Episodes
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Professor Konstantina Zerva is our guest for this episode of Ask Us Anything, she is Professor of Marketing and Market Investigation at the Faculty of Tourism, University of Girona in Spain.
Professor Zerva’s research is related to niche tourism market segments, gender and mobility, social marketing and theories of social exchange. She is the coordinator of the special interest group on ‘dark tourism’ of ATLAS, the Association for Tourism and Leisure Education and Research.
Dark tourism includes a wide range of sites and tourist activities associated with death and suffering, but also danger and survival. Such sites might include constructed memorials, abandoned places of historic events and simulated or actual environments. Dark tourism activities can be passive or active, self-reflective or communal. Increasingly, technology is used to simulate dark contexts and experiences.
As you will hear in this conversation, dark tourism is a useful analytical tool for understanding cultural exchange, tourist behaviour and the delicate balance among a variety of stakeholders, including locals, victims and survivors. We touch on some of the beneficial aspects of dark tourism, as well as the controversial aspects, including its commercialisation. Confronting the darkness of humanity is an age-old activity, however, the ways that humans - and tourists - do this are changing. Have a listen…
Learn more about WYSE Travel Confederation, the international travel trade association for organisations specialised in youth, student and educational travel.
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In this episode of the WYSE Ask Us Anything podcast we hear from Catherine Gilvarry, Head of Supply at Hostelworld, an OTA specialised in serving the hostel market.
As a member of Hostelworld’s ESG Steering Committee, Catherine discusses Hostelworld’s new “Stairway to Sustainability” programme, a framework for hostels to assess and communicate their sustainability initiatives. You’ll also hear about some of the social travel trends that Hostelworld is focussed on as the global hostel market continues to stabilise post-COVID-19. I also ask about media attention for the group’s 2023 year-end results and CEO Gary Morrison’s interest in addressing “loneliness” through travel, and of course, hostels. Have a listen.Learn more about WYSE Travel Confederation, the international travel trade association for organisations specialised in youth, student and educational travel.
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Missing episodes?
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Guests for this Ask Us Anything conversation are Kevin Morgan and Randy LeGrant, co-founders of Academic Language Solutions. The company specialises in English language proficiency testing, and offers a range of tests under the brand iTEP. There are iTEP tests to assess conversational or business English, as well as career-specific tests for hospitality or child care. There are also academic tests geared for university and high school admissions and tests utilised by cultural exchange programmes.
Kevin and Randy first met in 1979. They iTEP in 2016, but their experience in youth, student and educational travel stretches back much further and across more than just English language learning. In this conversation you’ll learn how each got started in cultural exchange travel and how they went from careers in teaching and communications to technology. Kevin boils it down to two words: curiosity and necessity.
We also discuss the influence of Artificial Intelligence on not only their business and product technology, but young people, education and travel. You’ll also find out what’s in the iTEP pipeline for 2024 and beyond. Have a listen.
Recorded February 2024.Learn more about WYSE Travel Confederation, the international travel trade association for organisations specialised in youth, student and educational travel.
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What’s one of the most important aspects of developing a new hostel brand in the post-pandemic travel space? Staffing? Tech? TikTok? And what about the bed? Comfort? Cool? Cheap?
This Ask Us Anything conversation with Louise Garner, Commercial Director of Kabannas, a new hostel brand in the UK, offers some opinions and insights on the question. Louise discusses the development of tech specifically designed for hostels and around revenue management of the bed. We also touch on developing a social media strategy alongside the development of your guest experience. And of course, something that’s been a challenge for most in hospitality coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic - staffing. Strategic partners have been key to the launch of Kabannas, and as you’ll hear Louise say, 2024 will be a ‘big year’ for the brand, especially when it comes to expansion plans… have a listen.Learn more about WYSE Travel Confederation, the international travel trade association for organisations specialised in youth, student and educational travel.
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CEO and Co-founder of India’s vibrant new brand Olive Living is our guest on this episode of the Ask Us Anything podcast: Kahraman Yigit.
Kahraman talks about experience-driven travel and Olive Living's ambition to become the first members club for millennials and gen z. Having launched Olive just a few months before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Kahraman also reflects on some of the big learnings for hospitality that came out of the pandemic and what the must-have tech is for hospitality and providing the ultimate guest experience in 2024. Have a listen.
Recorded December 2023.Learn more about WYSE Travel Confederation, the international travel trade association for organisations specialised in youth, student and educational travel.
