- Annie Jirapatnakul
- Global Tourism Sales Manager
- Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau
- discoverPHL.com
LGT: What have been the most important lessons you’ve learned as you’ve built your career, and what advice would you give to women looking to advance in tourism?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to never be afraid to ask questions. You’re not expected to have every answer, but you should be willing to seek it out. Ask questions, do your research, and stay curious. That willingness to learn will take you far.
I’ve also learned just how valuable it is to build and maintain a strong network. Tourism is very much a relationship-driven industry, and the connections you make throughout your career can become some of your greatest resources. My advice to women looking to advance in tourism is to really leverage that network. Seek out people who have more experience than you, learn from them, and don’t hesitate to ask for their perspective or advice.
Explore more destinations, attractions, and group travel ideas in the latest issues of Leisure Group Travel.
LGT: You’ve experienced the travel industry through more than a decade of change. What shifts have you seen in the way international and group travelers choose destinations, and how has Philadelphia adapted to meet those changing expectations?
There have been so many changes in how people travel, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve seen shifts in group sizes, but also travelers have become much more interested in authentic, local experiences. Visitors don’t necessarily want to simply see a destination anymore. They want to experience it, connect with it, and participate in it. That includes everything from exploring neighborhoods and experiencing local cuisine to interactive “make it and take it” activities that appeal to travelers of all ages.
Philadelphia is a city that offers new and unique experiences to travelers while still sharing the history, culture, and character people associate with the city. Food tours are a great example. They have always been a wonderful way to immerse yourself in a destination’s culture, and Philadelphia’s food tour companies continue to introduce experiences featuring diverse neighborhoods and cuisines. They’re listening to what visitors are looking for and adapting, which is something we see throughout Philadelphia’s tourism community.
LGT: Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of tourism? Are there emerging trends, new markets or opportunities that you think women in the industry should be paying particular attention to?
What excites me most about the future of tourism is how personal travel has become. Travelers are looking for experiences that reflect their interests, lifestyles, and the way they want to spend their time. That creates so many opportunities for our industry to think differently about how we develop experiences and connect visitors with a destination.
For women in tourism, I think it’s important to remember that we are travelers, too. Think about what matters to you when you travel. What makes you choose one destination over another? What makes an experience memorable? We can use our own experiences as a lens for understanding what today’s travelers are looking for, while also listening to the needs and perspectives of those whose experiences may be different from our own.
I see that in my own life. As a dog mom, I’ve become much more aware of the growth in pet travel and the importance of pet-friendly destinations. More travelers are looking for ways to include their pets in their travel plans, and that influences everything from where they stay and dine to the attractions and outdoor spaces they visit. Philadelphia is a very pet-friendly city, which gives us another opportunity to welcome travelers in a way that reflects the personalization of travel today.
At the end of the day, travel is about the experiences and memories we create. Take the trip. Make the memories. Your bucket list isn’t meant to stay a list.
Stay ahead of group travel trends with InSite from Leisure Group Travel.
