A PERSONAL NOTE FROM THE FOUNDER

Travel has always held a special meaning in my life. My mom loved to travel, yet when she was alive, we rarely took the time to go. One of the most meaningful trips we shared was a multi-generational trip to Budapest and Prague with my husband, my parents, and my oldest daughter, who was just a year and a half old at the time. At the time, it felt like an ordinary trip together, filled with moments that only later revealed how special they truly were.

Only weeks after returning home, my mom knew something was wrong and went in for scans, where she was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. We did not know then that our trip to Europe would be our last together, which is why those memories have become even more meaningful with time.

After my mom passed away in 2021, my perspective on time and togetherness changed completely. I realized how quickly life moves and how easily we put experiences off for “someday.” That realization led me to begin traveling more intentionally with my husband and our two daughters, choosing experiences over waiting for the perfect time.

Along the way, I discovered how much I loved not only traveling, but thoughtfully planning every detail that brings a trip to life, from the first idea to the moment you return home with stories you will tell for years.

After experiencing such profound loss, creating meaningful travel experiences became deeply personal to me. Today, my goal is to help others slow down, be present, and create memories with the people they love most, because the moments we share together are the ones that stay with us forever.

Seven Travel Collective is named in honor of my mom, the person who first taught me a passion for life and for experiencing the world fully. My mom was the youngest of seven sisters, and in Cantonese, she was affectionately known as the “7th aunt,” a nickname that inspired the name and serves as a reminder to embrace life, cherish time together, and never wait for the right moment to make memories.