It’s hard to believe that I’ve known today’s newsletter guest for about seven years. It may not make sense for all my readers but wow, Dana, look at how far we’ve come!
When I met Dana O’Malley, she was in-house as a PR Director of the Americas for Small Luxury Hotels of the World. I was also in-house at a New York magazine and the leap to freelance wasn’t on my radar. Fast forward to today and Dana’s in her third year of leading her own company, Kindred Public Relations, an agency that represents boutique brands around the globe.
Founded in December 2020, Kindred is more than another hospitality public relations’ firm. After years of working in the travel industry and realizing the toll that frequent flying and hectic itineraries can take on anyone, Dana connected the dots between travel, mental health and wellbeing at Kindred. Planes may seem like an odd place to think about wellness, she shares, but it was while flying that she recognized the need for Kindred.
I admire how she’s using her company and platform to reposition how the modern consumer thinks about, and approaches, travel. Sure, people travel for different reasons but at the end of the day, whatever the reason we travel, it’s all intertwined.
Below, she shares more about the revelation, as well as some of her favorite destinations, and chosen apps for making travel a tad easier.
What's the first destination you visited that made you want to enter the travel industry?
During my junior year in college, a few friends and I decided to visit friends studying abroad in London and Paris. Though my parents always took us on family vacations to explore other cultures and create memories together, this was the first time I ventured outside the US with friends. Always a traveler and very much a plan-obsessed Virgo, I was excited to devour travel books and read blogs (which were new at the time!) to create an extensive list of the best things to see, do, and eat. I loved everything about it.
The planning and sightseeing, the magic of getting lost and wandering around the most beautiful parts of the cities, soaking up the history and culture which was so different from my home state of New York. I also loved how the journey itself created a stronger connection between our friends, similar to those inexplicable bonds created during press trips! This is what solidified my dedication to making travel more than a side project.
When I travel today, I may not be crammed into a small hotel room with five other people, but I still feel the same way about London and travel in general. Several years later after college, I became the US Marketing and Communications Manager for VisitBritain, developing these types of trips for journalists to inspire budding travelers awaiting inspiration like I once was.
Since then, has there been a destination that's stood out to you that's challenged or exceeded expectations so that you now advocate for it more than you thought you might prior to visiting?
Ireland really surprised me! I’ve loved learning about my husband’s Irish heritage, but I didn’t expect the landscape to be spectacular. Of course, you hear that Ireland is beautiful, but it’s truly breathtaking. More than that, the people were very friendly, the hotels were stunning, and it was surprisingly easy to drive around the country. As we drove through County Mayo and saw the O’Malley pub in the center of town and visited the historic home of Grace O’Malley—the first ever female pirate queen—it was easy to get swept up in the magic of this ‘homecoming’ trip. We also visited Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland as it was closing for the evening and there was no one else in sight. Walking down the beach and balancing on the basalt columns as we watched the sunset made me feel both big and small at the same time. If you plan to go: stay at the National Trust Property on site to beat the crowds and enjoy a pint at the pub.
What's your plane routine?
When it comes to flying, I approach it the same every time. I know that I need a specific playlist for takeoff, an aisle seat, healthy snacks, and a huge bottle of water to ensure I have a stress-free flight.
It might be an odd place to think of wellness, but the constraints of being on a plane essentially force you to sit with yourself and think about what makes you feel safe and secure. This small observation is one of the reasons I decided to connect the dots between travel, mental health, and wellbeing at Kindred, where we support therapists, holistic wellbeing programs at hotels, and more. They’re interconnected more than ever, and it’s important to think about them as benefiting each other.
How do you make travel easier? Are there any apps or technology you use on a trip that permit for smoother travels?
I’ll admit that I’m a travel publicist who fears turbulence. You might think that travel professionals are totally unphased by flying, but it’s still something that makes a lot of us anxious for various reasons! I have the Flying Calmly app where I can check the air status ahead of the flight. Once you plug in your flight details, the app shows you how smooth or turbulent the flight is expected to be at any given time. It takes one unknown out of the experience which has been really helpful.
