travel: corporate thrive through · intuitive travel travel mindfully with the intention of a...

sahara rose de vore

© sahara rose travels, llc & the Travel coach network™

Thrive throughtravel: corporate

wellness

© sahara rose travels, llc & the Travel coach network™ 2

Travel is a healthy decision justlike any gym membership or meditation

session and wellness is far more than justfitness, diet, and sleep. Holistic wellnessaddresses people as a whole, not just as

employees or consumers. It’s important tomake wellness a core element of everytravel policy and travel management platform because it is increasingly

synonymous with personal and professionalsatisfaction. Health and wellbeing is just asimportant as safety and security in duty ofcare and an effective way to minimize riskmanagement all while enhancing traveler

experience from pre, during, and posttrip.

In a world driven by technology and AI, it’sessential that we don’t lose the foundationof what the travel and hospitality industrywas build upon; humanity, and to build avalue-driven marketplace. Put the overallwellbeing and satisfaction of the employee

ahead of policy and program considerationswhile keeping overall company success inthe forefront. That is what enhanced travelcan do. The long-lasting effects of travelwill generate ever-lasting benefits for your

company.

Leverage robust technology-driven dataand analytics to continually evolve and

better serve employees and travelmanagement teams by providing them withmeaningful solutions. In the end, happier

and healthier employees will perform betterleading to overall company success.

It’s important for everyone in a

management and decision-making role to

provide better service and to lead withpassion for the industry that they dedicatetheir time to. This includes travel booking

managers, human resource, customerservice, concierge teams, managers, travelagents, and anyone else responsible for the

success and wellbeing of employees,business travelers, and consumers.

It’s time to adopt a fresh “people and

traveler-first” perspective that puts extremefocus on the individual and emphasizes the

human element to your company andplatform. Better understand employees asindividuals and today’s current workforce

across all generations while tapping into theyears of research that show the health and

wellness benefits that travel and experiences have on the mind, body, and

the workplace. People want jobs thatprovide adequate travel opportunities

whether that is increased paid time off,work flexibility, business travel, volunteering

abroad, or remote work options. Travel isan important ingredient in everyone’s workand life to some extent and it is up to the

company to acknowledge and support this.

Through my Thrive Through Travel™Initiative, this signature Travel Coach

Approach™ Framework challenges thenorms and causes necessary disruption. It

includes a mindful, holistic, and health-centric preventative approach that improveswellbeing and work-life through empowered

travel and enhanced experiences. Helptravelers dive deep into their travel

experiences through fun, passion, andtransformation.

Not everyone is a travel expert which is why theyneed assistance and guidance whenit come s to

traveling purposefully for leisure or business.Make travel less stressful on the road or for avacation by giving employees all the tools that

they need and the support that backs it up. Provide employees with more control and

comfortable, convenient, and seamless tools andthey will be more likely to abide by rules that you

set.

Duty of care is a moral obligation and makingtravel empowerment and education a serious partof your risk management strategy is smart. Takingthe time and effort to develop and implement an

attractive and efficient travel policy pays off in thelong run.

Travel has the ability to boost happiness

hormones and stimulate long-term positive effects.Happy and empowered people are more

productive and creative.



Travel Coach Approach™


Physical WellnessBenefits

Boost immunityKeeps you fit

Improves physical well-beingSparks vitality

Detox the mind and bodyImproves respiration system

Improves sleep

Mental Wellness Benefits

Lowers stress levels

Decreases anxiety and depressionStrengthens emotional equilibrium Inspires compassion and empathy

Improves brain healthBoosts confidence and self-worth

Boost happiness and moodEnhance cognitive ability

Promotes self-fulfillment and self-awarenessStimulates resilience

Benefits forCompany Success

Boosts productivity and work performance

Sparks creativity and innovationPromotes cultural immersion

Builds talent development Builds company trust

Promotes a happy and healthy company cultureDecreases burnout

Lowers turnover, increases retentionAttracts and retains valuable talentGrow personal and leadership skills

Sparks healthy workplace conversations Strengthens relationships

Promote engagement Lowers risk management

Decrease medical costsCultivate a thriving company culture

Builds compassion and cultural inclusion Fosters teamwork, innovation, and professional growth

“Freed from the dailystresses of my working

life, I find that I ammore likely to have new

insights into oldproblems and other

flashes of inspiration” -Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin

Group


8 Focus Points of the Travel CoachingFramework

Intuitive travel Travel mindfully with the intention of a specific experience, wellness outcome, or transformationin mind. Experience liberation, develop a deeper connection with yourself, discover a better version ofyourself, and gain a refreshed sense of work and life balance by tuning into your inner being.

