In this series, we shift the spotlight from client coverage to the PR pros behind the scenes, discovering the destinations they’re traveling to and what they’re bringing with them. This week, we spoke with Debbie Flynn, Managing Partner, Global Travel Practice Leader at FINN Partners; Julia Pimentel, Director of Communications at Corinthia London; Amy O’Rourke, Associate Director at Fox Communications; Lauren Aloise, Vice President of Marketing & Guest Experience at Walks & Devour Tours; and Pippa Brindley, Founder of TCC LDN to discover where they’ve been of late, the next locales they’re headed to and the items they don't leave home without.
Debbie Flynn - Managing Partner, Global Travel Practice Leader, FINN Partners
Sometimes it feels like I pack and unpack more than I actually go into my office! Last year alone, I visited 15 destinations for both work and pleasure, and I’ll admit it: I find that the “hand luggage only” lifestyle can be a real struggle. I like options—and I love a little shopping. Work trips took me everywhere from Dubai (twice!) to Palm Springs, Chicago, Madrid, New York and Berlin, while personal travel revolved around visiting my son in Amsterdam and getaways to Spain, Morocco, Las Vegas, Portugal, Hong Kong and Maryland.
Some Travel Tips & Essentials:
Pick One Colour Theme – My biggest packing hack is choosing a single colour palette that works for both casual and business looks. It makes mixing, matching and accessorising effortless—and keeps me from overpacking… well, too much.
Wear Your Bulkiest Shoes – I always fly in my gym trainers. They’re the bulkiest footwear I bring, and wearing them frees up precious space for the heels or sandals I inevitably end up adding “just in case.”
Glitter Frocks for Award Ceremonies – The travel sector has no shortage of award ceremonies, and I’ve learned that glitter dresses are my secret weapon. They fold beautifully, weigh nothing, and never require ironing—which is more than I can say for most gowns.
Emergency Outfit in Hand Luggage – Because I’m not a natural minimalist packer, I always tuck a swimsuit and a simple outfit into my hand luggage. It’s my safety net should my checked case decide to take its own holiday.
Entertainment & Snacks – I unapologetically overpack my inflight tote. I can’t bear the idea of being hungry, bored or unprepared, so I always bring dark chocolate, almonds, my Kindle loaded with a new read, and my iPad filled with whatever series my husband isn’t watching with me at home.
Long Haul Comfort Essentials – For long journeys, I never board without a heat activated eye mask that warms on contact, an Augustinus Bader face mask, and a silk pillowcase to slip over the airline cushion. Small luxuries make all the difference.
Mini Toiletries – Everything goes mini to save space for clothes and shoes—Cowshed and Clarins travel sizes are my go-tos.
Pre-Portioned Vitamins – I pre-pack my vitamins into small ziplock bags, counted out for the exact number of days I’m away. It keeps my routine easy and streamlined.
Ultimate Luxury – My true indulgence? Flying to our home in Spain with only my handbag and laptop. I’m fortunate to keep a curated wardrobe of favourites there, making it the easiest, most blissful kind of travel
Julia Pimentel - Director of Communications, Corinthia London
I recently returned from one of my favourite cities, and hotels, in the world, where I spent my birthday. I was feeling some type of way about turning 34 and booked a spontaneous trip to Paris with my family to celebrate, staying at the J.K. Place. It’s perfectly located right in the heart of the Left Bank, close to the river. This is not a PR client so I am not being biased, but the General Manager, Riccardo, has become a friend over the years and runs what I can only describe as a pretty faultless, highly chic operation. I’d return time and time again if I could. Plus, we seriously lucked out with the bluest, most cloudless skies on a cold January weekend.
I feel hugely fortunate to have both ended last year and started this year at Gleneagles in Scotland; first, for a special joint birthday trip for my parents, and second, for our annual Corinthia London Executive Committee retreat. For last year’s retreat, we went to Estelle Manor, so it feels very fitting that for 2026 our off-site was at the original ‘Glorious Playground.’ Gleneagles’ retail arcade is something to be marvelled. The grounds, facilities, and things to do are endless and the hospitality is excellent, but I was most blown away by the quality and scale of their shops – I could easily spend a whole day there.
