Adventure Travel with Josué Agüero Solís - Bonanza Travel Costa Rica

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Welcome back, everybody, to another episode of the Big World Made Small Podcast for the Adventure Traveler.
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So happy to have each and every one of you back today, and also very excited to have our guest today.
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Today we've got Josue Aguero Solís.
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Josue, welcome to the show.
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Happy to have you here.
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You know, I think it's this kind of connection sounds very important for the tourism industry and all the people who love travel or know about tourism, how it works in Costa Rica.
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It could be a great opportunity to hear about us.
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Yeah, and you know what else is?
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It's just fun too.
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It's it's an important opportunity to kind of spread the world, make the big world feel smaller, but it's also just a lot of fun for me.
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So thank you so much for for uh joining me today.
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And you know, I mentioned your name and I wanted to make sure I pronounced it right.
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Did I get it pretty, pretty, pretty right?
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Pretty close.
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Yeah, no, no, that's correct.
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You know, here in Costa Rica, also sometimes people call me Joshua.
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You know, I have this with these kind of partnerships.
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I don't allow it to allow, you know, my name is Josué.
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It's very difficult.
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So some people just call me Joshua.
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So that's okay.
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Do not worry, please.
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That's okay.
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But what I what I did not touch on is kind of, you know, what do you do?
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You're the founder of Bonanza Travel in Costa Rica.
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We've already mentioned Costa Rica.
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So let's uh be well, I want to ask you a question because it's kind of a selfish question, I guess.
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Doesn't have anything to do with you, but but when we talk about names, so my name Jason.
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I don't know if it's like this everywhere in Latin America, but in Colombia, for some reason, even if I write the name out, 95% of the time they call me Jackson.
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Do you have any insight into why they would call me Jackson?
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I'm not sure why, because here in Costa Rica, there is a lot of people who who is called Jason.
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It is a a normal name, a normal name here in Costa Rica, Jason.
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I don't know.
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I'm not sure why the people in that place called you Jackson because it's it's not correctly.
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I I think maybe people is tricking you, but it's not correctly because here it was.
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They're just messing with me.
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Yeah, they are messing with you, you know.
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I I think because here in Costa Rica, people is called Jason.
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It's it's a common name here in Costa Rica.
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So people is tricking you.
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I know it's a common name here as well.
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Maybe something about the spelling, but it's I've just gotten used to it.
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I've just that's my Colombian name is Jackson.
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So anyway, that's a little off topic.
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But thank you.
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I think it's it's more like like a cultural thing.
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It's opposed to.
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Yeah.
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Yeah, I I think so.
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So let's so what we're gonna do, Jose, is we're gonna get into your story.
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We're gonna figure out how the heck you got from where you were to where you are now.
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But in order to do that, let's give our listeners kind of an idea of where you are now.
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And I think the best way to do that is just share with them what is bonanza travel.
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Not the history, not not the startup story, but what is bonanza travel?
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What do you guys do?
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How do you help your clients?
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Well, I think you know, bonanza travel is it's more like tourism.
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It's our new brand for signature luxury travel here in Costa Rica and around Central America.
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Bonanza is more like human connections, that is what we're looking for in the travel industry.
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It's not about just coming to a destination, it's getting that human connection when the travelers feel safe, feels that we are taken care of.
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That's the key point of what we are doing in Bonanza, those signature moments, you know, when they come here to Costa Rica, what we are looking for, these wow moments, that unexpected moments that they are going to know to know about this going to happen.
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An example, we will have an exciting picnic in Monteverde, seeing around all the beautiful green spaces and cloud forests, and without you knowing.
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That's the key point of Bonanza, that's what we are doing here in Costa Rica.
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This is our mind idea, human connections.
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But I think in tourism industry, you know, Jason, people have to keep in mind that the people who come travel to every around the world, you know, savings, ideas.
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They want illusions.
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So that's we are doing bonanza travel as a family-owned company.
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That's what we are looking for human connections, that the people feel they genuinely care that we are looking for them.
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That's the key point.
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I love that.
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And that's why I wanted to have you come on and share your story because that's that's what this whole thing is about.
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That's what the podcast is about.
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It's about creating those human connections.
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So I love to have conversations with people that are equally passionate about that.
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That's just an important part of it.
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And a couple, just kind of maybe specific questions.
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I think I heard you, you know, we're talking about Costa Rica, but I think I heard you say Central America, Latin America.
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So are you working outside of Costa Rica as well, or is that in on the horizon?
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Um, what should our listeners know about that part, just to be clear on what your area is?
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We're totally with Costa Rica, but you know, some travelers, when they come travel around the world, come to Costa Rica, they want to go to near places like Panama, like Nicaragua.
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Also, we are working with Guatemala and Belice.
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So this is one of the key points because as Bonanza travel, we want to keep the same touch and the same human connection on each destination.
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You know, one of the key points that we found Bonanza is because some of the partners we have like Costa Rica and then other partners in Panama, other partners in Nicaragua.
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So maybe the same attention they have here in Costa Rica, it's totally different in Nicaragua, in Panama, in Belice.
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So that's why kind of like a they have like these kind of feedbacks who say why Costa Rica is better than the other countries, why they are more interested in Costa Rica.
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So I I was one day I was thinking with my father, my father also is, you know, he has been in the industry for 30 years, the tourism industry is in my DNA.
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I was thinking why we are not able to make that happen, to have the same ideas, the same vision, the same mission in all its destinations.
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So this is one of the key points also of bonanza.
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You know, when you go to Panama with us, Nicaragua with us, to Belize with us, and also to Guatemala, all will be the same energy, the same passion, the same services, the same looking for excellence.
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That's the key point.
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Yeah.
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And I don't want to get too far into the weeds as far as numbers and all this stuff, but I'm just curious.
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Obviously, I guess the vast majority of your business is being conducted in Costa Rica.
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Do you have is there some like very rough number you can give me?
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Like, is it 80% of every every dollar that comes into the business is Costa Rica stuff, and the other 20 is outside of Costa Rica, or just just very, very roughly, like what does that look like?
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Yeah, well, I think we have a privilege in Costa Rica.
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Most of the operation for us, it's between 80% or 75% in Costa Rica.
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Okay.
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The other percentage is between Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Belice.
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You know, it's a certain short percentage because people, you know, love Costa Rica.
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Love Costa Rica and they just want to come to Costa Rica.
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Sometimes we do like, well, we offer Costa Rica and then we can go to Panama because they want to extend the stay here in Central America.
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But normally it's between 75% and I was just curious.
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And then the other part is, you know, sometimes you talk about the term DMC, which is, you know, destination management company for our listeners that, you know, don't want to listen to the lingo, but destination management company would be somebody that's working with travel agents or uh, you know, tour operators in the US or Europe.
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And then the DMC destination management company basically handles their clients for them.
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But then there's and then the other model obviously is direct to consumer, where people in the US are on your website and they're booking directly with you.
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So what does your business model look like?
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Do you do both of those or what's your focus?
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Well, actually, we more focus if partners are all around the world.
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Yeah, most of Europe, United States, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, those are our major markets.
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Normally we have like direct travelers from our website.
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But to be honest with you, we always try to be like you know, we have to investigate the direct travelers because nowadays, you know, you can find all the information in the internet.
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Chat GPT, Geminis, all the information is over there.
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And in the past, we have been kind of situations when a direct traveler requests all the information, all the prices, and then we send all the information, all the itinerary, will explain it, and will say to us, I will do it on my own.
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So that's why we are going to when we receive a direct traveler, we are too careful analyzing where we are going to send our information because we have been in the past having this kind of situation when we're happy, we are investing our energy, we make the reservations, and then like three weeks later, one month later, they come back.
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I do it by myself, please cancel everything.
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So this is why we start like decreasing the direct travelers and more of the parties, more focuses in in partners.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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And I I guess we could go really, really deep into the all the theories and stuff behind that.
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But when you're working with direct partners in the US and and you're a I don't want to say let them handle all the back and forth, but sometimes.
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I mean, because they're working with you as well.
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So it's still work.
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If someone goes directly to uh somebody in the US, for example, and and does the same thing.
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Your partner in the US is coming to you, working with you to put together an itinerary and then they cancel, it's kind of the same thing.
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But but I guess, I guess more importantly, it kind of allows you guys.
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I mean, you've got a routine, you've got a system.
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You work really well with your partners, and you your whole system's built around that.
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And then those direct bookings almost end up being more work for you guys, you know, on many levels.
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So the I understand the the the relationship, but anyway, most people listen to this probably already understand this anyway.
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Let's, I think.
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Well, I just want to ask you a couple more questions about this before we before we kind of get back.
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Go ahead.
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You know, you know, yes, I was thinking this is not that we do not work with direct travelers.
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However, we are doing more analyzing stuff internally to review it if there is a potential traveler or it if it is not.
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We already have a direct travelers.
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However, we have to be very careful where we are sending on information.
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Yeah, that that but we are still working with them.
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You know, most of them, I bet to a rough number, 95% are just farmers, and then the other 5% are just direct travelers.
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Yeah.
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Do you want to take a moment?
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Because maybe there's somebody listening to this that has, you know, that is a traveler that is not sure.
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Should I just do it myself?
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Should I reach out to, you know, Bonanza and ask them to help with an itinerary and then just go do it myself.