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In this episode of Ask Us Anything you’ll meet two outstanding female founders in international educational and volunteer travel: Justine Trembicki of Freepackers and Agustina Gutiérrez of Tingua Intercultural Experiences.
Together, Justine and Agustina recently won the very first Global Youth Travel WYSTC Partnership Award. This award recognizes an outstanding collaboration between two organisations that met at the World Youth and Student Travel Conference and have since forged a creative, innovative and sustainable partnership with impact on youth and student travel.The two reveal how the two met at WYSTC 2018 and what makes their international partnership work. We also discuss how young people are now approaching volunteer experiences abroad and what they’re working on for 2024.
Recorded October 2023.Learn more about WYSE Travel Confederation, the international travel trade association for organisations specialised in youth, student and educational travel.
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Hear the origin story of Welcome to Travel from co-founder Darryl Newby in the latest episode of Ask Us Anything.
Based in Melbourne, Australia, Welcome to Travel caters to the orientation needs of backpackers arriving in Australia with working holidaymaker visas. Darryl reflects on some of the product and marketing experimentations that have propelled the company’s sales and growth, what’s special about Australia as a youth travel destination and what it means to win the 2023 Global Youth Travel Award for Best Youth Tour Operator.
Recorded October 2023.Learn more about WYSE Travel Confederation, the international travel trade association for organisations specialised in youth, student and educational travel.
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We talk to Greg Bows of African Impact about the evolution of international volunteer travel and winning this year’s Global Youth Travel Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
You’ll hear how African Impact works with the SDGs and Greg’s personal story of how he ended up in a career in volunteer travel. Plus, Greg shares his views on the where things are headed for impact-driven travel programmes and the value of failure.
Recorded October 2023.Learn more about WYSE Travel Confederation, the international travel trade association for organisations specialised in youth, student and educational travel.
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Meet Christina Beckmann in the latest episode of WYSE Travel Confederation's Ask Us Anything podcast.
Christina is one of the creators of Tomorrow’s Air, a sustainable travel venture of the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA). Tomorrow’s Air is a global collective of travel organizations investing in carbon removal technology. The collective connects travel businesses and travellers to climate action through its educational activities and accessible contribution model. ATTA is a trade group bringing together destinations, travel advisors, operators, suppliers and other stakeholders of the adventure travel industry.Together ATTA and Tomorrow’s Air are supporting WYSE Travel Confederation’s New Horizons survey of international youth and student travel. Christina will explain the positive impact both of their organisations receive through this WYSE research study of young travellers.
You’ll also learn about a major change currently underway in the way we think about climate change action - a shift in mindset from carbon offsetting to carbon removal.
Christina is open, funny and dedicated to her work. It might sound silly, but she is devoted to educating people about air… and finding a new way for travellers and travel organizations to face climate change without, as she says, “travel shaming” and “pious finger-wagging”.
Have a listen.
Recorded June 2023Learn more about WYSE Travel Confederation, the international travel trade association for organisations specialised in youth, student and educational travel.
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In this episode of Ask Us Anything, we talk to Sascha Dimitriewicz and Raphaela Boeck, a father-daughter team at Wombat’s City Hostels, about the past and future of youth travel. Sascha is co-founder of Wombat’s and his daughter Raphaela is currently head of sales for the hostel’s four properties located in Vienna, London, Budapest and Munich.
The Wombat’s philosophy is based on the belief that hostels are ideal places for cultural exchange, that travelling and bringing people together is valuable for our learning and world view.
You'll hear Sascha's founder’s story, which is based on his own youth travel experience backpacking in Australia. We also discuss how the Wombat’s business has managed to grow as a reliable, but unexpected brand in the international youth travel space since 1999. You’ll also hear how Raphaela is thinking about the future of youth travel and hostels and how the two approach their unique relationship as father and daughter at work.
Have a listen... we’ve included some live action from Wombat’s Vienna in this episode of Ask Us Anything.
Recorded February 2023.Learn more about WYSE Travel Confederation, the international travel trade association for organisations specialised in youth, student and educational travel.
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In February 2023, we talked with Patricia Brunner, Managing Director of the International Au Pair Association – “IAPA”. Patricia is based in Munich, Germany and has been working in cultural exchange and travel for many years. Before taking on her current role with IAPA, she operated her own au pair agency in Munich.
