The Tourism RESET
The Tourism RESET is a podcast for tourism professionals who want to learn from leading global experts. Host Rebecca Woolford explores different cultures and perspectives to challenge conventional thinking in the industry. The show helps listeners make effective, future-ready business decisions. It also aims to inspire meaningful change across tourism.
Episodes
52. Bred to Entertain: The Business Of Captive Dolphins With World Animal Protection
This is the second episode of ‘Bred To Entertain’, a three-part series with World Animal Protection dedicated to captive wildlife in tourism. A series designed for travel professionals, business owners and tour operator teams, providing expert-led knowledge to navigate this topic with more confidence and clarity.My guests today are Delphine Ronfot and Dr David Perpiñán. Delphine has more than 20 y
51. Bred to Entertain: The Real Cost of Elephant Tourism With World Animal Protection
This is the first episode of 'Bred To Entertain' a three-part series with World Animal Protection dedicated to captive wildlife in tourism.My guests today are Dr Jan Schmidt-Burbach and Sarah Blaine. Jan is Director of Wildlife Research and Veterinary Expertise at World Animal Protection, holds a PhD in diagnosing health issues in Asian elephants, and has led the most comprehensive assessment to d
50. Unlocking Tourism's $10 Trillion Humanitarian Capacity With Gopinath Parayil
50 episodes of The Tourism Reset and we're marking the milestone with a big topic and a very special guest.My guest today, Gopinath Parayil has spent over 20 years asking one question: how do we create a better place to live? He's the founder of travel company Blue Yonder, an award winning travel company founded in 2004 in Kerala India.His business and team have been first responders across major
49. Why Polar Guides Are Walking Away From The Industry With Dr. Elizabeth Cooper
25 Antarctic tour guides walked away from careers they'd spent years earning, and a place they loved. Not because the work dried up. Not because they changed their minds. Because of what they witnessed on the ice.My guest today, Dr. Elizabeth Cooper, set out to find out why people were choosing to leave the industry. What she uncovered is an inconvenient truth about Antarctic tourism - one that di
48. Migration: One of the World's Most Dangerous Crossings with Rasmus Krath
Migration. Present in the places and destinations tourism operates in and sends travellers to. Tourism relies on the idea of freedom of movement - so what happens when those two worlds collide?This story began as one man's dream to cross what he calls "one of the last remaining wildernesses." It became something else entirely. The story of a family's fight to survive.My guest today is Rasmus Krath
47. Tourism Leakage: Where Impact Claims Fall Short With Ewan Cluckie
If community tourism is part of your business, if community impact matters to you in the places you operate, or if you publish impact reports - this episode is for you.My guest today is Ewan Cluckie, co-founder of Tripseed, a majority locally-owned, women-owned DMC based in Thailand. Tripseed recently became the first tourism operator in Asia to receive the Fair Tax Mark and is the first business
46. Biophilic Design: What Most Hotels Are Missing With Professor Willy Legrand
What's behind a hotel lobby that invites in a full-body exhale from its guests, and another that does the opposite? The answer? Already written into their nervous systems and missing entirely from most business strategies and ROI docs.My guest today is Dr. Willy Legrand, Professor, author, and speaker based in Germany, where he's been teaching sustainability in hospitality for over two decades. In
45. The Stories Tourism Hides With Professor Sandro Carnicelli
How does tourism hide the voices of communities on main tourism routes? And what happens when this industry is a vehicle to bring back lost stories and heritage instead?My guest today is Professor Sandro Carnicelli, who teaches tourism at the University of West Scotland. Born in São Paulo to an Italian family, he completed his PhD in New Zealand, today he calls Scotland home. A journey that's shap
44. From Five Stars To Five Senses With Beàta Szablics
What does it mean to really 'arrive' in a place? And what's the compelling business case for stillness in tourism? Some of what we'll explore in today's episode...My guest today is Beáta Szablics, a tourism business strategist, experience designer, and certified forest therapy guide. She was the first-ever guide to host nature therapy sessions on the icy continent of Antarctica.Most tours or hotel
43. From Climate Dread To Direction With Dr. Thomas Doherty & Jeremy Smith
