By Kathy Feist
The Canadian Rockies are one of Paige Robbin’s favorite travel destinations. “It’s beautiful up there,” she says. “The Caribbean blue run-off from the glaciers. The wildlife in the mountains. It’s just a beautiful area.”
But then there’s Egypt. “It’s so different there. The culture. The most iconic streets. Everything I saw was so interesting.”
But also Italy. “The food!” she says.
Not to mention Hawaii. “So pretty.”
It’s difficult for Robbins to name her favorite destination. She’s been to so many. Robbins has been escorting travel groups around the world for over 30 years. Originally a travel coordinator for the Gladstone Parks and Recreation’s 50+ program, she started Robbins Group Travel a year ago. She enjoys sharing her passion.
“Travel is a joy for many people,” she says. “People say they are willing to spend more of their money on travel.”
According to a recent survey, 58% planned to take a leisure vacation in 2025, up from 48% in 2024. Those numbers increased despite a decline in Americans’ sense of financial well being this year.
“Travel is booming and it has been for a few years,” says Robbins. Traveling came to a standstill during the pandemic. But as of this year, it is in full recovery, according to reports from the travel industry.
“People realized they were missing out,” says Robbins. “And they realized they should travel while they still have the opportunity.”
Robbins has seen an uptick in her business. Already her Hawaiian group trip planned for March 2026 has sold 16 spots. Her minimum number is 15.
Of course most people who are going to travel will make their own plans. But there are advantages to working with a travel agent, especially for groups.
One is that the trip is planned from start to finish. “If you are just doing a cruise or an all-inclusive trip, it’s easy,” says Robbins. “But traveling to Europe or the United States requires a lot of planning.”
Another advantage, at least with Robbins’ business, is that she will escort groups of 15 or more on a trip. Why? Because oftentimes plans can go wrong. Having an escort allows travelers a true vacation from stress while the escort fends off the unexpected difficulties.
“If there is a delay at the airport, we are there,” she says.
While Robbins doesn’t escort smaller groups, she will still oversee the details of the trip and provide the necessary tour operators she contracts with for each destination.
In the upcoming year, Robbins Group Travel offers seven destinations: a train trip around the Grand Canyon in September; a trip to Italy, including the Vatican, in October; Christmas in New York in December; the Hawaiian Islands in March; the cherry blossom tour in Washington, D.C. in March; a two-week tour of Japan in April and a landscape tour of Britain. More details can be found at her website, RobbinsGroupTravel.com.
While Robbins primarily promotes these “big bucket list” tours, she can also plan overnight trips lasting two to six days to smaller destinations, such as Branson, St. Louis by AmTrack, Memphis, or the Mississippi River. Typically these are often trips requested by churches, Parks and Recreation departments, or cultural or heritage organizations. A minimum of 25 people is required.
Robbins also provides individual travel as well.
But she pushes group travel the most. “It’s a wonderful service for people,” she says. “You get to travel with a group of people who are the same age, demographic and have shared interests. You walk away with friendships for life.”
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