Travel Tastemakers Peter Gould

*THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED PRIOR TO THE OUTBREAK OF COVID-19* Bruce Simpson's current position is CEO of Time + Tide, a collection of luxury lodges in Zambia and Madagascar. Prior to this, over a nearly 30 year career he has held a multitude of positions within Wilderness Safaris, Singita, &Beyond and North Island in the The Seychelles, starting as a guide and ending up as a CEO. Bruce's knowledge of Southern African tourism is almost unparalleled, not only has he run lodges across the bottom of the continent, but he has also lived in Namibia, Botswana, The Seychelles and his native South Africa. Peter and Bruce discuss how the tourism industry in Africa has evolved over the last 30 years, the importance of environmental and cultural sustainability, where Bruce sees as the next up-and-coming destinations in Africa and what it's like to come face to face with a herd of elephants in the bush, among many other things. It's a bit of escapism from the travel industry of right now, and hopefully will provide some insights for the industry we will have in the future. 

Suzanne Bayly-Coupe is the owner of Classic Portfolio, a strategic marketing company that works with a collection of privately-owned lodges and camps across 14 African countries. Peter and Suzanne discuss the impact COVID-19 is having on smaller lodges and camps across Africa. Suzanne talks about the cost of conservation efforts and how hard it is for camps to sustain them without any guests. As staff at remote lodges are let go, there has been a rise in poaching, and years of conservation work are being undone. Suzanne talks about the need for future bookings paid in full for the lodges to keep themselves afloat, and about the philanthropists who are stepping in where governments are lacking. This episode is really useful for those of us in Europe, it allows us to examine how other parts of the world are faring in these times. 

Peter talks to Greg Ward, who is Head of Global Sales and Distribution at AMAN about COVID-19 and it's impact. They discuss what is happening with the AMAN properties right now, and how that differs across the world. Greg offers some optimistic data that shows the domestic markets re-opening in China, Southeast Asia and the USA. He talks about how AMAN will adapt to regulations by being creative about how they use their properties and the land around them, and how they will adapt according to the guests needs. He says clients can expect in-room check-ins to be the new norm, along with private dining in secluded spots or picnics taken in the deserted grounds. Greg tells Peter that this time in lockdown will make people reflect on what is really important, which is getting to spend quality time with your family and friends. 

Get in touch with us at lucia@traveltastemakers.com 

Almost all industries have been affected by COVID-19, but travel and hospitality are perhaps the worst hit. Peter sat down with Simon Jeffries, who is head of product at Carrier, to discuss this crisis. They are owned by DER Touristik, also owns Kuoni (among several others), so they are hugely influential not just in luxury travel, but across the whole sector. They talk about Carrier pre-COVID, what it looks like now, and what Simon sees it looking like in the future. Simon tells Peter that booking fell off a cliff in March, but green shoots are already starting to show. They discussed the destinations that are likely to be popular for their clients as restrictions are eased, how their clients will get there safely, and how hotels will put on a show of new health and safety regulations. Nobody knows exactly what will happen as we move forward, or how different governments will deal with this crisis. By sharing information and insights within the industry, we can try and ensure we are in a strong position when things start to re-open. 

Get in touch by emailing lucia@traveltastemakers.com or on social media, @Tfest_event on Instagram and TFest Event on facebook. 

*THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED PRIOR TO THE SPREAD OF COVID-19*
Peter met Calvin Cottar, whose family have run a safari camp in Africa since 1919, at TFest in Dubai. Calvin has some fascinating stories from being on the frontlines of the development of Safari's in Africa, which his family have been for generations. Their current camp is the Cottar's Safaris 1920's camp in the Maasai Mara in Kenya. Having grown up there, Calvin's understanding of the land, the laws and the customs of the area are unparalleled. The conversation Peter planned to have with Calvin was one of family history, the trials and tribulations of running a remote luxury camp and tales of a boyhood spent on the most famous game reserve in Africa. However, once the conversation got started, it became something much more about land use in Africa, the real worth of animals to the local people and to the tourists who visit the area, and how tourism is transforming this part of the world. Calvin's passion and depth of knowledge shine through in this fascinating interview.