The New York Times called Dr Thomas Doherty (author of Surviving Climate Anxiety) the most prominent American advocate of eco psychology. Jeremy Smith is co-author of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism and has spent more than 20 years at the front line of tourism's response to the climate crisis.This episode goes somewhere most industry conversations and sustainability conference
42. Truths the Aviation Industry Hopes You'll Miss With Ex-Pilot Katie Thompson
Join Katie Thompson and a panel of leading experts live on the 2nd of April for Rethinking Flying, a live learning event only at thetourismreset.com. Or catch the recording.What truths would the aviation industry rather you didn't know? In this episode we find out.This week I sat down with Katie Thompson. Twenty years in the cockpit. Head of Flight Safety at NetJets. Responsible for hundreds of ai
41. The Three Eras of Tourism With Tina O'Dwyer
Is tourism growing for the sake of growing? Who benefits? And who pays the cost? Just some of the questions we unpack in this episode.This week I sat down with Tina O'Dwyer from Ireland, a renowned strategic advisor in tourism, and one of the few people I've heard put vulnerability and leadership in the same sentence in this industry. Find out why that matters more than you think.Why this is worth
40. Turtle Island, Not North America With Dr. Lyla June
Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. My guest today is Dr. Lyla June Johnston, aka Lyla June, an Indigenous musician, author, and activist of Diné nation and European heritage.Lyla’s creativity and passion have engaged audiences around the globe. She blends her study of Human Ecology at Stanford with doctoral research focused on how pre-colonial Indigenous Nation
39. From 'Crazy' to Conservation Legend With Cristalino Lodge
Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. My guests today are Vitória and Alex, mother and son from Cristalino Lodge, a world leading ecotourism lodge in the Southern Amazon, Brazil.What began as a deep knowing for Vitoria grew into Cristalino Lodge, now safeguarding 11,399 hectares of rainforest (equal in size to two Manhattans). It's a world-leading research hotspot
38. Who Really Benefits From Tourism With Dr Freya Higgins-Desbiolles
Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. My next guest is Dr Freya Higgins-Desbiolles, an academic powerhouse and author who's spent her career advancing justice in tourism.Freya helped create the Code of Conduct for Tourism in the Holy Land, she's co-authored books on climate justice and community empowerment, and she's working with communities worldwide to reimagin
37. How Tourism Can Transform Women's Lives With Alessandra Alonso & Florbela
Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. My guests today are Alessandra Alonso, award-winning founder of Women in Travel CIC - named one of 50 most important women in travel by Wanderlust AND Florbela, a tour guide.For two decades, Alessandra has been championing women in tourism. It started when she noticed she was always the only woman in the boardroom. Women are 5
BONUS EP: Celebrating B Corp Month With Rochelle Turner
Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. My next guest is a trained beekeeper and Intrepid Travel's B Corp Impact Manager. In her spare time Rochelle Turner is the co-chair of Travel by B Corp UK, and is a trustee of the Travel Foundation.In this episode, discover...What it means to be a B Corp travel business. The good, as well as the challengesWhy governance is cru
35. Climate Justice: The Conversation Tourism Is Largely Avoiding With Jeremy Sampson
Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. Today's guests isJeremy Sampson, CEO of The Travel Foundation.Here's what you'll hear in this episode:🌍 "All we want is a hill to die on, and if we die on that hill, so be it." (6:00 mins)🌍 "I actually walked into the interview thinking The Travel Foundation was TUI's non-profit... it left the Travel Foundation in a precarious
34. The Real Work Behind Changing Tourism With Kasia, Sara and Shannon
Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. Today I sit down with three incredible women, all chiefs of impact and heads of sustainability from major travel companies.Hear from Sara King from Intrepid Travel, Shannon Guihan from The Travel Corporation, and Kasia Morgan from Exodus Adventure Travels, part of the Travelopia group, as we discuss the misconceptions surround
33. Mini Stories With Helen, Firecrest Travel
Behind every great travel or tourism business, no matter the size is someone who asks better questions, takes consistent action, and refuses to choose between profit and purpose.In this episode, I sat down with Helen Bateman, founder of Firecrest Travel, a UK-based boutique agency with transformative travel and adventure at its heart.Enjoyed listening? Visit thetourismreset.com, on-demand video le
32. Rethinking Carbon In Tourism With Thomas Newmark
Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. Today, I’m joined by the inspiring Thomas Newmark for a deep dive into the C word!Carbon. Tom is the Co-owner of Finca Luna Nueva Lodge, who is leading the way in regenerative farming and tourism in not only Costa Rica, but the world.A seasoned expert and public speaker. Previously the chair of the Greenpeace Fund of the Unite
31. What They Don’t Tell You About Travel Foundations With Jonathan Coleman
Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. Today I’m chatting with Jonathan Coleman, CEO of Untours, the world’s first B Corp company.In this episode we dive into the fascinating founding story of Untours and the radical vision of its founder Hal Taussig. As well as what most people don’t realise about how private foundations often work. This episode pulls back the cur
30. Breaking Barriers, Protecting Rhinos With Dr. Sonali Ghosh
Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. This week’s episode is a special one, as we join the global celebration of World Female Ranger Week, a powerful movement founded by my friend, Holly Budge.Today I'm joined by Dr. Sonali Ghosh, the first-ever female Field Director of Kaziranga National Park in India. Dr. Ghosh is the 2024 recipient of the World Female Ranger Tr
29. Beyond Buzzwords: How to Best Engage Travellers With Dr. Xavier Font
Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. My guest today is a professor of Sustainability Marketing at the University of Surrey.Dr. Xavier Font has served as an advisor to some of the world's biggest travel brands including, Booking.com, Google, Expedia, Skyscanner, and TripAdvisor where he uses his research experience to inform efforts that can ultimately influence t
28. Ecotourism Through A Filmmaker’s Eyes With Joe Stevens
Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. Today's guest is an award-winning producer and director of wildlife documentaries for BBC, Apple TV+, National Geographic, and Discovery.In an incredibly rare interview, Joe Stevens shares his journey of being inspired by Sir David Attenborough, to later working with him in the Galapagos, as well as why filming the world’s lar
27. Redefining Luxury Travel with Nina Karnikowski
Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. My next guest is the Author of the memoir 'The Mindful Traveller' and the sustainable travel handbook Go Lightly. Having worked as a travel writer for over a decade, Nina Karnikowski writes about travel that can help solve social and environmental problems.Tune in to discover...Why it's time to redefine luxury - not as excess,
26. Redefining Travel for Women With Beth Santos
Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. My guest today is the founder and CEO of Wanderful, a sisterhood of more than 45,000 solo women travellers across the globe and content creators.Beth Santos is also the creator of the WITS Travel Creator Summit, a leading event for women and gender diverse travel creators. In this episode, discover...Who makes 85% of travel pu
25. Pioneering Responsible Travel With Justin Francis OBE
Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. My next guest is Justin Francis, the Chair of Responsible Travel, named the world’s first and largest travel company dedicated to responsible tourism. Co-founding the World Responsible Tourism Awards, Justin's vision and hard work has fundamentally changed the industry in countless ways.In this episode, discover...Justin's fas
24. Addressing Climate Anxiety and Grief With Jeremy Smith
Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. Today's guest is an award-winning writer and strategist with 25 years of experience in tourism and climate action.Jeremy Smith, is the author of 'Transforming Travel' and 'Clean Breaks, 500 Ways to See the World', he was the co-founder of Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency, and is the co-author of the UN Tourism-led Glasgow
23. Travelling The World On Foot With Thomas Turcich
Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. Today's guest is Thomas Turcich, who completed a seven-year journey walking across thirty-eight countries with his adopted pup, Savanna. He's the 10th person to walk around the world, walking a mind-blowing 28,000 miles.In this episode, discover...What inspired Tom to spend 7 years walking around the worldWhy walking is the ON
22. The Real Cost Of A Tanzanian Safari With Rachel Levy
Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. Today I have the inspiring Rachel Levy joining me, an award-winning filmmaker, writer and photojournalist based in Alaska whose work lies at the intersections of environmental justice, modern colonialism, and sustainable tourism.In this episode, learn about...Tourism leakage and colonial frameworks in the safari industry in Ta
21. Calculating Carbon Across 500 Trips With Hannah Methven
Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. This week I'm joined by sustainability specialist at Explore Worldwide, an adventure travel company.Hannah Methven is not just any sustainability manager, she led the most comprehensive carbon measurement project in the history of the travel industry, measuring the footprint of over 500 trips and counting.In this episode disco
20. Regeneration Is Remembering With Anna Pollock
Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. Today is special, as we've reached our 20th episode! A special thanks to everyone who's joined me for this wild ride so far, I've loved every minute.Awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to tourism, my guest today, Anna Pollock, has over 50 years of experience. An acclaimed thought leader in the emerging fi
19. 140 years Of Environmental Stewardship With Fernando Polanco
Welcome back to The Tourism RESET with me, your host, Rebecca Woolford. My guest today is Fernando Polanco, general manager and co-owner of Hacienda Zuleta in Ecuador.From a ground-breaking conservation programme to bring back Condors from the edge of extinction, to a rich family history spanning 140 years; there is no place on earth quite like Zuleta in Ecuador. In this conversation, Fernando sha
18. The Power Of Transformative Travel With Fabrizio Ghilardi
My guest today is Fabrizio Ghilardi, founder of Socompa Adventure Travel.Fabrizio shares his journey from his home in Italy to Argentina in search of adventure and how he built Socompa into a premier travel company focused on responsible tourism. The conversation delves into the transformative power of travel, the importance of sustainability, and the challenges and successes of running a socially
17. Passport Privilege and Slow Travel With Shivya Nath
Today's guest is the author of a bestselling travel memoir, is the founder of Climate Conscious Travel and the sustainable travel blog, The Shooting Star.In 2011, at the age of 23, Shivya Nath waved goodbye to a corporate job, sold her possessions and embarked on an adventure of a lifetime, sparked by her curious nature.For the next 7 years Shivya lived out of her bag, immersing herself in local c
16. From Sustainable To Responsible Tourism With Harold Goodwin
My guest today has worked across 4 continents with local communities, their governments, and the tourism industry at large.Dr. Harold Goodwin is the Managing Director of the Responsible Tourism Partnership, chairs the panels of judges for the Global Responsible Tourism Awards and is the Director of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism. In this episode we talk about over tourism, real-w
15. Family Adventures In Patagonia With Paula Christensen
My guest today, Paula Christensen, is one of 7 brothers and sisters who run a remote eco-lodge which overlooks the impossibly blue waters of Lake General Carrera in Patagonia, Chile.In this conversation, Paula discusses her family's fierce commitment to Mallín Colorado, how it all started with a camping trip, and their exciting reforestation project. Paula also shares insights on the impact of cli
14. Permaculture For The Future With Jonah Chaffee
My guest today is Jonah Chaffee, an ecological educator and owner of Valle Escondido Nature Reserve Hotel and Farm in Costa Rica.In this episode we unpack the principles of permaculture. We also explore the connections between soil health and human health. As well as how multi-generational education at his eco-lodge in Costa Rica is creating a ripple effect. I hope you enjoy this episode!Enjoyed l
13. Elevating Invisible Narratives With Elisa Spampinato
My guest today is Elisa Spampinato, founder of Traveller Storyteller.Elisa is a community tourism consultant, community connector, and storyteller. She is fiercely passionate about involving local communities in the development of tourism, be it in rural communities, or urban settings. In this episode we talk about elevating the invisible narratives within tourism and the intangible benefits that
12. The Power of Community Tourism With Thomas Armitt
My guest today is Thomas Armitt, global manager of Planeterra, a non-profit which uses community tourism to change lives.In this episode Tom talks about community tourism, where travel experiences are owned, led and run by communities and social enterprises. We discuss nuances between community-based, community-led, and community tourism and Tom highlights the interconnectedness of climate change,
11. Equality In Tourism With Tricia Barnett
