PODCAST · society
Travel Beyond
by Destination Think
The Travel Beyond podcast brings you the travel industry’s most exciting innovations that address the greatest challenges facing communities and the planet. We partner with travel destinations and changemakers working toward a regenerative future where all people can flourish, and that means transforming the travel industry to respect the needs of residents, visitors, and the environment. At Destination Think, we believe travel can make the world a better place, but it must do so without environmental, economic and social harm. In the travel industry, and as travellers, we need to pair our words with meaningful action if we are going to improve our lives and the world. The solutions are in sight, and they need to be shared. Protecting our planet and shaping the future of travel is a big project that needs a big team. Tune in to hear from the inspiring travel leaders and many others committed to this vital project. And join us. <a href="http:
Episodes
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Language, culture, and longer stays in Cape Breton
Destination Cape Breton has launched a 2026 campaign to encourage longer stays. It’s a strategy with a sound economic argument, and it has the potential to improve environmental and community stewardship as well. CEO Terry Smith tells us how it came to be. He also shares steps the destination is...
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How an Australian wine region is turning day trips into overnights
If your destination is trying to turn road trips into overnight stays, Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges in Victoria, Australia is one to watch. CEO Louise Scott of Tourism East tells us how the region’s 2023 destination management plan is helping local tourism businesses diversify their…
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Trail tourism: Telling the stories that lead to sustainable funding
Biking and trails can have a huge impact on a destination’s economy and community life. Why, then, is it so difficult to fund trail maintenance, and what can your destination do about it? Aotearoa New Zealand economist Benje Patterson joins two Canadian DMO leaders to talk about common challenges...
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Why 1,000 cups of tea are at the heart of destination stewardship in the Kootenay Rockies
“You can have the greatest destination stewardship plan that the world's ever seen,” says today’s guest, “but if you don't have the relationships to leverage it, it's not gonna go very far.” CEO Brad Parsell of Kootenay Rockies Tourism shares his approach to leading a regional tourism…
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How Indigo Shire, Australia builds regenerative tourism on Gold Rush history
This destination, known for its role in the gold rush of the 1800s, is seizing new opportunities to collaborate on regenerative tourism. “Cathedral thinking” is helping Indigo Shire work toward long-term goals, says our guest, Susannah Doyle. Learn how Indigo Shire's active transportation network...
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How visitor data protects trails in Grand Junction, CO
Learn how this Colorado city is protecting “Nature’s Trifecta” and vast public lands that draw outdoor adventurers. Today’s guest is Elizabeth Fogarty, Director at Visit Grand Junction. She shares the innovations and strategy behind Grand Junction’s Outdoor Adventure Pass, an app that rewards...
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Affordable housing at the resort: Industry-leading solutions from Whistler
Decades-long leadership on affordable housing in this resort community has ensured more tourism workers have places to live. Tourism Whistler President & CEO Barrett Fisher and Mayor Jack Crompton explain why the Whistler Housing Authority is an example that can inspire other popular tourism...
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How a caring, “Mountainkind” community shapes sustainable tourism in Park City, Utah
In Park City, Utah, a little kindness goes a long way, thanks to its “Mountainkind” philosophy, which is shaping sustainable tourism. The idea comes to life through a caring community that welcomes 3 million visitors annually and encourages them to “treat the mountains like we treat the…
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Winter wins: Turning a tough tourism season into a peak period for Ballarat
How can a tourism destination turn its toughest season into a peak period? Tourism Midwest Victoria has found an answer. Among other factors, winter events and programming have helped this Australian destination draw travellers during a historically slower time of year. Learn how winter here has...
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How Coffs Coast, Australia became an eco-certified destination through "appropriate growth"
Often, quality beats quantity in sustainable tourism. Simon Latchford from City of Coffs Harbour explains how a strategy of "appropriate growth" can preserve what makes a place special while driving economic prosperity. This region has examples to back that up. We learn about tourism’s role in...
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Tourism Jasper works to transform crisis into lasting positive change
How does a crisis become a catalyst for building a better future? CEO Tyler Riopel at Tourism Jasper joins us to discuss how, in the wake of the 2024 wildfires in Jasper National Park, his organization has been working to balance immediate community recovery with long-term destination resilience....
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Why regenerative tourism is a way of life, not a label in rural BC
What's in a word? CEO Amy Thacker says that, in her region, the most effective regenerative operators don't see themselves as "sustainable" – they're simply living their connected way of life, which naturally creates positive environmental and community impacts. Learn about this region's layered,...
