For the latest installment of Room Service, our video series spotlighting travel-industry tastemakers, Fora co-founder Henley Vazquez sat down with Away CEO Jessica Schinazi.
Though they operate in different corners of the industry, the two leaders have a common goal: to make travel smoother and more personal. In practice, that translates to creating thoughtful solutions that reduce friction along the way, from the first spark of inspiration to the moment your suitcase hits the baggage claim. This shared mission led to the brands' new partnership, which pairs Fora's trip-planning prowess with Away's thoughtfully designed gear.
As the name implies, these Room Service chats normally take place in a hotel, but this time, we headed to the Away store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Over Taiwanese takeout and bottles of Coke, Henley and Jessica discussed how the partnership got started, what innovation looks like to them, and why small details make a big difference.
Check out the full video of their conversation above, plus some of our favorite highlights below.
The importance of innovation
Fora and Away both started with the conviction that certain aspects of the industry hadn't quite caught up to the modern traveler.
For Away, that meant rethinking luggage from the ground up. A decade ago, Jessica explains, luggage was a purely functional purchase that lacked the emotional element inherent to so many other parts of travel. "There was no color, nothing fun, nothing customized," she reflects. "But luggage is an integral part of your trip, so it should be a reflection of your personality."
That philosophy hasn't changed, even as the company has expanded beyond its signature hard-shell suitcases into bags and accessories. But since bold colors and monograms won’t distract from a wobbly handle or an unreliable zipper, all the designs and components are still rigorously tested to make sure they hold up in the real world, whether it means dragging suitcases across cobblestone surfaces or dropping them down stairs.
Henley noticed a similar gap in travel planning. As an advisor herself, she'd seen how her on-the-ground knowledge and industry relationships could turn an average itinerary into something special. But there was a persistent myth that travel advisors were a resource reserved for a certain kind of traveler. With Fora, she was determined to challenge that idea.
To her, it doesn't matter if someone's going to a soccer tournament or a three-week safari—there's a way to make the journey more seamless and elevated without it feeling stuffy. "Everything can be improved with a trusted advisor," she says.
The evolution of wedding travel
Both Jessica and Henley have watched weddings transform in real time, with travel becoming a central part of how couples and their loved ones mark the milestone.
"Weddings have become an era," Henley notes, "and it starts long before anyone has even purchased a ring." In the past few years, she's seen Fora Advisors become deeply embedded in the full arc of wedding travel. These days, they're coordinating everything from engagement trips and bachelorette parties to destination weddings and honeymoons.
Away arrived at the same realization independently, which led to the creation of their first-ever wedding capsule collection—designed not just for the couple, but anyone traveling to celebrate. "It’s the bridesmaids, the groomsmen, friends and family visiting from near and far," Jessica explains. "It's before the actual celebration, it's after the celebrations, it's honeymoons, maybe future babymoons."
This shift and shared perspective made working together a natural fit.
The real reward
For Henley and Jessica, the most meaningful part of travel can't be designed for, manufactured, or directly captured in an itinerary—and that's the memories. Tellingly, the way each leader describes that deeper resonance connects directly to her corner of the industry.
When Jessica looks at a well-loved suitcase, she sees a travel diary of sorts. "We put so much thoughtfulness into the little details... and the durability in that stays with you for a long time," she says. "Those little scuffs it gets, they're memories of the travels you've taken."
Henley finds it in the rhythm of travel: the anticipation of booking, the experience of traveling, and the nostalgia that comes once you're home. "The recollection, the memories—they drive you into the next trip," she says.
But as both leaders know, none of that magic happens without a trip's foundational details being just right, whether it's a sturdy bag that survives multiple long-haul flights and too-tight trunks or a flawless itinerary that makes a destination come alive.