IAPA and WYSE Travel Confederation together host the annual Work Experience Travel Market and IAPA Annual Conference. “WETM-IAC” as it is known, will take place in Athens, Greece this year from March 18th to 20th. The conference attracts cultural exchange professionals from across the globe for two and a half days of business, networking and education, and as you’ll hear Patricia say “happy moments”.
In our conversation, Patricia explains the most important reasons professionals working in au pair and other cultural exchange programmes should attend the conference. We also talked about some of the major shifts in youth travel and cultural exchange during Patricia’s career, and more recently as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit.
We also discussed what a utopian au pair visa scheme could look like and Patricia highlights a potentially major “game changer” for cultural exchange and youth mobility.
Recorded February 2023.Learn more about WYSE Travel Confederation, the international travel trade association for organisations specialised in youth, student and educational travel.
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What does study abroad look like post-COVID? Hear about some of the changes in this episode of Ask Us Anything by WYSE Travel Confederation.
In this conversation, you’ll hear Terri Hamilton of Brigham Young University in the United States discuss post-COVID study abroad programmes. Terri explains what she’ll be looking for at the World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC) this year and why it's critical for educational travel and tourism suppliers to be there. You’ll also hear:
What’s in demand for faculty-led university study abroad programmesHow universities choose educational travel products and suppliers to work with at WYSTCWhat’s changed about university study abroad since the COVID-19 pandemic.Recorded June 2022.
Learn more about WYSE Travel Confederation, the international travel trade association for organisations specialised in youth, student and educational travel.
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Hear from the largest youth and student travel agency in northern Europe in this episode of Ask Us Anything by WYSE Travel Confederation.
In this conversation, you’ll hear from Clare Weston, long-time international product manager at KILROY and ten-year veteran of the World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC). Clare explains what she’ll be looking for at WYSTC this year and why the conference is so valuable to travel and tourism businesses. You’ll also hear:
Which travel destinations and experiences are currently in demandWhat’s not in demand right nowHow buyers view product and potential business partners at WYSTC.Recorded June 2022.
Learn more about WYSE Travel Confederation, the international travel trade association for organisations specialised in youth, student and educational travel.
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Find out what’s going on in the student travel market of Uruguay in this interview with Fabiana Martilotta, Director General and CEO of Viajeros Sin Fronteras. Fabiana discusses the most popular experiences and destinations for high school and university students in Uruguay, visa challenges and the international youth traveller’s view on safety and gun violence in the USA.
Also, in this edition of WYSE Travel Confederation’s Ask Us Anything podcast, you’ll learn from a WYSE Buyer Member why it’s critical to be at this year’s World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC). You’ll also hear:
What’s changed for buyers of student travel experiences since the pandemicHow buyers approach their time meeting potential business partners at WYSTCWhat buyers are looking for at WYSTC this year.Recorded June 2022.
Learn more about WYSE Travel Confederation, the international travel trade association for organisations specialised in youth, student and educational travel.
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In this episode of WYSE Travel Confederation's Ask Us Anything, hear from Philip Cabra Netherton of Euroventure, GOAT Roadtrip and now Refugee Travel about pivoting a small business amidst crisis and putting peer-to-peer networks to work for good.
Recorded April 2022.Learn more about WYSE Travel Confederation, the international travel trade association for organisations specialised in youth, student and educational travel.
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In this episode of WYSE Travel Confederation's Ask Us Anything, we talk to Callum Kennedy of Kennedy Mears Consultants about his life-long career in work & travel and cultural exchanges.
Recorded September 2021.Learn more about WYSE Travel Confederation, the international travel trade association for organisations specialised in youth, student and educational travel.
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In this episode of WYSE Travel Confederation's Ask Us Anything podcast, Wendy talks to Ann-Kristin Cohrs, Managing Director at AuPairWorld about the PROYOUTH VISA campaign.
Recorded July 2021.Learn more about WYSE Travel Confederation, the international travel trade association for organisations specialised in youth, student and educational travel.
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In this episode of WYSE Travel Confederation's Ask Us Anything podcast, Wendy talks to Brian Westwood, General Manager, Marketing and Sales at YHA New Zealand.
Recorded April 2021.Learn more about WYSE Travel Confederation, the international travel trade association for organisations specialised in youth, student and educational travel.
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In this episode of WYSE Travel Confederation's Ask Us Anything podcast, Wendy Morrill and Professor Greg Richards discuss youth and student travel at the World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC) Online.
Recorded October 2020.Learn more about WYSE Travel Confederation, the international travel trade association for organisations specialised in youth, student and educational travel.
