Industry Poll: The memorable detours that make business travel

Melissa Whitaker
President/CEO
Bassett Mirror Company
While traveling on business in Southeast Asia, I made an unexpected side trip to Bali. I remember being struck by how beautiful and peaceful it was. The lush landscape, beaches and architecture felt so far removed from the pace of the business trip. It was a brief visit, but it has stayed with me.

Meganne Wecker
CEO
Skyline Furniture
One of my favorite things to do on a business trip is explore the city, especially vintage stores, local design shops and fabric markets. I always come back with some unexpected source of inspiration that finds its way into my work.

Yang Lin
Owner
Greenington Furniture
One of my most memorable side trips was visiting traditional bamboo forests. While the trip was connected to our work, it gave me a deeper appreciation for the material, the craftsmanship behind it, and the generations of knowledge that continue to influence how we approach furniture design today.

Lee Schaak
Founder
Adesso
In April 2019, both of my daughters, Sam and Amanda, came with me to the Milan fair. We walked Euroluce and Salone del Mobile for several days, and then…. off to Lake Como which is a true paradise in the mountains! We had an incredible three days in Lake Como together, we will never forget it!

David Patton
Director of Design
Quorum International
Earlier this year on a trip back from Asia, I got stuck in L.A. for a few days because Dallas was frozen. Literally. I always wanted to go to the Getty Museum, and the universe handed me that opportunity. Highly recommend!

Crystal Nguyen
Vice President of Merchandise and Strategic Product Planning
Coaster Furniture
At Coaster, our overseas travel is really focused on business, so there isn’t much time for side trips. While the travel can be physically grueling, especially visiting so many factories and showrooms in a short amount of time, the long-standing relationships we’ve built make it rewarding. I especially enjoy the family dinners our factory partners prepare for us and seeing the products we’ve been developing come to life. It’s exciting and always gets us looking forward to the next market.

Rebecca Mattie
Vice President Design
Napa Home & Garden
There are so many contenders, for so many different reasons, but for sheer awe-inspiring impact — architecturally, materially, and in terms of craft — nothing tops the day we rode elephants up to Amber Fort, the 16th-century hilltop palace complex overlooking Maota Lake near Jaipur, Rajasthan. Walking through those halls, surrounded by intricate mirror work, carved marble, and frescoes that have survived centuries, was a genuine reminder of what artisans are capable of when craft is treated as a lifelong discipline rather than a trend. It’s the kind of place that resets your sense of scale and ambition.

Nancy Lonoff
Principal and Designer, Crystorama
Some of my favorite side trips have been while traveling through Europe, getting off the beaten path and discovering tucked-away antique shops and vintage markets. There’s something exciting about never knowing what you’ll find—an unusual shape, an unexpected material, or a detail from another era. Those discoveries often stay with me and find their way, sometimes subtly, into my design work.

LaVern Hershberger
President & Creative Director
Abner Henry
New York City. What makes it so interesting is how much the character changes from one neighborhood to the next. The architecture, restaurants, galleries and shops can feel completely different within just a few blocks. Even after countless business trips there, there’s always another area to explore and something new to discover.

Pam Bailey
VP of Product Development & Design
Currey & Company
The best side trip was one I took in the Cinque Terre after a trip to Salone del Mobile a Milano. What’s not to love about one of the world’s most beautiful coastlines, cuisines and hiking trails?

Jamie Young Jeter
Founder
Jamie Young Co.
Borobudur. It is the world’s largest 9th-century Buddhist temple, located in Central Java, Indonesia, renowned for its intricate reliefs, stupas and spiritual symbolism. Millions of people travel there every year but almost zero westerners. They give you special sandals to wear so you don’t disrupt the stones. It is a magical and spiritual spot where you climb up a switchback mountain and wrap around carved stone and simply mind-blowing views. It’s my favorite side trip I have taken in a long time.

Adriana Hoyos
Head Designer
Adriana Hoyos Furnishings
One that I remember very fondly was during a trip to Proposte, at Lake Como in Italy. Beyond attending the fair, we had the opportunity to explore some incredible places around the lake. It was very inspiring to experience the architecture, landscapes, craftsmanship, and culture of that part of Italy. I especially loved having the opportunity to slow down, enjoy the surroundings, and reconnect with inspiration outside of the work environment. For me, travel is always an important source of creativity, and that experience was the perfect combination of business, inspiration, and enjoying the Italian way of life.

One of my favorite side trips was exploring the back streets of Ho Chi Minh City after factory visits. Sitting on a tiny red plastic stool, enjoying a bowl of famous Vietnamese pho, and watching the city come alive reminded me that the best design inspiration often comes from everyday life, not just showrooms.

Fion Ho
Director of Product Development, Sunpan

Jessica Duce
Founder
JDuce Design
Recently I was in Carmel, Calif., for an install. We needed a break, so we ended up wandering off the beaten path for lunch and found a small potter’s shop. The owner ended up showing us his process and explaining how much time and focus goes into even the smallest decision. It was a beautiful experience in a tiny space that was bursting with creativity and passion. We felt inspired and energized the rest of the day.

Ned Baker
Marketing Director and Client Liaison
Tamarian Rugs
Yellowstone Park from Jackson to Montana exit; saw every critter on my list!

Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden
City in Beijing, China.

Brian Berk

President

Howard Elliott

While on a buying trip in Tuscany, I happened upon the most charming town, Poggibonsi, that has never left my heart. The food, the scenery, and the people were everything movies are made of. It was harvest season, and while my team took a day trip with a tour guide, I stayed behind and worked harder than I ever had in my life, harvesting grapes alongside the people of the village at the villa where we were staying. With my East Texas accent, they couldn’t understand a word I said, and I couldn’t understand their Italian. Yet somehow, we didn’t need words. Through smiles, gestures, hard work, and a shared sense of purpose, we connected. It was one of the most unexpected and rewarding days of my life—an experience I will carry in my heart forever.

Kyle Barrett

President and Co-Founder

Barrett Bergmann Home

While traveling in Italy to select marble for a project, I was looking for a hotel to stay at overnight, and a resort popped up in my Marriott app that was only 9 miles away. Two hours later (the 9 miles would have been possible if we could have gone directly over the mountain and not around it), we arrived at the resort, which was simply stunning with amazing views overlooking the valley. The drive was actually spectacular as well, and the little village adjacent to the resort has the most amazing food and wine.

Dwayne Bergmann

CEO and Co-Founder

Barrett Bergmann Home