The Power of Travel.
Travel is a power for good.
“I saw this printed on the front of a sweatshirt recently. It made me smile and think to myself, “Yep, I think so too”.
— Mike Azzarello
When the person stood, I saw that it was an Expedia shirt, which made sense. It made me think about all the benefits of travel. There are plenty of articles written on the topic, but a few benefits really resonated with me. I enjoy travel because it helps me:
Create lifetime memories
Reduce stress & enhance my focus
Deepen family and friend connections
Understand different cultures
Meet new people
Be more mindful of wellness
Travel experiences are more powerful than material items.
My mother-in-law had a degenerative condition where her cognitive skills had been declining for years prior to her passing. In her room was a digital photo frame that rotated through pictures, when the frame displayed a trip she had taken to Paris, she lit up and said, “I’ve been there!” Her memories of a trip to Paris, with her daughter and granddaughter, were so deeply embedded in her memory, that even when other memories were gone… she recalled the trip with pure joy.
I then remembered reading a book on minimalism (reducing the amount of clutter, physical and other, in our lives). The book explained that experiences have longer-lasting emotional responses than material or other physical items. This made a lot of sense and explained my mother-in-law’s reaction every time she saw the picture of her trip.
This led me to dig deeper into the intangible benefits of travel. What I found further explained my mother-in-law’s reaction. There is significant research that when we travel and are exposed to new experiences, it has a noticeable impact on our brain.
Travel has the power to reduce stress.
Another study found that travel is a direct contributor to a reduction of overall stress. Of course, this becomes an interesting issue. The act of traveling to your destination can often be stressful. Planning, packing, and of course… getting there. That’s one of the main reasons we created WingTips, more on that later. But once at your destination, the benefits start to accrue. These simple things divert our attention so we can step away from everyday stress:
A change of scenery
A more peaceful environment
Quality time with family and friends
Exploring different activities
Being more physically active
Disconnecting from work (and technology)
An indulgent spa visit
Travel provides the power to learn a new skill.
On a trip to Sweden, I used the opportunity to try Babel and learn Swedish a couple of months prior. I’ll admit, I didn’t get all the way through the program, but every one I tried speaking Swedish with was duly impressed… until they weren’t… most were quick to recommend I switch back to English (hmmm).
Travel has the power to force you to ‘be there’.
When I travel with my family, my laptop stays in the hotel safe, and my phone is securely tucked in my pocket. Admittedly, it’s not a self-proclaimed habit… but one that my wife, Kelly, highly recommends. So, unless I pull out my phone for directions or a translation (when in countries I didn’t bother opening my Babel app for), it’s off-limits. Over time, I’ve learned to appreciate the respite from my blue-screen addition (not an easy task for a technology geek, this is a huge give-up for me). But, in the end, it’s worth every moment. Not only does it allow me to truly unwind and immerse myself in my journey, but I am also grateful for the uninterrupted time with my family, the stories we tell, the things we get to know about each other… and the memories we share.
Travel has the power to unleash your creativity.
Okay, so maybe this is a bit of a stretch for me because I’m no artist. But what travel has provided for Kelly and me is a far greater appreciation for different art forms. We’ve found that collecting art while traveling provides a more tangible, cultural connection to the places we visit. As we hop from gallery to gallery, the unique, one-of-a-kind art we encounter reflects the culture and history of the destination and gives us the opportunity to have meaningful conversations with locals. Every time we buy a piece of art, be it a print, painting, or sculpture, we are not only supporting local artists, but we are contributing to the cultural vitality of the country. We call them our ‘souvenirs with substance’ because each piece finds a spot in our home… a constant reminder of where we’ve been, who we met, and what we learned.
And last, but certainly not least…
Traveling for charity is a purposeful way to make a positive impact on communities in need. Whether you volunteer to help a city in crisis, join a humanitarian trip, visit schools and orphanages, or join an environment conservation project to protect endangered ecosystems and wildlife, your contributions provide essential services to underserved communities, all of which can have a profound impact on making this a better world.
“My travels globally really opened my eyes to the world. The wonders of meeting new people, and experiencing new cultures, food, and customs. But it also made me aware of people who needed our help, which is what drove my philanthropy mission.”
— Cheralyn, Philanthropist & WingTips Client
The WingTips team chimes in.
If you’ve read any of my blogs in the past you know my team and I discuss blog topics that we think will provide value to or somehow resonate with you. This one was no different. When the topic of the ‘Power of Travel’ came up as a potential blog, it led us down a rabbit hole, just about every one of the team chimed in:
Kris Potter, Fractional CMO
“I love reading about a country, a historical site, a hotel, or a restaurant and being able to personally connect with it. It happens so often… when my husband and I planning a new trip or have just returned from the last, our destinations seem to suddenly appear — or reappear — before our eyes. Maybe it’s in the news, in a movie, or in a book, but without fail, those places in our hearts continue to rest at the forefront of our minds.”
Lynsey Martin, Head of Customer Experience
“My family lives across the country… my brother in Los Angeles, CA… my sister and parents in Austin, TX and my best friend in Phoenix, Arizona. Our distance has not impacted our ability to share in each other’s important life events. For me, travel is powerful in so many ways, but it’s the travel I do that helps me stay connected with my family and friends and ensures my children grow up with their grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and family friends that means the world to me.”
Cat Tamayo, Concierge Service Representative
“Travel possesses the incredible capacity to cultivate understanding, compassion, and unity among diverse cultures. Through shared experiences and the discovery of our common humanity, it becomes a force for good, breaking down prejudices, fostering global friendships, and inspiring positive change. Embracing the world through travel can create a brighter and more interconnected future for all.”
WingTips makes getting there faster, easier, and far more convenient.
We started WingTips to make travel less complicated and create a more enjoyable experience. Although we can’t take credit for all the benefits of travel (although we hope some of what we shared will inspire you) we can help take the stress out of getting there. When you fly with WingTips, we provide many benefits:
1. Save time by flying to your destination vs. driving.
We’ve done multiple studies and have determined that a WingTips flight can reduce travel time by 75% compared to driving to your destination – at a comparable cost.
2. Save time and eliminate the hassle of flying to your destination on a commercial carrier.
Travel to all your favorite regional destinations not offered by commercial carriers. We depart from airports closer to home and your destination, eliminating longer drive times to and from the airport. On travel day, you go directly from parking to boarding in less than 20 minutes and watch your luggage go directly from your hands to our baggage compartment. No long security lines, no cattle calls, and no lost luggage.
3. Personalized and professional customer service.
The WingTips Concierge Team is here to assist you every step of the way. Enjoy personalized concierge-level service from the moment you start searching for your flight until long after you return home.
4. We’re pet-friendly.
At WingTips we believe pets are an integral part of our family and they deserve a vacation just like the rest of us. But we know… traveling with pets can add a level of difficulty and stress, especially when flying. Unlike most commercial airlines, WingTips welcomes your four-legged family members, big or small, in the main cabin on our flights. Not only does your fur baby board with you, but they also never leave your side.
5. We offer flexibility, charter an entire flight or only the number of seats you need.
You can customize your itinerary to meet your individual travel needs. With WingTips, you can reserve an entire flight or only the seats you need. Flights are scheduled based on where you need to be and when you want to be there. Submit a flight request and our proprietary algorithm provides options that best meet your needs. And after only a few clicks, we’ll have you on your way.
We shared what the power of travel means to us… what does it mean for you?
WingTips is onto something big.
And you can be a part of it. Contact Mike to learn more about WingTips’ investment opportunities, or click here.