Truth Behind Travel

Dolores Semeraro

Dolores Semeraro hosts the weekly episodes of Truth Behind Travel Podcast. A weekly show dedicated to hospitality and tourism industry professionals who want to restart the tourism and travel industry with travellers-centric tools and strategies, jump-starting their travel recovery strategies starting today. read less
Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Episodes

Tourism & Travel: How to nail The Art of Gift Giving your business partners
Dec 15 2023
Tourism & Travel: How to nail The Art of Gift Giving your business partners
Podcast host Dolores Semeraro interviews Josh Filer, Managing Director of D&S Travel Supplies based in the UK on how to nail the art of gift giving in the tourism and travel corporate world. This is a very special time of the year. For those of you celebrating the festivities ahead of us, this is a time that calls for celebration and reflection, time that we want to spend with our families and friends.But even if you are not celebrating the festivities right around the corner, it’s almost impossible to escape the commercial side of things and the urge of buying gifts for the ones we love, the ones we work with, the boss or anyone else for that matter nowadays. So today’s podcast episode is dedicated to the art of gifting, particularly in the hospitality and tourism industry. How do we gift a business partner? A client of the travel agency, an attendees of our trade and tourism event, a guest of our hotel? And most importantlyWhat do we gift them with? A branded pen? A notebook? So much in the gifting arena has been said and done, so today, when eco-friendly materials and renewable energies are becoming one of the key decision factors in whether a gift is successful or not, wrapping up a branded item is simply not enough. My guest today is an expert in the art of gifting, particularly when it comes to corporate branded gift in the travel and hospitality industry. Mr. Josh Filer. Josh is the Director of D&S Travel Supplies, a specialist in promotional gifts and branded merchandise based in the UK. With Josh we are going to discuss how the art of gifting in the corporate world has changed over the years, what are people asking and how we can come up with the perfect gift for the perfect occasion, a process that he calls ‘the journey’.  Dolores Semeraro is an internationally recognized tourism keynote speaker and trainer who has inspired thousands of people in the tourism industry to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient future of travel. In her keynotes, Dolores shares with her audience how to develop sustainable marketing thinking through her action-oriented thought process, which observes the interconnectivity of the stages in the travel product life cycle. By applying this process, operators in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors can visibly enhance the longevity of their marketing strategies, effectively rendering them more sustainable in the long term for the well-being of all stakeholders involved. Dolores is a passionate advocate for responsible travel, sustainability, and innovation. With her signature Mediterranean warmth and straightforwardness, she encourages audiences to challenge their "Business As Usual" status and strive for the improvement of the tourism industry and the well-being of all stakeholders. Through her decades-long experience in the industry, she has motivated hoteliers and tourism professionals to take action, enhance their communication, and create a purposeful and innovative tourism ecosystem. She also advocates for slow travel, exemplified by her extensive travels with her husband and beloved dog in their campervan. When not chronicling ...
From Accessible Travel to Inclusive Travel Today
Nov 19 2023
From Accessible Travel to Inclusive Travel Today
Dolores Semeraro on the truth behind Accessible Travel today with guest speakers Ali Parker from Travel Counsellors and Mike and Silvia Hill from Endeavour Safaris in Botswana. We most commonly in tourism and travel, refer to Accessible Travel as the sphere in which travellers with limited mobility or disabilities can access travel options in a fully inclusive way.  In this episode we explore the truth behind booking accessible travel holidays for travel agents and tourism operators. In particular we discuss: 1.  The Educational Sphere around Accessible Travel: the training needed amongst the tourism operators in order to deliver great travel experiences for travellers with limited mobilities or disabilities. 2. The Supply Chain and all the parts involved in delivering the perfect travel experience: from the travel enquiry to the accommodation, the transport and all the logistics. 3. The Hotel experience and how can hotel rooms & suites be more accessible and inclusive without compromising the look and feel of the space. 4. Normalise Accessible Travel and the conversations we have both with the clients and the suppliers: how do we shift from accessible to inclusive.5. The Business Volume: is it big enough to prompt more investments and much needed changes? 6. The role of Governments and the public authorities in tourism and travel in Accessible Travel, where do the private operators feel supported and where, instead, lack of support negatively impacts the outcome of the travel experience. The Podcast guests: Ali Parker - personal travel consultant with Travel Counsellors, a global award-winning travel professionals’ network. Ali has more than 20 years’ experience in making holidays and travel accessible and inclusive to all, and ever passionate on how to create holidays and travel that meet the need of travellers with even the most complex access and mobility requirements.  Ali is going to take us on a journey to when Accessible Travel was not even a thing to a world where traveling on a wheelchair is not a privilege but a right.  Mike and Silvia Hill - founders of Endeavor Safaris in - Maun, Botswana where they operate – perhaps being the only ones  - incredible safari Dolores Semeraro is an internationally recognized tourism keynote speaker and trainer who has inspired thousands of people in the tourism industry to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient future of travel. In her keynotes, Dolores shares with her audience how to develop sustainable marketing thinking through her action-oriented thought process, which observes the interconnectivity of the stages in the travel product life cycle. By applying this process, operators in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors can visibly enhance the longevity of their marketing strategies, effectively rendering them more sustainable in the long term for the well-being of all stakeholders involved. Dolores is a passionate advocate for responsible travel, sustainability, and innovation. With her signature Mediterranean warmth and straightforwardness, she encourages audiences to challenge their "Business As Usual" status and strive for the improvement of the tourism industry and the well-being of all stakeholders. Through her decades-long experience in the industry, she has motivated hoteliers and tourism professionals to take action, enhance their communication, and create a purposeful and innovative tourism ecosystem. She also advocates for slow travel, exemplified by her extensive travels with her husband and beloved dog in their campervan. When not chronicling ...
