AFTERWORDS
A lesson in relationships
A Tourism Cares scholarship student learned from mentors and moments at her first Travel Exchange
BY EMILY AYSCUE
NTA ONLINE DESCRIBED Travel Exchange ’ 17 in St . Louis as a “ chance for members to meet the travel world under one roof … and make lifelong friends while you ’ re at it .” I knew I achieved this potential after seeing “ relationships ” noted five separate times in my conference notes .
Social capital is the currency of our industry , and while shadowing my mentors at the event , I witnessed many appointments where time was spent sharing family photos and catching up on personal developments . Even appointments between new acquaintances were electric through the conduit of a love for travel and an altruistic desire to help one another succeed . These authentic bonds inspired me to carry that industry tradition forward wherever my career path takes me .
My time with two mentors was invaluable . Sitting with Lisa Itel at the Travel Oregon booth exposed me not only to progressive programs such as Travel Oregon Forever , but also to the synergy between the state travel office and the other Oregon destinations .
My second mentor was Melody Johnson , whose entrepreneurial journey includes owning and operating an inn on Mt . Hood and , now , running Falcon ’ s Crest . As a student , I read and write about entrepreneurs as the engine of innovation in tourism , but at Travel Exchange I had the opportunity to spend time with a boots-on-the-ground entrepreneur .
What struck me about Melody was her upbeat attitude , even when it was close to quitting time . Noticing her full appointment book , I commented on how tired she must be . She informed me “ there is no time to be tired ” and then invited me for some ice cream from the Oregon booth .
Emily Ayscue with , at left , mentor Melody Johnson and , at right , fellow Tourism Cares scholar E ’ Lisha Fogle .
In the bubble of academia at the University of Georgia , I sometimes feel disconnected from the industry that I love and study because I do not get to interact with the people who actually
make it all work . Because of my mentoring opportunities , though , I have recommitted myself to remaining relevant to our industry by building relationships with those at every level of operations .
It was exciting to develop a friendship with E ’ Lisha Fogle , a fellow Tourism Cares scholar who also is working towards a sustainable tourism doctorate . And the diversity of career goals and experiences of the other 15 Tourism Cares scholars was impressive . From concert management to finance for cruise lines and education abroad , it seemed we covered every aspect of the industry .
Along with a shared passion to travel and to provide hospitality to others on the move , we also have an inherent relationship with the communities that host us . These communities provide infrastructure , culture and space for tourism to succeed . The Tourism Cares workshop “ Engaging Clients in Giving and Meaning ” featured a diverse panel of industry stakeholders whose corporate social responsibility initiatives meet the needs of communities and reflect the values of the companies :
• Tara Hippensteel explained how Hard Rock Café created their CSR groove in the industry with Hard Rock Heals , a charity that supports music-centric health and wellness programs and funds scholarships around the world .
• Kate Desvenain told us that Academic Travel Abroad ’ s Fund for Education Abroad provides grants and scholarships to American students , enabling
them to engage in high-quality education programs overseas .
• Nish Patel explained that , in honor of the U . S . National Park Service centennial last year , Mayflower Tours donated $ 5 for each person they took through a park to Tourism Cares for that organization ’ s restoration projects within the parks .
• And Lisa Itel described the Travel Oregon Forever fund , in which business owners join together to support tourism projects all across the state .
All of the relationships we forge in this industry provide us with social capital to accomplish our common goal , which was nicely summarized by Bruce Beckham , former executive director of Tourism Cares : “ In travel and tourism you make people ’ s dreams come true .”
Through our commitment to authentic bonds and progressive development pathways , I believe that we can continue fulfilling dreams for many years to come .
Emily Ayscue attended Travel Exchange ’ 17 as a scholarship recipient in the Bruce Beckham Scholarship Fund / NTA Mentoring Program .
This essay has been edited for length .
56 July 2017