Surfing, stretching and drinking... in a group trip?
As a burnt-out fitness professional, Mantas Zvinas was looking for a group vacation that didn't exist. So he created one for himself. That inspired the founding of SurfYogaBeer, a tour company that has become popular among the young and active. Mantas joins this episode of the podcast to tell his group travel story, explain how his trips build friendships between strangers and share tips for aspiring tourism entrepreneurs.
Mantas explains why young people love coming on his group trips (it's not just about the beer) and how he recruits and trains trip leaders to be excellent at facilitating fun and connection. He also explains why the size of a travel group may not be as important as many people think and gives an inside look at how his company attracts new customers. Plus, we have news about a decline in travel to the U.S. from Canada; a Road Tip about using your phone abroad; and a Hot Minute about the ways a government-imposed Big Tech breakup could impact your travel business.
Insights from Mantas Zvinas
Mantas had a great perspective about the real mission of SurfYogaBeer's trips and why they resonate so deeply with customers. Here's what he said about the power of personal connection in group travel:
“It’s all about bringing people together. What we focus on these trips is that camaraderie, and you create that through going through something difficult. But we also play games throughout the day that bring people together.... By the end of day one, you’re so connected with everybody. You’re having a beer and you’re sharing your deepest secrets with somebody you met 24 hours ago."
Plus, he had insightful thoughts on:
* Training world-class trip leaders
* Building a company that goes beyond your personality
* The role of great content in travel promotion
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
Learn more about SurfYogaBeer at
surfyogabeer.com.
Follow
SurfYogaBeer and
Mantas Zvinas on Instagram.
Connect with The Group Travel Leader on
Facebook,
Instagram,
X,
TikTok,
LinkedIn and
Pinterest.
Key Moments From This Episode
1:50 — Travel News: Inbound travel from Canada is falling
3:20 — Road Tip: Using mobile data when traveling abroad
8:38 — Great follows on social media
