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BLOGS & COMMENTARY
Welcome to the dynamic intersection of strategic analysis and professional reflection. This space serves as a comprehensive resource, blending actionable commentary drawn from my consultancy work with the personal journey that informs it.
You will find in-depth articles covering critical areas such as strategic growth planning, effective operational scaling in high-value sectors, and best practices in high-impact mentorship.
Furthermore, I publish my candid views and opinions on emerging industry trends, alongside reflective pieces that trace my past experiences and the significant lessons learned throughout my career path.
Explore the full spectrum of content to gain both strategic tools for your business and personal insights for your leadership journey.
Leadership Lab: Managing Cross-Cultural Teams in a Globalised Travel Market
The travel industry is, by its very nature, the most globalised sector on earth. On any given day, a travel professional might coordinate with an Operations team in Manila, a Sourcing partner in Milan, and a client based in Manhattan. While this diversity is our greatest strength, it also presents a unique leadership challenge. In the "Leadership Lab," we recognise that managing a cross-cultural team isn't just about speaking the same language; it is about navigating the si
Carlo Rappa
Feb 113 min read
Success Built on Connection: Why Your 'Soft Skills' are Your Hardest Commercial Assets
In the high-stakes world of travel consultancy and global operations, we often obsess over "hard" metrics: load factors, RevPAR, and tech-stack integration. But after twenty years in the industry, I have come to a definitive conclusion: the most complex commercial problems are rarely solved by a spreadsheet. They are solved through the nuances of human interaction. In an increasingly automated world, your "soft skills"—empathy, active listening, and the ability to build genui
Carlo Rappa
Feb 63 min read
Navigating the Pivot: How to Transition into Senior Leadership in the Travel Industry
For many travel professionals, there comes a moment where the "day-to-day" excellence no longer feels like enough. You have mastered the mechanics of operations, the nuances of sales, or the complexities of sourcing, and you find yourself looking toward the boardroom. However, the step into senior leadership is rarely a straight climb; it is a strategic pivot. It requires shifting your focus from doing the work to architecting the environment where work happens. Transitioni
Carlo Rappa
Feb 33 min read
Your First 90 Days in a Senior Travel Role: Prioritising People, Product, and Profit
Congratulations! Stepping into a senior leadership role in the travel industry—whether in Strategy, Commercial, or Product—is a significant achievement. You are now positioned to make a profound impact on the direction of your company and the wider sector. However, the pressure to deliver results immediately can be immense. Based on my experience moving through diverse senior roles, the critical mistake new leaders make is jumping straight into fixing problems before fully un
Carlo Rappa
Nov 24, 20253 min read
The Future-Proof Traveller: Why Adaptability Is Your Most Valuable Asset
In my two decades navigating the travel industry—from the front lines of Operations to the strategic boardroom—I’ve witnessed constant, jarring change. We are an industry perpetually disrupted by technology, geopolitics, climate events, and shifting consumer expectations. The traditional career path, relying solely on deep expertise in one niche, is becoming a relic. Today, the most valuable asset you can possess isn't a prestigious title or a vast network; it's adaptability
Carlo Rappa
Nov 10, 20253 min read
Building a 'Career Portfolio,' Not Just a CV: The Power of Side Projects
For two decades, I’ve watched careers in the travel industry flourish, and the key differentiator isn't always the title on a business card. The truly impactful professionals—the ones who become sought-after leaders and advisors—do more than just their day job. They build a Career Portfolio . A traditional CV is a list of job descriptions. A Career Portfolio, however, is a dynamic collection of evidence showcasing your expertise, values, and strategic impact beyond the confi
Carlo Rappa
Oct 27, 20253 min read
The Global Traveller: Sourcing, Supply Chain, and Cultural Nuance
Most travellers see the stunning hotel, the flawless transfer, or the incredible local guide. I see the contracts, the logistics, and the rigorous Sourcing strategy that made that experience reliable. My experience has taken me through every facet of the travel supply chain, and it's taught me that Sourcing—the art and science of finding, negotiating with, and managing suppliers—is the invisible engine of the industry. It's where you build supply chain reliability, manage ris
