80 To p : I a n L a n t e r m a n
B C B U S I N E S S . C A
N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 24
CARRY ON
GIFTS
FOR THE
TRAVELLER
IN YOUR LIFE
What your travel-savvy
friends and family really
want this holiday season
by Charlene Rooke
Charlene Rooke is a Vancouver-based wine and
spirits journalist and educator, and a former
editor of travel publications like Air Canada's
enRoute, Fairmont and a private-jet magazine.
J E T S E T T E R
Kate MacDougall and
Suzie Stadnyk co-founded
wellness company Goddess
Sphere (goddess-sphere.com),
inspired by a love of travel and
the desire to create a market-
place for woman-founded
products that promote focus,
balance and well-being. "Sup-
porting local creators not only
boosts the local economy but...
fosters a deeper connection to
the destination," Stadnyk says.
Bonus: thoughtfully curated
gift boxes arrive in as little as
two days within Canada.
Stadnyk favours travelling
in "thoughtful exploration,"
immersing herself in a culture
through local events and
customs: "This could be expe-
riencing a traditional Indig-
enous sweat lodge in North,
Central or South America;
booking a fishing charter in
Haida Gwaii; trekking epic vis-
tas in Colombia; or embarking
on a tapas tour in Spain."
Her travel hacks include
bringing hotel slippers on the
plane, booking directly with
hotels and attractions (versus
third-party websites) and
queuing up not only down-
loaded entertainment but
also tasks to complete during
downtime, to "make the entire
travel experience smoother
and much more enjoyable."
She always packs Goddess
Sphere's The Original Ache Oil,
a blend of 11 fresh-scented
essential oils for alleviating
sinus pressure, headaches
and "those inevitable muscle
aches during flights." Nature's
Bodega, Anto Yukon and
Helena Lane skincare products
are also on her list.
Stadnyk shops woman-
owned establishments in
B.C. such as Spirit Gallery in
Horseshoe Bay. "This Indige-
nous-represented art gallery
and gift shop, owned by Erin
Sam, showcases exceptional
Northwest Coast Native art
and remarkable carvings,"
she says.
Tasteful corporate gifting: Whistler's chicest new spot, Flute & Fromage,
assembles decadent gift boxes, with delivery (in Whistler and Sea to Sky;
contact for Lower Mainland), pick-up and gift-card options. They can cater your
cheesy holiday parties and gatherings, too. fluteandfromage.com
Business travellers want not only
to seal the handshake deal or get their
professional development conference
credits, they also want to find peace
and quiet, encounter no lineups and
perhaps own a bag that lets them stuff
in one more file or souvenir for the trip
back home.
FOR LOUNGE LIZARDS
For top-tier travel perks without the airline
status, give an airport lounge gift card
or a membership like Priority Pass, Plaza
Premium Lounges or the Club Airport
Lounges. Some airline lounges, like
American Airlines' Admirals Club and Air
Canada's Maple Leaf Lounges, sell annual
memberships, too. prioritypass.com,
plazapremiumlounge.com,
theclubairportlounges.com
FOR PUTTING JUNK IN THE TRUNK
It's not for the carry-on crowd, but
trunks are the hottest trend in luggage.
If a classic LV is out of your grasp, gift a
Hybrid Trunk from B.C. company Monos,
with its chic matte metallic aluminum
finish. Though Rimowa was founded
in Germany more than a century ago,
some of its aluminum and polycarbonate
bags are made in a Canadian factory in
Cambridge, Ontario. These trunks come in
neutral and matte or glossy and rainbow-
bright colours. monos.com, rimowa.com
FOR STUFFING COMPRESSION
STOCKINGS
Little items that make a big difference in
comfortable business travel include cute
compression socks, collapsible water
bottles or pouches, gourmet instant-coffee
packets and Tide pens. Trending brands to
gift include Curaprox toothbrushes from
Switzerland, Conair mini travel steamers
and the Trtl neck-wrap/pillow.
Suzie
Stadnyk
