What actually makes someone choose your tour over everyone else?

In this episode, we bring on Katja from the Resmark team, who works hands-on with tour operators every day, to break down what’s really happening in the Planning stage. We get into why so many potential guests open multiple tabs, feel overwhelmed, and leave, and how a lack of clarity is usually the reason.

From a traveler’s perspective and real client experience, we talk about what builds trust, what makes your experience stand out, and how to capture and nurture people who aren’t ready to book yet.

🚀 Take the Growth Engine Assessment to find out where you might need to improve:
https://www.resmarksystems.com/growth-engine-survey

📲 Follow Us on Social Media
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ResmarkSystems
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resmarkllc
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RESMARKSystems
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/resmark-systems

📈 Want Help Growing Your Tour Business?
Visit https://www.resmarkweb.com
Book a call: https://www.resmarkweb.com/request-quote
Call or text us directly: 385-449-4079
Email Nikki: nikki@resmarksystems.com

Most tour operators focus on looking professional.

But that’s not always what makes you stand out when every option looks good.

In this episode, we sit down with Stephanie from Sunny Cove Kayaking, an operator with nearly two decades of experience in Alaska, to break down what actually makes guests choose one tour over another.

Her approach is simple but powerful. She writes her website like she’s talking to a friend. Her emails feel like real updates, not promotions. And that personal tone carries all the way through the experience.

The result? Strong word of mouth, a 30,000-person email list, and a brand people remember.

We also dive into how she’s started using AI in a practical way to improve her website and increase traffic without losing that personal voice.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why sounding “professional” can actually hurt conversions
- How to make your website and emails feel more human
- A simple way to use AI to improve your marketing without overcomplicating it

This episode sits in the Planning stage of the Growth Engine, where guests are comparing options and deciding who they trust.

Note: Stephanie was joining us from Alaska where the internet can be a bit unpredictable, so you may notice some blurriness and lighter editing than usual. But the insights in this one are absolutely worth it.

Learn more about Sunny Cove: https://sunnycove.com

🚀 Take the Growth Engine Assessment to find out where you might need to improve:
https://www.resmarksystems.com/growth-engine-survey

📲 Follow Us on Social Media
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ResmarkSystems
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resmarkllc
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RESMARKSystems
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/resmark-systems

📈 Want Help Growing Your Tour Business?
Visit https://www.resmarkweb.com
Book a call: https://www.resmarkweb.com/request-quote
Call or text us directly: 385-449-4079
Email Nikki: nikki@resmarksystems.com

00:00 Who Is Stephanie from Sunny Cove Kayaking?
00:54 How Do Tour Operators Get Started in the Industry?
02:07 What Do Tour Operators Love Most About the Job?
03:24 What Challenges Do Guests Face When Planning a Trip to Alaska?
05:00 How Do Guests Decide Which Tours to Book?
07:04 What Makes Guests Choose One Tour Company Over Another?
08:35 How Can Tour Operators Make Marketing Feel More Personal?
11:13 How Does a Website Help Turn Visitors Into Bookings?
13:02 How Can Tour Operators Use AI to Improve Website Traffic?
16:48 How Do You Stay in Front of Guests Who Aren’t Ready to Book?
23:58 What Actually Helps Tour Operators Get More Bookings Over Time?
30:42 What Is the Best Advice for Tour Operators Who Want to Grow?

You’re already getting traffic to your website. The problem is most of those visitors leave and never come back.

In this episode, we break down how retargeting ads help tour operators stay in front of those potential guests and turn missed opportunities into actual bookings. Most people do not book on their first visit, and without a follow up system, they are gone.

You’ll learn:

• What remarketing ads are and how they work
• Who you should be retargeting first
• What to say in your ads to drive bookings

🚀 Take the Growth Engine Assessment to find out where you might need to improve:
https://www.resmarksystems.com/growth-engine-survey

📲 Follow Us on Social Media
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ResmarkSystems
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resmarkllc
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RESMARKSystems
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/resmark-systems

📈 Want Help Growing Your Tour Business?
Visit https://www.resmarkweb.com
Book a call: https://www.resmarkweb.com/request-quote
Call or text us directly: 385-449-4079
Email Nikki: nikki@resmarksystems.com

0:00 You’re Losing Bookings After Visitors Leave Your Website
2:11 Why Big Companies Win With Retargeting Ads
4:32 What Remarketing Ads Actually Do
5:19 How to Set Up Meta Pixel and Google Tag
7:43 The Best Audiences to Retarget First
9:49 How to Bring Visitors Back to Book
11:52 Why Retargeting Works Over Time
13:41 What to Say in Your Retargeting Ads
15:43 Using Reviews and Testimonials to Convert
18:45 Keep Your Retargeting Ads Simple
20:14 How to Segment Your Audiences
22:11 Why Retargeting Has Lower Costs and Higher ROI
24:41 Retargeting Budget Tips for Tour Operators
25:17 How Retargeting Fits Into Your Marketing System

You’re already getting leads. People are visiting your website, downloading your guides, and checking availability. But most of them never book because there is no real follow-up system in place.