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Sand and Steel: Why Indiana Dunes is showing visitors history, even when it’s uncomfortable
Every place is complex, so why do destinations sometimes shy away from sharing deeper stories with visitors? There’s a benefit to authenticity, says Christine Livingston, CEO and President at Indiana Dunes Tourism. This episode, she shares how the destination has begun leaning into its industrial...
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Queenstown’s electric innovations: How economic benefits drive carbon-zero tourism
The economic benefits of sustainability must be well communicated to rally people and businesses to take action, says Mat Woods, CEO at Destination Queenstown in Aotearoa New Zealand. This approach has helped the city become a leader in electrification. It has been able to rally a community-wide...
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Beyond Disney: How Kissimmee, FL balances heritage, community, and growth
Kissimmee, Florida, is a surprising destination. Yes, it’s a gateway to Disney World, the planet’s largest single-site employer, but this city shows that even places engaging with mass tourism can implement meaningful, sustainable practices. By taking the first step toward stewardship and…
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How a world record LGBTQ+ vow renewal became Seattle's tourism success story
Seattle's Love Boat for All initiative celebrated the 50th anniversary of Seattle Pride and set world records in the process. Jacky Danyluk from Visit Seattle shares how values-driven tourism is creating authentic community pride and visitor connections by leaning into the city's inclusive...
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Why slow tourism leads to richer connections in Taos, NM
Taos, New Mexico is filled with inspiration for the sustainability-minded. Here, a centuries-old acequia irrigation system continues to unite the community. It's also the home of the Earthship movement and the Taos Pueblo UNESCO World Heritage Site. Jessie Hook manages the Taos Destination...
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How 180 community workshops changed the future of BC tourism
During the 2010s, the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) in British Columbia led a region-wide effort to become North America's first Biosphere-certified region. This certification has had an impact across the province and is empowering the local tourism industry. Learn how this...
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Why tourism is Canada's underrated superpower
Marsha Walden, CEO at Destination Canada, outlines the huge tourism opportunity ahead for communities across Canada. We apply this thinking to a real-life case study with Callandra Caufield in Cochrane, Alberta, a destination on the doorstep of the Rockies that is entering a new era of tourism...
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Cosmic views: How Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula became a dark sky destination
Keweenaw, MI is home to a first-of-its-kind, certified dark sky park. Brad Barnett from Visit Keweenaw shares how a public-private partnership led to the park’s creation and how this small rural destination is making a sustainable impact through authentic community collaboration and partnerships....
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Valuing the workforce: Supporting hospitality workers through local partnerships – Marquette E5
In this conversation, Andrew Rickauer from United Way of Marquette County explains how local partnerships, often including tourism businesses, are helping build stronger, more resilient communities. His perspective shows how tourism can be a vital force for community well-being when it’s aligned...
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From taproom to watershed: A brewery rooted in place and responsibility – Marquette E4
Ore Dock Brewing Company in Marquette, Michigan is creating a space where locals and visitors come together to learn, celebrate, and protect what makes the region special. Founded in 2012, the brewery has become a cultural anchor hosting everything from public lectures on water conservation to…
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From promotion to purpose: Storytelling for responsible tourism – Marquette E3
With Aaron Peterson, filmmaker and co-founder of the Fresh Coast Film Festival Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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What your local historian can teach you about responsible growth – Marquette E2
What can a destination’s past teach us about its future? In this episode, Marquette historian and storyteller Jim Koski explores how transformations of the past can help today’s tourism leaders make more thoughtful, place-based decisions. Learn how honouring history, environment, and community...
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Rooted in respect: How Travel Marquette leads with care and collaboration – Marquette E1
What happens when tourism is rooted in local pride and environmental responsibility? In this episode, Susan Estler, CEO of Travel Marquette, shares how collaboration across industries and a deep passion for place are shaping the visitor experience in this Great Lakes community. Learn how…
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What makes a meaningful travel experience? Conditions for success in Ontario’s Southwest
From beekeepers to woodworkers, passionate artisans in Ontario’s Southwest are giving visitors skills and memories to last a lifetime. Joanne Wolnik leads the area’s regional tourism organization. In this episode, she tells us about transformational experiences and shares how an experience...
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How a new shipping container market is sparking civic pride in the gateway to Northern BC
As this industrial hub of 80,000 people faces economic transitions from traditional forestry, Tourism Prince George in northern British Columbia is enabling innovations that make tourism work for locals. The city’s new container market and outdoor skating rink are community projects that will...
