I sat down with Zach to learn about how he’s giving back to the travel industry in these tough times and asked him about his current activities.

 Zach, how are you helping hotels during these times when tourism is heavily reduced?

“I started reaching out to big hotels on one of my travel Instagram pages and posting them for FREE during this COVID thing. Lots of hotels are super grateful and want to invite my team to do consulting and training and stay for FREE when this is all over.”

Normally, lots of hotels are so used to influencers reaching out with little value, just to try and get some free hotels and nights. I say this is the time that you give back to those in need.  

In a time when tourism-related industries are closing shop, Zach is jumping in to save their day and at least provide some marketing assistance while things take time to return to normal. Zach shared the reasons why he chooses to help.

Hospitality and tourism are struggling now. Lots of businesses are shutting down. I had some hotels tell me that it’s refreshing and nice that we are doing this. When everyone else just wants free stuff they’re nowhere to be found but remember those who have helped you out, invited you to stay for FREE, took care of you, and treated you like a king and queen, give back to those hotels and people.

When asked to explain the justification and marketing angle of giving away free services, Zach encourages other marketing professionals to help out their past or current clientele and tells us why.

 “Help them because you can, it’s the right thing to do, and you have the power to do so. We are posting so we can help grow their Instagram accounts for FREE, drive more exposure and web traffic to their website that customers will think of their hotel when they open back up and book their hotel.”

Tell me about your biggest challenge you ever faced and how you overcame it?

So in 2016, I cold-emailed the Dubai tourism board and I volunteered to help them for free. I reached out to influencers from the countries they were targeting and cold emailed influencers about coming on a free trip to Dubai.

 Zach shared with me exactly the steps he took to go from one email to traveling to Dubai to complete a memorable trip with a handful of influencers he recruited after getting the approval of the Dubai tourism board.

“I had all odds stacked up against me but took a risk and took that leap of faith to make something out of nothing. Even though they didn’t pay me money, I got tons of positive responses from influencers wanting to come on the free trip.”

 He emphasizes that building relationships should be the goal when trying to build a real and impactful business and how it was more instinctive in nature, saying: “The best relationships are when you operate from a giving mindset. You give without any strings attached and you give and you help because you can.”

He gives us all a brilliant anecdote that really drives the point on how to have a giving mindset in the most natural way possible. Zach says, “It’s just like when you see an elderly woman with a big bag of groceries trying to walk up the stairs, and then drop her things. It’s being present in the moment, acting super quickly, and then seeing that need and meeting that need and helping that person in need.”

Are there particular people (family, mentors, books) in your life who helped you progress in your entrepreneurial journey?

My parents, just by how they live their life. They keep things simple and stress-free. They keep their promises and commitments. They are people of integrity. 

What is your biggest advice to people for becoming a successful entrepreneur, financially and also in terms of personal growth?

Take a moment to think of other entrepreneurs, famous people you love, admire, and respect. Think about what kind of entrepreneur, what kind of person you’d like to become in the future.  That is the question you must ask yourself.  Work on becoming that person. 

Any final words you want to share with our readers?

Offer your very best in everything you do. Your attitude is everything; All you can simply do is try and see and believe the best in others. And, try to be there for support, love, encouragement, and prayer.