For many reasons, 2020 has become a year that no one will forget. We saw the rise of new social conventions and the decline of major industries around the world, all while only leaving home when absolutely necessary. 

Naturally, all these changes have made us reflect on the past few months and try to create a road map for the future. It is for these very reasons that we decided to turn our annual conference into a virtual gathering and introduce FareHarbor Spark. Our goal at FareHarbor Spark is to help reimagine and revitalize the tourism industry together by tackling the most pressing topics facing tour, activity, and attraction businesses. 

We want to challenge ourselves and all our attendees to think bigger, work smarter, and share our collective knowledge to help us lift up the industry together. FareHarbor Spark will offer two full days of immersive discussions and workshops focused on topics such as: 

• Building a Resilient Business 
• Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in the Tourism Industry
• Data-driven Decision Making 
• The Outlook for Tourism Tech  

We won’t just discuss progress; we’ll provide you with the tools to make it a reality. Read on to learn more about what you can expect from FareHarbor Spark. 

Building a Resilient Business

The concept of resilience will be a common theme throughout the two-day Spark program. Resilience is best defined as the ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. Historically, the tourism, activity, and attraction industry has faced adversity in the form of natural disasters, social and political unrest, economic crises, and more. 

As we look ahead to the future of our industry, we will discuss the building blocks you need to establish a resilient business strategy. Whether it’s through streamlining operations, exploring and expanding revenue channels, or developing contingency plans, our goal is to empower your business to turn these roadblocks into opportunities. 

Promoting Diversity & Inclusion

Travel and tourism wouldn’t exist without the desire to learn about other places, cultures, and people. Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our industry. During FareHarbor Spark, we will address what inclusivity means to us as tour, activity, and attraction operators and provide businesses with the tools to actively promote inclusivity. 

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism’s rebound may depend on the industry’s ability to serve everyone, with safety and accessibility at the forefront. Catering to every community and being inclusive of communities of color is both a moral imperative and a key to economic success.

Data-Driven Decision Making

This year has required businesses to make tough decisions. Given the unprecedented landscape that we’ve all been facing, it may have been more challenging than ever to determine the best course of action for any business decision. That is why we are encouraging businesses to adopt a data-driven approach to their decision making. 

We will guide you through several different real-life scenarios, teach you how to understand and analyze your data, and discuss what data points you should be considering to inform your operational and financial decisions. The goal is for you to feel more confident in your ability to make smarter decisions, become more proactive, and realize revenue-driven opportunities. 

The Outlook for Tourism Tech

Technological advancements have fundamentally changed the way we travel. This shift into the digital era has not only improved the way that tourists plan, book, and share their trips, but it can transform tours themselves. However, in a time when online behaviors have quickly changed to adapt to current circumstances, which technological advancements will leave their mark on the industry and which ones will become relics of the past? At FareHarbor Spark, we aim to provide insight into the current state of tourism technology and what trends we need to look out for in 2021. 

While there are many factors that will determine how an industry of this magnitude bounces back, we all have a role to play, and we know that together we can rebuild the travel and tourism industry to be stronger than ever. FareHarbor Spark is free to attend, and you can stream it from anywhere in the world on October 19 and 20. Registration is officially open, and you can sign up on the Spark website. We’ll see you there!