Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerry Bray.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
Hi! I am Kerry Bray, founder of Wander Travel Company. I have always loved travel and spent 4 years as a flight attendant. Wandering around in new locations satisfied my gypsy soul in so many ways. Naturally, after starting my family instead of flying around myself, in 2005, I opened my travel agency, Shore Travel, where I began helping others plan their trips. With many referrals and repeat customers, my business became a fun adventure! I loved every minute, especially hearing from clients after their dream vacation or destination wedding.
Like so many women, as the years went on, it became more of a balancing act – running a business while juggling life and family, activities and meal planning, kids and carpools. I loved the whirlwind of it all, but my free spirit craved a deep connection to something spiritual, to find calm in the chaos of life. In 2012, I reconnected with my spiritual practice. It felt natural to seek retreats globally since travel was second nature to my soul. After a trip to Kripalu and the Chopra Center that same year, I knew how profound this practice had become for me, and I wanted to share it with others. So, in June of 2015, I became a 200-Hour RYT and Primordial Sound Meditation Guide.
It is an honor to share the deeper benefits of yoga and meditation. The style and intention of my teaching support a gentle and restorative approach. The teacher’s path has helped deepen my practice and allows me to guide and connect with others on their spiritual journeys. When we practice, we cultivate a feeling of unity within ourselves. When we feel that union, we feel connected to everyone and everything around us; travel has this way of solidifying that connection to the world. We all have things that take us out of balance, and remembering to return to these practices can always bring us back. Personally, it has helped with my struggles with depression and anxiety and has assisted in my recovery from spinal fusion surgery.
Knowing how much my spiritual practices transformed my well-being, in 2017, I started the Community Yoga Loft – a donation-based class and workshop program designed to give back to the community. Then two years later, in 2019, I began Kerry Bray Wellness with remote offerings to help more people worldwide.
My story also speaks to so many. We get on a path and follow the thread of it as we begin to stitch together various pieces and parts of our lives. We don’t always realize it as it’s happening, but after, we can see the masterpiece created even with all the twists and turns and bumps in the road. Anyone who knows me knows I am a free spirit, a seeker of all things wellness with a wandering soul and a passion for travel. Dreaming about, then planning where to go next totally lights me up. Helping others do it, too, is just as exciting! The world is such a big place, yet it can connect us in ways we can’t quite imagine. There is so much to see, learn, and enjoy.
The need is clear, especially after Covid; people seek more mindful and intentional ways to connect to the larger world. Wellness travel satisfies that need and has grown immensely because of it. So, in January 2022, I combined all my passions, took a leap of faith (truly the best form of travel), and launched Wander Travel Company.
At Wander, we offer modern, mindful luxury travel focusing on wellness and retreats. We specialize in exploring our health and wellness through travel. Every individual’s version of wellness is as unique as they are, so when you come to us, we customize the wellness experience that fits you. With our retreats, we believe in the “power of the pause” – to take time out for yourself to tune out so you can tune in to your soul. My loves at work mirror my loves in general – I love the water, reading, nature, and traveling. I live near the beach in New Jersey with my husband, our four children, and our dogs, Oliver & Olivia. I enjoy volunteering in my community and attending classes and workshops occasionally. I’m a student of life, always open to discovering more, and I love learning from many different teachers. I look forward to many more to come. We are all teachers in each other’s lives, and I thank you for showing up in mine. With my intuition and guidance through multiple practices throughout my life, I encourage you to embrace the power of pause and Wander with me. We have so many exciting upcoming retreats I can’t wait to share. And if travel is on your mind, I would love to be a part of your wellness journey.
Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think it has been smooth overall in retrospect. My career path flowed from one aspect to the next. I think my biggest challenge is growing and building an aligned team. Being an entrepreneur, we often wear many hats! I’m in the process of finding and building the right support to which I can delegate tasks without losing my voice or my brand. Finding people with skill sets that complement mine takes time and is a challenge, but a fun one when I see it come to fruition!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Wander Travel Company was formed from the deeper level of creating peace and calm in our present moment. Wander is a company focused on luxury travel, wellness travel, retreats, and travel advice. We pay attention to every detail and are dedicated to creating seamless itineraries for our clients that are individually tailored to them. Unlike online booking sites, Wander has years of experience and working relationships with top destination suppliers allowing us to give clients VIP treatment. At the same time, they travel and provide the detailed attention that small businesses are known for. By taking the hassle and stress out of planning, we can leave the fun part to you, the client, experiencing a destination the way it should be!
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Every client I’ve ever worked with, the amazing locations I get to explore and recommend, and of course, my supportive husband and family!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://wandertravelcompany.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/wandertravelcompany?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wandertravelcompany?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Bilimama Photography
