Seatmates: Kayla Douglas

On working in luxury travel marketing, airline pajamas, and why life’s greatest luxury is returning to somewhere familiar

Apr 24, 2024

For this issue of Seatmates, I spoke to

, New York-based writer and content creator who authors a Substack called

, runs a monthly book club, and works for a full-service luxury travel agency called SmartFlyer as their Director of Content.

Read on to learn how she scored her dream job by sending a cold DM, which island she’s visited for the past three summers, and her favorite spots in NYC’s West Village neighborhood.

Tell us a little about you.

Hi! I’m Kayla, a New Yorker deeply passionate about fostering connections between people and places through storytelling. My motivating forces in life are curiosity and creativity—fortunately, my personal and professional journey has allowed me to tap into both. Beyond being a writer, I’m an older sister, loyal friend, avid reader, reluctant runner, dedicated foodie, perfectionist Virgo, fresh flower enthusiast, long-time Swiftie, eager hostess, and discerning traveler.

Before becoming SmartFlyer’s Director of Content, you were a social media marketer and travel agent–all roles within the travel industry. How did you navigate this career path?

I graduated college with an International Studies degree and zero clue what to do with it. Actually, I wrote about how my final college semester studying in India inspired me to find my first professional opportunity within the travel industry in a recent Substack. It’s been nine years since I started working as a travel agent fresh out of school, eight years since I pivoted to a marketing role in the agency space, and a million learning lessons in between. When I think back on those early years that helped me lay the foundation of my travel career at Flight Centre, I’m so grateful for the perspective I gained selling travel and working in a traditional corporate environment (think: uniforms!).

But I knew early on that I didn’t want to stay on the sales side, and with the help of a few internal champions, pitched myself for a marketing role at the company’s New Jersey headquarters. I had zero marketing background at the time—I’ll never forget the CMO telling me that they interviewed ten external candidates who each had more qualified resumes than me—but I was the only person who understood the brand from the inside after working as an agent. I moved to New Jersey without knowing a soul there to take the job. It was a wild time of transition, and I relished the chance to run social accounts for major travel brands just as platforms like Instagram were really beginning to be leveraged for business.

Without this answer becoming a novella, perhaps it’s poignant to share how much intuition led me to my next career move. By 2018, I began to crave a change. I was in the midst of following along as Erina Pindar, Managing Partner and COO at SmartFlyer, posted from Mexico City. Heavily influenced by the cheap prosecco I was drinking in the United Lounge during a flight delay, I responded to one of her IG Stories that I’d love to work for her if an opportunity arose. There wasn’t a job posted at the time, but I inexplicably felt magnetized to SmartFlyer. That DM changed my life; mere months later, I moved to New York and started my journey with the company. You can read the whole story here, but my point in sharing is you should always shoot your shot. Have the subject expertise to back it up, of course, but never be afraid to put yourself out there. My first day working with SmartFlyer was at a Vegas pool party, and the intervening years have been just as dynamic.

You’ve been to over 30 countries so far. Is there anywhere you wouldn’t travel to again? Is there anywhere you’d visit over and over again if given the chance?

Oh, tough question! I need to update my country count but to be honest, I stopped keeping track. Back in college, the idea of checking off a new-to-me country was so exciting; now, I find that life’s greatest luxury is to return to somewhere familiar and uncover a new layer. I’ve gone to Mallorca the past three summers—the Balearics are my happy place. I finally got to check out Menorca last year, too, and I fell in love with its slower pace and how wild the island felt. I want to go back and add on time in Formentera, where some fun new properties are cropping up. Finally, I’m a huge francophile and can never get enough of Paris. I just did a solo stint there in September and will be back in May with West Village Book Club! As far as somewhere I wouldn’t go back? Really nowhere. Namibia maybe? Not because I didn’t find it fascinating, but because it’s so specific and tough to get to—I felt like I had a really holistic experience there that couldn’t be topped.

“Just one visit to Mallorca will find you torn between telling everyone you know that you’ve discovered pure magic and conversely, wanting to keep the sacred island – and your own version of the Mallorca guide – all to yourself.” —Kayla Douglas (photo: Leila Brewster)

As a resident of NYC’s West Village neighborhood, what are your favorite local spots to recommend to out-of-towners?

I love this question! For me, living in the West Village for the past three years has allowed me to have a small-town feeling within this bustling city. I’m definitely guilty of staying in my neighborhood bubble when I’m home, but I justify it because frequenting the same cafés, shops, restaurants, and bars means seeing familiar faces and, in turn, feeling more connected to my community. Below is a non-exhaustive list of some of my West Village faves, including some that are newer or more geared toward special occasions:

Coffee: Sogno Toscano, St. Jardim, Plantshed, The Elk
Breakfast: Dante, Buvette, Little Owl
Lunch/Dinner: Left Bank, Pastis, Don Angie, Via Carota, Joseph Leonard, Waverly Inn, Emmett’s on Grove, Roey’s, San Sabino
Drinks: b’artusi, Bar Pisellino, Katana Kitten, Do Not Disturb, Lavaux Wine Bar
A Little Treat: Magnolia Bakery, Gentile Gelateria, Barachou, Fabrique
Shopping: Casa Magazines, Three Lives & Company, Cursive, Madame Matovu Vintage, Big Night, Hudson Grace, Greenwich Letter Press

What’s been your most memorable hotel stay?

