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Meetings and Miles
S1E12 From Baghdad to Business Class: Fadi Toma's Global Adventures
Meetings and Miles - https://www.linkedin.com/company/meetingsandmiles/
Hosts:
Pamela Wilton - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelawilton/
Mark Peters - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdpeters17/
e: meetingsandmiles@gmail.com
Guest: Fadi Toma https://www.linkedin.com/in/fadi-toma/
In this episode of 'Meetings and Miles,' co-hosts Pamela and Mark discuss their weekends filled with sports and personal achievements before introducing their guest, veteran business traveler Fadi Toma. Fadi shares insights from his 12 years in international travel for work, including his transition from political studies to working in international education. Fadi's stories span from packing mistakes and retail therapy in Lagos to narrowly escaping border shutdowns during the onset of COVID-19. The conversation highlights the unique challenges and unexpected moments that come with business travel, including a harrowing flat tire incident in India and the constant evolution of packing strategies. The episode wraps up with Fadi's advice for new business travelers to 'roll with the punches' and enjoy the journey.
00:00 Welcome and Weekend Recap
01:12 Pamela's Frisbee Adventures
02:59 Introducing Our Guest: Fadi Toma
03:48 Fadi's Background and First Business Trip
06:32 Packing Tips and Travel Stories
13:18 Favorite Destinations and Airports
16:41 The Realities of Business Travel
19:25 Balancing Work and Vacation
19:47 Experiencing the Onset of COVID-19 Overseas
21:32 Navigating Travel Restrictions and Returning Home
27:23 Unexpected Adventures and Mishaps
33:35 Final Thoughts and Advice for Business Travelers
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16. S1E16 – To Bleisure or Not to Bleisure
27:48||Season 1, Ep. 16Meetings and Miles - https://www.linkedin.com/company/meetingsandmiles/Hosts:Pamela Wilton - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelawilton/Mark Peters - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdpeters17/e: meetingsandmiles@gmail.comIn this episode of Meetings of Miles, hosts Pamela Wilton, a business development consultant, and Mark Peters, a sales and marketing operations consultant, share their recent summer experiences. Pamela recounts visiting an outdoor concert in Killarney, Manitoba, while Mark discusses his love for yard games and a bit of golf. The conversation also delves into Pamela's participation in the Web Summit in Vancouver, discussing key takeaways about AI's role in marketing and technology, and her experience interviewing attendees about their favorite travel hacks and event strategies. The episode wraps up with a discussion on the logistics of business travel, exploring the concept of bleisure and how to maximize the benefits of different travel approaches.00:00 Welcome to Meetings of Miles00:34 Summer Adventures and Yard Games02:47 Golf and More Summer Fun04:43 Web Summit Vancouver Experience11:28 Pamela's Web Summit Interview Series12:01 Travel and Event Hacks18:29 Bleisure Travel Insights26:55 Wrapping Up and Contact Information
15. S1E15 - Collecting Humans: Why Paul Bailey Ditched Networking for Something Better
38:08||Season 1, Ep. 15Meetings and Miles - https://www.linkedin.com/company/meetingsandmiles/Hosts:Pamela Wilton - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelawilton/Mark Peters - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdpeters17/e: meetingsandmiles@gmail.comIn this episode of 'Meanings and Miles,' hosts Pamela and Mark welcome Paul Bailey, Sales Director of International Market at Discover Halifax. They discuss the recent activities in their lives, including Pamela's increased frisbee playing and upcoming travels, and Mark's fishing adventures. The focus then shifts to Paul, who shares insights from his unique career journey spanning automotive, advertising, and tourism sectors. Paul emphasizes his approach to business travel, focusing on collecting meaningful experiences and human connections rather than simply networking or ticking off countries visited. He shares memorable stories from his travels, including an immersive food experience in India and a koala interaction in Australia. Paul also touches on maintaining well-being while traveling and the importance of being present both during travels and at home. The episode concludes with Pamela and Mark reflecting on Paul's philosophies and the impact of authentic connections and culinary experiences in travel.00:00 Welcome and Catching Up01:59 Introducing Our Special Guest: Paul Bailey03:10 Paul Bailey's Career Journey04:19 Selling Halifax: A Unique Approach10:07 Memorable Travel Experiences12:07 Culinary Adventures and Travel Stories18:30 Exploring Global Connections and Business Travel19:16 The Art of Networking and Collecting Humans21:56 Building Meaningful Relationships26:29 Balancing Work and Wellbeing on the Road31:26 Paul's Travel Wisdom and Final Thoughts34:31 Reflecting on the Interview and Key Takeaways
