I’ve learned a lot about community in the years since starting this one. I’ve learned communities are neither top-down nor bottom-up; they’re about mutual learning and teaching. I’ve learned they evolve and slowly refine themselves as new challenges are met.
I’ve also learned that as communities grow, as ours has done, and as the world changes around them, as ours most definitely have also done, one of the biggest challenges we face is maintaining those aspects of the community that drew us all into it in the first place.
Some respond by making membership exclusive, limiting new entrants, screening for suitability like a private club. This can work well if done correctly and sensitively, but it can also result in a sameness that’s not always ideal. Travel is about discovering and appreciating difference, after all.
Another way to go is to write things down. Canada went without writing anything down from 1867 to 1981, and then we figured it was time. It’s worked out pretty well for the country, I think, so I thought I’d follow suit. Instead of creating exclusive rules or entry requirements, we’ve created a set of principles, letting each other and the rest of the world know who we are, what we value, and how we behave. Anyone can join us, but with this sort of constitution in place, joining is a tacit agreement with the things that make us, us.
At Wheel & Anchor, we’ve always believed that travel is about more than just visiting new destinations – it’s about forming meaningful connections with people, cultures, and the world around us. Through my 34 years in the travel industry and visits to 99 countries (as of the date of this blog), I’ve noticed that the most rewarding journeys are those on which travellers approach their experiences with respect, curiosity, and openness.
These principles didn’t emerge from corporate boardrooms but from real experiences on the road – from moments of unexpected kindness in foreign countries, from challenges overcome together, and from the natural harmony that develops when travellers share common values. “The Wheel & Anchor Way” simply puts into words what our community already practices.
Travel brings us into contact with different customs, perspectives, and ways of life. Having a shared understanding of how we approach these differences creates a foundation for more enriching experiences. When travellers align around common values, it enhances everyone’s journey.
These principles liberate us to fully immerse ourselves in our travels with confidence and consideration. They create an environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued – whether they’re a first-time traveller with us or a longtime member of our community. They unite us not as customers of a tour operator, but as fellow members of a travel community.
Throughout our years of organizing journeys, we’ve witnessed countless moments that exemplify these principles in action. There was the time when a group came together to support a local artisan in Peru, the evening when members with different political views engaged in respectful and enlightening conversation in Croatia, and the occasion when the entire group adapted with good humour to an unexpected change of plans in Italy.
These principles are philosophical, but they’re also practical. They not only express our shared vision and values, but they give us ways of dealing with the inevitable unexpected things that arise on our trips. If we understand that this is not purely a commercial relationship, but a community relationship, it smooths the way for all sorts of more positive and rewarding experiences all round.
I invite you to read “The Wheel & Anchor Way” and let me know what you think.