📝 usncan Note: These Young Founders Turned Group Chat Wanderlust Into Big Business
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Millennials are traveling more than any other generation—and they’re changing the rules as they go. In fact, millennials now make up nearly half of the global travel market, spending more than $200 billion annually on experiences worldwide. Some experts attribute this to the generation’s work hard, play harder mentality. Others point to their age and disposable income level affording them the energy and funds to globetrot. Regardless, they’re more trip-happy than other generations. Why? For them, trips aren’t just about destinations; they’re about building connections, embracing culture, and creating seamless journeys.
That’s why a new generation of young founders is building travel brands that reflect millennial values. Among them: Casey Davey, founder of Caribbean Travel & Tours, and Chidi Ashley, founder of Luxe Tribes and the Nuru Marrakesh. Both are proving that the future of travel lies in community, culture, and innovation.
Travel Should Be Seamless
Casey Davey launched Caribbean Travel & Tours to address the disconnect he saw in Caribbean tourism.
“Too many travelers were running into fragmented booking systems and cookie-cutter excursions,” he told me. “I wanted to create something that felt seamless, authentic, and actually reflective of the islands’ culture.”
The company now integrates AI and VR features into its trip planning, including a “copilot” tool that personalizes itineraries and an in-destination app to simplify decision-making. “Technology should simplify logistics,” Davey said, “but it should never strip away culture.”
One of his proudest innovations is the Culinary Ambassador program, where travelers are paired with local chefs for food tours, cooking classes, and restaurant experiences. “Food is often the first way people connect with a culture,” he explained. “If we can give travelers a real taste of the Caribbean while supporting local chefs, everyone wins.”
Getting the Trip Out of the Group Chat
For Chidi Ashley, disruption grew out of her own frustration as a young professional.
“I wanted to go to Bali in my early 20s, but every friend had a reason not to come — one was saving money, another was getting married, another had kids,” the 28-year-old told me. “I thought, why should that stop me? There had to be a way to get the trip out of the group chat.”
That insight sparked Luxe Tribes, a community-based travel company that has now booked $27 million in trips according to her—90% of them for travelers who met each other for the first time on the journey.
“Our travelers, mostly working professional women and especially Black women, are using these trips as self-care,” Ashley said. “They’re doctors, lawyers, nurses — people pouring into everyone else. Luxe Tribes gives them space to finally pour into themselves.”
Ashley quickly realized that hotels were the missing piece. “Forty percent of our revenue was going straight to hotels,” she said. “So why not build our own?” That decision led to Nuru Marrakesh, a $9 million boutique hotel slated to open in 2028 as the first property of her new Nuraya Collection, with expansions planned for South Africa and Zanzibar.
Our Community Built Lux Tribes. Now They’re Building Our Hotels
What makes Ashley’s model stand out is her approach to funding. Rather than pursue traditional venture capital, she turned to her own customers. “I tried cold emailing VCs for months,” she said, “but then I realized—our community already believes in us.”
She was right. A single social media post brought in 200 potential investors within an hour, and one loyal traveler who had joined five trips cut a $200,000 check. “Our community built Luxe Tribes,” Ashley said proudly. “Now they’re building our hotels.”
Young Founders, Big Stakes
For both Davey and Ashley, the throughline is authenticity. “Travel isn’t just about where you go,” Davey said. “It’s about how you experience it and who you meet along the way.” Ashley agreed: “If you share authentically and provide real value, the community will follow — and they’ll invest in you.”
With millennials making up the largest generational share of travelers worldwide, their influence on the multitrillion-dollar tourism industry is undeniable. By putting community before convention, these young founders aren’t just disrupting travel — they’re shaping its future.