In this episode, we break down how to turn those warm leads into actual bookings using simple, automated email nurturing. This is one of the highest impact systems you can build to stay top of mind, build trust, and guide people toward booking.

You’ll learn:
- What to send after someone downloads a guide or submits an inquiry
- How to structure emails based on your sales cycle
- What to send after someone books to drive reviews and repeat business

🚀 Take the Growth Engine Assessment to find out where you might need to improve:
https://www.resmarksystems.com/growth-engine-survey

📲 Follow Us on Social Media
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ResmarkSystems
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resmarkllc
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RESMARKSystems
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/resmark-systems

📈 Want Help Growing Your Tour Business?
Visit https://www.resmarkweb.com
Book a call: https://www.resmarkweb.com/request-quote
Call or text us directly: 385-449-4079
Email Nikki: nikki@resmarksystems.com

0:00 Why Tour Operators Lose Leads After Email Capture
1:32 What Lead Nurturing Means for Tour Operators
4:12 Does Email Marketing Still Work for Tour Operators?
7:38 How to Build a Lead Nurturing Email Sequence
9:49 How Often Tour Operators Should Send Follow Up Emails
12:35 What to Send Before a Lead Becomes a Booking
14:34 Email Marketing for Prospects vs Past Guests
17:20 Why Post Booking Emails Matter for Guest Experience
19:21 Best Email Marketing Tools for Tour Operators
20:48 How to Segment Your Email List for More Bookings
24:16 How to Connect Your Booking System and CRM
25:43 How Ongoing Emails Build Trust and Repeat Business
27:32 The 3 Email Audiences Every Tour Operator Needs

Most travelers don’t book the first time they visit your website. So what happens when they leave? In this episode, we break down how tour operators can capture leads, stay top of mind, and turn lost traffic into future bookings using powerful lead magnets.

You’ll learn how to create high-value offers that people actually want, where to place them on your website, and how to follow up with email sequences that drive conversions over time. If you’re getting traffic but not capturing it, this episode will show you exactly how to fix it.

🚀 Take the Growth Engine Assessment to find out where you might need to improve:
https://www.resmarksystems.com/growth-engine-survey

📲 Follow Us on Social Media
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ResmarkSystems
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resmarkllc
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RESMARKSystems
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/resmark-systems

📈 Want Help Growing Your Tour Business?
Visit https://www.resmarkweb.com
Book a call: https://www.resmarkweb.com/request-quote
Call or text us directly: 385-449-4079
Email Nikki: nikki@resmarksystems.com

00:00 – What is a lead magnet (and why it matters)
02:00 – Why website visitors don’t book right away
05:30 – How to capture leads from your website traffic
07:30 – Best lead magnet ideas for tour operators
11:00 – How quizzes and itineraries increase conversions
15:45 – Why most lead magnets fail (and how to fix them)
24:00 – Where to place lead magnets on your website
30:45 – How to follow up with leads and turn them into bookings

Most tour operators think they need more traffic. But what if the real problem is your website isn’t converting the traffic you already have? In this episode of The Tour Operator Growth Podcast, we break down how to turn your website into a booking machine by focusing on conversion rate optimization, not just design or SEO.

You’ll learn how small changes in clarity, trust, and user experience can dramatically increase bookings and revenue without increasing traffic. If you’re getting visitors but not seeing results, this episode will show you exactly where to look and what to fix.

