Truth Behind Travel Podcast

Dolores Semeraro
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Monthly

Dolores Semeraro hosts Truth Behind Travel Podcast.  Truth Behind Travel Podcast is a comprehensive series of bespoke interviews with tourism industry leaders to support the travel and tourism industry as they build a more innovative and resilient future of travel. The show has a distinct focus on the future of travel and highlights industry insiders’ knowledge, as well as hidden gems of travel wisdom from all around the world. Bringing 20 years of travel and hospitality experience to the show, host Dolores Semeraro fuels a much-needed conversation on tourism, sustainability and resilience and how we can encourage the travel industry players to become better operators.   

  1. Jun 10

    Deep Travel: who does it, how it works and why you can no longer ignore it

    In this episode,  Truth Behind Travel podcast host Dolores Semeraro reflects on the realities of Deep Travel and the mindset behind it with One Planet Journey Co-founder Richard Lindberg.  Richard is a serial entrepreneur on a mission to making deep travel experiences the norm. He believes in an industry where authenticity, customisation, sustainability, immersion, and exclusivity define successful hospitality and travel.  So, how is deep travel different from sustainable travel, responsible travel or experiential travel? Or is all one of the same?  On this episode:  - The definition of Deep Travel - Who pioneers Deep Travel, the travellers or the destination? - Who seeks Deep Travel experiences today - High-volume destinations approach to Deep Travel - The RTE - Return on Travel Experience of Deep Travel - Deep Travellers: returning guests or one-offs? - Hidden gems - could Deep Travel spoil them? - Where does Deep Travel end. Get in touch with Richard at One Planet Journey.  Host of Truth Behind Travel Podcast, Dolores Semeraro is a sought-after international tourism keynote speaker and sustainable tourism marketing professional.  Dolores actively works in the tourism and travel conference space as a keynote speaker and moderator, gracing the stages of international tourism summits and trade shows.  As a professional keynote speaker, Dolores’ speaking topics encompass sustainability in tourism, digital marketing and how to identify today’s traveler’s needs through technology and innovation. 5 years ago, Dolores launched her podcast show named ‘Truth Behind Travel Podcast’ where she regularly interviews tourism and travel industry leaders and representatives on how to rebuild the future of travel. www.doloressemeraro.com dolores@doloressemeraro.com Instagram @dolores_semeraro LinkedIn @dolores.sem

    32 min

  2. May 15

    Transformational Travel: taking the lead and shaping the future with Jake Haupert

    Dolores Semeraro interviews Jake Haupert - CEO & Co-Founder of the Transformational Travel Council.  In this episode, Dolores' interview takes a step further into more dynamics concerning the global operators, less related to tools and data, and more related to what do travellers seek when on the move and after they come back, how does our industry help them in the process and ultimately transform.  Whether you are an experience operator or a traveller questioning the how’s and why’s of what traveling can truly mean for all people and for our planet, today’s episode with the CEO and co-Founder of The Transformational Travel Council, will touch on the travel as a force for transformation, what does the transformational process look like and how does that lead to a greater adoption of the transformation economy.  About The Transformational Travel Council The Transformational Travel Council is a collective of global tourism stakeholders who refuse to skirt the challenging issues. Instead, they throw their boundless enthusiasm and well-researched knowledge and wisdom at them, determined to find a resolution. They stand for the betterment of lives and livelihoods through mindful travel, regenerative thinking, and conscious choice-making.  About Jake Haupert Jake is a thought leader in the transformation economy and an innovator in transformative travel. As Co-Founder of the Transformational Travel Council, he works at the intersection of experience strategy, regenerative development, and human-centered design to shape a more conscious future for travel. On this episode:  - The Process of Transformation in Travel - The Transformation Economy - Challenges and Opportunities in Transformational Travel - The Role of Destinations and Communities - The Future of Transformational Travel Connect with The Transformational Travel Council: here Host of Truth Behind Travel Podcast, Dolores Semeraro is a sought-after international tourism keynote speaker and sustainable tourism marketing professional.  Dolores actively works in the tourism and travel conference space as a keynote speaker and moderator, gracing the stages of international tourism summits and trade shows.  As a professional keynote speaker, Dolores’ speaking topics encompass sustainability in tourism, digital marketing and how to identify today’s traveler’s needs through technology and innovation. 5 years ago, Dolores launched her podcast show named ‘Truth Behind Travel Podcast’ where she regularly interviews tourism and travel industry leaders and representatives on how to rebuild the future of travel. www.doloressemeraro.com dolores@doloressemeraro.com Instagram @dolores_semeraro LinkedIn @dolores.sem

