Bleeding Ears Warning With Surprisingly Useful Travel Advice - Special Edition

We kick off with full carpool karaoke chaos, then we realise something mid-song: the awkward, silly stuff is exactly where confidence gets built. With Arnuad, Timo and Kelly in the car, we bounce from Aussie anthems to Eurovision and Dolly Parton, using music as a gateway to talk about leadership energy, emotional resilience, and what it takes to stay engaging when the travel industry feels under pressure.

The deeper thread is travel and tourism storytelling. Real customer experience isn’t “please book” or “here’s a deal” energy, it’s curiosity about who the customer is and what they actually need. We unpack why passion and presence still matter, how small personalised touches in hospitality create loyalty, and why teams learn more when they feel connected and genuinely enjoy working together. There’s also a practical angle on keeping teams motivated through shared experiences, including activities that build skills and strengthen culture.

We also go straight at the big shift happening across tourism right now: AI in travel. Our take is simple: don’t talk like it’s the end of the world, learn it, test it, and use it to serve people better. Tech can support the work, but it can’t replace human judgement, reassurance, and the ability to suggest the right alternative when a traveller isn’t sure what they want yet.

If you’ve ever needed a reset after a long flight, a tough week, or a flat patch at work, press play for laughs and a few ideas you can use immediately. Subscribe, share this with a travel mate, and leave a review then tell us: what’s your go-to power song when you need to lift?

Transcript

Cold Open Down Under Karaoke

SPEAKER_01 0:00

So we can start recording. Excellent. Alright, here we go. Whenever you ready? Kenny, you press the start button. Ah, okay. Okay, gotta go back. Here you go. Do you need a bit of volume on it? Sure, whatever helps.

SPEAKER_03 0:19

Bring it on. Traveling in a Friday combi. On a hippie trail head full of zombies.

SPEAKER_06 0:30

I met a strange lady. She made me nervous. She took me in and gave me breakfast. And she said, Do you come from a land down down? Where women blow and men thunder. Can you hear?

SPEAKER_03 0:49

Can you hear the thunder? You better run, you better take cover. I'm ready for a man in Brussels. He was six foot four and full of muscles. I said he's speaking my language. He just smiled and gave me a vegetable sandwich. And he said, I come from a land down there. Would be goose full wind and chunder.

SPEAKER_04 1:37

You better run, you better take a home.

SPEAKER_07 1:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 1:43

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, might. Yeah, might. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:48

It's so Aussie. Aussie Aussie Aussie. Oi, oy, oi.

SPEAKER_01 1:56

Oh, come on, mate. It's holy knot. A little bit of road rage in there. Not at all, not at all.

SPEAKER_03 2:06

Yay. Landing in the gun in Bombay. With a snack jaw and not much to say. Hardly. I said you try and you trying to tell me. Because I come from the land of plenty. And he said, do you come from the land down under? Yeah, yeah, glowing and thunder.

SPEAKER_04 2:36

Can you hear, can you hear the thunder? Ah You better run, you better take cover.

SPEAKER_06 2:44

Can you stop?

SPEAKER_03 2:45

Living in the land down. You better run, you better take cover. Livin' in the land down.

SPEAKER_04 3:08

Women glow and win thunder.

SPEAKER_03 3:12

Can you hear, can you hear the thunder? You better run, you better take over. We are living in the blunder lunga. Yo, women glow and win thunder. Yum, yum, yum, yum. You better run, you better take a bug. Living in Lincoln.

Carpool Karaoke Welcome

SPEAKER_04 3:57

Yay! What's done, everyone!

SPEAKER_01 4:02

Welcome back to a very special episode of the Time Podcast. Today, Carpool Karaoke episode version one. Probably probably the only ever. I am very excited to have two people with me here, and today's episode is in production since about 18 months. So we are very, very happy we finally made to time and the voice status to entertain you with the out-of-the-comfort zone version of the Time podcast. Please welcome warmly, first of all, our French singing Desiray. Voyage Voyage Voyage Voyage and our one hit Wonder So Far from the land down under Kelly Water.

SPEAKER_00 4:53

Yay! I'm good. Wait to turn over there in a minute.

SPEAKER_01 4:56

Why do I say water all this? Because you you're German. I think I think of voucher. Yeah. Because you always you always give so much. That was a good recovery. Um, is it actually PC to say the land down under where women glow and men plunder? Is that still up to date in these days?

SPEAKER_00 5:14

I don't know, but we're glowing. You know, I'm glowing right now because I'm in that stage of my life.