My last long-haul trip was my first trip to Asia, where I split my time between Hong Kong and Singapore. I fell in love with both. I stayed at The Upper House in Hong Kong, a hotel that had been on my bucket list ever since I first started in PR – Swire Hotels was one of my first agency clients, many moons ago – and it did not disappoint. The views from the breakfast restaurant were unlike anything I’ve seen.
Then, Singapore. Wow. I’d move there in a heartbeat! What a spectacular city; so clean, so safe, so much to see and do. I ended my trip with some serious R&R at the Capella, which I loved. It’s so peaceful and the service and design are spectacular.
I always like to have my next holiday booked, so I have a week in the Grecian sunshine at a boutique design hotel in Crete coming up in June, followed by a return to the Big Apple, where I’ll stay at our sister hotel – The Surrey – that opened recently. I don’t visit other Corinthias as often as I’d like and I’m so looking forward to experiencing what they are calling the coolest newcomer to the Upper East Side. They have a Casa Tua restaurant there – that I am already a huge fan of from J.K. Place Paris!
Packing List:
My trustiest travel companion is my Louis Vuitton Neverfull tote bag in size MM. It was a very special 21st birthday gift from my parents and I don’t think I’ve travelled without it since. It’s perfectly roomy, but not bulky, and bears incredible weight no matter how much I (irresponsibly) stuff it full. It’s scratched and the interior pockets have started peeling, but I love it even more as a result
I am a die-hard fan of the This Works in transit no traces facial cleansing pads. I never travel anywhere without them; short-haul, long-haul, plane, train. They are so refreshing and while I can’t speak to their efficacy, they really feel like they’re doing something clever and keeping my skin squeaky clean as I travel
I swear by the Caudalie Beauty Elixir, but hilariously, I couldn’t actually tell you what it does. It’s just one of those cult products that if you know, you know. I guess it does give a certain ‘glow’ but truthfully, it just smells and feels delicious on the skin and somehow, wakes me up
I am hugely fortunate to benefit from having two brilliant spa partners at Corinthia London: Augustinus Bader and Wildsmith. Bader’s The Cream and tinted lip balm from the brand’s collaboration with Sofia Coppola are both staples in my daily skincare routine, so I always have these to hand, and I’ve added a travel sized Stillness Pillow Mist by Wildsmith to keep the plane and my hotel room smelling soothing and homey
Air tags thrown in both hand and hold luggage – always!
One of my most unnecessary necessities is a very simple, but supremely practical leather cable tie from one of my favourite hotels in the world: Hotel Esencia in Mexico. It’s literally a small piece of monogrammed ‘HE’ leather with a basic loop fastening mechanism but I cannot survive without it. I always have two phones that require two different chargers, plus two different sets of old-school headphones (I am far too tech-averse for AirPods), and it keeps everything perfectly neat in one place in the depths of my tote bag
I change into the UGG Tasman II slippers as soon as I get on the plane, as well as a pair of Begg x Co cashmere socks. So cosy
I wrap myself in one of two very worn, super soft, 100% cashmere shawls from Zara. I don’t think they make them anymore. I bought them forever ago – one grey, one black – and couldn’t believe my luck, they were inexpensive but so luxurious. I never need a plane blanket with one of these, they’re that big
A Touchland hand sanitizer, on rotation. I love them – both scents and the flat compact design. You can only get them in the US so our Wine Director, and one of my dearest friends, picked me up a tonne on a recent winery trip to California. He cleared out Sephora in San Francisco to get me one of every scent!
Amy O’Rourke - Associate Director, Fox Communications
A couple of years ago, I took a career break to travel southeast Asia and Australia with just a small backpack in tow. Since then, my approach to packing has completely changed. Living out of one backpack for months taught me the valuable art of packing light - which, as we all know, is not an easy feat! Now, whether I’m travelling for work or for pleasure, I stick to a capsule wardrobe and a selection of beauty/skincare essentials I’ve narrowed down over the years.
