The Tourism Chat Show
Business & Finance
About
Kia ora and Welcome to The Tourism Chat Show, your passport to the world of travel and tourism! Hosted by Michelle Caldwell, an experienced senior marketer in the NZ Tourism Industry, you will be taken on a captivating journey through the industry. Join us every Wednesday as we explore the insights, stories, and wisdom of tourism’s brightest minds and most fascinating personalities. Whether you’re an industry veteran, or just starting out, or you’re just curious about the latest tourism trends and tips, this podcast is your ultimate destination for all things tourism. So fasten your seatbelts, and let’s embark on this exciting adventure together! Powered by: Destinate NZ www.destinatenz.com
Episodes
- TRENZ Unpacked: Inside TRENZ 2026: Bigger, Bolder, and Built for Impact
In this final TRENZ Unpacked episode, Michelle sits down with Rebecca Ingram, Chief Executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa, for an inside look at what’s shaping TRENZ 2026. With the event returning to Auckland for the first time in a decad…
- TRENZ Unpacked: Auckland’s Comeback Story - New Infrastructure, New Energy, New Reasons to Stay Longer
In this episode of The Tourism Chat Show – TRENZ Unpacked , Michelle sits down with Karen Thompson-Smith, Head of Tourism at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, to explore why Auckland is stepping confidently back into the spotlight ahead of TRENZ…
- TRENZ Unpacked: From Garage Start-Up to the Global Stage
In this TRENZ Unpacked episode, Michelle catches up with Nic Mead from Auckland Sea Kayaks ahead of his first-ever TRENZ - and what it’s taken to get there. Starting a business from his garage and growing it into one of Auckland’s most res…
- TRENZ Unpacked: Why Food Is Becoming One of New Zealand’s Biggest Travel Motivators
Food is no longer just something visitors enjoy while they’re here - it’s increasingly the reason they choose a destination in the first place. In this episode of TRENZ Unpacked, Michelle catches up with Elle Armon-Jones from The Big Foody…
- TRENZ Unpacked: Inside the Mind of a US Luxury Travel Advisor
In this episode of TRENZ Unpacked , Michelle chats with Sarah Johnson from Paper Ink and Passports Travel, a US-based Virtuoso travel advisor who specialises in high-end, experience-led itineraries for curious and well-travelled clients. S…
- TRENZ Unpacked: Why Group Travel Is Booming Again (and What Buyers Need From You) — with Ajay Vagha, APT
Ajay Vagha from APT Travel Group explains the resurgence of group touring, noting travelers' appreciation for convenience and security. He details how group travel offers operators a stable revenue stream and outlines what makes an ideal s…
- TRENZ Unpacked: Turning 15 Minutes into Long-Term Revenue with Geraldine McMillan, RealNZ
Geraldine McMillan from RealNZ joins Michelle Caldwell to discuss how to generate long-term revenue from the TRENZ tourism trade show. The episode covers strategies for exhibitors, including preparation, appointment planning, follow-up, an…
- More Than a Zipline: Legacy, Leadership & Restoring the World Through Tourism with Paul Button
Paul Button, General Manager of Rotorua Canopy Tours, shares his journey in tourism leadership and the business's success. The discussion covers their unique zipline experience, a strong commitment to conservation and biodiversity, deliver…
- TRENZ Unpacked: The Long Game of Trade, Trust & Tourism
Michel Adolphe, Chief Commercial Officer at Hind Management, shares insights on the TRENZ event, its evolution over two decades, and its core purpose in trade, trust, and tourism.
