In a new series, we’re flipping the script on travel and hospitality PR pros to see where they’re headed and what they’re taking with them. This week, we spoke with luxury travel PR Consultant Natacha Tonissoo, Promo Communications president Maureen Poschman and Preferred Travel Group Executive Director Terri McCollin to discover their favorite places to visit and what they don’t leave home without.

Natacha Tonissoo | Luxury Travel PR Consultant

Kenoza Hall

I’m going upstate, and frankly I can’t believe I’m this excited about a teeny, it’s over in a blink-of-an-eye break in the Catskills. Yet, the landscape will be in full Fall mode, and I’m going with my husband, 3-year-old son and pup. We rarely get to escape the city together unless it’s to travel internationally to visit family, so here we go! We picked a spot I’ve been dreaming of checking out, Kenoza Hall. My husband and I stayed at one of their sister properties, The North Branch Inn, years ago when it opened, and I loved their natural design aesthetic, location and emphasis on local food. Kenoza Hall seems to tick a lot of boxes too, being dog-friendly and offering many family experiences from Family Yoga and Little Camper programs for kids. Hoping our urban Brooklynite toddler will become a real nature buff. 

Here’s what I am packing:

• My new family travel backpack by PAK Rêve.
• Slip on sneakers from Cole Haan. They’re so comfortable. I travel everywhere with them. 
• I always pack the Eight Hour hand cream by Elizabeth Arden.
• Fall inspired collection on RTR. I’m enjoying their selection of timeless plaid coats. 
• Yoga pants - of course, for all that yoga I most likely won’t take part in!
• My Liberty print  Chilly’s water bottle doesn’t leave my side. 
• Sunglasses. I’m a big fan of Warby Parker. They’re great value and stylish. 
• A Longchamp travel bag.
• Nikon Binoculars. We are ready for a Fall bird migration adventure.
• I’m packing one pair of nice shoes for the evenings, by Rothy’s 
• A book. I recently started “All The Light We Cannot See” by Anthoy Doerr.
• And lastly, I’ll also be busy packing our son’s new Trunki suitcase complete with stuffed toys, puzzles, crayons and his travel accessory must-have, the Yoto Mini as he listens to Peppa Pig stories on the go.

Terri McCollin | Executive Director, Preferred Travel Group

My next big trip will be Singapore, and having recently visited the region on vacation in Thailand, I am feeling quite confident about what to pack!

 I attract mosquitos, so in addition to a good spray repellant, I will take a few anti-mosquito bracelets. I always have a worldwide travel adapter with me and noise-cancelling headphones for the plane and the hotel gym. I find it easier to pack for warm weather destinations (I tend not to pack light on skincare!) and my must-haves include a couple of pairs of flip-flops, smart sandals, and spray sunscreen factor 50.

Maureen Poschman | President, Promo Communications

I keep the following items in my suitcase: a spare battery charger (I just ordered one that has USB-C and USB-A connectors, so I can charge my MAC and iPhone), flip flops a duplicate circular brush that I use for drying my hair, a travel umbrella, a swimsuit, and a sarong. I have a long midnight blue dress by Brazilian brand Osklen that packs down to nothing and can be dressed up with the right necklace or dressed down.

Osmia Black Clay face soap (great for anyone inclined to breakouts when traveling) and Oh So body soap go everywhere with me, since I am allergic to SLS (Sodium Laurel Sulfate) which is in many U.S. products, so it’s safer just to have my own products – and they don’t need to go in the liquids bag.

I read on my Kindle Paperwhite and always have several books queued up to read - currently reading Aspen Words Executive Director Adrienne Brodeur’s newest book Little Monsters, with Heather Cox Richardson’s Democracy Awakening in the queue. 

I travel with a silk pillowcase that I can stuff with my puffy Uniqlo jacket, and a big cashmere wrap that I bought last year in Sardinia. It’s super stylish, and I was headed to Cortina and wasn’t prepared for the change in weather. Now it travels everywhere with me. For shades, I’m partial to Colorado-made sustainable sunglasses by Zeal, both functional and chic.

Currently in Paris & London for one of my daughter’s college fall break and am  traveling with three pairs of shoes –Louboutin Black low boots for evening; low leather nude for walking, and good white leather tennis shoes. Just before leaving Aspen, I scored a waterproof black swing jacket with a faux Beaver lining, great for wet autumn weather.

After Paris & London, I have quick trips to Oberlin for my daughter’s performance in Cabaret  and to Nashville for Thanksgiving. 

I’m grounded for active travel  right now due to knee surgery, but I’m planning to go surfing in April with my client Surf Synergy on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. I pack two bathing suits, some yoga clothes,  a cool new rasher, and hiking shoes, and a couple of beachy dresses.  The resort provides local sunblock for my face, but I’m planning to purchase an orange surf hat, Definitely function over fashion, as the hat shades the eyes. 

In early summer, we are planning to go to the Dolomites for some hiking and cycling with Dolomite Mountains. I’m planning to add a cool shirt or wool jacket to my mountain kit from Aspen’s Performance Ski line designed by a mother-daughter chic duo.