Transformative Experiences Experience is everything. Have an experience that shapes your perspective, mindset, or overallwellbeing. Travel has the ability to change your life through a transformation that is unique for everytraveler.

Hyper-Personalization Dive deep with an intense focus on an individual’s wants, needs, fears, stresses, and obstacles in orderto provide them with the experience that will best satisfy their wellbeing and work-life. Address people’sunrecognized needs and help them tune into their “identity refreshment”.

Authentic Storytelling Travel turns you into an interesting storyteller. Encourage travelers to collect and share stories to benefittheir personal life and workplace experience, a term that I call “travel-telling”. Tap into your own passionfor travel and what led you to the travel or hospitality industries in the first place. Use authentic “travel-telling” to enhance employee well-being, improve marketing, stand out among competition, and betterrelate to consumers.


Human Connection Add the human component to the rising world of AI and technology. The foundation of the travel andhospitality industry, humanity, needs to be incorporated into your company’s mission. Having apassionate customer support or traveler support team is important for having a reliable partner that youremployees can turn to for help and guidance. Help travelers understand the importance of engagingwhile traveling to develop authentic human connection and embracing the local culture.

Empowerment

Encourage, guide, support, and empower employees to travel better, more effectively and confidently,and to be more involved in their experiences. Empower them to make decisions, step out of their comfortzone, and overcome or manage any fears or concerns. Empowered travelers and employees arehappier, healthier, safer, and more productive on the road and in the workplace. Simplify management bybuilding employee’s skill set and capabilities while aiding in risk prevention and stimulating resilience.

Education

Supply your employees and travelers with the proper education, preparation, resources, and tools so theyknow how to have the travel and work experiences that they want and the outcomes that they need.Consulting with a travel expert on your travel policy, travel management platform, workplace wellnessprogram, booking manager and HR trainings, and travel agent trainings is essential for thriving.

Mindset Mindset Ensure that travelers are self-aware and in a positive frame of mind so they are susceptible tohaving meaningful experiences and obtaining the personal and professional benefits of travel.


Incorporate more bleisure and workflexibility Improve duty of care and lower riskmanagement Develop a better travel policy Inspired an engaging and active travelplanning process Spark in-depth self-actualization and self-awareness Understand the wellness and professionalbenefits of travel The best way to choose and use availabletravel incentives Applying new travel experiences and skillsto one’s work-life Readjusting upon return from a trip Financial health and time management Experience and cultural immersion Create smart travel booking tools Overcome or better manage travel andsafety fears and concerns Confidence boost for safety, remote workadjustments, and cultural immersion

Focuses of the Travel Coach Approachfor the Workplace

I traveled during a prime time for the travel industry. I had hands-on and in-depth experience of thetravel trends and rise in technology. This was also when the internet and social media began to soar. Thisexperience encompassed me in a world which enabled me to learn about the problems, voids, and trends inthe travel and hospitality industries as well as the workplace. My worldwide journey made me realize that travel had a powerful impact on the lives of so many people yetpeople lacked the ability to tap into its potential to transform their life in the most meaningful way. After divingdeep into the science behind the wellness benefits that travel has on the mind, body, andsoul, and ultimately the workplace, I knew that companies of all sorts were truly missing out on anopportunity to not only satisfy people’s innate desire to travel but using travel as a tool to improve overallwellbeing and boost company success. There is a huge emphasis on technology and a spike in corporatewellness yet there remains a burnout epidemic, high turnover rates, and disconnection between people. Throughout my travels and during my research, I had encountered thousands of people who have beentransformed by travel, who use travel as a means of healing, who quit their jobs to travel the world, whocrave more work flexibility or remote work option, and want story-steeped experiences. There is atremendous room for growth for new niches in the travel industry and for passionate and experiencedtravelers to disrupt the industry using their authentic experiences and expertise. This is what inspired me to start The Travel Coach Network and my Thrive Through Travel Initiative. Idesigned my signature Travel Coach Approach which can be applied to corporate wellness,business travel, and enhance travel agent trainings because it’s time that companies worldwide prioritizetravel as a key ingredient to self-care and company success. It is my mission to grow the first and largest network of travel coaches and implement my Thrive ThroughTravel programs in every workplace, travel platform, and travel agency around the world.


After graduating from university with a degree in Hospitalityand Tourism management, I quickly realized that the industrywas not offering any career paths that satisfied my traveldesires and the impact that I wanted to make on the travelindustry. I decided to pave my own path, pack a suitcase,and set off to explore the world in search of finding answersabout myself and what I wanted out of life and career. Littledid I know I would fall in love with travel. Fast forward over adecade, I had visited over 80 countries. Not only did travelhelp me find the answers that I was looking for but it was theleading factor in my life transformation. I once was adirectionless college student to finding my life purpose inhelping others thrive through travel.

My Story

Corporate Wellness: Intuitive TravelProgram


Corporate wellness has become an $8 billion a year industry yet companies are failing to tap intotravel’s potential to improve workplace wellbeing.

Decreasing burnout Vacation isn’t a cure for burnout but it can significantly improve or prevent the symptoms andconsequences of burnout. Building resilience, cultivating gratitude, inspiring generosity, promotingbreathing techniques like meditation, and slow-paced activities like hikes in nature are all things that arebelieved to lower stress and anxiety, which can be done while traveling.

Job burnout accounts for an estimated $125 billion to $190 billion in health-care spending each year

(Harvard Business Review)

The benefits of travel are almost immediate. After only a day or two, 89% ofrespondents saw significant drops in stress

(Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies and the U.S Travel Association)

Understanding why people want to travel Everyone travels for their own personal reasons ranging from possibilities like strengthening a relationship,healing from a traumatic life event, finding purpose in life, spending time alone to soul search, disrupting amundane routine, or creating meaningful life-long experiences. Help people tune into their true purpose for atrip so they can have the outcome and transformative experience that theywant and need.


Improving overall wellbeing Travel can benefit the mind, body, and the soul. Mental activity and cognitive stimulation can be achievedthrough various activities associated with travel and being exposed to new environments can improve theimmune system. Traveling can help you take a breather, get refreshed, and focus on your mental health.It can also keep your body active, spirit youthful, and restore vitality. Travel introduces you to newhealing properties you otherwise would not have access to. "In addition to mental and physical stressors, long periods of work without vacation can lead toreduced productivity, diminished creativity, and strained relationships" -Dr. Kathleen Potempa,dean of University of Michigan’s School of Nursing

"Men and women whotraveled annually were less

likely to suffer a heartattack or develop heart

disease"(Framingham Heart Study)

“Recent studies show thatthe beach is one of the best

places to alleviate stressand heal your brain”

(Inc.com)

Millions of Americans are giving their vacation days back to their employer. In 2018, 52% of Americansdidn’t take all of their vacation days (U.S Travel Association’s Project Time Off). Employees not using their vacation days is not for a lack of caring but rather a variety of solvable reasonsincluding:


Why employees are not using theirvacation days

Heavy workload keeps them tethered to their desk

1 in 6 US employees are so overworked that they are unable to use all of their vacation time(Wisconsin Medical Journal)

Not planning theirtrip far enough in advance

78% managers say it would be helpful to know their direct reports’ vacation plans for the year atthe start of their company’s fiscal year yet 46% of managers do not ask employees about those plans

(US Travel Association)

They plan for events like weddings, birthdays, holidays, etc but they don’t plan for the entireuse of their vacation days, often resulting in them waiting too long and not getting their request

approved. People are also overwhelmed by the planning process and don’t know how or where tobegin. Planners are also more likely than non-planners to use all or most of their time off to travel


Poor financial management

People have a fear of overspending or a trip being too expensive, often resulting in them turning to atravel agency. This can often end up with people over spending and have little involvement or controlover their experiences and outcomes and worrying about having to work overtime when returning.

