women in tourism Archivi - Dolores Semeraro Tourism Keynote Speaker Dolores Semeraro Tourism Keynote Speaker Sun, 24 May 2026 01:43:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://doloressemeraro.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/cropped-DS_Symbol_dolores_semeraro_transparent_final_OK-32x32.png women in tourism Archivi - Dolores Semeraro Tourism Keynote Speaker 32 32 Redefining Travel Conferences https://doloressemeraro.com/portfolio/redefining-travel-conferences-content-connection-and-tech/ Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:37:34 +0000 https://doloressemeraro.com/?post_type=portfolio&p=6420 Truth Behind Travel Podcast Redefining Travel Conferences: The Future of Content, Connection, and Tech with Brooke Gilbertson Dolores Semeraro interviews the person leading the conference programme across the the World Travel Market Portfolio, in London and Dubai Brooke Gilbertson. On today’s conversation we have gone through the digital, the physical, the relevancy and buzz of the […]

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Truth Behind Travel Podcast

Redefining Travel Conferences: The Future of Content, Connection, and Tech with Brooke Gilbertson

Dolores Semeraro interviews the person leading the conference programme across the the World Travel Market Portfolio, in London and Dubai Brooke Gilbertson. 

On today’s conversation we have gone through the digital, the physical, the relevancy and buzz of the conference space, to understand what keeps them going, what makes them successful – a space where people want to go and learn, be inspired, connect and grow – all this in the spirit of innovation, creativity and technology. 

The highlights

1. How is technology affecting the event industry today – what do you keep what do you not keep?

2. What is it that attendees can do at the show that can’t do by themselves? 

3. How do you stay above the buzz words?

4. How do you ensure that there is genuine interaction with the content that is being delivered on stage?

5. How do you appeal to a more senior audience, the CEOs the trade show people?

6. stressing the point of DEA – how do you make sure that the conference topics and the trade show attendance are aligned?

7. Travel power theme – how did the concept of the theme came about?

LISTEN HERE

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]]> The Influence of Travel Media Today with Carmen Roberts https://doloressemeraro.com/portfolio/the-influence-of-travel-media-today-with-carmen-roberts/ Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:28:42 +0000 https://doloressemeraro.com/?post_type=portfolio&p=6413 Truth Behind Travel Podcast The Screen-to-Scream Effect: The Influence of Travel Media Today with Carmen Roberts Dolores Semeraro interviews Carmen Roberts, BBC travel journalist, international speaker and travel expert on the evolution of travel media and the impact of user-generated content on tourism. Through the lenses of Carmen’s vaste experience in travel journalism, this episode exploresCarmen […]

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Truth Behind Travel Podcast

The Screen-to-Scream Effect: The Influence of Travel Media Today with Carmen Roberts

Dolores Semeraro interviews Carmen Roberts, BBC travel journalist, international speaker and travel expert on the evolution of travel media and the impact of user-generated content on tourism. 

Through the lenses of Carmen’s vaste experience in travel journalism, this episode exploresCarmen discusses the shift from traditional media to user-generated content, the rise of influencers, and the challenges of maintaining authenticity while managing tourist behavior. 

The concept of cultural appropriation, the role of local communities in shaping travel narratives, and the responsibility of content creators in promoting responsible tourism. 

The Highlights

  • The Evolution of Travel Media and User-Generated Content
  • Challenges of Content Creation and Cultural Appropriation
  • The Impact of User-Generated Content on Destinations
  • Responsibility in Travel Media and Future Recommendations
LISTEN HERE

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]]> Women and Non-Binary Tourism Entrepreneurs https://doloressemeraro.com/portfolio/women-and-non-binary-tourism-entrepreneurs-challenges-and-opportunities/ Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:06:24 +0000 https://doloressemeraro.com/?post_type=portfolio&p=6404 Truth Behind Travel Podcast Challenges and Opportunities for Women and Non-Binary Tourism Entrepreneurs through wmnsWORK Dolores Semeraro interviews Iris Serbanescu – the founder of wmnsWORK – her journey from risk management to tourism, highlighting her 12-year career in marketing and partnerships. How she founded wmnsWORK, an award-winning tourism accelerator for women entrepreneurs, during the pandemic, emphasizing the importance of […]

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Truth Behind Travel Podcast

Challenges and Opportunities for Women and Non-Binary Tourism Entrepreneurs through wmnsWORK

Dolores Semeraro interviews Iris Serbanescu – the founder of wmnsWORK – her journey from risk management to tourism, highlighting her 12-year career in marketing and partnerships. 

