What does it really take to build a travel business that survives crises, scales globally, and stays true to its purpose?

In this episode, Simon and Alistair reveal how they grew a small startup with just £10,000 into a thriving international travel company serving over 16,000 customers a year. From teaching English in Japan to leading a multi-destination brand across Asia, their journey is packed with hard-earned lessons in resilience, strategy, and growth.

You’ll learn:

• How to turn a niche passion into a scalable global business

• The shift from specialist to multi-destination operator

• Real strategies for surviving crises like COVID-19 and natural disasters

• How to use customer insight and data to drive profit and growth

• The role of partnerships, local leadership, and company culture

• What it’s really like working with private equity while keeping founder control

They also share behind-the-scenes insights on navigating the 2011 tsunami, managing uncertainty during the pandemic, and securing major investment - including a landmark partnership with Japan’s Sovereign Wealth Fund.

Whether you're:

✔️ Starting a travel business

✔️ Scaling a tour company

✔️ Navigating uncertain markets

✔️ Or building a purpose-driven brand

This episode gives you a clear, honest roadmap.

Key themes: travel entrepreneurship, startup growth, resilience, scaling a business, sustainable travel, leadership, private equity, crisis management

Who this is for: Travel entrepreneurs, founders, tour operators, startup builders, and anyone passionate about building a meaningful business in a challenging industry.

If you found this valuable:

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Thank you!