Let's Connect with Alison McMaster

Welcome to my humans of LinkedIn project. I am a writer and I love people and connecting, so I have created The LinkedIn Connection.?

Every Friday I highlight another up-and-coming professional that I have connected with. You get an in-depth look at their life, lessons they have learned, and what they are doing here on LinkedIn.?

I am having a blast meeting these talented people. I hope you do too!?

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Seriously, I am humbled that I get to learn so much about these amazing people and step into their lives.?

I saw Alison’s posts and thought, she does luxury travel with corporations. That sounds so glamorous. I have to know more! Turns out there is a lot more!?

I read through what she wrote and thought - WOW! I hope you really take the time to read about her life journey. It is incredible. I was so inspired and really felt like I got to step into another person's life so completely. It is rare that we are offered such glimpses.?

So, here is your chance to step into the amazing life of the fabulous Alison McMaster…

Who are you???

I’m an only child and a single mom of two boys. I am an enthusiastic world explorer and creator at heart. I dream big. I am a new gardener and have become a very passionate hobby beekeeper (I think beekeeping has changed my life). I grew up in New England, north of Boston, Massachusetts, where I again reside with my two children.?

I am most comfortable in the water or around the water (if not the water, then the mountains). If I could spend all my days 40-60’ feet below the surface of the ocean, I would. I was recently reminded that SCUBA diving for me, is mental and emotional meditation. This must contribute to why I loved being a competitive swimmer as a youth. Swimming provided me with mental discipline, endurance, and solace to think without speaking or interruption - my time to process information, reflect on emotions and find the courage to tackle a difficult task. I remember days of swimming through tears, my goggles filling up with my own salty tears– a space to let go of emotions, safely.

I love hard. I support those who are loyal to me, to the end - I am a helper and a giver and a cheerleader (without the pom poms or tumbling) I love helping people, I suppose it is why I am so passionate about my career. I am a deep listener and learner. I rarely forget a conversation.

I was fortunate to travel often when young, visiting my father who lived on and off in Europe when I was in my early teens, planting the seed early for cultural appreciation, and the thirst for world travel.?

During my senior year of high school, I had the unique opportunity to travel to a small town in rural Bolivia to live and work for a month in a ceramic tile factory, as an internship program. This experience undoubtedly helped shape who I am today. Although surrounded by caring people, I never felt more isolated and alone.?

I was a 17-year-old blonde American female, in a remote (by my standards) Andean South American town and I spoke almost zero Spanish. There were no cell phones, no internet, only a landline for collect calls, and a fax machine. It was the longest month of my life. I recall walking to and from work, and getting “cat called” in Spanish at every turn by truck loads of workers that would come in from the countryside to work, I just kept walking, every single day. I spent days hardly speaking to anyone, or understanding anything. I vividly remember the only English TV station I could watch was CNN Money, it became my lifeline.?

The month ended. I flew home. I assimilated back into the spring semester of my senior year and quickly realized, I wanted nothing more than to get back on a plane and fly far away to another uncomfortably foreign destination and immerse myself in the culture. I talked with my friends who spent their month internship working, in what my eyes were so plain and vanilla.??

Bolivia subconsciously taught me grace, humility and perseverance. It also solidified my passion for putting myself in often seemingly uncomfortable or new situations and knowing I had the tools to survive. The universe had set my course, but it would take me almost 20 years to find my way back.

I spent 3 years in college, at Boston University - this felt like it was only a stopping point on my journey.? My final two semesters were spent on international internship study abroad programs, the universe was calling me back. I began to slowly listen. I spent a semester in London, and a semester in Sydney, Australia. I made amazing, lifelong friends in both programs.?

I traveled all over Europe on the weekends, carefree and on a shoestring. I ventured up and down the coast of Australia, dove the great barrier reef, bungee-jumped from the highest stationary bridge (at the time) in New Zealand, and got a true taste of being halfway around the globe from my family, yet this time felt so easy, I was in my realm. I went to school and I found a life-changing internship at 20th Century Fox International that carried me over both programs and countries, and again altered my trajectory for a few years.?

Fast forward, to a post-graduation move to Los Angeles, and landing at the time, my dream job at the actual 20th Century Fox International home office of international publicity. I suppose this is where I began to shape the end game of where I am today, and where I am going. The opportunity at Fox provided me with a continued challenge, a rich global community of colleagues, journalists, and experience navigating time zones, cultural differences, and the myriad of details that go into planning worldwide talent tours and international press junkets for global releases. It was relentless. It was a 24/7 job. I made a change.?