How she founded wmnsWORK, an award-winning tourism accelerator for women entrepreneurs, during the pandemic, emphasizing the importance of systemic change, noting that while 60% of the travel workforce is female, only 8% hold executive positions. 

wmnsWORK has supported 60 entrepreneurs over three years, focusing on intuition, networking, and mentorship. 

wmnsWORK is a 12-week virtual, equity free accelerator program designed specifically to support women and non-binary tourism entrepreneurs during the most critical part of their business journey – the early stages.

The Highlights

Starting wmnsWORK During the Pandemic

How the idea came from her desire to support the industry in building back better and her own lived experience in the industry with the resilience and innovation in mind emphasizing the importance of building businesses with intention and aligning them with personal capacity to avoid burnout.

Current State of Women in Travel and Tourism

Based on whether women in tourism are building, thriving, or just getting by, Iris expresses optimism, noting the rapid changes in gender equality and the increasing support for women-led ventures, discussing the emphasis on following capacity rather than growth at all costs, addressing the issue of burnout among women.

Choices and Future Impact

The increasing collaboration and gender equity policies being implemented in organizations around the world, the disparity in leadership roles in the travel industry, with women making up 60% of the workforce but holding less than 8% of executive positions.

Women-Led Businesses and Their Impact

The impact of women-led businesses in the travel industry, noting their alignment with sustainable development goals and regenerative practices as well as the importance of collaboration over competition and the symbiotic relationship between women and nature

About Iris Serbanescu

wmnsWORK was founded in 2022 by Iris Serbanescu, who has spent her decade-long career in the tourism industry consulting with and working alongside entrepreneurial ventures in tourism’s adventure, luxury and tech sectors.

Prior to this launch, Iris led partnerships at TourRadar, an online marketplace for multi-day tour operators, and was the manager of trade development at travel consultancy Bannikin before that.

LISTEN HERE

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]]> How to sell sustainable tourism without selling ‘it’ https://doloressemeraro.com/portfolio/how-to-sell-sustainable-tourism-without-selling-sustainable-tourism/ Tue, 08 Apr 2025 15:33:04 +0000 https://doloressemeraro.com/?post_type=portfolio&p=6222 Truth Behind Travel Podcast How to sell sustainable tourism without selling sustainable tourism Dolores Semeraro interviews Anne De Jong – sustainable tourism consultant and co-founder of the Good Tourism Institute on how effectively change the tourism marketing narrative to enhance the message within sustainable practices adopted within the destination. The highlights The mission of Good […]

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Truth Behind Travel Podcast

How to sell sustainable tourism without selling sustainable tourism

Dolores Semeraro interviews Anne De Jong – sustainable tourism consultant and co-founder of the Good Tourism Institute on how effectively change the tourism marketing narrative to enhance the message within sustainable practices adopted within the destination. 

The highlights

  • The mission of Good Tourism Institute, focusing on sustainable tourism development and marketing.
  • The difficulty in measuring good tourism due to its complexity and lack of standardized metrics.
  • The most applicable parameters for measuring good tourism impact.

Transition to Regenerative Tourism Models

  • The shift to regenerative tourism models
  • Destinations that are doing well in sustainable tourism.
  • The importance of finding a balance between local and visitor needs in sustainable tourism.