- People Power: How Training Builds Better Tourism Businesses - with Tony Laskey
Tony Laskey, Executive Director of ServiceIQ, speaks with Michelle Caldwell about the importance of investing in tourism and hospitality workforces. They cover ServiceIQ's training methods, leadership development, and the impact of structu…
- TRENZ Unpacked - Behind the Scenes with Rebecca Ingram
In the final episode of our TRENZ Unpacked series prior to the big event, Michelle chats with Rebecca Ingram, Chief Executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA), just weeks out from TRENZ 2025. Together, they dive into: What’s New at TRENZ…
- TRENZ Unpacked - Mastering the Art of Networking with Lou Baddiley
In this episode of The Tourism Chat Show , Michelle sits down with RotoruaNZ’s Lou Baddeley to unpack one of the most underrated – yet crucial – parts of the TRENZ experience: networking. Whether you're a natural connector or someone who d…
- TRENZ Unpacked - Welcome to Rotorua with Andrew Wilson
In this special episode of The Tourism Chat Show , Michelle chats with Andrew Wilson, Chief Executive of RotoruaNZ, to unpack everything Rotorua has planned for TRENZ 2025 – and let’s just say, it's shaping up to be something pretty specia…
- From Chocolate to Chief: Kylie Ruwhiu-Karawana's Journey in Tourism Leadership
In this episode of the Tourism Chat Show, hosted by Michelle Caldwell, the spotlight is once again on women in tourism. Michelle launches with exciting details about the Women in Tourism Accelerator program competition, run in conjunction…
- Breaking Barriers: Women in Tourism Career Accelerator
Breaking Barriers: Women in Tourism Leadership & the Career Accelerator Episode Summary: In this episode, Michelle is joined by three incredible wahine toa who are making waves in the tourism and leadership space: Alex Dykman from Grow Tou…
- Celebrating Women in Tourism this IWD - with Kerry Walker
In this special bonus episode, we celebrate International Women’s Day with Kerry Walker, CEO of Southern Discoveries. Kerry shares her journey in tourism, from starting as a hotel receptionist in Taupō to leading one of New Zealand’s top t…
- TRENZ Unpacked - Making the most of your appointment streams
Kia ora and welcome back to The Tourism Chat Show! In this TRENZ Unpacked episode, host Michelle Caldwell shares her expert tips on how to maximise your appointment streams at TRENZ 2025. If you've ever felt like you were winging it at TRE…
- TRENZ Unpacked - Tips for Sellers from a Buyer
In this episode of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle Caldwell is joined by Luke McLeod from Tāpoi Travel for a deep dive into TRENZ from a buyer's perspective. Luke, known for his straightforward approach, shares valuable insights and e…
- Let's chat about Growth
In this episode of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle Caldwell discusses the current state and future of tourism growth in New Zealand. Michelle introduces the Hon Louise Upston, the new Minister for Tourism and Hospitality, and highligh…
- TRENZ Unpacked - Launching New Products at TRENZ with Hobbiton's Henry Horne
In this episode of The Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle Caldwell interviews Henry Horne from Hobbiton Movie Set and Tours. Celebrating the second episode of 2025, the discussion dives into the transformative journey of Hobbiton from its in…
- Where Are They Now? with Guy Robinson
This is our first episode in a series of 'Where Are They Now?' - chatting with tourism legends who have moved on. In this episode, Michelle chats with Guy Robinson about his extensive career in the tourism industry, including his roles at…
- A very Merry Christmas wrap - with Garth, Chambers, Adele and John
In this special (and slightly chaotic!) Christmas episode of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle is joined by an incredible lineup of guests: Adele Marsden from New Zealand Educational Tours, Lisa Chambers dialing in from Cairns Adventure…
- TRENZ Unpacked - Mentoring Programme for Newbies with Craig Wilson
In this episode of the Tourism Chat Show's 'TRENZ Unpacked' series, host Michelle welcomes Craig Wilson, a veteran mentor for the TRENZ new exhibitor programme. Craig shares expert advice for first-time exhibitors, highlighting how to prep…
- The Economic Impact of Cruise Tourism - with Jacqui Lloyd
In this episode of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle Caldwell welcomes Jacqui Lloyd, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Cruise Association, for an insightful discussion. Jacqui provides an update on the economic impact of cruise tourism…
- Embracing Gen Z - with Will Cannon
In this episode of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle welcomes Will Cannon, an Experience Supervisor at Weta Unleashed and the 2024 Young Tourism Export Council Rising Star Award winner. Will discusses the significant influence of Gen Z…
- Leadership Lessons in Adventure Tourism - with Anne Newman
In this episode of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle welcomes Anne Newman, the General Manager of Christchurch Adventure Park. Anne, recently named the Akiaki Emerging Tourism Leader at the New Zealand Tourism Awards, shares insights in…
- From Switzerland to Start Ups - with Alex Diethelm
In this episode of The Tourism Chat Show, Michelle welcomes Alex Diethelm from Weekend Getaways and Dogalong. They discuss Alex's journey from Switzerland to New Zealand, her career in tourism, and how COVID-19 spurred her entrepreneurial…
- TRENZ Unpacked - Unlocking Asian Trade Channels with Cecil Potatau
In this episode of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle continues the TRENZ Unpacked series, providing valuable tips and industry insights for those attending this important tourism trade event. This episode features Cess from Ngāi Tahu To…
- Life as a Social Media Native - with Natasha Hoffman
In this episode of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle Caldwell interviews Natasha Hoffman, the digital marketing advisor for Zealandia in Wellington. Natasha shares her career journey, key social media strategies, and the viral success o…
- Making the Switch - with Tim Barke
