Inspiring Travel Now and In the Future
By every measure, 2020 has brought us all uncertain and the unknown. From industries, events, and travel shutdowns to hundreds of millions unemployed globally.
According to The Future of Travel by Janie Osborne in the New York Times, passenger traffic is down over 95% compared to last year. The staggering economic impact involves over 100 million travel industry jobs impacted, as well as over a 300 billion dollar decrease in revenue globally in the travel industry alone.
What travel will look like in the coming months and years is transforming and evolving daily. According to travel industry experts in a virtual global travel summit, I attended She's Wanderful, there is a definite consensus on local travel and road trips.
As a global traveler to over 25 countries and a retreat host, I am imagining with you the next time I cross off bucket list items. I am reminding myself of the countless places I have been and all I have to be grateful for.
I close my eyes and transport myself back to scuba diving in Egypt. snorkeling in Cuba in the Bay of Pigs, and ziplining in Costa Rica with an ocean view.
You love to travel and inspire others by sharing the world through your eyes. Perhaps, you are a global traveler, content creator, and entrepreneur already? You may have heard of or be part of travel communities like She's Wanderful, We Travel, SideWalker Daily and We Are Travel Girls.
I and we may not be globetrotting just yet, but I am and we are inspiring travel now and in the future.
Inspiring travel includes virtual travels, travel content, influencer marketing, online courses and summits, and future travel.
Shot on my Canon EOS M100 with timer - Art Bold setting.
Insights into Travel Industry Innovation
As a multi-passionate creator, educator, and traveler, I am constantly creating and transforming. I have found both my own transformation, as well as community is required to create a life and business you love.
If you didn't know, I am conceived in Bulgaria, born in Poland, lived in a refugee camp in Italy for six months, and in four countries and the USA by the time I was two years old. I am also fluent in Polish, Bulgarian and Spanish. I have traveled to 27+ countries and have a deep love of travel largely due to my mom.
Like many of us, I am and we are impacted in 2020 including speaking and workshops on-site, live workshops, and global retreats canceled. I didn't spend much time at all wallowing in what was impacted thank God. Years ago, I might have.
I immediately began to consider all the ways I and we could pivot. I implemented an IG Live series to align to our online mastermind, increased participation in social media and influencer marketing communities, and connected with communities for online live events like She's Wanderful and Rise Conferences.
I set an intention and prayed before each of these events for alignment, clarity, and direction on aligning virtual, online, and live events for now and in the future. Specifically, on how and what to #createit connect, and cultivate next.
Right away, within the beginning of the Women in Travel Summit, I knew I was aligned for integrating virtual, online, and future travel. The same happened with the Rise X Live Online Conference for shifting to online workshops and an online summit for creators to #createit.
Step by Step Innovation
A clear strategy, structure, and systems began to be divinely downloaded in my mind. I started by sharing my reflections of each event on the blog and podcast. I outlined creating the websites to share service, as well as connecting and cultivating with communities including Facebook Groups, content creation and influencer marketing, and travel bureaus and brands.
Would you love to transform and travel virtually with the community you love around the world? You may start now with connecting and creating online with creators, and communities sharing on social via lives, videos, and collaborations.
This may expand to content creation strategy and execution including guides, virtual tours, and online courses and events. Travel bloggers, content creators and travel bureaus and brands may expand further to future travel like our 7 in 7 in 7 with 7 Retreats in 7 Continents in 7 Months.
I am and we are aiming for 21-22 and currently gathering data.
On May 27, 2020, I attended an incredible virtual meeting day with creators & brands. I connected with @alexaolavarria, @monicagoesshow and @trustedtravelgirl among content creators involved in She's Wanderful.
My next blog post on Virtual Travels: Content Creators and Collaborations with Women in Travel will dive deeper into my experience with the Virtual Meeting Day with She's Wanderful. We all connected online via Zoom with the help of Chris's tool, BloggerBridge.
A few years ago, we participated via a live meeting day with BloggerBridge and TBEX in Finger Lakes, NY, and loved it. BloggerBridge is an incredible tool to help create connections between creators and brands in advance of the event online.
I use BloggerBridge regularly, and other tools on both ends as a creator and as a brand for our influencer marketing community. When I found out She's Wanderful is partnering with BloggerBridge, I knew I would love it.
Zip Lining in Costa Rica Ocean View
5 Ways to Inspire in Travel Now
According to GutsyTraveler, there has been a 230% increase in the number of women-only travel companies in the past six years. Whether you are a traveler, content creator, and/or retreat leader, women in travel are on the rise.
While our travels may look different at this moment, there are ways you may inspire in travel now and for the future. Although patience and diligence may be required, we will fly again globally.
Some ways for you to inspire travel now and in the future include: