Travel is returning, and we have changed. We are ready for travel to evolve and this is part of my mission.

On the positive side, we have become more conscious of how we impact others and the interconnectedness of all things.

On the flip side, There are numerous studies showing us that we have become lonelier, perhaps feeling addicted and reliant on our devices now, more than ever.

The travel industry cannot stay the same if we are going to give people what they want…REST…RELAXATION…A BEAUTIFUL VIEW…CARE…

AND also what they need… CONNECTION (not just to wifi!)... HEALTH… IMPACT…

Eco-awareness is upon us…

The rise of conscious travelers continues to strengthen.

Many are starting to plan travel differently and they are discovering that what they’ve been searching for is now a possibility-they are choosing planet-first options and sustainable choices.

Meet Him/Her/He/She/They/Them: The Conscious Traveler

This new age traveler is quite busy with the pressures of life. Their daily tasks mount up and often overflow into the next day.

This voyager loves to travel (of course!) yet struggles to find the time.

They would love to travel to a new country or even experience a natural wonder in their own country.

The evolved traveler cares about the people around them, they want their vacation experience to bring benefits to local communities too. They treat humanity well, tip their baristas and look homeless people in the eye.

They desire to make a positive impact on the world-to bring it to a place where sustainability is practiced seriously and actively, and where the natural environment is protected.

Today’s conscious traveler wants to feel healthier and better before, during, and after their journeys.

So, you might, ask, where does this new age traveler go?

In my opinion, the traveler’s destination is less important than their intention. If their intention is to make a positive impact on the environment and the people they visit they could go literally anywhere to achieve this.

The challenge is to find the time to organize all the details that truly travel in a way that is:

Mindful, Conscious, and Connected.

Enter the travel professionals who are creating and uncovering unique solutions.

There is a growing number of travel planners, hotels, retreat centres, and individual service providers who understand the new age traveler.

These organizations have curated the experience in their local towns and cities so that they can match the desire for connection and impact.

I am joining them. Or perhaps they will be joining me.

We are re-thinking the travel industry. This does not mean we are throwing out what we have learned and loved so far.

We are simply evolving when it comes to travel planning, organization, and improving the results.

So, what does evolved travel look like?

I would love to share some of my best solutions.

A dreamy solution to transportation, (specifically air travel), and a real (as in already happening!) solution to accommodations.

Solutions for Transportation via Air Travel

The flight of the future is spacious and environmentally friendly.

Travelers no longer want to feel like sardines in a can.

Flying first class or in private jets is being glamourized right now, only because of a feeling people believe occurs when someone gets this opportunity.

I believe that the aviation industry can change - the car industry is currently doing it. Perhaps all we need to do is be more creative.

For one, we definitely need technological innovations to reduce an airplanes carbon footprint. Current environmental organizations have no real solutions to mitigating the carbon footprint of a traveler other than not to fly.

What if… Big players like Richard Branson, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos put all their weight behind developing a carbon-neutral airplane rather than traveling to space…

Don’t get me wrong, space travel is very interesting and it allows us to innovate tomorrow’s travel. Yet, we seem to have missed an obvious stepping stone in air travel innovations.

For instance, I see airports and airlines innovating by simply humanizing what has increasingly become a dehumanized process. I can recall MANY travel stories of being stressed to my limits, running through an airport, hoping I make it to my gate on time.

With the our current technology we have this problem seems fixable!

What if… Once you stepped through the airport doors, you were greeted by a real human who asked you where you were going, and from then on, you felt safe, secure, and taken care of by the airport.

Airport Greeter:

“Hello, I see that you are checked in already but you need to check-in your bags. Here is your route through the airport via our GPS app. Once you have deposited your bags you will be sent to the quickest security check, but no worries, your airline has been alerted that you are in the airport and can now communicate with them through the app to alert you of any changes in the flight. There is a built-in encrypted location tracking system which allows the airline to know if you are too far away to make it to the gate in time for your scheduled flight. If it appears you will miss your flight they can alert the airport to go pick you up in a vehicle and usher you quickly to the gate.”

In a future article I will share the recurring dream I have for on-flight experiences which are also more harmonious and evolved too. But I digress.

Solutions for Travel Accommodations

Has the future of accommodations already arrived?

Oh baby, I am so excited by the idea that the future is already here when it comes to accommodations. Thanks you to innovative apps like AirBnB and VRBO, we have found a solution for sustainability and connection through travel.

I have already written a few articles now on why all-inclusive vacations in large hotel-resorts are not idealistic. One reason being: all inclusives lack connection and consciousness.

However, many travelers desire to be taken care of in the way that the all-inclusive vacation promises.

How does access to vacations in private homes solve sustainability issues?

For one, a vacation home that would previously sit empty for a large part of the year is now being occupied-this alone is not necessarily more sustainable but the opportunity to make it sustainable is there.

Also, the homeowner can create ripple effects from the products selected in the homes to the local service providers who will gain employment from the visitors.

For example: using a biodegradable soap with a focus on zero waste packaging, which protects the water systems and stops feeding junk into landfills or oceans, AND this soap company is made more accessible to the local community through an increase in demand.

WIN-WIN for the traveler and the community.

Of course, these ripple effects can be seen in larger hotels as well, but the rise in entrepreneurship in smaller- scale businesses is where the difference is most noticeable.

Entrepreneurship is a gateway to more sustainable business practices. In fact, local businesses can be flexible to the shifting needs of the community. They can also source local supplies more easily, which has both environmental and social impacts.

Vacation home rental platforms have fuelled the mushrooming of entrepreneurship in the travel industry.

Imagine this actually exists at Ralia Retreats

You arrive at your destination and are picked up by a local driver, Joaquin, who welcomes you and shares his country with you during the ride to your home. He knows the route very well and uses the least amount of gas getting there.

Once you arrive, you are greeted by your host, Dania, a local gem of a human - who shares how amazing the local food is and shows you how you can eat it by providing you an in-house comfort meal on your first day.

Then, you are given several options to create meaningful connections with the local artisans, restaurateurs, adventure and fitness lovers, and so on. For example, yoga with Marian, skincare education with Aya, sailing with Justin, and pottery with Miguel.

You are also given opportunities to just be in the new space, perhaps cooking your own food in your own kitchen, or exploring the ocean and culture.

You get an all-inclusive hybrid experience: all the services to make your time potent, but also restful while still getting ample opportunity to explore on your own so that you can experience both types of travel at once. This dance, and this exact scenario, is what I believe to be the future of luxury travel.

Of course, these are just some of my own solutions to improve the travel industry and create ripples of positive impact. I still see the need for many minds to come together to provide travel solutions which make a positive impact.

If you have solutions, please share them!