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Here's 10 things that happened most recently:
Here are the 10 most recent posts:
Here's a story about where Travel Massive networking can take you.
A few months ago, Scott and I met Patrick of Oats Marketing at a Travel Massive networking night in Portland. One coffee meeting turned into two hours of conversation, which turned into an invitation to join him on a hike and raft trip down the Wild and Scenic Rogue River with his client, Orange Torpedo Tours.
We went. We hiked. We rafted Blossom Bar. We met guides who have been on this river for fifty years and a family running a lodge so far into the backcountry that a vehicle getting there still feels like a small miracle. We came home with wildflowers, river stories, and a very clear understanding of why the Rogue keeps calling people back.
And then we wrote about it.
Raft or Hike? Choosing My Own Adventure on the Rogue River is now live on our blog Not Your Average American, in English and in Spanish. It's about navigating a multi-day wilderness trip with MS, the guides who made it possible, and the moment at the end that reminded us exactly why intentional travel matters.
Read our full article over at notyouraverageamerican.com/raft-hike-rogue-river-oregon/
This article started at a Travel Massive event in Portland, Oregon. This is what Travel Massive networking is all about, and we're grateful it worked!
amazing
Last month, [Dublin Travel Massive](www.travelmassive.com/posts/dublin-travel-massive-311524526) teamed up with Future Travel Experience, Airportr and InflightFlix for a lively [post-conference gathering](www.travelmassive.com/events/summer-in-dublin-with-future-travel-experience-airportr-and-inflightflix-8876773981) at The Odeon on Harcourt Street.
Held during the [APEX FTE Ancillary & Retailing show](www.futuretravelexperience.com/fte-ancillary/), the event brought together 150 members of the local travel community and visiting FTE delegates for an evening of conversation, connections and the occasional strong opinion about the future of travel.
The crowd included people working across airlines, airports, travel technology, loyalty, digital retailing, customer experience and innovation. It was a chance to step away from the conference floor, catch up with familiar faces and meet new ones in a more relaxed setting.
A huge thank you to [Airportr](airportr.com/?ref=travelmassive) and [InflightFlix](inflightflix.aero/?ref=travelmassive) for sponsoring the evening, and to [Future Travel Experience](www.futuretravelexperience.com/?ref=travelmassive) for helping us bring the wider industry community together in Dublin.
The event was organised by Dublin co-leaders [Amanda Campbell](www.travelmassive.com/@amanda-campbell) and [Kevin O’Shaughnessy](www.travelmassive.com/@okev).
The bar closed at midnight. We hear a few people may have continued the networking elsewhere. But shhh — you didn’t hear that here.
*Interested in sponsoring a future Melbourne chapter event? Get in touch with Amanda and Kevin, and join [Dublin Travel Massive](www.travelmassive.com/posts/dublin-travel-massive-311524526) to stay in the loop for the next event.*
would love to attend such events in Paris, France
Nepal’s tourism landscape is synonymous with its breathtaking mountains, which will always be a draw for adventurous travellers. What has become apparent is for tourism to truly thrive, and to drive economic growth for rurally-based Nepalis, the focus needs to shift to the diversification of traveller experiences across the Himalayan nation.
#A new government, a new tourism strategy
Following Nepal’s recent 2026 election, the new government is intentionally shifting its tourism strategy away from the type of extractive, "zero-dollar" mass tourism that causes considerable leakage to occur, meaning little benefit to local people. The goal is to spread wealth beyond the well-worn trekking trails, diverting footfall to emerging parts of the country that currently see few travellers.
While this move has been welcomed by our team at [Community Homestay Network](communityhomestay.com) (CHN), the grassroots magic is in fact already happening, with local communities steadily building a blueprint for impactful, experiential travel in lesser-known regions.
Article image #1
*The Aathpahariya community at Khambela, Dhankuta, greets guests on arrival.*
We firmly believe this is a model other destinations can model and adopt.
#Dhankuta: a blueprint hiding in plain sight
At CHN, we have been working with a small hill town called [Dhankuta](maps.app.goo.gl/MEVWdHL6HcWeiHKRA) in the eastern part of the country. This case study exemplifies how growth can be achieved in any destination that has impressive tourism assets, yet still suffers from undertourism.
In Dhankuta, the evening doesn't end with a staged show where the local culture is, quite literally, performative. It instead starts with a walk led by newly trained guide, Sabita Shrestha.
As the sun sets, Sabita leads travellers on an "[Orange Town Heritage Walk](communityhomestay.com/experiences/dhankuta-orange-town-heritage-walk)," where she points out ancestral homes and a spring pond that is helping revive the town's water supply. The tour ends in her backyard where travellers can connect with her over a hot cup of chiya (milk tea).
Sabita, who is from the local Newar community, said she was unsure about guiding at first, but now sees that walking the streets with travellers has made what previously seemed ordinary become more meaningful.
Article image #4
*Sabita Shrestha, a local guide in Orange Town, Dhankuta.*
This is the shift we need to see more of around the world, not just in Nepal. Tourism in Dhankuta isn't built on top-down corporate or governmental planning, but from the ground up based on everyday life and turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.
