On this episode of Hospitable, as we sit down with Ruben Westmeijer, CRO and Co-Founder of Bond Agency, the world’s first nearbound agency, where we talk about building partnerships that matter. 

We discuss trends in partnerships, indirect sales, and content creation for brands in the hospitality industry. And we explore how both large hotel chains and independent hoteliers can attract new audiences and stay relevant in the changing market. 

Ruben shares his background in tourism management and his passion for creating relationships in the B2B space. Tune in to hear insights on how to bring value to clients and navigate the evolving landscape of the hospitality industry.

Don’t forget to subscribe and review. 

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Value in Consultative Work

00:00:48 - Introduction to Hospitable Podcast

00:00:59 - Ruben Westmeyer's Background

00:01:20 - Trends in Content and Sales for 2024

00:02:13 - Ruben's Journey from Tourism to Partnerships

00:03:39 - The Decision to Become an Entrepreneur

00:04:20 - Idea and Timing for Starting a Business

00:05:23 - Working with a Partner in Business

00:06:45 - Learning from Past Sales Roles

00:07:39 - Building Value for Clients

00:08:27 - Marketing Trends for 2024

00:09:16 - The Rise of Influencer Marketing in B2B

00:10:09 - Nearbound Strategy and Leveraging Networks

00:11:30 - Building a Successful Partner Network

00:12:46 - Travel Experiences and Entrepreneurship

00:13:08 - The Role of AI in Business

00:14:09 - Establishing Clear Expectations in Partnerships

00:15:11 - The Importance of Partner Profiles

00:16:03 - AI's Impact on Future Business

00:17:04 - Travel Influencing Business Perspectives

00:18:41 - Muse and Career Growth

00:19:59 - AI for Pitch Deck Creation

00:21:32 - AI Customization and Specialization

00:22:37 - Leveraging AI in Branding and Outreach

00:23:55 - Exciting Trends for 2024

00:24:11 - Custom AI vs. Standard AI Solutions

00:25:56 - The Importance of Data in Hospitality

00:27:29 - The Future of Events and Personal Connections

00:28:43 - Utilizing Data for Hotel Growth

00:29:56 - Hiring a Data Specialist

00:31:34 - How to Connect with Bond Agency

00:32:29 - Closing Remarks and Podcast Support Request

Shownotes:

[00:01:20] Trends in content and sales.

[00:06:05] Starting a business with your significant other.

[00:09:48] Nearbound strategy and influencer marketing.

[00:13:08] How to build a partner network.

[00:18:08] Cultural differences in international teams.

[00:20:24] The future of AI.

[00:24:43-00:24:54] Custom AI tools in development.

[00:28:23] Leveraging data for better experiences.

[00:32:29] Growing the podcast community.

Connect:

Show Produced by: Niranjan Deshpande (Nick), Broken Frames Studio, www.brokenframesstudio.com