We recently connected with Rebecca Gade Sawicki and have shared our conversation below.
Rebecca, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
My path into the travel industry is unique.
Like many people, I took time during the pandemic to re-evaluate my career — I wanted to find a way to align it with my ethics in hopes of making this world a little kinder and greener.
So, I started looking for a job with a vegan or environmental company, but I struggled to find a job that was a good fit.
So, what does any college-educated person do when this happens, and they’re in the middle of a global pandemic? Well, they start a vegan travel blog and eventually leave their 15-year career in the dust!
Honestly, I thought starting the blog would just help me pivot my career — I knew it would force me to learn new skills and network with like-minded people, but it’s turned into much more. As the blog began to grow, I started to take on freelance projects, and at the end of 2021, I left my full-time job. After that point, I started to seriously evaluate how I could merge my love of travel with my ethics.
Veggies Abroad offers mouthwatering lineups of vegan food, action-packed travel guides, and trip tips so you can plan your entire veggie-filled vacation, but if you don’t want to do all that work, there’s another option. I also offer full-service travel advisory services focused on the specific needs of vegan and eco-minded travelers.
Building Veggies Abroad has become my form of activism. I have the opportunity to encourage businesses to make more sustainable choices and help travelers support companies that are making a difference. As an advisor and blogging queen, it is my goal to use travel as a tool for good.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Veggies Abroad started as just a vegan travel blog that was meant to help me pivot my career; it was never meant to become a full-time job. Over the last two years, the blog has grown into a travel agency, and I launched our first vegan tour to Thailand for the end of 2023.
On the travel agency side, I specialize in crafting vegan-friendly and sustainable itineraries. Travel can enlighten our perspective, and it can support local communities and businesses that are working to protect our environment; as an advisor, it’s my goal to use travel as a tool for good.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
The vast majority of my blog readership and clients come through Google searches — I’ve become a pretty good SEO (search engine optimization) whiz! Most people are usually surprised it’s not social media. Social media is actually a minuscule amount of my website traffic. I always have to be careful not to spend hours and hours pouring over social media content as the ROI is so poor. It serves a purpose in your marketing strategy, but it’s not the end all be all.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I think a few things have helped with this — consistency, networking, and always raising my hand when appropriate. As a business owner, it can be incredibly intimidating to put yourself out there — imposter syndrome is always knocking on the door. I have spent a lot of time working on my messaging to ensure it’s consistent and also interesting — who wants to pay attention to something that’s boring? Once that was nailed down, I pitched myself for speaking opportunities, article inclusions, and anything that would help get my business name out there.
I’ve also been really consistent with my audience, and they’ve watched as I have grown the business — they’ve seen some of the highs and lows. I think this has helped create a loyal following that often shares articles and recommends my services. 
Contact Info:
- Website: https://veggiesabroad.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veggiesabroad/
Image Credits
Rebecca Gade Sawicki