#Women running the show
Dhankuta has transformed into a thriving destination where Indigenous Aathpahariya and Newar women run the show. They operate home stays, guide travellers, craft textiles, and cook traditional meals, inviting travellers to experience their daily lives via a meaningful two-way exchange.
People often mistakenly reduce the ‘home stay’ concept to being just a place to sleep. In reality, accommodation is one element of a larger ecosystem that is built around organised local participation and training, resulting in community-led ownership and entrepreneurship.
At its heart, tourism is the art of storytelling. By putting the narrative firmly in the hands of the community, we ensure every guest experience is led by those who live the culture.
For travellers, this turns every visit into a profound experience. They walk away with a firsthand connection with the local identity, while the community uncovers a powerful avenue to grow its prosperity and ensure ancestral traditions flourish.
Article image #6
*Travellers enjoy a traditional Nepali Thali meal at the Sipting Community Homestay, hosted by the Indigenous
Aathpahariya community.*
#Measuring what tourism sustains
As an industry, we need to stop measuring success solely by arrival numbers. The real metrics should be what tourism sustains: clean water sources, cultural heritage, women-led livelihoods, and preserved local knowledge. Destinations aren't passive backdrops for vacations; they are living, breathing environments.
At CHN we believe the future of our industry belongs in the hands of communities that are invested and intentional about how they share their lives with the world, and we hope to share our success with other destinations facing the same challenges.
Learn more about our projects at [Community Homestay Network](communityhomestay.com) and we look forward to welcoming you at one of our homestays the next time you visit Nepal.
Hi everyone! My name is Aayusha and I’m the CEO of Community Homestay Network.
We're based in Kathmandu and work with 51 different communities across Nepal to help travellers immerse themselves in our culture and heritage, and empower local people in the process.
Thanks for reading up on our work here, and I’d love to know if you have visited Nepal before. If so, where did you go?
It's an honour to have witnessed Community Homestay Network's positive impact in communities in Nepal from Bhada in the west, to Dhanukuta in the east! The team has developed an incredible model that champions wealth distribution, local entrepreneurship and immersive travel for visitors. I am sure there are other destinations that could also adopt this approach!
so well written, Would love to visit Nepal and learn about their culture and life
After every trip, I had the same problem: the photos were safe in my phone, but the memory of the trip was scattered across a camera roll, chat threads, and half-finished albums.
So I built Wimemo, a small travel app that turns geotagged photos into a personal travel map. It groups nearby photos into trips, shows the places you have actually visited, and keeps the original media on the device by default. The map gives a photo library a shape that matches how we remember travel: by place, route, and the people who were there.
The interesting part has been the edge cases. A long Europe trip can cross several countries without a clean boundary in the photo timeline. A city label can be wrong even when the coordinates are right. A photo taken at an airport should not quietly become a country you visited. These details matter because a travel map is a memory system, not just a visualization.
I am still improving the product and learning from people who take photos with phones, cameras, drones, and shared albums. I would love feedback from travel creators and travel-tech builders:
Do you remember trips more by place or by date? What is the first thing you want to see when you open an old travel album? How should a travel app combine personal photos with memories from travel companions?
Try it out at wimemo.com and please share your feedback and comments, thanks!
I remember trips by place and what I was doing and who was there with me. I'll give it a try.
Sounds cool, downloading now. One of my favorite things to do is open the map view on Google Photos to see where the cluster of photos are located. Do you have Google Photos integration?
Not yet, will start on it once iOS is in a good state.
Woah, going to try this for my trip tomorrow!
Thanks very much, it is still the early stage, so just feel free to send me any suggestions.
This is awsome!! Do you need a UGC creator to promote this? I can help :D
Yes, that would be awesome.
[Chris Joondeph](/@chris-joondeph-6593015153), known as "Authentic Traveling", is a travel content creator from the United States with a particular focus on food, culture, and unique storytelling. He is known for his fun, engaging videos that really make it feel like you’re traveling along with him.
*This article is part of an interview series with [Top Travel Massive Creators](/creators) and is made possible with the support of Stay22. Thanks Chris for taking the time to share your story!*
How did you get started as a travel creator?
Since I was young, I had an insatiable desire to see the world. But it wasn't until I was around 21 years old that I began traveling by myself for the first time visiting Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina. This trip really inspired me to travel further eventually leading to my first job after college in Thailand as an English teacher.
I used this as an opportunity to start my travel blog, Authentic Traveling, which was initially focused on how-to guides for visiting off-the-beaten-path destinations in Thailand, including remote treehouses in the mountains or unique homestays with local hill tribe families.
As blogs moved to social media, I started creating short form videos which really took off. The idea was to just document my travel journey telling unique stories about the places I visited. I offered a fresh perspective which people really liked and now I have an audience of over 3M followers and create content full time.
How would you describe your content and your audience?
I focus on lesser-known destinations while showcasing how one can travel and visit those places. What makes my content unique is how I actually explain things from the logistics of travel to the culture and background history that make a place unique and worth visiting. I'm not just showing beautiful destinations and travel photos but rather giving the critical context behind each destination which you often do not see. People always tell me that my content inspires them to travel to the places I feature and shows them how to do it.