🚀 Take the Growth Engine Assessment to find out where you might need to improve:
https://www.resmarksystems.com/growth-engine-survey

📲 Follow Us on Social Media
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ResmarkSystems
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resmarkllc
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RESMARKSystems
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/resmark-systems

📈 Want Help Growing Your Tour Business?
Visit https://www.resmarkweb.com
Book a call: https://www.resmarkweb.com/request-quote
Call or text us directly: 385-449-4079
Email Nikki: nikki@resmarksystems.com

00:00 – Why your website isn’t converting visitors
02:30 – Traffic vs conversion: what’s actually the problem?
04:00 – Biggest mistakes tour operator websites make
06:40 – How to audit your website for conversions (5 steps)
11:00 – How to make your website clear in 3 seconds
15:30 – How to build trust on your tour website
23:50 – Why your booking process is losing customers
29:30 – How to improve conversion rate with testing and data

Most tour operators think about marketing from their own perspective. But what actually happens inside the mind of a traveler when they start dreaming about a trip?

In this episode of the Tour Operator Growth Podcast, we flip the perspective and hear directly from a real traveler. Corey Jay, Marketing Director at Zebulon, joins us to walk through how she actually discovers, researches, and decides to book tours and experiences.

Corey works with tour operators professionally, but she’s also the exact type of guest many operators are trying to attract. In this conversation, she breaks down what sparks the idea of a trip, where she goes first when researching experiences, what builds trust with a tour company, and what instantly turns her away.

If you want to understand how your future guests actually think during the Dreaming Stage of the customer journey, this episode gives you a rare look inside their decision process.

If your marketing doesn’t build trust during the dreaming phase, your ideal customer will simply move on to someone else.

🎙️ Learn More About Zebulon
Website: https://zebulonllc.com

Follow Zebulon on Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zebulonllc/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zebulonllc/

---------

🚀 Take the Growth Engine Assessment to find out where you might need to improve:
https://www.resmarksystems.com/growth-engine-survey

📲 Follow Us on Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ResmarkSystems
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resmarkllc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RESMARKSystems
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/resmark-systems

📈 Want Help Growing Your Tour Business?
Visit https://www.resmarkweb.com

Book a call: https://www.resmarkweb.com/request-quote

Call or text us directly: 385-449-4079
Email Nikki: nikki@resmarksystems.com

00:00 Why the Dreaming Phase Matters
01:05 Meet Corey Jay from Zebulon
03:00 What Actually Sparks the Idea of a Trip
04:45 Where Travelers Go First When Researching Tours
07:00 What Content Builds Trust Before Booking
09:10 How Corey Evaluates Reviews and Red Flags
12:00 Do Ads Actually Influence Travelers?
15:00 Booking Behavior for Day Tours vs Multi-Day Trips
19:00 What Travelers Look For When They Land on Your Website
22:15 Why Storytelling Builds Long-Term Brand Trust
24:30 The Problem With Constant Sales Messaging
27:15 The “Secret Shopper” Strategy Tour Operators Should Use
30:05 The One Thing Tour Operators Must Get Right in the Dreaming Phase
31:20 What Zebulon Does for Tour Operators

Grand Canyon Expeditions has been guiding trips through the canyon since 1964. Over the years, their marketing has evolved from print ads and travel shows to SEO, social media, and digital campaigns.

In this episode of the Tour Operator Growth Podcast, we sit down with Allison Carlin, Marketing Director at Grand Canyon Expeditions, to talk about how tour operators can build marketing that works not just for a season, but for decades.

We discuss how their team combines referrals, SEO, social media, paid ads, and even print to stay visible and inspire travelers long before they book. Allison also shares lessons from nearly 20 years in tour marketing and what operators should focus on if they want to win in the dreaming phase.

In this episode:

• How tour marketing has evolved over the last 20 years
• Why SEO requires long-term commitment
• How social media helps inspire future guests
• Why the best strategies combine multiple marketing channels

Learn more about Grand Canyon Expeditions: https://www.gcex.com/

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🚀 Take the Growth Engine Assessment to find out where you might need to improve:
https://www.resmarksystems.com/growth-engine-survey

📲 Follow Us on Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ResmarkSystems
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resmarkllc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RESMARKSystems
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/resmark-systems

📈 Want Help Growing Your Tour Business?
Visit https://www.resmarkweb.com

Book a call: https://www.resmarkweb.com/request-quote

Call or text us directly: 385-449-4079
Email Nikki: nikki@resmarksystems.com

00:27 Meet Allison from Grand Canyon Expeditions
01:53 Growing Up in a 60-Year Tour Company
03:56 How Tour Marketing Worked Before the Internet
06:15 Why Print Marketing Is Making a Comeback
10:08 Why SEO Is Critical for Tour Operators
14:11 Direct Bookings vs OTAs
19:20 Social Media Strategy for Tour Operators
27:14 How AI Is Changing Tour Marketing
35:11 How Tour Operators Win in the Dreaming Phase