Episode #11 - We meet the man harnessing tech to innovate the travel industry, one ticket at a time

Who do the world's most discerning clientele turn to for all their concierge and travel planning needs? They turn to Erica Jackowitz and her husband Roman who together founded the luxury lifestyle and travel firm Roman & Erica. Based in New York and Aspen, their exclusive membership-based- firm offers personalised services to meet the needs of HNW and UHNW clientele across the world. Erica, a former practicing attorney is guided by the philosophy that one's leisure time is your only non-renewable asset, and has dedicated her career to creating covetable luxury experiences that will stay with their members forever? Where do we sign! An episode packed with a peek behind the curtain to the lives of the ultra wealthy to discovering Erica's everyday travel hacks and travel trends for 2023 and why a 'lifestylist' is the companion you didn't know you needed to lead a friction free life. Find out more about Roman & Erica: www.romananderica.com *** Find out more and get in touch, we'd love to hear your feedback: Connect with Emma and Katie! Emma-Jane Nutbrown - https://www.linkedin.com/in/enutbrown/  Katie Blake - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-blake-3b0b3725/ Thanks! Emma and Katie

The National Gallery is one of Emma and Katie's favourite destinations in London, and one of the many FREE arts and culture destinations in the Capital, welcoming around 2.7 million visitors in 2022 [previously 6 million in 2019]. We catchup with Katie Weller, Travel Trade and Sales Manager, asked to come on the podcast, it was an easy yes! Tune in to find out: - How the National Gallery iOS recovering post-panemic - How the destination is retaining traditional while embracing innovation to enhance their offering - Overview of their insane upcoming exhibitions and how they are working with the travel trade to promote - What accessibility means for the gallery, and how it is reaching new audiences - Katie's thoughts on London's recovery, and the importance of the capital's arts and culture economy Connect with Katie Weller on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-weller-8171688b?originalSubdomain=uk  *** Find out more and get in touch, we'd love to hear your feedback: Connect with Emma and Katie! Emma-Jane Nutbrown - https://www.linkedin.com/in/enutbrown/  Katie Blake - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-blake-3b0b3725/ Thanks! Emma and Katie

We love innovation in the travel industry and jumped at the chance to spend time with Vinay, founder of Keetoo, a B2C app to help visitors get the most out of a day out, using an in-app currency called Credits.  The app was launched in 2019 just before the pandemic, and like most businesses, Keetoo had to innovate and adapt to survive and not, thrive! Tune in and find out: - Lessons learnt from growing a travel startup during COVID - Why tech is so important to ensuring a sustainable future for the travel industry - How is the travel-tech industry faring in attracting investment to fuel growth? - Vinay's top tips for travel-tech startups To find out more about the tax credits Vinay mentions, click on the link below: www.govgrant.co.uk/rd-tax-credits Want an introduction to Vinay? Drop Katie or Emma a line [email protected] Learn more about the Lets Do London campaign: https://www.londonandpartners.com/about-us/london-recovery *** Find out more and get in touch, we'd love to hear your feedback: Visit - www.InsideTravelTrade.co.uk Connect with Emma and Katie! Emma-Jane Nutbrown - https://www.linkedin.com/in/enutbrown/ Katie Blake - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-blake-3b0b3725/ Thanks! Emma and Katie

Our final Freedom Week special and another spotlight on London's tourism recovery. Tracy Halliwell MBE Director of Tourism, Conventions & Major Events for London joined us for a chat about how the Lets Do London campaign is progressing, what London needs next to kickstart its recovery and which markets will be bouncing back first. Key outtakes: - Now has never been a better time for Londoners and domestic visitors to re-discover and enjoy the Capital - Footfall at weekends at some stations are back to pre-covid levels - Business events tourism will come back strong in 2022 - America is poised to start bouncing back as soon as restrictions ease and we are already seeing positive movement in Europe from France and Germany We look forward to catching up with Tracy again soon to learn more about their Autumn campaign, and how our listeners can get involved! Connect with Tracy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-halliwell-mbe-42169510/ Learn more about the Lets Do London campaign: https://www.londonandpartners.com/about-us/london-recovery *** Find out more and get in touch, we'd love to hear your feedback: Visit - www.InsideTravelTrade.co.uk Email - [email protected] Connect with Emma and Katie! Emma-Jane Nutbrown - https://www.linkedin.com/in/enutbrown/ Katie Blake - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-blake-3b0b3725/ Thanks! Emma and Katie

Another Freedom Week special, Joss Croft, CEO of UKinbound provided the shocking get very real fact that the UK economy is losing £78m a week while the inbound tourism sector remains closed.  Joss updates us on their latest campaign to secure sector specific support and gave examples of where France and Scotland are leading the way in this regard. They key outtake from our conversation was the need for Government to provide a date for when inbound restrictions will ease, and the need to isolate on arrival is removed, citing hope that this major step forward could be just around the corner. An informative update from UKinbound, full of practical advice and insights - worth every minute! Connect with Joss: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joss-croft-杨博路-3a22187/ Become a member of UKinbound: https://www.ukinbound.org/membership/ UKinbound the only trade association that represents the interests of the UK’s inbound tourism sector and ensure it is recognised as a leading economic and employment driver in the UK. Their mission is to help their 300 members all across the country to manage successful, profitable businesses that are part of a vibrant and sustainable industry. UKinbound has been a vocal, influential and supportive voice of the inbound tourism sector during the pandemic. *** Find out more and get in touch, we'd love to hear your feedback: Visit - www.InsideTravelTrade.co.uk Email - [email protected] Connect with Emma and Katie! Emma-Jane Nutbrown - https://www.linkedin.com/in/enutbrown/ Katie Blake - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-blake-3b0b3725/ Thanks! Emma and Katie