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Let's take a moment to to kind of share with maybe that listener what is the benefit of booking either with you guys directly or with one of your partners overseas, as opposed to trying to go book the house themselves and take an Uber and do all this.
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Not that, not that people can't do that.
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People do that.
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But yeah, you know, one of the key points is working with us.
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You know, you will be like relaxing.
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We will do everything for you.
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You know, we have the best rates, all the negotiations, everything will be perfectly perfectly fitted in your itinerary, your preference, whatever you need, more flexibility, and also, you know, this is those kind of special moments for the travelers, you know, the wow moments without any cost, we will do it for them.
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Those are the key points that they will have advantage for booking to us.
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And you know, sometimes it's about for us luxurious time.
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If they are looking for hotels, looking for accommodations, looking for transfer, looking for activities, they just send to us the request and we can do it like this.
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That's our key point with us.
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Also, fast responses.
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This is the key point that we have and the security, because here in Costa Rica we have a contract, so we have a policies, and they if they come to us, they have the itinerary will be exactly secure.
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If you do the booking online, maybe you will be canceled, to be honest with you.
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Yeah, that's one of the key points, and also sometimes do you well, the travelers do not know where they are booking, so they might be coming to Costa Rica and they don't know why they're booking.
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And you know, one day I was listed and one of the hotel suppliers explained to me, you know, Josué, when we have your request, we always give you the preference to you, and then when we have an online booking, but we already know that you are most stronger partners, we give you the preference and cancel the online booking.
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So that's why I always say to the travelers, direct travelers, please work with us because normally here in Costa Rica, we have a great relationship with the hotels and not just us, any other partners, and then they will prefer a rate or relationship than just one direct traveler.
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So that's one of the key points that travelers have to keep in mind.
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You know, if you book it directly, you can your plans can change like this.
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Here with us, you will be everything perfectly, and also you will have the concert signature services with us.
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When the moment you arrive here in Costa Rica or Nicaragua or Panama, you will have a measure from us that whatever you need from us, any change or any cancellations, we will hear for you, and our policies will protect you.
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Any reforms, any complaint, we will dare for you.
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If you do it online, you will have you will lose all these benefits because there is no more policies than us.
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That's that's one of the interesting points that maybe people do not value when they do a booking to us.
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They might, I think they value it once they understand it.
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And that's why I think I wanted to have this conversation because just you know, if you imagine, let's just imagine you book a nice, uh, you know, a nice little boutique hotel.
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You booked it direct, and there was a problem, you know.
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Uh let's just say there was a problem, we don't know the specifics.
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And then you're upset, you're like, hey, we need to fix this problem.
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And the person running the place, or maybe the business owner of the hotel, maybe it's a great, great little hotel, but they're looking at it, okay.
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We've got one person, you know, one guy named Bob from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who is, you know, complaining about this or whatever.
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And well, we just hope that, you know, worst case scenario is Bob writes that doesn't give us a great review or something.
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Yeah.
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Right.
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As opposed to if Bob books it through you guys and they get to the hotel and they've got a problem, that hotel owner is like, man, if we don't keep Bob happy, then we're gonna have to explain to you know us what like what the heck was, you know, what happened.
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And they could potentially lose a partner that's been, you know, sending them a lot of guests.
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So they're much more likely to say, okay, we need to keep Bob happy because of where Bob came from, as opposed to we need to keep Bob happy because he might write a negative review on booking.com.
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Yeah.
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Exactly.
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Or something, I don't know.
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No, and and you hit it in the spot, Jason.
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I most of the, you know, I think not just only Costa Rica, all around the world operate in that way, you know, when you are here and they don't want to lose a great partners like us.
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And also, you know, we have policies because we we sign contracts, refunds, complaints, upgrades, all these benefits they have with us.
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So, in you know, in online booking, maybe you are not able to have that.
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You know, so uh last last year we have a you know kind of situation.
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We have one traveler who came with us through our partner.
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We did all the booking, just one hotel, and they decided to book it through their website.
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Everything was perfect, and when they came to that hotel, there was a kind of mirrored misunderstanding, and the traveler was very, very upset, and but we were not able to do anything because we we were not the ones who make the reservation, so there yeah, so the all the journey was not good enough because of that.
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Yeah, and that's why we explained to the partner I explained to you, please, that hotel.
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It will be, but I do remember because it was the rate, because you know, sometimes here the hotels work with you know, in the website rates, there are some kind of you know, discounts that they are not controlled by the hotels.
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Booking and Expedia have their own discounts because maybe they put a discount in one hotel, but they may be winning in another hotel.
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So these kind of discounts are not able to be controlled by the hotels.
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So I do remember it was uh just a maybe$100 a difference from the rate, and then the whole estate was not perfect, and the traveler was not happy just because of that.
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So I think the travelers, no, no, they already know that it's very understanding to book through the DMCs, but there's some travelers know.
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You know, what I'm going to say is the travelers must be feel secure, safe, that if they go into a DMC, everything will be perfectly without any situation.
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If everything happens, we will they we will be there for them.
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We will be uh sometimes you know, we will fight for them.
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Even if there is a little situation, the bathroom is not clean, we always we'll be going to do the best for them.
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So that's the difference.
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Because booking through a DMC who will have all the support with us, Bonanza Travel, whatever you need, the minimum thing, the food, the the toilet, everything, everything will be do for you, even you know, when you say hi, when sometimes there is people who say when we come from Bonanza Travel, the people already know that they have to have genuine connections.
00:18:49.579 --> 00:18:55.739
So we always say, please, when you assist to our travelers, say hello, hello, how are you?
00:18:56.139 --> 00:18:57.179
Where are you from?
00:18:57.420 --> 00:19:00.219
This kind of connection, this is why they make the difference.
00:19:00.380 --> 00:19:09.980
So, this is one of the key points we have great relationships with the hotels because some of the hotels share the same vision with us, you know, this kind of authentic that we are looking for.
00:19:10.059 --> 00:19:11.820
So yeah, no, I I get that.
00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:14.460
Yeah, and for I mean go ahead.
00:19:14.860 --> 00:19:18.539
For me, that's one of the key points we are always working with with partners.
00:19:18.699 --> 00:19:22.619
Please, if some travelers came to the hotel, say hello.
00:19:22.699 --> 00:19:25.820
You know, this kind of interaction is what we're looking for.
00:19:25.900 --> 00:19:29.179
Also with our own bosses, we have our own drivers and our guides.
00:19:29.340 --> 00:19:33.579
When we the travelers comes to the first impression, is the driver.
00:19:33.739 --> 00:19:36.860
So you have to be set up perfectly and always smiling.
00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:39.820
So we always say, please be polite, say hello.
00:19:39.900 --> 00:19:45.900
And we have a, you know, most of the travelers sometimes even don't remember the experience they have in Arenal.
00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:54.300
Sometimes they remember the driver because friendly and he spoke with them every single journey of the trip here in Costa Rica.
00:19:54.380 --> 00:19:55.579
That that's the key point.
00:19:55.739 --> 00:19:56.059
Yeah, yeah.
00:19:56.219 --> 00:19:56.860
That's the key point.
00:19:57.099 --> 00:20:03.340
And I appreciate that, and I think people listening, they I, you know, there's nothing against travelers that do it themselves.
00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:09.900
I mean, I I've been traveling for five years, and uh I've probably stayed in a hundred Airbnbs the last five years.
00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:18.860
And I'm not using I'm not trying to compare Airbnbs to hotels, but in the sense that sometimes pictures look great, and you get like, ooh, okay.
00:20:19.099 --> 00:20:24.539
So I would say probably 70, 80% of the time, it's not quite what I was expecting.
00:20:24.619 --> 00:20:28.940
And there's times when like I can't even stay here, and I'm pretty, I'm pretty easygoing.
00:20:29.099 --> 00:20:29.260
Yeah.
00:20:29.420 --> 00:20:37.019
And then, you know, try and get a refund from you know, Airbnb or try and deal you're dealing directly with the host, and it's like, oh my gosh.
00:20:37.260 --> 00:20:39.980
And so that's just a small example.
00:20:40.139 --> 00:20:44.699
But you know, if I've got someone on your team that I can get to the Airbnb, hey, you know what, this isn't right.
00:20:44.860 --> 00:20:45.900
Can you please fix it?
00:20:46.139 --> 00:20:46.699
That'd be nice.
00:20:46.940 --> 00:21:01.500
You know, yeah, that you know, that that's a key point because normally, as you mentioned before, maybe if they they saw a complaint with a traveler who came from nowhere, they will see, hmm, I will keep it that in mind, and maybe leave it behind and then maybe start focusing on other in other kinds of topics.
00:21:01.659 --> 00:21:02.619
That's that's the key point.
00:21:02.699 --> 00:21:17.099
Another key point, you know, it's you know, Jason, is when the people who talk to us here bonal from the beginning of the first call of the first email, or you know, your executives always will be more than happy to assist them.
00:21:17.179 --> 00:21:21.019
You know, you will feel the energy, the Costa Rica passion.
00:21:21.340 --> 00:21:27.420
That's the way we want to look for that's we have a great relationship with partner for many, many, many years back because they feel the energy.
00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:29.820
At the end, you know, we are sending emails.
00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:33.179
Even it is an email, we can feel the energy.
