Before putting his professional expertise and personal passion to the ultimate test by traveling around the world for a year with his wife and two young children, Rainer Jenss was a vice president and 13-year veteran of the National Geographic Society. As Publisher of National Geographic Kids from 2002-2008, Jenss helped transform the publication into the most widely read consumer magazine for children in the world. 

Since returning from the trip around the world with his family, Jenss has been a dedicated advocate for family travel as an essential part of every child’s education. By creating the Family Travel Association, Jenss aimed to establish a collective and unified industry voice to help change the way families travel.

In this episode of Humans of Travel, Jenss opens up about the personal challenges of immigrating to the U.S. from Germany as a child, his desire to integrate travel into his professional ambitions, the road to discovery brought about by a trip around the world with his family and the healing power of travel during a personal health crisis.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

TravelAge West Community Voices: Travel Is Just What the Doctor Ordered: www.travelagewest.com/Industry-Insight/Opinion/Community-Voices-Travel-Is-Just-What-the-Doctor-Ordered

Family Travel Association: www.familytravel.org

Smart Family Travel: www.smartfamilytravel.com

National Geographic Kids: kids.nationalgeographic.com

Full episode notes at www.TravelAgeWest.com/Podcast

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is the Digital Managing Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. 

TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. 

ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.