Q. What remains to be done on your personal travel wish list?
A. Lots of things! The world is full of wonderful places, and I add them to my list faster than I can do them. One specific goal I have is to climb Kilimanjaro before all the snow is gone. Another, broader goal is to spend time living in different places – a year in Rome, a year in Bali, a year in Buenos Aires, etc. I find that living in a place for a significant amount of time gives me an understanding I can never get by going there on vacation.
Q. And your top tip specifically for female travelers?
A. If there’s something you want to do, go for it! A lot of women are uncomfortable about traveling by themselves, and if they don’t have a husband / boyfriend / sister / friend to go with, they just don’t go. That’s such a shame! Don’t give up your travel dreams.
If you’re single, being single doesn’t mean you can’t get out and explore the world. And you don’t have to wait for a friend to go with. Your friends may have their own families, or may not have the same schedule, budget, or interests as you do. Don’t let that stop you. If you’ve always wanted to go to Costa Rica (for example), find a way to make it happen.
And for married women, it’s OK to take separate vacations if you and your husband have different ideas about what you want to do. If he wants his vacations to revolve around fishing, that’s perfectly fine. He can go fishing, and you can go to Costa Rica, and everybody can be happy.
Gutsy Women Travel
April Merenda
Q. Talk a bit about what inspired you to start your company.
A. I began doing my research on women’s travel in 2001 and the statistics were staggering: 40% of women 40 and over were now single, divorced or widowed and that was up from 20% a decade earlier…so women and their status had significantly changed. I also found that 50% of women who were married reported that they took at least one trip a year without their spouse due to different vacation times, interest or she simply wanted to take a trip on her own or with other women. At the time of my research, no major company in the travel industry was directing attention to this market segment. There were family travel companies, adventure travel, all-inclusive getaways but nothing specifically for women. I then met MaryBeth Bond, the author of the book, Gutsy Women
Q. Tell us a little bit about your tour company and your upcoming trips for women in 2010.
A. Gutsy Women is a company that designs tours for women, and the focus is geared to small groups (no more than 20 participants). We only use centrally located boutique properties and include all transfers, on-tour tipping and luggage handling, most meals and specific sightseeing in our packages. Every tour is escorted or hosted by a licensed professional tour manager who is from the local area that the women are visiting and is the “glue” to making the travel experience a memorable one. For 2010, we continue to offer our international signature tours in Italy, France, Central Europe and Greece which remain our most popular destinations and compliment them with our attractive domestic tours to Alaska, Northern California, New York and Charleston/Savannah. Additionally, we offer exotic destinations such as Egypt, India, Peru, Costa Rica and Morocco that increase in patronage every year.
Q. Describe a day in the life of a tour company executive.
A. As President & Co-Founder of Gutsy Women Travel, my day can be compared to “Dear Abbey” whereby I literally receive and respond to hundreds of women who contact me daily on their lives and travel desires. I spend time with them to pick the ultimate package for them and if traveling solo will assist them in securing a roommate to share accommodations or walk them through the advantages of traveling with the tour as a solo traveler.
Q. What has been your most unusual ever travel experience?
A. I have traveled to many places in my life but my recent visit to Peru and Machu Picchu had me experience a shaman and it was an unusual experience but one I will cherish and remember for years to come.
Q. What is a common concern of women who book tours, what are they looking for?
A. Security remains the number one issue for women when they book a tour or travel experience. Are the hotels adequate in safety, location, and amenities and is there someone on the tour to coordinate day to day happenings?
Tomgirl Tours
Lori E. Carr
Q. Talk a bit about what inspired you to start your company.
A. Vacation adventure travel activates my childhood memories of being outdoors and exploring and expanding my physical abilities in the beautiful natural environments of New England.
I love the outdoors and cultivated adventure through my ongoing travel pursuits over the years including skiing and snow shoeing in the mountains; zip lining through rain forests; hiking the Grand Canyon; hot air ballooning; and snorkeling the most fantastical reefs.