In Freedom Week we caught up with Adam Reeves from the London Tourism Cooperative on how the industry led campaign is helping to get London's tourism economy back on its feet, trends on the horizon and why having hope is important now, more than ever. The London Tourism Cooperative (LTC) was formed in 2020 by Jonathan Mountford and his colleagues at MADE marketing agency, in response to the global pandemic and the devastating impact it’s had on London’s tourism industry. LTC is a not-for-profit marketing consortium made up of over 120 members ranging from national museums to major hotel chains and West End theatres and restaurants.  LTC is run by volunteers [including Katie and Emma] and is supported by all the major tourism industry bodies including VisitBritain, London and Partners, UKinbound, ETOA, VisitEngland, BETA, Coach Tourism Association and ALVA  Enjoy! *** Connect with Adam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-reeves-7b0b9455/?originalSubdomain=uk Learn more about the London Tourism Cooperative: https://www.tourismcooperative.org Find out more and get in touch, we'd love to hear your feedback: Visit - www.InsideTravelTrade.co.uk Email - [email protected] Connect with Emma and Katie! Emma-Jane Nutbrown - https://www.linkedin.com/in/enutbrown/ Katie Blake - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-blake-3b0b3725/ Thanks! Emma and Katie

In the post-pandemic world, will consumers return to products or seek new experiences? How will the traditional school trip look, and what can visitor attractions be doing to help drive these bookings? Who better to ask that Ana Araque [Co-founder www.imaginexperiences.com] and Tom Sanderson [Founder, https://theschooltrip.co.uk] experts in the why we are seeking moments that matter over material goods, and the importance of school trips in the tourism economy and children's education. Disclaimer: This episode was delayed being published [you will hear mention of Christmas 🤣] and was recorded when schools were closed, however the advice and insight is still very relevant to our listeners.  Connect with Ana - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-karina-araque-147970b/?originalSubdomain=uk  Connect with Tom - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-sanderson/ Find out more and get in touch, we'd love to hear your feedback: Visit - www.InsideTravelTrade.co.uk Email - [email protected] Connect with Emma and Katie! Emma-Jane Nutbrown - https://www.linkedin.com/in/enutbrown/ Katie Blake - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-blake-3b0b3725/ Thanks! Emma and Katie

A word that comes up time and time again on our podcast is the travel trade sector described by our guests as a family and we couldn't agree more, and one of the reasons we love our jobs so much. But how have some of the industry heavyweights made their mark in the sector, and what was their first big break and advice to young people seeking a career in this vibrant industry? We thought a good place to start would be industry titan Jonathan Mountford, founder of MADE and the London Tourism Cooperative [https://www.tourismcooperative.org] Connect with Jonathan! - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-mountford-9409832a/?originalSubdomain=uk  Find out more and get in touch, we'd love to hear your feedback: Visit - www.InsideTravelTrade.co.uk Email - [email protected] Connect with Emma and Katie! Emma-Jane Nutbrown - https://www.linkedin.com/in/enutbrown/ Katie Blake - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-blake-3b0b3725/ Thanks! Emma and Katie

Hot on the heels of today's Budget and the recent roadmap out of lockdown 3.0, we brought together Joss Croft [CEO, UKinbound] and Chris Earlie [Head of Tower Bridge] to get their reaction and discuss what these recent announcements mean for the UK's tourism sector. A must-listen for any destination to hear how Tower Bridge bounced back by re-opening in 2020 [with Kallaway's help of course ;)] and the principles for success Chris believes others can apply to the current roadmap including putting safety first, engaging your audiences with compelling digital content, delivering outstanding customer service and above all, a memorable experiences. Joss eloquently described the missed opportunity in today's Budget, citing disappointment on behalf of members at the the absence of sector specific support, compared to Scotland, and a pressing need for businesses without 'bricks and mortar' premises [like tour operators and coach companies] to not be overlooked for funding and grants. It was also clear that whilst quarantine restrictions for visitors to the UK remain in place, the inbound tourism market will simply not exist, and UKinbound will continue to press for changes and alternatives. Find out more and get in touch, we'd love to hear your feedback: Visit - www.InsideTravelTrade.co.uk Email - [email protected] Connect with Emma and Katie! Emma-Jane Nutbrown - https://www.linkedin.com/in/enutbrown/ Katie Blake - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-blake-3b0b3725/ Thanks! Emma and Katie

If you are as confused.com as us on latest Government advice and Westminster rumour mill on holidays and trip planning this episode is a MUST! Whether you are a travel agent, operator or destination planning your reopening, or simply confused on how to ensure you book your own holiday, trip or even a wedding safely and securely this year we felt there was no-one better to turn to for sound advice than Lyndsey Thomas, Founder and CEO of www.GirlAbout.co.uk Lyndsey is a big fan of upskilling, and here are her top resources for anyone keen to learn the basics of PR and digital marketing: A free PR challenge starting this week run by a PR expert who specialises in empowering  people to do their own PR. https://www.chocolatepr.co.uk/dare-to-be-seen-the-challenge/ Undemy and Social Creators are great platforms to find free and cost effective courses https://www.udemy.com https://www.socialcreators.com/design-thinking-for-social-media Four fantastic businesses coaches Lyndsey recommends to follow for free advice and tips: LinkedIn - Helen Pritchard Instagram - @inge.hunter Pinterest  - Allie Davis - https://www.facebook.com/ally.davis.125 PR - Jo Swann - Chocolate PR Find out more and get in touch, we'd love to hear your feedback: Visit - www.InsideTravelTrade.co.uk Email - [email protected] Connect with Emma and Katie! Emma-Jane Nutbrown - https://www.linkedin.com/in/enutbrown/ Katie Blake - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-blake-3b0b3725/ Thanks! Emma and Katie