How do you build the highest-scoring B Corp travel company in the world while turning global re-wilding initiatives into deeply immersive, commercially successful experiences?

In this season finale of The Travel Growth Podcast, Duncan Grossart pulls back the curtain on how he founded Journeys With Purpose. While you might expect a purely "touchy-feely" discussion on mission and vision, Duncan delivers a masterclass in practical, hard-nosed entrepreneurship. Drawing on his immense depth of knowledge from his previous media and non-travel businesses, he shares exactly how to apply corporate rigour to passion-driven travel.

You’ll learn:

• How to find great people, communicate seamlessly, and build a team that transforms a vision into reality
• The unbreakable link between commercial success and impact success—and why your business needs both
• Head vs. Heart: Knowing exactly when to lead with emotion and when to lead with clinical business metrics
• Storytelling in Travel: Why being less literal with imagery and focusing entirely on feeling will transform your marketing
• What re-wilding and conservation look like when executed as a robust, high-level business strategy
• The power of being dependent and dependable, and what "being a strong man" truly means in modern leadership

Duncan also shares how his personal upbringing and experiences with loss shaped his profound motivation, what he’s learned from leading experts in global rewilding, and why taking action will always beat sitting around and planning.

Whether you're:

✔️ Trying to navigate the rigorous path to becoming a certified B Corp

✔️ A travel founder trying to balance profitability with an environmental mission

✔️ Looking for a real framework to scale and communicate with an international team

✔️ Or an entrepreneur looking for an honest, deeply experienced roadmap to building a meaningful brand

This episode is a masterclass to end the season.

Key themes: travel entrepreneurship, B Corp travel, rewilding, global conservation, business scaling, team communication, travel marketing, purpose-driven business, leadership.

Who this is for: Tour operators, sustainable travel founders, eco-hospitality leaders, and any entrepreneur looking to apply proven corporate strategies to an impactful, passion-led business.

00:00 Introduction to Duncan Grossart

01:00 Duncan's Early Influences and Background

05:09 Transitioning to the Business World

09:45 Key Learnings from Business Experience

18:28 The Importance of Team Communication

26:09 The Birth of Journeys with Purpose

31:35 Understanding Rewilding and Conservation

39:35 Balancing Commercial and Impact Success

46:51 Reflections on the Travel Industry

50:31 The Power of Storytelling in Travel

52:15 From Head to Heart: A Personal Journey

55:16 Defining Success and Impact

01:00:17 The Role of Loss in Motivation

01:03:45 The Importance of Nature and Conservation

01:19:03 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs in Travel

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How do you turn wildlife conservation and community empowerment into a highly successful, standalone business strategy?

In this episode, David Guthrie shares hard-earned wisdom from his 30-year career as a veteran of the East African safari industry. As the co-founder of A Tent with a View and the mastermind behind the innovative Bush Rover Suites, David has been a true trailblazer, helping open up Tanzania’s 'Secret South' and Saadani National Park while proving that profit and purpose can seamlessly coexist.

You’ll learn:

• How to make the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the core engine of your travel business
• The blueprint for maintaining true cultural authenticity while actively supporting local communities
• Behind-the-scenes of the Bush Rover Suites: A pinnacle of innovation in community integration and mobile luxury
• How to build youth projects that empower local children to become the sustainability voices of the future
• Conservation as a business strategy: How leading with a mission makes your brand stand out from the crowd
• David’s personal journey of adventure that led him from the UK to the lesser-known wilds of Tanzania

David delivers sackloads of practical knowledge, inspiration, and honest insights on what it takes to stay motivated, run a passion-driven business, and raise the bar for the entire tourism industry.

Whether you're:

✔️ An operator looking for practical ways to integrate sustainability into your hospitality model

✔️ A travel founder looking to stand out in a crowded market

✔️ Passionate about conservation-led tourism and community development

✔️ Or seeking inspiration from a 30-year industry pioneer

This conversation gives you a clear, meaningful roadmap.