My audience is typically Millennial and Gen X frequent travelers primarily US-based but living and traveling abroad. They are usually looking for inspiration for their next trip. I often get recognized the most in airports and embassies.
What platforms do you create on, and which has been most important to your growth?
I primarily create short form videos that I post on [Instagram](www.instagram.com/authentic_traveling/), [TikTok](www.tiktok.com/@authentic_traveling), [YouTube Shorts](www.youtube.com/@AuthenticTraveling/shorts), and [Facebook](www.facebook.com/authentictraveling.org/). I enjoy telling these short stories in an easily digestible format.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7-M6ejCBqA
I also have a presence on [YouTube](www.youtube.com/@AuthenticTraveling) with long-form travel vlogging. I want to focus more on this platform in the future.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced as a travel creator?
My biggest challenge has been turning frequent attention and an engaged audience into actual money that can pay the bills at the end of the day. Initially my page was just a hobby and it blew up while I was still working full-time so I just enjoyed making the videos but generating an income was never my primary focus. Now that I do this full-time, I have made significant efforts in networking to ensure I am top of mind for brands and destination marketers.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=36Wtd1iSWmI
I also launched my own travel business focused on [group tours to Africa](authentictraveling.co/nigeria-group-tour/). So far, we have had over 100 clients in our first year and this is where I have been able to build a more sustainable income stream.
What does your content creation process look like?
I like to read a lot about the destinations I visit. I enjoy diving into the history and culture and make an effort to ask as many questions as possible while traveling there. I am looking for the story that is interesting and unique which will serve as the "hook" for my content. Once I have the inspiration, I will turn that into a script adding in interesting pieces of information that help build the story.
While traveling, I am capturing b-roll and filming anything that might be useful to help convey my message. Once I get home, I edit it all together with voiceover and music to put out the content that typically does so well on my pages. I will also occasionally do some live reaction videos while traveling as the inspiration comes. In these videos I talk directly to the camera and share my experience when the moment is right.
When ready I like to post everything as a "series" on a certain destination, think 5 videos on Oman, for example, featuring the logistics, the food, my reaction to something that happened, the cultural context, and a deep dive into a topic like their famous frankincense one can buy.
How do you work with travel brands and tourism boards?
I've worked with a number of tourism boards from Guatemala to Kazakhstan and Eswatini. I have always found tourism boards very easy to work with as they have all given me freedom to come and create content in my own style that will resonate with my audience.
Its all about trusting the creator to know what's going to work best while providing a curated experience meant to highlight and reenforce areas of focus for the tourism board.
A great example is my [recent collaboration with AirAsia](www.youtube.com/shorts/ZtwH2FeGxkM). They let me set my own itinerary and travel around Asia and Australia visiting the places I knew would do best with my audience. We highlighted their airline as the best carrier to take you these places but otherwise the content felt organic and fun because I was allotted so much creative freedom rather than needing to focus exclusively on the product.
What do you think tourism boards most undervalue about working with creators like you?
When tourism boards work with me, they get access to my large audience of people that are actively looking for inspiration to book my next trip. This is a given. But what most miss is that my visit is going to continue to pay dividends well after the trip ends with the value of search. As I am a large established content creator, my videos are going to be the first to pop up when someone searches a destination on Google or within the social media platforms.
My informational videos are even appearing in AI overviews now. This is an opportunity for the tourism board to highlight new investments, specific hotels, or places they want to encourage people to visit. People are searching social media platforms now more than ever for travel itineraries and things to do, and this is highly undervalued by most tourism boards.
What are your top tips for being successful with affiliate marketing?
Affiliate marketing can be challenging with short-form video but not necessarily impossible. Affiliate marketing works best when people are ready to book. On social media they are often just looking for inspiration. Affiliate marketing tends to work best on blogs as someone might search "best hotels in X" before landing on a blog as they are actively looking to book the hotel now.
For social media, one needs to give the viewers a link they can come back to later, possibly months later, when they book the trip. The best way to do this is through a curated list of your recommendations always available in your bio and/or using services like ManyChat to send out links so it will be in people's inbox for later.
People remember "that hotel you featured in that video" but the friction is in connecting them back when they are ready to book and that is why building the groundwork and having the links available is so important to start so they can easily go back to your profile and find it.
What advice would you give to someone starting out as a travel creator today?
Make as much content as you possibly can of all different styles and see what works. Do not be ashamed to copy other creators. Great painters started out copying other work for practice until they got their footing and built their own style. You need to get the reps in until you can formulate your own style and start to build your audience. Ideally find a style that is easy to produce so you can put out more content and get more data points. If you spend too much time working on one video, you will burn out before you get started. Start your travel in a more affordable place to live like Southeast Asia which will give you more runway as it will take some time before you start earning anything from you content.
My next suggestion is to network as much as possible. Attend the major travel conferences like Travel Massive, TBEX, ITB, Traverse, and WTM using these connections to land trips with tourism boards. Almost all of my press trips have come through networking. I literally DM'd the Minister of Tourism for Guatemala about one of his videos which led to my very first press trip ever.
Who inspires you — in travel, in content creation, or beyond?
