February 19, 2019

Experiencing Travel Differently at LA Adventure Show

Experiencing Travel Differently at LA Adventure Show

“I hate to attend busy conventions where everyone is trying to sell…sell…sell.”

This past weekend, I attended the travel adventure show to reconnect with professionals in the industry. And learn what was new, and inspire like-minded friends who attended the show with me (on travel brands that are designing purpose driven travel). They loved G-Adventures (Planeterra, Family Style, and National Geographic).

I only lasted about two hours, before I was ready to leave. I met a couple of inspired founders whose travel brands aligned with, “See the World for Good (purpose driven travel funding service).” When, I went home, though, I felt sick to my stomach, downright depressed, disillusioned, and disinterested in continuing to fund meaningful travel.

The truth is…I just don’t care for about 90% of the travel (at the show)…I am not interested in selling vacations…but I love to inspire and fund meaningful travel.

My adverse reaction to the show….triggered me to look at my own travel site…I had to change the content, and purpose. I am grateful that attending the adventure show knocked me down hard. Because the following day, after a night of rewriting the content (and coming up with an awesome inspiring travel service for women…Celebrate Your Freedom Trip)….I went back to the Adventure Show to reconnect with the brands I really loved….and I met a few undiscovered travel companies, I did not see on Saturday.

My Seven Favorite Travel Companies

From the LA Travel Adventure Show 2019

1. Adventure Canada (experience the Arctic with nature and science specialists, on smaller boats)
2. Dancing Zebra Safari Co (Best aesthetically designed booth, founder is a mom, former divorce lawyer)
3. down under guru (Former lawyer turned travel founder, downright nice, patient, and informative)
4. French Canal Boat Company (Most romantic and VIP experience to Burgundy and The Loire)
5. G Adventures (Gabriela and Kayla spent time explaining their amazing group experiences to my friends).
6. UnCruise (Great story about how UnCruise name came about…inspired by a woman).
7. Wild Frontiers (for those who love to experience authenticity, in faraway lands, like Uzbekistan).

Sometimes bad experiences, are good for you; it’s how you process and respond that gets you thru it all.