With proper travel budgeting guidance, people can feel empowered and excited about have a lifetimeof beneficial experiences.

Confusing bookingmanagement systems

The lack of travel guidance and education means that people feel obligated to either turning to atravel agency or using their company’s booking management system. This is another piece of

technology and software for them to master and it may not suit their desired planning and budgetneeds.


Problems in management and company culture

Wellness programs don’t work unless you create a culture in which it is acceptable

and encouraged to prioritize self care and support travel. Employees are still not getting guidance orencouragement from their employer when it comes to time off or management is either discouraging

or sending mixed signals. There’s a big disconnect between management expectations andemployee perception.

of employees said if they felt fully supported and encouraged bytheir boss, they would take more time off (MarketWatch.com)

of employees say they are not sure ordo not think their company wants them

to talk about their vacation withcolleagues when they return.

(U.S Travel Association)

of managers agree that by using theirtime off, employees can de-stress, and

improve their health and wellbeing,ultimately cutting down on sick daysand burnout. Managers say the mostcompelling reason for time off is to cut

down on burnout.(US Travel Association)

of employees say that they’ve felt pressured by theiremployer or manager to not take their vacation time off.

(PTO Pressure Report by KimbleApps)

89%

80%

19%

54%


Don’t know how to approach or use their time off

Not everyone is a travel expert or avid traveler. Travel can be an overwhelming or stressful process toplan and book and the lack the confidence or know-how can discourage people from ever going on a

trip. .

Unclear Policies

People who aren’t used to taking time off may not understand their paid time off rights


The importance of properly using travelopportunities There is a big difference between using your paid time off and using it effectively just like there is a hugedifference between staying in the workplace and never using any available travel opportunities. Not takingadvantage of paid time off properly, remote work option, or any other travel opportunity hinders anemployee’s chance to have purposeful experiences that improve their work-life and can negatively affecttheir health and wellbeing.

The employees spending more of their vacation time traveling (not just stayinghome) may also be more successful when they are in the offer. More than half

(52%) of mega-travelers reported receiving a promotion in the last two yearscompared to Americans who use some (44%) or little to none (44%) of their time

to travel

Where the average employee is taking 17.2 days of vacation, less than half ofthat time-just 8 days- is used for actual travel (U.S Travel Association)

Overcoming fears and obstacles It’s essential to have a company culture that encourages and supports travel. Employees are often fearful ofhaving their work dedication questioned when wanting to go on a vacation, of being fired, replaced, or risk oflosing out on a promotion, of talking about their travel experiences in the workplace, and even asking formore flexibility or to go on a vacation. Due to the fact that not everyone is a travel expert, many people don’t fulfill their travel desires due to fearsand concerns over finances, planning, booking, safety, health issues, and mental and overall wellbeing. Thisis why empowerment, education, and support is key to enabling people to have meaningful and beneficialexperiences.


What employees look for in a job People don’t need to quit their job to travel the world if their company provided opportunities that satisfiedtheir sense of wanderlust. People look for jobs that acknowledge them as human beings with passions, goals, families, and a personallife. They want to feel valued and appreciated and have the opportunity for upward growth in a job thatprovides them meaning. People seek a job that they’re happy and passionate about and that suits their innatedesire to travel. People value travel and they want a company that aligns with their personal values. Theywant to spend their time in a healthy work environment with a genuine sense of community and inclusion. People look for diverse and stimulating career experiences that grow their personal and professional skills.Travel is an important piece to cultivating each of these job attributes.

66% of millennials in the workforce would take a job with better perks (U.S Travel Organization)

Qualitative benefits of travel "If corporate business travel is more than 200 times the size of corporate wellness, then a travel wellnessprogram should provide more than 200 times the cost savings" -Corporate Wellness Magazine

Lower medical expenses

Decreased recruitment and training expenses

Increased quality of work, innovation, and productivity

Remote working reduced employee turnover by 50%

Businesses saved an average of $20,000 a year for each full-time employees who workedremotely

(Telework Coalition Report)


Adp

ADP’s Chief Human Resource OfficerDermot O’Brien recognized his

company’s vacationliability presented him with a unique

opportunity. After reviewing thefinancials, O’Brien discovered ADP wasadding $50 million to its costs each year

as a result of unused vacation days.When he reported it to ADP’s CEO,

O’Brien was told that if the $50 millioncarryover was eliminated, he could keep$10 million for his department.8Ratherthan pulling out the hatchet, O’Brien

gave employees three years to use theirbanked days. He then forced the

changes as a wellness initiative andmotivated employees to use their time to

connect with loved ones. (U.S Travel Association)

Examples on How Travel HasBenefited the Workplace

Steelhouse

SteelHouse gives employees $2000 ayear to go anywhere in the world anddo anything thing you want (as long

as it’s legal). Employees can use it allat once or spread it among multipletrips. "Our culture is really simple,"

says CEO Mark Douglas, "it's basedon trust and ambition”. The $2000

must be used to go somewhere andcan’t be just a bonus pay. The resultswere in the following three years, only

5 people out of 250 had left thecompany, 3 of whom left for reasonsunrelated to the job itself. "We havevirtually 0 turnover," Douglas said.The company has also found that

people who come to work rechargedtend to be more productive. "It's one

thing to say 'You have 3 weeksvacation,' like most companies do,"

he said, "it's another thing to say 'youhave cash,

and if you don't go on vacation andspend this money, the money literally

goes to waste.' It's another level ofsaying this is real." (Independent.com)


CEO Bart Loran implemented a “paid paid vacation” approach where the company gave$7,500 to workers who take their time off and disconnect. After initially offering unlimitedvacation, the Loran stated “we found when it was just unlimited, it wasn’t working out theway we’d hoped”, so the company instituted a minimum requirement of 15 vacation days

a year. The result was that after instituting the incentive in 2012, FullContact reportsincreased productivity, a “dramatic” drop in healthcare costs and sick days, and nearly

eliminated turnover. (Inc.com)

Whatemployees need

to do

In order to obtain the health benefits andtransformative experiences of travel,people need to be mindful of how theyorganize, plan, and execute their trip. They need to do inner reflection, engagewith local and other cultures, engage inthe workplace, identify the purpose of thetrip, travel with confidence, disconnectand focus on their experience, andparticipate in the planning process.

fullcontact


What companies need to do Tight travel budgets and overly strict travel policies don’t make for happy or productive employees.Companies need to embrace the travel culture of today’s workforce and offer appropriate education,empowerment, support, and resources to their employees. Cultivate a company culture that talks abouttravel.

SPARK TRAVEL EXCITEMENT THROUGH:

planning resourcesadding travel budgeting to your financial wellness programs

offering volunteer abroad opportunitiesIncentives for intuitive and transformational experience participation

education and guidance from travel experts group travel opportunities

activity sessions such as vacation vision boardsplace travel photos around the workplace

create destination-themed décorhave employees create country-themed cubicles

have healthy worldly lunchesoffering remote work and flexible work options

and many other exciting opportunities

Implement the Thrive Through Travel Initiative with the Travel Coach Approach in

self-guided e-learning courses, in-person trainings, and workshops

The cost of not taking action

We cannot evaluate corporate wellness programs solely by their return on investment (ROI) but ratherstanding behind the corporate responsibility of helping employees thrive and improving their overallwellbeing. Companies who choose not to take action and make proper shifts in terms of travel and theworkplace are choosing to subject themselves to falling behind in the workforce competition, risking acontinuation of turnover, burnout, high medical expenses, and struggling to hang on to valuable talent thatattributes to a healthy and happy company culture.

about sahara Rose

Sahara Rose De Vore is an intuitive and wellness travel coach and expert andthe founder of The Travel Coach Network. She applies her signature TravelCoach Approach framework to help companies improve their corporatewellness and business travel programs through enhanced and intuitivetravel. After receiving a BA in Hospitality and Tourism, she spent a decadetraveling the globe to over 80 countries. Sahara Rose is a published authorand has been seen in various media outlets and podcasts including ThriveGlobal, Hospitality Net, Forbes, Skift, Yahoo! Finance, and Business Insider.She is a speaker for the Global Workplace Wellness Summit and the GlobalBusiness Travel Association. She was a 2019 nominee for career-changingwomen in the travel industry organization WINit for rising female leader, bestfemale coach, and best innovative trailblazer.


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