My content has always had this educational angle so I enjoy creators that try explain the world whether travel, geography, history, or just excellent storytelling and incorporate a lot of that into my own content.
Some of my favorite creators: [Surreal_Traveler](www.instagram.com/surreal_traveler/), [Geography Now](www.instagram.com/geographynow_official), [Tayo Aina](www.youtube.com/@TayoAinaFilms) and [Colin Duthie](www.youtube.com/@ColinDuthie).
What does the Travel Massive community mean to you?
Travel Massive has been a huge help in networking and meeting more people within the travel industry. The real value has been in-person meet ups that have allowed me to build my network and meet so many people.
As everything has gone online, there is now even more value in personal human to human connection and it is these events that have been a huge boost in my career.
All you need is to sow one seed by meeting the right person who can then introduce you to the next and on and on.
What's next
At the moment, I have visited 171 countries and I am trying to do a "final run" to get almost all of them by early 2027. I will be visiting Nepal and Bhutan and a number of Pacific Islands later this year in an attempt to finish almost all the countries in Asia/Oceania leaving me with just a handful spread around the world to finish up.
I'm super excited that on this trip I will be working with the tourism boards for Bhutan and Solomon Islands and I'm hoping I might be able to land a couple more before the trip starts off later this year.
Aside from that, we are hosting a number of tours this year and next through [Authentic Tours](authentictraveling.co). We are launching more trips to Nigeria and Ethiopia next year and hope to add more African destinations as we continue to grow.
Great article, Chris. Weldone!
Thank you!
Well Done!
Thank you!
Excellent overview! And excited to have them speak at the Extraordinary Travel Festival! A great story to share.
Thank you Ric!
Great advice! Would love your thoughts on our platform doozi - we're trying to create a platform specifically for travellers + travel creators. :)
Its a hard sell for international travelers. From my view, I am giving you my content for the possibility of restaurants using it to run an ad and later pay me. This isn't guaranteed at all yet you will for sure benefit from my content. I'm not posting about restaurants/attractions in major tourist markets like New York on a regular basis (and if I did its old now) so I am unlikely to see any gain from the program. You are better off targeting local lifestyle creators in cities where you know local restaurants are going to spend on ads. You have to figure out the incentives to make it work. I see a lot of apps like this and they can't get past this stage.
Great interview, Chris! Great to meet you at TM in London, and look forward to seeing you again at ETF.
It will be great to connect again in Bangkok!
Inspiring
Thank you!
Hi there, I'm Yasser, the founder of Booken.
I used to run a tours and activities agency in Brussels, starting out as a solo guide first, then growing into a decent-size team, so I lived that juggle.
Then after 2020, I decided to spend a few years working in tech, specially around AI, and once I saw how good the technology had become at handling the busywork, I decided to build something for operators.
Booken takes the operational busywork off the operator's plate (assigning guides, guest comms, day-of changes, channel sync, turning enquiries into bookings), run by talking to your own AI agent.
It sits above your existing booking engine and takes day-to-day operations off your team: guide and staff assignment, guest communications, day-of changes and disruptions, OTA and channel coordination, and turning enquiries into confirmed bookings. You operate it by talking to your own AI agent.
👉 Try it out at getbooken.com
Booken is perfect for operators with a team or guides to coordinate and a real, regularly running catalog. Any booking stack, any size, anywhere.
If that sounds like you, reply here or grab 15 minutes with me: cal.com/yasser-barona-oc4xiv/booken-first-call
The youtube video doesn't seem to be loading correctly on the post. I leave the link here, in case anyone else have the same issue: youtu.be/aaRygFs3SIk
Hi Yasser, the video in the post works for me - DM me with any details if it's not working and I'll take a look. Thanks!
Hi Ian, I sent you a DM about the issue :)
I love this idea and the tool - it’s a very needed one on the market I feel. Looks smooth, saves time and what feels most useful to me, keeps a lot of thing on one place and organised.
I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Planning a trip used to mean hours (sometimes days) of YouTube vlogs, Reddit threads, and blog posts, piecing together a day-by-day plan from a dozen different sources. Some people genuinely love that process. Others just want to get to the good part: the trip itself. I'm one of the people who love creating travel itineraries.
One question has been sitting in the back of my mind while building a travel planner app: what part of trip planning do people actually enjoy?
When I ask friends why they love planning a trip, almost nobody says it's because they enjoy comparing exchange rates, checking opening hours, figuring out which neighborhoods make sense geographically, or discovering that a restaurant they saved closed three years ago.
What they enjoy is imagining themselves there. Finding the café they'd happily spend an afternoon in. Discovering a neighborhood they hadn't heard of. Choosing between hiking through a national park or wandering local markets. The excitement comes from the possibilities — not from the logistics.
That distinction has changed the way I think about AI in travel. Rather than replacing the planning process, I think AI is most valuable when it quietly handles the repetitive work in the background:
• Organizing days geographically instead of zigzagging across a city
• Checking whether attractions are actually open
• Factoring in weather, budgets, transit times, and local events
• Suggesting alternatives when plans change
The human still decides what kind of trip they want. AI simply makes it easier to build that trip.