00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:41.099
I always say to my team, please, when we are starting the week, ask the people, ask the traveler, ask the partner, how was your weekend?
00:21:41.260 --> 00:21:42.300
How is your family?
00:21:42.460 --> 00:21:48.059
Because at the end, it's not about just the travelers, it's about internal company.
00:21:48.219 --> 00:21:52.219
And you know, for me, our partners are also our team.
00:21:52.300 --> 00:21:54.139
So we have to have a great communication.
00:21:54.300 --> 00:22:08.460
That's you know, that's the for me, that's essential part of having a great relationship, being happy with the other partners because you know, I am the owner of Manasa Traveler, and maybe our partner have other owners.
00:22:08.539 --> 00:22:09.739
But what's the key point?
00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:11.019
Or associates.
00:22:11.179 --> 00:22:17.179
If they are happy, if they're happy with the other thing, then the same energy will be for the travelers.
00:22:17.340 --> 00:22:26.539
What happened if my associate is not feeling good, and then they have they did not have great communication with the associate of the other partner.
00:22:26.940 --> 00:22:32.460
Maybe the energy, the itinerary, the ideas will not go in correctly to the travelers.
00:22:32.619 --> 00:22:47.099
For me, that's one of the most important parts of the having a great relationship and also work-life balance in a company, being happy with your colleagues in your team, you know, because at the end, I can be an expert.
00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:49.659
For me, I can have all the knowledge in Costa Rica.
00:22:49.820 --> 00:22:56.300
But if I send an email to, for example, angry or not being happy, you will have you will feel the energy.
00:22:56.619 --> 00:23:09.659
So that's the key point we always say please be polite, be charismatic, be humble, because at the end the people who are In the other part, receiving the email will f feel the energy.
00:23:10.139 --> 00:23:18.699
I'm curious about something because we're talking about the energy, and I've spent enough time in Latin America now that I kinda I think I kind of get things.
00:23:18.940 --> 00:23:29.420
But so for example, like and you know, where where I grew up, you'd send an email or a a text message and generally kind of just jump right into the point.
00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:33.900
I would send a text, you know, hey, hey Bill, how's it coming along in that project?
00:23:34.139 --> 00:23:34.780
Yeah.
00:23:35.340 --> 00:23:40.780
And here, at least, you know, in most of my experience in Latin America, it's like, hello, Bill, how are you?
00:23:41.179 --> 00:23:42.219
That's the first message.
00:23:42.380 --> 00:23:43.739
You don't include anything else.
00:23:43.820 --> 00:23:45.739
And then they respond and say, I'm doing great.
00:23:45.820 --> 00:23:46.219
How are you?
00:23:46.380 --> 00:23:48.059
Oh, I'm doing pretty well as well.
00:23:48.219 --> 00:23:54.460
So and there's this way of doing things that and then you might jump into the by the way.
00:23:54.860 --> 00:23:55.500
Yeah.
00:23:56.139 --> 00:23:58.139
You know, I just wanted to follow up on this.
00:23:58.380 --> 00:23:59.739
You know, just you know, let me know.
00:23:59.900 --> 00:24:05.179
And it's just the the way of communicating is is so different, and it takes a while to get used to, but I love it.
00:24:05.260 --> 00:24:05.900
I think it's pretty cool.
00:24:06.219 --> 00:24:18.460
So yeah, you know, but I think because maybe I always think I'll explain to my team, you don't know how you feel the other person if they're having a rough day, or you know, their weekend has been like very happy or not as happy as they want.
00:24:18.619 --> 00:24:22.300
So and just as you mentioned, Jason, how are you?
00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.659
How was your weekend?
00:24:23.820 --> 00:24:26.380
Also, when I receive an email from my partner, say, How are you?
00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:27.179
How was your weekend?
00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:28.699
Are you doing okay?
00:24:28.860 --> 00:24:29.659
I feel happy.
00:24:29.739 --> 00:24:31.579
You know, you you get a smile from me.
00:24:31.820 --> 00:24:44.699
So I always say with with with my team, you know, the base of the great foundation of a company is the energy, the humility, the charisma we are sharing with the other teams.
00:24:44.860 --> 00:24:47.820
Because I think this is the basis of everything.
00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:53.500
I can't I can have a big company, uh, too many partners, uh, big brand all around the world.
00:24:53.820 --> 00:25:01.260
But if I don't share as an owner the same energy, the charisma, the respect, there will be no team.
00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:05.340
Because the energy for me is very important and the work balanced life.
00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:08.699
It's one of the key points we're always looking for in Bonanza Travel.
00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:09.659
Yeah, very cool.
00:25:09.820 --> 00:25:15.099
Let's I really want to now kind of figure out how the heck did you get this uh this positive energy.
00:25:15.179 --> 00:25:17.340
Like I want to now it's time to go into the story.
00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:22.780
Let's so you mentioned that your father's involved in the business and has been working for 30 years.
00:25:23.340 --> 00:25:24.699
Yeah, yeah, you you said that.
00:25:24.860 --> 00:25:35.820
So I think it might be fun uh that I like to do anyway is go back into your childhood and discuss your discuss your traumas and everything that happened that caused you to no, not not traumas.
00:25:36.139 --> 00:25:41.900
Uh well, maybe we will, but let's go back to when you were like, I don't know, 10 or 12 or something like that.
00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:43.659
What was what was your childhood like?
00:25:43.820 --> 00:25:45.099
What was happening at that age?
00:25:45.179 --> 00:25:45.900
Do you remember?
00:25:46.219 --> 00:25:47.019
Yes, exactly.
00:25:47.179 --> 00:25:57.579
You know, well, I always will be saying that I'm a privileged person because I I have been a very close family, my mom and my father who always been in the tourism industry.
00:25:57.739 --> 00:25:59.980
I used to play football when I was a child.
00:26:00.300 --> 00:26:02.940
Also, I have the opportunity to live in Spain.
00:26:03.099 --> 00:26:14.460
Study Yeah, I used to live in Spain and also in Germany for a couple of years, you know, two two years and a half in Spain and in Madrid, and then one year in Germany, knowing the culture, learning all about the languages.
00:26:14.619 --> 00:26:23.099
And I think that's you know, I I'm a privilege because my father gave me that opportunity to learn about other cultures and the map to Costa Rica.
00:26:23.420 --> 00:26:29.659
Okay, but you weren't you weren't traveling outside the country doing these, you know, study abroad thing when you were 12.
00:26:29.820 --> 00:26:29.980
Yeah.
00:26:30.219 --> 00:26:31.260
So let's let's get into that.
00:26:31.340 --> 00:26:36.780
I want to I I know I mean I really want to like so you grew up your family and had a tourism business.
00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:38.940
Well, yeah, I'm preferring tourism business.
00:26:39.099 --> 00:26:45.179
I my first time when I have the opportunity to go abroad first was about when I was 15 years.
00:26:45.820 --> 00:26:46.059
Okay.
00:26:46.539 --> 00:26:54.940
And then I was out for one month because I was the child, and then when I when I was 17, I just go outside.
00:26:55.260 --> 00:27:02.380
So I'll you know, but I when I was a child at 10 years old, I do remember always my father and my my mother always be positive.
00:27:02.460 --> 00:27:12.860
You know, I have as I mentioned before, I am a privileged person because I always grew up in a unified family, both of them, you know, working in the tourism industry.
00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:13.659
My mother is a lot of people.
00:27:13.820 --> 00:27:14.619
Do you have siblings?
00:27:15.260 --> 00:27:16.699
No, I'm just unique.
00:27:16.860 --> 00:27:17.739
Yeah, I'm just one.
00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:18.219
Okay.
00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:23.260
So I have this kind of energy, ambition, and passion from my parents.
00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:27.099
You know, I am very happy because I am the mom who I am today because of them.
00:27:27.179 --> 00:27:30.300
They gave me the opportunities, the education, you know.
00:27:30.539 --> 00:27:35.340
And always, you know, I have never heard my father or my mother doing I cannot.
00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:40.619
You know, they always said in positive ways, I can, I will, I will do it.
00:27:40.780 --> 00:27:41.579
Don't worry.
00:27:41.739 --> 00:27:43.500
In a couple of months we will be better.
00:27:43.659 --> 00:27:46.699
So this is kind of the energy I grew up, you know.
00:27:46.780 --> 00:27:53.500
So this is why, as today, as I am 30 years old, I always positive and always keep the energy.
00:27:53.659 --> 00:27:59.900
But it's I think it is a habit because since I was a child, my father and my mom always be positive.
00:28:00.139 --> 00:28:00.699
I can do that.
00:28:00.860 --> 00:28:02.380
Josué, oh that's okay.
00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:04.940
You can improve, you can do that, you will be better.
00:28:05.099 --> 00:28:08.219
You are you are too young, you will be better when you will have more age.
00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:18.940
On this kind of energy and environment that I grew up, give me all the ideas, the energy, the opportunity, and the mentality to be right here in this moment.
00:28:19.099 --> 00:28:21.659
So as I'm engineered, did you know?
00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:23.980
I'm curious though, okay.
00:28:24.059 --> 00:28:25.980
But when you were 10 or 12, yes.
00:28:26.300 --> 00:28:28.380
What stuff like were you into?
00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:30.780
You mentioned football, but I don't know if it was at that age.
