The Safar Society · November 2026
FORA Live
Fresh from Miami. A smarter way to travel.
Notes from Fora Forum — and what they mean for your next trip.
The takeaways
What I learned
at Fora Forum
I just got back from Fora Forum in Miami, where travel advisors and many of the industry’s leading travel partners spent a few intensive days on one question: how do we make every trip better?
This year, the conversation centered on how technology is changing travel planning. Fora’s founders were clear that AI can now handle the busywork in seconds, but it can’t replace an advisor who knows you, has relationships on the ground, and steps in when plans change. The best trips will come from combining both.
“I have been in this industry long enough to have attended my own funeral a few times.”
“The best place to be? Right in the middle, where an advisor and AI can work together to do more for our clients than AI could ever do alone.”
Henley Vazquez, Co-founder, Fora
Between sessions, I got hands-on with new planning tools, saw what’s coming next, and heard directly from partners including Celebrity, Silversea, Royal Caribbean, AmaWaterways, Virgin Voyages, Sandals and Beaches, and Air New Zealand.
Here’s what that means for you. — Raj
Modern tools. Personal judgment.
Travel planned by a person,
powered by smart tools.
Your trip deserves both: the speed of modern technology and the judgment of an advisor who knows you.
AI can produce an itinerary in seconds. It can’t call the hotel’s general manager, notice the room by the elevator, or fix things when a train is cancelled. I use the latest planning tools to handle the busywork quickly, so I have more time for the details that make your trip yours.
“Booking a hotel is a task. Putting together an itinerary is a task. AI is very good at tasks. But AI can’t do the hustle.”
“Clients should feel we understand them, that their trip means something to us, and that we are going to be there if something goes wrong.”
Your next trip
What I can do for you
Faster answers, without the wait
- Tailored options in hours, not days.
- One clean proposal with clickable options, so you can choose your room and book in a few taps.
- No scattered PDFs, emails, and links to sort through yourself.
A trip built around you
- I keep notes on your preferences, celebrations, and past trips, so each new plan starts from what you love.
- Anniversary dinners, birthday surprises, and quiet upgrades are planned in from the start.
- Hand-picked restaurants, shops, and experiences mapped out for each day.
Insider knowledge you won’t find online
- Recommendations from fellow advisors who were just there: which rooms to request, which guides to book, and which spots to skip.
- Real room photos and floor plans when available, so you know what to expect.
- Cruise lines compared side by side to find the right ship, cabin, and sailing for how you like to travel.
Better value, watched for you
- VIP perks where available, like breakfast, resort credits, and upgrade priority. Benefits vary by property and booking.
- I keep watching hotel rates after you book. If the price drops, I can rebook you at the lower rate when your booking terms allow it.
- I flag free-night offers and small upgrades worth the difference.
Nothing missed before you go
- Every itinerary is checked for visas, vaccine rules (including ones triggered by stopovers), transfers, and timing before it reaches you — with current entry rules confirmed before departure.
- Your full trip details, flights, and confirmations stay organized in one place.
Someone in your corner, the whole way
- A real person to call when plans change.
- I step in before small issues become big ones.
- I care about how your trip feels, from the first conversation until you’re home.
“The future of work with AI is humans using technology to become better at the things that make us great in the first place.”
“You are curating what their family history is.”
A starting point, not the whole trip
Already asked ChatGPT? Send it my way.
Your AI itinerary is a great starting point. I’ll keep what works, fix what won’t (seven days in Spain, France and Italy?), and add the experiences no algorithm knows about.