Of course, there are risks. If every itinerary comes from the same prompt, every traveler starts seeing the same restaurants, the same viewpoints, and the same "hidden gems." That's not discovery — it's another algorithmic feed.
I've been experimenting with ways to avoid that by grounding recommendations in real places and encouraging neighborhood-level exploration instead of checklist tourism. It's made me realize the hardest part isn't generating an itinerary — it's preserving the feeling that you're discovering a place rather than having it dictated to you.
I've been testing this with a small app I'm building on the side (Routinex.Travel) using my own family trips, and it's made me curious where other people land.
Does having an AI generate the framework free you up to focus on the parts you actually care about — flights, hotel, that one restaurant you've been wanting to try? Or does it strip out something valuable about the planning process itself?
So I'm curious how others in the travel industry see it, especially those of you closer to the content/creator side. As AI becomes a bigger part of travel planning, where do you think the line is? What parts of planning should always remain human, and what parts are you happy to hand over to AI?
You're right about discovering a place rather than having it dictated. I like to think about it in terms of how easy it is to "undo" something that AI might decide on. A restaurant or cafe? Easy to "undo" that decision and go walk across the street if the IRL result is not what you expected. Booking a flight or hotel with AI? A bit harder to "undo" those parts if AI makes the mistake.
Personally I enjoy booking flights, mostly because it's a fun mental exercise to piece together the routes and times and explore all the different ways to get there.
On the ground, I don't plan a thing and I almost never have. Cities are natural guides — observing the public transport, lights, busy streets, local connections and some common sense almost always gets you to a great spot.
A few relevant reads on this:
www.travelmassive.com/posts/why-most-travel-planning-startups-miss-the-mark-554943365
AI has been proven wrong on numerous occasions when planning trips. As a travel advisor, I'm part of a huge community of fellow travel advisors through ASTA and can ask for real feedback on places, speak directly to the travel suppliers when issues arise to handle it, and go above and beyond to help clients find exactly the right travel experience for them based on what they're interested in. I find AI can only do so much and it's rather impersonal. Just my take.:)
Hi Travel Massive, I'm Ankita, a kiwi founder based in Sydney, and recently moved from London.
I've travelled 56 countries, and I'll say plainly what that taught me: the difference between a great trip and a rough one is never the destination. It's what you know before you land.
I got fined on a tram in Sofia because nobody mentions you need to validate a paper ticket. I've paid the tourist price for taxis in more cities than I can count. That information existed. It just wasn't written anywhere travellers actually look, because generic travel content is written for everyone, which means it serves no one.
Preparation is the most underrated travel skill, and almost nothing in the market treats it that way. Booking tools assume the trip starts at the flight. It doesn't. It starts with knowing the place.
So I built FigFinder.
How FigFinder works
You tell Fig your budget and travel style, and it builds a complete guide around you: day-by-day plans, plus the layer I believe every traveller needs and almost nobody has, the destination-specific rules, day zero landing kit, common scams, safety basics, and practical essentials like finding a doctor abroad, including a discounted eSIM.
I also developed a version for travel agents (figfinder.ai/pro) that turns enquiries into structured briefs, shaped by conversations with agents across five continents who all described the same problem: the first 20 minutes of every enquiry lost to chasing basics.
👋 A question for travel professionals
You see thousands of travellers a year. What do they consistently get wrong before departure? That answer is exactly what I'm building into these guides.
👉 I'm looking for travellers and travel content creators to try FigFinder AI.
If you're interested, please check out the Programs section in the footer at figfinder.ai (Refer & Earn, Creator Programme), or feel free to connect with me.
I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Hi Ankita, thanks for sharing FigFinder with the Travel Massive community.
I created and purchased a Tokyo guide for an upcoming trip and it was quite an easy process. One suggestion would be to have a responsive layout so it's easier to read on desktop. Hope that is helpful feedback.
See you soon at a Sydney meetup later this year!
Thanks so much Ian 🙂
I will take a look
Hi there, I'm a travel advisor and thought I'd see what you're doing. I went to buy an itinerary and all it does is act like it's trying to work, but it's not going anywhere. Just an fyi.:) Possibly good, but can't tell since I can't see what I would have bought.
What exactly did you see? Your comment is too broad. Do you mind DMing me with screenshots
You could try 'figfinder.ai/pro' as that's for agents
I don't have screenshots, but basically when I went to purchase, the system just kept processing, not providing a way to purchase and leaving a blank screen. You may want to try clearing the cache or logging in another computer to replicate this. I'm not sure it will do it again and need to focus on other things at the moment. Take care.
Thanks. Looks like an issue or blockage on Stripe's end.
👍
Hi everyone, I'm the founder of VeloPlanner.
I'm pleased to share that VeloPlanner's mobile apps are now complete!
🚴♀️ About VeloPlanner: VeloPlanner's app allow cyclists to browse curated official routes like EuroVelo with guides, reviews, and accommodation info, adapt any route to your trip, check surface types or explore community created routes. Find campsites and transport along the way, use routes offline, and navigate.
📊 Current numbers: 80k+ installs and 90k registered users.
🤳 Download (Android and iOS) at veloplanner.com/app
Do you work with a destination that wants to reach cycling tourists at the planning stage? Please get in contact and I'm happy to talk!
