How Leaders Build Brands That Welcome More Travelers
Photo Credit: Women Leading Travel
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Join our next Member Connect Call on Sept. 17 to explore how leaders can turn a greater sense of belonging into stronger traveler experiences, untapped customer opportunities and long-term brand growth.
What makes a traveler feel like an experience was truly designed with them in mind? And who might already want what a travel brand offers but isn’t yet convinced they belong?
On September 17, Women Leading Travel members will come together for an interactive Member Connect session with Kara Richardson Whitely, author, adventurer and founder of The Gorgeous Agency, to explore how the signals brands send about who their experiences are “for” can shape the customer journey — and ultimately influence loyalty, innovation and growth.
Drawing on her own experience climbing Mount Kilimanjaro at 300 pounds, as well as her work with brands and organizations including Peloton, Discover Puerto Rico, Visit Lauderdale and Carhartt, Richardson Whitely will challenge members to think differently about the travelers their organizations may be overlooking.
The conversation will examine touchpoints across the travel experience, from marketing and booking to transportation, physical spaces, hotel amenities, tours and outdoor adventures. Members will consider where assumptions about the “typical” customer may unintentionally create barriers and what relatively small changes could help more travelers feel welcome.
Turning Belonging Into Business Opportunity
The session will move beyond inclusion as a principle to examine its role as a business and leadership opportunity. Through candid discussion and peer exchange, members will explore how creating experiences for a broader range of travelers can contribute to customer acquisition, stronger loyalty, product innovation, brand reputation and long-term growth.
Members will also be invited to reflect on moments when they personally felt like outsiders in a travel experience and use those insights to examine their own organizations. The goal is to identify practical opportunities to make one more traveler think: There’s a place for me here.
Women Leading Travel Member Connect sessions are exclusive opportunities for members to learn from one another, exchange ideas and tackle the leadership and business challenges shaping the travel industry.
If you’re a Women Leading Travel member and did not receive an invitation to the September 17 Member Connect but would like to participate, please reach out to the Women Leading Travel team to join us.