Episode: Tourism Careers Have a PR Problem

    Episode Description In this first solo episode of Tourism Matters, prompted by a question asked of her on LinkedIn, Carmen Bold explores one of the biggest challenges facing the tourism industry: how do we attract more people into tourism careers when so many of those careers are still invisible from the outside? Carmen shares her thoughts on why tourism has a PR problem, why the industry needs to do a better job of showing the breadth of roles available, and why career conversations need to reach far beyond tourism students and people already inside the sector. She also reflects on the value of education, the importance of lived experience, and the flexibility that makes tourism such a powerful and adaptable career path. This episode is a call to stop talking about tourism careers in narrow, outdated ways and start showing people what the industry really offers. What You’ll Take Away From This Episode  Why tourism careers are still poorly understood by many people outside the industry  The need to broaden awareness beyond travel agents, flight attendants and tour guides  Why tourism education is valuable, but not the only pathway into the industry  How tourism can offer serious, rewarding and life-changing career experiences  Why flexibility is one of tourism’s greatest strengths  The importance of keeping good people in the industry, not just attracting new ones  Why workplaces need to support, develop and retain their teams About Carmen Bold Carmen Bold is the host of Tourism Matters and a Tourism Workforce & Industry Capability Specialist. With more than 25 years’ experience across tourism operations, frontline delivery, events, destination management, industry development, partnerships, workforce capability and entrepreneurship, Carmen brings a practical, real-world lens to conversations about the future of tourism. Her work focuses on tourism careers, workforce development, operator capability and the role people play in delivering standout visitor experiences. Organisations Referenced Carmen Bold on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmenbold/ Carmen Bold Website:  https://carmenbold.com Episode Chapters  00:00 Introduction to Tourism Careers  01:52 The Visibility Problem in Tourism Careers  05:00 Broadening the Audience for Tourism Careers  06:38 Education and Pathways into Tourism  07:33 The Nature of the Tourism Industry  10:02 Flexibility and Career Paths in Tourism  12:54 Retention and Development in the Tourism Industry

    Solo Episode: Tourism Careers Have a PR Problem

  7. May 20

    Professor Judith Mair: Motherhood, Migration and a Career in Tourism

    In this episode of Tourism Matters, I’m joined by Professor Judith Mair, Academic Director and Associate Dean (Education) at The Hotel School Australia, Southern Cross University. Judith’s career began in Scotland, where she studied languages before finding her way into tourism through visitor information, VisitScotland, tour operations, marketing and hotel business development. After becoming a mother, she moved into academia, completing a PhD and later building a research career across tourism, hospitality and events. In this conversation, Judith shares what it was like to rethink her career after motherhood, move from Scotland to Australia with a young family, and build a new professional life through networks, research and teaching. We also explore Judith’s research into events, sustainability, climate change, mega-event legacies and the social value of events, including the harder-to-measure impacts like community pride, belonging and what we lovingly describe as the “vibe”. Later in the episode, Judith talks through The Hotel School’s flexible delivery model, including six-week terms, reduced cognitive load, industry-connected curriculum and paid internships designed to help students move more smoothly into tourism and hospitality careers. This is a conversation about careers, education, events, motherhood, migration and why tourism and hospitality remain deeply human industries, even as technology and AI continue to change the way we work.  What You’ll Take Away From This Episode  Why tourism careers often evolve through curiosity, opportunity and reinvention rather than a fixed plan.  How Judith moved from languages into tourism, and then from industry into academia.  Why motherhood can change a career path without diminishing it.  The importance of networks when rebuilding or redirecting a tourism career.  How events create value beyond economic impact, including pride, identity, belonging and social connection.  Why tourism and event research needs to be easier for industry to access and use.  How The Hotel School Australia’s flexible teaching model is designed around the real lives of students.  Why paid internships can help students graduate with both qualifications and meaningful experience.  Judith’s perspective on AI, automation and the irreplaceable role of human service in hospitality. About Professor Judith Mair Professor Judith Mair is Academic Director and Associate Dean (Education) at The Hotel School Australia, Southern Cross University. Judith’s research aims to understand and enhance the positive impacts of tourism and events on the communities and societies which host them.  Her research expertise lies in fields including mega-event legacies, the future of events, the links between events and social connectivity, and the potential impacts of climate change on the events sector. She has published over 60 refereed articles in international journals and has worked with the International Olympics Olympic Committee and the Queensland Government on projects including event legacies, understanding social impacts of tourism and events, and assessing the impacts of climate change on the sector. Connect with Judith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professor-judith-mair-29778a2a/ Organisations Referenced  The Hotel School Australia: https://hotelschool.scu.edu.au/ Southern Cross University: https://www.scu.edu.au/ VisitScotland: https://www.visitscotland.com/ University of Strathclyde: https://www.strath.ac.uk/ Victoria University: https://www.vu.edu.au/ Monash University: https://www.monash.edu/ University of Queensland: https://www.uq.edu.au/ Centre for Events and Festivals: https://www.eventsandfestivals.org/Episode Chapters  00:00 Introduction to Professor Judith Mair  01:37 Welcome and getting to know Judith  03:49 Growing up in Scotland  04:53 Studying languages and early career ideas  06:13 Discovering tourism through visitor information  08:52 Working in Scotland’s tourism industry  10:31 Motherhood and rethinking her career  12:04 Moving from Scotland to Australia  14:25 Rebuilding a career through networks  18:02 Research into events, sustainability and climate change  20:36 Event legacies and social impact  23:48 Measuring the “vibe” of major events  25:40 Moving into teaching and academia  31:50 Joining The Hotel School Australia  33:25 Judith’s current role at Southern Cross University  36:37 The Hotel School’s flexible delivery model  40:29 Paid internships and industry connection  43:43 Career advice for parents and career changers  46:23 AI, hospitality and the value of human service  49:23 Carmen’s closing reflections

