Wanderful

Wanderful is an international collective of travelers and travel content creators on a mission to make travel better for all women.

We reach over 100 million women worldwide each year. Our hybrid online/offline membership community, launched in 2020, offers women the chance to make lifelong travel connections both at home and abroad through a global hosting network, an exclusive 24/7 member app, and local chapter events in cities around the world, plus travel and professional webinars hosted by an in-house team of resident exp

erts. We are the creators of the popular travel marketing event WITS, the annual Bessie Awards, and the first major outdoor travel festival by and for women, Wanderfest. Learn more about our work at sheswanderful.com.

05/31/2026

Join us from wherever you are in the world for the 2026 Bessie Awards — streaming live on Saturday, May 30th at 8pm ET.

The Bessie Awards celebrate women and gender-diverse people making a real impact in travel, as well as the companies and brands that champion them. From creators and storytellers to startups and established industry leaders, the Bessies honor the voices, leadership, and innovation shaping a more inclusive and representative travel industry.

This year's ceremony is taking place live at The Chattanoogan Hotel in Chattanooga, TN as part of WITS (Women in Travel Summit) — and we're bringing the entire celebration to you, wherever you are, via YouTube livestream.

Tune in for two hours of inspiration, community, and big announcements — including a live performance by a special guest you won't want to miss.

05/22/2026

🎉 Celebrate Wanderful’s Birthday With Us!

This May, Wanderful is celebrating another year of connecting women travelers around the world — and we’d love for you to celebrate with us.

Join founder Beth Santos and members of the Wanderful community for a special birthday celebration and open house where we’ll share stories, travel inspiration, and a behind-the-scenes look at the Wanderful network.

Whether you're a longtime member or just discovering Wanderful, this event is a chance to learn how women travelers around the world are finding friendship, connection, and opportunity through our community.

During this special birthday event, we’ll:

🌍 Share how Wanderful connects women travelers in 28 cities worldwide
✈️ Talk about our meetups, trips, and global community
💬 Hear stories from members about friendships and travel adventures
✨ Give you a peek inside the Wanderful member experience

And because it’s our birthday, we’ll also be sharing a special birthday bonus for new members who join after the event.

Come celebrate with us — we can’t wait to meet you and introduce you to the Wanderful sisterhood.

05/19/2026

In our latest Wanderful blog feature, Imani Bashir shares how activism, storytelling, and humanitarian awareness shape her work as a travel journalist and Creator of the Year finalist for the 2026 Bessie Awards.

From reflecting on the impact tourism has on local communities to reminding travelers that “your travel destination is somebody else’s home,” Imani’s perspective challenges all of us to think more deeply about the way we move through the world. 🌍

Read the full interview to learn more about her journey, her advocacy for socially responsible travel, and her vision for the future of the travel industry.

📍 The 2026 Bessie Awards take place at WITS Travel Creator Summit 2026 this month in Chattanooga. 💜

05/16/2026

Most creators are building. But how many actually own what they build?
On the launch day of MINE.: The Creator CEO Code, join Wanderful and author Kristina Liburd — IP attorney and Creator Ownership Strategist — for a live conversation about the decisions that determine whether you're building an asset or just doing labor in your own business.
This isn't a webinar. It's a real talk about:

Why visibility isn't leverage — and what actually is
How rights quietly leave your hands before contracts even show up
The difference between content (output) and brand (asset)
What it means to build something that outlives a platform

Free to attend. No fluff. Just clarity.

05/15/2026

What does it really take to build a travel company as a woman today?

You’re invited to an exclusive live conversation with the three visionary founders nominated for Travel Startup of the Year at the 2026 Bessie Awards — women who aren’t just participating in the travel industry, but actively reshaping it.

Hosted by Wanderful founder Beth Santos, this special livestream brings together the leaders behind three of the most exciting new companies in travel:

Greether, founded by Vanessa Karel

Still Waters Safaris, founded by sisters Amanda Kessy and Asnath Kessy

HerHouse, founded by Tess Millhollon

This is a rare chance to hear directly from the founders behind companies that are changing how women experience travel — and how the industry supports them.

Together, we’ll dive into the real stories behind their journeys:

-The moment each founder decided the travel industry needed something different
-The barriers women still face when launching and scaling travel companies
-What the industry still gets wrong about women travelers
-What investors, brands, and travelers can do to better support women-owned businesses
-The future these founders are building for the next generation of travelers

These founders are creating solutions that make travel safer, more welcoming, and more equitable for women everywhere — and this conversation will explore what it takes to make that vision real.

Whether you’re a traveler, entrepreneur, creator, or industry leader, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Come meet the women building what’s next.

05/13/2026

In our latest Bessie Awards finalist spotlight, Trailblazer finalist Rachel-Jean Firchau () shares how burnout, curiosity, and a love of travel inspired her to redefine what work-life balance could look like.

From navigating corporate travel marketing to taking a DIY sabbatical abroad, Rachel’s story is a reminder that there’s no one “right” way to build a meaningful career in travel.

She also opens up about responsible tourism, overtourism, and why creators have a responsibility to tell more nuanced stories about the places we visit.

👉 Read the full feature now on blog.sheswanderful.com (link in bio)

05/08/2026

Meet Vanessa Karel, founder of Greether and finalist for Startup of the Year at the Bessie Awards. 🎉

After experiencing safety challenges while traveling solo, Vanessa created Greether to connect women travelers with trusted local women around the world, building safer, more meaningful travel experiences while creating economic opportunities for women globally. 🌍

Today, Greether operates in 100+ countries and has grown into a global community centered around connection, safety, and empowerment through travel.

👉 Read the full feature now on blog.sheswanderful.com (link in bio)

05/05/2026

Wanderful’s birthday is coming up, and you’re invited! 🎉

Join us for a special virtual open house where you’ll meet the global sisterhood, hear real stories from our community, and get a behind-the-scenes look at what Wanderful is all about.

Whether you’re a longtime member or just discovering us, this is your chance to connect with women travelers around the world. 🌍

📅 May 22 at 12 PM ET
📍 Public virtual event

👉 RSVP in our link in bio

05/01/2026

Have you put your deposit down for our 2026 Oaxaca trip yet? ✈️

If not, consider this your invitation to join us on Wanderful’s group adventure to Oaxaca, Mexico, Oct 29-Nov 4, 2026.

From Día de los Mu***os traditions and ancient ruins, to mercado mornings and mezcal tastings, this is a journey filled with color, culture, and community. 🩵

We have a few spots left in the shared room option. Be sure to save your seat before it’s gone!

👉 Head to sheswanderful.com/oaxaca for full itinerary and pricing (link in bio).

✉️ Questions? Send us a DM!

04/30/2026

Sacramento, we’re coming your way! 🩵

Join us for a Wanderful pop-up meetup designed to bring together women who love to travel, explore, and connect, right here close to home.

📍 Rancho Cordova, CA
📅 Thursday, May 7
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM

Whether you’re planning your next adventure or simply looking to meet like-minded women in your area, this is your space. Expect easy conversations, new connections, and maybe even future travel buddies ✈️

We’re also exploring the possibility of launching a Wanderful chapter in Sacramento, so this is your chance to be part of it from the very beginning!

🎁 Bonus: The first 50 people to sign up will receive a Visit Rancho Cordova swag bag!

A big thank you to our partners Visit Rancho Cordova and LogOff Brewing for making this event possible.

👉 RSVP via Eventbrite (link in bio)

Address

1250 New York Ave NW
Washington D.C., DC
20005-3970

Website

http://sheswanderful.com/

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