In this episode of The Tourism Chat Show, Michelle welcomes Alex Diethelm from Weekend Getaways and Dogalong. They discuss Alex's journey from Switzerland to New Zealand, her career in tourism, and how COVID-19 spurred her entrepreneurial ventures. Michelle reflects on insights from the recent Tourism Summit in Auckland, including standout speakers and the Tourism Awards. Alex shares her experiences in building her businesses, the challenges faced, and the rewarding relationships formed with tourism operators. They also talk about the rise of dog-friendly travel and Alex's public speaking journey. 00:00 Welcome to the Tourism Chat Show 01:03 Reflecting on the Tourism Summit 04:18 Introducing Alex Diethelm 04:57 Alex's Journey in Tourism 08:44 Starting Weekend Getaways 10:54 Building Relationships with Tourism Operators 15:52 Managing Two Websites 17:00 The Rise of Dogalong 19:34 The Birth of Dogalong 20:29 Winning the Jury's Heart 21:06 Getting Featured on Seven Sharp 23:18 Facing Public Speaking Fears 27:11 Tips for Calming Nerves 32:46 Future Goals for Dogalong and Weekend Getaways 36:12 Conclusion and Contact Information   ___________________ Powered by https://www.destinatenz.com  If you, or someone you work with has a great tourism story to share, and would like to come onto the show, please get in touch! This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support The Tourism Chat Show is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Today's Guest: Alex Diethelm - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-diethelm/  Weekend Getaways - https://weekendgetaways.co.nz/ Dogalong - https://www.instagram.com/dogalongnz/  Vin Giang's Stage Academy course - https://www.vinhgiang.com/    Resources and Links to connect with us: Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Say hi to us on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetourismchatshow Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you'd like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast