Drone images from Myanmar
WHAT IS DRIVING
TRAVELERS
Tom prefers to do things differently, and The Black
Tomato Group is an extension of his philosophy, creating
bespoke travel experiences that start with the dream and
discover the destination on the way. Here he talks about
truly connecting, engaging and creating experiences
that are transformative, and tells us about some favorite
travel destinations you’ll want to visit.
THE ETHOS OF TRAVEL HAS CHANGED
SO MUCH IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND
HIGHLY CUSTOMIZED, UNIQUE AND “OFF-
THE-BEATEN-PATH” EXPERIENCES ARE FAR
MORE IN DEMAND. IS THE NEXT STEP TO
FIND MORE MEANING? WHERE IS THE LUXURY
TRAVEL SPACE GOING WITH THE IDEA OF
EARNED EXPERIENCES?
What drives us to disconnect in a highly connected world
is exactly that - to find more meaning. Earned Experiences
cut to the heart of this sentiment - in order to truly
discover ourselves in an honest and genuine light, we need
to enter the unknown, push our own boundaries and allow
all distractions to melt away. Off-the-beaten-path travel
experiences provide a chance for unfettered self-discovery,
and the majestic beauty of these remote destinations
becomes all the more eye-opening and transformative.
TO MAKE THE
CHOICES THEY
MAKE?
People today want and expect more from their travels.
Travel is no longer simply an opportunity to visit a new
place, rather it’s a mindset -- a rare chance to push
personal boundaries in ways that we generally don’t have
the ability to in our day-to-day lives. Travelers want to
be transformed by their experiences, they want to be
the first to experience off-the-beaten-path, emerging
destinations, and they want to truly immerse themselves
in local culture along the way. They seek out operators
and destinations that can facilitate this type of once-in-
a-lifetime trip. Of course, travelers still love the perennial
favorites when it comes to destinations, but there’s a huge
and undeniable fascination with the unknown right now
that shows no sign of slowing down.
ILHA 7