The Best Part of Travel | Inside the Business of Destination Experiences Camels, Channels & Connectivity: Booking Tech & Beyond with Meredith Rangel
In this episode of The Best Part of Travel, Janelle Visser and Stephen Joyce head Down Under (virtually) for a conversation with Meredith Rangel, founder of Bookable Tourism, who is on a mission to get Australia's tourism industry connected to the right booking technology. With a background spanning hotels, attractions, and booking tech startups, Meredith brings a rare, vendor-neutral perspective to one of the most overwhelming decisions an operator can make: which booking system is right for me?
From walking and wine tours to major city attractions, the conversation covers why so many operators are still stuck on spreadsheets and emails — and what they can do about it, without breaking the bank.
🦘 Topics we cover:
The APAC booking tech gap: Why the Asia-Pacific & Oceania region has the lowest booking tech adoption globally, and what it means for operators who want to grow.
The 80/20 rule for choosing a booking system: Most systems do 80% of the same things — it's the 20% that matters, and knowing your business needs is the key to finding your best fit.
Mobile first (or else): Why booking systems that aren't built for mobile are leaving operators — and their customers — behind, and what "mobile first" really means on the ground (i.e. “Can I do this from the back of a camel?”)
Beyond the booking: How operator expectations of booking tech are evolving — from simply holding a reservation to resource and revenue management, AI forecasting and more.
Connectivity & distribution demystified: What operators often don't realize about the reach of OTA partnerships, the importance of net rate pricing from day one, channel management, and why OCTO matters.
From Napster to Spotify: The new wave of slick, intuitive res tech platforms coming to market — and why established systems risk being left behind if they don't innovate.
Practical advice for overwhelmed operators: Meredith's no-nonsense framework for shortlisting and selecting a booking system, including the checklist she uses with her own clients.
Why Arival is going to Brisbane: The state of the Australian experiences sector, and why now is the right moment for operators across Australia, New Zealand, and the rest of Oceania and APAC to come together.
Some resources and other things we mention:
Arival Innovation Showcase: Featuring AI tech for tour operators
How to Set Net Rates: Arival article by Meredith -
OCTO: open-source API and connectivity standard for tours, activities and attractions
Meredith’s booking resources hub on Bookable Tourism (Including the checklist she mentions)
Upcoming Arival Events:
Valencia, Spain (April 27-29, 2026)
Brisbane, Australia (June 22-24, 2026)
Spokane, U.S. (October 13-16, 2026)
The Best Part of Travel podcast is brought to you by Arival. Season Three is sponsored by Protect Group.