Locally-Led Recovery, Reactivating Local Economies & Building Better Futures

99. Visitor Economy Bushfire Recovery Summit: Locally-Led Recovery, Reactivating Local Economies & Building Better Futures

In February 2020, a Visitor Economy Bushfire Recovery Summit, was held on the South Coast of NSW, in the wake of a prolonged and devastating bushfire period. The event focused on sharing strategies to support communities through a locally-led recovery process. The event also provided a platform for attendees to communicate the needs of local and regional business owners. Adrian …

Neil James on Advantages of Workplace Learning, Industry Shaping Events & the Pitfalls of Responding to Reviews

98. Neil James on Advantages of Workplace Learning, Industry Shaping Events & the Pitfalls of Responding to Reviews

Neil James is the Vice President of Global Customer Success at ReviewPro. ReviewPro offers accommodation providers with integrated tools and processes to increase guest satisfaction and revenue. On this week’s episode of ‘That Bad Review’, podcast series, Adrian and Neil discuss issues around responding to online reviews. They chat about the unpredictability of industry altering events, and how adaptability is …

Gavin Mckay on Freedom offered by Relief Management, Planning for the Big Lap & the Impact of Tourism on Regional Australia

97. Gavin Mckay on Freedom offered by Relief Management, Planning for the Big Lap & the Impact of Tourism on Regional Australia

Gavin McKay and his wife Steph are relief managers, traveling Australia. It’s not something they fell into, it was a meticulously planned life decision, an idea hatched over thirty years ago. However, despite a well-planned itinerary, Gavin and Steph’s journey has switched directions multiple times. Their Big-Lap became more about the adventures to be had, rather than ticking off the …

Justin Sheppard on Big Picture Education, the Advantages of Exploring Passions Early On & Building the Right Foundations

96. Justin Sheppard on Big Picture Education, the Advantages of Exploring Passions Early On & Building the Right Foundations

Justin Sheppard is a Big Picture Advisor in association with Big Picture Education Australia, offering innovative programs that are revolutionising the education system.  Designed to support passionate high-school students through identifying and exploring what excites them, the program is producing incredible results. On this week’s episode of ‘That Bad Review’ podcast series, Adrian catches up with Justin for a chat about …

Bart Easdown on Working with Family, Social Media Diluting the Human Connection & Understanding Employees

95. Bart Easdown on Working with Family, Social Media Diluting the Human Connection & Understanding Employees

This week on the show, Adrian chats with a very special guest, Bart Easdown. Bart is the Operations Manager for all four of Adrian’s holiday parks and the youngest of his brothers. A musician at heart, Bart has felt an underlying pull towards hospitality and tourism-based roles. For the good part of a decade, Bart has tried his hand at …

Karen Baldwin on Challenges within the Accommodation Industry, Guest Perspective and Prioritising Staff Needs

94. Karen Baldwin on Challenges within the Accommodation Industry, Guest Perspective and Prioritising Staff Needs

Karen Baldwin is the owner-operator of Best Western Kennedy Drive Airport Motel, in Tweed Heads, NSW. Adrian and Karen met at the Best Western Australasia conference, where Karen and her husband Steve won a ‘Quality and Service’ Award. The couple also proudly hold a number one in customer service award. In addition to these impressive accolades, they boast the third …

Craig Coughlin on Outsourced Hotel Services, Tapping into Hidden Skills Sets, Eliminating Waste in Guest Accommodation

93. Craig Coughlin on Outsourced Hotel Services, Tapping into Hidden Skills Sets & Eliminating Waste in Guest Accommodation

Craig Coughlin is the CEO of LUXXE Outsourced Hotel Services, a company that offers outsourced service solutions to hotels. Adrian was keen to chat all things staffing with Craig, and get some tips on how to maintain a healthy balance when employing a large number of people, especially in the often-transient hospitality sector. On this week’s episode of the ‘That …

Hugh Fitzpatrick on Industry Insights, Caravan & Camping Trends & Rebuilding after a Natural Disaster

92. Hugh Fitzpatrick – Tourism Insights, Caravan & Camping Trends & Rebuilding after a Natural Disaster

Hugh Fitzpatrick works with Industry Insights at the Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA) and is also the chair for the Young Tourism Network. Hugh is passionate about regional Australia and works hard to provide business owners with actionable insights to help businesses succeed. On this week’s episode of the ‘That Bad Review’ podcast series, Adrian and Hugh discuss the …

Michael Collins on Eco-Tourism in Indigenous Communities, Made in China & the Importance of a Supportive Family

91. Michael Collins on Eco-Tourism in Indigenous Communities, Made in China & the Importance of a Supportive Family

Michael Collins is the principal of CF Global, a procurement company specialising in products used across multiple service-based industries. After years working in the tourism and hospitality sector, Michael came across a niche market that needed servicing and took advantage of the opportunity to start his own business. On this week’s episode of the ‘That Bad Review’ podcast series, Adrian …

Liz Ward on Training Solutions for Tourism Operators, Co-Founding a Successful Business & Digital Savvy Small Business Owners

90. Liz Ward on Training Solutions for Tourism Operators, Co-Founding a Successful Business & Digital Savvy Small Business Owners

Liz Ward is the Co-Founder and CEO of Tourism Tribe. Liz started a career in digital strategy and digital marketing when working for Tourism and Events Queensland. Honing her skills whilst project managing the development of the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW), a large online resource used by organisations nation-wide. Liz later became the CEO of ATDW, a position she …