Business travel today isn’t about hitting pause on life. I’ve seen plenty of folks try to juggle personal rituals while living out of a suitcase. It’s nothing new, folks have been blending work and leisure for decades. Now, with nearly a quarter of US employees working remotely part-time, it’s just more common. Business travel hit $1.5 trillion globally last year. But let’s not kid ourselves, it’s still a grind.
Take Jon Sáenz Madrazo from Kiehl’s. He sketches in a notebook before diving into the day. It’s his version of meditation. It’s a nice routine, but at the end of the day, it’s just a way to keep sane when you’re never in one place. Then there’s Aaron Kithcart at Regeneron, who FaceTimes with his husband across time zones. It’s all about shrinking the distance, but let’s be honest, it’s still a lonely road.
Kelly Wearstler of Proper Hotels has her rituals too—whether it’s mint tea or face oils. It’s about maintaining a sense of self when every hotel room looks the same. Christa Cotton from El Guapo Bitters unpacks her suitcase and lights a candle wherever she goes. It’s a way to feel grounded, but don’t forget, she’s also promoting her own brand.
Mauricio Umansky of The Agency keeps a fitness routine on the road. It’s practical—jump ropes and resistance bands don’t take up much space. Even his Netflix queue is part of staying steady. It’s all about creating a routine when life is anything but.
Hotel and airline folks like Tim Harrington and David Zipkin are adapting too. Harrington’s team at Atlantic Hospitality transforms spaces on a whim to meet guests’ needs. Zipkin’s Tradewind Aviation offers a slower, more personal travel experience—something that’s becoming rare in the rush of commercial air travel.
Chad Robertson and Liz Barclay take a different approach, stripping it back to basics. They’ve spent years bouncing between gigs, creating loose routines that keep them grounded. It’s about finding just enough structure to make work feel real, without being tied down.
In the end, it’s about finding ways to feel human when life is anything but. Business travel isn’t going anywhere, and neither is the need to adapt. Just don’t forget, it’s still a circus out there.
