Podcast host Dolores Semeraro sits down with TripWorks CEO Aaron Fessler to deep dive in what happens at the intersection between Tourism & Travel Experiences and Technology:

As discussed in the podcast:

• How does the ‘experience factor’ connects with the business side of things online?
• What needs to change in the way 'experiences' are sold online?
• What brings experience operators from all levels of tech knowledge together?
• Does selling experiences online build strength or dependability?
• When is hype instead of value?
• What’s the technology baseline you would recommend to have for experience operators? + OTAs
• Are we moving towards a more direct-buy purchasing pattern?
• How much market education you do vs bringing in the client in an ecosystem that is so uneven when it comes to technology awareness?
• Where do you see more resistance when it comes to technology adoption?
• What’s the age-range of the experience operators you currently work with?
• What kind of experiences is ‘easy’ to work with?
• top 5 things an operator presenting their experiences on line should take into consideration.
• what feels challenging right now for you?
• Aaron word of advice for experience operators

About our guest:

Aaron Fessler - CEO & Founder, TripWorks

Aaron Fessler is a serial entrepreneur and visionary leader with a career defined by building high-scale infrastructure and disruptive technology. As the CEO and Founder of TripWorks, Aaron has dedicated himself to solving the "fragmentation crisis" in the tours, activities, and attractions industry.

His approach to technology is rooted in hard-earned operational experience. Before founding TripWorks, Aaron built and operated SPEEDVEGAS, one of the world’s premier motorsports attractions. It was there that he experienced the limitations of existing booking software firsthand—watching operators struggle to "daisy-chain" disparate systems for waivers, CRM, and payments.

About TripWorks

The Intelligence-Powered Engine for Experience Businesses

TripWorks is a next-generation booking and operations platform designed to unify the complex world of tours, activities, and attractions. Built "by operators, for operators," TripWorks moves beyond simple reservation management to provide a cohesive ecosystem where bookings, operations, and business intelligence live in a single system.

Book a Demo here

Host of Truth Behind Travel Podcast, Dolores Semeraro is a sought-after international tourism keynote speaker and sustainable tourism marketing professional.

Dolores actively works in the tourism and travel conference space as a keynote speaker and moderator, gracing the stages of international tourism summits and trade shows.

As a professional keynote speaker, Dolores’ speaking topics encompass sustainability in tourism, digital marketing and how to identify today’s traveler’s needs through technology and innovation.

5 years ago, Dolores launched her podcast show named ‘Truth Behind Travel Podcast’ where she regularly interviews tourism and travel industry leaders and representatives on how to rebuild the future of travel.

www.doloressemeraro.com

dolores@doloressemeraro.com

Instagram @dolores_semeraro

LinkedIn @dolores.sem

Dolores Semeraro interviews Alessandra LoTufo Alonso, founder of Women in Travel CIC and an award-winning thought leader in tourism and travel, a trailblazer on inclusivity and diversity and an expert in gender empowerment.

On this episode, Alessandra observes:

Inclusion long before it became a mainstream workplace priority

The risks of backlash against DEI efforts within travel and tourism

The barriers she has witnessed for marginalised women entering or progressing in tourism and how does Women in Travel CIC supports them

What are the greatest opportunities for DEI to become a competitive advantage

How to spot the DEI - version of greenwashing.

To contact Alessandra and become a patron of WITCIC get in touch with the team here

Host of Truth Behind Travel Podcast, Dolores Semeraro is a sought-after international tourism keynote speaker and sustainable tourism marketing professional.

Dolores actively works in the tourism and travel conference space as a keynote speaker and moderator, gracing the stages of international tourism summits and trade shows.

As a professional keynote speaker, Dolores’ speaking topics encompass sustainability in tourism, digital marketing and how to identify today’s traveler’s needs through technology and innovation.

5 years ago, Dolores launched her podcast show named ‘Truth Behind Travel Podcast’ where she regularly interviews tourism and travel industry leaders and representatives on how to rebuild the future of travel.

www.doloressemeraro.com

dolores@doloressemeraro.com

Instagram @dolores_semeraro

LinkedIn @dolores.sem

Dolores Semeraro moderates the virtual gathering of speakers from Season 4 of Truth Behind Travel Podcast in "Women Leading The Way: the Global Travel & Tourism Roundtable" in collaboration with the Institute of Tourism

Watch the video: "Women Leading The Way: the Global Travel & Tourism Roundtable"

Drawing on their diverse expertise and lived experience, this experts-led discussion weaves bold ideas with practical insights, exploring how tourism can move beyond sustainability and towards regeneration.

In a spirit of collaboration and candor, they challenge dominant narratives, share lessons from the field, and collectively reimagine travel as a force for positive impact on communities, ecosystems, and the industry at large.

Leading speakers of the Roundtable:

Carmen Roberts - BBC travel journalist and travel media expert

Tina O'Dwyer - Founder of The Tourism Space

Vanessa Karell - Founder of Greether

Anne de Jong - co-founder of The Good Tourism Institute

Sarah Payne - Director of Impact at Untours Foundation

Lola Akinmade - Author, Travel Media Personality of the Year, Reporter

Jennine Cohen and Catherine Gallagher - Founders of Women Travel Leaders

Iris Serbanescu - Founder of WMNS WORK

Caterina Varao - Founder of Unique Stays

Sonia Gottlebe - Sustainable Tourism Advocate, Madagascar

Host of Truth Behind Travel Podcast, Dolores Semeraro is a sought-after international tourism keynote speaker and sustainable tourism marketing professional.

Dolores actively works in the tourism and travel conference space as a keynote speaker and moderator, gracing the stages of international tourism summits and trade shows.

As a professional keynote speaker, Dolores’ speaking topics encompass sustainability in tourism, digital marketing and how to identify today’s traveler’s needs through technology and innovation.

5 years ago, Dolores launched her podcast show named ‘Truth Behind Travel Podcast’ where she regularly interviews tourism and travel industry leaders and representatives on how to rebuild the future of travel.

www.doloressemeraro.com

dolores@doloressemeraro.com

Instagram @dolores_semeraro

LinkedIn @dolores.sem