Building a Tourism Business with Purpose featuring Nā Pali Coast Tours

Peter from Sea Maui joins Rebekah and Monique from FareHarbor for Part Two of our special Hawai‘i Series on Growth Powered by FareHarbor. Recording from the FareHarbor Meetup, Peter shares what it means to grow a tourism business in Hawai‘i with intention, heart, and community at the core. From navigating wildfires and COVID to strengthening brand loyalty, Peter reflects on the lessons that helped Sea Maui evolve. He also dives into how FareHarbor has streamlined operations, expanded revenue through the Distribution Network, and helped the business stay connected to its values as it grows. This episode is a great listen if you’re thinking about long-term growth, finding the right partnerships, or building a company culture rooted in care. Part Two of our Hawai‘i Series, spotlighting local operators doing meaningful work with FareHarbor.

Kamalani from Nā Pali Coast Tours joins Rebekah on-site in Kaua‘i for a special episode of Growth Powered by FareHarbor. As a Native Hawaiian and second-generation business owner, Kamalani shares what it means to carry on his family’s legacy while honoring the land, history, and community of the Nā Pali Coast. They dive into topics like responsible tourism, what it takes to run a cultural tour business in Hawai‘i, and why authenticity is critical for growth. Kamalani also shares how FareHarbor helps manage operations while supporting the business’s mission of sustainability and education. Part of our Hawai‘i Series featuring operators doing incredible things with FareHarbor.

 This episode of Growth Powered by FareHarbor brings you an inside look at GetYourGuide, one of the leading online travel agencies (OTAs) in the tourism industry. Rebekah talks with Allie, Senior Account Executive at GetYourGuide, about how operators can succeed on the platform and how FareHarbor clients can leverage that connection. Topics include: What it takes to get listed (and verified) How to write better listings that actually convert Why reviews and visuals matter more than ever The biggest misunderstandings about OTAs How GetYourGuide’s global reach and marketing strategy help small businesses thrive New features: AI tools, review responses, pickup UX This episode is for you if you're: ✔️ A FareHarbor client looking to grow your bookings ✔️ Curious about selling through GetYourGuide ✔️ Want to better understand OTA partnerships and strategies Learn more at getyourguide.com/partners Join the FareHarbor Community at fareharbor.com/community Helpful links: GetYourGuide Supply Partner Help Center: https://supply.getyourguide.support/hc/en-us This includes tons of helpful resources, including best practices for responding to reviews and optimizing your listings. How-To Video Series – Creating Products with GetYourGuide: https://supply.getyourguide.support/hc/en-us/sections/14002453180061-Creating-Products-with-GetYourGuide-How-To-Videos These short videos walk through key parts of the setup process and would be great visual additions. Spring 2025 Travel Experience Trend Tracker: https://www.getyourguide.supply/travel-experience-trend-tracker-spring-2025?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=organic&utm_term=feed

In this Pride Month special, Rebekah speaks with Captain Jen and Captain Janet of Sundog Sailing about their journey as queer women in the sailing and tourism industry. They share how they built a business rooted in inclusion, hospitality, and joy all while creating a safe space on the water for everyone. Together, they reflect on the importance of visibility and representation in tourism, the personal stories that shaped their business, and how being themselves has been the most powerful form of leadership. Captain Jen and Captain Janet encourage donations to the following organizations: PFLAG The Trevor Project We Are Team Jake This episode must-listen for queer entrepreneurs and anyone who’s ever built something from the ground up with heart. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the full episode on YouTube!

In this engaging conversation, Rebekah speaks with Captain Jen and Captain Janet of Sundog Sailing about their experiences as queer women in the sailing industry. They discuss the importance of inclusivity, visibility, and mentorship within the LGBTQ+ community, as well as the unique experiences they offer through their sailing tours. The captains share their journey of love, friendship, empowerment, and the joy of creating a safe space for all individuals to express themselves while enjoying the beauty of sailing. Looking to create a more welcoming experience for your guests? Let Sundog Sailing show you what it means to lead with authenticity and purpose! Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

Charlie from Adventure Cat Sailing joins Rebekah to share how one of San Francisco’s most iconic tour businesses creates a smooth, guest-first booking experience on and off the water. They discuss what it takes to build trust through branding, how FareHarbor tools help remove friction from the guest journey, and why thoughtful pricing, team culture, and follow-up reviews all matter. If you're thinking of upgrading your booking flow, scaling your guest experience, or exploring reservation softwares built for tour operators, this episode is for you! Listen in for insights on marketing, operations, and what makes guests come back for more.