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How the ʔiisaak Pledge is transforming Tofino travel
What happens when tourism strains local services, and what can be done about it? In this episode, Brad Parsell of Tourism Tofino shares how the community is turning tourism revenue into infrastructure solutions and how Tla-o-qui-aht values expressed through the ʔiisaak Pledge are guiding a new...
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CopenPay returns, now rewarding train travel and longer stays
CopenPay is back in the Danish capital this summer, and this year's program looks to make an even bigger impact on the environment and visitors. How? By rewarding behaviour like train travel and longer stays. In this episode of Travel Beyond, we talk with Rikke Holm Petersen from Wonderful...
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How tourism provides teachers up to $500,000 a year in eco-friendly Port Aransas
Port Aransas, Texas, is a small beach town with big ideas about sustainable tourism and community care. In this episode, Brett Stawar explains how tourism operators and visitors are funding annual stipends for teachers and providing students with scholarships. They’re also pitching in with...
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Tourism and fire resilience: How the Mammoth Donut is keeping the Sierra Nevada safe
When wildfire threatens everything, how does a tourism destination respond? Mammoth Lakes Tourism is supporting one of the boldest regional fire prevention efforts in the U.S. — a project that is now funded with visitor dollars. In this episode, President & CEO John Urdi shares how the community…
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How Madison, WI is becoming a Midwest beacon of inclusivity
Madison, Wisconsin is charting a bold path where inclusion and sustainability shape everyday life. In this episode, Ellie Westman Chin shares how women-led leadership, DEAI values, and climate resilience are deeply embedded in the city’s culture. From painted Pride flags to electric buses…
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How travel is protecting kiwi and planting forests in Hauraki Coromandel
What if every visit made the world a better place? By protecting the kiwi and inviting visitors to plant native trees, Destination Hauraki Coromandel is shaping a tourism ecosystem where every trip gives back. This episode of Travel Beyond explores how a small region is leaving a big legacy, one...
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Slow travel, strong community: Marquette’s model for respectful tourism
In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Travel Marquette is leading a community-wide effort to protect the region’s natural beauty and culture. CEO Susan Estler shares how the Respect Marquette County coalition, slow travel, and education initiatives like the Bark Ranger program are helping visitors and...
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Shift into Park Mode: How new transit options help protect Banff and Lake Louise
The challenge isn’t the number of people, it’s the number of cars.” In Banff National Park, new transit options are helping visitors slow down and enjoy the mountains without worrying about traffic. Christie Pashby from Banff & Lake Louise Tourism explains how an ongoing transportation campaign...
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Copenhagen’s visitors take home green souvenirs – Replay
Like a souvenir that takes up no room in your suitcase, learning has always fit perfectly with travel experiences. Two Copenhagen entrepreneurs share how they’re helping to ensure travellers are going home with a better understanding of how to advocate for change in their communities and take…
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Want travellers to be greener? Rely on rewards, says Copenhagen
From bike riding to urban gardening, Copenhagen’s 2024 pilot project, CopenPay, rewarded visitors for their sustainable actions. Learn how the city is turning travellers’ green intentions into action, inspiring the world along the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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How Bend vacations are building a city people want to live in
Where do your vacation dollars go after they're spent? In Bend, Oregon, the answer might surprise you. In this episode of Travel Beyond, Nate Wyeth of Visit Bend shares how lodging tax revenue collected from accommodations helps make the city a better place. By funding essential services, local...
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Building the future together: How Aboriginal title is reshaping tourism – Cariboo Chilcotin Coast E11
Jimmy Lulua is a past Elected Chief of Xeni Gwet’in First Nation. Today, he’s helping tourism businesses understand how to develop long-term relationships with First Nations based on trust. He shares how Bella Coola Heli Sports' commitment to Indigenous partnerships, environmental stewardship…
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Altitude with purpose: How Bella Coola Heli Sports is funding sustainability from the skies – Cariboo Chilcotin Coast E10
Tourism businesses often spark positive change. Beat Steiner, owner of Bella Coola Heli Sports, shares insights on balancing community, climate, and conservation responsibilities, pioneering climate-positive practices, and inspiring industry-wide sustainability through innovation and…
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Integrating Indigenous voices into heritage tourism: Lessons from Barkerville – Cariboo Chilcotin Coast E9
Storytelling is a powerful catalyst for reconciliation, with historic sites worldwide increasingly recognizing their role in sharing untold stories that promote understanding and healing. At Barkerville, a living history museum in British Columbia, Indigenous perspectives are now beginning to be...