In general, anything that can take extra thought or stress out of the experience makes travel easier and makes space for the fun stuff (or problem solving, should it be needed). I have a packing list that I've perfected over the years, and I always stick to it, which clears brain space for more important things like finding the best place for cocktails upon arrival. I’m a mom of two little ones, so FaceTime and WhatsApp are crucial for me to stay connected to my family and business wherever I go.
What's a repeat destination that you enjoy visiting time and time again?
I’m itching to return to Trinidad and Tobago. My mother is from Trinidad and some of my extended family still lives there, so it holds a special place in my heart. Though I haven’t been back since COVID, I can’t wait to visit my family and ‘lime’ which just means to hang out… mostly with a little drinking, dancing, and lots of laughs. Trinidad is still considered somewhat of a hidden gem destination. The beaches are unparalleled, the culture is unique, and the food is mouthwatering. Roti, choka, and curry are my comfort foods, and if you’ve ever shared a meal with me you’d know that I can’t live without pepper sauce.
Are you currently following any travel trends? What are they and how do you see them evolving this year?
The trend I’m following most is for travel to reflect personal and communal values: traveling sustainably, preventative wellness, and forming deep connections. Over the past few years, like many others, I’ve become focused on making memories with loved ones through travel and wellbeing. Being a mom has made me hyper-vigilant about focusing on my health and personal values. And I’m not alone in this. Studies show that, after the pandemic, many people dug into their values and now refuse to sacrifice meaning, purpose, and living a full life for a desk job. Travelers don’t want to simply book the most convenient spot then ‘fly and flop’. Instead, they want the journey and experience to reflect what’s truly important in life in the long run.
Travelers are increasingly vegan, sober, and asking questions about a hotel’s commitment not only to environmental sustainability but how they impact the community (do they give back? do they source talent and goods locally?). People are finally recognizing that time is the most precious commodity, and they want to spend their money and hard earned vacation days where their values are aligned. Our team at Kindred released our inaugural 2024 Values Report in collaboration with our UK partner which speaks more to these overarching topics and trends.
What trip are you most looking forward to in 2024 and why?
There are many! I’m excited to visit clients in Lake Como, London, Costa Rica and more. Personally, I’m excited for a much-needed friends’ spa weekend in The Berkshires, a visit to Kansas City for a family wedding, and to take my girls to Portugal later this year. I’m grateful that there are several upcoming journeys to look forward to, but, most of all, I look forward to sharing my love of travel with my girls so they can discover the magic of it for themselves.
When you're at home, where would we find you shopping, eating, or grabbing a coffee?
In my home of Scarsdale, New York, you can find me grabbing coffee at Martine’s Bake Shoppe before hopping on a quick train ride to Grand Central.
I’m excited to try a new holistic wellness destination named Longevity Place—it’s a wonderful example of the growing demand and resources available to take care of yourself, mind, and body.
On rainy weekends you can find us at Tig & Peach, a locally owned indoor play space for kids.
Westchester is beautiful year-round, but really shines in the fall. We love looking at ‘spooky lights’ during Halloween in Sleepy Hollow and the river towns (Tarrytown, Hastings) have the cutest shops and main streets for a nice stroll.
Since we live close to NYC, it’s easy to meet with friends or plan a date night at some of our favorite places such as Planta, an out of this world plant-based restaurant.
As a travel and wine/spirits journalist, everything I do or eat doesn’t always end up online (though many might say it looks that way), so I wanted to start rounding out my emails with some top tastings, tours & tidbits that might get lost in between travels.
This semi dry white Bordeaux is a delicious way to elevate weekend takeout (something spicy like Indian or Thai).
The tuna tostada at Contramar in Mexico City is as delectable as I remember; a flawless combination of flavors and textures (soft avocado, crunchy tortilla, zesty, marinated tuna). Bookmark it for your next visit.
Boston friends (and those visiting soon!) run don’t walk to sip a dirty martini at The Wig Shop. I’ve acknowledged this olive-oil washed vodka beauty before but after taking my parents for their first time, I needed to re-emphasize this.
Aged pickled scotch bonnet peppers make this hot sauce that I discovered in the BVI a new match for my heat-tolerant taste buds. Try it on fried eggs or chicken wings.
Some recent work:
Introducing Clase Azul’s Newest Mezcal