With 2023 expected to be a big and busy year for Canadian travellers, Victor Tam, co-founder of Canadian travel and lifestyle brand Monos, shares his forecast for trends in travel this year, below. —Noa Nichol
Hi Victor! Please tell us a bit about yourself and Monos to start!
I’m one of three co-founders and the CEO of Monos, an award-winning lifestyle brand that makes timeless goods for the mindful traveller. We make well-designed products that are made to last and accessible to everyone and also that we ourselves as consumers would want to own. I’m super proud of what we’ve built so far, with lots to come on the horizon. Change and disruption has always been at the core of what I love to do. I started my first business in high school and have been involved in a number of ventures in the digital eCommerce space for the past 20 years. I’m a digital marketer and serial entrepreneur at heart, and have a passion for consumer psychology, branding and design. Outside of work, my two kids and two dogs keep me busy!
We’re getting ready to make travel plans for 2023, and would love to know, from a pro, will the next 12 months be big for travel (compared with pandemic years past)?
The next 12 months of travel will continue to be big. There is still a backlog of destinations that many Canadians have not gotten to visit, and friends and family that Canadians have been waiting to travel with. Particularly for the latter, travellers who prioritized family vacations last year may focus on travelling with friends this year, or vice versa.
Where are Canadians going, and why? Staying local, or casting a wider (international) net?
I anticipate that most Canadians will go international this year, with every country now fully open. However, the trend of local long weekend trips are here to stay, as lots of people have discovered the beauty of local travel and short getaways during the lockdown.
Why are flight and hotel prices seemingly so crazy (read: high) right now? Any tips/tricks on saving a buck or two?
The trick is to look for places that most people aren’t going. That may sound odd at first glance, “Why would I want to go where no one else wants to go?” but travel is all about looking at opportunities. For example, hotels in Hong Kong are still half the price but from there you can also easily visit Japan and Thailand which are within two hours away. The usual hotspots—Hawaii, Italy, Mexico—are going to be expensive right now due to the overall demand.
Luggage wise, what are most people packing, and packing in, this year? Trends in size, colours, etc? Tips for taking a carry-on on a longer trip?
Due to problems with lost bags with airlines, we see a big shift toward carry-ons now. Our Carry On Plus and compressible packing cube has been a very popular combination. Add our Metro Backpack or Duffel and you will be good to go for that two-week trip!
Personal question: what’s on your travel bucket list for 2023?
Mongolia would be on my bucket list. The landscape is so vast there, and I love places where I can be removed from the big city.
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March 9th, 2023 at 9:07 am
providence RI, Bakersfield @rosehavenca
March 9th, 2023 at 9:11 am
Great gift for any traveller!
March 9th, 2023 at 9:14 am
Hawaii! @kim.zzo
March 9th, 2023 at 9:25 am
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
March 9th, 2023 at 9:28 am
I would love to travel anywhere but not sure our budget can handle it
@LarsenBaldry
March 9th, 2023 at 9:31 am
Just booked a ticket to Europe! Woo!
March 9th, 2023 at 9:32 am
@let.esther.enjoy
March 9th, 2023 at 9:40 am
My bucket list travel destinations for this year include, Hawaii, Montreal and hopefully somewhere in Europe! ✈️ @jcont1234 ✈️
March 9th, 2023 at 9:41 am
An absolute favourite destination of mine is dreamy Hawaii! Lovely people, fabulous food, shopping and endless exploration n
@velma_sandry
March 9th, 2023 at 9:56 am
I would love to visit Quebec City this summer. @janicour_mb
March 9th, 2023 at 10:01 am
Cuba, Vegas and Texas! @wakemeupbefore7
March 9th, 2023 at 10:08 am
Ireland! @sar_1986
March 9th, 2023 at 10:08 am
Hawaii is a dream
@pnina44
March 9th, 2023 at 10:25 am
Looking forward to going to Croatia! Definitely on my bucket list
March 9th, 2023 at 10:28 am
The west kootenay and Mexico @romantaimaggie
March 9th, 2023 at 10:29 am
leaving for Japan next month!
March 9th, 2023 at 10:29 am
Leaving for japan next month and a work trip to London in the fall!!
