Today we’d like to introduce you to Steve Abrams.
Hi Steve, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In the summer of 1987, I faced a dilemma. As a well-seasoned vacationer, highly experienced in the travel industry & newly sober, I worried about the temptations typically associated with travel. Counting on the principle of strength in numbers, I decided to reach out to my fellow friends in recovery to organize a group trip. The response was overwhelming.
Over 200 vacationers came with me to Ixtapa, Mexico, in May of 1988.
After that first trip, I realized that many individuals in recovery were seeking a safe environment in which to travel. Sober Vacations International (SVI), a specialized travel company dedicated to providing alcohol-free vacations for sober individuals and their loved ones, was now formed.
It isn’t the availability of alcohol that matters; It’s the availability of people who understand.
The concept resonated with hundreds of travelers. By 1989 (and only our third trip), SVI had enough vacationers to book an entire Club Med destination. Nestled in the pink sand beaches of Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas, the group soon christened their location, “Sober Village,” and the name stuck.
Since our inaugural visit to Ixtapa, SVI has hosted over 35,000 vacationers and organized over 200 trips, making it the largest company specializing in alcohol-free vacations. Over 85% of our clients are repeat travelers; many have journeyed with SVI annually for nearly 40 years.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As a business catering to people in the 12-step recovery community, it has always been a challenge to reach our audience since they are part of an anonymous program. So, we rely on word of mouth and always have. In 40 years, we have never bought a TV ad or a single print ad, but new people come on our trips every year, so we know people are out there spreading the word about how much they love Sober Vacations.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Sober Doesn’t Need to be Somber
SVI actively dispels the misconception that getting sober means giving up enjoyment. Sober Vacations is a celebration of life and sobriety.
Visitors to one of our Sober Villages typically take part in a variety of activities, including yoga, scuba diving, water skiing, sailing, windsurfing, tennis, pickleball, meditation, and volleyball. All our vacations offer multiple 12-step meetings & workshops. Fostering an environment of support, fellowship, self-care, and, most importantly – FUN – is SVI’s primary focus.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
That our customers have a fabulous vacation with the support they need. While the average length of sobriety on our trips is around 25 years, we often have travelers who are only a few weeks sober. It is of the utmost importance that we provide a fun, safe space for everyone on any of our trips.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sobervacations.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sobervacations/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sobervacations
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sober_vacations
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sobervacations