    49 min

  3. Apr 28

    Selling Experiences in the Age of Tech with Aaron Fessler CEO & Founder of TripWorks

    Podcast host Dolores Semeraro sits down with TripWorks CEO Aaron Fessler to deep dive in what happens at the intersection between Tourism & Travel Experiences and Technology:  As discussed in the podcast:  How does the ‘experience factor’ connects with the business side of things online?What needs to change in the way 'experiences' are sold online?What brings experience operators from all levels of tech knowledge together?Does selling experiences online build strength or dependability? When is hype instead of value?What’s the technology baseline you would recommend to have for experience operators? + OTAsAre we moving towards a more direct-buy purchasing pattern?How much market education you do vs bringing in the client in an ecosystem that is so uneven when it comes to technology awareness? Where do you see more resistance when it comes to technology adoption?What’s the age-range of the experience operators you currently work with?What kind of experiences is ‘easy’ to work with?top 5 things an operator presenting their experiences on line should take into consideration.what feels challenging right now for you?Aaron word of advice for experience operatorsAbout our guest:  Aaron Fessler - CEO & Founder, TripWorks Aaron Fessler is a serial entrepreneur and visionary leader with a career defined by building high-scale infrastructure and disruptive technology. As the CEO and Founder of TripWorks, Aaron has dedicated himself to solving the "fragmentation crisis" in the tours, activities, and attractions industry. His approach to technology is rooted in hard-earned operational experience. Before founding TripWorks, Aaron built and operated SPEEDVEGAS, one of the world’s premier motorsports attractions. It was there that he experienced the limitations of existing booking software firsthand—watching operators struggle to "daisy-chain" disparate systems for waivers, CRM, and payments. About TripWorks The Intelligence-Powered Engine for Experience Businesses TripWorks is a next-generation booking and operations platform designed to unify the complex world of tours, activities, and attractions. Built "by operators, for operators," TripWorks moves beyond simple reservation management to provide a cohesive ecosystem where bookings, operations, and business intelligence live in a single system. Book a Demo here Host of Truth Behind Travel Podcast, Dolores Semeraro is a sought-after international tourism keynote speaker and sustainable tourism marketing professional.  Dolores actively works in the tourism and travel conference space as a keynote speaker and moderator, gracing the stages of international tourism summits and trade shows.  As a professional keynote speaker, Dolores’ speaking topics encompass sustainability in tourism, digital marketing and how to identify today’s traveler’s needs through technology and innovation. 5 years ago, Dolores launched her podcast show named ‘Truth Behind Travel Podcast’ where she regularly interviews tourism and travel industry leaders and representatives on how to rebuild the future of travel. www.doloressemeraro.com dolores@doloressemeraro.com Instagram @dolores_semeraro LinkedIn @dolores.sem

    40 min

  4. Mar 7

    Rethinking Inclusion in the Global Tourism Industry with Alessandra LoTufo Alonso

    Dolores Semeraro interviews Alessandra LoTufo Alonso, founder of Women in Travel CIC and an award-winning thought leader in tourism and travel, a trailblazer on inclusivity and diversity and an expert in gender empowerment.  On this episode, Alessandra observes:  Inclusion long before it became a mainstream workplace priority The risks of backlash against DEI efforts within travel and tourism The barriers she has witnessed for marginalised women entering or progressing in tourism and how does Women in Travel CIC supports them What are the greatest opportunities for DEI to become a competitive advantage How to spot the DEI - version of greenwashing. To contact Alessandra and become a patron of WITCIC get in touch with the team here Host of Truth Behind Travel Podcast, Dolores Semeraro is a sought-after international tourism keynote speaker and sustainable tourism marketing professional.  Dolores actively works in the tourism and travel conference space as a keynote speaker and moderator, gracing the stages of international tourism summits and trade shows.  As a professional keynote speaker, Dolores’ speaking topics encompass sustainability in tourism, digital marketing and how to identify today’s traveler’s needs through technology and innovation. 5 years ago, Dolores launched her podcast show named ‘Truth Behind Travel Podcast’ where she regularly interviews tourism and travel industry leaders and representatives on how to rebuild the future of travel. www.doloressemeraro.com dolores@doloressemeraro.com Instagram @dolores_semeraro LinkedIn @dolores.sem

