Staff Training Season: The Heartbeat of Offbeat

By Harry Alvarez | May 23, 2025

Every year for the past 18 years, I’ve participated in or facilitated our staff training for a new cohort of incoming and returning program leaders. It’s a ritual now. We leave the office, our beds, and our routines behind and head to places like Jarabacoa or Guanacaste. For a week, we live, work, and play together—sunrise to well past sunset.

This immersive training is designed to mirror the travel experiences we offer. It pushes me out of my own comfort zone, but more importantly, it fills me up. The energy I get from meeting the folks who bring Offbeat experiences to life is invaluable. It’s the fuel that keeps me going.

A Team with Purpose

I’m proud of the space we’ve created—one that is both safe and brave. A space filled with people who aren’t just looking for a job, but for purpose. Yes, we work hard. But work can take many forms. Some jobs drain us, others numb us. The best kind fulfill us. They allow us to grow as people and to contribute to something bigger.

That’s the common thread that connects this group of leaders. They show up for more than a paycheck. They show up to build something meaningful.

Moments That Stay With You

One moment that really stuck with me this year happened during one of our presentation sessions—a staple of training week. Each program leader is asked to give a short talk on a topic related to their destination. It’s designed to build confidence in public speaking and deepen our collective knowledge of place and culture.

One of our new staff members was clearly nervous. On Day 1, they kept a low profile and quietly tried to avoid their turn. You could see the self-doubt, especially around using English. But when they finally stood up and gave their presentation, they absolutely crushed it. Their voice was strong, their content was meaningful, and they brought the room to life.

What happened next was even more powerful—their peers offered encouragement and praise, specifically affirming how great their English was and urging them to keep going. That moment reminded me how transformational a truly supportive space can be. Growth doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens in community, in safe and brave spaces like this one, where we challenge ourselves and cheer each other on.

Diversity as Strength

Diversity isn’t just a buzzword—it’s at the heart of what we do. To meet our mission, we need a chorus of voices. And it’s beautiful to witness: a team from every corner of the Dominican Republic and across the Americas—Costa Rica, Argentina, Venezuela—coming together with shared values and different perspectives.

It reminds us that “being Dominican” means many things. That we grow when we learn from each other’s lived experiences. And if we can get a Costa Rican, an Argentine, and a Dominican to agree on the rules of Bingo, I’ve got real hope that world leaders can one day agree on climate action, economic equity, or peace.

Why Student Travel Still Matters

Student travel is at the core of Offbeat Travel. While we offer trips for families, couples, and corporate groups, summer student programs are our roots—and our foundation.

With that comes responsibility. We know travel can be transformative for young people. It can shift perspectives, build empathy, and teach skills that no classroom can—like cultural competence, resilience, and global citizenship.

That’s why we take the recruitment, training, and development of our Program Leaders so seriously. These are the voices that will guide students as they step beyond their everyday bubbles. Voices that challenge what they thought was “normal.” Because even the most basic routines—how we eat, greet, or yes, even how we use the bathroom—vary around the world.

And that’s the point. Exposure to difference expands our understanding of the world and of ourselves.

How We’ve Grown

What began as a student travel company has evolved into something much broader. We now work with universities, families, adults, and community-based organizations. But student travel remains our heartbeat. 

Our commitment to decolonizing travel, centering local voices, and building relationships—not just itineraries—has only deepened. The work is bigger than tourism. It’s about justice, equity, and education.

To Those Who Are Thinking of Joining Us

To those thinking of joining a future training, or even just traveling with us—know that there’s room for you here. This work is hard, meaningful, and deeply transformative. It takes vulnerability, openness, and a willingness to grow.

We’re not looking for perfection. We’re looking for heart. And if you’ve got that, you’ll find your place in this work—and in this community.

A Season of Impact

As we begin this new season, I’m filled with gratitude. For this team. For this work. And for the chance to keep building something that matters.

Travel isn’t just movement—it’s transformation. And I’m honored to walk that path alongside this community of changemakers.