I founded Tomgirl Tours because I want to share the excitement and empowerment I felt engaging in outdoor adventure pursuits with other active women. Through the years, I hesitated to travel alone to unknown destinations when my friends no longer enjoyed the activities or were too busy with family or work. Tomgirl Tours adventures provide women with a venue to participate in unique outdoor excursions combined with upscale travel experiences of a lifetime with other like-minded women. They can travel alone but they won’t be alone on a Tomgirl Tour.
Q. Tell us a little bit about your tour company and your upcoming trips for women in 2010.
A. Tomgirl Tours offers all-inclusive boutique travel experiences that blend new and interesting adventures, savory culinary encounters and fresh-air exploration with small doses of shopping, pampering and the finer things – all tailored exclusively for women.
Our thoughtfully executed upscale itineraries address all safety and comfort planning – taking the work out of travel and letting travelers focus completely on fun and relaxation. Each tour offers women the rare opportunity to truly unwind, rejuvenate and let someone else run the show for a change.
Our travel excursions are a White Mountain Adventure to N.H. which includes a world-class canopy tour and indoor sky diving; a St John Sojourn in the U.S.V.I. where we stay in luxury eco-tent cottages, snorkel, hike and kayak; a Red Rock Rendezvous in Sedona, AZ where we experience pink jeep tours, sunrise hot air ballooning and a hike below the rim at the Grand Canyon; and a Green Mountain Getaway where with Segway touring, hot air ballooning, and participate in a 4 course culinary demonstration along side incredible chefs at The Essex Culinary Resort & Spa.
Q. Is the life of a professional traveler as much fun as it sounds? What are the challenges? The most difficult situation you have faced on a tour.
A. Yes, it is a great deal of fun and it’s also a lot of proactive planning and flawless execution of that plan. Our goal is to ensue that every Guest has the trip of a lifetime and an exemplary experience, which means we must pay attention to every detail of the tour. We need to anticipate the needs of the Guests, ensure that all our vendors and outfitters are fully prepared to provide an outstanding and safe experience and be prepared to handle any travel challenge that arises behind the scenes. Challenges with outdoor adventure can include changing weather conditions that might delay or cancel a specific outdoor activity, travel delays to and from locations or a potential guest illness. We pay close attention and manage these considerations with backup plans that are communicated ahead of time to our guests. We also have multiple tour guides on each trip to care for the potential unexpected challenge.
The most enjoyable part of the job for me is watching my Guests experience something they’ve never tried before – seeing them succeed at it and then talking and laughing with them about how empowered and joyful they feel at creating that memory.
One of the biggest challenge I faced as a tour operator was an expired passport of a student Guest. One of my tour operators had to stay behind and work through the problem at the American Embassy to ensure the student could reenter the U.S.
Q. Describe a day in the life of a tour company executive.
A. As a tour company executive, my responsibilities are all inclusive from ensuring an accurate branding message along with effective marketing, promotion and advertising to setting and overseeing selling and operations strategies and results. I am very hands on when it comes to designing tours, evaluating outfitters who conduct the adventure activity at each location, and overseeing tour schedules and details prior to launch.
On a daily basis, I work directly with my PR & Communications consultant to set strategy, review tactics and discuss outcomes and results. I actively lead our business development staff, assisting them to generate leads, sell tours and implement the sales strategy. Travel Agents are an important part of our business model, which means they sell our tours and need product and pricing training and support. I also work with vendors and outfitters to evaluate contracts, pricing and service requirements. Over all, the executive role is a busy one but one of the most fascinating and enjoyable jobs in the industry.
Q. What can’t you leave home without when you travel?
A. I can’t leave home without my iPhone. Any piece of information I need to ensure an exceptional travel experience is in my phone. Whether it’s vendor information, driving directions, emergency contacts, or restaurant or banking information is a specific area, I can find it with a few “clicks” on my iphone. I can also stay in touch with family, friends my PR firm who tracks tour videos and photos on our Blog in real time which enables our Guest’s family to enjoy the tour along with their loved ones.
Q. What is a common concern of women who book tours, what are they looking for?
A. Women participating in a Tomgirl Tour want to relax, rejuvenate and connect with other women on our tours. It’s a rare chance for them to truly vacate all responsibility and just enjoy themselves. Women want to show up with their suitcase and desire to have a great time and to let us handle all of the details, decisions, and drama that can sometimes accompany adventure planning. They also want to make new friends with other women on the trip to converse, laugh, support and connect with other women. Its what we do as women and we make sure everyone has a great time on our tours.
Holiday River Expedition’s Women’s River Retreats
Karen Johnson
Q. Talk a bit about the inspiration that lead to the creation of the company.
A. Dee & Sue Holladay were bitten by the River Rafting bug in the early 60’s when they were invited by Jack Curry of Western River Expeditions for a trip down the Colorado River through Cataract Canyon. Dee at the time was a full time mechanic for Ford Motor Company. So struck by the river and its canyons Dee bought his first raft and began taking friends down the river in 1963. What began as a hobby more than 40 years ago has become a deep passion and way of life for the Holladay family. Holiday River Expeditions is now the third largest western river rafting outfitter and host more than 500 multi-day trips each summer.
Q. Tell us a little bit about the company and your upcoming trips for women in 2010.
A. The upcoming 2010 season offers the best selection to date for our Women travelers. Original Women’s Retreat founder, Deanna English will be returning to lead a Mindfulness Yoga and Zen Writing workshop on the San Juan River. And long time facilitator favorite, Marlena Lambert returns with a totally new take on the retreat, Vipassana Meditation on the River. This Yampa River retreat will have lots of silent float time on the river where you can truly take in the sounds of your environment. Young, fun and organic, Brenda Price and Clari Higginson will brighten up and shed their positive light on the Lower Salmon and Green River through Lodore Canyon. The Women’s Retreats offer morning or afternoon Yoga, relaxation and massage, great food and great fun. Our river retreats offer a place where the girls can be girls.
Q. Do you think travel tours have changed over the years, if so how?
A. Absolutely. In the rafting industry the trend seems to be moving in the direction of shorter trips. A la carte operations are popping up all over the place and the “one-day” trip is gaining momentum. At Holiday River Expeditions even though “going with the flow” is our motto, this is one direction we refuse to go. Now more than ever we believe in the value of slowing down and spending the time necessary to settle into the experience. Life moves fast enough as it is. Why rush vacation? Or spend it hoping from one activity to the next while wearing yourself out? A week on the river, in the canyon can renew one’s soul. Settle in, get quiet and let Holiday help you re-connect to the natural world.
Q. What is a common concern of women who book tours, what are they looking for?
A. Time and time again when speaking with ladies on the phone about the Women’s River retreats their number one concern is the camping aspect. It continues to surprise me how many folks have never camped! Most want to be re-assured that they will not be roughing it too much. The camping on a Women’s River retreat is about as cushy as it gets. You are still sleeping on the ground but the kitchen is set up by the guides, fabulous meals are prepared for you. There is a portable toilet system along with a hand wash. We have chairs, a library with a great reading selection. The camping gear that we rent is new and easy to use. You get a two man tent, super sleeper pad to sleep on, sleeping bag and pillow.
Q. As an expert traveler, share with us your top three travel tips…
A. As an expert “river” traveler my number one travel tip is to come with an open mind. Many of you are entering new territory, to arrive with no preconceived notions and look at it all through a beginner’s eye is magic. Number two travel tip is to “go with the flow”. As with any travel in a group setting the ability to go with the flow is a key. Flexibility in regards to schedule, hikes, activities and group dynamics will make your experience a joy. My third travel tip is to come prepared. Follow your gear and clothing checklist that is provided for you by Holiday River Expeditions and you will be!
Q. And your top tip specifically for female travelers?
A. My top tip for female travelers on one of our Women’s River Retreats is to find your inner girl, and bring her! It’s the only hat you have to wear. No schedules to keep, no meals to plan, no meetings to organize and nothing to be in charge of. It’s all about you, letting your hair down and having fun!