Interesting. Love the idea. Was once an avid biker.
[Valerie Hansen](/@valerie-hansen-4177533890) is the founder of Maple Leopard Travel, inspiring women 50+ to embrace adventure and discover the world beyond their comfort zone. A Portugal travel expert and Top TripAdvisor Collective Trip Expert, she creates immersive itineraries across Portugal, Italy, the USA, Canada, and beyond. Valerie's itineraries are a blend of history, culture, culinary, and authentic local experiences.
*This article is part of an interview series with [Top Travel Massive Creators](/creators) and is made possible with the support of Stay22. Thanks Valerie for taking the time to share your story!*
How did you get started as a travel creator?
My blogging/content creation journey began in my home city of Seattle. I partnered with local tour companies, hospitality brands, tourism boards, and travel gear companies to build credibility as a travel writer. At 54, I took my first solo international trip to Italy after my friend bailed on me last minute. Although I was scared, I embraced the adventure — and it became the catalyst for exploring more countries and cultures abroad. Today, Portugal holds a special place in my heart, and after four visits, it remains my favorite destination.
How would you describe your content and your audience?
I create inspiring, experience-driven content for women 50+ who want to explore the world with confidence, curiosity and adventure. My content focuses on immersive travel that goes beyond traditional sightseeing, highlighting historic destinations, culinary experiences, coastal escapes, boutique stays, hidden gems, local shopping and meaningful connections with locals and communities. I create thoughtfully researched itineraries, destination guides, and travel inspiration designed to make global adventures feel approachable and achievable. My audience is made up of curious, independent travelers seeking authentic experiences, cultural discovery, and the confidence to embrace new and challenging adventures."
What platforms do you create on, and which has been most important to your growth?
My primary channels are my website: [mapleleopard.com](www.mapleleopard.com) and [Instagram](www.instagram.com/mapleleopard/), in addition to [Facebook](www.facebook.com/mapleleopard/), [Threads](www.threads.com/@mapleleopard), and [Pinterest](ca.pinterest.com/mapleleopard/).
I would say my website and Instagram have been most important for my growth. Instagram for building community and engagement and website for branding, expertise, and featuring my itinerary writing and photography skills.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced as a travel creator?
The biggest challenge is monetization. Technical issues also bog me down at times, and constantly paying someone to fix or create landing pages, among other things, isn't financially sustainable. Additionally, I've found that most creators who monetize full-time have an assistant, because handling all these tasks alone is all-consuming and takes time away from actually creating and writing.
What does your content creation process look like?
I visit destinations, take tours, etc., while on location, capturing photos and videos, and also provide live coverage on social channels while there. On press tours, I sometimes interview locals and experts as part of the process. After I return home, I work on finding keywords, conducting research, writing articles, and summarizing the information I gathered while on assignment.
How do you work with travel brands, tourism boards, and destinations?
I enjoy working with travel brands, tourism boards, and destinations that are looking for authentic, engaging storytelling rather than just promotion.
Every partnership is unique, but my goal is always the same: to feature a destination in a way that inspires people to visit while providing helpful tips and itineraries.
To me, a successful partnership is built on trust, good communication, and creating content that has lasting value. I want brands to feel they've gained a genuine advocate who represents their destination professionally and with care.
What are your top tips for being successful with affiliate marketing?
Affiliate marketing is one of the ways I currently monetize, but I'm not dependent on it. I use one platform for affiliates. It is a honed skill to be successful with affiliate marketing — you have to learn exactly how "buyers intent" works and that is the big challenge.
What advice would you give to someone starting out as a travel creator today?
Do your own research, pay for courses, be willing to invest in your journey and always treat it as a business.
What do you know now that you wish you had known at the beginning?
I wish I had started out on Wordpress from the get go, instead of Blogger. I also wish I had niched down my brand and website more from the start. I am trying to do that now after 12 years and its harder to niche down now.
Who inspires you — in travel, in content creation, or beyond?
I look up to [Helene In Between](www.instagram.com/heleneinbetween/) because she worked hard even when she was a small creator and not well known and did not give up when challenges came around. I admire fellow travel writer [Bejal](www.instagram.com/be_lavie/)'s content and look up to her for her focus on sustainable travel and leaving destinations as you found them, respecting the locals and their customs, and discouraging over-tourism.
What does the Travel Massive community mean to you?
To me, Travel Massive is about community, connection, and learning from others who share the same passion for travel.
I believe the best experiences come from collaborating, supporting one another, and continuing to learn. I'm excited to be part of a community that shares a genuine love of travel and the stories that inspire others to explore the world.
The travel industry is constantly evolving, and I value the opportunity to exchange ideas, gain new perspectives, and build meaningful relationships with fellow creators, tourism professionals, and destination experts.
How has being part of the network shaped your career or connected you with the industry?
Travel Massive has opened doors I never expected. Being featured as one of their [Top Travel Creators](www.travelmassive.com/creators) was an incredible honor and introduced my work to a much wider industry audience. Beyond the recognition, I love the local meetups and chapters around the world. They've given me the chance to connect with fellow creators, tourism professionals, and brands, while building genuine friendships with people who share the same passion for travel.
