Danielle Finch Founder & CEO Equera https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/danielle-finch/ Mission-driven and people-centered leader with 10+ years of experience driving global initiatives in operations, product, and project management. Passionate about creating scalable solutions that improve lives and strengthen communities, combining strategic execution with empathy-led leadership. Proven track record of mobilizing teams, fostering collaboration across diverse stakeholders, and del...

Emma Valahu Founder Inbox Journeys https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/emma-valahu/ Emma is the founder of Inbox Journeys and helps experiential travel founders build an automated system that turns website visitors and social media followers into warm, qualified leads—without them having to manually nurture every prospect. summary In this episode of the Big World Made Small podcast, host Jason Elkins speaks with Emma Valahu, founder of Inbox Journeys, about her journey in transformatio...

Christopher Hill Founder and CEO Hands Up Holidays https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/christopher-hill/ Christopher is founder of luxury philanthropic travel brands Hands Up Holidays and Impact Destinations, and serves his majority US-based clients from New Zealand where he lives with his wife, two boys, and dog, Zola. summary In this episode of the Big World Made Small podcast, Jason Elkins interviews Christopher Hill, founder of Hands Up Holidays and Impact Destinations. They discus...

Karl Wilder Founder & Director The Chef Tours https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/karl-wilder/ Chef Karl Wilder is a culinary innovator whose career spans continents and cuisines. From his roots in New Orleans, where he reimagined Southern classics at The Country Club, to launching the acclaimed Empire Biscuit in New York City, Wilder has consistently pushed the boundaries of traditional cooking. Previously, with both Eating Europe and Secret Food tours, he, along with PJ, s...

Samantha Smits Founder & Sustainable Tourism Consultant Smits SusTour Consultancy https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/samantha-smits/ Hoi! I’m Samantha Smits, a Sustainable Tourism Consultant based in the Netherlands and Tanzania. My goal? To empower you with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to create real change. Originally from the Netherlands, I studied International Tourism Management at Breda University of Applied Sciences and earned a master’s degree in Tourism, Society,...

Siham Lahmine Owner & Cultural Curator, Morocco's First Local >> Woman-Owned Culinary & Luxury Heritage Tours Morocco Travel Organizer https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/siham-lahmine Siham Lahmine is the mastermind behind Morocco Travel Organizer. Recognized for her talents in luxury bespoke travel experiences, she creates fully immersive tours showcasing Morocco’s highlights, cultural richness, and culinary delights. As a local expert, she leaves no stone unturned when...

Peter Syme Partner Tourpreneur https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/peter-syme/ Peter Syme. Ex military, Ex Large Corporate, Ex Tour Operators of multiple travel businesses in several countries. World wanderer and adventure addict, having visited over 140 countries. Now spending time building the world's largest community of tour operators with the aim of making them more profitable. To do so we work in the intersection of operators, technology and platforms. summary In this episode, Ja...

Tamuna Tabidze Director Magic Roads Georgia https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/tamuna-tabidze Director of the local branch of International tourism holding Magic Travels, previously Sales Manager with extensive experience of Business to Business Sales, working as Head of South Europe and Latin America Markets, later on North and Eastern Europe, MICE Department and as Chief Executive of Luxury department. With comprehensive knowledge of Georgian hospitality industry. Working experience...

Phoebe Maina CEO Steri Tours and Travel | Kenya https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/phoebe-maina/ With over a decade in the non-profit sector and a smooth transition into private travel planning, I bring a unique skill set for individuals, corporate clients, and international NGOs. My background gives me a deep understanding of client needs, while personal interactions with Americans and Europeans help me tailor meaningful African travel experiences. I am the founder of Steri Tours and...

Abdylla Geldiyev Founder & Managing Director Undiscovered Frontiers https://undiscoveredfrontiers.com/ Abdylla Geldiyev is the founder and managing director of Undiscovered Frontiers, a boutique travel company based in Michigan. A lifelong traveler and advocate for immersive, culturally rich experiences in Central Asia, his journey into tourism began in 2005, when he was asked to guide an Italian writer/enthusiast researching the native dogs of Turkmenistan’s Karakum Desert. What started ...