    58 min

  5. Feb 27

    Women Leading The Way: the Global Travel & Tourism Roundtable

    Dolores Semeraro moderates the virtual gathering of speakers from Season 4 of Truth Behind Travel Podcast in "Women Leading The Way: the Global Travel & Tourism Roundtable" in collaboration with the Institute of Tourism Watch the video: "Women Leading The Way: the Global Travel & Tourism Roundtable" Drawing on their diverse expertise and lived experience, this experts-led discussion weaves bold ideas with practical insights, exploring how tourism can move beyond sustainability and towards regeneration. In a spirit of collaboration and candor, they challenge dominant narratives, share lessons from the field, and collectively reimagine travel as a force for positive impact on communities, ecosystems, and the industry at large. Leading speakers of the Roundtable:  Carmen Roberts - BBC travel journalist and travel media expert Tina O'Dwyer - Founder of The Tourism Space Vanessa Karell - Founder of Greether Anne de Jong - co-founder of The Good Tourism Institute Sarah Payne - Director of Impact at Untours Foundation Lola Akinmade - Author, Travel Media Personality of the Year, Reporter Jennine Cohen and Catherine Gallagher - Founders of Women Travel Leaders Iris Serbanescu - Founder of WMNS WORK Caterina Varao - Founder of Unique Stays Sonia Gottlebe - Sustainable Tourism Advocate, Madagascar Host of Truth Behind Travel Podcast, Dolores Semeraro is a sought-after international tourism keynote speaker and sustainable tourism marketing professional.  Dolores actively works in the tourism and travel conference space as a keynote speaker and moderator, gracing the stages of international tourism summits and trade shows.  As a professional keynote speaker, Dolores’ speaking topics encompass sustainability in tourism, digital marketing and how to identify today’s traveler’s needs through technology and innovation. 5 years ago, Dolores launched her podcast show named ‘Truth Behind Travel Podcast’ where she regularly interviews tourism and travel industry leaders and representatives on how to rebuild the future of travel. www.doloressemeraro.com dolores@doloressemeraro.com Instagram @dolores_semeraro LinkedIn @dolores.sem

    1h 6m

  6. Jan 24

    10 New Travel & Tourism Words That Define 2026 Travel Trends

    In today’s episode, as we all brace for what will be a busy year in travel and tourism, I took a little ‘fun’ time to observe the travel trends we will be witnessing in 2026.  Some were new, some others not so much, but it was good to bring them back to light – or like in trend n.7 to actually switch off that light.  Trends are signs of major shifts in people’s preferences, values, behaviors but the funny thing is that with them, new words come to life, which we use to define and describe the nature of the travel trends – so on today’s episode, we will observe 10 new words in the travel sphere that are underlying a significant travel trend worth of notice.  Bibliography of this episode's content is included in the transcript.  Host of Truth Behind Travel Podcast, Dolores Semeraro is a sought-after international tourism keynote speaker and sustainable tourism marketing professional.  Dolores actively works in the tourism and travel conference space as a keynote speaker and moderator, gracing the stages of international tourism summits and trade shows.  As a professional keynote speaker, Dolores’ speaking topics encompass sustainability in tourism, digital marketing and how to identify today’s traveler’s needs through technology and innovation. 5 years ago, Dolores launched her podcast show named ‘Truth Behind Travel Podcast’ where she regularly interviews tourism and travel industry leaders and representatives on how to rebuild the future of travel. www.doloressemeraro.com dolores@doloressemeraro.com Instagram @dolores_semeraro LinkedIn @dolores.sem