My guest today is the founder of Equality in Tourism NGO.In this episode Tricia shares the realities of gender inequality in tourism including: unequal pay, limited access to training, and the lack of work-life balance. We uncover why sustainability in tourism can NEVER be achieved without gender equality and hear about the incredible 'Farm for Future' project in Tanzania which is empowering femal
10. What You Probably Don't Know About Costa Rica With Rebecca Woolford
In this special episode, I talk about Costa Rica's green paradox. Tune in to hear how to vote with your wallet when travelling to this biodiverse region, as well as the number ONE trust signal to help you source a hotel or lodge, full of soul and heart.What you'll learn in this episode: 3 tips for navigating greenwashing on a trip to Costa RicaWhy tropical fruits like bananas and pineapples are so
09. Redefining Luxury Travel With Ronald Jacobs
My guest today is Ronald Jacobs, general manager of Finca La Donaira in Spain.Working for some of the world’s most ‘luxurious’ hotel brands Ronald's experience left him feeling unfulfilled. In his pursuit of happiness, he finally found what he’d been looking for in the rolling hills of Andalusia. An organic farm and eco-retreat like nothing I've seen before...'Luxury' in travel has long been defin
08. Costa Rica An Unlikely Success Story With Glenn Jampol
Despite its small size (0.03% of the world’s landmass) Costa Rica hosts an incredible 6% of the world’s biodiversity, but it wasn’t always headed in this direction. At one point Costa Rica had one of the highest deforestation rates in the world!To better understand how Costa Rica became a success story, returning its ravaged land back to health, we go back in time with the help of my knowledgeable
07. On Location in Costa Rica With Kimberly Farrell
This episode was recorded on location, expect to hear rainforest sounds ;)A destination which often conjures up images of cloud forests, pristine jungle, and gorgeous beaches, not everything is 'pura vida' here. Did you know? Costa Rica is the country that uses the most pesticides per hectare, according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Specifically, t
06. BRAZIL - Rewilding With Renato Machado
When my guest started to plant trees on his land, as part of a reforestation effort, the land dropped dramatically in value. In order to not only survive but thrive, the reserve transformed into a socio-environmental project which welcomes guests from around the world.My guest is the incredible Renato Machado, founder and visionary of Ibiti project in Brazil. A blueprint for ecotourism, a conserva
05. BRAZIL- Jaguars and Tourism With Roberto Klabin
My guest today is Roberto Klabin, founder of Caiman and SOS Pantanal.Roberto is an incredible force of nature, for nature in the Pantanal. Ranchers and jaguars have clashed for more than 300 years in the Pantanal. Roberto's ongoing struggle to safeguard the incredible biodiversity in a place he loves is both moving and inspiring.What you'll learn in this episode: From carbon credits to biodiversit
04. BRAZIL - Worth More Alive Than Dead With Lili Rampim
Today's guest is Lili Rampim, also known as the mother of the Jaguars. Lili is both Oncafari's lead field biologist and Caiman’s operations coordinator.Her work lies at the intersection between ecotourism, conservation and biology. Featured in the TV series Planet Earth, Onçafari's conservation efforts are recognised around the world.What you'll learn in this episode: Lili's work with jaguars &
03. Ethical Wildlife Tourism With World Animal Protection
Join me and Katheryn Wise, UK campaign manager at World Animal Protection, a global voice for animals for more than 70 years.Today, an estimated 550,000 wild animals are being exploited to entertain holidaymakers.What you'll learn in this episode: Why some household travel brand are still failing wildlifeWhy captivity is bad for both dolphins and the tourists that visit the venuesWhere Europe's la
02. The Role of Storytelling With JoAnna Haugen
Join me for this episode with JoAnna Haugen, award-winning writer, public speaker and founder of Rooted.One of the biggest challenges and opportunities for tourism is to rethink the goal and shift its purpose from simply growing in size to becoming better in outcome. But where do we start? Well, by changing the narrative. Today we need better, more accurate and less harmful storytelling in tourism
01. Women In Conservation With Holly Budge
Join me for an episode with the inspiring Holly Budge, founder of NGO How Many Elephants and World Female Ranger Week.What you'll learn in this episode: Why walking with women on the frontlines made Everest feel like child's playHow a necklace is connecting global audiences to the daily elephant poaching rateWho Africa's first all-female anti-poaching unit are and what they have achievedOnly 11% o
