Empowering women in travel: Celebrating International Women’s Day at HomeToGo ??

At HomeToGo, we believe travel is an essential human activity. It’s how we learn about new cultures, experience different perspectives, and create unforgettable memories.?

It’s also been shown to have tangible benefits on our health - especially for women! A Wisconsin Rural Women’s Health Study found that women who go on vacation at least twice a year are less likely to struggle with tension, depression, and tiredness - leading to an overall better quality of life.?

The benefits of travel are boundless which is why this International Women’s Day, our goal is to inspire a more inclusive world of travel for women. ?? The travel industry has so many opportunities for women: Whether you’re an adventurous traveler or a savvy entrepreneur building a thriving vacation rental business. In line with the International Women’s Day theme in 2024 - inspire inclusion - HomeToGo is on a mission to empower women to actively shape and participate in the exciting world of travel.?

Below, we’ve asked two of our travel experts and leaders at HomeToGo, Danielle Finch and Inga Flicker, for tips on how women can be successful in travel - both as travelers and as hosts! So get ready to explore: Hike that mountain ??,? start that business ??, and inspire a better world for women in travel!?

For travelers:?

Interested in traveling more, but not sure where to start? Thinking about taking your first solo trip as a female traveler??

You’ve come to the right place. Danielle Finch is the Director of Customer Experience at HomeToGo, and an avid world traveler. She’s been to over 52 countries to date and, as of today, she’s embarked on a month-long solo adventure to Cambodia and Borneo. ?? ???

Check out Danielle’s three tips for a successful trip as a solo female traveler below:?

? Pick an anchor. Decide what is the most important thing you want to accomplish on your trip - then plan everything else around that.?

“On every trip, I like to pick an ‘anchor’ to plan the trip around. This is the thing I prioritize above all else. For my upcoming trip to Malaysia, I will finally get the chance to accomplish my dream of hiking Mount Kinabalu. As this hike books out way in advance, I planned this before making any other reservations!”

??♀? Take care of yourself. You and your mental health should come first - no matter where you are in the world.

?“Maintaining my mental health is really important to me, so that I can make the most of my time away. I love traveling with the meditation app Headspace. From sleepcasts to targeted series, maintaining my meditation habit helps me be my true self even while away.”?

? Stay organized. Planning ahead can help avoid stress during your travel!?

“I like putting all of my plans into an app like TripCase, just to keep track of everything in one place. It helps me ensure that I've thought through all the logistical details and don't need to stress about them when I’m on the go.”?

This International Women's Day, celebrate by unleashing your inner travel enthusiast with Danielle's fantastic tips - whether with friends, family, or as a solo traveler! ????

For hosts:?

The opportunities for women in travel go far beyond exploring the world. Travel can also empower women to foster successful careers through multiple methods - and our favorite example at HomeToGo is by building a short-term rental business. ?? ??

There are many benefits to owning an investment property, including generating income, equity appreciation, and having a home for personal getaways. Plus, hosting a short-term rental as a woman promotes female-driven economic inclusion and empowerment. ????

Inga Flicker, Director of Small Partner Solutions at HomeToGo, is focused on helping private hosts and small property managers and agencies successfully grow their short-term rental businesses. Review some of her helpful tips below:?

?? Try AI. The latest artificial intelligence tools can help professionalize offers from smaller hosts and level the playing field.?

“AI applications are starting to move in to create level playing fields between private hosts (with limited resources) and professional players. This aspect increases the opportunity space for private hosts but also increases the “pressure to compete” they face.”?

?? Pay attention to the latest travel trends. Market trends like workations mean hosts need to provide aligned amenities - such as fast wifi!?

“On the demand side, I notice a blurring of the lines between travel occasions - the often time quoted ‘workation’ and ‘bleisure travel’ - creating new and higher expectations of travelers towards properties that hosts must navigate efficiently and effectively.”?

? Make sure your property stands out. Your home should feel special to both you and your guests!?

“I would recommend every host to focus on investing in what makes her (or his) property stand out, while also ensuring to provide great traveler experiences during the stay. This way, they can fuel the flywheel of high traveler satisfaction leading to great reviews which - in terms - support the property to stand out.”?

Whether you already own a short-term rental and you’re looking to elevate your hosting-game or you’re fueled with inspiration to kickstart your own vacation rental venture, Inga’s tips can help empower your success as a private host!

For more information about International Women’s Day, visit https://www.internationalwomensday.com. And make sure to follow both Danielle Finch and Inga Flicker on LinkedIn to keep up with their expert travel tips and insights.?

Let’s #inspireinclusion around the world today, and every day.