March 9th, 2023 at 10:35 am
Italy is on my list! @akathenan
March 9th, 2023 at 10:41 am
Visit friends in Texas, in BC, and possibly a warm getaway to Hawaii ?
@jackierw2012
March 9th, 2023 at 10:47 am
Going to Dominican Republic for first time.
IG @minty_mo2020
March 9th, 2023 at 10:49 am
Love to go to Greece
March 9th, 2023 at 10:57 am
Going to Prince Edward Island on ig lillianmb23
March 9th, 2023 at 11:07 am
Hoping to get to Florida&the Caribbean!
March 9th, 2023 at 11:14 am
Want to go to Grenada so bad!!!
March 9th, 2023 at 11:17 am
Would love to fly to Montreal with my girls this year! @sharonklingbell
March 9th, 2023 at 11:19 am
East Coast Canada ??
@mpp2010
March 9th, 2023 at 11:24 am
Bucket list for the year is Vancouver and surrounding areas in BC! @nik.paprocki
These are beautiful luggage pieces!
March 9th, 2023 at 11:25 am
Love that Monos is a local company. I love their luggage collection and that they have a cover.
Instagram: pdawg1064
March 9th, 2023 at 12:35 pm
Spain, Italy & Morocco!!!!!!!
@ccuma
March 9th, 2023 at 1:54 pm
France! @farting_frog
March 9th, 2023 at 2:02 pm
Visiting Europe.
@bubblespatel
March 9th, 2023 at 2:03 pm
Visiting Europe. Bucklist is long but the first on it would be Africa.
IG @bubblespatel
March 9th, 2023 at 2:15 pm
Big trip planned in June to Greece, Italy, Croatia, Montenegro and Turkey. This would be lovely to win ?
@fun_chef_suze
March 9th, 2023 at 2:19 pm
I dream of a trip to Scotland @wghutton
March 9th, 2023 at 2:23 pm
A travel to Nova Scotia.
IG : @melcami1
March 9th, 2023 at 2:55 pm
Greece!! @cap.jpg
March 9th, 2023 at 3:21 pm
Montreal @bonnie.sibley
March 9th, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Palm Springs here we come.
@julies1949
March 9th, 2023 at 3:38 pm
Heading to England and Scotland, so excited
@Amandalmasters99
March 9th, 2023 at 7:02 pm
Hawaii is on my bucket list.
IG @jenn20wilson
March 9th, 2023 at 7:06 pm
Paris and Italy ?? ? @ammie.890
March 9th, 2023 at 8:31 pm
Take me to Iceland!!
March 9th, 2023 at 8:32 pm
Or Japan ! @heymcerlean
March 9th, 2023 at 10:11 pm
Japan
March 10th, 2023 at 5:34 am
Italy and Portugal are on my bucket list this year.
@jymh890
March 10th, 2023 at 8:19 am
The Maritimes
@dreamflyer100
March 10th, 2023 at 9:37 am
Mexico is always on my bucket list to visit !
Kristymun
March 10th, 2023 at 10:12 am
Japan for sure
March 10th, 2023 at 10:12 am
Japan for sure
@cindy6869677
March 10th, 2023 at 10:26 am
Hoping for a European River Cruise
March 10th, 2023 at 10:26 am
Hoping to go on a European River Cruise
March 10th, 2023 at 10:48 am
Hawaii @coach_Daves9
March 10th, 2023 at 10:48 am
Belgium is one of my travel destinations
@jan_leeu
March 10th, 2023 at 10:50 am
❤️❤️❤️@vitadaily.ca Hawaii is the dream destination, Hope and Kelowna will be achievable this ☀️ summer
March 10th, 2023 at 11:27 am
Ireland ! Thank you for this contest ! @mjpoire61
March 10th, 2023 at 12:08 pm
Banff is on my bucket list.
@hillview37
March 10th, 2023 at 2:24 pm
I would choose Costa Rica
March 10th, 2023 at 5:45 pm
I’ll be heading to Spain and possibly Portugal this year!
March 10th, 2023 at 7:58 pm
Need to visit my mom & sister in Europe, after 5 long years!