SPEAKER_01 5:18

I mean, your jacket's glowing, that's for sure. The jacket is glowing for sure. Yeah, why do we actually do carpool karaoke on the time podcast? What do you reckon?

unknown 5:31

No idea.

SPEAKER_02 5:32

Because sometimes you need to let it loose a little bit, because we're under sometimes a lot of pressure, and we just need to have a little bit of like, you know, fun. Um travel is going again through a lot of like turmoils, you know, like every time there's something going on around the world, like we're the first ones to be hit. And I think that sometimes you just need to shut the world around you, um, uh turn on your TV, look at a bit of Nick uh uh Tony Colette and Muriel's wedding, and then like you know, belt the water loose and then just let it loose. Um that's it.

SPEAKER_00 6:10

That's it. A bit of joinella, speaking of which, Timo has never seen Priscilla. Priscilla Queen of Desert. I'm shocked. I'm shocked. They should revoke your citizenship.

Comfort Zone And Why Sing

SPEAKER_01 6:22

I'm sorry, I'm a terrible I'm a terrible community test about Priscilla, Newcastle. Yeah, that's true. No, look, but I um back to the actual topic that's more interesting. Um I'm thinking we actually do carpool karaoke because time and being a mentee means also a lot of time stepping outside of your comfort zone. So and then I both approached you, Kelly aside, at least the other person was also a bit like, uh, I'm not sure if you're good enough for that. Um but today is you know the time where we embrace the uncomfortable and where we seek personal growth through fun and doing something that we probably would not necessarily publish. So thank you for doing this with me.

SPEAKER_00 7:05

I didn't think we're probably not good enough. I thought we're definitely not good enough for that, but we're gonna give it a go anyway.

SPEAKER_01 7:11

And that's what I love about you, Kelly. You know, you just so let's just do it.

SPEAKER_00 7:14

Yeah, I practice so much left, no, I've almost lost my voice today already. Fascinating.

SPEAKER_01 7:19

And what was your go-to practice song? Please share with the audience.

SPEAKER_00 7:22

It was um, I have to say it was uh Rizzo out of grief, because sometimes people say to me that well, well, when I was younger, they say you look like her. You look like Rizzo. Yeah, I can I can actually see where they're coming from. Yeah, well when I didn't have grey hair when I had dark hair. Thank you. Thank you, yeah. And I also got a hickey from Kanicki.

Power Songs For Tough Days

SPEAKER_01 7:44

I see. So a lot of times actually people use music to uh create a certain mindset or you know, to help themselves on express emotions, seek growth, whatever it is. Um, what is one of your power songs that really boosts you off? You always have a lot of energy. What do you use to get you into that professional, entertaining energy mindset?

SPEAKER_00 8:07

Do you know what? I have a song. Do you want to go first? Oh, there you go. I have a song that you know when you come off a flight and it's Friday night and it's pouring with rain and you get outside and the taxi queue is like 75 miles away, and all you want to do is get home, right? And you get in the queue, and everybody's cranky and angry and tense, right? And you know what I do? I put on my um my little keyboard there, and I play Celing with a deep mountain high.

SPEAKER_06 8:37

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_00 8:38

And I am clicking my rings or my fingers on the pole, and I'm singing along and I'm tapping my feet, and everyone looks at me like I'm a moron, but I am just in the joy that right there, right there when everyone else has been really cranky.

SPEAKER_01 8:53

Yeah, I love that. Put it on, put it on, I want to hear it. I want to hear it.

SPEAKER_00 8:57

Oh gosh, okay.

SPEAKER_01 8:58

So my caddy's looking up the song. I don't know what's your power song.

SPEAKER_02 9:04

Well, it's funny because when I go home, I don't necessarily listen to a song, but when I want to, I mean, look, okay, I'm gonna sound really, really gay here, but Kylie Minogue really gets me going, right? So it's when I run, because everyone knows that I run a lot, um, the song that gets me going is Get Out of My Way by Kylie Minogue. It works every single time. If I when I run around Centennial Park, which I do every Sunday, if I hear that song from Kylie Minogue, Get Out of My Way, I can tell you that my speed increases and people better get out of my way.

SPEAKER_00 9:48

Oh wow, we should just pop him out there on the track, Timothy.

SPEAKER_01 9:50

We should be Centennial Park. I I would also definitely say it's not very gay if Kylie Minogue gets you going, you know, so um that's right.

SPEAKER_00 9:59

Yeah, but you know.

