Beyond the Script: Telling Untold Stories on Tour

Designing tours to tell the untold, authentic stories: from Badass Women’s History to the Gayborhood with Rebecca Fisher, Founder of Beyond the Bell

by | 3 June 2024

As travelers are looking for more authenticity, some operators are catching on, and exploring how to tell the stories of their destinations that go beyond the standard script. 

In Philadelphia, Rebecca Fisher, Founder of Beyond the Bell tours, has found a formula for success on her historical walking tours, which include the “Badass Women’s History Tour” and “Gayborhood Tour.” The company name references Philadelphia’s famous Liberty Bell, likely the focus of much of the city’s standard historical tour commentary. 

“I was really inspired by the stories that don’t get told in Philadelphia — stories about women, people of color, queer folks, Indigenous people — that kind of get left to the wayside; it’s a lot of Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia,” Fisher said.

“Particularly our Gayborhood tour has really gained a lot of momentum, and I’m really excited to see people, every different kind of person showing up for these tours,” Fisher shared. “We’re seeing curious travelers, we’re seeing people want to go a little bit deeper. They’ve heard the Benjamin Franklin, Willian Penn, George Washington story, they want to know more.”

Watch the full conversation here:

Rebecca Fisher, Founder of Beyond the Bell, discusses the inspiration and impact of telling the untold stories on her Philadelphia walking tours with Arival Editor Janelle Visser at Arival 360 | Orlando 2023

Insider Pro Access members can also watch Fisher’s theater presentation from Arival 360 | Orlando 2023, on demand here. 

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What’s Next for Tour Design & LGBTQ+ Travel

Join us at an upcoming Arival event to learn more about tour design, storytelling, and hear directly from operators like Rebecca Fisher who are going beyond the status quo tours and stories of their destinations. We hope to see you there!

Also, Rebecca Fisher will be a guest in our upcoming Insider Pro Meetup on The Opportunity of Openness: Attracting the LGBTQ+ Traveler. Insider Pro Access members are invited to join us for that online session by registering here. Can’t make it? Look for the on-demand recording after the session.

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Header photo: Beyond the Bell

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Tags: storytelling, Featured, tour design, Arival 360 | Orlando 2023, LGBTQ Travel, telling untold stories, LGBTQ tours, gayborhood, Philadelphia, Rebecca Fisher, Beyond The Bell, LGBTQ stories
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WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ARIVAL | ACTIVATE EDINBURGH AND ARIVAL 360 | VALENCIA AND WHICH SHOULD I ATTEND?

Since 2019, Arival has hosted one major event in Europe each year. For 2024-2025, we’re thrilled to offer two exciting events: Arival 360 | Valencia and Arival | Activate Edinburgh. Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide which event to attend—or why you might want to come to both:

Arival 360 | Valencia (28-30 April 2025)
  • Scope: Flagship European Event with a global reach; up to 30% of attendees from outside Europe, including the U.S., Middle East, LATAM, and APAC.
  • Audience: Experience creators, tech and distribution companies, and industry professionals from around the world.
  • Arival Theater Content: Global topics including: over-tourism and sustainability, technology, distribution, European consumer and operator trends.
  • Breakout Sessions: In-depth workshops on operational best practices, product expansion, AI, channel management, marketing tech, a Spain-specific track and an Innovation Showcase highlighting the most tech-savvy companies in our industry.
  • Networking: Connect with leading OTAs and distribution companies, and build valuable partnerships.
  • Location: Valencia, a stunning coastal city offering rich cultural experiences.
  • Attendees: Approximately 800, providing extensive networking opportunities.
Arival | Activate Edinburgh (23-25 November 2024)
  • Scope: Regional focus on the UK, Ireland, and the Nordic regions.
  • Audience: Operators and industry professionals from the region.
  • Content: Gain insights on regional topics like technology, distribution strategies, and hear from top regional tourism leaders.
  • Breakout Sessions: Experience hands-on learning at Edinburgh’s top attractions and tours, with sessions on visitor experience, digital journeys and innovative tour development. In-depth sessions for companies at the beginning of their digital journey and more advanced sessions for people and companies looking to elevate their experience.
  • Networking: With a more intimate setting. you’ll have more time to build deeper connections and create more meaningful interactions with your current and future partners including distributors, tech companies, DMOs and more.
  • Location: Edinburgh, known for its stunning architecture and historic charm
  • Attendees: Approximately 400, fostering an intimate peer-to-peer learning and networking environment.
Key Differences:
  • Global vs. Regional Focus: Valencia is a global event with an international audience, while Edinburgh is a regional event focused on the UK, Ireland, and Nordic regions.
  • Event Size: Valencia hosts about 800 attendees, providing broad networking opportunities, whereas Edinburgh’s 400 attendees create a more intimate, focused environment.
  • Content and Sessions: Valencia features global themes and advanced topics, whereas Edinburgh provides region-specific insights and hands-on experiential learning.
  • Location Experience: Valencia providing a coastal escape and Edinburgh offering historic and iconic attractions.
  • Who Will Be There: The most valuable part of Arival Events is the connections you make and the partnerships you build to grow your business. At Arival | Activate Edinburgh, you’ll engage with key industry players in the UK, Ireland, and Nordic regions. If your business focus is on these areas, Edinburgh is where you need to be. For those targeting broader European or global markets, Arival 360 | Valencia offers the ideal platform to network with international leaders and innovators. 
Why attend both?

With limited opportunities for business development, learning, and networking in our industry, attending both events is a strategic move. By participating in both Edinburgh and Valencia, you maximize your exposure to diverse markets and influential contacts. 

However, if budget constraints or a specific regional focus dictate your decisions, choose the event that best aligns with your primary business goals. Join us in Edinburgh for regional insights or Valencia for global perspectives—or better yet, attend both to fully leverage the potential of Arival’s expansive network.

For service providers such as a restech or ticketing platform, distribution company, or other services including marketing, AI tools, etc., attending both gives you access to attendees from both markets to connect with your current customers and to meet new ones!

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