Is phone-free travel really possible?

Patrick Marsden believes that it’s not only possible — it’s thrilling. A lifelong traveler and one of the tourism industry’s leading mental health advocates, he is on a mission to help people make the most of their travel experiences by disconnecting from digital devices. He joins this episode of the podcast to share how disconnected experiences can help people rediscover the joy of travel.

Patrick talks about how he discovered the growing mental health crisis; how he helps people break their phone addictions on the road; and the the unique advantages of group travel for helping people take disconnected trips. Plus, we have news about an airline redeploying mothballed jets; a road tip about planning ahead for sweaty days; and a Hot Minute about how much work you should do while you’re traveling.

Patrick had lots of insights about how group travel can create space for people to boost their mental health through phone-free travel. Here’s one of his most significant comments:

“By encouraging guests to disconnect from their devices, they will have a better experience, and it will be more meaningful. But there has to be a business case. The guest has to want this”¦. I think there is going to be more of a groundswell among customers of having the option. I would suggest saying ‘If you want to have a digital disconnect experience, we can provide the infrastructure for you to do that.'”

Plus, he had great things to say about:

Learn more about MaCher at macher.com.

Learn more about the Switch Off Take Off program at switchofftakeoff.com.

Follow Patrick Marsden on LinkedIn.

Get free downloadable resources from The Group Travel Leader at grouptravelleader.com/start.

1:31 — Travel News: American Airlines is reactivating mothballed jets

2:34 — Road Tip: Extra clothes for sweaty days

10:41 — Why Patrick Marsden left banking for travel

13:01 — How tourism can tackle the mental health crisis

17:29 — What does an authentic trip actually look like?

19:44 — Why group trips are better for your mental health

21:28 — Making the pitch for phone-free travel

27:27 — How much should travel planners push for disconnected trips?

32:55 — The science of maximizing travel enjoyment

48:35 — Hot Minute: Are you working too much when you travel?

Thanks to our sponsor Coastal Mississippi for making this episode possible. Learn more about Coastal Mississippi’s travel experiences for groups at coastalmississippi.com.

Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.

You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.