Is it just me, or does it feel like every time we finally catch our breath in this industry, the world decides to throw us another curveball?

I’ve been chatting with so many of you recently at our Travel Your Heart Out Roadshow stops across Canada, and the sentiment is the same: it’s been an uphill climb. Between the global headlines that keep us up at night and the logistical hurdles that seem to pop up every February and March like clockwork, I know many of you are feeling the weight.

Welcome hugs at a pottery co-op in Peruʻs Sacred Valley

I recently joked on stage that we should all just set our Out-Of-Office messages for the entire month of March because every year, something bad happens. Whether it’s shifting travel advisories due to wars, pandemics, catastrophes or simply unexpected re-bookings, it can be a lot to carry. Don’t get me wrong, we love the sheer volume of peak season that’s driving bookings, just not on the back of all the extra chaos.

We collectively laughed, but I said it because I see you. I see the hustle, the late nights and the resilience it takes to keep showing up for your clients when the world feels a bit upside down.

Moments like these are also your biggest opportunity to remind your clients why you are indispensable. It’s times like these that the value of a professional travel advisor and a reputable partner like G Adventures truly shines. This is where we prove our worth, not just by fixing a flight or adjusting dates, but by being the steady hands that guide travellers through the noise. Together as a community, we aren’t just navigating challenges; we’re staying relevant and vital to a world that, now more than ever, craves real, authentic connection.

Which brings me to something else I’ve noticed: when the wider world feels chaotic, it’s the ‘small’ moments that keep us grounded.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the ripple effect of small acts of kindness. At G Adventures, we talk a lot about changing people’s lives, which can sound like a massive, daunting task. But, more often than not, that change starts with something tiny. Often, that small spark of kindness paves the pathway to happiness on both sides.

Last month, while I was in Vietnam, I brought home a suitcase full of plush keychains made by Kym Viet, a Planeterra project, specifically to give to our advisor community. It was a small thing, literally a bit of fluff and thread, but seeing the smiles on advisors’ faces when they realized where they came from reminded me of why we do this.

Kindness in our industry isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s our greatest currency. It’s the way you stay on the line five minutes longer just to reassure a nervous traveller, or the way our CEOs (Chief Experience Officers) on the ground share a home-cooked meal with a group to bridge a cultural gap. It’s choosing a partner who prioritizes people over just profits. In a world that often feels like it’s tilting toward the transactional, doubling down on being relational, being kind, is actually the smartest business move you can make.

As travel advisors you have the wonderful gift of being able to create many acts of happiness and kindness. Every time you present a travel option to your clients, you have the chance to launch a life-changing journey, like the ones we offer at G, before the client even packs a bag.

Travel is such a beautiful gift. Imagine if your gift to a client this year is a nudge to try something bold. An adventure that doesn’t just change their perspective, but leaves a lasting, positive footprint on the communities that welcome them.

As we head into the summer months, my message to you is simple: Don’t forget to be kind, and that includes to yourself. We’re in the business of making dreams come true, which is a pretty incredible privilege, but you can’t pour from an empty cup. Take a moment to acknowledge how much you’ve navigated. You are the heartbeat of this industry, and the ones out there making real change happen. Change that matters.

The world might feel messy right now, but as my favourite philosopher Ted Lasso says, “ain’t nobody in this room alone.” We’ve got your back, and we’re going to keep changing people’s lives, one small act of kindness at a time.

G Adventures’ VP Customer & Sales Operations and Managing Director, Canada, David Green, shares his industry insights, anecdotes and wisdom every month in his monthly column, ‘G in 3’. It’s a 3-minute read running exclusively in Travelweek Daily in 2026.

Lead image caption: Travelling with G Adventures in La Paz, Bolivia