00:28:30.860 --> 00:28:36.699
Like, were you the type of kid that was out and about playing around in the jungle, or were you you know into computer games?
00:28:36.860 --> 00:28:37.820
I mean, what were you into?
00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:38.780
What was your thing?
00:28:39.179 --> 00:28:40.539
You know, uh just football.
00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:48.219
I I do remember when I was a child, you know, going to the school, playing football, come back here to my house and going to the training camps at night.
00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:50.860
And then when I pre- Very serious.
00:28:51.099 --> 00:28:51.659
Yeah, yeah.
00:28:51.739 --> 00:29:02.460
I I was I was trying to do it professional because you know, one of the key points that I learned from my parents is if you want to do swimming, if you want to do tennis, or whatever you want to do, always do your best.
00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:06.460
So that's one of the always keeping my mind, always do my best.
00:29:06.619 --> 00:29:09.820
If I just doing like a paperwork, doing my best.
00:29:10.059 --> 00:29:14.139
If I'm going to do anything minimum, always doing my best.
00:29:14.300 --> 00:29:17.179
So that's why today I have this kind of mentality.
00:29:17.340 --> 00:29:23.980
I do remember, you know, when I was still doing the training scams and when I was, you know, free time, I come into my father in the offices.
00:29:24.219 --> 00:29:30.699
I was I do remember my five, my father doing all the stuff, you know, dealing with suppliers, dealing with partners.
00:29:30.780 --> 00:29:33.260
And then I do remember because I just started a young age.
00:29:33.340 --> 00:29:36.300
I just come into an office and just doing paperwork, you know.
00:29:36.460 --> 00:29:39.500
But since that age, I was learning about tourism.
00:29:39.739 --> 00:29:55.340
So since I was a child, I this is why I always say tourism is in my DNA, because I do remember not specifically all the situations years back, but always, you know, ideas of tourism, how to improve, how it can be better, how tourism can be evolving.
00:29:55.500 --> 00:30:03.739
All these kinds of conversations I have learned from my father and my mother, keep in my mind, I'm going to use all this experience through today.
00:30:04.139 --> 00:30:05.099
Let me ask you this.
00:30:05.340 --> 00:30:09.099
Do you it wasn't that long ago, but 12 was a while ago.
00:30:09.260 --> 00:30:14.860
But when you were young and you were so invested in football, do you remember like why?
00:30:15.019 --> 00:30:16.139
What was it about football?
00:30:16.300 --> 00:30:24.460
Because to some people, being a professional athlete symbolizes just maybe leaving where they, you know, not doing what their parents were doing.
00:30:24.619 --> 00:30:27.900
It might be, you know, in their financial.
00:30:28.059 --> 00:30:31.900
Like they don't, they're not so much into the sport, they just see it as an opportunity to make money.
00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:35.019
Um, and then there's other people just like, man, I love this sport so much.
00:30:35.179 --> 00:30:37.739
I don't know how I'm gonna make money with it, but I'm just gonna do it.
00:30:38.059 --> 00:30:41.500
What was what do you remember your thought processes while you were doing it?
00:30:41.739 --> 00:30:48.380
Yeah, I just as a kid who loved to play in football, I don't have this kind of to be professional or having a money.
00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:55.500
You know, I think when I grow up, I you know, this kind of childhood is, you know, when you play with your friends all around the neighborhood.
00:30:55.659 --> 00:30:58.460
I don't have, you know, kind of cell phones or video games.
00:30:58.539 --> 00:31:01.179
I'm just playing football with my neighborhood.
00:31:01.260 --> 00:31:06.219
And that's that's why I I was playing football because I enjoyed what I was doing just for fun.
00:31:06.619 --> 00:31:07.500
Just for fun.
00:31:07.659 --> 00:31:13.500
Always my father and my mom explaining to me, if you want to play football for fun, you are a child, you have to enjoy.
00:31:13.900 --> 00:31:15.980
So I just played football for fun.
00:31:16.139 --> 00:31:16.780
Yeah.
00:31:17.099 --> 00:31:24.059
Did you did you when you were young, did you feel like you had a choice of going into the tourism business or you could do whatever you wanted to do?
00:31:24.139 --> 00:31:27.500
I'm just curious because sometimes, you know, it's the family business.
00:31:27.579 --> 00:31:30.539
So you know, I'm just curious what it was like for you.
00:31:30.780 --> 00:31:36.219
You you know, I've for me it was not like uh, you know, some father says, Oh, you have to do this because of the family business.
00:31:36.380 --> 00:31:42.219
No, my father's always explained to me and my mother, please free whatever you choose for us.
00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:46.139
You have to learn, you will be an adult, you have to do your own life.
00:31:46.380 --> 00:31:52.139
And always, I don't think as I was a child, I always used to be like, you know, I'm always for looking for people.
00:31:52.380 --> 00:31:53.019
How are you?
00:31:53.179 --> 00:31:53.739
How are you?
00:31:53.900 --> 00:31:55.340
Can I help you with something?
00:31:55.500 --> 00:32:05.500
And this idea of being a because I love to be Costa Rican, you know, Arenal, Monteverde, La Fortuna, Osa Peninsula, I think Costa Rica is an amazing place.
00:32:05.739 --> 00:32:07.820
So to be honest with you, Mr.
00:32:07.980 --> 00:32:09.739
Jason, I saw an opportunity.
00:32:10.300 --> 00:32:13.099
So I saw, well, I love what is tourism.
00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:25.739
I like to be in tourism because getting people, getting to other places, connections, you know, getting more, you know, knowledge about not just not just about tourism, because in tourism you can learn about many other topics.
00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:35.019
So the knowledge that I can gain from tourism, that's you know, what's that's my my main goal to getting knowledge to people, to get good connections.
00:32:35.179 --> 00:32:40.380
And then I say, well, if I have this opportunity, I want to grow up with my family business.
00:32:40.619 --> 00:32:48.619
So and then my father feels happy, my mother feels happy because I will continue with the you know with the gener generational world.
00:32:48.780 --> 00:32:55.500
So it's it was by my own choice because I I think it's always see my father happy, my mother happy.
00:32:55.579 --> 00:32:59.099
So I grew grew up in a happy environment.
00:32:59.260 --> 00:33:03.260
We always I know maybe, yeah, sorry.
00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:13.900
Well, I just want to ask you, was there a specific point when it was like, yes, tourism is what I'm gonna do, or did it just kind of over time it was just kind of always just seemed like a natural path?
00:33:14.139 --> 00:33:32.380
Yeah, well, uh I do remember I was, you know, doing this kind of sports, and because I studied business administration and also law, also law, do you remember at 18, between 18 and 19 years old, I I do say, well, fathers, I will continue with the family business because this is what I like to do.
00:33:32.940 --> 00:33:33.980
So yeah.
00:33:34.380 --> 00:33:38.460
You you mentioned that you traveled overseas the first time at 15 for a month or so.
00:33:38.619 --> 00:33:39.659
Tell where where did you go?
00:33:39.739 --> 00:33:40.380
What was that all about?
00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:45.019
Yeah, I well, I go to to Barcelona to uh you know to the football campus.
00:33:45.179 --> 00:33:54.539
You know, the my my father gave me the opportunity to for my beer day to go to Spain to do like a football campus, if it is what it is, because I used to play football just for fun.
00:33:54.699 --> 00:34:00.300
And my father said my father went told me Josué, if you want to try it, you are free to try.
00:34:00.460 --> 00:34:06.460
So they just give me uh the opportunity to to go do some kind of uh you know camping football in Spain.
00:34:07.340 --> 00:34:09.420
Did you fly there by yourself or did your parents?
00:34:09.980 --> 00:34:11.340
No, they they rode with me.
00:34:11.420 --> 00:34:16.059
So because I was too young, so they they were afraid of what happened, so they they fled with me.
00:34:16.219 --> 00:34:16.619
Yeah.
00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:19.179
And they so they stayed there the whole time with you?
00:34:19.420 --> 00:34:24.059
Yes, but they were in but they have to stay in a lot of hotels because I was in a campus.
00:34:24.139 --> 00:34:26.940
So I was to be alone here training with the other people.
00:34:27.179 --> 00:34:30.139
So we were in the same city but different places, yeah.
00:34:30.539 --> 00:34:34.460
Did you have some time to go out and and explore and not you know?
00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:35.420
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:34:35.500 --> 00:34:35.980
I have something.
00:34:36.219 --> 00:34:43.099
Well, the free the free time I used to go with with with with my parents, you know, to enjoy the the city and all these kinds of places.
00:34:43.260 --> 00:34:43.820
Yes.
00:34:44.300 --> 00:34:53.099
Was that I I guess the question is like anything happened on that trip that was transformational that because then you said you went and and worked and lived overseas after that as well.
00:34:53.260 --> 00:34:59.579
So I'm just curious, like that first trip, was there something that clicked with you there as far as wanting to spend more time overseas?
00:34:59.900 --> 00:35:01.820
Well, I think learn about people.
00:35:02.139 --> 00:35:19.900
Yes, learn about people, learn about cultures, because I think if someone has the opportunity to go abroad your country, you will have to because you will learn the how they wait, how they live, how the way they see the life, new opportunities, new connections.
