Meet Hanoi Travel Massive Chapter Leader, Allister

It’s time to introduce you to our Hanoi Travel Massive chapter leader Allister Esguerra, so that you can start up a conversation about hosting a few more travel events in Hanoi.

Allister currently runs a news website called The Paradise Today, the media news channel of Paradise Vietnam. This website focuses on tourism and lifestyle updates in Vietnam. Allister is also interested in building some more exposure for the Hanoi chapter and telling Travel Massive members a little bit more about what you can expect to see coming up next.

How did you first get involved with Travel Massive?

I first got involved with Travel Massive in 2014, the year when I started my Discover Halong brand, the tourism website for Ha Long Bay. I was invited by a good friend of mine to attend a networking night organized by the Saigon Chapter Leaders, as he was one of the main speakers for the event. The theme of the evening was how to preserve the historical and cultural treasures of Ho Chi Minh City.

What motivates you to be part of Travel Massive?

What motivates me to be part of Travel Massive is the endless opportunity to create an impact in the travel community and the tourism industry. Any sort of networking, especially of this kind, can never be a bad thing. You never know who you might bump into at the next event.

What kinds of current or emerging startups, travel companies, and tourism initiatives exist?

There are a lot of emerging startups in Vietnam at the moment, mostly in Ho Chi Minh, but Hanoi is definitely catching up as well. There are a lot of talented tech founders based here in Hanoi. As for networking events, a lot of the people you’ll meet at an event will work in the hospitality and tourism industry like the hotel managers, boutique resort owners, and travel agents. You’ll also have the chance to meet foreign ambassadors and people working in the embassies interested in connecting with the local businesses. Lastly, you might occasionally bump into people working in the non-profit sector like USAID, UNESCO, UNDP, and other such organizations.

Do you do anything unique at your meet-ups?

As our chapter is quite new, we haven’t really started any meet-ups for the industry. My co-founders and I are still in the process of putting it together and planning everything out. Once we’ve finalized our plans, we want to ensure our Travel Massive events are beneficial for everyone. We’re thinking of setting up small talks or group discussions about the travel industry and how it can be improved in the following years to come.

How has Travel Massive helped you professionally?

Professionally, Travel Massive has helped me a lot with my organizational skills and soft skills. I don’t believe I could have gained such access anywhere else in the travel industry. I have been able to connect myself and the organization I’m working for to key people in the tourism industry, which has helped us build a much stronger network.

What is your best advice to a newcomer who wants to attend a Travel Massive event for the first time?

For the first timers going any Travel Massive event, make sure you bring a ton of business cards and never forget to wear a big smile on your face!

Leader of the pack is a monthly series that profiles organizers from Travel Massive meet-ups around the world. You can follow Allister on Travel Massive, Facebook, and Twitter.