Slovenia Sustainability Success Story
Oct 6 2023
Slovenia Sustainability Success Story
Dolores Semeraro speaks to the Director General of Slovenia Ministry of Tourism Dubravka Kalin about the success story of destination Slovenia and how it became the sustainability most-copies and observed case study in Europe.On this episode Dubravka shares: The challenges faced growing and developing tourism industryThe best practices that everyone embracedThe shift in the type of tourists coming to the destinationWho does Slovenia look up to?and much more! Learn more about Slovenia here: https://www.slovenia.info/enDolores Semeraro is an internationally recognized tourism keynote speaker and trainer who has inspired thousands of people in the tourism industry to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient future of travel. In her keynotes, Dolores shares with her audience how to develop sustainable marketing thinking through her action-oriented thought process, which observes the interconnectivity of the stages in the travel product life cycle. By applying this process, operators in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors can visibly enhance the longevity of their marketing strategies, effectively rendering them more sustainable in the long term for the well-being of all stakeholders involved. Dolores is a passionate advocate for responsible travel, sustainability, and innovation. With her signature Mediterranean warmth and straightforwardness, she encourages audiences to challenge their "Business As Usual" status and strive for the improvement of the tourism industry and the well-being of all stakeholders. Through her decades-long experience in the industry, she has motivated hoteliers and tourism professionals to take action, enhance their communication, and create a purposeful and innovative tourism ecosystem. She also advocates for slow travel, exemplified by her extensive travels with her husband and beloved dog in their campervan. When not chronicling ...
The Carbon Footprint of the Tourism Industry
Sep 27 2023
The Carbon Footprint of the Tourism Industry
Truth Behind Travel Podcast Host Dolores Semeraro talks to Mark Duckmanton, co-founder and CEO of Path Net Zero on the carbon footprint of the tourism industry and shares the solutions provided by the platform. Path Net Zero  provides Carbon Impact Correction solutions for travel, tourism and commercial organisations focused on CSR & ESG. This episode focuses on how the whole impact of of the travel experience can be measured and mitigated with the tools provided by the platform, engaging travel and tourism operators in a more committed and actionable journey to a more responsible tourism business management. Dolores Semeraro is an internationally recognized tourism keynote speaker and trainer who has inspired thousands of people in the tourism industry to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient future of travel. In her keynotes, Dolores shares with her audience how to develop sustainable marketing thinking through her action-oriented thought process, which observes the interconnectivity of the stages in the travel product life cycle. By applying this process, operators in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors can visibly enhance the longevity of their marketing strategies, effectively rendering them more sustainable in the long term for the well-being of all stakeholders involved. Dolores is a passionate advocate for responsible travel, sustainability, and innovation. With her signature Mediterranean warmth and straightforwardness, she encourages audiences to challenge their "Business As Usual" status and strive for the improvement of the tourism industry and the well-being of all stakeholders. Through her decades-long experience in the industry, she has motivated hoteliers and tourism professionals to take action, enhance their communication, and create a purposeful and innovative tourism ecosystem. She also advocates for slow travel, exemplified by her extensive travels with her husband and beloved dog in their campervan. When not chronicling ...
The Power of The Global Collective for Travel
May 19 2023
The Power of The Global Collective for Travel
The GLOBAL COLLECTIVE FOR TRAVEL is a group of Destination Management Companies dedicated to true connections between the travellers and the destination. The Founders of The Global Collective for Travel Tuan Pham, Çağlar Gökgün and Pravin Tamang speak to host Dolores Semeraro about:The truth behind carbon offsettingCommunity tourism frameworksHow does greenwashing looks like so travellers can learn how to spot it For them, sustainability and community tourism are not just buzzwords– they do not want to leave things as they found them, the want to leave things better! Get in touch with them at https://www.globalcollective.travelDolores Semeraro is an internationally recognized tourism keynote speaker and trainer who has inspired thousands of people in the tourism industry to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient future of travel. In her keynotes, Dolores shares with her audience how to develop sustainable marketing thinking through her action-oriented thought process, which observes the interconnectivity of the stages in the travel product life cycle. By applying this process, operators in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors can visibly enhance the longevity of their marketing strategies, effectively rendering them more sustainable in the long term for the well-being of all stakeholders involved. Dolores is a passionate advocate for responsible travel, sustainability, and innovation. With her signature Mediterranean warmth and straightforwardness, she encourages audiences to challenge their "Business As Usual" status and strive for the improvement of the tourism industry and the well-being of all stakeholders. Through her decades-long experience in the industry, she has motivated hoteliers and tourism professionals to take action, enhance their communication, and create a purposeful and innovative tourism ecosystem. She also advocates for slow travel, exemplified by her extensive travels with her husband and beloved dog in their campervan. When not chronicling ...
Queer Destinations and the potentials of the LGBTQ+ Travel Segment
May 5 2023
Queer Destinations and the potentials of the LGBTQ+ Travel Segment
Founder Oriol Pamies shares the mission and the strategies behind the global success of Queer Destinations, leading LGBTQ+ tourism company that provides consulting and marketing strategies to destinations and tourism companies around the world on the LGBTQ+ travel segment.Oriol Pamies speaks to host Dolores Semeraro about  how to actively promote your tourism and travel business across the LGBTQ+ segmentdevelop and implement responsible policies towards the LGTBQ+ people through the work of Queer Destinations today. Learn more about Queer Destinations hereFollow the work of Oriol Pamies hereDolores Semeraro is an internationally recognized tourism keynote speaker and trainer who has inspired thousands of people in the tourism industry to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient future of travel. In her keynotes, Dolores shares with her audience how to develop sustainable marketing thinking through her action-oriented thought process, which observes the interconnectivity of the stages in the travel product life cycle. By applying this process, operators in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors can visibly enhance the longevity of their marketing strategies, effectively rendering them more sustainable in the long term for the well-being of all stakeholders involved. Dolores is a passionate advocate for responsible travel, sustainability, and innovation. With her signature Mediterranean warmth and straightforwardness, she encourages audiences to challenge their "Business As Usual" status and strive for the improvement of the tourism industry and the well-being of all stakeholders. Through her decades-long experience in the industry, she has motivated hoteliers and tourism professionals to take action, enhance their communication, and create a purposeful and innovative tourism ecosystem. She also advocates for slow travel, exemplified by her extensive travels with her husband and beloved dog in their campervan. When not chronicling ...