SPEAKER_01 10:00

But thanks for sharing, we appreciate that. Um, shall we tune into Kelly's song?

SPEAKER_00 10:04

Okay, here we go. Okay, now this is Celine D'Yong, which is so not up my genre, but it's up you're in your genre.

SPEAKER_02 10:11

You've forgotten the two.

SPEAKER_00 10:12

Oh no, no, no, I don't want that. I want this one. There we go, here we go. Karaoke.

SPEAKER_02 10:16

Um that's it. You got it.

SPEAKER_01 10:21

Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. What are you doing, Kelly?

SPEAKER_00 10:23

Oh my god, go back, go back, go back, go back.

SPEAKER_01 10:26

Yes, I guess.

SPEAKER_00 10:26

Here we go. Okay, here we go.

SPEAKER_01 10:27

No, you pressed the wrong one again.

SPEAKER_00 10:29

Alright, here we go. Oh my god, you need we need a bit of volume for this place. Oh good. Is it starting up? Yes, it is. Oh my god. Pretend you're coming out of the airport. The traffic is massive, it's pouring with rain.

SPEAKER_03 10:49

When I was a little girl, I had a red doll. The only doll I've ever owned. Now I love you just the way I love that red doll. Oh my god, this is like only now my love has grown. Okay, here you go. And you get stronger in every way.

SPEAKER_04 11:16

And it gets deeper. Let me say Hi.

SPEAKER_00 11:27

Alright, ready to go.

SPEAKER_04 11:29

Do I love you, Mama?

SPEAKER_03 11:34

Yeah, we've been deep. Bounce and high. Yeah, yeah, yeah. If I lost you, would I cry? Oh my god, baby baby.

SPEAKER_02 11:52

No recording anymore, anyway.

SPEAKER_00 11:57

When you were a young boy, did you have a puppy? That's always followed you around.

SPEAKER_03 12:08

Well, I'm gonna be as faithful as that puppy. No, I'll never let you down.

SPEAKER_04 12:21

Like a river grows. You can't spade a baby and heaven knows you can't swing a baby as you grow and do I love you, May river deep, mountain high, yay!

SPEAKER_03 12:53

Oh, how I love you, baby! Baby, baby, baby.

SPEAKER_04 13:02

Ooh, yes, Celine.

SPEAKER_02 13:06

God loves Eline. She's such an icon.

SPEAKER_01 13:09

Isn't she? So good. Good to see she's back on stage.

SPEAKER_02 13:13

Yeah. It was her birthday the other day.

SPEAKER_01 13:16

Was it? Did you say hello?

unknown 13:18

No.

SPEAKER_04 13:18

I love you, baby, like a flower loves to spring. Flowers in spring, grandfright.

SPEAKER_06 13:25

I love you, baby, just like Tina loves to sing. I love you, baby, like a school I want to sprint.

SPEAKER_03 13:35

And I love you, baby, river tea. Mountain eye. Here we go. Let's do it.

SPEAKER_04 13:58

Do I love you, my mama? Oh hello, baby, baby, baby. Oh, hello you, baby, baby, baby.

SPEAKER_02 14:49

Lots of fun. Yeah. Oh, that's awesome. Isn't it? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:55

Feel spectra ducks. Spectacular. Spectacular.

SPEAKER_02 14:58

Yes, that's an icon.

SPEAKER_01 14:59

Absolutely. Phil Spectre is. No, he was in uh he was in Mura's wedding.

SPEAKER_00 15:06

You are very clever, Arno. I don't know what to say. You've got lots of useful information. He's a perfect trivia partner, just yeah, right? Yeah. So I'm sorry if that for anyone's got bleeding ears, because Celindion is not in my genre, aren't you?

SPEAKER_02 15:19

Look, it is about embracing the opportunity and going for it. It's not like if you had to sing the Titanic song. It's like a total disaster.

Eurovision Anthems And Playful Competition

SPEAKER_01 15:28

The next one are we going to see? Oh no.

SPEAKER_02 15:31

No, no, no. Look, I thought that maybe because you know, like uh we're kind of in trouble, um, we could do Eurovision songs.

SPEAKER_01 15:43

Oh, good idea. And Eurovision is coming up as well.

SPEAKER_02 15:46

The Eurovision is coming up. Go Delta! Okay, what is the best, the biggest song of the Eurovision ever? Most successful. The most successful one, the one that everyone knows. Oh, that's actually not the most successful one. You need to get your stats right here.

SPEAKER_01 16:05

Oh, there it goes.