Travel is looking a little lighter for me over the coming months, with hen do’s, weddings, and other life events filling up my diary (tell me you’re in your early 30’s without telling me!) but I have trips to Mallorca and Lisbon planned, as well as some UK escapes, including the beautiful west coast of Scotland and Northumberland.
Packing List:
My suitcase of choice is always the Away ’the bigger carry-on’ - I couldn’t live without it. It fits perfectly into the overhead lockers (if you manage to sneak it past the check-in staff…) and the built-in charger means my devices never die when I’m on the move
As a music lover, my Bose noise cancelling headphones are an absolute essential for any journey, whether it’s a short train ride or a long-haul flight
The best way to explore a new destination is an early morning jog (followed by a coffee and local breakfast, of course) and so I always pack my running trainers and a workout set
Another habit I picked up for backpacking (and one I have no idea how I lived without before!) is packing cubes. They keep everything super organised and there’s no rummaging around in the suitcase, the dream!
A good SPF 50 (La Roche Posay is my ultimate favourite) as a pale girl, it’s a non-negotiable as an everyday essential
I could not travel without my Kindle. I can literally bring an entire library with me wherever I go
With frizzy hair the OUAI mini hair oil is always in my carry-on. It’s perfect for taming any post-flight frizz or calming it down when in high humidity
An unglamorous one, but electrolyte sachets are always in my handbag. They’re amazing after long flights to rehydrate or for replenishing before bed after one too many cocktails at dinner (say goodbye to hangovers!)
Finally, a small, versatile handbag that can go from day to night. Something that looks elevated for evenings but can easily be slung over the shoulder during the day
Lauren Aloise - Vice President of Marketing & Guest Experience, Walks & Devour Tours
I'm writing this from Rome, where I come three or four times a year for work and it genuinely never gets old. I have a never-ending list of things to see, do and eat in this city — but an amatriciana and a cone of pistachio and chocolate gelato is always the baseline, the non-negotiable starting point of every trip. This time we're showing people some of our newest Rome experiences and hosting a cooking class in our lab, which is one of my favorite things to do — watching people light up when they make something delicious with their own hands in a Roman kitchen. Rome is one of those cities where you can come dozens of times and still turn a corner and find something that stops you.
Next up is Lanzarote with my husband and our six-year-old twins, and I'm so excited. We've been before and I fell for it hard — it's Spain but not quite Spain. Volcanic landscapes, a relaxed pace, incredible local food, and César Manrique's art and architecture woven into the island in a way that feels completely unique. What I'm most looking forward to this time is experiencing it all again through the kids' eyes — the caves, the cactus gardens, the black sand beaches. There's something about traveling with young children that forces you to slow down and actually see a place again. Further out, China is high on the list. I want to see and feel the country — the history, the modernity, the food, the scale of it. We're planning for summer or fall and I cannot wait to start mapping that trip out.
Packing List:
Hydroflask – I take this everywhere. Cities like Rome have fountains on every other corner and it's an easy way to avoid single-use plastic. The kids have their own smaller ones too — it's become a family habit.
AirPods Pro – The noise cancellation on a rowdy flight with six-year-old twins is genuinely life-saving. Also essential for podcasts and audiobooks when I get a rare quiet moment.
Kindle app loaded with books – Old, new, fiction, nonfiction, always too many. Currently reading Zeno's Conscience by Italo Svevo, which feels perfectly right for Italy — neurotic, funny, and deeply human.
A good notebook and pen – I always end up scribbling ideas, observations, or half-formed essays when I travel. There's something about being in a new place, or even a familiar place seen differently, that loosens the thinking.
Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen – Light, no white cast, works under makeup or on its own. Lanzarote sun is no joke and I've learned this the hard way.
Veja sneakers – Comfortable enough to walk all day, presentable enough to wear to dinner in Europe without feeling underdressed. The sweet spot.