I skipped back across the country, had a brief stint in NYC and landed myself in Charleston, South Carolina where I ended up living for 11 years, freelancing for 7 years for Fox post move east. I worked as the Assistant Producer of the Spoleto Festival, I jumped into real estate investment and flipped houses (did I mention my love of power tools). I got married, had kids and realized I missed the event world. Life as a private event planner and wedding planner/coordinator in Charleston kept me busy. I loved the rush, I loved the details, the planning and the execution, but I didn’t love missing my kids on the weekends and the lack of travel and global exposure.?

Charleston ran its course, I needed more. I missed adventure, culture and challenge. My move back to Boston 9 years ago, to be closer to my mother, in a more diverse city, in a cooler climate was a blessing to my soul, but it dissolved my marriage. I recentered and set my course for where I am today – back into the direction I have always loved.?

The decision to move into corporate events and now more specifically in the incentive travel industry was like coming home and speaking your love language. My passion for travel is now the gift I get to share with others. My curiosity, inquisitive nature, and lust for the lesser-knownn, unknown and hidden gems breathe new life into my veins. I’m thankful I have the unique opportunity to not only do what I love for clients and attendees but that I am able to often share adventures with my children, who are settling nicely into wholly independent, confident, insatiably curious travelers.

Top 3 accomplishments?

1. Hands down my two children. They are by far my best accomplishment and my WHY to everything I do.
2. Making the decision forever ago that against all odds, I was going to forge my own way and not stay in a corporate job. It has NOT been easy, but it still brings me happiness every day.
3. Learning how to become a gardener and beekeeper. I would have bet against myself a thousand times over that I would never have the garden (floral and veggies) and bees that I do today. And both have taught me a tremendous amount over the last few years.?

Why are you on LinkedIn??

My LinkedIn “WHY” has probably changed in the last 6 weeks. I used to be on to be “present” and have my “online resume” sort of like having a website that doesn’t really work for you, but shows you exist…however I have entirely shifted gears. As I was moving towards being “more” active on LinkedIn and expanding my network in my industry world, I realized I was really missing out on an enormous group of people. Now my engagement has shifted to extensively broadening my reach, talking and connecting with individuals globally and learning from so many in different industries.?

My mission is to expose people to the world in which I work though posts, highlight what it is I “do” but also to really build a network that can trust and turn to me for questions about reward / incentive travel, team building event and the value of fostering, supporting and recognizing your team, through these opportunities.

I also like to share some of who I am, and what my passions are. I’m a real person, not just a professional – if you work with me, you get all of me and a hell of a lot of dedication I invest in my clients, like they are my own family, probably to a fault. I have life experiences that factor into every aspect of my events/travel and part of that fabric of who I am, comes out in LinkedIn.?

What services do you offer??

We help Companies, Corporations (and private clients) looking to source, plan, and execute off-site meetings and events that are typically experiential travel experiences (incentive / c-suite meetings/ retreats). We have the tools to maximize your team's experience(s) to thrive.

For us every client and opportunity is singularly unique and we honor that. Our clients are not transactional. All have individual needs, goals and visions. We are relationship builders, and solution finders. We strive to become an extension of your team, your partner in travel and experiences. Our dedication is paramount. We don't believe in cookie cutter, we like to break the mold - over and over.?

Our purpose is to provide the best level of service possible when planning and executing a group trip, incentive, retreat or company off site. Our relentless quest for the best options and opportunities is critical to our mission. We focus 100% on bringing a client's dreams to fruition and love scouring the earth for them. We love fun, experiential, culturally authentic opportunities that deepen memories that imprint for life.?

1-2 sentences, if I was chatting with a friend and they said….I would know to refer them to you?

“I need help with an event, incentive trip/retreat etc, it’s such an overwhelming task with so many details, choices and variables and my inside team is not qualified to do this, do you know anyone? They call me. OR “I’m seeing a need to reward and connect my team, we are hybrid/remote and no one is connecting, should we think about a team offsite, team building opportunity” They call me.

Favorite quote?

Hard to narrow it down, two I love:

I think 99 times and find nothing. I stop thinking, swim in silence, and the truth comes to me. - Albert Einstein?

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. - John Quincy Adams

Most transformation book?? Tools of Titans, by Tim Ferriss

Favorite person/guru you follow and why? I’m terrible about following anyone….my favorite people to follow are my kids…

Advice you would give someone starting out on LinkedIn or in networking?

Be as open, authentic and engaging as possible. Be honest and don’t spam people. If you are selling, open the door with relationship building. Find your people, and ask questions. We are all hear to learn something!?

3 ways we can help support you on LinkedIn?

Engage +Comment on posts.?

Share posts that are interesting to you + Tag your friends in different industries that could be interested in what I do and what I share.?

Join me for a virtual coffee –? having someone you think I may want to meet, make the invite.?

I love expanding my network of great people, globally.?