The Experienced Traveler

It seems that the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realize the world to be. The more I become aware of, the more I realize how relatively little I know of it, how many places I have still to go, how much more there is to learn. Maybe that’s enlightenment enough – to know that there is no final resting place of the mind, no moment of smug clarity. Perhaps wisdom, at least for me, means realizing how small I am, and unwise, and how far I have yet to go.” – Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain was known for his travels and sharing them with the world. He inspired countless individuals to take the leap of faith and set out on their own personal adventures. Here at NHS Global Events, we encourage our colleagues to travel because we know it will help them develop personally and professionally. Sometimes our travels are learning about new hotels, what different cities can offer our clients, industry events, and more. However, colleagues at NHS Global Events also take personal trips to locations they have always wanted to see and experience.

Bailey, one of our Account Managers for the Sourcing Department started traveling at the age of 16. She has visited numerous countries and gained some of the most memorable experiences! Taking the time to sit down with her has given way to learn why she started traveling in the first place and how her adventures have helped shape her personally and professionally. Don’t miss out on this informative (and funny!) interview.

Every traveler has the one souvenir they plan to get wherever they visit and at least one item they cannot travel without. For Bailey, her souvenir is magnets. Bailey has even helped fill our refrigerator at NHS up with a great deal of fun and unique magnets! Since Bailey loves photography, her DSLR camera is her must-have travel item. It’s not an abnormal occurrence to see some of us in the break room scrolling through her Instagram feed!

Bailey’s most recent trip brought her to a handful of destinations, including; Russia, Switzerland, Finland, Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia. Prior to the trip, she ensured every hotel and every piece of the itinerary was organized, while also maintaining room for spontaneous adventures! Bailey’s funny memory that she recalls is when her friend came pounding on her hotel room door late at night and repeatedly saying,

They’re out! They’re out!”

It took Bailey a few moments to register that he was referring to the Northern Lights. If you have never seen the Northern Lights, it has to be added to your bucket list! Watching the Northern Lights is like watching a scene out of a magical and beautiful sci-fi movie. With different colors, brightness, and luminosity, they are an experience that will be imprinted on your mind. Bailey and her family ran outside in the snow to experience the Auroras. That ended up being one of the best parts of Bailey’s trip!

Whenever people travel, there are always must-see sites. For Bailey, some of the most important places on her list have to do with architecture. Wandering around trying to find her way to an infamous church with her friend, two older Russian ladies noticed they needed directions. However, they went a step further. Gently grabbing the younger girls by their arms and guiding them to their destination. To Bailey this was more than just two friendly Russian women helping her, it was a lesson that

People are nice and typically want to help others.

Traveling has also aided Bailey in her professional career. She explained that working in the hospitality industry for years has helped her learn what makes a destination a good place for clients to potentially use for meetings and events. In Bailey’s words,

You travel differently. You look at the town differently. You notice where the stations are and take note of it.”

Looking at destinations this way has helped Bailey sell a destination to a client and communicate with them better, as she is able to explain why the recommended location is a good fit for them.

One of the greatest beauties of the hospitality industry is that it stretches far and wide, which means Bailey has been able to make friends in the industry from all over the world. Connecting with people in the industry has helped her build stronger relationships. If she is going to a big industry event, she knows who she can get together with to catch up. If she needs a recommendation for a hotel in an area she isn’t as familiar with, she can make a phone call and have a list of recommendations in minutes. Bailey’s proactive attitude to take her travel lessons and insert them into her professional development has helped shape her into a great Sourcing Account Manager.

Photos from Moscow and St. Petersburg:

Photos from Zermatt, Switzerland:

Please Visit our Instagram page to see more photos from Bailey’s Trip!