Allie and I spent hours and hours applying for a $95,000 grant a few months ago with “girlboss.” We didn’t win. It turns out they were looking for people much further along than us in the business development process, but it was one of the most effective exercises we’ve ever partaken in. Let’s preface this by saying neither of us have ever been a part of starting a business prior to co-mads and usually, we walk into things without knowing what we’re walking into (which is a blessing AND a curse). So, the application was another one of those things we walked into blindly. It asked us to go into detail about things we had never considered before, so we had some serious details to iron out as far as the business model went. During one of our late-night brainstorming sessions, we were talking about how co-mads is truly setting a new standard of travel. In a sense, we are redefining the way people travel with innovative solutions. We started making a list of “how” co-mads is doing these things. Three major points stood out. Mindful tourism, conscious consumerism, and community impact. We agreed, these three pillars are the values that hold up co-mads. Allie said, “Three pillars…It’s a trinity…Let’s call it the trinity of modern travel,” and I was sold…she nailed it.
We’re making a bold statement by saying co-mads is setting a new standard for what it means to be a modern-day traveler. How are we setting this standard?
Traditionally, travel has been used as an escape, a chance to take your mind off of pressing personal, professional, and social issues. co-mads trips are taken with purpose, to stimulate your mind and to face these issues head on. Mindful tourism is about using travel as a way to challenge one’s own belief system, to engage with people of different backgrounds, and to embrace new cultures. This allows for personal growth. Mindful tourism is not about checking tourist destinations off your list, it’s about becoming a thoughtful and active member of the community you are exploring. co-mads fosters mindful tourism by immersing our travelers in local culture and hosting events centered on networking and thoughtful roundtable conversations in an effort to cultivate transformative change in ourselves and the community.
co-mads promotes conscious consumerism by building itineraries that support small and locally owned businesses with social missions, as well as aiming to be environmentally sustainable. Our brand is built with this value at its forefront. co-mads embodies community impact. We provide our travelers with meaningful and enriching volunteer opportunities by building mutually beneficial service partnerships with effective local nonprofit organizations and social enterprises. co-mads chooses to work on community service projects that cater to the social issues and needs that are specific to each region we are exploring.
As travel becomes more accessible, it is important to set a standard as to what it means to be a socially responsible traveler in hopes of a better world. co-mads is setting that new standard. Our trips are designed for thinkers, doers, change-makers, leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, activists, creatives, community-minded, passionate people who want to travel with a group of likeminded individuals and leave a footprint on the communities we serve and explore.
The future of travel is co-mads.
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