ZAP Wanderlust: The Places PR Will Take You

Some kids are born with a silver spoon in their mouth. I was not one of them. My parents like to say that I was born with a Samsonite carry-on in-hand.

I am an airline brat. My dad spent his career with Pan Am and Delta.

In fact, if you've visited my office at Zapwater, you'd know it was adorned with Pam Am nostalgia.

Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve had the travel bug.  One of the benefits of being an airline brat is the free travel. Unfortunately, those perks still don’t exist, and I actually have to buy my plane tickets now. Traveling with my dad in my youth lit something in me that continues to burn today.

My grandfather proudly used to tell stories of his travels to all seven continents. I guess Travel is in my blood.

I’ve been lucky enough to climb the ruins of Tikal, Guatemala, Machu Picchu, Peru and Angkor Watt, Cambodia.  I’ve worked at an orphanage in Russia and on a Coffee Cooperative in Nicaragua. I’ve canoed in the Amazon, road the rooftop of a train across the Andes, climbed Cotapaxi and hiked up Angel Falls. I’ve even studied comparative revolutions in Havana, Cuba.

Maybe that’s why I love travel clients. Long-time hotel clients like the dana hotel and spa or projects from global airlines like Hainan Airlines always have a special place in my heart.

Even though we’re a boutique agency, you’d be surprised the places PR will take you.

Through our membership in the global agency network, Travel Lifestyle Network, I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to Copenhagen and Dublin. I’m especially excited for next year’s meeting in Luxembourg. In October, I’ll also be traveling to Singapore to represent TLN at ITB Asia. To say I’m excited would be a little bit of an understatement.

And where else I am headed?  I’m working on putting together a trip to Haiti. More on that to follow.

Cheers to passport stamps and travel adventures!

- David Zapata, President