Kayla began chasing passport stamps as a teenager and hasn’t stopped since. Her passion for storytelling and brand building has blossomed into her role as Director of Content.

Upon receiving a dual degree in International Studies and French, Kayla began working in the travel industry mere weeks after graduating. With a background as a former travel agent and passionate social media marketer, her experience aligned perfectly with SmartFlyer’s thoughtful approach to storytelling. During her five-year tenure with the agency, she has both led and contributed to many of SmartFlyer’s ground-breaking initiatives, including its annual agency-wide summit, SmartFlyer CORE. Until recently, she was the creative mind behind the agency’s impactful social media presence, @thesmartflyer. Today, her work is focused on creating compelling content in tandem with travel industry partners to amplify their stories through the SmartFlyer lens.

In her perpetual chase for enriching adventures and airline miles, Kayla has visited–and often revisited–both beloved destinations and remote corners of the world; some treasured experiences of late have included Peru by train, Vietnam by tuk-tuk, and Morocco by hot air balloon. Though her favorite mode of transportation is, hands down, a safari game vehicle because it means she’s in her most cherished setting on earth–the African bush. Safaris through Tanzania, South Africa, and Namibia have inspired what she hopes are future trips to Botswana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda. Forever on the hunt for the next hot travel trend, you can typically find Kayla reading, running, writing, and creating content, a cortado (or glass of wine, depending on the time!) rarely out of reach.

As a storyteller, how do you prepare for your trips?

I’m a super visual person, so putting together a virtual board of interesting spots is a must. I’ll bookmark cafés I want to try, murals I need to find, and shots of the scenery I’m dying to discover with my own eyes. Of course, if there are any special restaurants I want to try, I’ll try and snag a res prior to departure. For me, packing is always an afterthought! I’m totally the one throwing things in my suitcase a few hours before an international flight, barely able to get it zipped.