One of the best parts of being in the Tourism industry for many years is the people I meet. Our industry has an endless list of talented, hardworking, fun-loving and creative professionals. I decided to interview my friends and give you a peek into their lives and careers. This week we hear from my friend Greg Dotson. Greg and I have been attending the same trade shows for years and we worked on a project for SYTA together in 2020.
Tell us a bit about how you got started in the tourism industry.
My first job out of Indiana University in Bloomington was working at the front desk of the Westin Hotel Indianapolis. I have always been a people person so this was a great fit for me. I quickly was promoted to Concierge and began training new team members, before transferring to the Swan Hotel in Lake Buena Vista, right on Disney Property.
Upon the recommendation of a friend I auditioned for Disney and was cast in the Walt Disney World Easter Parade. I was quickly hooked and left my role at the hotel to pursue my dream of dancing right down Main Street U.S.A. with MICKEY and Friends. I was a cast member at Disney for 18 years, performing for 13 years, and had the opportunity to travel and work with many different departments.
After I retired from performing, I stepped into a leadership role as Production Stage Manager and worked with a team to produce some of the most amazing events in all four theme parks and beyond.
After I left Disney I was invited to join the team at Kaleidoscope Adventures as a Student Travel Planner, planning and selling trips to student groups to destinations around the US and Canada. I would often travel with student groups and had the opportunity to visit destinations and share them with students who were experiencing the joy of travel for the first time.
I quickly became active with SYTA and ABA, serving on several committees and learning the power of networking. This led to an opportunity to join the team at Merlin Entertainments as a Local, Regional and eventually National Sales Manager promoting attractions including Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE Aquariums, LEGOLAND and more.
I currently sit on the SYTA: Student & Youth Travel Association Board of Directors and remain connected throughout the industry as we work to rebound from the pandemic. I have loved every moment of my time in the tourism industry and have a great appreciation for travel.
What is your current job and what are your primary responsibilities?
At the beginning of 2021 I joined the team at Tiqets as an Account Manager for the USA. Tiqets is an online ticket provider with headquarters in Amsterdam, though I am based in Orlando, Florida, and our mission is to make culture more accessible – giving visitors easy access to remarkable experiences and giving partners more opportunities to connect with engaged visitors. I work closely with venues to introduce our brand and share with them the benefits of working with an OTA to increase visitation and revenue to their attractions.
What are some of the changes you have seen since you began your career?
We continue to change the way we communicate with customers throughout the tourism industry. Though there is great power in face-to-face communication, as clients get younger and more comfortable with technology, people are communicating through email and social media. Clients tend to do more work using their mobile devices so websites must be created in multiple formats in order to accommodate. Thank goodness everyone loves to travel and experience the world in different ways.
How has Covid impacted your job?
After five years with Merlin Entertainments, I was furloughed in May 2020 and in July 2020 my role was eliminated. In addition to searching for a new role, I spent my days encouraging others and finding learning opportunities to keep me active both physically and mentally. I was also fortunate to remain active serving on the Board of Directors with SYTA as well as the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools.
It’s vacation time – where do you go?
I love to travel and put a great deal of work into creating the perfect itinerary for my family. I am a huge fan of the great outdoors and love to do anything that keeps me active. I also have a love for theatre and admire anyone who has made it to Broadway.
I love to go cruising and will seek out the best excursions. I love to experience new destinations and learn the history. I have actually never traveled outside of North America so I am ready for my next trip, wherever that will be!
What is your favorite app and tell us a bit about it.
My dear friend, Karen Pitcherello from Mears Transporation, got me hooked on this amazing app called TripAdvisor. It’s no secret that TripAdvisor is all about travel, but did you know that by posting reviews and photos that you get points? I loved to share reviews about the destinations I visit and the service that I receive. And, much like Karen, I am slightly competitive, so this is a wonderful combination of two of our favorite pastimes.
What is your favorite tradeshow and why?
I love ANY trade show for so many reasons. I find great fulfillment in meeting new colleagues and networking with friends from around the globe.
I served on the ABA Marketplace Advisory Committee and worked with some of the most amazing people in the industry.
In 2018, I served as the Conference Chair for the SYTA Annual Conference in Baltimore, which eventually led to my being elected to the SYTA Board of Directors. SYTA feels like family and many of my closest friends in the industry have come through my participation in this amazing association.
What advice do you have for someone just getting started in the tourism industry?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and take every opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone. Sit with people you don’t know and strike up a conversation. Volunteer your time at a conference and take advantage of educational opportunities.
We are all in this together and we have all been new at some point in our career. My role at Tiqets happened because I have met and worked with two of my fellow Tiqeteers, former colleagues in the industry, over 10 years ago. The connections you make are so important throughout your career.
What do you see as an opportunity that will come out of the Coronavirus crisis?
People have a pent-up desire to travel! I would anticipate that people will begin to start booking their trips as soon as they have received their vaccinations, if not sooner, and will look for opportunities to go where they have never gone before. International travel may take a little longer to rebound, but the impact of being locked in for longer than we ever anticipated will come with great rewards for many in the tourism industry.
Want to join Greg on a Tiqets Webinar?
Interested in discovering how you can turn your visitor experience from good to great? Greg will be hosting a free webinar on March 25th where you will hear from three world-class museums and their insider strategies on creating a remarkable visitor experience.
Speakers for this special event include:
USS Midway Museum – Joseph Wagstaff
The Peggy Guggenheim Collection – Patrizia Martignon
Musée des Confluences – Cédric Lesec
How Can I help you in 2021?
DMOs/Tourism Organizations:
Are you looking for a way to provide value to your partners during this challenging time? Check out the Online Tourism Training Program with this link. I can help by providing monthly virtual training for your partners/members.
Here’s a recent testimonial from Katy Summers of SYTA.org: My association worked with Sally to provide virtual education sessions over a three-month period. The quality of sessions she provided exceeded our expectations! The feedback from our members was all positive and her sessions had the highest attendance and involvement out of all the virtual educations that we were hosting.
Sally and her team have great communication, are quick to respond and to resolve any questions. The presentations Sally hosted were professionally done, interactive and she related to the attendees. She made them feel comfortable to ask questions and responded to their feedback/suggestions and adjusted as needed. I look forward to working with Sally and her team on future projects!
My team will take care of registration, reminders, and even a post-webinar survey! Let me know what topics your partners need help with and we will develop impactful training. I am booked through the end of March but am booking new clients starting in April 2021. Prices start at just $995 for each training. Click here to email me and we can set up a time to talk!
Looking to increase your Tourism knowledge and skills?
Then check out Tourism Pro Academy. I created this platform in 2019 as a one-stop-shop for Tourism Professionals like you! You can check out free resources, courses, and other ways to work with me. Check out the books I recommend under the Free Resources section! Click here to see what’s available.