SPEAKER_02 16:07

Well, while we're on it, while we're on the mutant Mama!

SPEAKER_04 16:11

And what a loon Polium did surrender. Oh yeah! And I have met my destiny in quite a similar way. The history book on the shelf is always repeating itself! Waterloo! I will defeat you won the war! Waterloo! Promise to love you forever more! Waterloo! Couldn't escape if I wanted to! Waterloo! Knowing my fate is to be with you! Woo, woo, woo! Waterloo! Finally facing my waterloo!

SPEAKER_00 17:06

It landed in a manner!

SPEAKER_06 17:08

Yes, my I tried to hold you back, but you were stronger. Oh yeah! And now it seems my only chance is giving off the fight.

SPEAKER_04 17:23

And how could I ever refuse? I feel like I win gonna lose waterloo! I was defeated you on the war! Waterloo! Promise to love you forever more! Waterloo! Couldn't escape if I wanted to! Knowing my fate is to be with you! Waterloo!

SPEAKER_03 17:59

Finally face in my waterloo! So how could I ever refuse?

SPEAKER_04 18:07

I feel like I win what I lose. Couldn't escape if I wanted to Waterloo knowing my fate is to be with you.

SPEAKER_01 18:37

That was beautiful.

SPEAKER_02 18:38

This song is so good.

SPEAKER_01 18:39

Who doesn't love a little bit of you know your vision? Yes, it's a friendly competition between the countries.

SPEAKER_00 18:45

I know, and I'm loving your soprano over there. Thank you. We've got alto, you've got a little bit of L T. She's gonna, you know, bring those lungs up there for us.

SPEAKER_01 19:00

Oh why? You actually, yes, the lungs, because he's a runner, you know.

SPEAKER_00 19:03

Yeah, you have the lungs, you've got masper breathing the moment you're gonna do it. Yeah, that's right. I've got the shoes. He just gives us aw.

unknown 19:10

Oh.

Being Engaging In Tourism

SPEAKER_00 19:12

Okay, so then you hold your nose, go a blah blah blah. Okay, yeah, I go, oh that's better.

SPEAKER_01 19:22

Oh, yeah. Kelly, you're just fascinating. Now tell Kelly, tell me, uh you're very uh you're a very um engaging presenter in a professional function. Um have a very I don't know the right word, you have a very Kelly energy on stage. That's the best way to describe it. Now tell me how important is actually being entertaining, engaging in the travel industry, in our roles, in the tourism industry actually actually.

SPEAKER_00 19:46

You know what? So important because we live in an experience economy, okay? So we have to look up, we have to look up, we have to, you know, we have to you know not think it till you make it act as if sometimes. Because it's very stressful. I mean, at the moment it's a very crazy world we live in out here. And I think we have learners on us, I suppose, to help others feel good about what they're doing. I mean, you're all very passionate about travel. You know, I was just chatting with some people the other day and asking them about their experiences. Um, you know, what's the best experience and about having travel? We're never talking about it, mind you about any of them saying making the pigeon. And they were like, maybe we wanted to go and uh you know, go and go to Metropolitan. Because I said the only thing I know about Metropolitan. No way. Yes. But listening to these people, and then I was talking to uh a girl, one of the time makers actually, we're talking about just coming back from Queenstown in New Zealand, and she said, Oh my god, it's like Sweden and Canada had a baby. And that's Queenstown. And the way she was talking about it, I wanted to book right there.

SPEAKER_02 21:09

Yeah, so an ice skating cover.

SPEAKER_00 21:11

Right? So it's like, you know, it's so important for us to bring the energy, bring the passion, bring the inspiration. An ice skating cover? What was that?

SPEAKER_02 21:23

That's all I could think of, like Sweden and Canada. I could also think about ice skating. Okay. Ice skating. I mean, I work for Finair for a long time, so you know, like the north of Europe is something you know I'm quite familiar with. So like Swedish, I can think of other things than ice skating. But Sweden, for example. And Eurovision, of course. And Canada, Celine Dion. Oh my god. Oh my god, and she's back on track now.

SPEAKER_01 21:54

She's not ice skating. And she's not dying. No, that's yeah, probably more important. Yes, I agree.

SPEAKER_00 22:00

So there are things for us to be excited about. Exactly.

Team Energy Through Shared Experiences

SPEAKER_01 22:03

Heaps, heaps, absolutely, absolutely. And how do you create um energy and excitement within your teams? Because obviously, to keep your associates motivated, obviously we need a certain element of, you know, emotional connection. How do you do it?