    24 min

  7. 10/23/2025

    Redefining Travel Conferences: The Future of Content, Connection, and Tech with Brooke Gilbertson

    Welcome back to Truth Behind Travel Podcast!  Dolores Semeraro interviews the person leading the conference programme across the the World Travel Market Portfolio, in London and Dubai Brooke Gilbertson.  On today’s conversation we have gone through the digital, the physical, the relevancy and buzz of the conference space, to understand what keeps them going, what makes them successful - a space where people want to go and learn, be inspired, connect and grow - all this in the spirit of innovation, creativity and technology.  WTM London 4-6 November 2025 ATM Dubai 4-7 May 2026 Questions featured in this episode: 1. How is technology affecting the event industry today - what do you keep what do you not keep? 2. What is it that attendees can do at the show that can’t do by themselves?  3. How do you stay above the buzz words? 4. How do you ensure that there is genuine interaction with the content that is being delivered on stage? 5. How do you appeal to a more senior audience, the CEOs the trade show people? 6. stressing the point of DEA - how do you make sure that the conference topics and the trade show attendance are aligned? 7. Travel power theme - how did the concept of the theme came about? Host of Truth Behind Travel Podcast, Dolores Semeraro is a sought-after international tourism keynote speaker and sustainable tourism marketing professional.  Dolores actively works in the tourism and travel conference space as a keynote speaker and moderator, gracing the stages of international tourism summits and trade shows.  As a professional keynote speaker, Dolores’ speaking topics encompass sustainability in tourism, digital marketing and how to identify today’s traveler’s needs through technology and innovation. 5 years ago, Dolores launched her podcast show named ‘Truth Behind Travel Podcast’ where she regularly interviews tourism and travel industry leaders and representatives on how to rebuild the future of travel. www.doloressemeraro.com dolores@doloressemeraro.com Instagram @dolores_semeraro LinkedIn @dolores.sem

    37 min

  8. 10/17/2025

    Madagascar Now: A Reality Check for Travelers After the Political Shift

    Flash episode: Dolores Semeraro interviews eco tourism expert on the field Sonja Gottlebe following the political unrest in Madagascar this week - mid October 2025.  Sonja joins Truth Behind Travel Podcast for the second time after her first episode n.79 on Season 4.  On this episode:  - Dolores & Sonja discuss the recent political unrest and its impact on tourism in Madagascar - Sonja highlights the peaceful Gen Z-inspired protests in October, the rapid digital communication, and the swift departure of key officials.  - The importance of continued tourism to support the destination and urges travelers to rely on personal research and local sources for accurate information. Contact Sonja here Host of Truth Behind Travel Podcast, Dolores Semeraro is a sought-after international tourism keynote speaker and sustainable tourism marketing professional.  Dolores actively works in the tourism and travel conference space as a keynote speaker and moderator, gracing the stages of international tourism summits and trade shows.  As a professional keynote speaker, Dolores’ speaking topics encompass sustainability in tourism, digital marketing and how to identify today’s traveler’s needs through technology and innovation. 5 years ago, Dolores launched her podcast show named ‘Truth Behind Travel Podcast’ where she regularly interviews tourism and travel industry leaders and representatives on how to rebuild the future of travel. www.doloressemeraro.com dolores@doloressemeraro.com Instagram @dolores_semeraro LinkedIn @dolores.sem

    22 min
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About

Dolores Semeraro hosts Truth Behind Travel Podcast.  Truth Behind Travel Podcast is a comprehensive series of bespoke interviews with tourism industry leaders to support the travel and tourism industry as they build a more innovative and resilient future of travel. The show has a distinct focus on the future of travel and highlights industry insiders’ knowledge, as well as hidden gems of travel wisdom from all around the world. Bringing 20 years of travel and hospitality experience to the show, host Dolores Semeraro fuels a much-needed conversation on tourism, sustainability and resilience and how we can encourage the travel industry players to become better operators.   

Information

  • Creator
    Dolores Semeraro
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    90
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Truth Behind Travel Podcast
  • Show Website
    Truth Behind Travel Podcast

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