From Travel Itineraries to Product Launches: The Art of Crafting a Seamless Journey
By Masha Savelieva
What do travel and product launches have in common?
I love to travel, and with travel comes quite a bit of trip planning. I’m not kidding when I say that I spend weeks making the perfect itinerary, finding the cutest boutique hotels or optimizing credit card points, and reserving a spot at the best restaurants in town. My favorite feeling is when I’m finally on the trip and everything just flows. I book the flights, I stay at the great hotels, I see incredible places, and I try stellar food. Now, imagine applying that same level of planning to a product launch.
In my opinion, launching a product isn’t all that different from planning an amazing vacation. Both require research, strategy, and a lot of flexibility when things don’t go as expected (which is more often than you might think). Let’s take a trip through the travel marketing mindset and see how it can make product launches smoother, more impactful, and—most importantly—more enjoyable.
Image Credit: Masha Savelieva
South Island New Zealand at the Milford Sound, which is actually a fjord but was misnamed by early settlers.
Step 1: Research your destination AKA Know your audience
Before booking a trip, you probably research the best locations, local attractions, and must-try foods. You might read travel blogs, scroll through Instagram and TikTok, or ask friends who’ve been there for tips.
The same goes for launching a product. You need to understand who your audience is, what they care about, and what’s already out there. Are they looking for convenience? Aesthetic appeal? Something totally new? Research tools like customer interviews, competitive analysis, and social listening help you get these insights—just like reading TripAdvisor or Google reviews before booking a hotel.
Pro tip: Treat customer feedback like travel reviews—look for trends, not just one-off comments.
Image Credit: Masha Savelieva
Sunset in the British Virgin Islands where we chartered a catamaran for a week.
Step 2: Plan the itinerary AKA Build your launch strategy
A great trip has structure. You know when you’re flying in, where you’re staying, and which must-visit spots you’re hitting. This means you don’t miss anything important; but, you also want to leave room for spontaneity. My personal approach requires color-coded spreadsheets, easily accessible offline Google Docs, and detailed Google Maps lists with notes.
A product launch is the same—you need a clear roadmap and flexibility to adapt when sh*t hits the fan. What are the key milestones? When does the pre-launch buzz start? What’s your big reveal moment? How do you continue the momentum after the big day?
Think of your go-to-market plan like a detailed itinerary:
Pre-launch: Tease what’s coming, build anticipation (like dropping hints about an upcoming trip on social media).
Launch day: The big reveal! Your grand arrival moment, also known as the day you step foot at your dream destination and it takes your breath away.
Post-launch: Keep the momentum going—don’t just drop the product and disappear. For me, this means I always have a trip in my pipeline. I know where I’m going in 2025, 2026, and even where I want to go in 2027!
Image Credit: Masha Savelieva
Photo taken in Buenos Aires at Caminito in La Boca. This was my second time here - this time in the BA summer.
Step 3: Make it memorable AKA Tell a story
The best trips aren’t just about getting from Point A to Point B—they’re about the experiences in between. You remember the sunrise hike (or in my case, the torrential downpour and lack of sunrise LOL), the first time you see a penguin colony, or the spontaneous detour that led to the best view of a fjord in New Zealand.
The same goes for a product launch. It’s not just about listing features; it’s about creating an emotional connection. Why should people care? What problem does it solve? How will it make their lives better?
Pro tip: Frame your messaging around the transformation, not just the product itself. Think: “This will make your daily routine easier” instead of “This has 10GB of storage.”
Image Credit: Masha Savelieva
Gentoo penguins on Barrientos Island on the way to the Antarctic peninsula. This was during their breeding season so they were very vocal.
Step 4: Expect detours AKA Have a backup plan
Even with the best itinerary, things can go wrong—flights get delayed, it rains when you had a sunrise hike planned, or the "amazing" restaurant turns out to be just meh. It’s okay to swap itinerary days, pull out the trusty Google Map and find another nearby spot to eat at, or just meander through the city or lounge at the pool. These detour days are often the most fun because you truly get to enjoy where you’re at! Although, I don’t recommend missing your flight and being stuck in the airport for 8 hours—much less fun.
Product launches have hiccups too. A feature will get delayed, an unexpected competitor might drop a similar product, or early feedback might not be what you expected. The key? Be adaptable. Roadmaps are just that. They keep you on track, but they’re not the end-all-be-all because you can’t predict everything.
Pro tip: Keep a backup plan in place—whether that’s reactive messaging, additional launch assets, or a quick pivot if needed. Transparency goes a long way in maintaining customer trust.
Image Credit: Masha Savelieva
The iconic Bondi Icebergs Club in Sydney, Australia taken during a three-week long trip where my fiancé and I explored seven cities across Australia.
Step 5: Reflect and optimize AKA Measure success & improve
After a trip, you probably think about what worked and what you’d do differently next time. Maybe you’d book a longer stay, skip a certain tourist trap, or try a different hotel. I almost never do the same thing twice because every trip has a learning lesson in it or at least a new opportunity to unlock.
The same mindset applies to product launches. Once it’s live, analyze the data. What resonated with your audience? What didn’t? Look at 30-, 60-, and 90–day engagement, conversions, and feedback to refine your future launches.
Pro tip: Just like you’d share travel recommendations with friends, share insights with your team—what worked well might be worth repeating.
Image Credit: Masha Savelieva
The somewhat unknown red sand beach on the island of Maui, Hawaii. It's not a popular spot and is quite tucked away but is absolutely gorgeous and worth visiting on the Road to Hana.
The journey is the experience
Whether you’re planning your next trip or launching a product, remember: The experience matters just as much as the destination. A great launch, like a great trip, is all about preparation, storytelling, and adaptability.
Image Credit: Masha Savelieva
Author’s most recent trip to Antarctica! This was at Charlotte Bay on the Antarctic Peninsula.
Would love to hear your thoughts! Have you ever noticed parallels between travel planning and work? Drop a comment below and follow me on TikTok and Instagram for travel recommendations (not so much work LOL).
Masha Savelieva is a traveler, content creator, and marketer with a passion for storytelling and innovation. While she loves her work in Product Marketing, she’s also focused on building a life fueled by creativity, exploration, and multiple income streams. When she’s not traveling, creating, or launching new products, you’ll find her training for her pilates certification or enjoying long walks to hit her daily 10K steps. Originally from Moscow and raised in Texas, she now calls San Diego, California—her dream spot by the beach—home.