March 11th, 2023 at 6:36 am
Hawaii is my bucketlist for this year ❤️
@mikeeatall
March 11th, 2023 at 7:41 am
Italy! @tabby_1972
March 11th, 2023 at 8:06 am
Tokyo
@livingforserendipity
March 11th, 2023 at 10:18 am
We are going to Punta cana next month but would love to take our daughters to Disney @krisha444444
March 11th, 2023 at 11:19 am
Travel destination Hawaii. @gggs789
March 11th, 2023 at 12:24 pm
Family vacation to North Conway NH this summer
March 11th, 2023 at 12:41 pm
Japan
March 11th, 2023 at 1:18 pm
This will be too late for my NOLA trip but I am only taking a carry on. Next trip on the bucket list is Denmark and the Scandi nations.
@msdanieli
March 11th, 2023 at 1:42 pm
ILES-DE-LA-MADEILEINE in Quebec
March 11th, 2023 at 2:34 pm
Hoping to get to Florida, the Caribbean and see more of Canada this year.
IG @ccrobich
March 11th, 2023 at 3:40 pm
Italy @sabrinamagdi
March 11th, 2023 at 5:01 pm
Eastern Caribbean, Miami, Whistler @whitwort2000
March 11th, 2023 at 7:45 pm
Paradise Island, Bahamas @crazyalbertan9
March 12th, 2023 at 6:53 am
I really want to go to Italy this fall to meet my new grand baby! ? @kdawne
March 12th, 2023 at 10:55 am
Graduating this year so I won’t have that much vacation time but I am hoping to go to Vegas or L.A for a week!
@klara.jeeets
March 12th, 2023 at 1:58 pm
Maui and Vegas @tigerd18
March 12th, 2023 at 2:21 pm
My bucket list consists of traveling to Las Vegas!
IG – @lumberduckswife
March 12th, 2023 at 3:30 pm
Korea
@linshiwei7
March 12th, 2023 at 5:33 pm
Hawaii @jtwltd123
March 12th, 2023 at 8:29 pm
A new carpet and a home office @sass.ls
March 13th, 2023 at 2:39 am
jersey (the channel island) and england!
@rachelanncartwright
March 13th, 2023 at 6:47 am
New York City ❤️
@annarr4206
March 13th, 2023 at 7:28 am
We are planning on taking a trip from NL to BC! Fun!
@ksceviour
March 13th, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Paris in the springtime! @minimia604
March 13th, 2023 at 5:11 pm
Florida is on my bucket list this year. @backinbloom2
March 13th, 2023 at 5:52 pm
I’d love to go to Iceland.
@lianne2014
March 13th, 2023 at 7:22 pm
Japan & Singapore @squirmer03
March 14th, 2023 at 9:50 am
Japan! @nomyums_
March 14th, 2023 at 10:28 am
Japan!
@tehbaitfood
March 14th, 2023 at 12:07 pm
Thailand
@jayjayjay12331
March 14th, 2023 at 5:58 pm
Montego Bay, Jamaica and the Amalfi Coast in Italy are on my bucket list this year! @jenelleefraser
March 14th, 2023 at 8:25 pm
London & Malaysia @lyungcr
March 15th, 2023 at 10:02 am
My bucket list of this year is DUBAI
March 15th, 2023 at 10:03 am
My bucket list of this year is
DUBAI
Instagram handle @sonal.k_c
March 15th, 2023 at 2:37 pm
I’m heading for Taiwan this year to celebrate my daughter’s wedding! @maibdan
March 15th, 2023 at 7:53 pm
Mexico is where I hope to go! @darcipinbc
March 15th, 2023 at 7:58 pm
Las Vegas and Jasper for me @jaxbailey17
March 16th, 2023 at 5:36 pm
Portugal and Costa Rica @Life.outnumbered
March 16th, 2023 at 5:45 pm
My travel bucket list includes a trip to the West coast to visit family @harriette106742
March 16th, 2023 at 7:57 pm
Barbados
@cathymanley_
March 16th, 2023 at 8:37 pm
Hawaii. @SweetTD93
March 16th, 2023 at 9:28 pm
Jamaica @bella_loulou1