Key themes: safari industry, sustainable tourism, UN Sustainable Development Goals, conservation business, travel entrepreneurship, community integration, Tanzania tourism, and innovative hospitality.

Who this is for: Travel entrepreneurs, tour operators, safari guides, lodge owners, and anyone passionate about building an impactful, forward-thinking business in the global travel and tourism space.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Background

01:00 The Journey into Travel and Adventure

03:38 Transition to Tanzania and Early Experiences

07:32 Founding Tent with a View

09:11 Current Overview of Tent with a View

12:26 Navigating Tourism and Community Engagement

15:41 Balancing Popularity and Sustainability

20:31 Innovation and Passion in Business

24:08 Future Plans and Wildlife Conservation

26:20 Passion and Team Dynamics in Travel

29:50 Building Trust and Community Connections

34:32 The Bigger Picture: Purpose of Tent with a View

39:08 Integrating Sustainable Development Goals into Business

46:57 Innovative Community Projects and Their Impact

55:09 The Rise of the Girls Sports Academy

57:48 Building Relationships with DMCs

01:00:13 The Importance of Personal Connections

01:04:15 Marketing Strategies for Growth

01:09:47 Resilience in Business

01:19:33 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

01:21:19 Legacy and Future Aspirations

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https://north9.agency

Podcasts: https://north9.agency/podcasts/

🎗️ 100% Profit Giving We’re giving away 100% of our profits: https://north9.agency/one-hundred/

👇 Our Socials Facebook: / north9agency

LinkedIn: / north9-agency

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How do you build a luxury hospitality empire that is both highly profitable and deeply sustainable?

In this episode, Portia Hart reveals how she founded Blue Apple Beach, The Pink Mango, and Townhouse in Cartagena. From her early days moving to Colombia to becoming a pioneer of B-Corp standards in the Caribbean, Portia’s approach to business is a masterclass in regenerative hospitality, community integration, and visionary leadership.

You’ll learn:

• How to make sustainability highly profitable and place it at the core of your brand DNA
• Real strategies for community immersion and building structures that support local locals as an outsider
• The concept of "awkward hospitality" and how to rethink traditional luxury to make guests feel truly welcome
• Behind-the-scenes insights from hosting billionaires like Jeff Bezos and what it takes to serve ultra-high-net-worth individuals
• The "Happy Toad" framework for creating a vibrant workplace culture and an effective team
• How a beautifully simple mission like "have a nice time in a nice place" can drive massive success

Portia also shares her experiences with innovative management structures, balancing work and family as an entrepreneur, and how protecting the natural world directly impacts your bottom line.

Whether you're:

✔️ Building or scaling a hospitality brand

✔️ Trying to put sustainable tourism into profitable practice

✔️ Passionate about community-centric business models

✔️ Or looking to innovate your internal management culture

This episode is packed with practical insights you can use in your own business today.

Key themes: travel entrepreneurship, regenerative hospitality, sustainable tourism, community engagement, luxury hospitality, B-Corp standards, workplace culture, and leadership.

Who this is for: Hospitality founders, hotel owners, tour operators, travel entrepreneurs, and anyone passionate about building a highly profitable, experience-led business that creates a genuine positive impact.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Portia Hart

01:23 Portia's Journey to Colombia

04:12 Transitioning to Blue Apple Beach Club

08:15 The Birth of Blue Apple

12:01 Building a Community-Centric Business

17:37 The Importance of Community in Travel

24:49 Strategies for Community Engagement

32:24 Sustainability and Profitability in Tourism

34:04 The Natural World and Business Success

39:14 The Interconnection of Business and Community

41:47 Creating a Positive Workplace Culture

49:59 Defining Good Hospitality

56:32 Rethinking Luxury in Hospitality

01:01:05 The Purpose Behind Hospitality

01:05:12 Challenges in the Hospitality Industry

01:08:51 Innovative Management Structures

01:13:34 Personal Qualities of a Leader

01:17:43 Balancing Work and Family

01:23:26 Future Aspirations and Community Impact

01:28:01 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

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How do you build an 8-figure travel empire by staying "hyper-niche" and avoiding boring marketing?

