Tourpreneur Tour Business Podcast

If there's one thing we at Tourpreneur have learned about running an online community, it's how important it is to have in-person gatherings to anchor the online conversations in the friendships that develop in-person. So far this year we've welcomed nearly 1,000 people to our small group "Shindigs" (meetups) held all around the world. And we're planning on more, plus launching a brand new style of conference for the whole industry, TourWeek [https://TourWeek.travel]. So in this special episode, Mitch, Peter and TP Head of Events Kyle Campbell sit down for a chat about the importance of tour operators meeting up together in-person and how we want YOU to join or host an in-person gathering!

How do we design experiences that use photography to enhance the guided experience, and not detract from feeling engaged and immersed? That's the question Mitch Bach posed in this Tourpreneur episode. Mikaela Toczek is the perfect person to answer that questions. She's the founder of More to Explore in Slovenia, which combines her background as a documentary photographer and photojournalism educator with her passion for guiding to create tours that explore Slovenia's lesser-known areas. Having moved to Slovenia with her family and launched her business three years ago, she deliberately focuses on areas without established tourism infrastructure, taking small groups of eight people to places that offer authentic connections with local hosts and providers. Her approach to tours integrates what she calls "conscious photography" - a philosophy rooted in her experience using medium format film cameras that have only 12 shots per roll, forcing intentional, reflective image-making rather than mindless smartphone snapping. This photographic mindfulness becomes woven throughout her tour experiences, helping guests balance capturing memories with being fully present in Slovenia's stunning natural landscapes. Don't forget to join us for TourWeek, Tourpreneur's global event for tour operators! More at tourweek.travel [https://tourweek.travel]

**Don't forget to register for our upcoming conference: TourWeek [https://tourweek.travel], Nov 10-13!** The whole TP gang of Mitch, Peter, Chris and Kyle were in London together recently for a Tourpreneur party. And our friends at GetYourGuide emailed and said—hey, while you're in London, do you want to take a tour? We said, sure! When we asked what it was, they said: trust us, this is a good one. They weren't kidding. It was such an interesting experience that we surprised the owner-guide by asking him to record an impromptu podcast episode right after finishing his 3-hour tour of Afro-Carribean Foods of Brixton, London [https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/obi-s-african-caribbean-food-tour-in-brixton-t548968/]. Obi owns Gorgeous Tours UK [https://thisisgorgeous.com/], and operates African and Caribbean food tours in Brixton, London's historically black neighborhood, sharing deeply personal stories of his Nigerian family's immigration experience alongside the complex cultural evolution of the area. What began six years ago as a slow-starting venture inspired by his wife's suggestion during a Bangkok food tour has transformed into a thriving full-time business running twice daily, six days a week, thanks to an unexpected boost from Beyoncé's London concerts in May 2023 that brought thousands of American tourists seeking authentic cultural experiences. His tours combine eight to nine food tastings with intimate storytelling that doesn't shy away from difficult truths about gentrification, historical neglect, and community displacement, instead embracing honest narratives that guests appreciate for their authenticity. Operating as a solo entrepreneur, Obi faces the classic scaling challenges of managing all aspects of his business while maintaining the personal touch and local relationships that make his tours special.

There's no explaining this episode. It's rambling and angry and raw and weird, but probably a very useful episode to listen to. Mr. AI-is-the-future Peter Syme and Mr. Human-Connection-is-Everything Mitch Bach are joined by two brilliant guys who have made their living creating travel content. Stuart McDonald founded Travelfish [https://www.travelfish.org/] to offer true expert insights into Southeast Asian travel destinations. And Matthew Barker is the founder of Horizon Guides [https://horizonguides.com/], which helps tour operators sell tours by pairing their products with expert content. Both Matthew and Stuart have spent decades in the travel content business, and have a lot to say about what Google's content updates and the general shift to AI has done to the spirit of travel planning & discovery. But the conversation gets much broader, real quick. Mitch rants about the poverty of fast-food AI tour guide experiences and what it's doing to customer behavior, and Pete valiantly defends technology. Nothing is firmly decided, but the debate is definite informative for anyone struggling to figure out where we're headed as a tour industry. Timestamps * 00:00 Introduction to the Changing Landscape of Travel Content * 04:29 Understanding Google’s Evolving Algorithms * 08:35 Creating Quality Travel Content * 13:40 The Impact of AI on Travel Content * 18:17 The Role of Human Connection in Travel Experiences * 25:01 Navigating the Future of Travel and Content Creation * 44:22 The Impact of Digital Culture on Personal Identity * 46:15 The Illusion of Choice in a Digital World * 48:26 Mindless Travel: The Loss of Agency * 51:48 The Backlash Against Mindless Travel * 55:00 The Role of Authenticity in Travel Experiences * 58:48 The Importance of Connection in Guiding * 01:01:21 Creating Meaningful Content in Travel * 01:05:58 The Power of Personal Stories in Travel Marketing * 01:12:12 Designing Immersive Experiences Without Screens

What does it take to grow a food tour company without losing what made it special in the first place? Mitch Bach talks with Lauren Aloise [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-aloise/], co-founder of Devour Tours [https://devourtours.com/] and now VP of Marketing and Guest Experience at Walks-Devour Tours, joins us to unpack the hard-earned lessons of scaling with soul. From cooking classes in her Madrid apartment to managing operations across continents, Lauren shares how Devour stayed grounded in hospitality, storytelling, and meaningful local partnerships—even as it greatly expanded. Mitch and Lauren explore the tough questions many tour operators face: How do you train guides to host, not just talk? What gets lost when experiences become too polished? And how do you adapt to a tourism landscape shaped by TikTok, AI, and shifting guest expectations? This episode is packed with insight for anyone trying to grow a purpose-driven experience business—without losing the magic. * Join the 20,000 member Tourpreneur Facebook Group [https://facebook.com/groups/tourpreneur] * More show notes at tourpreneur.com [https://tourpreneur.com] * November 10-13, 2025: Tourpreneur's TourWeek annual conference [https://tourweek.travel] Chapters * 00:00 Introduction to Devour Tours and Lauren Aloise * 02:23 The Origins of Devour Tours * 05:54 Evolving the Business Model * 11:13 The Challenges of Scaling * 14:30 Customer Loyalty and Brand Connection * 16:20 The Unique Qualities of Food Tourism * 20:57 Creating Connection Through Food Tours * 25:23 The Future of Tour Guiding and AI * 25:48 The Impact of AI on Tourism and Hospitality * 27:59 The Power of Shared Food Memories * 29:25 Balancing Experience and Product in Tours * 30:33 Investing in Guide Training and Engagement * 33:29 Building Loyalty and Company Culture * 34:38 Navigating the Rise of DIY Food Tourism * 37:41 Adapting Marketing Strategies for a New Generation * 39:19 The Value of Webinars in Customer Engagement * 43:16 Learning from Failures and Defining Success * 47:39 The Importance of Focus in Business Growth