In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 5: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Alexis Bowen.Alexis Bowen is a respected expert in the travel and tourism industry and co-founder of Elsewhere, a travel marketplace connecting travelers with local experts worldwide. She has been featured by top publications such as the New York Times, Vogue, and USA Today, and was chosen as the face of Canva’s ‘Start-up Success Story’ in their prime-time international television campaign. Drawing on her experience working with major industry players, and as a response to the state of the industry, Alexis co-launched Elsewhere in 2021 to shake up the all-too-traditional tourism space with a digital approach, values-driven mission, and direct-to-local model. The company was acquired by Lonely Planet in 2022. When not focused on growing her company, Alexis can be found exploring. She has hitchhiked and couch-surfed her way around the world and is happiest in her simplest state – with only a backpack and a limited schedule. A California native, Alexis spent the last ten years living in Paris before recently relocating back to her home city of San Francisco to begin a new adventure - raising her little girl.Christine and Alexis discuss:· Shared passion for getting economic impact direct to local economies and communities· How to avoid economic leakage in tourism· How local experts add incredible value to travelers’ experiences· Roller coaster of the entrepreneurial journey· Being acquired by Lonely Planet· Alexis’s solo travel journey to London with a case of wine as her only luggageJoin Christine now for this soulful conversation with Alexis Bowen.?​​​​​​​​To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website. LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on PayPal.  Click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts!?​​​​​​​​Discover your next adventure with Elsewhere by Lonely Planet.Connect with Alexis on LinkedIn. ?​​​​​​​​Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here!Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman.Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast.Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Alexis Bowen (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo.Support the show