Exploring Life & Business with Michael Henderson of BAG Travel

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Henderson.

Hi Michael, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am the founder and CEO of BAG Travel (Bag & Go Travel – bagtravel.net), a full-service travel agency that grew out of a lifelong curiosity about the world and a passion for helping others experience it for themselves.

I grew up in Los Angeles, which is one of the most diverse cities in the world. Even before I started traveling internationally, I spent a lot of time exploring different neighborhoods, cultures, landscapes, and communities throughout Southern California. On any given day, you could experience beaches, mountains, deserts, world-class food from virtually every corner of the globe, and people from countless cultural backgrounds. Looking back, I think that exposure sparked my curiosity about different cultures and travel bug long before I ever boarded an international flight.

Professionally, my background is actually in telecommunications engineering and urban planning. I later earned a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from USC. Those experiences taught me how to think critically, solve complex problems, and appreciate how cities and communities are designed to meet the needs of both residents and visitors.

My passion for international travel truly took off in my early twenties when I visited Thailand, China, and Japan. Those trips opened my eyes to entirely new ways of living, thinking, and experiencing the world. What fascinated me most was not only the history, culture, and food, but also seeing how different places function and how urban planning, transportation, and public spaces shape everyday life. I found myself wanting to understand what makes each destination unique and then share those discoveries with others.

As I continued traveling over the years, friends, family, and colleagues increasingly came to me for advice, recommendations, and trip planning. I genuinely enjoyed helping people navigate new destinations and create experiences that matched their interests and travel goals. Eventually, I realized that helping others discover the world was just as rewarding as exploring it myself.

That realization led me to launch BAG Travel in 2021. Today, our mission is simple: make travel easier, more meaningful, and more accessible. Whether we are planning a luxury getaway, a cultural immersion experience, a group adventure, or a once-in-a-lifetime journey, we take the time to understand what our clients want from their travels and help bring that vision to life.

Travel has the power to broaden perspectives, build connections, and create memories that last a lifetime. That belief is at the heart of everything we do at BAG Travel, and it is what continues to inspire me every day.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it definitely has not been a smooth road, but I wouldn’t have expected it to be.

Starting any small business comes with challenges, and the travel industry can be especially unpredictable. Travel is tied to the economy, global events, consumer confidence, and even the weather. Things can change very quickly, and as a business owner, you learn early on that flexibility and problem-solving are not optional.

One of the biggest challenges has been changing the way people think about travel. Many people view it as something that is only for the wealthy or something they will do “someday” when the timing is perfect. In reality, travel is often less about income and more about priorities, planning, and making intentional choices with your time and resources.

I have always believed that travel is one of the best investments a person can make. Most material purchases lose their appeal over time, but the experiences, relationships, lessons, and memories gained through travel tend to stay with you for life. Some of the most valuable things I have learned about people, cultures, business, and even myself came from stepping outside my comfort zone and experiencing the world firsthand.

Another rewarding part of the journey has been helping expand opportunities within the travel industry itself. I was honored to serve as one of the original Board Members of the Annual Black Travel Expo in Atlanta. The mission resonated deeply with me because it focuses on increasing representation and leadership within the travel industry while encouraging more international travel throughout the African Diaspora.

What I especially appreciate is that the conversation goes beyond vacations. Travel can create opportunities for cultural exchange, business relationships, investment, education, and deeper connections between communities around the world. Those are the kinds of experiences that can have a lasting impact long after a trip ends.

Like most entrepreneurs, there have been challenges, setbacks, and moments where I had to adapt quickly. But those experiences have also reinforced why I started BAG Travel in the first place. Every time a client returns home with a new perspective, a meaningful memory, or a story they will tell for years, it reminds me why this work matters.

As you know, we’re big fans of BAG Travel. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
BAG Travel is a full-service travel agency, but what truly defines us is our focus on creating complete travel experiences rather than simply selling trips.

We work with travelers at every stage of the journey, whether they want a fully customized itinerary, a guided group experience, help finding flights and accommodations, travel insurance, event tickets, travel financing options, or even self-booking tools for travelers who prefer a more hands-on approach. Our goal is to make travel feel exciting and accessible while still providing the support and expertise people need when planning major trips.

One experience that has become a signature for our brand is our annual Thailand Lantern Festival Adventure. Every year, we bring travelers to Thailand to experience the breathtaking Yi Peng and Loy Krathong Lantern Festivals in Chiang Mai. Watching thousands of lanterns rise into the night sky is often described as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. What makes it special for us is that we build an entire cultural journey around the event, so travelers leave with a deeper appreciation for Thailand beyond just the festival itself. More information on our annual event can be found at: **bagtravel.net/thailand**.