SPEAKER_02 22:19

Um, we do also we do all sorts of stuff. Um, but I mean more recently, I think that some of the things that we do is that we do little um group sort of sessions where we we kind of try to gamify a little bit the way we get together. Um, we don't really have the time, you know. I work in operations, so it's all like 24-7, so it's a little bit difficult to be in like group settings where you can have a little bit of fun, but but we we try from time to time. We try to find like some activities where people can learn something, learn some skills. Um and uh yeah, so recently what I did is I I took some of my team members to do a cooking class somewhere. Oh, really? Um we did it for a you know, for a non-for-profit organization, we cooked for for people um that are not privileged people, so all the food that we did, but also we did it like it was very much around something like a sustainable kind of angle um on how not to waste food and be you know sustainable with what what you do and try to use like the maximum of the produce that you have in front of you, and it was great. Um, we had really good engagement, we had a great time together, and then you get to know one another um really well. So that I thought was was really really good.

SPEAKER_00 23:44

And you know, on a like a from a brain perspective, people learn and take in more when they are feeling happier about what they're doing, you know, when they're doing all their contributing and going. Yeah. What about you? What do you do with your fabulous team at this point?

SPEAKER_01 23:58

Oh, that's a very good question. I actually don't know. Maybe I would love to hear from them actually what I do. I think I'm just very much myself, and you know, I I love people. Um not all the time, every day, but I love having people around me. So um I'm despite being a partially introvert, I'm also um very social. Oh my god, you're a British fresh ear to man. Stop it. Stop my god. Out of the barn, out of the barn. Um yeah, no, um, I think I think, yeah, I just I just love communicating with people and getting to know them and understand how they function, how they how their minds work. So I'm generally interested in understanding them. I think that um makes people feel sane. Not feel sane, they are sane. I think that makes it different. Hopefully, hopefully. But I I don't want to get too deep, so let's go back into the shallow, shall we? Oh, the shallow.

SPEAKER_00 24:49

Oh my gosh, the shallow.

SPEAKER_01 24:51

Yes, it's a who duet. Oh right. Who's um oh no, I picked it up again. Oh, here we go. Here we go. Who's who? Um let's just see how it goes. Oh, I love this song.

SPEAKER_00 25:09

Have a moment.

SPEAKER_01 25:10

It's beautiful. Stop it, you two.

SPEAKER_02 25:12

Get a room. Oh don't be don't be jealous. Yeah, I'm third wheeling at the ballot.

SPEAKER_04 25:18

Oh something girl. Are you happy in this modern world? Do you need more Is there something are you searching for? I'm for it in all the good times I find myself longing for change and in the bad times I feel myself Come on, gaga. I may have stuff to do Tell me something, boy Why don't you try and try to fill that void or do you need more Ain't it happy being it's so hard and for him in all the good times I find myself longing for change and in the bad times I feel myself home on the deep and watches I dive in under the live ground Clash on the sun, where they can have shallow Him.

SPEAKER_01 28:30

Isn't that beautiful, guys? Thank you for having this moment for me.

SPEAKER_02 28:34

I thought that this was a f this was a song that was written by um Philip.

SPEAKER_01 28:40

No, it was um it was uh it was Gaga herself, yeah. But speaking of Dolly Parton, yeah. She's a rock star by Jo Lane. Oh loving it. Is that our next song? Oh, that's our next song, Jo Lane. I have to um I have to mention also you would be surprised how many of the of the world hits that everyone actually knows were actually produced or written by Dolly Parton. I know she's amazing. It's incredible! Like when you look that up, the list is just you think like what?

SPEAKER_02 29:07

Oh my god, you even have Hélène Baroque Voisine. Oh we, are we, yeah?

SPEAKER_01 29:11

We have um Hélène Baroque voisine, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 29:16

Dolly lovely songs. Alright, here we go. Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Julie. Bitch.

SPEAKER_06 29:32

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene. Please don't take him just because you can Your beauty is beyond comparison with ivory skin and eyes are very old green.

SPEAKER_02 29:52

You don't have green eyes.

SPEAKER_05 29:53

No, it's true.

SPEAKER_06 29:54

Your smile is like a birthday spring, your voice is soft like summer rain, and I cannot compete with you, Jolie. He talks about you in his sleep, but there's nothing I can do to keep from crying when he calls Jolie.

SPEAKER_04 30:12

Jolie. And I can easily understand how you could easily take my man. But now you don't know what it means to me.

