According to Forbes magazine, “personalized experiences are a hot topic these days” with new research proving that people are not only appreciating but expecting personalized experiences and recommendations. One of the companies that have not only understood but celebrated this shift from the impersonal to the 100% personalized is JoyBound.

Blisshood sat down with its founder, Toki Kumekbayeva to find out more about their approach to deliver a wonderful, bespoke experience for her clients as well as her favorite destinations to hit “pause” and celebrate life.

Blisshood: Toki, what is the mission of JoyBound?

Toki Kumekbayeva: The mission of JoyBound is to inspire in my clients a desire to celebrate life with or without occasion. I organize unique travel and celebration experiences to help people find time to pause and appreciate all the good things they have going on in their life.

Blisshood: Can you walk me through the process of what planning an event with JoyBound is like?

Toki Kumekbayeva: My service always begins with a conversation. It allows my client to get to know me before we dive into the planning phase. During our conversation, we discuss my client’s travel or event ideas, but we also take time to talk about my client in more depth. This part of the conversation is crucial because it allows me to learn more about what makes my client happy, excited, curious, which in turn helps me create an experience that is truly unique to them, and memorable for them. Once we've had our first conversation, I design a free draft itinerary that we go over and discuss in detail. This gives my client an idea of the direction that their experience will take before they commit to anything. Over several rounds of feedback,

I take my client's comments and preferences to create a final itinerary that matches precisely the experience that they are looking for.

Of course, I am available over phone and email for questions and assistance during their event or trip.

Toki setting up the table for an Italian-themed party. Photo credit: JoyBound

Italian-themed party Photo credit: JoyBound

Blisshood: Why is mindfulness an important aspect of planning a travel itinerary for your clients?

Toki Kumekbayeva: I believe that when we travel mindfully, that is to say, that when we really pay attention to what we're doing, whether we're walking, eating, or taking photos, we have an infinitely more powerful and memorable experience. Being mindful of what we see, feel, hear during our trip helps us enjoy those moments more because we are not distracted by thoughts, worries, or even our phones. We will learn more; we'll discover new places with more interest; we'll remember our trip more vividly; and we will return home feeling much more relaxed and mentally nourished than if we were just cruising by, not really paying attention to anything. I believe that mindfulness is a simple but powerful tool in anything we do, and I try to incorporate it in all of our itineraries through our JoyBound Moments. These are items along an itinerary that I design to help my client have a more fulfilling time – it can be a surprise activity that has to do with their hobby, a break in the day to have a drink or a secret viewpoint.

Blisshood: Why do you think travel can be such a transformative experience?

Toki Kumekbayeva:Travel can be extremely transformative because it grants us a new perspective on life. Not just in terms of discovering a new country, culture or language, but also discovering ourselves by getting out of our comfort zone and our everyday routine.

If we are really present while we travel, we are likely to find something new about ourselves, and we may even be able to return from travel with a newfound sense of self, joy and connection.

Blisshood: What are your top 3 destinations in order to hit pause and celebrate life?

Toki Kumekbayeva: In France, my personal favorite is the Burgundy countryside around the Côte de Beaune. I love the region for its hilly landscapes, for the slower pace of life, the history and, of course, the food and the wine. My favorite thing to do in Burgundy is to drive through the little winemaking villages, gazing at the views and then to stop in one of them to walk through the vineyards and visit winemakers. I would then treat myself to a delicious traditional lunch like boeuf bourguignon or snails in butter sauce and a glass of Volnay or Meursault.

From my childhood, another favorite of mine in France is the coastal region around Arcachon and Biarritz. I love the fresh seafood, the friendly people, the ocean landscape and watching the huge waves of the Atlantic from a cozy café on top of the coast.

Outside of France, I love Tuscany. It's such a beautiful region, especially if you visit it during an off-peak season, in spring or fall. I always prioritize staying at a family-run agriturismo, where traditional food is made by the matron with local ingredients, and you wake up to stunning views of a serene landscape. And then driving from one hilltop village to another and strolling around them is both relaxing and adventurous, so a perfect retreat for the mind and body, in my opinion!

Hiking the Cinque Terre Photo credit: Joybound

Blisshood: Can you share an example of someone being able to reconnect with his/her passion thanks to a trip/event organized by you?

Toki Kumekbayeva: I recently organized an anniversary day for a couple who were celebrating ten years of their marriage. They lead busy lives and raise a young child, not always finding time to celebrate. The experience I designed for them focused on helping them reconnect with each other, through activities that combined common passions, through a romantic lunch where they could look back on their life together, from the first date to the ten-year anniversary, and, most importantly, through time together to celebrate each other and their union.

Anniversary Itinerary Photo credit: JoyBound

Blisshood: What is one destination that you'd recommend for families?

Toki Kumekbayeva: For families, I would recommend the beaches and the small towns of Normandy, like Deauville, Cabourg or the beautiful little town with a name that speaks for itself -Veules-les-Roses. Kids can play on the long stretches of the beach; parents can enjoy a break from the city, and it's a short drive or train ride away from Paris, so it doesn't require extensive planning or preparation.

Dordogne is great for families as well, with lots of castles, picturesque hillsides, ancient cave paintings, kayaking and lots of different accommodations. The Loire Valley offers lots of opportunities for kids and adults as well, with magnificent castles, history, and, of course, food and wine discovery for the parents.

View of Pernand-Vergelesses village in Burgundy, France Photo credit: JoyBound

Blisshood: How do you follow your bliss?

Toki Kumekbayeva: Bliss is about being present. It's about finding my flow and feeling like everything is just as it should be in that precise moment. It's moments when the mind is still, time slows down, and you feel like there is no rush to be anywhere else or do anything else.

I also feel most blissful in nature. That's where I feel most connected to myself and the world around me.

About Toki Kumekbayeva…

Toki Kumekbayeva - Founder of JoyBound — **Toki Kumekbayeva -** Founder of *JoyBound*

Toki arrived in Paris more than a decade ago and has spent several years organizing travel and events for her job, until venturing into the world of entrepreneurship. Toki is a big believer in finding joie de vivre in every ordinary day, which motivated her to found JoyBound – a personalized travel and events service with a client-focused approach. Passionate about travel and celebrating life in all of its forms, Toki’s mission is to help people find the same joy in their everyday life.