Business Travel Insights

As a founder travel is often a necessity, not a luxury. Whether it’s meeting investors, expanding into new markets or sourcing the best suppliers, being on the go is part of building a global brand. But here’s the challenge—how do you stay effective when your schedule, environment, and even time zones keep changing? Over the years, I’ve learned that working while traveling isn’t just about staying productive—it’s about staying strategic! Here’s how to make sure travel accelerates your success rather than disrupting it: 1️⃣ Prioritize High-Value Work Over Busyness When you’re traveling, your time is even more limited so you have to focus on what truly moves the needle. Instead of getting caught up in endless emails or daily operations, use travel as a chance to step back and work on the business. 2️⃣ Make Travel a Networking & Expansion Opportunity Every trip is a chance to grow your network. Instead of just attending scheduled events, I always reach out to local entrepreneurs, potential partners and industry leaders in the region I’m visiting. Some of my biggest business opportunities have come from spontaneous chats in a new city! 3️⃣ Protect Your Energy & Mental Clarity The most valuable asset is clarity. Constant travel can drain your decision-making capacity if you’re not careful. I’ve learned to be ruthless about protecting my energy whether that means scheduling in downtime, staying in locations that support my focus or ensuring my travel aligns with my personal rhythm. Success isn’t just about doing more, it’s about doing the right things, in the right state of mind. The ability to run a company while traveling isn’t just about productivity, it’s about using travel to sharpen your vision, make better connections and move your business forward. If you’re a founder who travels often, how do you make sure it works for you rather than against you? Would love to hear your thoughts! 💫 #Entrepreneurship

✈️ Packing Rules for Multi-Stop Executive Travel In the past few weeks, my itinerary looked like this: Lagos → UAE → Singapore → Japan → Abu Dhabi → London → Oxford → Los Angeles → New York. That’s investor meetings, panels, dinners, and flights; often within the same 48 hours. For executives who live on planes, packing isn’t about fashion. It’s about strategy, discipline, and conserving mental bandwidth. Here’s the system that works for me: 1. Black clothes only Black is the ultimate travel hack. It hides wrinkles, works across cultures, and transitions seamlessly from day to evening. When you’re in five cities in a week, you don’t want to think about matching. 2. Comfortable travel wear Flights are long, lounges are unpredictable, and connections are tight. Comfort doesn’t mean sloppy: it means clothes you can wear for 12 hours straight and still walk into a meeting looking polished. 3. Machine-washable fabrics At some point, your laundry will get lost. (Usually right before an important meeting.) Machine-washable fabrics mean you can hand them to any service, anywhere, without stress. 4. One hotel brand, everywhere Loyalty points are nice, but consistency is better. When your laundry disappears in Tokyo or you need an invoice reissued in New York, a familiar system makes it simpler. Less admin, fewer surprises. 5. Choose hotels with gyms Jet lag, back-to-back meetings, and late dinners take a toll. A reliable gym is not about vanity; it’s about keeping your energy and focus sharp through a long roadshow. 6. Dresses only, no two-pieces For me, dresses eliminate decision fatigue. No wasted time pairing items, just a polished, ready-to-go outfit every morning. 7. Stick to one airline alliance It’s not just about points. Familiar lounges, priority rebooking, and predictability make all the difference when the inevitable delays happen. 8. One big suitcase + one small The big one anchors me (often left in London/one America city that I will be flying back through), while the small one lets me hop around Europe/US with only essentials. It creates a sense of “home base”. 9. Flight socks Underestimated but essential. Long-haul flights mean circulation risks, swelling, and fatigue. A good pair of compression socks keeps you healthy enough to walk off the plane and head straight into meetings. 🔑 The bigger lesson: Packing is about reducing decisions and friction, so your mental energy is saved for the real work — negotiating deals, leading panels, and engaging with investors. When your calendar looks like a game of Tetris, you don’t want your suitcase to feel the same.