What does it take to be an authentic Wellness Tourism Destination?
Apr 27 2023
What does it take to be an authentic Wellness Tourism Destination?
Vice Chair of Wellness Tourism Initiative on Wellness Tourism Destination at The Global Wellness Institute Lindsay Madden-Nadeau shares how a Tourism Destination can truly embraces its wellness potentials. On this episode, Lindsay speaks to podcast host Dolores Semeraro about the research work done through the Wellness Tourism Initiative and the key findings that are showcasing aligning factors across destinations around the world on what does it take to actually be able to call themselves a 'wellness tourism destination'.  Learn more about the Wellness Tourism Initiative on here Dolores Semeraro is an internationally recognized tourism keynote speaker and trainer who has inspired thousands of people in the tourism industry to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient future of travel. In her keynotes, Dolores shares with her audience how to develop sustainable marketing thinking through her action-oriented thought process, which observes the interconnectivity of the stages in the travel product life cycle. By applying this process, operators in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors can visibly enhance the longevity of their marketing strategies, effectively rendering them more sustainable in the long term for the well-being of all stakeholders involved. Dolores is a passionate advocate for responsible travel, sustainability, and innovation. With her signature Mediterranean warmth and straightforwardness, she encourages audiences to challenge their "Business As Usual" status and strive for the improvement of the tourism industry and the well-being of all stakeholders. Through her decades-long experience in the industry, she has motivated hoteliers and tourism professionals to take action, enhance their communication, and create a purposeful and innovative tourism ecosystem. She also advocates for slow travel, exemplified by her extensive travels with her husband and beloved dog in their campervan. When not chronicling ...
Special Episode [ITALIAN] - Il Metaverso e l' Industria del Turismo
Apr 17 2023
Special Episode [ITALIAN] - Il Metaverso e l' Industria del Turismo
Special Episode in Italian Language:  Il Metaverso e l' Industria del Turismo. This is a twin episode of Truth Behind Travel Episode No. 60. Dolores Semeraro is an internationally recognized tourism keynote speaker and trainer who has inspired thousands of people in the tourism industry to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient future of travel. In her keynotes, Dolores shares with her audience how to develop sustainable marketing thinking through her action-oriented thought process, which observes the interconnectivity of the stages in the travel product life cycle. By applying this process, operators in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors can visibly enhance the longevity of their marketing strategies, effectively rendering them more sustainable in the long term for the well-being of all stakeholders involved. Dolores is a passionate advocate for responsible travel, sustainability, and innovation. With her signature Mediterranean warmth and straightforwardness, she encourages audiences to challenge their "Business As Usual" status and strive for the improvement of the tourism industry and the well-being of all stakeholders. Through her decades-long experience in the industry, she has motivated hoteliers and tourism professionals to take action, enhance their communication, and create a purposeful and innovative tourism ecosystem. She also advocates for slow travel, exemplified by her extensive travels with her husband and beloved dog in their campervan. When not chronicling ...
The Metaverse and The Tourism Industry
Apr 11 2023
The Metaverse and The Tourism Industry
The Metaverse for the tourism industry.  During this episode we are going to learn how does The Experience of the Metaverse look like, What is the The Technology we need to access the Metaverse, how Communication in the Metaverse will unfold and how we ensure Accessibility for the Metaverse so that our clients can find us. Beyond the proxies are real opportunities for the tourism and travel operators. What are those? Let’s discovery them together with this how-to, step-by-step Truth Behind Travel Podcast episode. Welcome back to Season 3 of Truth Behind Travel Podcast, where we are having conversations that are shaping the future of travel with innovation, technology and sustainability. If you follow the podcast, you might have notice a pause over the past weeks, a much needed one, I would say, one that we don’t often take. Today we kick start with one of the hottest topics across the tourism industry. The Metaverse and it application for this industry. Let’s get started. Dolores SemeraroTourism & Hospitality Marketing Specialist and SpeakerTruth Behind Travel Podcast Host Dolores Semeraro is an internationally recognized tourism keynote speaker and trainer who has inspired thousands of people in the tourism industry to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient future of travel. In her keynotes, Dolores shares with her audience how to develop sustainable marketing thinking through her action-oriented thought process, which observes the interconnectivity of the stages in the travel product life cycle. By applying this process, operators in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors can visibly enhance the longevity of their marketing strategies, effectively rendering them more sustainable in the long term for the well-being of all stakeholders involved. Dolores is a passionate advocate for responsible travel, sustainability, and innovation. With her signature Mediterranean warmth and straightforwardness, she encourages audiences to challenge their "Business As Usual" status and strive for the improvement of the tourism industry and the well-being of all stakeholders. Through her decades-long experience in the industry, she has motivated hoteliers and tourism professionals to take action, enhance their communication, and create a purposeful and innovative tourism ecosystem. She also advocates for slow travel, exemplified by her extensive travels with her husband and beloved dog in their campervan. When not chronicling ...