    Professor Judith Mair: Motherhood, Migration and a Career in Tourism

  8. May 13

    Hannah Pearson: Travel, Startups and Building a Business Through Crisis and Consistency

    In this episode of Tourism Matters, I’m joined by Hannah Pearson, founder of Pear Anderson and co-host of the Southeast Asia Travel Show. Hannah’s career has taken her from studying languages at Oxford to teaching in France and China, corporate London, Kuala Lumpur, travel startups, market representation and founding Pear Anderson, a tourism sales, marketing and market intelligence business focused on Southeast Asia. We talk about winding tourism careers, unexpected opportunities, building a business in travel, and how Hannah’s weekly Southeast Asia travel report became a trusted industry resource during COVID. We also discuss workforce challenges, including the disconnect between education and industry, the need for better training, and why passion matters but cannot replace fair pay, support and development. What you will takeaway...  Tourism careers rarely follow a straight line  Sales in tourism is really about relationships and market fit  Consistency can build serious credibility over time  Education, industry and young professionals are often disconnected  Passion matters, but it cannot be used as an excuse for burnout About Hannah Pearson Hannah Pearson is the founder of Pear Anderson, a tourism sales, marketing and market intelligence company focused on Southeast Asia. Originally from the UK, Hannah studied French and Classics at Oxford before working across China, Malaysia, outbound travel, B2B sales, travel tech, market representation and tourism research. She is also co-host of the Southeast Asia Travel Show. Organisations Referenced Pear Anderson – https://www.pearanderson.com Report: The Evolving Tourism Workforce: Human Capital Development in APAC – https://www.pata.org/research-q1v63g6n2dw/p/human-capital-development-in-apac Southeast Asia Travel Show – https://www.theseasiatravelshow.com/ PATA – https://www.pata.org VisitBritain – https://www.visitbritain.org GoQuo – https://www.goquo.com University of Oxford – https://www.ox.ac.ukEpisode Chapters  00:00 – Introduction to Hannah Pearson  02:57 – Hannah’s early life, travel and love of languages  05:48 – Studying at Oxford and spending a year in France  08:42 – Teaching in China and travelling home via the Trans-Siberian Railway  11:24 – Returning to the UK and starting corporate life  14:14 – Moving to Malaysia and entering the travel industry  16:58 – Building an outbound travel team in Kuala Lumpur  19:51 – Sales, representation and building networks across Southeast Asia  22:33 – Cultural awareness and market differences in Southeast Asian travel  24:01 – Navigating language, culture and practical challenges on the road  26:15 – Moving into the travel startup world  28:01 – Learning travel tech, dynamic packaging and airline partnerships  29:17 – The reality of entrepreneurship in tourism  31:19 – Launching Pear Anderson and choosing independence  34:00 – How COVID reshaped the business  36:31 – Creating a weekly Southeast Asia travel intelligence resource  38:04 – Growing Pear Anderson and building industry influence  40:31 – Workforce challenges, education and industry disconnects  46:21 – Passion, wages and retaining people in tourism  50:24 – Hannah’s final reflections

    Hannah Pearson: Travel, Startups and Building a Business Through Crisis and Consistency
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About

Tourism Matters explores careers, capability and the people shaping the tourism industry. Host Carmen Bold speaks with professionals, leaders and educators from across the sector about how they built their careers, the lessons they’ve learned along the way, and where the industry is heading next. The podcast offers insight for anyone working in tourism, considering a career in the industry, or responsible for developing the next generation of talent.

Information

  • Creator
    Carmen Bold
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Tourism Matters
  • Show Website
    Tourism Matters