00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:24.940
Because you know, in Costa Rica it's totally different from Spain and from Germany.
00:35:25.019 --> 00:35:37.900
So all these kind of connections and how I can see life now has helped me today to understand also the markets of the tourism, the culture of the tourism, and get you know about how to communicate with people.
00:35:38.140 --> 00:35:48.460
For me, yeah, for me, this experience, you know, I want to go abroad to get you know more experience about how to deal in with people.
00:35:48.780 --> 00:35:48.940
Okay.
00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:49.660
That's one of the things.
00:35:49.820 --> 00:35:53.900
And there were presumably there were kids from what did you say all over the Spanish world?
00:35:53.980 --> 00:36:01.500
You mentioned Germany, so I'm guessing it wasn't all the Spanish world, but yeah, well, in the campus was too many kids around the world.
00:36:01.660 --> 00:36:24.300
Yeah, and then when I have the opportunity to go to study in Spain and then in Germany, also with more of them were Spanish people, yeah, because they were all I just won the young one, but I think you know, that expertise and that experience at my young age to get you know communication with people who are double my age at the time.
00:36:24.619 --> 00:36:28.539
This helped me to understand how the life works.
00:36:29.099 --> 00:36:29.579
Yeah, yeah.
00:36:29.820 --> 00:36:42.860
So that that's that's you know, for me, that's was a break point in my life because I say, Wow, Costa Rica just because I I was you know I was young, I was thinking that Costa Rica was the best.
00:36:43.099 --> 00:36:51.500
When I when I go abroad, I I say wait, if I go abroad, I have to understand to learn because not too many people have the privilege to go abroad to study.
00:36:51.660 --> 00:36:59.660
So I say, I'm going to use the much of the time because when I come back to Costa Rica, I will use all the knowledge to implement it by myself.
00:36:59.820 --> 00:37:00.460
Yeah.
00:37:00.940 --> 00:37:10.380
And as far as because you mentioned you went to school for business administration and law, when you did the most of this overseas stuff, it sounded like studying abroad.
00:37:10.460 --> 00:37:14.460
So was it part of your university schooling or was it after that?
00:37:14.619 --> 00:37:17.420
Or just kind of give me an idea how that how that all came together?
00:37:17.820 --> 00:37:26.059
And well, I just well, I just go to, you know, to go to the some kind of courses on you know business administration and also administration in football.
00:37:26.140 --> 00:37:31.260
You know, I have also you know some degrees in uh in football here in Costa Rica.
00:37:31.420 --> 00:37:41.420
It's I have two sides of business, the tourism industry, and also I have, you know, this kind of license to teach uh first division league here in Costa Rica.
00:37:41.500 --> 00:37:43.260
So I have two combinations.
00:37:43.500 --> 00:37:49.340
I have you know business administration and also business administration and football kind of law.
00:37:49.420 --> 00:37:52.380
So I have kind of this different kind of combinations.
00:37:52.619 --> 00:37:53.099
Yeah.
00:37:53.420 --> 00:37:53.980
Very cool.
00:37:54.220 --> 00:37:55.980
So what were you studying overseas?
00:37:56.300 --> 00:37:56.780
Overseas.
00:37:56.860 --> 00:38:03.660
Well, business one one of the key courses was business administration and also I have in degrees in sports management.
00:38:04.300 --> 00:38:14.860
Okay, so it was all the the stuff you were doing overseas was uh normally would normally would be, but was this so I guess the term is study abroad.
00:38:14.940 --> 00:38:16.860
Like, is it part of the university program?
00:38:17.019 --> 00:38:21.900
You're like, okay, I'm gonna go do a semester or a year, or do you do like a totally different school, or what was that like?
00:38:22.220 --> 00:38:27.019
I mean, obviously it was a different school, but well, to be honest, was not any part of the programs.
00:38:27.180 --> 00:38:35.579
I have the privilege that my my father just everything for me and just go to the Sportman's you know university here in Spain.
00:38:35.820 --> 00:38:37.180
It's called IFEMA.
00:38:37.340 --> 00:38:40.619
So I go there and I study all the management of sports.
00:38:40.780 --> 00:38:49.099
I learned something about you know Moscows and biology and how to deal with the you know commercial managers, all these kind of situations dealing with the big clubs.
00:38:49.180 --> 00:38:49.900
I learned it.
00:38:50.220 --> 00:38:51.099
So they might come back.
00:38:51.660 --> 00:38:51.980
Yeah.
00:38:52.380 --> 00:38:55.820
And in Germany, did you how long were you in Germany?
00:38:56.059 --> 00:38:58.619
Um between nine months.
00:38:58.780 --> 00:38:59.260
Nine months.
00:38:59.500 --> 00:39:00.220
I stayed in Germany.
00:39:00.940 --> 00:39:03.019
Did you speak any German before you went?
00:39:03.260 --> 00:39:04.539
No, but just English.
00:39:05.500 --> 00:39:14.220
Okay, but yeah, and you probably obviously have very good English, but it's it was quite difficult because at that time they were going to speak in German.
00:39:14.380 --> 00:39:18.220
I used to learn German, but it's quite difficult.
00:39:18.300 --> 00:39:21.260
You know, I I need more than five years to learn German.
00:39:21.340 --> 00:39:25.260
I just try to learn German between six months, and it's quite difficult.
00:39:25.579 --> 00:39:26.059
Quite difficult.
00:39:26.460 --> 00:39:36.860
Yeah, yeah, it's quite difficult, so I say that's I just came here for knowledge, experience all these kinds of situations, get it all the information that I can, and then come back to Costa Rica.
00:39:37.099 --> 00:39:39.579
But the language for me is too difficult.
00:39:39.740 --> 00:39:46.140
You have to keep it every single day trying to learn German because it's hard language.
00:39:46.700 --> 00:39:48.300
Where where in Germany were you?
00:39:48.940 --> 00:39:50.860
I was in a place called Kassin.
00:39:51.740 --> 00:39:51.980
Okay.
00:39:53.099 --> 00:39:54.300
No idea where that is.
00:39:55.019 --> 00:39:59.579
I think it's near the I do remember it's near something called Hessen.
00:40:00.140 --> 00:40:00.380
Okay.
00:40:01.099 --> 00:40:02.059
Did you what did you like?
00:40:02.380 --> 00:40:03.420
I guess two parts.
00:40:03.579 --> 00:40:04.300
What did you like?
00:40:04.460 --> 00:40:07.420
Obviously, there was a challenge of the German language, I get that.
00:40:07.500 --> 00:40:10.140
But what did you like most about your time in Germany?
00:40:10.619 --> 00:40:17.019
Well, the weather, to be honest with you, because I have never been in the you know, too cold weather because in Costa Rica it's too warm.
00:40:17.099 --> 00:40:18.619
So I don't know You enjoyed that?
00:40:18.860 --> 00:40:20.780
Yes, you know, I have never seen the snow.
00:40:20.940 --> 00:40:25.579
So when I was John, I when I see the snow, I feel feel so happy to be honest with you.
00:40:25.900 --> 00:40:33.420
And also for me, the the meat there, because I think they have, you know, when they got this kind of exportation, the meat is very good.
00:40:33.579 --> 00:40:34.460
So do the food.
00:40:34.619 --> 00:40:36.140
Well, the food is not as as good.
00:40:36.220 --> 00:40:39.579
There was one dish that I like it very much until today.
00:40:39.740 --> 00:40:41.740
I always tried the dish.
00:40:41.900 --> 00:40:43.980
It's called Schnitzel, something like that.
00:40:44.300 --> 00:40:44.700
Schnitzel.
00:40:44.940 --> 00:40:45.660
Schnitzel, yeah.
00:40:45.980 --> 00:40:46.140
Yeah.
00:40:46.300 --> 00:40:50.380
I always, when I have the opportunity to go to Germany, I always try the dish.
00:40:50.539 --> 00:40:55.019
Yeah, I think it's one of the key points is the cold weather and also the food.
00:40:55.180 --> 00:40:56.059
And you know why?
00:40:56.220 --> 00:40:56.700
The people.
00:40:56.860 --> 00:41:04.860
Because the people when I have the opportunity to go there, for me, the people that I hang in around with the school were so disciplined.
00:41:05.019 --> 00:41:12.619
So that's why I like, you know, we're so disciplined, and I say, Well, I hope so one day Costa Rica have the same discipline as they have in Germany.
00:41:12.780 --> 00:41:14.300
It's it will not be possible.
00:41:14.619 --> 00:41:15.180
Good luck.
00:41:15.420 --> 00:41:27.900
Well, there's there's trade-offs, but I think, yeah, there's the stereotypical, you know, Germans and and Costa Ricans are probably on two different sides of the the timing and the scheduling and the maybe the discipline.
00:41:27.980 --> 00:41:40.619
But I but I say that in a plot in a very sweet way because the because uh for me, spending a lot of time in Latin America, I love just the the nature and the energy and the passion, and maybe they're not always on time.
00:41:40.860 --> 00:41:42.220
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:41:42.539 --> 00:41:58.220
Or maybe like when you're on, you know, in a shopping center walking behind a family that, you know, a family of ten people, and they manage to spread their themselves completely from one side of the uh hallway to the other side of the hallway, and they walk really slow.
00:41:58.460 --> 00:41:58.619
Yeah.