SPEAKER_02 30:24

Alright, boys. I mean she can just let me. Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolie.

SPEAKER_04 30:32

I'm thinking of you please Please don't take my man Jolin, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene.

SPEAKER_03 30:44

Please don't take him just because you can You could have had your choice again, but I could never love again.

SPEAKER_02 30:55

He's the only one for me, Jolie. Oh please, sure you can find another one. I've had to have this talk with you.

SPEAKER_03 31:03

My happiness depends on you. Whatever you decide to do, Jolene.

SPEAKER_04 31:09

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolie.

SPEAKER_02 31:17

I'm backing over you. Don't take my man. I think you should take her.

SPEAKER_04 31:24

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolie. Please don't take him, Justin. Oh you can. Jolene. Jolie.

SPEAKER_01 31:41

Look at you, you have to. I know it's Kelly, it's the young duet.

SPEAKER_02 31:44

I mean, look, let's let's talk about it.

SPEAKER_00 31:47

She's singing to the big man in the sky now because poor poor Dolly did lose her husband. How old is Kelly? She's like in her late 70s, 80s.

Staying Fresh With Trends And AI

SPEAKER_01 31:57

Incredible. Now, age, age and career is a good topic to talk about, clearly. Um, how do we stay young, connected, fresh, and in tune with the constant changes in the tourism industry? What do you think? Like obviously, we're both all of us not 20 anymore, apart from Anno, who's very close to 20. Thank you. Pleasure. Um, how do we do it? What do you do?

SPEAKER_00 32:20

Okay, so you stay what is it that was energized, young and fresh?

SPEAKER_01 32:24

I think traveling tune. Tourism is all about tourism is all about trends, right? So I don't know, Japan is very popular, certainly, or whatever these, but how do we stay in tune with uh the streams of the fashion of the tourism industry?

SPEAKER_00 32:42

Well, you know, there's a few questions in there. How do we still stay young and energized? Is about just holding on to that passion of travel and you know, really looking at where have you been, how do you talk about it, how are you speaking to people about your trips, um how are you focusing on them, not you. Right? So people go, oh, you know, especially in these times, I need people to book, I need people to book. It's like, no, yes, you need people to book, but that's not how you get people to book as well, not by begging people to book. And it's not like you've got to be like, oh my gosh, this is the best experience you could have.

SPEAKER_04 33:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:22

We'll get you there and we'll bring you home. And that's wow, special deal. Yeah, right? And um, and I really want you to have the best experience. So it's always asking the question, who is my customer and what is it? Exactly, right?

Why Human Travel Advice Matters

SPEAKER_02 33:39

Exactly. I agree. I also think that you know, like when you talk about trends, that we can talk about the new ways of doing travel these days, and I think that people need to embrace the change because if you don't embrace the change, you stay back. And the thing is that people who stay back are not the ones who survive in this industry, and I'm not talking about you know, I'm not talking about the the sales part of like those businesses selling travel. I'm also talking about like retail agents and all that sort of stuff. Don't be afraid of AI and talk like an old grandpa because you think it's gonna take your job, and try to understand what it is, try to understand what it can bring to your business, embrace it because the thing is that that thing is there to stay, and if you don't do it now, in 10 years down the line, you would have had some people that are caught on the bus way before you, and these guys are gonna be ahead of you. We saw that during the pandemic of some of the people that did not embrace any of the changes before, right? That had been complaining, resisting. These guys didn't survive the pandemic. Whereas the ones that have been able to thrive were the ones that had embraced the change and and you know decided to renew or review their business model to be able to survive. Those guys are still in business today and they do really, really well. And we know a lot of them around us, so you like you always need to not fear the change, but like kind of like be part of it, right? Um, I think this is a way that you can continue to you know, like be where you are and you know be relevant.

SPEAKER_00 35:19

Yeah, this is really interesting because AI, like I remember once going into a travel agent and saying, Um, you know, I I just want to go to Fiji, right? But I haven't been there for a while. So, what are the best hotels? You know, where like where can I stay? That I've got you know, I've got a child, blah blah blah. And she said to me, Oh, do you know what? I I don't know, I've never been there because um I just came out of banking and I've just got into travel. And do you know what is it? I like I got up and I went, No, I'm sorry. I'm not dealing with you. So um this is the thing, like not everybody can have been everywhere, of course, right? But you have a lot of expertise and experience because then it comes back to then why do I use a travel agent and not just book online? Right? What is the what is the benefit to me of using a travel agent? So this is where we need to focus our you know our our our message is why use a travel agent? What do you think, Tim?