What's next in your travels?
I am going home to the The Kitsap Peninsula, Tacoma and Seattle to visit family and a cruise to Mexico in the fall. A trip back to Portugal is a given next year.
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I love reading about this and would like to make contact with her and the other 2 ladies she is mentioning. I am currently in the process of merging with a worldwide tourism organisation and will write about that when completed.
Thank you for sharing , as a travel content creator who is starting out and figuring her way to get partnerships to be able to travel more and hence creatore more content this is helpful. would love to chat more with you on this with Valerie :D
The best thing to do is pay for courses and do lots of research..that is really how it happens . I had to pay lots of money and do lots of hard work to get where I am. Best and happy travels.
HERE'S THE NEXT 5 UPCOMING EVENTS:
We're excited to be discovering the new 25Hours Hotel The Olympia. Join us for a social and networking evening with Sydney Travel Massive and friends. Expect a warm welcome from our host in The Mulwray, their late-night cocktail and wine bar and a site visit of the hotel.
🏨 Venue: The Mulwray, 25Hours Hotel The Olympia, Paddington
📍Location: 11 Oxford Street, Paddington (maps.app.goo.gl/DmGWwSJ35eivC53cA)
🗓️ Date: Thursday, 20th August 2026
🕕 Time: 6pm onwards
🪩 Dress Code: A little different from our usual, feel free to dress it up, think your stylish friend's living room
🥂 Welcome drink on arrival, charcuterie
🏨 About the venue: 25hours Hotels are quirky and sophisticated, The Olympia blends the charm of its art house theatre roots with modern design. The Mulwray is their late-night venue with low lighting, rich textures, and Sydney's best cocktail and wine selection.
👉 Spaces are limited, RSVP is essential
Looking forward to seeing you on Thursday August 20th
Link to event pageJoin Top Travel Innovators, Creators, and Marketers at Travel Massive Asia Conference 2026, in Da Nang, Vietnam on August 21-22.
Travel Massive Asia Conference 2026 will be hosted across two days in Da Nang (Friday 21st to Saturday 22nd August) with a focus on innovation, creation, and marketing in travel, featuring: expert-led workshops, industry panels, founder interviews, a startup pitch competition, tourism and creator masterclasses, and community activations.
See our full speaker lineup (updated 17 July) for 2026: www.travelmassive.com/posts/join-us-at-travel-massive-asia-conference-2026-updated-790035485
The Conference for Travel Innovation, Creation, and Marketing
Day 1 (Conference) will be hosted on the final day of HorecFex (20-21 August) — the premier technology event for the tourism and hospitality industry in Vietnam which attracts over 4,000 attendees including senior hospitality executives and features 80 exhibition booths from local and international vendors.
Day 2 (Masterclasses) will take place at Namia River Retreat, a five-star villa resort, wellness and meeting space in the historic town of Hoi An — a UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring small-group tourism and creator masterclasses led by experts from the Travel Massive network, followed by an exclusive after party to celebrate two days of learnings and new connections.
🏝️ The conference will be hosted at the Ariyana Convention Centre, a 5-star conference facility built for the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, located in the centre of the beachfront Ariyana Danang Tourism Complex.
🇻🇳 Da Nang is the largest city in Central Vietnam and a regional hub for Vietnam's fast growing tourism market, which welcomed a record 21+ million international tourists in 2025 and is the 3rd largest travel destination in South East Asia. Vietnam's top inbound source markets include the United States, China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, India, and Russia.
👉 This is an exclusive event for: travel industry professionals, tourism operators, travel startups, verified travel creators, influencers and KOLs, and relevant industry experts and media.
🤩 This is your opportunity to learn from and meet with like-minded professionals and founders from across the tourism, hospitality, and online travel sectors in South East Asia and beyond. We look forward to welcoming you!
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Tickets and Registration
General Admission Tickets to Travel Massive Asia Conference 2026 Da Nang (21-22 August) are now available to purchase and includes entry to HorecFex Hospitality Exhibition and Forum (20-21 August). Some restrictions apply:
• Morning workshops on Day 1 are limited to 100 seats.
• Masterclasses on Day 2 are subject to group capacity and availability.
To secure your spot at Travel Massive Asia Conference 2026 Da Nang:
✅ Sign in to your Travel Massive profile, or create an account (it's free)
✅ Purchase a ticket using the "Buy Ticket" link on this event page
✅ Book your flights and accommodation to attend (see FAQ for tips)
Tickets are non-transferrable. You can get a full refund 30 days prior to the event.
FAQ: Where to stay / how to get there:
• Day 1 will be hosted at the Ariyana Convention Centre in Da Nang, Vietnam.
• Day 2 will be hosted in Hoi An town at Namia River Retreat.
• The official hotel is Furama Resort (a 10 minute walk to the convention centre).
• There are many hotel options nearby the convention centre and in Da Nang city.
• Fly direct to Da Nang International Airport (DAD) from international hubs including Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Seoul, Tokyo, or transit via Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or Hanoi.
• Bus and train from HCMC (Saigon) to Da Nang (allow a full day, at least).
• Get an Electronic Visa for Vietnam at evisa.gov.vn (for US and other citizens)
• We recommend to extend your stay to explore nearby sights and Central Vietnam!
Questions or need advice? Contact us at asia@travelmassive.com
Check out highlights from our 2025 conference: www.travelmassive.com/posts/photos-from-travel-massive-asia-conference-2025-in-da-nang-vietnam-401401759
Link to event pageTIS2026: The New Generation of Travel & Hotel Tech
Get ready to reimagine the tourism industry with the most cutting-edge technology showcased at TIS2026!
In an increasingly connected and innovative world, the tourism sector is transforming. The fusion between the travel industry and technology is opening up a world of endless possibilities. From trip planning to destination experiences, every aspect of the traveler’s journey is being reinvented thanks to technological advances. From intuitive mobile applications to augmented reality systems, innovation is elevating the way we explore the world. In this exciting journey towards the future, TIS 2026 stands as the epicenter of change.
Join us from October 6th to 8th 2026, as we explore the latest trends and technological solutions that are transforming the travel industry. This year Tourism Innovation Summit 2026 offers you a unique opportunity to showcase your latest and greatest advancements to +8,000 Tourism professionals.
Learn more at www.tisglobalsummit.com
Link to event pageThe heartbeat of the global business events industry.
IMEX America is the largest trade show for the global meetings, events and incentive travel industry.
Our award-winning show brings the meetings industry together to do a year’s worth of business under one roof. Suppliers and buyers from every sector of the meetings industry come together at IMEX, held at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas.
Our free-to-attend four-day program offers specialist education, networking and much more, on and off the trade show floor.
Talking Point: Design Matters
In 2026–2027, we’re making Design Matters our Talking Point. Because good design isn’t just good business—it’s how things work, feel and change us.
Design is the ultimate differentiator. It’s design that helps organizations, brands and events stand out and be remembered. So, we’re inviting the global events industry to embrace design as a business superpower. Because it matters.
Where is IMEX America held?
Welcome to Las Vegas! IMEX takes place at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Mandalay Bay is the fifth largest convention center in the US, with 2.1 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space. Just a short car ride from the airport, Mandalay Bay is located on the dazzling Las Vegas Strip.
Learn more at america.imexevents.com
Link to event pageAsia's largest travel trade show
ITB Asia, Asia’s Largest Travel Trade Show, is an annual 3-day B2B trade show and convention designed to bring together the key travel industry leaders in the region. It convenes international exhibitors and buyers from the MICE, Leisure and Corporate segments.
Today, ITB Asia is the premier meeting place for the travel trade industry for forging new partnerships and strengthening existing business relationships with the most important players in the region.
ITB Asia 2026 will be held in Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore from 21-23 October 2026. The show is organised by Messe Berlin Asia Pacific.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovXgWileF7k
Why Attend ITB Asia
Asia’s Largest Travel Trade Show
Bringing more than 18,000 attendees from the MICE, Corporate, Leisure sectors
Buyer & Exhibitor Ratio
Approximately 1:1 ratio between buyers and exhibitors
Most International Travel Trade Show
Over 132 countries & territories represented; the most international travel trade show in the region
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ITB Asia?
ITB Asia, Asia’s Largest Travel Trade Show, is an annual 3-day B2B trade show and convention designed to bring together the key travel industry leaders in the region. It convenes international exhibitors and buyers from the MICE, Leisure and Corporate segments.
Today, ITB Asia is the premier meeting place for the travel trade industry for forging new partnerships and strengthening existing business relationships with the most important players in the region.
Where is ITB Asia held?
ITB Asia 2026 will be held in Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore from 21-23 October 2026. The show is organised by Messe Berlin Asia Pacific.
Who should attend ITB Asia?
ITB Asia is a B2B travel trade event for industry professionals, including buyers (corporate travel managers, MICE planners, agents), exhibitors (tourism boards, hotels, airlines, travel tech providers), and trade visitors seeking to network, source products, and explore business opportunities across leisure, MICE, corporate travel, and travel technology.
What industries are represented at ITB Asia?
ITB Asia represents key sectors across the travel and tourism industry, including leisure travel, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions), corporate travel, and travel technology, alongside related industries such as hospitality, aviation, cruise, destinations, attractions, and tourism boards.
Learn more at www.itb-asia.com
Link to event pageMeet Fellow Travelers At The Extraordinary Travel Festival 3rd Edition in Bangkok, Thailand
Join us in Bangkok, Thailand from October 22-25 for The Extraordinary Travel Festival 3rd edition and meet with the world's most accomplished travelers for 4 days of keynotes, panels, workshops, and networking that shines a spotlight on extraordinary travel and adventures.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3soRsYQKpc
Three reasons why you should join us:
Community; meet new & old friends who share your passion of travel
Content; listen in to over 30 incredible travel speakers
Chart a course; explore the destination & nearby region
We bring travelers together from around the world, the Marco Polos of the 21st century; Who are any of the following:
• Accomplished, avid, and adventurous travelers
• Traveling to every country in the world
• Passionate to explore extreme destinations
• And love to have fun and network with likeminded people
Learn more and secure your ticket at www.extraordinarytravelfest.com
Link to event pageHere's the 10 latest classified ads:
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