Mass Tourism is dead. Hilton 2026 trend report says what's next for the industry. For decades, the tourism industry was built on volume. Crowded resorts. All-inclusive packages. Selfie sticks and bucket lists made on Instagram. But that era is fading fast. The next wave of travel isn’t about where people go, it’s about why. According to Hilton’s new 2026 Trends Report, travellers around the world are making a radical shift: from mass tourism to meaningful tourism seeking connection, calm, and authenticity instead of crowds and checklists. Here are the key trends reshaping the future of travel: 1. “Hushpitality”: Seeking Silence and Stillness In an overstimulated world, travellers crave peace. Hilton found that almost half of travellers now add extra days to disconnect before or after family trips and many are choosing destinations where they can simply breathe. Wellness, mental clarity, and calm have become new luxury. 2. Home Comforts Are the New Carry-On The modern traveller wants familiarity. From favourite streaming shows to pet-friendly rooms, people are bringing their routines with them. Even abroad, 77% of travellers enjoy browsing grocery stores, proof that comfort and local discovery can coexist beautifully. This is also why long-stay travel and remote-work destinations are booming: people want a “home away from home” they can trust. 3. Generation Remix - Families Are Redefining Travel Family vacations aren’t what they used to be. Children help plan itineraries. Grandparents take grandkids on “skip-gen” trips. Families are seeking shared play, not screens. Travel is becoming a tool for bonding and shared growth across generations. 4. Inheritourism: Travel With Legacy and Meaning People no longer travel to escape their lives, they travel to understand them. More than half of families now plan trips to connect with their roots and local traditions. “Cultural immersion” isn’t a buzzword anymore — it’s a priority. 5. Purposeful Journeys: The Rise of the “Whycation” The biggest transformation is philosophical Travellers are asking why they travel. To rest. To reconnect. To grow. This emotional motivation — rather than location — is now the foundation of modern tourism. And This Is Why We’re Transforming Roatán At the Roatán Tourism Bureau, we see these shifts as a once-in-a-generation opportunity. We’re helping local businesses evolve from mass tourism to meaningful tourism, from quick visits on cruiseships to long-term value. That means: - Supporting hotels and hosts to create spaces that feel like home. - Training local operators to attract digital nomads and wellness travellers. - Promoting authentic cultural experiences that connect visitors with the island’s people and traditions. - Partnering with communities to ensure growth benefits everyone. Travel is changing — fast. And Roatán is getting ready to lead this new chapter: quieter, deeper, and more intentional.

In the past 3 years, I’ve clocked 200+ flights and over 100,000 kilometers by road- all part of the hustle to grow our entertainment empire. At first, this on-the-go lifestyle nearly broke my routine. My work and health suffered, and I missed key family events while rushing to endless meetings. After months of struggle, I realized I needed to stop treating travel as an exception and start seeing it as my new normal. Here are the simple habits that now keep me grounded across cities, flights, and constant movement: → Protected deep-work hours: Whether it's from a hotel lobby or the backseat of a car, I carve out 3-4 uninterrupted hours of deep work to focus, because scaling parks and launching a global brand in India needs clarity, not constant motion. → Familiar habits in unfamiliar places: No matter the city, I anchor my day with small rituals, a go-to playlist, morning coffee, or a fixed hour to check performance numbers. These constants help me stay sharp even in shifting environments. → My approach to meals: I don't try to eat perfectly while traveling. I choose simple, energy-giving foods that help me stay sharp during long days of meetings. → My recovery strategy: After days of back-to-back travel, I take a full day to rest to prepare for what's next. → My digital boundaries: I've learned when to put my phone away between cities, making room to think clearly about new ideas for our parks. By following this approach in the last 3 years, our entertainment business has expanded to new cities. And personally, I now finish important work while traveling that once took me days at my desk. Most importantly, the constant change of scenery has sparked many of our best park concepts and marketing strategies over the years. The travel I once fought against has become my office, my school, and my edge in business. How often do you travel for your work? #Worklifebalance #Productivity #Entrepreneurship

