Don Welsh, CEO Destinations International - Breaking down Borders on the Road to Global Growth

Brave Bold Brilliant Podcast

Jeannette is joined by Don Welsh, the CEO and President of Destinations International. They explore the evolution of the travel and tourism industry, discussing how Destinations International has expanded from a U.S.-centric organisation to serving over 760 destination organisations in 31 countries.

Don shares insights into the challenges of cultural diversity in global business, the importance of collaboration within the tourism ecosystem, and the pressing issues of over-tourism and sustainability. He also reflects on his own career journey, emphasising the value of authenticity, the importance of aligning personal values with professional opportunities, and the necessity of embracing failure as a part of growth.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The transition from a U.S.-centric organisation to one that operates in over 31 countries highlights the importance of understanding and adapting to diverse cultural needs and business practices.

• Building strong relationships within the industry is crucial. Collaborating with other organisations, such as the World Travel and Tourism Council, enhances the ability to address common challenges and share best practices.

• The need for alignment between destination organisations, local communities, and political leaders is essential for sustainable tourism. Engaging stakeholders in discussions about responsible tourism can help mitigate issues like over-tourism.

• The journey through various roles in the travel and hospitality industry emphasises the importance of being open to learning and adapting to new challenges, which can lead to personal and professional growth.

BEST MOMENTS

"The complexity of these jobs have never been greater... how you're going to convene a group of people to deal with maybe over tourism or responsible or sustainable tourism."

"I think when you work with different cultures, you have a much higher sense of emotional intelligence because if you want to succeed in different parts of the world, you cannot go in and expect to do business in the way that we do in the U.S."

"We believe in the point of collaboration... at the end of the day, our focus is 100% on how the destination can do the best in serving, whether it's a leisure guest, a meeting attendee, or whatever it may be."

"It's OK to question yourself. It's OK to say, how did I come across in that meeting? How did I deal with a colleague?"

"Let's not reinvent the wheel. Let's learn from each other and grow together."

This is the perfect time to get focused on what YOU want to really achieve in your business, career, and life. It’s never too late to be BRAVE and BOLD and unlock your inner BRILLIANT. Visit our new website https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ - there you'll find a library of FREE resources and downloadable guides and e-books to help you along your journey.

If you’d like to jump on a free mentoring session just DM Jeannette at [email protected].

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Brave Bold Brilliant - https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/

Brave, Bold, Brilliant podcast series - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brave-bold-brilliant-podcast/id1524278970

ABOUT THE GUEST

A seasoned tourism executive with more than 40 years of experience in the industry, Don Welsh has held positions with almost every sector within the travel and tourism industry. He currently serves as the President and CEO of Destinations International, the global trade association for convention and visitors bureaus and tourism boards.

Prior to joining Destinations International, Welsh served as the President and CEO of Choose Chicago. Welsh also held the CEO position at the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association and the Seattle Convention and Visitors Bureau. Prior to joining the destination marketing industry, Welsh served as senior vice president for Westin Hotels at its corporate headquarters and has also held senior marketing and sales positions in the corporate offices for Westin Hotels and Resorts and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and also with the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas. Welsh has served on various boards and committees during his career. He currently serves on the Event Industry Council Board of Directors.

ABOUT THE HOST

Jeannette Linfoot is a highly regarded senior executive, property investor, board advisor, and business mentor with over 30 years of global professional business experience across the travel, leisure, hospitality, and property sectors. Having bought, ran, and sold businesses all over the world, Jeannette now has a portfolio of her own businesses and also advises and mentors other business leaders to drive forward their strategies as well as their own personal development.

Jeannette is a down-to-earth leader, a passionate champion for diversity & inclusion, and a huge advocate of nurturing talent so every person can unleash their full potential and live their dreams.

CONTACT THE HOST

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Podcast Description

Jeannette Linfoot talks to incredible people about their experiences of being Brave, Bold & Brilliant, which have allowed them to unleash their full potential in business, their careers, and life in general. From the boardroom tables of ‘big’ international businesses to the dining room tables of entrepreneurial start-ups, how to overcome challenges, embrace opportunities and take risks, whilst staying ‘true’ to yourself is the order of the day.

Travel, Bold, Brilliant, business, growth, scale, marketing, investment, investing, entrepreneurship, coach, consultant, mindset, six figures, seven figures, travel, industry, ROI, B2B, inspirational: https://linktr.ee/JLinfoot