Insights

Founded on October 7, 1919, KLM is the oldest airline in the world operating under its original name. The first flight was on May 17, 1920 from London Croydon to Amsterdam on a press flight.

Like so many people across the globe, Anthony Bourdain’s death has left me numb. Anthony was a true global citizen who touched many people across countless cultures. He showed his viewers how humanity is connected through the love and necessity of food. The flavors of the world made Anthony feel most alive, and he inspired me when I traveled vicariously through his palate. I idolized and tried to emulate him at World Footprints because of our shared view of the world.

Tonya Fitzpatrick, an award-winning travel journalist and 3-time TEDx speaker, brings a fresh perspective on the power of travel in her TEDx talk, "Travel as an Antidote to Divisiveness." As co-founder of the social impact travel platform World Footprints, Tonya has spent years exploring how travel can be used as a force for good, challenging stereotypes, bridging cultural divides, and fostering mutual understanding. Her TEDx presentation shines a spotlight on the ways travel can heal divisions, whether they stem from race, religion, politics, or geography. In this inspiring talk, Tonya takes the audience on a journey that goes beyond the typical vacation experience. She explains how purposeful travel, with an openness to learning from others, has the power to transform individuals and communities alike. For Tonya, travel is more than just seeing new places—it's a way to engage with different cultures, challenge assumptions, and grow in empathy. This intentional approach [...]

In a world often portrayed as dangerous and uncertain, award-winning travel journalist Tonya Fitzpatrick, host of World Footprints, sheds light on the reality that sensationalized news headlines don’t always tell. Through her method of "ground-truthing," Tonya’s experiences have shown that many of the frightening news stories don’t reflect the true nature of the places and cultures they depict.

Tonya Fitzpatrick, co-founder of World Footprints, did just that. From a very young age, Tonya knew she was destined to travel the world. What she didn’t know then was how her passion for travel would evolve into a multi-award-winning media company that shares our common humanity and bridges cultural gaps.

Many people consider India an utterly unsafe place to travel alone, and while that may be true to some extent, there’s no denying the fact that this country is beautiful and each state has something amazing to offer in terms of sightseeing and cuisine.

For those that love the snow or even those that enjoy limited time with the white stuff, skiing is a common denominator.  Whether it is downhill skiing or cross-country, snapping on the boots and winter gear is the popular winter activity across the p

With more than 200 songs to his credit and multiple film scores, Frank Stallone has distinguished himself from movie-star brother Sylvester.  His road as a musician was difficult despite his brother's fame but he found ways to stay relevant and reinvent himself.  Frank says that traveling has played an important role in his development as a person and an artist.

The multi award-winning CBS reality show, The Amazing Race, has been entertaining audiences since 2001.  The show was created by partners Eleise Doganieri and Bertram van Munster as part of a bet.  Viewers have traveled around the world vicariously through The Amazing Race teams as they race for the $1 million grand prize.  As part of World Footprints' "Best Of" series we are sharing our interview with Executive Producer Bertram van Munster who joined us a few seasons ago to share his travel experiences and give us a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of his Emmy-winning show.

The best way to experience a city is through the eyes of a local.   We'll travel to New Orleans and walk along Paris’s rue des Martyrs with the people who know them best. Democratic consultant James Carville says that New Orleans is defined by its culture and way of life and that distinguishes the city from other places.  We'll talk to him to learn what he means by this. The beheading of Saint Denis, now the patron saint of France, was one of many events that occurred on the rue des Martyrs in Paris.  Accoring to author and New York Times writer, Elaine Sciolino, the rue des Martyrs was a cultural enclave where Degas and Renoir painted, Puccini replicated in his La Boheme opera and Edith Piaf would sing for a few francs.  Yet, this charming half-mile long street that is steeped in history has been overlooked in Paris guidebooks.  [...]

 World Footprints will take you inside “The Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth”—the Calgary Stampede.  The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition, and festival held every July in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Travel is one of the most transformative life experiences anyone can have.  It can renew one’s energy, bring immeasurable joy, even inspire a life’s direction and encourage hope.