Balancing Tourism and Local Community Needs

  • The role of local governance in sustainable tourism
  • The need for local community engagement and ownership in sustainable tourism practices.
  • The importance of developing unique, local experiences that stimulate travelers’ senses.

 

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE

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]]> Greether: women-led travel platform with Vanessa Karel https://doloressemeraro.com/portfolio/greether-women-led-travel-platform-with-vanessa-karel/ Tue, 18 Mar 2025 10:32:47 +0000 https://doloressemeraro.com/?post_type=portfolio&p=6203 Truth Behind Travel Podcast​ Greether: award-winning women-led travel platform with founder Vanessa Karel Dolores Semeraro interviews Vanessa Karel, founder of the award-winning women-led travel guides Greether. Vanessa Karel, a second-time founder, shared her journey from being stranded in Morocco during the pandemic to creating Greether, a platform connecting female travelers with local greeters for safe and authentic […]

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Truth Behind Travel Podcast​

Greether: award-winning women-led travel platform with founder Vanessa Karel

Dolores Semeraro interviews Vanessa Karel, founder of the award-winning women-led travel guides Greether. 

Vanessa Karel, a second-time founder, shared her journey from being stranded in Morocco during the pandemic to creating Greether, a platform connecting female travelers with local greeters for safe and authentic travel experiences. 

She highlights the $125 billion female travel market and the 90% of female travelers seeking safer travel options. Greether, now in over 100 countries, employs women and offers personalized services. 

The highlights

How Greether was born. 

  • Identifying a problem with a large market opportunity and the challenges of building a travel startup
  • The importance of building a network to succeed in the entrepreneurial journey

The Evolution – from startup prodigy to?

  • The growth of Greether, which started as an idea and has now become a global platform connecting female travelers to local greeters
  • The potential of the female travel industry, which is valued at $125 billion, and the increasing spending power of women

Addressing Solo-women Travel Concerns and Risks

  • Risks and concerns for travelers, particularly solo female travelers in consideration on factors like arrival times, communication with loved ones
  • Slow travel and getting to know local cultures over rushing through multiple destinations.

The Impact on Local Communities

  • Greether creates jobs for women, providing them with additional income and opportunities for empowerment.
  • Potential for Greether to support women-owned businesses and enhance the overall travel experience for female travelers.
LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE

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]]> Experiential Hospitality with Catarina Varão https://doloressemeraro.com/portfolio/experiential-hospitality-with-catarina-varao/ Thu, 27 Feb 2025 09:21:46 +0000 https://doloressemeraro.com/?post_type=portfolio&p=6144 Truth Behind Travel Podcast Experiential Hospitality at its best with Catarina Varão Dolores Semeraro interviews founder of UniqueStays Catarina Varão on true experiential hospitality ultimately leads to social growth. Portugal-based Catarina is passionate traveler by profession, hotel curator by vocation, dedicated to an adventurous lifestyle that inspires and teaches, in contrast to an immersive and […]

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Truth Behind Travel Podcast

Experiential Hospitality at its best with Catarina Varão

Dolores Semeraro interviews founder of UniqueStays Catarina Varão on true experiential hospitality ultimately leads to social growth. 

Portugal-based Catarina is passionate traveler by profession, hotel curator by vocation, dedicated to an adventurous lifestyle that inspires and teaches, in contrast to an immersive and “slow” pace of life. Full-time mother and part-time dreamer, whose main activity is consultancy in luxury hospitality and tourism. Hotelier, designer, trainer, coach, PTO (nor just “CEO” jack of all trades) of the company TH2 and founder of the luxury hotel soft brand UniqueStays. Graduated in Tourism Management, postgraduate in Tourism Products, Master in Hotel Management with Character and PhD in Geography. 

The Highlights

On this episode:

The Importance of Guest Experience

  • The value of “time” in the hospitality industry and the need to focus on guest experience, where even small activities can make a significant impact on guest experience if done with dedication.
  • The loss of human touch in industrialized and standardized hospitality practices.