LGBTQ+ Travel Today: challenges and opportunities
Jan 4 2023
LGBTQ+ Travel Today: challenges and opportunities
IGLTA International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association Chairman Of The Board Of Directors  Felipe Cardenas speaks about the challenges and opportunities for the tourism industry when tapping into the LGBTQ+ clientele to build a safe and inclusive travel experience for all. Across the tourism industry today we often speak about embracing a more inclusive and diverse approach and mindset. But what does it exactly mean? How do we practically develop a more ‘inclusive’ company culture and what are the benefits of this approach?  The travellers profile is growing more and more complex by the day, the tourism industry operators have come to understand and even enhance a more gender neutral approach to their customers but a lot more remains to be done and the challenge is that many tourism operators do not quite know how to tackle this social change, which will inevitably have an impact on the future of their business.WHY LGBTQ+ travel is crucial to building an inclusive future of travel HOW you can get on board, put your destination on the map and learn what are the direct financial benefits of tapping into this social movement and WHAT can you do to champion change across your company cultureAbout IGLTAIGLTA, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association was founded in 1983 and is the world's leading network of LGBTQ+-welcoming tourism businesses. We provide free travel resources and information while continuously working to promote equality and safety within LGBTQ+ tourism worldwide. IGLTA’s members include LGBTQ+-friendly accommodations, transport, destinations, service providers, Travel Advisors, tour operators, events and travel media located in over 80 countries.Learn more about IGLTA hereSeason 3 Episode 60SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOWRate and Review Truth Behind Travel Podcast on Apple PodcastAbout Dolores SemeraroDolores Semeraro is a Tourism & Hospitality Marketing Specialist and International Tourism Keynote Speaker focusing on Tourism Innovation, Recovery Strategies and Travel Resilience with 20 years of experience in hospitality, marketing, and communication. During her careeDolores Semeraro is an internationally recognized tourism keynote speaker and trainer who has inspired thousands of people in the tourism industry to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient future of travel. In her keynotes, Dolores shares with her audience how to develop sustainable marketing thinking through her action-oriented thought process, which observes the interconnectivity of the stages in the travel product life cycle. By applying this process, operators in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors can visibly enhance the longevity of their marketing strategies, effectively rendering them more sustainable in the long term for the well-being of all stakeholders involved. Dolores is a passionate advocate for responsible travel, sustainability, and innovation. With her signature Mediterranean warmth and straightforwardness, she encourages audiences to challenge their "Business As Usual" status and strive for the improvement of the tourism industry and the well-being of all stakeholders. Through her decades-long experience in the industry, she has motivated hoteliers and tourism professionals to take action, enhance their communication, and create a purposeful and innovative tourism ecosystem. She also advocates for slow travel, exemplified by her extensive travels with her husband and beloved dog in their campervan. When not chronicling ...
The 3 Key Travel Phases you cannot ignore today
Dec 16 2022
The 3 Key Travel Phases you cannot ignore today
Podcast host Dolores Semeraro explores 3 additional areas across the more commonly known '4 travel decision phases', which are having an incredible impact on the outcome of that travel decision. The SEARCH PhaseThe ASSURANCE PhaseThe VALIDATION PhaseSeason 3 Episode 59SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOWRate and Review Truth Behind Travel Podcast on Apple PodcastAbout Dolores SemeraroDolores Semeraro is a Tourism & Hospitality Marketing Specialist and International Tourism Keynote Speaker focusing on Tourism Innovation, Recovery Strategies and Travel Resilience with 20 years of experience in hospitality, marketing, and communication. During her career, Dolores has worked in Europe, China, The Maldives, and The Republic of Mauritius for some of the most established hotel companies across Asia and the Indian Ocean. Tourism Marketing and Digital Communication are Dolores’ key areas of expertise, she pioneered the use of social media for hospitality and tourism in the Maldives since the very early days of the use of social networks. Most recently, as the pandemic brought the global outlook of the tourism industry to a halt, Dolores launched the world’s first travel recovery podcast called ‘Truth Behind Travel’ where she interviews tourism industry leaders and travel experts on the core topic of Travel Recovery. Within months from its launch, the podcast ranked #1 in travel and places on Apple Podcast across the Indian Ocean region.As the hospitality and tourism industry embarks on a journey towards travel recovery, Dolores has brought her hospitality keynotes to a global virtual stage having been invited to speak at international tourism summits as a Hospitality Expert on Travel Recovery. She has also been the host of travel and hospitality virtual events moderating panels with the likes of Ministers of Tourism and Diplomats as well as senior industry leaders both in the hospitality and aviation industry.If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave me a review on Apple podcast –or connect with me on Instagram or Facebook, and let me know what your thoughts are. Dolores Semeraro is an internationally recognized tourism keynote speaker and trainer who has inspired thousands of people in the tourism industry to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient future of travel. In her keynotes, Dolores shares with her audience how to develop sustainable marketing thinking through her action-oriented thought process, which observes the interconnectivity of the stages in the travel product life cycle. By applying this process, operators in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors can visibly enhance the longevity of their marketing strategies, effectively rendering them more sustainable in the long term for the well-being of all stakeholders involved. Dolores is a passionate advocate for responsible travel, sustainability, and innovation. With her signature Mediterranean warmth and straightforwardness, she encourages audiences to challenge their "Business As Usual" status and strive for the improvement of the tourism industry and the well-being of all stakeholders. Through her decades-long experience in the industry, she has motivated hoteliers and tourism professionals to take action, enhance their communication, and create a purposeful and innovative tourism ecosystem. She also advocates for slow travel, exemplified by her extensive travels with her husband and beloved dog in their campervan. When not chronicling ...