00:42:01.099 --> 00:42:01.660
Yeah.
00:42:01.980 --> 00:42:11.820
And I was I was in a mall here locally not too long ago, just like trying to figure out how do I get around these people without being, you know, that guy, because everybody's moving really slow.
00:42:11.900 --> 00:42:15.820
And this woman blew past me and was just like weaving in and out.
00:42:15.900 --> 00:42:20.860
And and then I saw her a few minutes later, she stopped for just a moment and I said, You're not from here, are you?
00:42:22.619 --> 00:42:31.260
And she was a she was from Northern Europe or something, the Netherlands, and it was so easy to spot her just because of the way she's moving, not because of the hair or anything like that.
00:42:31.420 --> 00:42:33.019
But anyway, it's but I like that.
00:42:33.099 --> 00:42:34.539
That's you know, that's that's fun.
00:42:34.619 --> 00:42:37.579
So yeah, I think it's part of but part of part of the culture, yeah.
00:42:37.900 --> 00:42:49.579
Was there was there anything not we're not other than the language, was there anything that really surprised you that was difficult for you to kind of adapt to or that you didn't enjoy or didn't didn't get your head around?
00:42:49.980 --> 00:42:55.900
You know, I'm going to be completely honest with you, I will happy, you know, because I have the opportunity to go study abroad.
00:42:56.059 --> 00:42:58.460
I always see the things in a positive way.
00:42:58.619 --> 00:43:03.019
You know, we have to learn sort of if if if I have to learn something, I will do it.
00:43:03.099 --> 00:43:07.980
You have if I something that I have complicated for me, I will try it to do myself.
00:43:08.220 --> 00:43:20.619
So that's that's idea of getting better and the positivism and the coming back to Costa Rica with all the knowledge always give me like you know, this kind of visualization of seeing the things going well.
00:43:20.780 --> 00:43:25.420
So that's part of the key point I have learned from my parents from all of the years.
00:43:26.220 --> 00:43:28.700
For me, it's never a bad day.
00:43:29.420 --> 00:43:32.220
We have good days and very good days.
00:43:32.700 --> 00:43:34.539
That's what the way I see life.
00:43:34.619 --> 00:43:39.180
You know, when I see like a challenge, I say, well, this is a new opportunity to grow up.
00:43:39.500 --> 00:43:45.099
So that's the key point that's I have you know, I felt privilege because of my father's.
00:43:45.180 --> 00:43:54.860
I have this kind of mentality, and also for having the opportunity to go to Germany, understand the culture, and also go to Spain to understand the culture.
00:43:55.099 --> 00:43:57.900
Nowadays, our biggest partners are German.
00:43:58.380 --> 00:44:07.099
So the main reason that I understand the way German partners work with us is because I have the opportunity to live there nine months.
00:44:07.340 --> 00:44:14.059
So I understand when they need something, when they request something, and sometimes they request something very strongly.
00:44:14.300 --> 00:44:18.300
I do not feel like angry or something like that because I already know how they are.
00:44:18.619 --> 00:44:19.099
So yeah.
00:44:19.420 --> 00:44:23.180
But they're not gonna, they're not gonna send, you know, hey, how are you today?
00:44:23.420 --> 00:44:26.860
But but but hope everything's going well, and you know, they're they'll jump in.
00:44:27.180 --> 00:44:33.820
But you know, Jason, we have in you know we have this culture with this urbanist partner that also they also type in Spanish.
00:44:33.980 --> 00:44:35.980
They say, hola, como estás?
00:44:36.380 --> 00:44:47.420
So for me when I looking back year back, years back, and I say, well, I have the opportunity to to live in Germany, in Germany, to understand how they're living, their way of life.
00:44:47.579 --> 00:44:55.740
And then you know, 10 years later, I'm here sending emails with them, and most of most of the partners who are more strongly with us are German.
00:44:55.820 --> 00:45:01.900
I say, Well, all this effort through the years was were worth well worth it.
00:45:01.980 --> 00:45:03.980
Because I say, Well, all the investment.
00:45:04.460 --> 00:45:13.500
All the efforts, not just me, also my fathers who put in that moment, I can be reflected right now with all the business we have with the German market.
00:45:13.660 --> 00:45:17.820
You know, I to be honest with you, I have nowadays I receive emails from our German partners.
00:45:18.059 --> 00:45:20.220
How was your weekend in Ciudad Colomb here?
00:45:20.300 --> 00:45:22.220
Or how was your weekend in Costa Rica?
00:45:22.380 --> 00:45:25.340
On some people tell me, Oh, I'm having a barbecue with my team.
00:45:25.500 --> 00:45:29.980
So this kind of connection, we don't have it like maybe seven years back.
00:45:30.380 --> 00:45:31.980
So we have been working on that.
00:45:32.059 --> 00:45:36.059
This is not just maybe people see, oh, it's too quickly.
00:45:36.140 --> 00:45:47.660
No, we have been working on that almost seven years to change the mentality of also the German people because years back, as you mentioned before, the emails were hi, how are you?
00:45:47.820 --> 00:45:48.860
This is what I need.
00:45:49.019 --> 00:45:49.740
Like this.
00:45:49.900 --> 00:45:51.420
No emotions, no nothing.
00:45:51.579 --> 00:45:52.940
Just straight to the point.
00:45:53.099 --> 00:45:57.099
Nowadays, we have a kind of you know friendship conversations.
00:45:57.260 --> 00:46:00.300
Also, we sometimes, to be honest with you, sometimes we have meetings.
00:46:00.460 --> 00:46:08.780
We have supposed to spoke with something about hotels or rates or situations we have to improve, and then we start speaking about life.
00:46:09.099 --> 00:46:11.340
People who travel to all around the world.
00:46:11.420 --> 00:46:13.099
So I have a meeting today in the morning.
00:46:13.260 --> 00:46:21.180
We have supposed to discuss about hotels, and we start speaking about the world, about Messi, about German.
00:46:21.579 --> 00:46:23.579
Then we start we start talking about Nepal.
00:46:24.140 --> 00:46:26.539
So this is one of the kind of partnerships we want.
00:46:26.619 --> 00:46:31.099
It's not just, you know, straight to the point, because at the end of the day, we're human connections.
00:46:31.340 --> 00:46:45.980
Maybe the lady who wants to have the meeting with me about this topic related to hotels, maybe he wants not to just focus on hotels because maybe he wants to be tired, and then he wants to hear something different than just work.
00:46:46.220 --> 00:46:53.980
So we at the end we have one-hour meeting, and then we have to just speak about 20 minutes about the topic.
00:46:54.059 --> 00:46:59.660
We have to talk about it because we spec about football and the pod, and how are you, how was your working?
00:46:59.740 --> 00:47:24.300
And I think at the end of the day, I'm happy and I have feel privileged because we have the opportunity to go outside Costa Rica, get all the knowledge, and nowadays, see 10 years later, the retribution of the all the effort that I put and all the you know mentality also with my fathers being a reality here and right now, you know, it's I feel more than happy.
00:47:24.380 --> 00:47:30.780
I I don't have words to describe the opportunity that we have here in Imbalanza travel.
00:47:31.500 --> 00:47:40.380
I wanna, you obviously have a very positive outlook on things, what we call you know, high bias for positivity as opposed to negativity.
00:47:40.539 --> 00:47:42.059
And you're also human.
00:47:42.220 --> 00:47:44.059
So I'm gonna I'm gonna ask you.
00:47:44.220 --> 00:47:48.460
I'm not gonna say what part about your life sucks, because I know you're gonna say it's all great.
00:47:48.619 --> 00:47:58.220
But when you I'm just curious, when you have a bad day or when you have one of those moments that you kind of need to reset, what kind of stuff do you like to do to get yourself out of a funk?
00:47:58.539 --> 00:48:02.300
You know, I go well, I always do workouts, you know, to relieve stress.
00:48:02.539 --> 00:48:04.140
But you know what I like the most?
00:48:04.300 --> 00:48:05.579
Going to the sauna.
00:48:05.900 --> 00:48:14.380
I do 50 minutes of sauna, and then I sweat it out, all the stress is gone, and then I have video ideas.
00:48:14.619 --> 00:48:30.940
So, you know, that's one of the, you know, for me as a human being, one of the most important parts of the day is going, you know, have to spend my 40 times 45 minutes doing workout, and then my 15 minutes in the sauna are the best for me.
00:48:31.099 --> 00:48:36.619
So when I have a stressful day, or you know, these days when you say, wow, it's so challenging.
00:48:36.780 --> 00:48:42.539
I need to work on this and make that and make that decision, I need to get that report to the partnership.
00:48:42.619 --> 00:48:47.740
I just say, Well, I'm going to stop right now, and the other day I will go to the sauna.
00:48:47.900 --> 00:48:52.539
And these 15 minutes are for me are amazing because you relieve all the stress.
00:48:52.700 --> 00:48:57.740
You know, I have read about saunas and for healthy are very good.
00:48:57.980 --> 00:49:01.820
So I haven't implemented that like almost six years, you know.
00:49:01.980 --> 00:49:05.900
I always go three or two days in the week to the sauna.
00:49:06.619 --> 00:49:07.340
Okay, very cool.
00:49:07.500 --> 00:49:14.460
I want to touch on because obviously Bonanza Travel, you offer uh you probably have a lot of different things that people can do.
