The Tourism Teacher

The Tourism Teacher

Welcome to The Tourism Teacher! Hosted by seasoned tourism pro Andi Jaspersen, this podcast is designed to help unveil the inner workings and acronyms in the world of tourism and destination marketing. With years of experience on both the destination and vendor side, Andi is here to teach you everything you need to know to succeed in your career. If you're new to the industry or simply looking to refresh your grasp on the basics and lingo, you've come to the right place. Take your seats, open your notebooks, and get ready to become the industry’s next tourism expert.

Episodes

19: Looking Back on Season 1

September 14, 2023 • 7 mins
In this episode of The Tourism Teacher, Andi expresses gratitude to the listeners and reflects on season one of the podcast. She discusses the various topics and guests covered, including convention and meeting sales, advocacy, community integration and the role of tour operators. She also shares personal stories about how she's seen the podcast help individuals in their tourism careers. Want us to cover a specific topic? Please fi...
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18: Destination Boards of Directors with Bill Geist

September 7, 2023 • 40 mins
Destination consultant and podcaster Bill Geist joins Andi on today’s episode to give a rundown on the role of a board of directors in a destination. Tune in for a crash course on who makes up the board and advice on working with your board as a DMO. Want us to cover a specific topic? Please fill out our form! The Tourism Teacher is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Andi Jaspersen and produced by ...
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17: Working with Journalists with Jeff Bogle

August 31, 2023 • 51 mins
What do DMOs need to know when working with travel writers and journalists? On today's episode of The Tourism Teacher, freelance writer Jeff Bogle talks to Andi about his experience as a travel writer. Tune in to see things from the journalist's perspective and get great advice on hosting travel writers in your DMO. Want us to cover a specific topic? Please fill out our form! The Tourism Teacher is a part of the Destination Market...
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16: PR for Destinations with Ivie Parker

August 24, 2023 • 37 mins
In this episode of The Tourism Teacher, Andi sits down with Ivie Parker, a tourism PR expert and owner of Ivie Parker Consulting. They discuss everything a destination needs to know about PR including how to build relationships with agency partners and media outlets, as well as the importance of staying on top of the game when it comes to pop culture and media. Want us to cover a specific topic? Please fill out our form! The Touri...
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15: Building and Nurturing Stakeholder Relationships with Tami Reist

August 17, 2023 • 25 mins
In this week’s episode of The Tourism Teacher, Andi is joined by Tami Reist, president and CEO of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. They break down the different types of stakeholders a destination may have including attractions, hotels and politicians. They dive into how each stakeholder interacts with a DMO, and what tourism professionals can do to ensure that tourism is a community-shared value. If you’re enjoying ...
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14: Q&A with The Tourism Teacher

August 10, 2023 • 24 mins
On today's episode of The Tourism Teacher, Andi answers a few questions about the tourism industry sent in by her colleagues at Relic. Tune in for insight on why many DMOs wouldn’t want to be confused with the city government, how a destination can minimize negative perceptions by their locals and the top 3 tips for new hires at a destination. If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Want ...
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13: A Destinations International Annual Convention Recap with Adam Stoker

July 27, 2023 • 15 mins
On today’s episode of The Tourism Teacher, Andi takes a field trip to the Destinations International Annual Convention in Dallas, Texas. She is joined by returning guest Adam Stoker to talk about what they have learned at the conference so far. Adam talks about his experience at a CDME class, and why he has decided to take a look at his leadership style in a new way. They also discuss the power of networking and how a return to in-...
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12: Social Media Mastery with Melea Hames

July 20, 2023 • 52 mins
In this week’s episode of The Tourism Teacher, Andi is joined by Melea Hames, social media manager at Visit North Alabama, to talk about why maintaining a strong social media presence is so important for DMOs. Melea talks about how social media has changed over the 13 years she has been in her role and covers some of the basics you need to know to get started. Melea shares how her podcast, Unexpected Adventures in North Alabama, ha...
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11: RFPs with Jared Price

July 13, 2023 • 50 mins
Get ready to learn about requests for proposals (RFPs) as Andi teams up with Jared Price (JP), the Director of Business Development at Relic in this episode of The Tourism Teacher. Andi and JP dive into the world of RFPs to discover why they hold immense value for destination organizations. Together, they navigate the intricacies of crafting a proposal, formulating compelling responses and selecting candidates. Whether it’s used fo...
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10: Advocacy for Destinations with Domenic Bravo