Oh, gosh! I can’t possibly pick just one favorite! But I’ll echo parts of my answer above about places I’ve gone back to multiple times and have a special place in my heart forever: Singita Sabora Tented Camp (Serengeti, Tanzania) and La Residencia, a Belmond Hotel (Mallorca). I’m never more at peace than when I go on safari, and both of my visits to Singita Sabora had a deeper meaning as I participated in the Serengeti Girls Run for two years in a row to help support girls’ empowerment efforts through the Grumeti Fund.

Tanzania Serengeti Girls Run Mallorca La Residencia a Belmond Hotel Designer Suite — Kayla in Tanzania for the Serengeti Girls Run (Left) & at La Residencia’s Designer Suite in Mallorca (Right)

Back on the Mallorca train, I’ve stayed at La Residencia a couple of times, and it’s such a dream. Last summer, two friends and I were lucky enough to find ourselves in the Designer Suite, complete with our own pool. We spent early mornings beach-hopping and driving around the island and late afternoons lazing about reading, drinking rosé, and reapplying sunscreen before the ultimate peak of every beach vacation: the “everything shower” before dinner. There’s nothing quite like getting ready with your girls on a trip, music turned up and having your stomach hurt from laughing so much.

Is there a destination or property at the top of your wishlist?

So, so many. Can I pick a few around the world? In Asia, NIHI Sumba. I’m dying to do their spa safari followed by a Rascal Voyage sailing—I just wrote about this combo here. And speaking of safari, probably Ol Malo in Kenya or Xigera Lodge in Botswana. In Europe, I’m going to go totally classic and say Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. I dream of climbing the rope hanging over the sea and launching myself off the diving board. Then, from a broader destination perspective, Cambodia, Japan, and Madagascar are high on my list.

I, too, dream of staying at the iconic Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc. Someday soon!

What are your must-haves for luggage and items you travel with?

Okay, so I recently upgraded to the Rimowa Cabin Plus in titanium, and it definitely elevates my airport vibe. For my personal item, I oscillate between one of my many monogrammed bags that will inevitably be stuffed to the brim: Paravel Large Cabana Tote in Shandy (ideal for beach trips), my Tumi leather backpack (if I’m checking, this is nice so I’m not slogging a shoulder bag without a suitcase to roll it on), and my extra large Dagne Dover Landon in dark moss (perfect for safari). I’ll slip my Cuyana Classic Easy Tote in dark olive into my carry-on if I’m going on a city trip where I’ll be bringing my laptop around and need something larger than a handbag.

What’s your go-to airport outfit?

I want to have a better answer to this question. I’m not really a fashion girlie, so you’ll likely see me in whatever seasonal outfit I’m wearing on repeat at the moment. But I’m on a plane now, so I’ll answer with what I’m wearing: a pair of black linen pants from Oysho, a black tank, my green and pink Gazelles, and my Levi’s jean jacket. I also love everything that With Nothing Underneath makes; great basics. I wore one of their sets on my flight to Mexico City and it was super comfy.

Do you have any rules or rituals when it comes to air travel?

Most definitely! I’m a United/Newark girlie through and through, so I relish the routine of booking flights out of EWR (especially versus JFK) whenever I can. There’s something so comforting about knowing the details of the terminal, right down to which door is closest to the CLEAR with TSA Pre-Check queue. As far as an airport routine, you’ll likely find me showing up with a Sweetgreen salad which I’ll shovel in the lounge while simultaneously reminding myself that the wine won’t be worth it. Max, I allow myself one glass!

Kayla’s travel essentials + of-the-moment travel uniform (and April book club pick!)

If I’m on an overnight flight, while in the lounge, I wash my face, brush my teeth, and spritz on some Caudalie Beauty Elixir mist (a godsend while traveling). I’m likely going to get to the gate about five minutes before boarding begins, and then as soon as I’m settled into my seat, I’ll sneak to the bathroom to change. Here, I’ll put on my compression socks and cozy PJs. I have to admit that I love the cheap little cotton sets they give you, so I often pack & wear old airline PJs from a different flight! To sleep, the Lunya silk sleep mask is my favorite.

Last question: Aisle or window seat?

As I write this, I’m in 3F on the way to Cabo. This is objectively a perfect seat: business class and a window. The founder of SmartFlyer, Michael Holtz, is known as “Mr. 2A” for his seat preference, and whenever that’s an option, I’ll snag it! I book my flights through the SmartFlyer Air Team, and they know aircraft in and out. For example: On a recent Virgin flight from London, I had a schedule change and ended up on an old plane with coffin-like, lie-flat seats. But on the flight there, I was on their brand-new Airbus A330neo, which was a dream! Knowing the actual equipment when you book makes all the difference—that’s why I defer to the professionals!