About Explore Marketing
Travel Trade Sales & Marketing Expertise Since 2016
Explore Marketing LLC is a tourism sales and marketing consultancy specializing in connecting attractions, sightseeing companies, museums, and destination marketing organizations (DMOs) with the global travel trade.
Founded and led by Stefan Merkl, Explore Marketing has been running sales missions since 2016 — meeting with receptive operators, student group travel planners, OTAs, tour operators, and member benefit companies across the USA, as well as international buyers in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, France, the UK, Belgium, India, China, Korea, and Taiwan, among others.
Today, Explore Marketing works with tourism businesses across the United States and internationally, supporting both inbound and outbound travel trade sales and global distribution strategies.
Our Focus
A key focus of Stefan’s work is helping tourism suppliers build practical distribution strategies, including partnerships with OTAs, tour operators, and travel trade buyers, often creating one of the fastest paths to revenue growth.
We help tourism suppliers:
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Build and strengthen relationships with key travel trade buyers.
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Increase product visibility and inclusion in tour operator programs, OTA listings, and seasonal promotions.
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Develop practical sales and marketing plans tailored to the travel trade.
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Participate in high-quality, targeted sales missions.
Our Approach
Stefan’s approach is relationship-driven and focused on practical outcomes, combining strategic thinking with hands-on execution and direct connections within the global travel trade.
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Strategic: Every project is designed to align with your goals, target markets, and budget.
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Experienced: Over two decades of tourism industry experience, including deep travel trade expertise.
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Connected: Long-standing relationships with leading OTAs, tour operators, and receptives.
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Hands-on: Small client portfolio to ensure personalized attention.
Who We Work With
We work with American and international destinations, attractions, tour operators, and DMCs looking to attract high-value travelers from the United States and expand into other global source markets. Our clients include well established destinations and attractions, but also startups that are establishing their businesses and need support in launching their sales efforts to grow FIT and group bookings through the travel trade.
Explore Marketing works with clients on both an ongoing and project basis, allowing organizations of all sizes to access industry expertise in a flexible and practical way.
About the Founder - Stefan Merkl
As the founder of Explore Marketing, I combine over two decades of experience in the travel industry with a personal passion for discovery and cultural exchange. Having traveled extensively and worked with a variety of tourism organizations, I’ve gained a deep understanding of the unique needs and challenges faced by DMOs, attractions, and sightseeing companies.
For me, travel isn’t just a career — it’s a way of life. I thrive on building meaningful connections and helping organizations showcase their stories to the world. By blending professional expertise with a love for cultural diversity, I aim to help my clients expand their reach, grow partnerships, and achieve their goals in the global travel trade.
Throughout my 20-year career in the attractions and tourism industries, I’ve held a variety of positions that have enabled me to build an extensive network of industry partners and a 360-degree view of the travel trade — from the perspectives of suppliers, media, buyers, and destination marketers. I hold a Master of Business with concentrations in Marketing and Finance from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.
In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, traveling, and hiking in Sonoma County and Northern California, where I live.