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Future-proofing ecotourism: The story of Bella Coola Grizzly Tours – Cariboo Chilcotin Coast E8
Tourism operator Shannon Lansdowne is carrying on her family’s legacy at Bella Coola Grizzly Tours, a business her father transformed from a grizzly hunting operation into an ecotourism venture. This shift has made the business into a model for aligning tourism with environmental stewardship....
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Renewable experiences: EVs and a community vision – Načiks (Tofino) S2 E6
Can both residents and tourists change their travel habits in favour of EVs? In this episode, entrepreneur Gordon Taylor, member of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet First Nation), shares how T?iick?in (Thunderbird) Ebike Rentals is advocating for positive change. His business strives toward a future of...
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The Indigenous entrepreneur tending BC’s largest kelp farm – Načiks (Tofino) S2 E5
An Indigenous fishery is bringing new opportunities to First Nations on Vancouver Island and to Tofino entrepreneurs like Stevie Dennis. As a kelp rancher, fisherman, and Founder & Owner of NAAS Foods, Stevie shares his journey into business on the ocean. He brings a heartfelt and hopeful...
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How queer advocacy reinforces environmental action – Načiks (Tofino) S2 E4
“I think we can look side to side and find so much solidarity with people who are working in any given region towards a future that is more equitable or more just and say, how do we connect?” Sully Rogalski is the co-founder of the Coastal Queen Alliance in Tofino, which has brought the queer...
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“This is a garden”: Lessons from a 50-year stewardship legacy – Načiks (Tofino) S2 E3
How can independent businesses best educate and connect with visitors? In this episode, Maureen Fraser, Owner of the Common Loaf Bake Shop, draws from her five decades of experience to talk about her early support of the area’s Tribal Parks, the role of businesses in environmental and cultural...
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Nurturing cultural pride through Indigenous hospitality and mentorship – Načiks (Tofino) S2 E2
How can tourism create Indigenous spaces that foster growth, opportunity, and meaningful representation? In this episode, Maria Clark, Assistant General Manager at Tin Wis Resort and Board Director for Indigenous Tourism BC, discusses the value of mentorship, the importance of Indigenous...
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Culture keepers: Showing visitors what it means to be Nuu-chah-nulth – Načiks (Tofino) S2 E1
“It really comes back to ?iisaak. It comes back to respect.” To create a more balanced and inclusive future for tourism, it’s essential to understand and honour Indigenous culture and history. In this episode, Timmy Masso and Hjalmer Wenstob explore the deep connections between language, art, and...
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How you can help the travel industry lead systemic change
On this episode of Travel Beyond, sustainability leader Auden Schendler shares a bold vision for tackling the climate crisis, revealing how the tourism industry can use its influence to drive systemic change, inspire global action, and transform token efforts into scalable, impactful solutions.…
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Copenhagen and guests share lessons on destination leadership, KPIs, and collaboration
Travel’s full impact on society – both positive and negative – is not often fully understood or discussed. But that’s starting to change. Today’s leading destinations are charting a future with strategies that help places navigate complexity and make sure communities and the environment benefit....
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Travel Beyond podcast brings you the travel industry’s most exciting innovations that address the greatest challenges facing communities and the planet.
We partner with travel destinations and changemakers working toward a regenerative future where all people can flourish, and that means transforming the travel industry to respect the needs of residents, visitors, and the environment.
At Destination Think, we believe travel can make the world a better place, but it must do so without environmental, economic and social harm. In the travel industry, and as travellers, we need to pair our words with meaningful action if we are going to improve our lives and the world. The solutions are in sight, and they need to be shared.
Protecting our planet and shaping the future of travel is a big project that needs a big team. Tune in to hear from the inspiring travel leaders and many others committed to this vital project. And join us.
<a href="http:
HOSTED BY
Destination Think
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Travel Beyond have?
Travel Beyond currently has 137 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Travel Beyond about?
The Travel Beyond podcast brings you the travel industry’s most exciting innovations that address the greatest challenges facing communities and the planet. We partner with travel destinations and changemakers working toward a regenerative future where all people can flourish, and that means...
How often does Travel Beyond release new episodes?
Travel Beyond publishes regularly with 137 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Travel Beyond?
You can listen to Travel Beyond on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Travel Beyond?
Travel Beyond is created and hosted by Destination Think.
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