Charitable Travel: The successful formula of 'Giving instead of Gaining'
Dec 3 2022
Charitable Travel: The successful formula of 'Giving instead of Gaining'
Podcast host Dolores Semeraro interviews Charitable Travel Founder Melissa Tilling on the secret formula behind the success of her innovative business model. Charitable Travel is an innovative social enterprise travel company that combines charitable giving with great value, choice and quality holidays, flights, hotels and cruises to worldwide destinations. #TravelforgoodAs a not-for-private-profit social enterprise, they sacrifice part of their commission to allow their clients to support the causes they care about while they book the holidays of their dreams at prices they’ll love. Charitable Travel is an independent travel agent with the ability to sell holidays from almost 200 suppliers. Season 3 Episode 58SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOWRate and Review Truth Behind Travel Podcast on Apple PodcastAbout Dolores SemeraroDolores Semeraro is a Tourism & Hospitality Marketing Specialist and International Tourism Keynote Speaker focusing on Tourism Innovation, Recovery Strategies and Travel Resilience with 20 years of experience in hospitality, marketing, and communication. During her career, Dolores has worked in Europe, China, The Maldives, and The Republic of Mauritius for some of the most established hotel companies across Asia and the Indian Ocean. Tourism Marketing and Digital Communication are Dolores’ key areas of expertise, she pioneered the use of social media for hospitality and tourism in the Maldives since the very early days of the use of social networks. Most recently, as the pandemic brought the global outlook of the tourism industry to a halt, Dolores launched the world’s first travel recovery podcast called ‘Truth Behind Travel’ where she interviews tourism industry leaders and travel experts on the core topic of Travel Recovery. Within months from its launch, the podcast ranked #1 in travel and places on Apple Podcast across the Indian Ocean region.As the hospitality and tourism industry embarks on a journey towards travel recovery, Dolores has brought her hospitality keynotes to a global virtual stage having been invited to speak at international tourism summits as a Hospitality Expert on Travel Recovery. She has also been the host of travel and hospitality virtual events moderating pDolores Semeraro is an internationally recognized tourism keynote speaker and trainer who has inspired thousands of people in the tourism industry to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient future of travel. In her keynotes, Dolores shares with her audience how to develop sustainable marketing thinking through her action-oriented thought process, which observes the interconnectivity of the stages in the travel product life cycle. By applying this process, operators in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors can visibly enhance the longevity of their marketing strategies, effectively rendering them more sustainable in the long term for the well-being of all stakeholders involved. Dolores is a passionate advocate for responsible travel, sustainability, and innovation. With her signature Mediterranean warmth and straightforwardness, she encourages audiences to challenge their "Business As Usual" status and strive for the improvement of the tourism industry and the well-being of all stakeholders. Through her decades-long experience in the industry, she has motivated hoteliers and tourism professionals to take action, enhance their communication, and create a purposeful and innovative tourism ecosystem. She also advocates for slow travel, exemplified by her extensive travels with her husband and beloved dog in their campervan. When not chronicling ...
The Bhutan Effect: Destination Rebranding & Repositioning
Nov 18 2022
The Bhutan Effect: Destination Rebranding & Repositioning
Dolores Semeraro, host of Truth Behind Travel Podcast, interviews Carissa Nimah, Chief Marketing Officer at the Tourism Council of Bhutan. Bhutan has recently reopened borders to international tourism after 2 and half long years, and to welcome back what they call ‘guests’ instead of tourists – they rebranded the destination, a rebranding with a dual purpose, of which we are going to explain more during our conversation and also how they redesigned unique experiences highlighting the values of the Bhutanese people, the culture and personality and today's guest, is also going to explain the truth behind the increased entry fee to Bhutan which they called SDF sustainable development fee – that now sits at about 200 Dollars per person.  Carissa Nima is not new to branding, particularly when it comes to upholding sustainability in tourism and hospitality, she previously worked as Guardian of the Brand with the Soneva Group in the Maldives pioneering many projects that are still – to this date – regarded as destination case studies. Season 3 Episode 57SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOWRate and Review Truth Behind Travel Podcast on Apple PodcastAbout Dolores SemeraroDolores Semeraro is a Tourism & Hospitality Marketing Specialist and International Tourism Keynote Speaker focusing on Tourism Innovation, Recovery Strategies and Travel Resilience with 20 years of experience in hospitality, marketing, and communication. During her career, Dolores has worked in Europe, China, The Maldives, and The Republic of Mauritius for some of the most established hotel companies across Asia and the Indian Ocean. Tourism Marketing and Digital Communication are Dolores’ key areas of expertise, she pioneered the use of social media for hospitality and tourism in the Maldives since the very early days of the use of social networks. Most recently, as the pandemic brought the global outlook of the tourism industry to a halt, Dolores launched the world’s first travel recovery podcast called ‘Truth Behind Travel’ where she interviews tourism industry leaders and travel experts on the core topic of Travel Recovery. Within months from its launch, the podcast ranked #1 in travel and places on Apple Podcast across the Indian Ocean region.Dolores Semeraro is an internationally recognized tourism keynote speaker and trainer who has inspired thousands of people in the tourism industry to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient future of travel. In her keynotes, Dolores shares with her audience how to develop sustainable marketing thinking through her action-oriented thought process, which observes the interconnectivity of the stages in the travel product life cycle. By applying this process, operators in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors can visibly enhance the longevity of their marketing strategies, effectively rendering them more sustainable in the long term for the well-being of all stakeholders involved. Dolores is a passionate advocate for responsible travel, sustainability, and innovation. With her signature Mediterranean warmth and straightforwardness, she encourages audiences to challenge their "Business As Usual" status and strive for the improvement of the tourism industry and the well-being of all stakeholders. Through her decades-long experience in the industry, she has motivated hoteliers and tourism professionals to take action, enhance their communication, and create a purposeful and innovative tourism ecosystem. She also advocates for slow travel, exemplified by her extensive travels with her husband and beloved dog in their campervan. When not chronicling ...
Costs and impact of sustainable travel choices today
Oct 7 2022
Costs and impact of sustainable travel choices today
Host Dolores Semeraro discusses what are the costs and impact of sustainable travel choices today for both travellers and tourism industry operators today. Welcome to Episode 56 of Truth Behind Travel Podcast! On this episode:- Sustainability Overwhelm- Powering up Sustainability choices of our desired customers- Who spends more on Sustainable Holidays- How Personality-based strategies are the key to a successful marriage between sustainable travellers and the tourism industry today.  Last but not least, today I am gifting you – listeners of the podcast – a very special opportunity to join me at the Tourism Innovation Summit in Sevilla, Spain this coming November where I will be opening the hospitality forum with a keynote dedicated to sustainability and hospitality today. TIS 2022 - Sevilla, Spain 2-4 November 2022Dolores Semeraro Keynote Speaker RETRIEVE YOUR CODE TO GET UNLIMITED 50% DISCOUNT ON SILVER PASS OR GOLD PASS: CXWY8 - get your pass hereSeason 3 Episode 56SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOWRate and Review Truth Behind Travel Podcast on Apple PodcastAbout Dolores SemeraroHello! I am a Hospitality and Tourism Communication Expert and Speaker with 15 years of industry experience. For the past 20 months, I have helped tourism organizations and travel professionals restore travel confidence and restart their tourism businesses.I focus on tourism marketing strategies, hospitality digital marketing and communication, and tourism innovation in every keynote, training, or coaching session I deliver across the industry.You can learn more about me by listening to my travel recovery podcast called ‘Truth Behind Travel’ where I interview tourism industry leaders and travel experts on the core topic of the Future of TravelThank you for joining me today on Truth Behind Travel Podcast, did you enjoy today’s episode? Every conversation brings tips, values, and strategies to help you start your travel recovery journey.If you enjoyed today’s episode, pleaseDolores Semeraro is an internationally recognized tourism keynote speaker and trainer who has inspired thousands of people in the tourism industry to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient future of travel. In her keynotes, Dolores shares with her audience how to develop sustainable marketing thinking through her action-oriented thought process, which observes the interconnectivity of the stages in the travel product life cycle. By applying this process, operators in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors can visibly enhance the longevity of their marketing strategies, effectively rendering them more sustainable in the long term for the well-being of all stakeholders involved. Dolores is a passionate advocate for responsible travel, sustainability, and innovation. With her signature Mediterranean warmth and straightforwardness, she encourages audiences to challenge their "Business As Usual" status and strive for the improvement of the tourism industry and the well-being of all stakeholders. Through her decades-long experience in the industry, she has motivated hoteliers and tourism professionals to take action, enhance their communication, and create a purposeful and innovative tourism ecosystem. She also advocates for slow travel, exemplified by her extensive travels with her husband and beloved dog in their campervan. When not chronicling ...
Destination Europe: Key Markets & Travel Sentiment 2022
Sep 29 2022
Destination Europe: Key Markets & Travel Sentiment 2022
Dolores Semeraro speaks to European Travel Commission ETC Iulia Niculica, Head of Administration, as shares what are the new drivers for choosing Europe today, where are travellers coming from and what type of locations do they favor and who is winning the sustainability race.Her journey in the travel and tourism sector started 9 years ago when she came to Brussels to work for the European Travel Commission (ETC), which is an organisation representing National Tourism Organisations of European countries. ETC has a unique mandate – which is to promote Europe as a tourism destination in long-haul markets. Over these past 9 years, she had the opportunity to deal with numerous projects of the association (in marketing and advocacy), work with EU funds and on financial matters, manage public procurement, manage relationships with National Tourism Organisations and the European Commission, as well as facilitate partnerships and affiliations with external organisations. In her current role at ETC, she responsible for leading the organisation’s department in charge of administration and financial operations, membership matters, EU funding, and partnerships with external organisations from the cultural and heritage sector. Season 3 Episode 55SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOWRate and Review Truth Behind Travel Podcast on Apple PodcastAbout Dolores SemeraroHello! I am a Hospitality and Tourism Communication Expert and Speaker with 15 years of industry experience. For the past 20 months, I have helped tourism organizations and travel professionals restore travel confidence and restart their tourism businesses.I focus on tourism marketing strategies, hospitality digital marketing and communication, and tourism innovation in every keynote, training, or coaching session I deliver across the industry.You can learn more about me by listening to my travel recovery podcast called ‘Truth Behind Travel’ where I interview tourism industry leaders and travel experts on the core topic of the Future of TravelThank you for joining me today on Truth Behind Travel Podcast, did you enjoy today’s episode? Every conversation brings tips, values, and strategies toDolores Semeraro is an internationally recognized tourism keynote speaker and trainer who has inspired thousands of people in the tourism industry to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient future of travel. In her keynotes, Dolores shares with her audience how to develop sustainable marketing thinking through her action-oriented thought process, which observes the interconnectivity of the stages in the travel product life cycle. By applying this process, operators in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors can visibly enhance the longevity of their marketing strategies, effectively rendering them more sustainable in the long term for the well-being of all stakeholders involved. Dolores is a passionate advocate for responsible travel, sustainability, and innovation. With her signature Mediterranean warmth and straightforwardness, she encourages audiences to challenge their "Business As Usual" status and strive for the improvement of the tourism industry and the well-being of all stakeholders. Through her decades-long experience in the industry, she has motivated hoteliers and tourism professionals to take action, enhance their communication, and create a purposeful and innovative tourism ecosystem. She also advocates for slow travel, exemplified by her extensive travels with her husband and beloved dog in their campervan. When not chronicling ...
Where is Travel Writing Heading?
Sep 22 2022
Where is Travel Writing Heading?
Travel writer and blogger Chloe Dickenson opens up about being a travel writer these days, the content formats and where is travel writing heading in the future. Particularly for one aspect, which affects all of our customer in this industry– whether they travel or not – that is the world of travel writing. Yes, because whether they are actually traveling or not, reading about destinations, hotels, experiences truly affect the way they feel, plan, decide to travel again. So today on the podcast, I wanted to explore a bit more how does the life of a travel writer looks like these days, what are the responsibilities they feel compelled to how is the ever-changing world of social media content format affecting the future of travel writingparticularly if you – as a tourism industry entrepreneur, business owner or hotel manager – are planning to work with travel writers to revive your web presence and connect again with your true audience.  My guest today is the author of the travel blog IamJustaGirl16 Chloe is a nomadic traveler, blogger and freelance writer who travel-proof each piece of writing she creates. Chloe’s purpose of travel writing is to inspire and inform people – normal people – about affordable luxury, a travel experience that does not have to compromise, but instead is about choosing what best works for each traveler. __________Season 3 Episode 54"Where is Travel Writing Heading?" with Chloe Dickenson SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOWRate and Review Truth Behind Travel Podcast on Apple PodcastAbout Dolores SemeraroHello! I am a Hospitality and Tourism Communication Expert and Speaker with 15 years of industry experience. For the past 20 months, I have helped tourism organizations and travel professionals restore travel confidence and restart their tourism businesses.I focus on tourism marketing strategies, hospitality digital marketing and communication, and tourism innovation in every keynote, training, or coaching session I deliver across the industry.You can learn more about me by listening to my travel recovery podcast called ‘Truth Behind Travel’ where I interview tourism industry leaders Dolores Semeraro is an internationally recognized tourism keynote speaker and trainer who has inspired thousands of people in the tourism industry to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient future of travel. In her keynotes, Dolores shares with her audience how to develop sustainable marketing thinking through her action-oriented thought process, which observes the interconnectivity of the stages in the travel product life cycle. By applying this process, operators in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors can visibly enhance the longevity of their marketing strategies, effectively rendering them more sustainable in the long term for the well-being of all stakeholders involved. Dolores is a passionate advocate for responsible travel, sustainability, and innovation. With her signature Mediterranean warmth and straightforwardness, she encourages audiences to challenge their "Business As Usual" status and strive for the improvement of the tourism industry and the well-being of all stakeholders. Through her decades-long experience in the industry, she has motivated hoteliers and tourism professionals to take action, enhance their communication, and create a purposeful and innovative tourism ecosystem. She also advocates for slow travel, exemplified by her extensive travels with her husband and beloved dog in their campervan. When not chronicling ...
The Truth Behind Travel To Sri Lanka Today
Sep 15 2022
The Truth Behind Travel To Sri Lanka Today
Chairman of Jetwing Hotels & Resorts Sri Lanka, Mr Hiran Coray, opens up about what tourism on the island looks like after the recent SriLankan Civil Protests led to a major government change in leadership and administration. Hiran shares: - False Perception of the Destination- Safety and Availability of Supplies on the Island- What you can expect as tourist if you travel to Sri Lanka todayIn particular, host Dolores Semeraro and Hiran Coray discuss the vision of the country moving forward, its values and projects to revive not only the tourism industry but the travellers trust as a whole. ________________Season 3 Episode 53"The Truth Behind Travel To Sri Lanka Today" with Hiran CoraySUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOWRate and Review Truth Behind Travel Podcast on Apple PodcastAbout Dolores SemeraroHello! I am a Hospitality and Tourism Communication Expert and Speaker with 15 years of industry experience. For the past 20 months, I have helped tourism organizations and travel professionals restore travel confidence and restart their tourism businesses.I focus on tourism marketing strategies, hospitality digital marketing and communication, and tourism innovation in every keynote, training, or coaching session I deliver across the industry.You can learn more about me by listening to my travel recovery podcast called ‘Truth Behind Travel’ where I interview tourism industry leaders and travel experts on the core topic of the Future of TravelThank you for joining me today on Truth Behind Travel Podcast, did you enjoy today’s episode? Every conversation brings tips, values, and strategies to help you start your travel recovery journey.If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave me a review on Apple podcast –or connect with me on Instagram or Facebook, and let me know what your thoughts are. BOOK YOU FREE ASSESSMENT! Did you listen to this episode? If you did and you are looking for the link, here you are. CDolores Semeraro is an internationally recognized tourism keynote speaker and trainer who has inspired thousands of people in the tourism industry to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient future of travel. In her keynotes, Dolores shares with her audience how to develop sustainable marketing thinking through her action-oriented thought process, which observes the interconnectivity of the stages in the travel product life cycle. By applying this process, operators in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors can visibly enhance the longevity of their marketing strategies, effectively rendering them more sustainable in the long term for the well-being of all stakeholders involved. Dolores is a passionate advocate for responsible travel, sustainability, and innovation. With her signature Mediterranean warmth and straightforwardness, she encourages audiences to challenge their "Business As Usual" status and strive for the improvement of the tourism industry and the well-being of all stakeholders. Through her decades-long experience in the industry, she has motivated hoteliers and tourism professionals to take action, enhance their communication, and create a purposeful and innovative tourism ecosystem. She also advocates for slow travel, exemplified by her extensive travels with her husband and beloved dog in their campervan. When not chronicling ...
What Makes a Trip 'The Greatest of All' with Expedia's insights
Jun 16 2022
What Makes a Trip 'The Greatest of All' with Expedia's insights
VP – Global Partner Marketing at Expedia Troy O'Bryan shares what makes a trip ‘the greatest of all’ before, during, and after the travel experience with research-based insights. In today's episode, Truth Behind Travel Podcast's host Dolores Semeraro talks to Portland-based Troy O'Bryan from Expedia about what so we need to invest in when it comes to creating a memorable experience for guests and clients alike, where should $$ budget be allocated and what are the trends we must keep an eye on. You will love this episode if you need to:- know what experiences you should be adding to your travel product to make it 'the greatest- learn from research-based findings, what are the main trends that you should be aware of-  understand what’s the digital behavior of today’s travelers? What are they clicking on, and what are they browsing about?and most importantly ask yourself: What memories do I want my guests to have? Connect with Troy O'Bryan at Expedia here and don't miss the first episode of Expedia's podcast: Powering Travel here________About Dolores SemeraroHello! I am a Hospitality and Tourism Communication Expert and Speaker with 15 years of industry experience.For the past 20 months, I have helped tourism organizations and travel professionals restore travel confidence and restart their tourism businesses.I focus on tourism marketing strategies, hospitality digital marketing and communication, and tourism innovation in every keynote, training, or coaching session I deliver across the industry.You can learn more about me by listening to my travel recovery podcast called ‘Truth Behind Travel’ where I interview tourism industry leaders and travel experts on the core topic of Travel Recovery.FREE RESOURCE: Download the Top 10 Travel Behaviour Trends in 2022 report: https://thetravelrecoverymethod.com/trendsLearn more about the TOURISM RESILIENCE TRAINING PROGRAM HERES2 E52 - What Makes a Trip 'The Greatest of All' Dolores Semeraro is an internationally recognized tourism keynote speaker and trainer who has inspired thousands of people in the tourism industry to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient future of travel. In her keynotes, Dolores shares with her audience how to develop sustainable marketing thinking through her action-oriented thought process, which observes the interconnectivity of the stages in the travel product life cycle. By applying this process, operators in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors can visibly enhance the longevity of their marketing strategies, effectively rendering them more sustainable in the long term for the well-being of all stakeholders involved. Dolores is a passionate advocate for responsible travel, sustainability, and innovation. With her signature Mediterranean warmth and straightforwardness, she encourages audiences to challenge their "Business As Usual" status and strive for the improvement of the tourism industry and the well-being of all stakeholders. Through her decades-long experience in the industry, she has motivated hoteliers and tourism professionals to take action, enhance their communication, and create a purposeful and innovative tourism ecosystem. She also advocates for slow travel, exemplified by her extensive travels with her husband and beloved dog in their campervan. When not chronicling ...
