Women’s Expeditions: How a trip to Saudi Arabia changed how I look a feminism with Intrepid Travel’s Zina Bencheikh

Welcome back women travelers, solo travelers, travel hobbyists and travel influencers! This episode is sponsored by Intrepid Travel. Find your Only Intrepid moment!

In this episode, I speak with Zina Bencheikh! Zina is a trailblazing executive from Intrepid Travel. Together, we delve into the transformative power of travel in empowering women and fostering cultural understanding. From Intrepid's innovative Women's Expeditions and the launch of Wanderful's Woman-Owned Map spotlighting women-owned businesses, to Zina's pioneering initiatives in Morocco and her evolving perspective on Saudi Arabia, this episode is packed with stories of inspiration and change.

With women making 85% of travel decisions, the potential for societal impact is immense. So, sit back and explore how travel can be a catalyst for challenging biases, supporting local communities, and amplifying women's voices across the globe. Join us in discussing how each travel decision can contribute to a more equitable world. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and follow us for more inspiring stories of changemakers in the travel industry.

Here are three key takeaways for you:

1. Empowering Women in Travel: With women making 85% of travel decisions, reinvesting in women-owned businesses can drive substantial social and economic impact. Initiatives like Intrepid's Women's Expeditions and Wanderful's Woman-Owned Map are pivotal steps in this direction.

2. Breaking Stereotypes: Travel allows us to challenge biases and explore cultures beyond perceptions. Zina's experiences in Saudi Arabia highlighted the changing dynamics for women, inspiring a fresh perspective on tourism in the region.

3. Community and Growth: Travel nurtures empathy and connection while empowering local communities. Zina's leadership in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region underscores the role of travel in fostering opportunities and uplifting communities.

Honorable Mentions

Wander Woman - Travel Book

Wanderful Community

B & H Photo Digital

85 Percent: A Wanderful Podcast

Follow Intrepid Travel in these spaces:

Website: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/us

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intrepidtravel/

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This podcast is hosted by Beth Santos, founder and CEO of Wanderful and author of Wander Woman: How to Reclaim Your Space, Find Your Voice, and Travel the World, Solo. Beth has been recognized in Business Insider as one of 17 changemakers transforming the hospitality industry, and in Conde Nast Traveller as one of 12 inspiring people to follow. She's also the godmother to the Azamara Onward cruise ship, a cafe owner and a mom of three.

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If you would love to connect with Beth, join her in these following spaces:

Website

LinkedIn

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Have you been moved by what you heard in this week's episode of "85 Percent"? I invite you to leave an honest review of how this episode impacted you. Also, share this podcast with your travel buddy!

The 85 Percent Podcast intro, outro and transition music is named Nothing Just Happens by lemonmusicstudio and was found on Pixabay. Additional music and sound effects for this episode came from Soundstripe and/or Epidemic Sounds or is cited in the show notes. Crackers In Soup is the writer, audio editor and producer for this episode.