Sarah O. Vidal Founder & Brand Consultant Cultured Creative https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/sarah-vidal/ Sarah is the founder of Cultured Creative, a brand strategy and design studio that guides responsible tourism brands to attract the right guests. She’s seen many purpose-driven travel businesses struggle with visibility. The issue isn’t a lack of heart, but a lack of the right tools and guidance. Drawing on her Nigerian-American roots, passion for cultural travel, and 12 yea...

Nicole Dane Founder Heart of India Travel https://heartofindiatravel.com/ What began as a one-time journey has become a life where I spend eight months a year in India, embraced by people who now feel like family. With 3 years of experience creating authentic and sustainable journeys through Heart of India Travel, I’ve seen how transformative travel can be for both visitors and local communities. At Heart of India Travel, we believe tourism can support underrepresented communities, preserve h...

Ingeborg Sæbø Oluka Managing Director Alakara Travels https://alakaratravels.com/ As the founder and managing director of Alakara Reiser (Norway) and Alakara Travels (Uganda), I work to create customized, small-scale journeys that connect travelers with Uganda’s incredible landscapes, cultures, and communities. What drives me is not only a deep passion for meaningful travel experiences—but also a strong commitment to creating dignified employment and economic opportunities in Uganda. Alakara...

Eric Segalstad Vice President & Partner Gondwana Ecotours https://www.gondwanaecotours.com A Norwegian native now based in Vermont, Eric Segalstad has spent the past two decades working in the travel industry, with adventures spanning five continents. His career has included guiding exploratory ski trips in Kashmir, Patagonia, and Japan, collaborating with leading tour operators, and volunteering with the Rainforest Alliance to support indigenous-owned lodges in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Er...

Jordi Llonch Esteve Head of Growth Satlantis https://satlantis.io/ Jordi Llonch Esteve is a lifelong nomad, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for freedom technologies. After traveling over 50 cities as an airline pilot, he transitioned into entrepreneurship and innovation, helping hundreds of entrepreneurs grow their startups each year. Today, he leads growth at Satlantis.io, a social network built for frequent travelers and digital nomads. Satlantis empowers users to discover their next ...

Dolores Gangotena Founder Quasar Expeditions My husband and myself founded Quasar Expeditions in 1986. Up to then, my life had been filled with several experiences in the Galapagos Islands. My first trip was in 1969 when there was no airport and navigations had to be done from Guayaquil. My first experience visiting Galapagos, still quite young, in the company of a biology teacher and 5 friends truly changed my life. It is since we founded the company that my professional life saw a big turn ...

Charles Odom Founder Painted Circle Travel Guide Charles is a supporter of the sustainable travel movement through his platform Painted Circle. He has a degree in International Development and has worked in tourism since 2008. Starting his travel career in Germany, he is now working with travel companies around the world to build an ethical travel platform that helps travelers explore more intentionally and with a more positive impact. summary In this episode, Charles Odom, founder of Painted...

Ami Jones CEO & Founder TerraFauna Journeys Ami Jones is a seasoned travel professional, passionate conservationist, and respected leader in sustainable tourism with over 15 years of experience designing and guiding meaningful journeys across the globe. Her path began in 2008 in Placencia, Belize—an early spark that ignited a lifelong commitment to using travel as a force for good. Since then, Ami has held key roles in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors spanning student travel, wellnes...

Trish Sare Founder/Owner BikeHike Adventures https://www.bikehike.com/ Trish Sare is a passionate adventurer, cultural connector, and founder of BikeHike Adventures, a pioneering travel company that has been curating unforgettable active journeys around the world for over three decades. With a deep love for meaningful travel and cross-cultural experiences, Trish has guided travelers through remote corners of the globe—always with a bike, a pair of hiking boots, and an open heart. Her mission ...

Chris Torres Director The Marketing Coach & Tourprenuer I started at 16 illustrating children’s books and never looked back. After that, I spent years learning on the job—working in design studios and marketing agencies as an art-worker, designer, web developer, and eventually a marketing strategist. I didn’t go to university. Truth is, I hated school. I was told I’d never amount to much. That doubt didn’t discourage me—it fuelled me. I’ve spent my whole career proving people wrong, bui...