Leading workshops or additional activities beyond the planned itinerary can add value by catering to your community's interests and sharing your expertise, whether it's a blogging workshop or a yoga session.

While many Hosts opt to incorporate workshops into their trips, it's not mandatory. If you're seeking to infuse your itinerary by offering something unique to you and your brand, workshops can be an excellent way to add your personal touch. Without further adieu, let’s dive into the world of workshops.

A formal workshop is a scheduled time you plan during your trip to teach or connect with your community. Typically formal workshops require a dedicated space and/or equipment that you and your Host Success Manager will work with our Operators to coordinate.

We’ve seem hundreds of incredible workshops ran by our Hosts—everything from yoga sessions, to photo editing bootcamps, to group workouts, group roller skating and beyond. After all, you’ve built a community around a shared area of interest that brings everyone together—it’s only natural your group would be eager to learn from you!

You can easily add your workshop requests in the portal by inputting the workshop details and duration during the trip planning stage.

It’s important to note that formal workshop space availability depends on each itinerary and isn't guaranteed unless it’s approved by the Operator. Additionally, formal workshops will increase the price of your trip as they require the local Operator to source space which typically incurs a cost. The expense of renting the space and/or equipment will then be factored into the cost per Traveler.

Trova works with the Operator to make sure the spaces are accurate, planned, and available. When requesting a workshop, ensure all workshop details are included in the trip request or communicated to your Trova contact. Lack of specific requests, such as equipment, may result in additional costs or unavailability.

Instead of workshops, many Hosts prefer organizing informal gatherings, such as visiting local cafes or journaling sessions on the beach. These gatherings are arranged by the Host, not the Operator, and can be scheduled during any downtime throughout the trip. Hosts can collaborate with their Host Success Manager and Trip Coordinator to determine the best timing for these events.

While it's encouraged for Hosts to participate in all listed activities to foster a strong bond with your Travelers, it's not mandatory that you attend each and every one—after all, you are a human too and it’s important to listen to your social battery. However, if you decide to add a workshop or informal gathering to your trip, you will be required to participate as the Host.

Once you have your workshop planned and officially added to your itinerary, you get to let your community know about it! So, how do you speak to it? We mean, really drive home the added, one-of-a-kind value that the Travelers who join you for this amazing experience will get?

There’s nothing more inspirational than when someone you look up to shares what motivates them to do what they’re passionate about. So get honest, and don’t be afraid to let your emotional side show—after all, it’s what makes the human connection so real.

Maybe you’re setting out on year 5 of your sobriety journey and are facilitating a journal and chat session to support others on a similar path. Speak to why it’s so important you show up for those people in your community. Invite them to join you in getting vulnerable and remind them you’ve created a safe space to do it in, all while showing how important they are to you.

With that said, don’t feel pressure to turn nothing into something. Not every ‘why’ is going to pluck at the heartstrings. Maybe you’re a foodie leading a cheese-tasting experience in France. Why? “Because I love cheese, damn it. I mean, who doesn’t?” [Insert Instagram poll here ft. 🧀 😍 vs. 🧀 🤷‍♀️, then shoot the cheese-lovers a DM inviting them to come].

Whatever your ‘why,’ share it honestly and authentically. Done and done.

Consider us—and your followers—your nosy best friends. We want to know all the details about every workshop you’re leading. There’s no such thing as TMI! But Trova, where do I start? Well, we’re going to take a page from our middle school English teacher and draw inspiration by answering the 5 Ws.

Let’s say you’re hosting a yoga retreat:

Then put it all together:

“Join me for a restorative sunset flow on the beaches of Costa Rica as we wind down our bodies and calm our minds. Let’s relax on a journey inwards, and release all of our pressures and expectations on the mat.”

To further paint a picture, pull in content from sessions you’ve led in the past. If you need fresh destination-focused media, there’s a trove of great royalty-free resources here.

Everything. Everywhere. All the time. Just kidding, that would be exhausting. But you should plan to share the exciting details for your workshop(s) wherever your community is most active.

Think about maximizing your content and sharing via video posts (they tend to be more engaging than static ones), Instagram stories, emails, podcasts, etc. You know your audience best, so go where they are and do your best to virtually hand-deliver this content to them so they can’t miss it. After all, you’re offering to teach your skillset which is huge and likely something they've been requesting for a long time!

Remember that beachside yoga retreat in Costa Rica we mentioned? Why not offer anyone who books a spot a recording of a digitally-led session they can enjoy leading up to the trip? Or perhaps your e-book on improving flexibility? Little add-ons like these may not feel huge, but they really sweeten the pot for interested Travelers while giving them a taste of what’s to come.

Your community follows you for a reason and the fact that you’re offering workshops is huge—they’ll be stoked about the opportunity to learn from you. Oh ya, and you’re also, like, traveling the world together…that’s pretty cool too.

So get out there, clue your audience in on the opportunity, let them know what to expect, and be honest about why offering these workshops is so special to you.Do that and your community will be sure to take you up on the offer.