The Travel Beyond podcast brings you the travel industry’s most exciting innovations that address the greatest challenges facing communities and the planet.
We partner with travel destinations and changemakers working toward a regenerative future where all people can flourish, and that means transforming the travel industry to respect the needs of residents, visitors, and the environment.
At Destination Think, we believe travel can make the world a better place, but it must do so without environmental, economic and social harm. In the travel industry, and as travellers, we need to pair our words with meaningful action if we are going to improve our lives and the world. The solutions are in sight, and they need to be shared.
Protecting our planet and shaping the future of travel is a big project that needs a big team. Tune in to hear from the inspiring travel leaders and many others committed to this vital project. And join us.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Travel Beyond podcast brings you the travel industry’s most exciting innovations that address the greatest challenges facing communities and the planet.
We partner with travel destinations and changemakers working toward a regenerative future where all people can flourish, and that means transforming the travel industry to respect the needs of residents, visitors, and the environment.
At Destination Think, we believe travel can make the world a better place, but it must do so without environmental, economic and social harm. In the travel industry, and as travellers, we need to pair our words with meaningful action if we are going to improve our lives and the world. The solutions are in sight, and they need to be shared.
Protecting our planet and shaping the future of travel is a big project that needs a big team. Tune in to hear from the inspiring travel leaders and many others committed to this vital project. And join us.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tourism businesses often spark positive change. Beat Steiner, owner of Bella Coola Heli Sports, shares insights on balancing community, climate, and conservation responsibilities, pioneering climate-positive practices, and inspiring industry-wide sustainability through innovation and collaboration.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Can both residents and tourists change their travel habits in favour of EVs? In this episode, entrepreneur Gordon Taylor, member of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet First Nation), shares how T?iick?in (Thunderbird) Ebike Rentals is advocating for positive change. His business strives toward a future of renewable energy, reduced emissions, and care for local lands and resources – all while giving visitors incredible Tofino-area experiences.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“I think we can look side to side and find so much solidarity with people who are working in any given region towards a future that is more equitable or more just and say, how do we connect?”
Sully Rogalski is the co-founder of the Coastal Queen Alliance in Tofino, which has brought the queer community together in new and exciting ways. Here, they discuss the organization’s mission, the ties between queerness and environmentalism, and the power of collective action. It’s an essential conversation for community and businesses leaders looking to use their influence to support marginalized voices and create a more equitable future.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How can tourism create Indigenous spaces that foster growth, opportunity, and meaningful representation? In this episode, Maria Clark, Assistant General Manager at Tin Wis Resort and Board Director for Indigenous Tourism BC, discusses the value of mentorship, the importance of Indigenous leadership, and the responsibility of tourism to educate and uplift communities.
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“It really comes back to ?iisaak. It comes back to respect.”
To create a more balanced and inclusive future for tourism, it’s essential to understand and honour Indigenous culture and history. In this episode, Timmy Masso and Hjalmer Wenstob explore the deep connections between language, art, and land, sharing their vision for respectful tourism, the power of education, and the role of storytelling in preserving and celebrating Indigenous heritage.
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On this episode of Travel Beyond, sustainability leader Auden Schendler shares a bold vision for tackling the climate crisis, revealing how the tourism industry can use its influence to drive systemic change, inspire global action, and transform token efforts into scalable, impactful solutions.
For more resources, see the show notes on our website at destinationthink.com.
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Travel’s full impact on society – both positive and negative – is not often fully understood or discussed. But that’s starting to change. Today’s leading destinations are charting a future with strategies that help places navigate complexity and make sure communities and the environment benefit. This episode is a condensed version of a live webinar presented by Destination Think. Rikke Holm Petersen from Wonderful Copenhagen showed us how their DMO’s new “Copenhagen, All Inclusive” strategy is the city's compass toward a better world. We also learned from Leslie Bruce from Banff & Lake Louise Tourism, who moderated a panel discussion with destination leaders who are pushing for positive change: Susan Estler, CEO from Travel Marquette and Ellen Walker-Matthews from Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA).
For more resources, see the show notes on our website at destinationthink.com.
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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When highways wash out, tourism stops—highlighting the deep connection between travel and the environment. In this episode, biologist and environmental professional Veronica Woodruff explores how cross-sector collaboration can strengthen tourism's resilience against extreme weather while supporting environmental restoration in the face of climate change.
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Leonard Ellis knows more than most tourism operators what it means to pivot a business. Over his 50-year career, and as the owner of Bella Coola Grizzly Tours, he has transitioned from hunting big game to viewing them instead. But his motivation to bring balance to nature through guided tours is unchanged. Leonard has worked to re-introduce grizzly bears to an area where prior hunting outfitters had driven them out, and he says today’s trips are a lower-impact operation. But how do we know tourism’s best role in conservation? Are we sometimes harming when we think we’re helping? This conversation brings up hard questions and gives us a fascinating glimpse into what it means to roll with the changes in a tourism life on the land.
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She’s a CEO by day and a farmer by night, but in both roles, Amy Thacker is working to help people connect with the lands where they live and visit. Amy leads the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association to support the tourism industry in inviting visitors to see this vast, diverse region for themselves – and experience the positive culture shock of living off the grid. In this conversation, she shares why tourism and agriculture work so well together for her and debunks some common misconceptions some visitors have before they arrive, offering insight into educating visitors as a destination.
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Chris Harris, a renowned photographer and adventurer, shares his deep connection to British Columbia’s Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region and his efforts to document the Chilcotin Ark, one of the most biodiverse wilderness areas in the temperate world. He explores how the Ark’s unique geography positions it as a potential refuge for life in the face of climate change, and how tourism can be a powerful tool to educate, inspire connection, and promote conservation and sustainability in this extraordinary landscape.
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How can the private sector work for public good? Rod Drury is a serial entrepreneur and Founder of Xero, a successful tech company based in Aotearoa New Zealand. Since stepping back from his roles as CEO and Director, Rod has been involved in some of the most exciting innovations taking place in Queenstown related to electrification – areas like energy production, public transport, and marine technology. In this fireside chat with Destination Think CEO Rodney Payne, he shares what he has learned from those projects and advice for other business leaders looking to make an impact where it matters.
Learn about the latest innovations for tourism, travel and communities around the world at:
https://innovate.destinationthink.com/
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How can travel contribute to creating more equitable communities? Ben Lyman, Head of Communications at the Travel Foundation and Bernadette Papp, Senior Researcher at the European Tourism Futures Institute discuss new research on equity in tourism. Developed by a consortium of researchers and sponsoring organizations including Destination Think, they share case studies and strategies for travel industry leaders and how destinations are evolving to integrate tourism as a catalyst for local equity solutions.
Learn about the latest innovations for tourism, travel and communities around the world at:
https://innovate.destinationthink.com/event
You can access the Creating Equitable Destinations report after it is released at: https://www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk/
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What can travel businesses do to make a substantial impact in their climate actions? Shannon Guihan, Chief Sustainability Officer at The Travel Corporation, discusses moving beyond carbon offsetting to achieve genuine decarbonization. As the parent company of many tourism brands including Trafalgar and Contiki, The Travel Corporation has committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions. In this session, Shannon describes the company’s innovative Carbon Fund and explains how other businesses can adapt similar strategies to make meaningful progress. She also provides tips for presenting these changes to the C-suite and emphasizes why the travel industry needs a stronger voice in sustainability discussions.
Learn about the latest innovations for tourism, travel and communities around the world at: https://innovate.destinationthink.com/event
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