Barb Wright is the founder and luxury destination advisor of Travel Wright with Barb, and for the last three years, she has been making luxury travel dreams, no matter how big, come true.
“You can Google anything, but how do you Google the unGoogleable? That's where that's where I come in,” she said. “It's the most wonderful experience to see smiles when [clients] are on horseback in a river in Colombia or picking coffee and cocoa beans and making their own hot chocolate. I can even fly you to the moon if you want. Nothing is out of bounds.”
Wright recently returned to Kansas City from a trip to Greece. While she thoroughly enjoyed her time staying in the cities of Athens, Tinos and Mykonos, this trip was all for business. It is what she calls a “familiarization” trip, and after having boots on the ground, she can better meet the needs and expectations of future clients looking for a Grecian getaway.
“It is an educational trip for me to learn about the hotels and to vet the people who run the tours,” she said. “When I went to France a few years ago, the gentleman I used as my guide there was incredible. So whenever I have a client who wants to go to Normandy and wants an in-depth Normandy experience, I call Christophe.”
Wright specializes in international luxury travel for individuals, families, and groups. Before any planning begins, she makes a concerted effort to understand her client’s goals and how they align with their investment. Once the papers are signed, Wright knows her role, even if it means an early wake-up call.
“My husband always jokes, ‘Why do they always call at 2:00 a.m.?’ Because there's a seven-hour time difference. While my clients are traveling, I'm available 24/7,” she said.
The term Wright most often hears upon a client’s return is “stress-free.” This magic happens in the details before the actual trip. Wright makes it a point to communicate her client’s needs and desires to those waiting for them at their destination.
“This is a 70-year-old couple. One has muscular dystrophy. She moves kind of slowly. We need to make sure we have some breaks for her to sit down. This is a family of four with two teenagers. We need to keep him on the go and keep him happy. I'm with you from start to finish.”
Wright’s love for travel began after she took a trip to Africa. Observing the people walk barefoot to the singing wells stirred something in her heart.
“Africa was life-changing,” she said. “I came home to realize that we all look different. Our hair is different. Our eyes are different. Our taste buds are different. Our religions are different. But at the end of the day, these people were exactly the same as me. They just wanted to be loved and accepted, to feel safe and secure.”
Now, as a travel advisor, Wright has toured the world. As she plans adventures for both the young and old, she hopes their lives will also be shaped by the beauty that other cultures are longing to share.
“If I can create experiences for people where they can go and realize we're all one people and cause a ripple effect, maybe that's how I change the world.”
"I can fly you to the moon if you want. Nothing is out of bounds.”