Carlo Rappa
Oct 20, 20253 min read
Selling the Dream: How to Master B2B Travel Sales
For those outside the industry, 'travel sales' might conjure images of booking cheap holidays. But within the business world, B2B travel sales —selling complex services to airlines, hotel groups, agencies, or corporations—is one of the most strategic, high-stakes commercial functions. In my experience across Sales and Partnership roles, I learned quickly that B2B travel sales isn't about closing a quick deal; it's about initiating a long-term partnership with purpose . You ar
Carlo Rappa
Oct 12, 20253 min read
Decoding the Tech Stack: What Every Non-IT Travel Professional Should Know
As someone who has worked across Operations, Product, Sales, and Strategy, I can tell you the greatest strategic misstep I see travel professionals make is viewing technology as "the IT department's problem." In today’s travel landscape, technology isn't just a cost centre; it's the product . If you’re in Sales, you’re selling the reliability of a tech platform. If you’re in Product, you're designing with the limitations and opportunities of that tech in mind. To truly succee
Carlo Rappa
Oct 3, 20253 min read
The Six Essential Skills Every Travel Pro Needs: Beyond Just Loving Travel
Ask anyone what you need to work in the travel industry, and they'll likely say, "A passion for travel." While a genuine enthusiasm for the world certainly helps, it’s not what drives results, negotiates contracts, or manages a crisis. The truth is, a career in travel is a serious business career . It operates at the intersection of logistics, technology, and global economics. Based on my two decades of experience, here are the six non-negotiable, in-demand business skills th
Carlo Rappa
Sep 27, 20253 min read
From Ops to Strategy: My Two-Decade Road Trip Through the Travel Industry
For over two decades, I've had the privilege of living and breathing the travel industry. When I look back, my career hasn't been a straight path; it's been more like a scenic, often bumpy, road trip that’s taken me through Operations, Product, Sales, Sourcing, and Strategy . While each role had its own unique demands, the most important lesson I learned is that every ticket counter, call center queue, and supplier negotiation was a crucial building block for the strategic th
Carlo Rappa
Sep 20, 20253 min read
The Power of Partnership: The Key to Success
In my two decades in the travel industry, I've seen that individual effort, while important, can only take you so far. True, lasting success isn't built in a silo; it's forged through powerful and genuine partnerships. I want to share a story about a specific collaboration that taught me this lesson in a profound way. Early in my career, our company was tasked with launching a new product in a challenging market. We had a great idea, but we were a small team, lacking the loca
Carlo Rappa
Sep 13, 20252 min read
Sicily to London: The Move That Changed Everything
My journey began in the sun-drenched streets of Palermo, where my love for travel was sparked. While working in a local travel agency, I quickly realised that the robotic, repetitive tasks of issuing tickets weren't for me. I wanted to meet people, discover new places, and experience the world first-hand - not just be stuck behind a desk. This desire led me to make my first big move to the famous Ligurian coast in northern Italy. There, I started to see the world through the
Carlo Rappa
Sep 5, 20252 min read
The Mentorship Mindset: Giving Back to Grow Your Own Career
For two decades, my career has been defined by moving across diverse roles—from Operations to Strategy —and building purposeful partnerships . Through it all, I've found that the most rewarding part of my journey isn't the title or the balance sheet, but the immense reward of sharing that journey to help others. Mentorship is a core part of my professional life, not just out of obligation, but out of genuine self-interest. If you believe, as I do, that your network is a cruc
Carlo Rappa
Aug 31, 20253 min read
My Journey: How I Found My Passion in Travel
I've always had a profound love for travel. Even as a child in Palermo, I dreamt of venturing into the unknown. I spent hours studying maps, drawing up itineraries for my own city, and taking friends on tours they would have never considered. This innate curiosity and desire to explore every corner of a map was the first sign of a lifelong passion. My professional journey began in a travel agency in Palermo, but I quickly realised it wasn't for me. The job felt robotic and re
Carlo Rappa
Aug 30, 20253 min read
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