Navigating New Zealand's Tourism: From Dive Masters to Sustainable Practices In this episode of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle dives into New Zealand's dynamic tourism industry with special guest Tim Barke. They discuss Tim's fascina…
- TRENZ Unpacked - Heading back to TRENZ 2025 with Thomas Orr
In this episode of The Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle Caldwell introduces the 'TRENZ Unpacked' series, highlighting the significance of the ongoing TRENZ event. Special guest Thomas Orr from Helisika shares his success as a first-time ex…
- TRENZ Unpacked - The Final Countdown with Rebecca Ingram
This episode marks the final installment of the 'TRENZ Unpacked' series on The Tourism Chat Show, where host Michelle dives deep into the anticipated TRENZ event in Wellington, featuring an exclusive interview with Rebecca Ingram, Chief Ex…
- TRENZ Unpacked - North American In-Depth with Hadyn Fitzpatrick
The episode features an interview with Hadyn Fitzpatrick from Tourism New Zealand, who shares insights on tapping into the North American market, the benefits of airline connectivity for New Zealand tourism, and the strategic approach to e…
- TRENZ Unpacked - Pack your Bags for Wellington with Jo Heaton
This episode of The Tourism Chat Show hosted by Michelle Caldwell, focuses on the upcoming TRENZ 2024 event being hosted in Wellington for the first time. The episode features an in-depth discussion with Jo Heaton from WellingtonNZ, who pr…
- TRENZ Unpacked -A First Time Buyer Perspective with Olivia Ponniah
This episode of The Tourism Chat Show hosted by Michelle Caldwell features Olivia Ponniah from Liv &Travel, a UK-based independent travel company launched right before the pandemic. Liv shares her experiences as a first-time attendee of th…
- Fuelling change in tourism - with Grow Tourism's Alex Dykman
In this episode of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle discusses the future of the tourism industry and the role of workforce development in achieving sustainable and resilient tourism. Michelle introduces Alex Dykman from Grow Tourism, w…
- TRENZ Unpacked -Insights from New Exhibitors - with Thomas Orr and Paul Chaplow
In this episode of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle Caldwell introduces listeners to Thomas Orr from Helisika and Paul Chaplow from Whanganui and Partners, who are attending the tourism event TRENZ for the first time. The episode focus…
- TRENZ Unpacked - An Industry Insider's Guide with Brad Patterson
This episode of the Tourism Chat Show, hosted by Michelle Caldwell, focuses on preparing for and maximizing the benefits of attending TRENZ. Guest Brad "Paddo' Patterson, a seasoned sales manager with over 20 years of experience at TRENZ,…
- Doing Business Better - with Chris Sattler
The discussion revolves around the journey of Island Aviation in Auckland, focusing on its sustainable initiatives. Chris Sattler, from Island Aviation, outlines the measures they have taken to reduce their environmental impact, their focu…
- Are you Trade Ready?
In this edition of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle provides a thorough overview of how to work with trade in the tourism industry. She offers essential tips and information including refreshing market understanding, handling trade par…
- Destination Storyteller - with Helen Hayes
In this episode of The Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle interviews Helen Hayes, a multi-award winning travel writer and editor from Australia. We delve deep into the art of storytelling in tourism. Helen shares some insider secrets about e…
- TRENZ Unpacked - a First Timer Perspective with Tom Collier
This episode of the Tourism Chat Show features an insightful chat with Tom Collier, the owner of Kaewa Tours. As a first-time attendee at TRENZ this year, Tom shares his experience, success, and advice for those considering attending. He a…
- Exploring Group Travel Trends - with Peter Harding
Welcome to our 100th episode! We are excited to welcome Peter Harding, the Managing Director of Grand Pacific Tours to today's show. We'll cover off Peter's career journey, the evolution of coach touring in New Zealand, the shift towards a…
- TRENZ Unpacked - an RTO Perspective with Lou Baddiley
We are back with our first in a series of special episodes dedicated to TRENZ. Applications have opened for sellers and buyers open today so it's time for you to start planning your international trade activity for 2024! We have Lou Baddil…
- Navigating New Markets- with Kumar Swaminathan
Welcome to this week's episode of The Tourism Chat Show! Our guest is Kumar Swaminathan from Xperienz, and he shares fascinating insights on several topics. We delve into his journey into the US market, exploring the opportunities and chal…
- A Life in Tourism - with Mark Quickfall
Totally Tourism's Mark Quickfall joins us on the podcast today to discuss his 30 year love affair with the tourism industry. We cover the changes and challenges he's seen throughout his time in tourism, what has changed for the better (and…
- New Name, New Look - Welcome to The Tourism Chat Show
It has been a while since you've heard from us, but we are still here, and still committed to publishing great content for you to enjoy. This is a new era for our podcast, with a refreshed look and feel, new music and a great line up of gu…
- Two Weeks to Go! with TIA CEO Rebecca Ingram
In today's episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Tourism Industry Aotearoa's Chief Executive, Rebecca Ingram. We delve into her first year in the role, the various projects she has been involved in, and the challenges she foresees in th…
- TRENZ Talk - Maximise Your Impact
As the TRENZ trade show in Ōtautahi Christchurch approaches in three weeks, we're sharing tips on how to make the most of your time there. We discuss the importance of preparation to ensure a smooth week, using appointment times to build r…
- Chat GPT & Tourism - with Yonder’s James Donald
In this episode, we welcome James Donald, co-founder of Yonder and Head of Development to the show. We explore the fascinating world of ChatGPT, a cutting-edge language model developed by OpenAI. Based on the GPT-3.5 architecture, ChatGPT…