00:49:14.619 --> 00:49:16.700
Let's be specific to Costa Rica.
00:49:16.860 --> 00:49:36.619
We're not going to go into all the things, but if hypothetically speaking, okay, if one of your guides was just like could not show up and you had to go replace them for the day, and I'm not talking about your expertise, but what type of tour would you most want to guide for a day?
00:49:36.940 --> 00:49:37.660
What do you enjoy?
00:49:37.740 --> 00:49:39.980
Like, what do you enjoy sharing with people most?
00:49:40.300 --> 00:49:46.700
Well, what I most enjoy when I have with people is to meet them at the airport, to be honest.
00:49:46.940 --> 00:50:03.579
You know, because yes, that that's what I like the most because you know, when I go, when I go, like, an example, uh, one touring Arena, one touring Montever, they are really know what they are going to do because we send them the explanation, the key points, the recommendations.
00:50:03.740 --> 00:50:10.940
But for me, what I love love the most is going to the airport and see the first impression of the people.
00:50:11.019 --> 00:50:22.700
You know, they feel Costa Rica, and when you are with the name and with the logo of the company they're coming from, this genuinely smiling for me is the best moment.
00:50:23.180 --> 00:50:29.019
Because you know, in this first connection we have, you can share, as I always mentioned, the energy.
00:50:29.260 --> 00:50:33.579
When you feel maybe they will feel tired, they don't just want to go to rest.
00:50:33.740 --> 00:50:50.059
And then when I am here smiling with a gift for the for the child or for just for them as a couple, you know, seeing the smile in their face, seeing me for me is I have no words to describe because this is what we are always looking for.
00:50:50.300 --> 00:50:58.300
So my perfect moment, far far behind from go to do a tour in Monteverde or in Arenal or do a hiking or something like that.
00:50:58.539 --> 00:51:02.780
What I love the most is receiving the people in the airport.
00:51:03.180 --> 00:51:04.059
That's interesting.
00:51:04.220 --> 00:51:05.980
That's an interesting, and I get it.
00:51:06.140 --> 00:51:06.700
I get it.
00:51:06.860 --> 00:51:14.220
Was there is there ever a moment in your life that you can look back on and say maybe this is why I like meeting people at the airport?
00:51:14.380 --> 00:51:15.260
Yeah, you hmm.
00:51:15.500 --> 00:51:23.500
Just let me do it because I think you know, when I come into Germany, because when I go to Germany, I was alone, just me.
00:51:23.820 --> 00:51:28.700
And so I I was as always positive, always seeing things in in that good way.
00:51:28.860 --> 00:51:35.260
But you know, when I go into Germany, I do remember the people was like so directly not very well welcomed, just straight to the point.
00:51:35.420 --> 00:51:47.099
So I always say, well, if I were in the other side, I will be feel the people who come to us welcome, you know, feel like we take care of them.
00:51:47.260 --> 00:51:49.420
Not not just like, oh hi, how are you?
00:51:49.500 --> 00:51:54.460
But maybe they feel like we are genuinely interested and they feel good.
00:51:54.860 --> 00:52:06.140
So that's one of one of the key points that I always say, well, sometimes when I grew up, I'm working with a family company or whatever I do in my life, I will implement that.
00:52:06.380 --> 00:52:19.660
So when I decided to go in full into recent industry, I say, I will implement that in my company because you know you came from a different whole country, different cultures.
00:52:19.820 --> 00:52:21.180
Maybe you don't speak Spanish.
00:52:21.340 --> 00:52:23.740
Here in Costa Rica, we speak so quickly.
00:52:24.059 --> 00:52:28.059
So maybe we can speak in Spanish and the people who don't understand anything.
00:52:28.220 --> 00:52:41.340
So I always say, when I have this kind of experiences in Germany, I just came away and the people started speaking with me in Germany or English, and I say there is no like connection, it's like so cold.
00:52:41.579 --> 00:52:46.460
People is like, oh well, you're on your own, you can be yourself and just going to the point.
00:52:46.619 --> 00:52:52.780
And I say, Well, if I am tourism industry, I want to, I I want to improve that in Costa Rica.
00:52:52.940 --> 00:52:58.300
So I came back with an idea and implemented here in Costa Rica with Bonanza Travel.
00:52:58.619 --> 00:53:04.140
I had a feeling there was a story behind that response that you like to meet people at the airport.
00:53:04.300 --> 00:53:04.700
Yeah, yeah.
00:53:04.860 --> 00:53:10.619
And and I get it completely because I've traveled to enough places, I've showed up in enough places, and I'm super excited to be there.
00:53:10.780 --> 00:53:11.019
Yeah.
00:53:11.260 --> 00:53:17.660
And then and then you get in a car with somebody that clearly is not as excited to be there as I am.
00:53:18.220 --> 00:53:23.500
And of course, for me it's usually an Uber or a taxi, but it's but it's yeah, it's just kind of a downer.
00:53:23.820 --> 00:53:25.980
You're like, you know, I'm so excited to be here.
00:53:26.059 --> 00:53:31.740
And then the first person you meet after customs, they're usually not that happy to be there either.
00:53:31.980 --> 00:53:39.099
And and then they're just like grumpy and you know, yeah, and I know that I can't expect an Uber driver to get in the car and hey, welcome!
00:53:39.260 --> 00:53:40.700
So happy to have you here.
00:53:41.340 --> 00:53:51.500
You you you know, I I totally understand, but you know, if you are in the tourism industry, you have to understand your market, you have to understand you know the business you are in.
00:53:51.660 --> 00:53:56.460
So, an example, I know, as as you mentioned me before, maybe you are you asked for an Uber.
00:53:56.700 --> 00:53:59.180
However, the Uber have your information.
00:53:59.420 --> 00:54:01.500
So they already know that you are a tourist.
00:54:01.660 --> 00:54:04.700
And maybe going more thinking outside the box.
00:54:04.860 --> 00:54:09.579
Maybe the Uber can think, well, if I create a great saber size, maybe they can give me a tip.
00:54:09.660 --> 00:54:10.700
I don't know, an example.
00:54:10.940 --> 00:54:23.980
So I think the people who work in tourism industry need to understand that we always have to be, well, it's not always possible, but we always have to be smiling, being having that charitma.
00:54:24.059 --> 00:54:32.860
Of course, there are some kind of days maybe you are not good enough or you don't feel good, you have kind of situation with your family, or I don't know, with your partner or with your kids.
00:54:33.099 --> 00:54:47.579
However, we have to be this kind of professional that maybe if you are up your 20% of energy that day, please make sure you are giving your 100% in your 20% people have to understand that it's not just only in tourism.
00:54:47.660 --> 00:54:50.780
I think it's all around the areas, it could be the same way.
00:54:50.940 --> 00:54:51.180
Yeah.
00:54:51.340 --> 00:54:52.140
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:54:52.380 --> 00:55:01.900
But it's but it's also like the people that obviously the people you're going to hire to work with your clients, it's like, yes, this is this is important, this is what we expect.
00:55:02.059 --> 00:55:03.900
We're gonna can remind you of that.
00:55:04.059 --> 00:55:07.579
But I also get like, you know, the taxi driver and the Uber driver.
00:55:07.660 --> 00:55:09.019
I mean, I've had amazing Uber.
00:55:09.340 --> 00:55:14.780
I've had Uber drivers that will just open up, tell me they're all it's like we're doing a podcast interview.
00:55:15.019 --> 00:55:23.099
I had a I had an Uber driver in Arizona that was from, I think, Iraq, if I remember, and I had the most fascinating conversation.
00:55:23.260 --> 00:55:27.980
I was like, I wish I had my microphone going, you know, because it was so fascinating.
00:55:28.220 --> 00:55:28.539
Okay.
00:55:28.860 --> 00:55:32.780
And then you think this guy should be working for a tour operator, not driving Uber.
00:55:33.099 --> 00:55:41.099
Well, you you know, you know, he here in Costa Rica, we we have I have seen these kind of situations, you know, the entire people so friendly say, Oh, I love tourism, I love to travel.
00:55:41.260 --> 00:55:43.740
And I say, Well, why do you not work in travel industry?
00:55:43.900 --> 00:55:57.340
So that I think you know, it's it's not about industry, it's about the people being, you know, because I think we as a as a city, as a people, we have always our you know our potentials.
00:55:57.500 --> 00:55:58.380
Can we can improve it?
00:55:58.460 --> 00:56:01.820
And also we have some places where we can have, you know, we need to improve.
00:56:01.980 --> 00:56:05.660
But I think it's maybe some people are in the groom profession.
00:56:06.059 --> 00:56:06.700
Yeah.
00:56:07.260 --> 00:56:07.500
Yeah.
00:56:07.820 --> 00:56:21.420
Let's let's touch on real quick, because I want to get to I just want our listeners, and I'm curious, like, okay, you travel, you're abroad, you're like, if I ever have a tourism company, I'm gonna make sure that the people are met at the airport with a smiling face.
00:56:21.660 --> 00:56:21.980
Yeah.
00:56:22.220 --> 00:56:22.940
All this stuff.
00:56:23.099 --> 00:56:24.940
You come back to Costa Rica.
00:56:25.340 --> 00:56:31.500
When did you just give us the quick history of bonanza travel, just to just like when did you start it?
00:56:31.579 --> 00:56:32.539
Was your dad involved?
00:56:32.619 --> 00:56:34.619
You know, just the kind of the key points.
00:56:35.019 --> 00:56:39.500
Well, it's been in 2020, when 2010?
00:56:40.140 --> 00:56:40.619
Yeah.
00:56:40.860 --> 00:56:47.019
And I think, as I mentioned before, because my father was working at he was young in another travel company.
00:56:47.340 --> 00:56:52.860
And we always, my father always focusing, you know, in the team we have, take care of the team.
00:56:53.019 --> 00:56:59.980
So when he was young, he was he has the experience that in the company he has, the people has not exemplated experience.
00:57:00.220 --> 00:57:06.539
So we evolved the branding because we have another part of component company, and then we evolved to Gonanza Travel.
00:57:06.619 --> 00:57:14.059
And you know, we have my father have 30 years in the market, and we have a company half of 16 years in the market.
00:57:14.460 --> 00:57:22.539
And the key point is I always mentioned my father looking always for being respect.
00:57:22.780 --> 00:57:31.180
You know, here internally in the company, my father always said if one people do not respect the other one, it cannot be part of their team.
00:57:31.420 --> 00:57:53.740
So our mind focus in our company, as I always mentioned before, first of all, respect, generally connection, and also part of the bonanza is you know, as a family-owned company, we're always looking for happiness, and being, as I mentioned before, as you hear my story, always looking for the good.
00:57:54.380 --> 00:58:07.740
That's the key, that's the whole point of bonanza travel and having those family coming to Costa Rica and having those wow moments, you know, the like they feel the genuine connection that we are interested in them.
00:58:07.980 --> 00:58:14.860
That's that's the whole idea of Bonanza Travel because we are we have studied in too many other competitors here in Costa Rica.
00:58:15.019 --> 00:58:18.539
You know, they are just like more, they want just money, money, money.
00:58:18.700 --> 00:58:22.700
That's okay, because if there is no earnings, there will be no business.
00:58:23.420 --> 00:58:28.780
But at the end, this industry is more than money, it's more, you know.
00:58:29.340 --> 00:58:37.180
For me, this industry has always mentioned savings, ideas, dreams.
00:58:37.660 --> 00:58:42.780
In for me, the idea of all our employees are from the area.
00:58:43.099 --> 00:58:45.500
So we are where our key point always.
00:58:45.579 --> 00:58:47.980
I have learned one key thing of my father.
00:58:48.140 --> 00:58:52.619
I always mentioned me to me, is Josué, we have to make employees.
00:58:53.180 --> 00:58:55.980
So this is why we found Guananza here in Ciudad Colón.
00:58:56.059 --> 00:59:00.539
We don't have people, we don't high hire people from our example from Alahuela.
00:59:01.019 --> 00:59:04.220
All our team is located here in Ciudad Colón.
00:59:04.300 --> 00:59:08.539
We have people who come into the offices walking here five minutes.
00:59:08.700 --> 00:59:11.340
So that's one of the key points that are led from my father.
00:59:11.500 --> 00:59:12.700
Impact the community.
00:59:13.180 --> 00:59:20.780
So all the workers here, we are 17 people, 18, 18, and then all the 18 are here from the community.
00:59:21.820 --> 00:59:23.660
Did you say 18 or 80?
00:59:24.140 --> 00:59:25.740
80, no, 18.
00:59:26.380 --> 00:59:27.019
18, okay.
00:59:27.180 --> 00:59:27.579
Wow, okay.
00:59:27.660 --> 00:59:28.460
That's quite a team.
00:59:28.940 --> 00:59:29.820
18, 18.
00:59:30.380 --> 00:59:30.700
18.
00:59:30.860 --> 00:59:37.980
What is just real quick, if you translate the word bonanza, because it's it's a Latin word, I assume I've always thought of it as that.
00:59:38.140 --> 00:59:40.300
What is the translation for the word bonanza?
00:59:40.619 --> 00:59:43.019
Well, bonanza is abundance.
00:59:43.500 --> 00:59:45.340
This is abundance.
00:59:45.740 --> 01:00:00.940
Yes, because you know, the key point is first of all, family and company, the integrity, the union, and then abundance is as a family one to abundance, not just all family, or also we have family members who work with us and also impact the community.
01:00:01.099 --> 01:00:06.940
Most of the people who work with us, their grandfathers, their mothers know to know each other.
01:00:07.099 --> 01:00:10.700
So as a as a head of the day, we are a fit, a big family, you know?
01:00:10.940 --> 01:00:12.380
Good, good choice for the name.
01:00:12.539 --> 01:00:13.099
That's very cool.
01:00:13.500 --> 01:00:22.380
Well, Swimming, I know we've covered quite a few things, and I know there's some things we just are not going to be able to cover because this is your life, and trying to pack it into an hour is a little bit of a challenge.
01:00:22.539 --> 01:00:32.380
But I'm curious before we go, what do you wish I would have asked you, or what do you feel like I forgot to ask you that that you want to make sure our listeners hear uh before we wrap up?
01:00:32.700 --> 01:00:36.700
You know, Jason, I was thinking maybe one day we can make another podcast just to talk about.
01:00:37.180 --> 01:00:38.380
I know, we probably should.
01:00:38.539 --> 01:00:39.980
Yeah, I think I would like that.
01:00:40.140 --> 01:00:50.220
Other big key point is, you know, to keep in mind for those people who are looking for DMCs, you know, three points that the specialists in travelers must know.
01:00:50.380 --> 01:01:05.180
You know, I'll always explain to my team as a traveler specialist, you will have to listen in carefully the traveler, no get to know the country very well, and set expectations.
01:01:05.579 --> 01:01:11.019
Those are the three key points that the specialist in one country must have.
01:01:11.579 --> 01:01:12.539
Just to keep in mind.
01:01:12.700 --> 01:01:16.940
For me, that's one of the key questions I would like you to ask me.
01:01:17.180 --> 01:01:23.260
But these three key factors are the ones who the specialists of a destination must have.
01:01:23.660 --> 01:01:32.460
So for the people who are listening to us, always have to keep in mind that if your specialists do not have these tricky points, you have to rethink it.
01:01:32.780 --> 01:01:51.980
Because you know, you you have to for the travelers who are listening to us, they have to be, you know, that they are really interested in just not just selling a country, you know, they have to really connect with you to understand what you want, because at the end the traveler is going to pay.
01:01:52.300 --> 01:01:53.980
So that's the key point.
01:01:54.619 --> 01:02:11.740
And I and I suspect that somebody at some point is going to be listening to this conversation because they're maybe they have applied for a job with you or they would like to join your team and they're doing research about you to try and get some inside tips on how to approach the interview.
01:02:11.820 --> 01:02:15.660
And I think you just gave them some really good, like, hey, the this is what's important to us.
01:02:15.740 --> 01:02:17.900
So if you if you don't have it, you need to go get it.
01:02:18.220 --> 01:02:19.500
Yeah, exactly.
01:02:19.740 --> 01:02:25.099
And if you do have it, we're gonna appreciate you and take good care of you and you'll exactly.
01:02:25.340 --> 01:02:26.460
I I I love that.
01:02:26.619 --> 01:02:28.140
So well, thank you so much.
01:02:28.300 --> 01:02:30.300
This has been a fascinating conversation.
01:02:30.460 --> 01:02:31.180
I agree with you.
01:02:31.260 --> 01:02:39.019
I think we get to come back and have some more conversations either here on this platform or find some other way to collaborate on some projects together.
01:02:39.180 --> 01:02:48.619
I just I love your energy and I think that when I'm having a down day, I'm gonna give you a call so you can remind me that life is great because I love your energy.
01:02:48.860 --> 01:02:49.019
Yeah.
01:02:49.340 --> 01:02:50.700
That's way thank you so much.
01:02:50.940 --> 01:02:51.500
Thank you, Mr.
01:02:51.660 --> 01:02:57.180
Jason, for uh for all the time for the well, this opportunity to have you know explain all my my history and my point of view.
01:02:57.260 --> 01:03:00.059
And I think it's more like a you know, podcast, it's more like a friendship.
01:03:00.140 --> 01:03:02.220
So I hope so maybe for many, many years to come.
01:03:02.380 --> 01:03:03.500
It's been a pleasure.
01:03:03.900 --> 01:03:08.539
That's why I do this, to connect with people like you, so to expand my social network.
01:03:08.700 --> 01:03:14.539
It's kind of a selfish thing, and I just thought, well, we I'll just I'm gonna reform record these friend conversations I'm having.
01:03:14.619 --> 01:03:16.619
So hopefully someone else will enjoy them as well.
01:03:16.860 --> 01:03:20.619
So also thank you so much and good luck to you and everything, and and I'll see you soon.
01:03:20.860 --> 01:03:21.099
Thank you.
01:03:21.180 --> 01:03:21.900
It's been a pleasure, Mr.
01:03:21.980 --> 01:03:22.380
Jason.
01:03:22.539 --> 01:03:23.019
Thanks to you.
01:03:23.180 --> 01:03:23.500
Bye bye.
01:03:23.740 --> 01:03:24.140
Bye bye.
01:03:24.300 --> 01:03:25.180
Thank you.