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Business Class: The Global Tourism Leadership Conversation
Business Class features conversations shaping the future of destinations, workforce development, regenerative tourism, leadership, and visitor economies. Presented by Learn Tourism | learntourism.org
Episodes
221 episodes
Changing the Narrative: Peter Gamez on Leadership, Storytelling, and Oakland's Soul
What does it take to transform perceptions, inspire a community, and lead a destination through change?In this episode of Business Class, Learn Tourism's Stephen Ekstrom sits down with Pete...
The Leap: How Kristen Reynolds Went from “Not Qualified” to Leading Chicago
What does it take to make career moves that everyone else thinks are impossible?In this episode of Learn Tourism's Business Class podcast, Stephen Ekstrom sits down with Kristen Reynolds, President ...
Conversation with Don Welsh, Destinations International: The Evolution of Tourism
Join us in this insightful episode of the Business Class Podcast as we catch up with Don Welsh, three years after his last appearance. As the President and CEO of Destinations International, D...
Helping Small Businesses Thrive Through Tourism with Rachel Thompson from Visit Greater St. Cloud
Rachel Thompson, Executive Director of Visit Greater St. Cloud, joins Business Class to discuss destination stewardship, supporting small businesses, tourism leadership, and why the future of tourism still depends on human connection.In ...
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Barefoot Luxury & Bold Leadership with Andia Ravariere of Nevis
What makes a destination unforgettable?According to Andia Ravariere, CEO of the Nevis Tourism Authority, it starts with authenticity, community, and the courage to truly understand a place's spirit....
Front Door to Economic Development | Scott Larson, Visit Central Oregon
Tourism is about far more than attracting visitors. It’s about building stronger communities, creating opportunity, protecting places, and empowering people to connect through meaningful experiences.In this episode of Business Class<...
More Than Visitors: Tourism for Community Impact with Kireem Swinton
What if tourism wasn’t just about attracting visitors—but about uplifting an entire community?In this episode, Stephen sits down with Kireem Swinton, President & CEO of Visit Baltimore, ...
Beyond Heads in Beds: High Point Is Redefines Destination Leadership
What happens when a destination stops measuring success only by hotel stays—and starts measuring community impact?In this episode of Business Class, Stephen sits down with Melody Burnett, President of Visit High Point, to explor...
Tourism Isn’t Broken—We Just Forgot It’s a People Business
Tourism is built on human connection—so why are we struggling to attract, retain, and inspire the very people who make it work?In this candid and often hilarious conversation, Stephen Ekstrom (CEO of Le...
Santiago Corrada: The Art and Heart of Tampa's Transformation
Join us for a special four-year reunion episode as host Stephen Ekstrom reconnects with Santiago Corrada, President and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. In this engaging discussion, Santiago shares his visionary approach to marketing a vibrant city, mov...
You Belong in Every Room: Leadership Lessons from Birmingham’s Dan Williams
What does it take to lead a destination in today’s tourism landscape?In this episode of Business Class, Stephen sits down with Dan Williams, President & CEO of the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau, for a conversati...
Paradise With a Purpose: Kara Franker on Stewardship, Technology, and Transformation
In this episode of the Business Class podcast, Stephen Ekstrom sits down with Kara Franker, President and CEO of Visit Florida Keys & Key West, for a wide-ranging conversation about leade...
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Stewardship & Storytelling: Joanne Wolnik on Community-Led Tourism in Southwest Ontario
Joanne Wolnik, Executive Director of Southwest Ontario Tourism, joins Stephen Ekstrom on Business Class to explore how small-place pride, thoughtful stewardship, and hands-on experiences can transform tourism into a force for local goo...
Inspiring the Outer Banks: Community-First Tourism with Jeff Schwartzenberg
How do you make tourism work for residents and visitors? Jeff Schwartzenberg, Community Engagement Manager for the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, joins Stephen Ekstrom on Business Class to unpack a community-first approach to dest...
That’s Buffalo for You: Nimble Leadership in Uncertain Times
Three years after their first conversation, Steve reconnects with Patrick Kaler, President & CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara (now Visit Buffalo), for a candid check-in on leadership in unpredictable times Since their last e...
Tourism & Transformation: Jennifer Vigil's Panama City Vision
In this episode, we dive into the captivating journey of Jennifer Vigil, the dynamic President and CEO of Destination Panama City. From her beginnings in New York to her role as a transformative leader in Florida, Jennifer shares her story of r...
From Waves to Work: Joanna Bear's Inspired Life in Tourism
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Joanna Bear, President and CEO of Visit Laguna Beach, as she shares her passion for travel, hospitality, and community stewardship. In this episode, Joanna dis...
On Life and Leadership with Visit Orlando's Casandra Matej
In this enlightening episode titled "On Life and Leadership," we sit down with Casandra Matej, the accomplished President and CEO of Visit Orlando. With over three decades of experience in the travel and t...
A Vibrant New Chapter for Discover Puerto Rico: A Conversation with Jorge L. Pérez
In this episode of Business Class: The Learn Tourism Podcast, host Stephen Ekstrom welcomes Jorge L. Pérez, the newly appointed CEO of Discover Puerto Rico. With a career that spans venue management, entertainment, and major cultural e...
Real Fun, Real Leadership: Dan Rowe of Visit Panama City Beach
Few destinations embody fun quite like Panama City Beach, and few leaders embody resilience, creativity, and vision quite like Dan Rowe, President & CEO of
Leading with Trust and Vision: Daniel Kuperschmid on the Business Class Podcast
After three decades in the hotel world, Daniel Kuperschmid took the leap from corporate hospitality to destination leadership—becoming President & CEO of the San Diego Tourism Authority. In this episode of...
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Embrace the Adventure: Lessons in Passion, People, and Change
In this episode, special guest host John Percy (President & CEO, Niagara Falls USA) turns the tables on Learn Tourism founder Stephen Ekstrom. Stephen shares his journey from small-town New Hampshire to global traveler and nonprofit leader,...
Mastering the Tourism Terrain: Strategic Growth and Real Relationships with Adam Stoker and Stephen Ekstrom
Adam Stoker, CEO of Brand Revolt and founder of Tourism IQ, joins Stephen Ekstrom, CEO and co-founder of Learn Tourism, for an open conversation about growth, innovation, and authenticity in the tourism industry. They reflect on their recent jo...
🎙 From Underdog to Record-Breaker: Mike Testa’s Sacramento Story
🎙 From Underdog to Record-Breaker: Mike Testa’s Sacramento Story In this episode of Business Class, Stephen Ekstrom sits down with Mike Testa, CEO of Visit Sacramento, to explore how a city often overlooked on Califor...
Leadership and Opportunity in Property Management
Join us in this inspiring episode as we sit down with Sebastian Torres Calderon, a true exemplar of resilience and adaptability in the dynamic world of property management. From his humble beginnings in Lima, Peru, to leading a top company in B...