Aesop Resurrection hand cream – A small luxury that makes a big difference. Planes and dry climates wreck my hands, and the smell is an instant mood reset.
Burt's Bees lip balm – Dry cabin air gets me every time. I keep one in every bag I own at this point.
Vuori workout set – Packing gym clothes I actually feel good in is the trick to keeping up my workout habit on the road. It's a discipline I fight hard to maintain when traveling, and having a great outfit removes one more excuse.
A foldable market tote – I always end up at a local market buying things I didn't plan on — cheese, wine, weird snacks, something beautiful and impractical. Lanzarote will be no exception.
Snack stash for the twins – Breadsticks, dried mango, and a few sweet treats tucked into the bag. This is the secret currency of family travel and honestly the thing that determines whether a journey goes well or badly.
Packing cubes – Four people, one suitcase philosophy. These are the only reason that works.
Havaianas – They weigh nothing, they pack flat, and they handle everything from the pool to a beach restaurant. I've had the same pair for an embarrassing number of years.
A lightweight scarf – Works on the plane, works as a wrap on a cool evening, works as an emergency picnic blanket. The most versatile thing I own.
Compact first aid kit – Bandaids, children's Tylenol, antihistamines, bite cream. With twins, someone always needs something, and finding a pharmacy in a foreign language at 9pm is not fun.
A good portable charger – Between maps, photos, translation apps and the kids' devices, we burn through battery like nothing else. I've been caught out too many times to travel without one now.
Pippa Brindley - Founder, TCC LDN
As a boutique travel PR agency Founder, my travel is determined by our clients’ calendars. My peak travel falls between May and September, with regular trips to the South of France for key events such as the Cannes Film Festival, Monaco Grand Prix and Monaco Yacht Show. These are the trips I look forward to most – I love the atmosphere, French hospitality and iconic Côte d’Azur settings (and the fact they all require the same packing list!)
I enjoy a long planning process for this period and start finding new spring/summer pieces in March - it gives me much needed escapism and inspiration during London’s cold season! I’ll build a capsule wardrobe to wear exclusively on these trips for seasonal endurance. Everything is classic, crease-resistant and able to transition from a hot day of yacht tours to a client dinner. Typically, it consists of very lightweight black trousers and white t shirts that can be dressed up with a silk scarf, jewellery and linen blazer. When I find good quality staples I’ll collect them in multiples and wear on repeat - a slightly structured round-neck white T-shirt is a constant, which I buy oversized and have tailored for different outfits.
As TCC has grown over the past year, my travel patterns have changed - I’ve started to embrace the more efficient “dual-destination” approach – extending a week in Ibiza with meetings in Madrid, adding a couple of days of appointments in Nashville onto a trip to Miami. With an expanding USA client base, I’ve found myself in New York every eight weeks - a change to the travel (and packing!) I’m used to. I’m grateful to my good friend and New York–based celebrity stylist, Robbie Zdravevski, who introduced me to the art of minimal New York living and the game-changing process of polaroiding outfit combinations before busy trips, planning and packing each look sectionally, so I waste no time rooting around my suitcase on arrival. Robbie also lends me heavier pieces from his archives when I’m there so I don’t need to rely on hold luggage for New York flights.
Throughout the rest of the year, most of my travel involves running media trips for our resort clients - hosting press across multiple properties within one destination, such as Thailand, Dubai, Mexico or the Caribbean. As host, I aim to reflect the laid-back luxury of each location without appearing too relaxed – I go for lightweight, A-line maxi dresses and block colour.
Unlike most seasoned travellers, I still love arriving at the airport early - I pick up as many essentials there to avoid overpacking at home, usually heading straight to the perfume counters. I have a different scent for each destination and like to stock up at duty-free. Tom Ford Soleil Blanc is my go to for Ibiza, Lavendar Extreme for South of France and Le Labo The Noir 29 for New York (naturally). I drink at least one 1.5L bottle of water on the flight and, in long-haul destinations, pack a few protein bars in case jet lag hits in the middle of the night.
My Travel Essentials:
