Tour Operator Growth Podcast

Nikki DeSantis & Greg Rosenhan
  • 5.0 (1)
  • MARKETING

The Tour Operator Growth Podcast is for tour and activity business owners who feel like they’re constantly juggling everything and still wondering why growth feels harder than it should. Most tour businesses don’t fail because the experience isn’t good. They struggle because the business outgrows the systems holding it together. Bookings come from all directions. Marketing feels scattered. The website, the phones, email, reviews, and follow-ups all live in different places. And somehow you’re supposed to manage it all while still running trips. This podcast was built from that exact reality. The system behind it was created by a successful tour operator who hit those same walls and had to build a better way to grow without everything breaking. Today, Greg and Nikki from Resmark share the lessons, frameworks, and hard-earned insights from helping hundreds of tour operators simplify their business, get more consistent bookings, and regain control. We talk about the real problems operators face: feeling stuck, feeling overwhelmed, hitting growth ceilings, relying too much on OTAs, or not knowing what to fix first. Whether you’re just getting started, trying to break through your next plateau, or already growing fast and trying to keep it all together, this show is built for you. The goal is simple: help you build a tour business that grows in a way that’s sustainable, predictable, and actually enjoyable to run. Powered by Resmark.

Episodes

  1. 5D AGO

    Why Social Media Is Critical for Tour Operators

    Social media is not just a place to post photos. For tour operators, it is one of the most powerful tools in the Dreaming Stage of the Growth Engine. In this episode of the Tour Operator Growth Podcast, we break down why social media matters more than ever for tour and activity businesses. You are not just competing with other tour companies. You are competing with cat videos, workout tips, and everything else fighting for your customer’s attention. We cover how the algorithm actually works, why video outperforms static posts, what makes people stop the scroll, and how tour operators can build a repeatable system for consistent content. If social media feels overwhelming or like it is not producing results, this episode will help you rethink your strategy. If your ideal customers are on social media, your business needs to be there too. 🚀 Take the Growth Engine Assessment to find out where you might need to improve: https://www.resmarksystems.com/growth-engine-survey 📲 Follow Us on Social Media - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ResmarkSystems - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resmarkllc - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RESMARKSystems - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/resmark-systems 📈 Want Help Growing Your Tour Business? Visit https://www.resmarkweb.com Book a call: https://www.resmarkweb.com/request-quote Call or text us directly: 385-449-4079 Email Nikki: nikki@resmarksystems.com 00:00 Why Social Media Is Critical for Tour Operators 04:15 You Are Competing With Cat Videos 08:40 How Social Media Fits Into the Dreaming Stage 13:05 How the Social Media Algorithm Actually Works 18:10 The First 3 Seconds and Stopping the Scroll 23:20 Why Video Outperforms Static Posts 28:45 Content Ideas Tour Operators Can Use Today 34:30 Behind the Scenes and Micro Education Content 40:15 Guest Moments That Drive Engagement 46:10 Scheduling Tools, Retargeting, and Final Strategy

    53 min

  2. FEB 17

    Paid Ads for Tour Operators: When to Use Them (and When Not To)

    Paid ads can help you grow faster or waste money very quickly. In this episode of the Tour Operator Growth Podcast, we break down how paid ads actually work for tour operators and why they often feel risky or unpredictable. This conversation sits in the Dreaming stage of the Growth Engine, where potential guests are discovering options and starting to form trust. Paid ads show up early in that journey, but they do not create demand. They amplify what is already working. We cover: - When paid ads make sense for tour operators - Why paid ads fail when the foundation is not ready - How budget, margins, and capacity affect results - Why last-click attribution makes ads look ineffective - How paid ads fit alongside SEO, OTAs, email, and referrals If you are unsure whether paid ads are worth it for your business, this episode will help you set realistic expectations and decide your next step. Follow Us on Social Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ResmarkSystems Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resmarkllc YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RESMARKSystems LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/resmark-systems Want to learn more or talk through your tour business growth? Visit https://www.resmarkweb.com Book a call: https://www.resmarkweb.com/request-quote Call or text us directly: 385-449-4079 Email Nikki: nikki@resmarksystems.com Chapters 00:00 Do Paid Ads Actually Work for Tour Operators? 02:05 Why Paid Ads Feel Confusing and Hard to Measure 04:10 When Paid Ads Make Sense for Tour Businesses 07:15 When Tour Operators Should NOT Run Paid Ads 10:55 Why Paid Ads Fail for Most Tour Operators 15:40 How Budget and Margins Impact Paid Ads 19:30 How Long Paid Ads Take to Start Working 24:45 Can Paid Ads Work If Your Brand Is Not Well Known? 32:20 How Paid Ads Fit with SEO, OTAs, and Email Marketing

    52 min

  3. FEB 10

    Why SEO Is the Foundation of Tour Business Growth

    SEO is not a tactic. It is the foundation of how guests find you. Before someone is ready to book a tour, they are dreaming. They are researching destinations, exploring options, and gathering ideas. If your business does not show up in that moment, you are invisible. In this episode of the Tour Operator Growth Podcast, we break down why SEO sits at the very beginning of the Growth Engine and why it plays such a critical role in long-term tour business growth. This episode focuses on the Dreaming stage and how search has changed, including the growing impact of AI, zero-click results, and helpful content. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why SEO belongs in the Dreaming stage of the Growth EngineHow guests search before they are ready to bookWhy helpful content matters more than keywords aloneThe most important on-site SEO basics tour operators missHow SEO reduces reliance on OTAs and paid adsIf you want more direct bookings and a growth strategy that compounds over time, this episode explains why SEO is foundational and where to focus first. Chapters 00:00 Why is SEO important for tour operators? 03:10 What is the Dreaming stage in the Growth Engine? 06:05 How do travelers search before booking a tour? 09:30 Why does SEO matter before someone is ready to buy? 13:45 How has AI changed search and tour discovery? 18:20 What on-site SEO basics do tour operators miss? 24:10 How does SEO reduce reliance on OTAs? 29:05 What type of content helps tours rank in search? 34:40 Where should tour operators start with SEO?

    38 min

  4. FEB 3

    The 5 Stages Every Tour Business Must Build to Grow with Brandon Lake

    Most tour operators try to grow by fixing random problems as they pop up. More ads. A new booking tool. Better reviews. Maybe SEO next. The problem is not effort. It’s structure. In this episode of the Tour Operator Growth Podcast, we’re joined by Brandon Lake, founder of Resmark Systems, WaiverSign, and ResmarkWeb. Brandon also helps operate Western River Expeditions and Moab Adventure Center, two of the most successful tour companies in North America. With more than 25 years of experience, he’s helped operators uncover the systems and structure that lead to real growth. Together, we break down the five stages every tour business must build to grow without chaos or over-reliance on OTAs. This episode lays the foundation for the podcast. The Growth Engine is the core structure behind how tour businesses grow. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why growth feels chaotic without a clear structureThe five stages every tour business goes throughWhere most operators get stuckWhy more marketing does not fix broken systemsHow to identify what to focus on nextIf growth feels harder than it should, this episode explains why and what to build instead. Follow Us on Social Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ResmarkSystems Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resmarkllc YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RESMARKSystems LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/resmark-systems Want to learn more or talk through your tour business growth? Visit https://www.resmarkweb.com Book a call: https://www.resmarkweb.com/request-quote Call or text us directly: 385-449-4079 Email Nikki: nikki@resmarksystems.com Chapters 00:00 Why tour business growth feels harder than it should 03:12 The real reason tactics stop working 06:45 What the Growth Engine actually is 10:30 The five stages every tour business goes through 15:20 Where most tour operators get stuck 20:10 Why marketing alone does not create growth 25:40 How to identify your current growth stage 31:00 Building a business that grows without chaos 36:15 Why this framework is the foundation