One thing that sets BAG Travel apart is our attention to detail and the relationships we build with our clients. We take the time to understand what travelers are actually looking for, then guide them toward experiences that fit their goals, interests, and budget. We know that travel is a major investment for most people, so we take that responsibility seriously.

We are also supported by a network of experienced travel advisor partners who help us deliver a high level of service across a wide range of destinations and travel styles. No single travel professional can be an expert on every destination in the world, so having a trusted team allows us to draw on specialized knowledge, local insights, and firsthand experience when helping clients plan their trips. It also means our travelers have access to additional support and resources before, during, and after their journey.

We also try to be creative in making travel more accessible. We regularly offer early booking incentives, loyalty rewards, promotional travel discounts, resort stay promotions, and travel financing options through trusted partners. Those programs help many travelers take trips they might otherwise have postponed.

Another area that makes our company unique is how we combine travel with broader lifestyle and business interests. Through partnerships with real estate professionals, we help organize destination-focused real estate tours for travelers considering relocation, retirement planning, investment opportunities, or property purchases abroad. For many people, travel becomes the first step toward a much bigger life decision. A highlight example of weaving this theme into travel is our “Cape Town Discovery” event, which is held 2-3 times per year and available at **bagtravel.net/africa**.

We also work with Brand Ambassadors who help introduce our trips and experiences to their communities. That creates a more personal and trusted connection between travelers and the destinations we promote. Many of our clients first discover us through someone who has actually traveled with us or experienced one of our events firsthand.

Beyond our core travel services, we also connect travelers with sports tickets, concerts, entertainment experiences, travel insurance options, and vacation planning tools through carefully selected affiliate partners. We want clients to have access to the resources they need without having to piece everything together themselves.

Brand-wise, what I am most proud of is the trust we have built. Travel is deeply personal. People are trusting you with their time, money, memories, and often experiences they have dreamed about for years. We never lose sight of that responsibility.

At the heart of BAG Travel is a simple belief: travel should be inspiring, educational, memorable, and attainable. Whether someone is booking their first passport-stamped adventure or their twentieth international journey, we want them to feel supported, informed, and excited from the moment they start planning until long after they return home.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
There are several ways people can work with us, depending on their travel goals.

If you already know where you want to go and enjoy planning your own trips, we offer self-booking travel tools through our trusted partners. Travelers can search for hotels, cruises, activities, flights, travel insurance, and more while still taking advantage of special BAG Travel promotional incentives that may be available. The easiest place to start is **bagtravel.net/explore**.

For travelers who prefer a more curated experience, we offer group trips and special travel events throughout the year. These range from cultural adventures and festivals to investment-focused travel experiences and destination tours hosted by BAG Travel and our partners. Information about upcoming departures can be found at **bagtravel.net/explore**.

If you’re looking for something more personalized, we also help create custom travel experiences. Whether you’re planning a family vacation, a milestone celebration, a destination scouting trip, a group getaway, or a bucket-list adventure, you can submit a travel request by clicking **”Request A Quote”** on our homepage. We love helping people turn travel ideas into reality.

For those who simply want to stay connected and hear about flash sales, travel tips, new destinations, and upcoming events, I highly recommend joining our mailing list at **bagtravel.net/mailing-list**. Some of our best promotions and limited-time opportunities are shared with subscribers first.

Finally, collaboration is a big part of what we do. We regularly work with travel advisors, content creators, community leaders, real estate professionals, event organizers, and Brand Ambassadors who share our passion for helping people explore the world. If someone has an audience, organization, or event that aligns with our mission, we’re always open to discussing creative partnership opportunities.

At the end of the day, whether someone books a trip with us, joins one of our events, collaborates on a project, or simply follows along for travel inspiration, we appreciate every person who becomes part of the BAG Travel community.

Pricing:

• LAST-MINUTE DEAL (Pay in Full by June 25, 2026): Thailand Lantern Festival Adventure: Double Occupancy | $2,995 pp
• FLASH SALE: Save $500 (Pay in Full by June 15, 2026): Double Occupancy | $4,150 per person

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bagtravel.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bagtravelgroup
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BAGTravelLLC
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCBnayHoGRUL8KuQozO1iPrQ
• Other: https://www.threads.com/@bagtravelgroup