Jake Haupert

Bio

Next Generation Experience Strategy for Nature-Based, Culturally Rooted, and Intentional Boutique Hospitality

I work at the forefront of next-generation experience strategy in hospitality and tourism, bringing a thought leadership perspective grounded in a deep understanding of the transformation economy at the intersection of travel, hospitality, and experiences. As Founder and CEO of the Transformational Travel Council, I partner with brands, destinations, and properties to evolve their offerings, strengthen guest relationships, and unlock new sources of value in an increasingly experience-driven market.

My work sits at the intersection of strategy, experience design, and implementation, supporting clients in rethinking the full guest journey from concept through delivery. This includes immersive, nature-based experience development, deeper guest engagement, and equipping travelers to take a more active role in shaping their experience. I focus on projects deeply aligned with nature, cultural heritage, and intentional lifestyle boutique hotels.

A core strength of my work is the ability to quickly understand both the project and the people behind it. I bring strong human insight into complex environments, helping align leadership teams around a clear vision, shared values, and a practical path forward. I guide organizations through a structured process that begins with diagnostics and strategic clarity, and extends through experience design, team alignment, and implementation, ensuring that experience strategy is operationalized across teams and consistently delivered through the guest experience.

A flagship example of this work is my collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, where I am helping to develop a hospitality network across their lands in the United States. This initiative focuses on designing immersive, nature based experiences that deepen people’s relationship with nature, cultivate a stronger sense of stewardship, and translate that connection into increased donor engagement, membership growth, and philanthropic giving. The work is also designed to attract new audiences and expand the relevance of conservation through experience led engagement.

Through my private consulting practice, I lead the Experience Impact Diagnostic, a structured assessment that evaluates experience strategy, guest journey design, and organizational alignment. From there, I provide advisory, training, and implementation support to help organizations align purpose with offering, strengthen performance, and build systems that sustain impact over time. The focus is on delivering measurable outcomes across guest engagement, business performance, and long-term place-based value.

To date, I have trained and certified more than 400 travel and hospitality professionals through TTC’s Accredited Designer program, including next-generation experience designers from over 40 countries working across the global tourism sector. My work is further informed by applied case studies across destinations, where I collaborate with multi-stakeholder ecosystems including hospitality operators, DMOs, and local communities to develop experience strategies that are both market relevant and place-based.

My background as co-founder of a pioneering migratory glamping company grounds my work in hands-on experiential product development and nature-based hospitality. I integrate regenerative thinking and practice to create the conditions for purpose-driven travel, deeper connection, and measurable value creation for both guests and host communities.

I am an active member of The Explorers Club and regularly speak and advise on the future of hospitality, the transformation economy, experience design, and regenerative tourism.

I work with a select group of partners each year. If you are looking to elevate your experience strategy, develop immersive offerings, or strengthen guest engagement and performance, I welcome the conversation.