July 6, 2023 • 36 mins
In this episode of The Tourism Teacher, Andi sits down with Domenic Bravo, President and CEO at Visit Cheyenne, for an insightful discussion on the vital role of advocacy in the tourism industry. They talk about what advocacy is and why it’s so important for DMOs to inform their stakeholders of the work they are doing. Domenic shares some fascinating examples of how Visit Cheyenne integrates advocacy into their advertising, meeting...
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9: Types of Tour Operators with Ryan Hauck

June 29, 2023 • 35 mins
In this episode of The Tourism Teacher, Andi sits down with Ryan Hauck, executive director at Cody Yellowstone and expert on tours and group travel. Ryan and Andi walk through the difference between a tour operator and a travel agent and discuss some of the different types of tour operators that destination professionals may encounter. They also discuss why bringing tours to your destination is so important, as it often brings a la...
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8: Selling Your Destination with Erik Barstow

June 22, 2023 • 42 mins
In this week’s episode of The Tourism Teacher, Andi talks to Erik Barstow, VP of Sales at Visit Fort Collins, Colorado, about the importance of group travel and meetings for a destination. Erik explains the benefits of bringing group travel and meetings to a community, including the impact on local businesses and the community as a whole. He shares his experience in the industry and explains the process of bringing meetings and eve...
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7: A Rundown of the Tourism Industry’s Annual Events

June 15, 2023 • 18 mins
In this episode of The Tourism Teacher, Andi takes listeners through some of the most important annual events in the tourism industry. These events provide opportunities for continuing education, networking and sales — and by attending these events, professionals can expand their knowledge and skills and connect with potential clients or business partners. Destinations International Events Connect Travel  US Travel Association Nati...
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6: An Inside Look at Destinations International's CDME and PDM Courses with Rori Ferensic

June 8, 2023 • 22 mins
Are you looking to take your destination management career to the next level? Or maybe you’re just starting and want to build a solid foundation of skills and knowledge. Either way, Destinations International’s CDME and PDM courses have got you covered. In this episode of The Tourism Teacher, host Andi Jaspersen sits down with guest Rori Ferensic to explore all the ins and outs of these prestigious professional development programs...
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5: What is Destinations International and How Does it Benefit the Tourism Industry?

June 1, 2023 • 19 mins
In this episode of The Tourism Teacher, Andi sits down with Andreas Weissenborn, vice president of advocacy and research at Destinations International, to get an overview of what Destinations International is and what they do for the tourism industry. Andreas shares insights into the history, core values and resources the organization provides, including events and activations designed to support its member destinations. The conver...
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4: The 4 Types of Media in Destination Marketing

May 25, 2023 • 39 mins
Our latest episode of the Tourism Teacher features our inaugural guest, Adam Stoker, the CEO and President of Relic. Adam and Andi talk about what the four types of media are and how destinations can best use them in their marketing strategies. It is important to remember that each type of media has its unique advantages and limitations and a good marketing plan should include elements of all four: paid, earned, shared and owned. I...
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3: Destination Funding

May 18, 2023 • 11 mins
One thing that many people don't fully grasp about destination marketing is how tourism organizations actually get their funding. Regardless of whether the organization is at the local or state level, there is a need to identify sources of financial support to keep things running smoothly. In this episode, Andi talks about some of the most common ways that destinations are funded. This includes options such as hotel occupancy tax, ...
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2: Understanding Roles in a DMO

May 11, 2023 • 10 mins
Have you ever been curious about what goes on inside your local tourism office and who contributes to its success? In this episode of The Tourism Teacher, Andi dives into the various positions that may be present within a DMO and the corresponding duties associated with each role. Although workforces may differ depending on location and scale, this episode provides an overview of what you can anticipate from a common DMO. If you’re...
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1: What in the World is a DMO?

May 10, 2023 • 5 mins
Class is in session in this pilot episode of The Tourism Teacher. Andi sits down to introduce the show and what listeners can expect in upcoming episodes. Our first topic is one that seems simple but is often misunderstood. Listen and learn what DMO stands for, how it’s usually organized, and what they do for their communities. Stay tuned next week where we’ll dive deeper into some of the roles you can find at most DMOs and what ea...
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