I may be alone if in thinking this but I believe that travel can (and should) be used to solve problems. When we first speak with clients, one of first goals is to determine their problem, their challenge or their lack. Why is it they need or want to travel? What is it that they are seeking elsewhere that they can’t find at home? Do they feel like they have lost touch with their family? Have they outsourced too much of their life to their PA, nanny or housekeeper? Perhaps their husband isn’t engaged enough with helping to plan holidays. These are all problems we’ve come up against with our clients.
Most travel companies don’t take the time to do this kind of investigation or research. Understandably so. This approach to travel isn’t for everyone. B if ut for those who have seen the world, and now wish to gain more from their precious holiday time than being told to just ‘see this, do that’, this is a novel approach that works.
Our recently launched META collection aims to solve various problems or issues through the medium of travel. In Bhutan and Tibet, to bring a new perspective on economics to their businesses clients can learn about Buddhist economics from those who have very little.
In Mongolia, our client embarks on a solo adventure through the empty steppe, in order to learn self-reliance and bravery. Families of the leaders of tomorrow are encouraged to explore what leadership means on our Greek odyssey. All of these issues are those which can be tackled by travel.
I recently had the opportunity to plan a short trip for myself. Usually in that situation I hop straight onto Skyscanner and try and find a last-minute deal, but this time I paused, thought about what I really wanted, and came up with a list of needs, wants and desires. Once I’d assessed everything I needed from this trip, I looked at destinations and unexpectedly came up with one very close to home. Southend on Sea, just a few hours from my house.
I didn’t need an expensive foreign holiday to scratch the travel itch. I didn’t need to automatically turn towards the airport, responding to the airlines’ conditioning that a cheap flight is a human right. I wanted a trip to reconnect with my partner where we could do all the things we love doing together. It was that simple.
So next time when it comes to plan your trip, don’t think where, think why. Why do you want to travel? Perhaps it’s to reconnect with your spouse, to rethink your career, to learn your place in the world? When your travels have a final goal in mind, you’ll find the journey towards it is so much more rewarding.