SPEAKER_01 36:15

Um I want to reflect on that in the in the hotel world actually. So I think um as O would have asked about you know how do we adapt and how do we stay in tune with the constant changes of the industry? I think one thing is actually constant, and that is the reason why I'm in this industry, which is in the end I want to place people and make something special for people because that would I really thrive off. When you see those moments where it clicks for them, and often they don't even realize the power we have in hospitality, particularly in the background, to organize that for them. Um that's the golden moments of my career from an emotional perspective. Um, so I really enjoy those moments. I don't think that ever changes. People always love those special moments. We seek them in different ways. Now it's on Instagram back in the days. We didn't have that, it was different. In the future, it will be different. But the content and the the psychological content is the same. I want a special moment. I want to feel something connected, I want to feel something unique, um, I want to express my personality, I want to maybe live that with someone else in the same moment. But that's what we do, we create moments. So now back to the travel agent question. You know, travel world obviously has many operational things I can do when I actually meet a person, and by meet I mean try to actually see them, not just transactional check out. Um, in the travel agent world, that's the same. Like you coming to a travel agent saying, Hey, I want to maybe go to Fiji. Um, an alternative report would have been, I haven't been to Fiji, but I've been there, that's similar, I love this and this and this might have actually opened up a new um experience for you in your life. Um, because you have a person that understands what your energy level is and has maybe something in mind that, hey, you don't know this, but maybe have a look at that. That might be cool. That might be your thing, right? I mean, my glory I've seen karaoke all day.

SPEAKER_00 38:03

Right?

SPEAKER_01 38:03

Yeah, but you know.

SPEAKER_00 38:04

And even in with that travel agent that I went to, like she could have said, listen, I haven't been there, and I get that, right? But my colleague over here has been there a dozen times, right? And so my colleague's been there a dozen times. Let me go and ask her and give me give you some recommendations because people want, particularly in this world, they want to feel some level of certainty, security, uh, you know, even you know, in it in their adventures, right? And you're right, like in the hotel world, sometimes it's just the littlest which happened to the littlest of things. Like I remember when I worked for Toga um Adina Hotels and a lady came out in the wheelchair and she was going to get her hair done, and the concierge just said, Listen, let me take you, and he just he just pushed her along. And he said, Ring me and I'll come back and get you. Right? And she was like a loyal, you know, returned guest after that point just for the smallest little things. Even when I went there, as someone who worked for the company, they used to put a Red Bull in the fridge for me because they knew I didn't drink, so that but they knew I liked a Red Bull every now and then, so they I get there and be a Red Bull in the fridge.

SPEAKER_02 39:12

Yeah, there was uh someone on the travel bulletin talked about the concept of luxury these days because, like you know, everyone talks about that, and it's a big, you know, like a big market now in Australia, that luxury market, and he said that he went to this hotel in London, and his travel agent had told um the hotel that he was a huge rugby fan, and then all they said at reception, which made the big difference, they said, Hey, the game is at whatever time pm on whatever channel, and then by the way, we've put two beers for you in the fridge. Yeah, something really simple, it didn't cost them anything, right? But it made the experience so personalized. That guy, you know, loved his time there, right? Yeah, and yeah, just like so simple. Yeah, cost nothing.

SPEAKER_00 40:04

And I think in the travel industry specifically, that's fair, knowledge, but also you know, looking up and understanding what people want. Because let's face it, some travelers can be a little bit demanding. Can they? They can be. Like who, like Timo? Probably. Yeah, um, but it's like what it's it's it's yes, like when I was at Radison, we had that yes, I can philosophy. Yes, right? And it's like, you know, and and in coaching a habit, it's like, you know, what if what I'm doing isn't working, what else can I do? So it's being able to recognize all of those needs of those people, I think.

SPEAKER_01 40:35

Yeah, that sounds absolutely down the alley of the time mentor programme, right?

SPEAKER_02 40:41

Um just to see if it's still recording. It's not recording anymore.

Takeaways And Final Song Send-Off

SPEAKER_01 40:44

All right, second camera was off again. That's all right. Um, but guys, we are we are um uh over time anyways already. So let's do one last song before we uh say goodbye to the audience. And um, I leave that for your choices, obviously. Um, so Kelly, you're in charge of programming the machine. Um obviously today's episode was very special, as you probably noticed, and we won't enlighten you too often with these um uh Oscar-worthy performances of the three musketeers of the time community. Um, but I hope you still enjoyed our howling. And I hope you stick through the 40 minutes with us, and I hope you took something away. And if the only thing you took away is have some fun in your day-to-day activities and every now and then do something that's outside of your comfort zone. Do something funny, do something crazy, do something entertaining, do something cally.

SPEAKER_00 41:40

Do something magical.

unknown 41:42

Magical.

SPEAKER_00 41:42

Oh, what a transition! Rockstar! Um, listen, if and if you we should put a warning at the beginning, if you don't want bleeding ears. Yes. You know, you plugged it.

SPEAKER_01 41:55

Yes, let's actually record something half the little clip where we do an official warning. Love that.

SPEAKER_00 42:00

All right, let's go.

SPEAKER_01 42:01

What's the last song?

SPEAKER_00 42:02

Eye of the Tiger. Survivor. Eye of the Tiger! That's what we are in this business.

SPEAKER_01 42:09

Yes, I pressed the right button. Okay, here we go. Boom!

SPEAKER_00 42:13

Let's make it make it loud. Let's get loud.

SPEAKER_01 42:15

It's a tough one.

SPEAKER_02 42:18

That's a banger.

SPEAKER_01 42:19

It's a banger. Literally, you sounded so you sounded so Aussie there. Look at you.

SPEAKER_04 42:23

That's a banger. Banger!

SPEAKER_00 42:25

Banger, yeah, mate. Nice and loud, you ready? Ugh, am I? Yeah. Ooh, that's a cute doggy, eh?

SPEAKER_04 42:34

Which one?

SPEAKER_00 42:36

Which sound good.

SPEAKER_01 42:41

I know, always stuff for the dogs. Not for the people, but for the dog people. Alright. Alright everyone, sing with us!

SPEAKER_06 42:54

Rouse it up, back on the streets. Take my time to my chances.

SPEAKER_05 43:03

With the distance, now I'm back on my feet. Just a man and his will to survive.

SPEAKER_04 43:11

So many times it happens too fast. You train your passion for glory. Don't lose your grips on your dream of the past. You must find just to keep them alive. It's the thrill of the fight.

SPEAKER_06 43:33

Listen up to the challenge of the low and lost looks of a little snox is bringing the light. And he's watching the soul in the line of the tiger.

SPEAKER_04 43:49

Woo!

SPEAKER_06 43:50

Yeah, face to face, and in the heavies, and hungry. They stack the odds till we take to the street for the kill with the skill choose to find.

SPEAKER_04 44:08

It's the thigh of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight. Rising up to the challenge of arrival. And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night. And he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger.

SPEAKER_01 44:29

I think we're singing this much better than the actual artists. Right? Right? Copyrighted out.

SPEAKER_06 44:36

Rising up straight to the top. Had the guts got the glory. With the distance, now I'm not gonna stop.

SPEAKER_04 44:48

Just a man and his will to survive. It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight. Rising up to the challenge of arrival. And the last known smile stalks is prey in the night. And he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger. Of the tiger. Of the tiger. Got some timing issues.

SPEAKER_02 45:19

Never.

SPEAKER_04 45:20

Never.

SPEAKER_02 45:21

It's called What was what do you know what it's for? Rocky! Oh my gosh, you guys watch way too many movies, seriously. Have you ever seen Rocky?

SPEAKER_01 45:29

No!

SPEAKER_07 45:31

Timmo!

SPEAKER_00 45:34

The eye of the tiger! This is a rubble running up the stairs!

SPEAKER_02 45:41

This is the song when he w run up runs up the stairs, right?

SPEAKER_00 45:44

The tiger, yeah, beating all the odds. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Beating down pumpkin head.

SPEAKER_04 45:49

Okay. The eye of the tiger.

SPEAKER_00 45:57

Timo. Oh, just shake my head.

SPEAKER_01 46:00

Oh my god, we love you, Timo. We love you. I love you guys too. Sound of music. Sound of music, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 46:06

So, okay, so on your list, the sound of music, Chris Lacrina the Desert, Rocky. Okay, we don't.

SPEAKER_01 46:14

We don't need to tell the whole world what I haven't watched. So we quickly say goodbye to everyone. Thank you for listening. I hope, I hope your ears are still okay. In case there's any claims, we do not cover the cost for the medical treatment. However, we do appreciate you for listening. So, in that sense, happy Easter. You listen to that after Easter, anyways, but doesn't matter. Happy Easter. And stay tuned, connected. And passionate.

SPEAKER_00 46:40

Passionate. You only need to do another one.