In this episode, Matthew Newton reveals how he grew Leatherback Travel into a global house of brands, including Patch Adventures and Magnificent Rail. From his early days at Tourism Tiger to leading a multi-day tour operator space, Matthew’s approach to business is a masterclass in modern company culture, operational excellence, and the psychology of sales.

You’ll learn:

• How to build a "large group of small companies" to dominate niche markets
• The "Operating Principles" strategy: Why memorisation is key to a high-performing team
• Real strategies for creating a culture of ownership and "almost perfect" guest satisfaction
• How to identify and fix "Oozers", the hidden inefficiencies killing your productivity
• The "Special Feeling" framework for recruitment, marketing, and guest experience
• Behind the Scenes of Salemi Ceramics: A project revitalising a Sicilian town through tourism

Matthew also shares his "Meatball" theory of delegation, how to use data to drive marketing decisions, and why writing like a human being is the ultimate competitive advantage in an AI-driven world.

Whether you're:

✔️ Scaling a multi-day tour operator

✔️ Building a "house of brands" strategy

✔️ Obsessed with improving company culture and operations

✔️ Or looking to inject more authenticity into your marketing

This episode is packed with magical nuggets you can use in your own business today.

Key themes: travel entrepreneurship, niche marketing, company culture, operational efficiency, business acquisitions, leadership, sustainable tourism, and brand scaling.

Who this is for: travel entrepreneurs, tour operators, agency founders, and business leaders who want to build a scalable, high-satisfaction business without losing its "soul" or "special feeling."

00:00 Introduction to Matthew Newton and Leatherback

01:58 Matthew's Journey to Entrepreneurship

04:01 The Birth of Leatherback and Its Brands

05:58 The Structure of Leatherback's Business Model

08:59 Identifying Niche Markets and Brand Development

12:02 Acquisitions and Business Growth Strategies

14:54 The Importance of Team Culture and Structure

16:57 Operational Strategies and Continuous Improvement

24:06 Cross-Brand Collaboration and Future Directions

28:37 Cross-Pollination in Operations

31:06 The Importance of Operating Principles

33:19 Gardening and Continuous Improvement

36:14 Empowering Teams with Meatballs

39:41 Onboarding and Memorization of Principles

43:11 Special Feeling in Recruitment

47:17 Leadership and Time Investment

50:58 Balancing Fun and Profitability

54:58 Salemi Ceramics: A Community Revitalization Project

01:00:07 Marketing Strategies and Authenticity

01:01:41 Writing with Authenticity

01:04:37 Targeted Marketing Strategies

01:07:36 Data-Driven Marketing Decisions

01:08:27 The Role of AI in Travel

01:12:51 Personal Qualities for Business Success

01:17:55 Continuous Improvement and Learning

01:20:18 Future Growth and Brand Expansion

01:22:51 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

🌍 Follow Our Journey

north9: https://north9.agency

Podcasts: https://north9.agency/podcasts/

🎗️ 100% Profit Giving

We’re giving away 100% of our profits: https://north9.agency/one-hundred/

👇 Our Socials Facebook: / north9agency

LinkedIn: / north9-agency

Instagram: / north9agency

Twitter: https://x.com/north9agency

In this episode, we sit down with Sonal Uberoi, founder of Spa Balance, author of The Wellness Asset, and host of the Wellness in Hospitality podcast, to explore the real business of wellness, hospitality, and sustainable growth.

From studying law to working at Goldman Sachs, and now advising global hospitality brands, Sonal’s journey is anything but conventional. Her diverse background, spanning Kenya, the UK, and now Madrid, brings a unique, commercially grounded perspective to an industry often driven by trends rather than substance.

