A PODCAST FOR TOURISM
AND TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS
Hosted by our Tourism & Destination Marketing General Manager, Bob Gilbert, Tourism Heads & Their Tales invites travel and tourism leaders and influencers to share their take on key industry issues. Throughout the series, we will bring you into the conversation with top professionals who are shaping the industry. We’ll speak to research gurus, destination marketing professionals, airline leaders, policy makers, hoteliers, and travel agents… all with unique tales and perspectives that they’re ready to share.
Back to the Future of Tourism
Today’s episode of Tourism Heads & Their Tales features multiple guests, all from previous episodes! Catch up with tourism leaders from the across the country and what they are thinking about the future of tourism in this compilation episode. Guest speakers include: Wes Rhea, Kristen Reynolds, Greg Takehara, Rita McClenny, and David Lorenz.
Listen & Subscribe:
Today’s episode of Tourism Heads & Their Tales features multiple guests, all from previous episodes! Catch up with tourism leaders from the across the country and what they are thinking about the future of tourism in this compilation episode. Guest speakers include: Wes Rhea, Kristen Reynolds, Greg Takehara, Rita McClenny, and David Lorenz.
Listen & Subscribe:
Amir Eylon
Tourism Heads & Their Tales welcomes Amir Eylon, President & CEO at Longwoods International and arguably the most frequent business traveler in tourism! Listen as Amir shares his insights and advice on key issues of the day including cultivating the power of local engagement and new ways DMO’s can engage the community, how tourism strategy impacts economic development, how ARPA funds are best utilized, his point of view whether geo-location data is still valuable after changes in digital privacy policies, and a look at the future of Destination Management, and much more.
Listen & Subscribe:
Tourism Heads & Their Tales welcomes Amir Eylon, President & CEO at Longwoods International and arguably the most frequent business traveler in tourism! Listen as Amir shares his insights and advice on key issues of the day including cultivating the power of local engagement and new ways DMO’s can engage the community, how tourism strategy impacts economic development, how ARPA funds are best utilized, his point of view whether geo-location data is still valuable after changes in digital privacy policies, and a look at the future of Destination Management, and much more.
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Kristen Reynolds
Today we welcome Discover Long Island president and CEO, Kristen Reynolds. In this episode we’ll hear about Kristen’s background and journey to Long Island, NY.
We discuss a wide variety of topics including the relationship with New York City, engaging the local community and the importance of shared values, partnering with county officials and economic development, the art of storytelling, the Discover Long Island podcast, the new $2.8B planned convention center, conference hotel and connected airport expansion, new direct rail connections to Grand Central Station, and the future of the industry in disruptive times.
Listen & Subscribe:
Today we welcome Discover Long Island president and CEO, Kristen Reynolds. In this episode we’ll hear about Kristen’s background and journey to Long Island, NY.
We discuss a wide variety of topics including the relationship with New York City, engaging the local community and the importance of shared values, partnering with county officials and economic development, the art of storytelling, the Discover Long Island podcast, the new $2.8B planned convention center, conference hotel and connected airport expansion, new direct rail connections to Grand Central Station, and the future of the industry in disruptive times.
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Wes Rhea
Today’s guest on Tourism Heads & Their Tales is a unicorn. Hear how a Tank Commander became a DMO!
Wes Rhea, CEO at Visit Stockton, CA, was indeed a Tank Commander when serving in the military!
Wes is a well known destination marketing leader and influencer who takes an active role in many DMOs and local organizations. We’ll discuss how Wes, a Stockton native, manages crisis and recovery, how technology is fueling destination marketing, how to embrace change and why taking risks should be a fact of marketing life, why engaging with the local community is a necessity, ARPA funds and partnering with economic development, and why moving away from “heads in beds” to content driven strategies was an intentional objective.
Listen & Subscribe:
Today’s guest on Tourism Heads & Their Tales is a unicorn. Hear how a Tank Commander became a DMO!
Wes Rhea, CEO at Visit Stockton, CA, was indeed a Tank Commander when serving in the military!
Wes is a well known destination marketing leader and influencer who takes an active role in many DMOs and local organizations. We’ll discuss how Wes, a Stockton native, manages crisis and recovery, how technology is fueling destination marketing, how to embrace change and why taking risks should be a fact of marketing life, why engaging with the local community is a necessity, ARPA funds and partnering with economic development, and why moving away from “heads in beds” to content driven strategies was an intentional objective.
Listen & Subscribe:
Roni Weiss
Join me in the latest episode of Tourism Heads & Their Tales. Today, our guest is Roni Weiss, Executive Director of Travel Unity, a non-profit focusing on increasing diversity in the world of travel through individual and community empowerment. Listen as we discuss key aspects of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). We talk about the need for DEI standards in travel and tourism, the rationale behind starting Travel Unity and its short and long goals and objectives, the marketing support that Travel Unity makes available to other organizations, the Travel Unity Pledge and why DEI is more important than ever, and so much more.
Listen & Subscribe Part One:
Listen & Subscribe Part Two:
Join me in the latest episode of Tourism Heads & Their Tales. Today, our guest is Roni Weiss, Executive Director of Travel Unity, a non-profit focusing on increasing diversity in the world of travel through individual and community empowerment. Listen as we discuss key aspects of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). We talk about the need for DEI standards in travel and tourism, the rationale behind starting Travel Unity and its short and long goals and objectives, the marketing support that Travel Unity makes available to other organizations, the Travel Unity Pledge and why DEI is more important than ever, and so much more.
Listen & Subscribe Part One:
Listen & Subscribe Part Two:
David Lorenz
On today’s Tourism Heads & Their Tales podcast episode we are joined by a prominent tourism industry leader, David Lorenz. Dave leads tourism for the state of Michigan under the brand Pure Michigan as Vice President. Listen as we discuss wide ranging topics including the history of the Pure Michigan brand, authenticity and how to blend reality and aspirational messaging, the marriage of tourism and economic development, brand marketing post-pandemic, the international inbound recovery, and so much more.
Listen & Subscribe:
On today’s Tourism Heads & Their Tales podcast episode we are joined by a prominent tourism industry leader, David Lorenz. Dave leads tourism for the state of Michigan under the brand Pure Michigan as Vice President. Listen as we discuss wide ranging topics including the history of the Pure Michigan brand, authenticity and how to blend reality and aspirational messaging, the marriage of tourism and economic development, brand marketing post-pandemic, the international inbound recovery, and so much more.
Listen & Subscribe:
MEET YOUR HOST:
Bob Gilbert
Over his 30+ year career, Bob has had the privilege to have worked with iconic global brands including Disney, Choice Hotels, Yosemite and Shenandoah National Parks, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center, and Best Western International, and served on the boards of the U.S. Travel Association, National Tour Association, and as an elected commissioner for Visit California.
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