What happens when a growing ethical elephant sanctuary in Thailand upgrades to a smarter reservation system? In this episode, Rebekah sits down with Vincent, General Manager of Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, to explore how FareHarbor helped them streamline operations, improve guest experience, and scale sustainably. Vincent shares the sanctuary’s growth story, including how they survived the pandemic, embraced ethical tourism practices, and now manage up to 300 guests per day—all while protecting their elephants and educating travelers.  We also dive into: - The launch of FareHarbor in Thailand - The benefits of mobile-first booking -Pivoting your business when things go awry - How FareHarbor’s tools and support helped Vincent’s team scale, automate, and thrive. - What ethical tourism is, especially when it comes to caring for animals Whether you're researching reservation software or already scaling your tourism business, this episode is a great look at how the right tech partner can power thoughtful, impactful growth.

How can tour and activity operators use Google Things to Do (GTTD) to drive more direct bookings and increase visibility? In this episode of Growth Powered by FareHarbor, FareHarbor Community Manager Rebekah Costley dives into how operators can leverage Google Things to Do to capture more organic traffic, optimize their listings, and reduce reliance on OTAs. Tune in to learn: ✔ What Google Things to Do is and how it works for tour and activity businesses ✔ How to optimize your listings to appear in Google search results ✔ Strategies for increasing direct bookings using GTTD ✔ Common mistakes operators make with GTTD listings and how to avoid them This is a great episode for anyone looking to improve their Google presence, attract more customers, and stay ahead of industry trends. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts! #FareHarborPodcast #GoogleThingsToDo #TourismMarketing #TourOperators #DirectBookings #ScalingYourBusiness #TravelIndustry

Join host Rebekah Costley for a special International Women’s Day edition of Growth Powered by FareHarbor, where we celebrate the resilience, innovation, and success of women entrepreneurs in the tourism industry. In this episode, five inspiring women share their entrepreneurial journeys, challenges they've overcome, and strategies for success—from running food tours in Puerto Rico to leading adventure tourism businesses in Australia and Canada. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: How these women built thriving tourism businesses The biggest challenges they’ve faced—and how they overcame them Strategies for scaling, adapting, and staying competitive in tourism What it means to balance business, family, and personal growth The future of women-led tourism and leadership Featured Guests: Paulina Salach (Spoon Experience, Puerto Rico) – Culinary tourism & food-focused experiences Kaija Pack (Break Life, Houston) – Innovating with alternative therapy businesses Margit & Amy (Walk and Eat Spain, Madrid) – Expanding food tourism globally Tanya McCready (Winterdance Dogsled Tours, Canada) – Growing a seasonal adventure business Kate Forrester (Gold Coast Watersports, Australia) – Transitioning into adventure tourism Watch the extended version of this episode on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@FareHarborOfficial Connect with FareHarbor: https://fareharbor.com/blog/category/podcast/ | Join the Conversation at https://www.facebook.com/groups/fareharbor |  [Follow FareHarbor on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/fareharbor/posts/] 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with fellow tourism entrepreneurs!

This episode is #incredible. Rebekah chats with co-founder Lia Garcia of Louisville Food Tours, about her journey from travel blogging to running a successful food tour business. Leah shares how she used SEO, influencer marketing, and affiliate programs to increase visibility and drive sales. Leah also discusses in detail the power of authentic storytelling and using it to build meaningful partnerships with local businesses to grow her revenue. If you’re a tour operator looking to enhance your marketing strategy and boost bookings via social media marketing and blogging, this episode has some valuable insights on how to leverage creativity as well as FareHarbor’s tools to achieve success!