We were lucky to catch up with Shanell Varner recently and have shared our conversation below.

Shanell, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Simply put a mission is a short statement of why an organization exist, what its overall goal is, and the goal of the company. When we start at Moonglade Travel, in 2016, our mission was simply to inspire people to travel and see this big, bold, and beautiful planet. As we’ve evolved and have engulfed ourselves in more intentional travel experiences. Our mission has reshaped itself into one of deep meaning and intentional purpose. This mission of Moonglade Travel is to inspire unique wanderlust experiences that enrich your life by providing opportunities to learn, connect, and grow. We do this by crafting meaningful experiences that leaves travelers feeling recharged and rejuvenated.

Let’s face it, in society where we are often overworked, stressed out, burned out, and overstimulated by the negative things happening all around us, we all need travel. To me, it’s a necessity. When we make Travel a part of our self-care and truly imbedded into our lifestyles, coupled with planning trips that are going to deeply fulfill us on a deeper level. It creates the recipe for being able to show up more authentically, whole and complete.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’ve coined myself the ultimate travel guru. As an internationally recognized travel and lifestyle expert, blogger, and podcast cohost, I’ve developed a passion for bringing people, especially women together and exposing them to unique places and experiences. Since started Moonglade Travel, my luxury boutique travel and wellness company, I’ve been curating meaningful travel experiences for my clients that inspire them to connect, learn and grow.

I’m a true believer that travel is a lifestyle and a critical part of our self-care.

Honestly, I love the joy that travel delivers! I enjoy seeing new places, meeting new people, and experiencing different cultures. Plus, the food. Oh my GOSH! I indulge in so many delicious dishes when I travel. But it’s the experiences that take you deeper that are the most impactful. During my first trip to Africa, my mother and I stayed at this super cute hotel in Mamba Point, Monrovia, called the Crystal Oceanview Hotel. It was a beautiful locally-owned, boutique hotel, with amazing views of the sunset from the wooden rooftop terrace. The staff were top notch and beyond friendly and welcoming. Once evening, I was sipping a sangria and watching the fisherman return to shore after a long day of fishing in the Atlantic Sea. I met a beautiful local woman who gave me this gorgeous gold plated ring with a smoothly rugged gem in the center. She introduced herself and asked me if this was my first time here. I introduced myself and complimented her on her ring. She said “Here, you can have it! It looks good on your color.” That short and simple exchange has stuck with me all these years. Having that connection with her made me appreciate the simplicity of meeting someone new. It taught me something new about the culture of locals and most importantly it allowed me to search for that same level of gratitude and grace in myself.

That’s why Moonglade Travel was created, to inspire authentic, intentional travel moments.

We help our clients overcome the confusion and frustration of travel planning and dive deeper into how travel can be a tool in improving their way of life.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One lesson I had to unlearn was the belief that vulnerability is a sign of weakness. In my early years, I had the mindset that showing vulnerability meant being exposed and susceptible to judgment and criticism. I built walls around myself, constantly striving to appear strong and invulnerable. However, through various hard life lessons and personal reflections, I came to understand that vulnerability is actually a strength that allows for genuine connections and personal growth. Plus, it was actually freeing to embrace.

As I leaned deeper into embracing vulnerability, I realized the importance of self-care. I discovered that taking care of myself physically, mentally, and emotionally is not selfish but rather necessary for my overall well-being. It meant setting aside time to nurture my own needs and recharge my energy. I learned to listen to my body and mind, honoring their signals and responding with grace and compassion.

Creating personal boundaries became an integral part of my self-care practice. I recognized that it was essential to establish limits and communicate them effectively in both personal and professional relationships. By setting boundaries, I was able to safeguard my emotional vibrations and preserved my energy. This involved learning to say “no” when necessary, prioritizing my own needs without guilt, and advocating for my values and beliefs.

In the professional realm, creating boundaries meant understanding my limits and not overextending myself. It involved being assertive in communicating my workload and expectations, as well as recognizing the importance of work-life harmony. I began to prioritize my mental health and well-being alongside professional accomplishments, understanding that sustainable success requires a healthy and balanced approach.

By embracing vulnerability, practicing self-care, and establishing personal and professional boundaries, I found a newfound sense of empowerment and authenticity. I developed stronger connections with the people around me as I allowed myself to show up authentically and embrace vulnerability as a pathway to deeper understanding and empathy. Simultaneously, I experienced increased productivity, fulfillment, and overall well-being by honoring my own needs and setting healthy limits in both personal and professional aspects of my life.

Remember, embracing vulnerability and practicing self-care are ongoing journeys, unique to each individual. It’s about finding what works best for you and consistently prioritizing your well-being as you navigate the beautiful complexities of life. It’s definitely been a journey.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

Keeping in touch with our clients and fostering brand loyalty is a top priority. Building and maintaining strong and meaningful relationships that extend beyond the initial travel experience is valuable to us at Moonglade Travel. Since we seldomly engage in paid advertisement, having loyal, repeat clients and referrals is like gold.

Here are a few ways we accomplish this:

Personalized Communication: Staying connected is key. We strive to maintain regular and personalized communication with our clients. After a trip, we send personalized follow-up emails or handwritten notes expressing our gratitude for their trust in us and inquiring about their experience. We also utilize email newsletters to provide updates on new destinations, wellness tips, and exclusive offers tailored to their interests.
Social Media Engagement: We actively engage with our clients on social media platforms. Our favorites are Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin. We actively respond to their comments, direct messages, and posts. In our private Facebook group for women, we foster a sense of community and show that we genuinely care about their travel and wellness journeys. So much so, that the group is called, Women’s Wellness Journeys. And we stay pretty true to the name. We share inspiring stories and user-generated content, tagging and featuring our clients whenever possible.
Exclusive Loyalty Programs: We offer a loyalty program that rewards our clients for their continued support and engagement. This may include benefits such as early access to new retreats, exclusive discounts, or personalized travel recommendations based on their preferences and past experiences with us. By providing these exclusive perks, we show our appreciation and incentivize their loyalty. there’s also an opportunity to receive special referral gifts and event saves on their next trip for making a solid referring
Events and Workshops: We organize events and workshops related to wellness and travel, both in-person and virtually. These events offer opportunities for our clients to connect with like-minded individuals, learn from experts, and deepen their knowledge of various wellness practices. By providing value beyond the travel experience, we establish ourselves as a trusted resource in the industry.
For example, we might organize a virtual yoga and mindfulness workshop led by renowned instructors, where our clients can participate and engage with fellow travelers, even after their trip has ended.

Overall, our goal is to create a community of loyal clients who not only choose us for their travel and wellness needs but also become advocates for our brand. By staying connected, offering personalized experiences, and providing ongoing support, we strive to build lasting relationships that go beyond a single trip, fostering brand loyalty and trust in our travel and wellness company.  

Contact Info:

• Website: www.moongladetravel.com
• Instagram: @wheresshanell, @moongladetravel
• Facebook: @shanellvarner, @moongladetravel
• Linkedin: Shanell Varner, Moonglade Travel, LLC
• Youtube: UCRDpnwv8Ot2N9iTv3HqFNDw