Private, Personalized & Global: Behind Context Travel's OTA-free Expansion

Can tour operators grow without relying on OTAs? In this episode of The Best Part of Travel podcast, we explore how private tours and personalized experiences are reshaping the future of travel. Context Travel’s CEO June Chin shares why private, personalized experiences are the key to long-term growth and loyal customers.

Discover:

✅ Why personalization is becoming the competitive edge in travel

✅ How private tours build loyalty and repeat bookings

✅ Why and how the company has avoided distribution through major OTAs (and what they do instead)

✅ Finding the balance between agency partnerships, direct sales, and digital channels

✅ How AI is reshaping search, discovery, and operations—and what “AEO” means for operators

✅ Context’s vision for scaling from 100,000 to 1 million travelers annually by 2030

✅ How Context is seeing triple-digit growth in Japan

✅ The importance of expert guides to maintain high quality experiences

If you’re looking to future-proof your business, this episode offers actionable insights into how personalized travel and direct connections with your customers can fuel sustainable growth.

See also:

👉 Arival research on the rise of the private tour taker

👉Arival research on the 2025 Experiences Traveler

👉 June Chin on the Private Tours, Big Profits panel at Arival 360 | Washington, DC

👉 How generative AI is revolutionizing Travel

👉 Distribution strategy with Arival