    55 min

  5. JAN 27

    What the AI Buying Journey Looks Like for Tour Customers Today

    AI is no longer just a backend tool. It is quickly becoming one of the first places guests go when planning a tour. In this episode, we look at the buying journey from the customer’s perspective and break down how AI fits into tour research, comparison, and decision-making. We share real examples of how travelers use tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI results, how they move between AI, websites, reviews, and social media, and what actually pushes them to book. You will learn: - How tour customers are using AI to research and compare experiences - What real data shows about AI traffic and conversions for tour websites - Why your website still matters in an AI-driven world - Simple ways to increase your authority so AI is more likely to recommend your business This episode ties directly to the Dreaming and Planning stages of the Growth Engine and helps you understand how guests are finding and choosing tour operators today. Follow Us on Social Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ResmarkSystems Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resmarkllc YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RESMARKSystems LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/resmark-systems Want to learn more or talk through your tour business growth? Visit https://www.resmarkweb.com Book a call: https://www.resmarkweb.com/request-quote Call or text us directly: 385-449-4079 Email Nikki: nikki@resmarksystems.com Chapters 00:00 How Tour Customers Are Using AI to Plan Trips 02:10 What the AI Buying Journey Looks Like Today 04:25 Where AI Fits Into Tour Research and Comparison 07:10 Do Travelers Trust AI Recommendations? 10:05 How Guests Move From AI to Tour Websites 13:00 Real Examples of AI Influencing Booking Decisions 16:20 What AI Traffic Data Tells Tour Operators 19:30 Why Your Website Still Matters in an AI World 23:40 How to Show Up in AI Search Results as a Tour Operator

    33 min

  6. JAN 18

    Why Tour Operators Need to Be Everywhere Their Guests Are

    Most tour bookings do not come from one place, and that is exactly where many tour operators get stuck. Guests discover tours across Google, review sites, OTAs, social media, AI tools, email, and even offline channels like brochures and hotels. If you are only focused on one channel, you are likely missing bookings you never even see. In this first episode of The Tour Operator Growth Podcast, we break down omnipresence marketing for tour operators. What it really means, why it matters, and how to approach it without trying to do everything at once. You will learn: How guests actually find and choose tour operators todayWhy your website is the foundation of every booking channelWhich channels matter most at different stages of growthHow to stay visible without overwhelming your team or budgetWhy consistency matters more than being everywhere at onceWhether you run walking tours, day trips, or multi-day experiences, this episode will help you understand where bookings really come from and how to build a system that supports growth instead of chaos. ----------- If you are enjoying the podcast, it would mean a lot if you left a quick review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify. It helps more tour operators find the show and keeps it growing. Follow Us on Social Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ResmarkSystems Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resmarkllc YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RESMARKSystems LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/resmark-systems Want to learn more or talk through your tour business growth? Visit https://www.resmarkweb.com Book a call: https://www.resmarkweb.com/request-quote Call or text us directly: 385-449-4079 Email Nikki: nikki@resmarksystems.com 00:00 - What is this podcast and who is it for? 02:05 - What does omnipresence mean for tour operators? 05:00 - Where do tour bookings actually come from? 08:10 - Why is your website the foundation of all bookings? 12:00 - Do tour operators need to be on every marketing channel? 15:30 - What free or low-cost channels should tour operators start with? 19:40 - How do guests research tours before they book? 24:10 - How does omnipresence help you show up in AI search? 30:20 - What is the easiest way to start being more visible?

    49 min
  • 6 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

About

The Tour Operator Growth Podcast is for tour and activity business owners who feel like they’re constantly juggling everything and still wondering why growth feels harder than it should. Most tour businesses don’t fail because the experience isn’t good. They struggle because the business outgrows the systems holding it together. Bookings come from all directions. Marketing feels scattered. The website, the phones, email, reviews, and follow-ups all live in different places. And somehow you’re supposed to manage it all while still running trips. This podcast was built from that exact reality. The system behind it was created by a successful tour operator who hit those same walls and had to build a better way to grow without everything breaking. Today, Greg and Nikki from Resmark share the lessons, frameworks, and hard-earned insights from helping hundreds of tour operators simplify their business, get more consistent bookings, and regain control. We talk about the real problems operators face: feeling stuck, feeling overwhelmed, hitting growth ceilings, relying too much on OTAs, or not knowing what to fix first. Whether you’re just getting started, trying to break through your next plateau, or already growing fast and trying to keep it all together, this show is built for you. The goal is simple: help you build a tour business that grows in a way that’s sustainable, predictable, and actually enjoyable to run. Powered by Resmark.

Information

  • Creator
    Nikki DeSantis & Greg Rosenhan
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Tour Operator Growth Podcast
  • Show Website
    Tour Operator Growth Podcast