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  • Writer's pictureKatrina Julia

Virtual Global Travels with Women in Travel Summit 2020

Are you dreaming of the next time you may cross off items on your bucket list with global travels? Do you imagine freely running around on a beach, scuba diving, and trying your favorite foods in a new place? Yeah, me too. Yet, like all of us, you aren't sure when you will be able to travel again.


You may choose to focus on what you don't have, or you may choose to create the world you want to see right now where you are. I made this choice at the start of the crisis in 2020 to add value and service anywhere I am. I may not be hopping on planes anytime soon, but I am hopping on virtual online social media, meetings and conferences in every direction.


You love to travel and create content and share what you love with others. Perhaps, you are a multi-passionate entrepreneur, creator, and traveler already? Maybe you are a travel brand wanting to connect and create with community now more than ever? Or, has your travel bug reawakened recently?


You've traveled solo, with family and friends, or participated in press trips as an entrepreneur. I get it. The journey of wellness, lifestyle, and entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. It involves figuring out your passions, purpose, people, and profits.


One of the most essential aspects now is connecting and creating community, and taking the temperature of industries ranging from wellness to travel. (Temperature quote credit Nina - SideWalkerDaily!)


You may have heard of travel communities, a friend of yours may be part of She's Wanderful, or you've heard me talk about it since Ashley Renne mentioned it to me via our Cuba Retreat. I originally was attending the Women in Travel Summit in Kansas City to help in social media. Beth, Marissa and the team shifted amazingly to an online summit in May 2020.


Every speaker and participant brought such a special experience to every session. From mindset to health to wealth to business to travel, every session lit my soul on fire. There are many ways for you to create community online now so join me with my Virtual Global Travels with Women in Travel Summit 2020.



Via our Cuba Retreat Photo Credit ps.ilovefilm Preston Olsen



Insights into Creating Communities

As a multi-passionate creator, educator and traveler, I am constantly creating, connecting and cultivating with communities from an influencer, entrepreneur and brand side. Community is everything! That's why when She's Wanderful announced their conferences this year in Kansas City and Gdansk, I applied for social media and a speaker for wellness, media and lifestyle workshops.


If you didn't know, I was 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.

Would you love to transform and travel with the community you love around the world? You may start now with online experiences in communities globally like She's Wanderful. If you are a creator and/or brand, you will love their virtual meetings day coming up end of May.


A few years ago, we participated via a 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. Chris, the Founder is super helpful.


I use BloggerBridge, 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 on the virtual meeting day, I loved how aligned it is.



Costa Rica Retreat



Women in Travel Summit Highlights

According to GutsyTraveler, there has been a 230% increase in the number of women-only travel companies in past six years. Whether you are a content creator, retreat leader, or community creator, women in travel are on the rise.


If you have never heard of it, Women in Travel Summit (WITS) is the premier event for travel's top marketing talent. Creative entrepreneurs, influencers, DMOs, and industry come together to discuss future innovations, build dynamic collaborations, and change travel worldwide, all while supporting and empowering a diverse community of women.


WITS is organized by Wanderful. Now 40,000 strong, Wanderful is an international community of women who travel.



Beth is the Founder and CEO of Wanderful and creator of the Women in Travel Summit.


The idea for a robust community of women travelers came to her while cruising her blue motorcycle through the streets of São Tomé and Príncipe, a small country in Africa’s Gulf of Guinea.


Now, she is a thought leader on women's travel, an avid community builder, and a voice for women creators and entrepreneurs.




 

WITS Summit Opening


Beth kicked off the conference welcoming everyone warmly. We did a poll on if this was your first WITs. Over 54% of us said yes (myself included!) It is the eight Women in Travel Summit ranging from locations including Chicago, Boston, Quebec and more.


In the eighth Women in Travel Summit, over 250 travel brands, creators, and entrepreneurs came together virtually to discuss the critical landscape our industry now finds itself in. From marketing to pivoting your business during a global crisis, from work-from-home tips to financial management in a time of uncertainty, we covered it all and then some.


We did a fun activity virtually with our goals via post-its and the chat. Beth posted many of the goals on post-its via the wall behind her.


Derek, joined us from Kansas City with highlights on the city, tourism and a new date for November 13-15 for the Women in Travel Summit. He shared with us fun facts about Kansas City like Hallmark Cards, Amelia Earhart, and Missy Copeland!


I loved how right away the chat in the community was engaging and active. Beth, Marissa, Abigail and the team helped lead this in every way.