Connection: The Heart of Travel & The Holidays

When I look back on my career so far, it is clear that it has been built on something I value deeply: Connection. Whether it be in my past role as a counselor, where connection truly was the key to helping my clients grow and maintain their wellness, or now as a Travel Designer, where fostering connection with loved ones through travel is my “why,” I’ve always been driven by this value.

This time of year, connection is always paramount in my mind. The holidays provide many opportunities for connection with friends and family, yet this time of year is also one of the easiest for true connection to slip through our fingers.

It’s the busy end of the year for businesses seeking to close out 2024 on a high note. It’s the season for holiday parties that, while fun, often require more work than meets the eye. It’s the school events, Christmas plays at church, and countless other calendar items that threaten this sense of connection with our loved ones if we aren’t careful.

When we work with our clients to design trips, a critical element of our success lies in pinpointing a client’s unique travel style. At the end of the day, this travel style aligns with how our clients each connect best with one another and with the world around them. In taking a new approach to connection this holiday season, I want to use these travel styles as a broader roadmap for helping you connect to others and to yourself during the busy season.

First, ask yourself, “What kind of rhythm when I travel has brought me the most joy?”

For those who say, “Keep me busy! I’m ready to explore a new place!”: You find connection with your travel companions through seeing all of the beauty that your destination has to offer. You thrive on a full schedule where you can return to your hotel at the end of the day with your mind brimming with the many things you’ve done. You may feel tired, but you are willing to sacrifice energy for experiencing a greater number of places.

This holiday season, just make sure that your energy is going toward things you love so that important opportunities for connection don’t fly by:

• Visit a new place this season, in addition to your favorites. Go to a new lights display, themed restaurant, or seasonal exhibition to tap into your sense of connection through exploration.
• When attending holiday parties, make it a goal to have deeper, meaningful conversations with a few people rather than chatting with everyone in the room. These events are great opportunities to connect if you’re thoughtful about how you engage!
• Invest in a cause that you are passionate about. Volunteers are greatly needed during the month of December, so sign up to help in an area of interest.

For those who say, “I need plenty of down time—rest and relaxation are important to me.”: You value the opportunity that traveling gives you to step back from the busyness of life and recharge. You love staying at hotels that are a bit more removed from the city center and have excellent amenities on site so that you can unwind. If you leave a vacation feeling tired, you would not consider it a success.

Although it can be challenging, it is critical for you to hold space open on your calendar during the holidays and to preserve your energy for events that may be non-negotiable:

• If you plan to host any holiday parties, keep them small and low-key. It’s okay to just invite a few people over to watch a favorite movie! Or better yet, suggest to your group to meet at a restaurant or other venue so that you aren’t drained by hosting.
• On busier days, schedule rest time after the chaos winds down. Book a massage right after a full day of shopping, or curl up with a book for an hour after you finish decorating the house. You need connection with yourself too, not just others!
• Take at least a few days off of work and ensure that your out of office messages are meticulously crafted. An OOO message should tell your clients exactly who to contact while you’re out and make your boundaries crystal clear.

For those who say, “I like a blend of both exploring and down time for rest.”: You value thoroughly seeing a destination when you travel, but not at the expense of feeling exhausted. You prioritize some key experiences ahead of time and then leave space to recharge in between. You may be balancing the differing needs of your travel companions in this case and seeking a compromising approach that can reasonably please the group as a whole.

People who fall into this category (like myself!) benefit from having some clear plans ahead of time so that the holiday rush doesn’t overwhelm time for connection:

• Ask each member of your family to pick one activity that is important to them so that everyone’s opinions can be heard and valued. Once those have been set, try to estimate a number of additional, less important events that you’d feel comfortable adding and then stick to that.
• Look for ways to add in connecting moments to tasks that can feel like chores. If going shopping with someone, stop in the middle and have coffee together for an hour. Find a time when your kids or a friend can assist you with some of your holiday baking so that it becomes a connection point and not just a to-do list item.
• If you own your own business, schedule an end of the year “CEO day” to reflect and plan while giving yourself space from task lists and client calls. This is a great way to feel accomplished and move towards your goals while still getting a bit of personal rest.

As we look towards the new year, we would love to help you plan for space to connect with your loved ones, or with yourself, through travel in 2025. At MMarkham Travel, we believe that travel is an impactful gift fueled by the power of connection! It is always a joy to help our clients explore the world through authentic and immersive experiences.

Cheers!

Abby McCormick, Travel Designer at MMarkham Travel

www.mmarkhamtravel.com/contact