Ask the folk lucky enough to work with him and they say he’s an inspiration. Find out who inspires Bruce Poon Tip and what he would like to see improve in the travel industry.

How long have you been in the travel industry?
G Adventures is 21-years-old now.

What drew you to work in the industry?
It was a classic entrepreneurial story. I had my Eureka moment when I noticed a gap in the market between mainstream travel and the backpacker. Couple that with my belief in following your passion... from a very young age I always knew I was going to start a business in music or travel. Those are the two things I loved and I knew those were two industries that were old, traditional and lacked innovation - a lot of people doing the same things over and over again.

What do you like most about your job?
I love that I get to change people’s lives everyday. By creating happiness and community we can positively change the lives of anyone who touches our brand.

Who do you admire and see as a role model in the travel industry?
I don't know if I have many role models in the travel industry. I would say Max Ward but many people would not know who he was. He ran a national airline in Canada called Ward Air at one point. I do admire Richard Branson for his work in commercializing space travel and his commitment/investment to sustainable energy solutions.

What do you want to see improve in the industry?
A lot! I would like to see a reinvestment in the brick and mortar travel agency. I would also like to see better education for agents to help understand what sustainable tourism means and how it is going to drive the future of tourism. To better understand what sustainability means and how their decisions are paramount to the future of the traditional travel agent. I would also like to see more regulation in the air side of the industry in terms of the regulation of discount airlines and how they impact consumer buying patterns.

What destinations are on your travel bucket list?
I would have to say Russia, and more specifically the Tran Siberian. I've never had the amount of time needed to visit the region so it has remained on my list. Also somewhere closer to home that I have never been to is New Orleans!

What are three things you must always take with you when you travel?
The three things I need when traveling are: my iPhone, camera and wine gums!

If you were on a cancelled flight and the only option to get from A to B was by land, what mode of transport would you use and name three people you’d take with you?
I am guessing the three people would have to be alive, which make this eminently more difficult! I would take the train (wi-fi ready) and I’d invite Nelson Mandela, The Dalai Lama and Jack Welch. Three of the greatest leaders of our time. If I could choose alive or dead, it would be different. I would choose Steve Jobs, Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.

For more information please contact Timothy Chan at G Adventures: 1-416-260-0999 x 1353; .