Sustainability and Local Involvement

  • The challenges of industrializing and standardizing hospitality, emphasizing the importance of local community involvement, calling out The McDonaldization of the world and the rise of small boutique hotels.
  • The importance of involving local communities in decision-making processes and the need to respect local habits and traditions while teaching sustainable practices.

Authenticity vs. Staged Experiences

  • The difference between authentic and staged experiences with the importance of raw moments over  uber-staged experiences that repel tourists rather than attract them. 
  • The importance of genuine interactions and experiences in creating a memorable guest experience.
LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE

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]]> How To Build the Mindset of a Changemaker in Tourism https://doloressemeraro.com/portfolio/how-to-build-the-mindset-of-a-changemaker-in-tourism/ Tue, 28 Jan 2025 15:19:55 +0000 https://doloressemeraro.com/?post_type=portfolio&p=6103 Truth Behind Travel Podcast How To Build the Mindset of a Changemaker in Tourism Summary Dolores Semeraro interviews Global Tourism Expert and Thought Leader Aradhana Khowala on where do we really stand today in gender representation and opportunities, how to build the mindset of a change maker and where is regenerative tourism heading. Aradhana Khowala […]

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Truth Behind Travel Podcast

How To Build the Mindset of a Changemaker in Tourism

Summary

Dolores Semeraro interviews Global Tourism Expert and Thought Leader Aradhana Khowala on where do we really stand today in gender representation and opportunities, how to build the mindset of a change maker and where is regenerative tourism heading. 

Aradhana Khowala is a global expert and one of the most influential leaders in the luxury hospitality, travel and tourism sector. Today, she is the CEO of Aptamind Partners, a global consultancy firm for governments, emerging destinations, and public and private organisations seeking regenerative tourism development solutions and Prior to her current role, she served as the Managing Director of Tourism at NEOM, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

She pioneers environmental regeneration and social transformation across her diverse range of global roles and responsibilities. 

The Highlights

They highlight the lack of progress in gender parity, noting that only 8 out of 78 world leaders at COP29 were women, despite a 1% increase in female participation. Aradhana emphasizes the need for structural changes, investment, and accountability to drive gender diversity and sustainability. They also discuss the potential of women in leadership roles, the importance of inclusive systems, and the challenges of greenwashing in regenerative tourism. Aradhana advocates for bold, transformative actions and the integration of regenerative practices into tourism’s financial models.

  • Gender Representation in COP 29
  • Challenges and Strengths of Women in Tourism
  • Embracing Sustainability Roles
  • Solutions for Increasing Women’s Representation
  • Challenges in Tourism Destinations
  • Regenerative Tourism and Women Leaders
  • Preventing Greenwashing in Regenerative Tourism
  • The Role of Vision and Innovation
  • Final Thoughts and Future Directions
LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE

About Aradhana Khowala

Aradhana Khowala is a global expert and one of the most influential leaders in the luxury hospitality, travel and tourism sector with a career spanning 24 years and a footprint across five continents and 75+ countries. Today, she is the CEO of Aptamind Partners, the go-to strategic consultancy for governments, emerging destinations, and public and private organisations seeking regenerative tourism development solutions. Prior to her current role, she served as the Managing Director of Tourism at NEOM, a ground breaking US$500 billion initiative in Saudi Arabia.

An active and sought-after Board Member she serves as the Chair of the Group Advisory Board of Red Sea Global, steering the revolutionary regenerative tourism initiative in Saudi Arabia towards unprecedented environmental and social transformation milestones. She is also a Board Member and Chair of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee at Elaf Group, owned by SEDCO Holding. In the past she has worked for Jones Lang LaSalle, covering UK, Benelux and Scandinavian markets.

Beyond the boardroom, Aradhana is a startup enthusiast with a knack for identifying promising ventures and committed to nurturing the next generation of trailblazers. Armed with a keen eye for innovation, rich network and a deep understanding of market trends, her diverse portfolio mirrors her unwavering commitment to driving meaningful change.

 

source: LinkedIn

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