The Insightful Podcast

The Insightful Podcast

I’ve always wanted to dive into the wonderful world of podcasting. I look at it as an opportunity to share my expertise on a variety of topics as well as have meaningful conversations with industry colleagues that I’ve come to know throughout the years.

With that in mind, The Insightful Podcast was born! This podcast will bring in a variety of guests from across the tourism landscape—industry professionals, academic researchers, and even former students and classmates—to share their unique experiences and perspectives on this ever-evolving industry.

What makes this podcast especially exciting is the diversity of voices we plan to feature. From seasoned executives who’ve shaped destination marketing strategies, to faculty members pioneering research in tourism innovation, to young professionals just beginning their careers, The Insightful Podcast will offer a well-rounded, authentic look at the past, present, and future of tourism.

While we haven’t set an official launch date just yet, know that we’re working diligently behind the scenes to bring you compelling conversations, fresh insights, and thoughtful dialogue. Our aim is to not only spotlight the best and brightest minds the industry has to offer, but also create space for emerging voices who are just starting to make their mark.

Whether you're a seasoned tourism professional, a student, or simply someone curious about how destinations evolve and connect with visitors, we hope this podcast becomes a valuable resource—and a fun listen.

We’d love your input as we shape this journey:

What types of content or guests would you like to hear on The Insightful Podcast?

Drop your ideas in the comments or connect with us on social media. Your insight just might inspire our next episode!

Top Of the Morning To Ya… Another Successful TTRA Annual Conference in Galway, Ireland

This week we had the pleasure of attending the TTRA Annual Conference across the pond in Galway, Ireland! For those of you that may not be aware, this is one of the few conferences if any that is constantly looking to bridge the gap between industry practitioners and our academic counterparts at university. The conference provides a forum for these two entities to fellowship and share ideas on how best to bring our industry forward from both perspectives.

Like its predecessor conferences in recent years, this year’s event exceeded all expectations with a mix of meaningful and thought-provoking sessions, and it is always a pleasure connecting with peers from around the globe, especially in such a beautiful and historic destination such as Galway, Ireland.

I was able to attend a number of sessions for the conference but wanted to highlight my favorite two:

Evolving Target Markets Through Data, Culture, and Customization

Defining target markets is no longer the only way forward; today’s destinations must adapt them with agility and authenticity. This session showcased two case studies: one with Experience Kissimmee and the other with Travel Portland. In both cases, the use of research data and cultural insight proved instrumental in driving marketing efforts for these two destinations.

Travel Portland presented an analysis of ongoing visitor data that has led to in-depth qualitative research examining the motivations and obstacles faced by Black and Hispanic travelers. These findings are informing a campaign centered on inclusive storytelling and strategic modifications that resonate with communities of color. The Kissimmee Experience showcased how a flexible, multi-source data approach—utilizing variable weighting and dynamic postal code-level configurations—can adapt market definitions based on real-time campaign requirements. Attendees will gain practical insights for rethinking their market definitions and prioritizations, incorporating cultural relevance into their strategies, and leveraging data to develop more adaptable and impactful campaigns.

From Insights to Impact: Sustainability & Regenerative Tourism in Puerto Rico & The Galapagos

During this captivating session, Discover Puerto Rico delved into how they effectively utilized a comprehensive sustainability audit to identify best practices, shape marketing strategies, and engage with awareness travelers. Subsequently, they spoke at length on how they explored the intricate challenges of managing overtourism in the Galápagos through a “beyond growth” framework, grounded in 18 months of field research. This session presented a valuable case study on how destinations can equip themselves with valuable insights into the delicate balance of managing tourism development, collaborating with stakeholders, achieving conservation goals, and communicating effectively.

Additionally, the academic breakout sessions were extremely insightful, as they hit on two hot-button topics that I’m finding very intriguing these days relating to digitalization through the use of AI and also efforts towards sustainability and resiliency in tourism.

All in all, it was a great conference as well as a great host, as I found the city of Galway, Ireland, to be a beautiful destination with great food options and casual nightlife. It is definitely on my list of cities to revisit again and truly explore all that it has to offer.

I am certainly already looking forward to the 2026 TTRA in Greenville, SC.