🌍 I recently heard this common frustration expressed by a C-Suite client: "I have such an amazing job – I am responsible for so many exciting countries – but I never get to enjoy them because I’m working all the time when I travel." 🛫 Does this sound familiar to you, too? Whether #traveling internationally or domestically, if you find yourself stuck in the routine of "airport à hotel à office à hotel à airport," it might be time to explore the idea of a "workcation." 🔍 How do you find a way to balance #work and play while on business trips? Having traveled to and worked in over 100 countries, here are my six favorite suggestions I’ve used over the years: 1. Plan Ahead: Spend a little time researching your destination before you arrive. What interesting sites, attractions, or dining experiences are close to your hotel or meeting location? Knowing that allows you to have some fun during your limited free time.   2. Extend Your Stay: Consider arriving a day or two before or after work commitments, giving you time to focus solely on #exploring and enjoying the location without the pressure of work.   3. Opt for Early Arrivals or Late Departures: Schedule your flights to allow for early arrival or late departure. This simple, little adjustment can give you a few extra hours to take in a sight or enjoy a fun, local meal.   4. Prioritize Must-See Attractions: Make a short list of "must-see" spots based on your interests. Even if you can only fit one or two into your schedule, it’s more than you would see otherwise.   5. Make Lunch Breaks Interesting: Ask a local colleague to lunch at their favorite nearby restaurant or take a brisk walk in a local park. These breaks can be great for a taste of local flavor and culture.   6. Attend Local Events: Look up any local events or shows happening while you’re in town. An evening at a local concert or festival can be a great way to unwind. 🤔 What are your ideas for how to incorporate some “play time” while on work trips? I’d love to hear your thoughts and tips below! #BusinessTravel #Workcation #TravelTips #ProfessionalGrowth #SelfLeadership

I traveled 18x for work in 2023. I'll travel 25+x for work in 2024. Here are my 6 top tips to stay sane, safe + productive while on the road ⬇️ 1. Buy the wifi but don't count on it - I try to reserve admin work, deep work, or writing for planes because let's be real... it's anything but reliable (am I right Brian LaManna???) 2. Get a loyalty program with an airline - I use United Airlines. All my points are there. Even when I use Navan for booking work travel I can attribute it to my MileagePlus account. Pick one, and stick to it. (**United did me real dirty, lost a bunch of my gear + refuses to reimburse me so maybe pick another airline-their customer service has been disappointing at best.) 3. Lounge access is worth it- see point 2. I used miles to buy an annual lounge pass and I have to say it was the BEST decision. If your work will pay for lounger access **hint- managers, this is an INCREDIBLE SPIF for your sales team** then more power to you, but it was worth paying for out of pocket for me to have a comfortable space with high-speed internet to chill before takeoff. 4. Find the cheapest 4-star hotel- sometimes 4-star hotels are cheaper than popular 3-star hotels. This has to do with a million factors but often comes down to superior amenities and customer service. Early check-in, a fitness center + room service are REALLY nice to have when you are on the road for work. *Having loyalty w/ a brand of hotels is also a good hack. 5. Do NOT share your hotel or room number with anyone- I was at a conference once and a drunk guy was insistent upon knowing where me and my teammate were staying. "Sorry, I don't tell people where I am staying when I am on the road." He got VERY upset about that. Tried to ask my teammate, she just said "I follow her lead." We walked out, he followed us. We needed up calling an Uber that met us at the corner and I literally just asked the driver to circle the block a few times since we weren't more than 100 yards from our stay. We got back safely. All was well. NEVER tell strangers where you're staying. 6. Invest in good/functional luggage- I use Away for my checked bags and a Cotopaxi Alpa backpack. I also have a lululemon belt bag. I take these EVERYWHERE. They don't break. They hold all my stuff. Whatever brand you go for, just pick something that is functional and will last you. Work travel had beat my luggage to h*ll but it all still works. I'd rather spend an extra $100 now than have to buy new luggage every 6-12 months. #fieldmarketing #worktravel *Bonus tip- any time you can book an extra night on your dime- do it. Worth it to explore. Samantha McKenna gave me advice to buy a journal and document my work travel adventures back in 2022 and I have done so every trip ever since. It's been awesome. Book the extra day, and document your adventures. You'll be grateful to have it all to look back on. ♻️ Repost if you have someone in your network who travels a lot. I want to know their hacks!

