Last updated February 8, 2022
Many people ask: What made you decide to start a wellness travel company?
I grew up loving travel. As a child, my father would turn his business trips into family vacations. By the time I turned 21, I had been to 21 countries… and that continued until I married and started to raise a family.
Like many of us, having a baby changes everything. That child becomes the center of our universe and we forget about taking time for ourselves. I was a classic example. I poured my energy into family and work and placed my health on the back burner.
In the 90s, I was a member of the sales team that launched a little-known website called Expedia, at the time owned by Microsoft. Working at Expedia ignited my passion for startup life and I went on to launch Delta’s hotel and dining program (one of the first email marketing programs), Fishbowl marketing (email marketing for restaurants) and subsequently Groupon.
Don’t get me wrong. I was successful. But I have an entrepreneurial spirit and wanted more. I needed a change. Not only with my career, but with my lifestyle as well. Plus I desperately missed traveling.
I began to invest in a more healthy lifestyle. I worked out multiple times a day every day. I changed my eating habits and fell in love with how I felt. I was embracing a wellness lifestyle. One day while at the gym I started to think about ways to incorporate my two loves—wellness and travel—into my life.
I envisioned a wellness travel platform where the search is as simple and relaxing as the vacation itself… a space where the vacation is all about you and your version of wellness.
I mean, what could be more fun than riding a bike through the Champagne region of France, taking in the amazing scenery, eating delicious food and drinking fabulous wine in the evenings? Or exploring enchanting German villages such as Fussen where the fairytale castle Neuschwanstein was the inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle and then dipping your toes into the many thermal hot springs scattered throughout the stunning countryside.
I did some research and found that the North American market lacked a good understanding of wellness travel and the benefits it could have on your well-being and vacation. Upon further research, I couldn’t even find a centralized website to book the types of experiences I was looking for.
And that’s when my dream came to fruition. In 2018, I founded Vacayou Wellness Travel with a plan to organize trips—wellness retreats, spa getaways and active adventures—all over the world.
I envisioned a wellness travel platform where the search is as simple and relaxing as the vacation itself… a space where the vacation is all about you and your version of wellness whether a girls getaway at a destination spa, an immersive yoga retreat in Thailand or a contemplative hike through the fjords in Norway.
One thing is for sure. When you plan your getaway with this type of travel, you come back feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and relaxed from your experience, which can have an extremely positive impact on your lifestyle.
Well, it’s time to take that much-needed reset and get out there and travel again. Come join our community of wellness travelers who want to continue living a healthy lifestyle or perhaps kickstart a new one while traveling.
Please know that if you don’t find what you are looking for, our expertly trained concierge team is available to help you find that perfect wellness or active experience tailored to your needs—as well as book it for you.
We are excited to get to know you and help you book that unforgettable experience.
Welcome to Vacayou Wellness Travel!