Conferences, Business & Travel in Saudi Arabia
Jun 2 2022
Conferences, Business & Travel in Saudi Arabia
Jana Bader, the General Manager of The Bench in Saudi Arabia talks about the changes in business travel, technologies to invest in, the Metaverse, and what business culture is all about in Saudi Arabia. The Bench is an organization that focuses on creating digital and real-time platforms bringing together global and regional Hospitality, Real Estate, Aviation, and Sustainability investment communities. Our conferences focus on showcasing investment opportunities and facilitating direct connections with industry leaders and stakeholders.Connect with Jana here  and learn more about The Bench here-----About Dolores SemeraroHello! I am a Hospitality and Tourism Communication Expert and Speaker with 15 years of industry experience.For the past 20 months, I have helped tourism organizations and travel professionals restore travel confidence and restart their tourism businesses.I focus on tourism marketing strategies, hospitality digital marketing and communication, and tourism innovation in every keynote, training, or coaching session I deliver across the industry.You can learn more about me by listening to my travel recovery podcast called ‘Truth Behind Travel’ where I interview tourism industry leaders and travel experts on the core topic of Travel Recovery.FREE RESOURCE: Download the Top 10 Travel Behaviour Trends in 2022 report: https://thetravelrecoverymethod.com/trendsLearn more about the TOURISM RESILIENCE TRAINING PROGRAM HERES2 E51 - Conferences, Business & Travel in Saudi Arabia SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOWRate and Review Truth Behind Travel Podcast on Apple PodcastThank you for joining me today on Truth Behind Travel Podcast, did you enjoy today’s episode? Every conversation brings you tips, values, and strategies to help you get started with your travel recovery journey.If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave me a review on Apple podcast –or connect with me on Instagram or Dolores Semeraro is an internationally recognized tourism keynote speaker and trainer who has inspired thousands of people in the tourism industry to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient future of travel. In her keynotes, Dolores shares with her audience how to develop sustainable marketing thinking through her action-oriented thought process, which observes the interconnectivity of the stages in the travel product life cycle. By applying this process, operators in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors can visibly enhance the longevity of their marketing strategies, effectively rendering them more sustainable in the long term for the well-being of all stakeholders involved. Dolores is a passionate advocate for responsible travel, sustainability, and innovation. With her signature Mediterranean warmth and straightforwardness, she encourages audiences to challenge their "Business As Usual" status and strive for the improvement of the tourism industry and the well-being of all stakeholders. Through her decades-long experience in the industry, she has motivated hoteliers and tourism professionals to take action, enhance their communication, and create a purposeful and innovative tourism ecosystem. She also advocates for slow travel, exemplified by her extensive travels with her husband and beloved dog in their campervan. When not chronicling ...
DATA & Travel: What do we need to know?
May 19 2022
DATA & Travel: What do we need to know?
Bilal Kabbani, Head of Industry at Google discusses the current travel scenario: what are the main changes in travelers' digital behavior, what technologies have been widely implemented to optimize the use of data, and who jumpstarted the process. Learn more about the TOURISM RESILIENCE TRAINING PROGRAM HEREAbout Dolores SemeraroHello! I am a Hospitality and Tourism Communication Expert and Speaker with 15 years of industry experience.For the past 20 months, I have helped tourism organizations and travel professionals restore travel confidence and restart their tourism business.I focus on tourism marketing strategies, hospitality digital marketing and communication, and tourism innovation in every keynote, training, or coaching session I deliver across the industry.You can learn more about me by listening to my travel recovery podcast called ‘Truth Behind Travel’ where I interview tourism industry leaders and travel experts on the core topic of Travel Recovery.FREE RESOURCE: Download the Top 10 Travel Behaviour Trends in 2022 report: https://thetravelrecoverymethod.com/trendsLearn more about the TOURISM RESILIENCE TRAINING PROGRAM HERES2 E45 - DATA & Travel: What do we need to know?SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOWRate and Review Truth Behind Travel Podcast on Apple PodcastThank you for joining me today on Truth Behind Travel Podcast, did you enjoy today’s episode? Every conversation brings you tips, values, and strategies to help you get started with your travel recovery journey.If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave me a review on Apple podcast –or connect with me on Instagram or Facebook, and let me know what your thoughts are. Dolores Semeraro is an internationally recognized tourism keynote speaker and trainer who has inspired thousands of people in the tourism industry to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient future of travel. In her keynotes, Dolores shares with her audience how to develop sustainable marketing thinking through her action-oriented thought process, which observes the interconnectivity of the stages in the travel product life cycle. By applying this process, operators in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors can visibly enhance the longevity of their marketing strategies, effectively rendering them more sustainable in the long term for the well-being of all stakeholders involved. Dolores is a passionate advocate for responsible travel, sustainability, and innovation. With her signature Mediterranean warmth and straightforwardness, she encourages audiences to challenge their "Business As Usual" status and strive for the improvement of the tourism industry and the well-being of all stakeholders. Through her decades-long experience in the industry, she has motivated hoteliers and tourism professionals to take action, enhance their communication, and create a purposeful and innovative tourism ecosystem. She also advocates for slow travel, exemplified by her extensive travels with her husband and beloved dog in their campervan. When not chronicling ...