#16 RadEO with Kim Whitaker from Once Travel

In this episode of RadEO, Ross talks to Kim Whitaker, the CEO, and co-founder of Once Travel. Kim tells us more about the Tourism Industry, and how she managed to empower young people by starting a Tourism School and giving them opportunities to work in the tourism and hotel industry. She also tells us about how to delve into branding a hostel and gives her tips on getting the right team to man the machine. Subscribe on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/radeo/id1250841955) or Soundcloud (https://soundcloud.com/radeopodcast) About Kim - Kim started her first tourism business age 23, inspired by a year of living and working around the world. In 2013, Kim co-founded “Once in Cape Town” (Cape Town, South Africa) with a dynamic team, and grew the Poshtel/ Youth Hotel concept from strength to strength. In 2016, the team went on to open the second property (Once in Joburg) in Johannesburg, in the vibrant inner-city Braamfontein area. Once Youth Hotels are bustling youth hubs, where, by clever design, strategic partnerships with local businesses and hiring the right “A-team” (staff who encapsulate the “Once” ethos and spirit), guests can experience contemporary Africa. Once in Cape Town recently passed the Fairtrade in tourism grading with 100%, which recognizes that the business operates in a way that is mutually respectful, fair and transparent. Kim is current CEO of Once Youth Hotels and is passionate about entrepreneurship, leadership and growing the Once Youth Hotel brand into the African continent. Kim’s many personal entrepreneurship awards include the Investec “YoungTreps” (2014), Sanlam EOY, Emerging Entrepreneur winner (2015), Mzansi Top 100 Young Independents (2016), and Premiers Award for Entrepreneurship Tourism winner (2016). Show notes- 00:38 - Kim’s elevator pitch 01:52 - Does traveling seem exciting to someone on the outside? 03:35 - How does one curate traveling experiences as you do? 07:53 - How do you make sure you have the right people on your team? 10:28 - How do you go about inductions for your employees? 11:15 - How does the relationship work if you only employ people for 3 months? 12:57 - Was it deliberate having a bar and a hostel in the same location? 16:40 - Building the Once Youth Hotels brand 20:19 - Starting a Tourism School 26:33 - Why Kim has started a Tourism School 31:10 - Was it deliberate in empowering people and making South Africa a better place?