Every year, we close the office for a long weekend to explore a global trend up close and personal. The annual Trend Trip—a hallmark of TTC for nearly 20 years—is designed to inspire creativity, expand our perspectives, and grasp global movements as they relate to our work. We’ve traveled all over the world chasing trends and even explored our own NYC backyard. However, our travels are less about the destination and more about the inspiration, helping to spark our creativity and cultivate our community.
You might be wondering: how do they pull this off? Below, we’ve answered FAQs we get about our Trend Trip—from our clients, friends, and even families.
#1 Is it a boondoggle?
No, our Trend Trips aren’t just trips. Although we do experience our destinations in the form of food, drink, and culture, the focus of our Trend Trip is just that: trends. Each journey, whether centered around the trend of Art & Design, Eco-Tourism, or the Paycation, offers a complete immersion into a fresh perspective.
#2 Is it expensive? How do you afford to take one every year?
Our creativity isn’t just artistic and literary. Trend trips are filled to the brim with sightseeing, team-building, and cultural exploration that can only be accomplished by getting a little scrappy. We use mass transit, opt to share Airbnb rooms, and discover our destination’s history through proactive research complemented by diverse activities.
#3 What do you do on Trend Trips?
We use the global trend to structure our activities. Whether we’re focusing on culinary tourism, ancient culture, or health and wellness, we spend our time immersing ourselves in our theme of choice through the tours we select and the sites we visit.
We also take time to bond as a team, using the new environment as an opportunity to build relationships with each other and the world around us.
#4 How does it benefit your business?
Trend Trips benefit our business by nurturing our curiosity and community–two of our core values. We return with an abundance of shared experiences and collective memories that fuel creativity. Plus, we apply our wider breadth of knowledge to future campaigns, adding reference points through a richer understanding of consumers and culture.
#5 Which Trend Trip is your favorite?
That depends on you! We’ve had once-in-a-lifetime experiences on each of our 19 trips across 4 continents. If you like horseback riding, Mexico would have been your perfect destination. Want to pick up a new rhythm from a professional? Tango dancing in Madrid would be at the top of your list. And our political focus in Moscow would’ve piqued your diplomatic interests.
#6 Can I come on the next Trend Trip?
Of course! When you join the team 😁 Learn how to be a part of TTC and embark on a Trend Trip by emailing info@thethomascollective.com.