Tom Barber • Original Travel • Co-Founder

Tom Barber, co-founder of Original Travel, joins special edition host Aditi Arora, Consultancy Director at Matter of Form, to discuss the evolution of luxury travel and the post-pandemic boom in three-generational trips that are reshaping how families experience the world together. From grandparents funding transformative journeys to parents seeking deeper connections with their children through travel, Tom explores why multi-generational adventures have become one of the industry's fastest-growing segments.

We delve into the concept of "stealth learning"—subtly nurturing children's emerging interests through travel—and why Tom believes the best trips focus on transformation rather than just destination. Tom shares insights from 22 years in the industry, from the early Big Short Breaks offering to today's focus on authentic cultural immersion, responsible tourism, and creating experiences that genuinely change who you are rather than just where you've been.

The conversation touches on combating over-tourism, the shift from Instagram-driven travel to emotion-focused journeys, and why Tom's own children have become his best travel critics and inspiration for family-focused offerings.