We dive into what it truly means to integrate wellness into a brand’s DNA (not just add it as an amenity), and why understanding the numbers is just as important as understanding the guest experience.

This conversation covers:

• How Sonal’s investment banking experience shaped her approach to hospitality and asset management

• The balance between purpose and profit - and why both are essential

• Commercial sustainability and the ROI of wellness

• The role of indigenous wisdom and timeless practices in modern hospitality

• Building a personal brand through content, books, and thought leadership

• Scaling a one-person business and creating a long-term content ecosystem

• The importance of resilience, grit, and knowing when to say no

• Emerging trends shaping the future of wellness and hospitality

Whether you’re in hospitality, wellness, or building any kind of business, this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Sonal's Journey: From Law to Wellness

04:57 Lessons from Goldman Sachs: Grit and Sustainability

10:02 The Intersection of Purpose and Profit

14:56 Mission-Driven Wellness: Reviving Traditions

19:55 Defining Wellness: Tools for Well-Being

25:07 Creating Unique Wellness Experiences

29:52 Marketing Wellness: Engaging the Consumer

34:56 Building Thought Leadership in Wellness

42:37 Building a Varied Content Ecosystem

46:03 The Journey of Writing a Book

51:45 Scaling a One-Person Operation

01:01:30 Overcoming Challenges in Entrepreneurship

01:18:40 Future Trends in Wellness and Hospitality

Whether you're:

✔️ Building a wellness or hospitality brand

✔️ Trying to balance purpose with profitability

✔️ Developing a personal brand or thought leadership platform

✔️ Scaling a solo business or consultancy

✔️ Or looking to create more meaningful, experience-led offerings

This episode gives you a clear, practical perspective on what it really takes to build something sustainable in today’s market.

Key themes:

Wellness in hospitality, commercial sustainability, personal branding, entrepreneurship, content strategy, thought leadership, ROI of wellness, guest experience, business growth, resilience

Who this is for:

Hospitality professionals, wellness entrepreneurs, consultants, founders, creators, and anyone looking to build a purpose-driven, commercially viable business.

If you found this valuable:

Like | Subscribe | Share with someone building their next chapter in business

Podcasts: https://north9.agency/podcasts/

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/north9-agency

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/north9agency

Thank you!

What does it really take to build a travel business that survives crises, scales globally, and stays true to its purpose?

In this episode, Simon and Alistair reveal how they grew a small startup with just £10,000 into a thriving international travel company serving over 16,000 customers a year. From teaching English in Japan to leading a multi-destination brand across Asia, their journey is packed with hard-earned lessons in resilience, strategy, and growth.

You’ll learn:

• How to turn a niche passion into a scalable global business

• The shift from specialist to multi-destination operator

• Real strategies for surviving crises like COVID-19 and natural disasters

• How to use customer insight and data to drive profit and growth

• The role of partnerships, local leadership, and company culture

• What it’s really like working with private equity while keeping founder control

They also share behind-the-scenes insights on navigating the 2011 tsunami, managing uncertainty during the pandemic, and securing major investment - including a landmark partnership with Japan’s Sovereign Wealth Fund.

Whether you're:

✔️ Starting a travel business

✔️ Scaling a tour company

✔️ Navigating uncertain markets

✔️ Or building a purpose-driven brand

This episode gives you a clear, honest roadmap.

Key themes: travel entrepreneurship, startup growth, resilience, scaling a business, sustainable travel, leadership, private equity, crisis management

Who this is for: Travel entrepreneurs, founders, tour operators, startup builders, and anyone passionate about building a meaningful business in a challenging industry.

If you found this valuable:

Like | Subscribe | Share with someone building their dream business

Podcasts: https://north9.agency/podcasts/

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/north9-agency

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/north9agency

Thank you!