✈️𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟑-𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 Geopolitical shifts, civil unrest, and sudden global events are making business and leisure travel more unpredictable than ever. You can't eliminate risk, but you can build resilience. My advice for navigating uncertainty isn't about avoiding travel—it’s about being an informed, prepared traveler who can pivot when the unexpected hits. 1️⃣ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐨-𝐁𝐚𝐠 (𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐆𝐨) 🛡️ You have a physical Go-Bag, but what about your digital one? 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: Store digital copies of your passport, visa, insurance policy (especially the emergency medical evacuation number), and key contacts in a secure, offline folder (like Google Drive or a password manager). 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬: If there is an option, utilize a tool like ISOS or Global Rescue to ensure that you receive vital security alerts and are easily located in an emergency. 𝐕𝐏𝐍: Use a reliable VPN, especially when connecting to public Wi-Fi, to keep your business communications secure from potential monitoring. 2️⃣ 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 (𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐩) 🧭 Your best tool is not technology—it’s your instincts. 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬: Don't just rely on global news. Follow local, trusted media (in-language, translated if necessary) and sign up for official travel alerts. 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬: In a high-risk area, avoid protests, political gatherings, and large crowds, no matter how peaceful they seem. If you find yourself near one, calmly and deliberately walk away in the opposite direction. During a recent trip to Istanbul, a group of men approached me when I was walking back to my hotel on a desolate street. After asking an initial harmless question, they started to get a bit pushy asking for local currency. I had to diplomatically get out of the situation and hastily walk back to my hotel before things escalated. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 "𝐄𝐱𝐢𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧": At your hotel, a meeting venue, or a restaurant, take 30 seconds to identify two distinct exit routes. Knowing your way out keeps you calm under pressure. 3️⃣ 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭 & 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐇𝐢𝐭𝐬) ♟️ 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐦, 𝐆𝐨 𝐋𝐨𝐰-𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞: Panic clouds judgment. Breathe, assess, and move with purpose. Wear neutral, conservative clothing and avoid displaying expensive jewelry or electronics that draw attention. 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦-𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤: Keep your phone fully charged and have a physical power bank. A dead battery is a communication failure when you need to contact your travel security provider or family. In today's travel environment, 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥. Do you have any tips from your travels? Please share! #BusinessTravel #TravelSafety #RiskManagement #GlobalMobility #TravelTips

By the end of this week, I’ll have been on six flights. So, I thought I’d share a few of my go-to strategies for making work travel a bit smoother (or at least how I try to do it). As a keynote speaker, travel is a big part of my job. Now that in-person events are back in full swing, so are my days on planes. (Side note: if you’re after a keynote speaker for your next event, DM me, and let’s chat!). So, here are my top tips for staying sane and productive while on the move: Prioritise good sleep. Hotel rooms never quite live up to the comfort of home, but I do everything I can to avoid a terrible night’s sleep. My non-negotiables? A pillow (yes, I travel light just to fit in my trusty compressed foam pillow that has its own travel bag), a sleep mask, and earplugs – because you never know when a noisy neighbour will strike. Duplicate your toiletries bag. Let’s be real, packing toiletries (especially as a woman) is a bit of a pain. There are cleansers, moisturisers, serums, makeup, and hair products – and it’s a lot of mental effort for a small bag. So, I’ve hacked it by creating a duplicate toiletries kit. Everything’s decanted into labelled travel containers, and for the items that don’t pour well, I’ve bought duplicates. It’s a bit of an upfront cost, but the time and mental load it saves me every time I pack? Absolutely worth it. Turn travel time into learning time. I bet you’ve got a backlog of podcasts, online courses, and bookmarked articles, just waiting for attention. Travel time is perfect for ticking those off. Think of all the “dead time” spent in Ubers, security lines, and departure lounges – turn that into learning time, and suddenly, travel feels a whole lot more productive (and dare I say, fun). Bring a parka for posture. As someone who’s 5’4, airplane seats are not my friends. The seat design puts me in a permanently hunched position, and my back pays the price. A tip from the amazing woman I see for remedial massage changed the game. She said: pack lower back support. I use a scrunched-up Uniqlo parka, and now, every flight is a bit less painful for my spine. Don’t forget snacks. There’s one emotion I cannot stand: hanger. And it strikes often when I’m travelling, especially with unpredictable meal times. My solution? Always overpack snacks. Right now, I’m obsessed with tuna pouches – they’re lightweight, healthy, FODMAP-friendly, and surprisingly not too smelly for tuna. Mask up. Here’s my unpopular opinion: I think masking up when travelling is the only way to travel. Yes, it’s annoying. But so is getting sick. Wearing a mask at the airport and on planes has, I’m convinced, saved me from days (or weeks) of illness. And honestly, that’s a trade I’m more than happy to make. Pack a portable charger. This one’s a no-brainer. Running out of battery when you need your device the most is a special kind of travel anxiety. So, there you have it – my top tips for travelling like a pro. I’d love to hear yours!