14. S1E14 - Motherhood, Music & Touring: Balancing Act with Nicky Mehta
34:52||Season 1, Ep. 14Motherhood, Music & Touring: Balancing Act with Nicky MehtaMeetings and Miles - https://www.linkedin.com/company/meetingsandmiles/Hosts:Pamela Wilton - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelawilton/Mark Peters - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdpeters17/e: meetingsandmiles@gmail.comIn this episode of Meetings and Miles, hosts Pamela and Mark dive into a fascinating conversation with Nicky Mehta, a multi-Juno Award-winning recording artist from The Wailin’ Jennys. Nicky shares insights on her band’s 23-year journey, the challenges of managing touring logistics, and the impact of motherhood on her career. From navigating early days of DIY tours to balancing family life with a demanding music schedule, Nicky’s story is a testament to resilience, teamwork, and passion for music. Tune in to hear about her harrowing yet memorable tour experiences, the secret to keeping a band together for over two decades, and how she finds inspiration on the road.00:00 Welcome to Meetings and Miles00:48 Pamela's Indoor Frisbee Adventures01:31 Introducing Our Special Guest: Nicky Mehta02:30 Nicky Mehta's Musical Journey04:55 Touring Life: The Early Days11:18 Balancing Family and Career15:44 Inspiring Stories of Parenthood and Music18:11 A Harrowing Trip to the UK18:56 Guitar Disaster and GPS Woes20:44 Transmission Failure and Rush Hour Chaos21:53 Navigating London and Unexpected Challenges25:16 Touring Inspiration and Creative Stories29:26 Travel Hacks and Personal Insights30:31 Closing Thoughts and Farewell
13. S1E13 - When They Take Your Passport: Connor Sheridan's Business Travel Adventures
29:03||Season 1, Ep. 13When They Take Your Passport: Connor Sheridan's Business Travel AdventuresMeetings and Miles - https://www.linkedin.com/company/meetingsandmiles/Hosts:Pamela Wilton - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelawilton/Mark Peters - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdpeters17/e: meetingsandmiles@gmail.comIn this episode of 'Meetings and Miles,' hosts Pamela and Mark are joined by Connor Sheridan, VP at Voyager Aviation, who shares his unique experiences and perspectives on business travel and the aviation industry. From a Zoom meeting hack by Mark to Connor’s extensive travels across 38 countries, this episode dives into the dynamic nature of business travel. Connor recounts stories about the challenges and rewards of global travel, including a memorable experience at the Bangy airport and advice for getting the most out of business trips. The hosts wrap up the episode emphasizing the importance of making the most of travel opportunities while managing the inherent difficulties. Listeners are encouraged to engage with the podcast on LinkedIn and leave a five-star review.00:00 Introduction and Zoom Hack01:47 Introducing Today's Guest: Connor Sheridan02:49 Connor's Journey in Aviation06:21 Business Travel Adventures15:27 Changes in Business Travel21:13 Connor's Travel Tips and Experiences26:34 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
11. S1E11 - From History Books to Booking Tours: Chris MacNeil's London Journey
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10. S1E10 - Discovering the Magic of Travel with Sean Meister
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9. S1E9 - Hydration, Hiking, and Honest Networking: Travel Tips from Thomas Mauch
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8. S1E8 - Hotel Wars: Battle of the Business Stay
27:22||Season 1, Ep. 8Meetings and Miles - https://www.linkedin.com/company/meetingsandmiles/Hosts:Pamela Wilton - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelawilton/Mark Peters - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdpeters17/e: meetingsandmiles@gmail.comHotel Wars: Battle of the Business StayIn this episode of 'Meetings and Miles,' hosts Pamela and Mark delve into an engaging debate on hotel preferences for business travelers. Mark champions the reliability and convenience of big hotel chains, citing consistency, loyalty programs, and robust amenities. Pamela counters with the appeal of boutique hotels and short-term rentals, highlighting personalized experiences, comfort, and productivity benefits. Both share their personal travel experiences and statistics backing their claims. The episode wraps up with a useful tip on giving gifts to business travelers, stressing practicality and sentimental value.00:00 Introduction and Weekend Recap01:35 Creative Mornings Experience02:39 Today's Topic: Hotels - Chains vs. Boutiques03:37 Mark's Case for Big Chain Hotels09:10 Pamela's Argument for Boutique Hotels10:37 Debate: Convenience vs. Comfort22:18 Closing Arguments23:41 Tip of the Day: Gifts for Business Travelers26:37 Wrap-Up and Social Media Links