I’ve visited 40+ countries, and one shift feels impossible to miss: Travel is no longer being planned around places. It’s being planned around outcomes. Not “Where should I go?” But “What do I want to feel, do, learn, or experience?” That is a much bigger shift than it looks. Because when travel becomes experience-led, the destination stops being the product. It becomes the setting. You can see it in the data: 63% of travelers are willing to pay more for room upgrades or special extras, 42% say AI helps save time planning, 37% use it for personalized recommendations, and 36% use it to find new destinations. At the same time, word of mouth remains the most influential travel research source at 36%, while user-generated video follows at 26%. That tells us something important: Travel discovery is becoming more personalized, but trust is still deeply human. People are using AI, reels, creator content, Reddit, and recommendations together, not separately. Amadeus calls this “Travel Mixology”, a multi-source planning behavior that blends machine speed with human authenticity. And on the experience side, the shift is just as clear. American Express found that 79% of Millennials and Gen Z are likely to seek out local workshops or destination-specific activities, 76% of global respondents say skills gained on a trip stay with them longer than material souvenirs, and 83% of Millennial and Gen Z travelers prioritize unique, authentic experiences over popular tourist attractions. So the real trend is not just “personalized travel.” It is the redefinition of travel value. Earlier, value meant, more landmarks, better hotels, tighter itineraries. Now, value increasingly means, better stories, local immersion, memorable skills, and trips that feel personally designed. 📍That is why smaller destinations can win. 📍That is why curated itineraries are growing. 📍That is why social discovery matters more. 📍And that is why AI will shape planning, but probably won’t replace human taste. My view: The next phase of travel will belong to brands, creators, and platforms that understand one thing well: People are not buying a destination. They are buying a version of themselves in that destination. What kind of travel do you think is growing faster now, destination-led or experience-led? #TravelTrends #TravelIndustry #ConsumerBehavior #ExperienceEconomy #TrendAnalysis #BusinessInsights #TravelPlanning #AI #DigitalConsumer #TourismTrends #ResearchInsights

Business travel isn’t glamorous. It’s logistics under pressure. If you’re traveling for work, your goal isn't sightseeing—it's efficiency. After clocking countless miles last year, I built a specific playbook to survive the grind. 5 hacks to maintain sanity on the road: 🧳 The "One Bag" Rule Never check a bag. If it doesn't fit in a carry-on, you don't need it. The 45 minutes saved at baggage claim = pure gold. 🧾 Scan Receipts Instantly Don't let paper pile up. Snap a photo the second you pay. Your future self (and your finance team) will thank you. 📵 Offline Everything Plane Wi-Fi is a lie. Download all docs, maps, and presentations before you board. 👟 The "Airport Uniform" Eliminate decision fatigue. Wear slip-on shoes. No belt. Breeze through security while others fumble. 📲 Centralize Your Itinerary Stop searching through 15 emails for a confirmation code while the check-in agent stares at you. That last one is the specific friction point that drove me crazy. Hacks help, but a better system is the real solution. That’s why we’re building Travelogue. An AI tool to centralize planning, execution, and analysis, so you never have to dig for a confirmation code again. #BusinessTravel #Productivity #TravelTech