The role of business travel in the success of high-growth female founders is often overlooked, yet it remains an essential component of scaling and building businesses. At the second annual Female Founder Collective (FFC) Nette Retreat, the importance of in-person interaction, networking, and relationship-building was discussed in-depth and travel with AAdvantage. During this gathering, which hosted around 50 Female Founders, the conversation revolved around how effective travel strategies help them access funding, meet investors, and secure partnerships that are crucial to business growth.
The event also featured insights from Nyakio Grieco, the founder of beauty retailer Thirteen Lune, a key partner in the AAdvantage Business program. American Airlines, known for its dedication to enhancing the travel experience for business professionals, joined the discussion to emphasize how travel loyalty programs like AAdvantage Business help companies streamline their operations while rewarding loyalty.
Business Travel A Gateway for Growth
Travel is a significant part of the daily life of busy executives, with more than 60% of high-growth business leaders estimating they travel between 5 to 10 days per month. When choosing an airline for frequent travel, their decision often hinges on two key factors: reliability and the opportunity to earn rewards for their company’s loyalty. This highlights the importance of having a program that supports frequent travel while offering real value in terms of rewards, status upgrades, and loyalty incentives.
In the case of Nyakio Grieco, Thirteen Lune’s founder, business travel is a necessity that has directly impacted the growth of her brand. Grieco shared, “Building and nurturing in-person relationships with investors and partners has been essential to the growth of Thirteen Lune. This inherently means that I often have to hop on a plane to attend meetings, network at events, or close a deal.”
AAdvantage Business Program Supports Growth
American Airlines AAdvantage Business program plays a crucial role in supporting business owners like Grieco. The program offers business leaders a set of tools that simplify travel management, providing access to loyalty rewards while streamlining operations. For women founders, this support is particularly beneficial, as it can reduce costs and simplify the travel booking process for both individual and corporate trips.
The AAdvantage Business program helps businesses earn miles for every dollar spent on eligible travel with American Airlines and its partners. For female founders, this can be an opportunity to earn rewards for themselves and their employees through AAdvantage , incentivizing frequent travel and streamlining the booking process with tailored travel tools.
Grieco, who has partnered with American Airlines to feature Thirteen Lune products in more than 3 million amenity kits for premium cabin customers, commented on the significance of this collaboration: “Collaborating with American to include our skincare in over 3 million amenity kits annually was a full-circle moment for me.”
Building Meaningful Relationships Through Travel
Travel allows female founders to establish and nurture relationships that are essential for their business growth. At the FFC Nette Retreat, the conversation centered around how in-person meetings and events are crucial for establishing trust and understanding. While remote work and virtual meetings have become standard, there remains a distinct value in face-to-face interactions that foster deeper connections.
Alison Wyatt, co-founder and CEO of the Female Founder Collective, shared her perspective on the role of travel with AAdvantage in business success. “While remote work drives great accomplishments, in-person connections remain irreplaceable. As a business owner, the airplane has become not only a second office but also a gateway to the best opportunities.”
Loyalty Rewards and Business Benefits
One of the most discussed aspects of AAdvantage Business was its loyalty rewards system, which plays an essential role in determining airline choices for more than 30% of female founders attending the retreat. Business leaders understand the importance of getting the most out of their travel budget, and loyalty programs offer a great way to do that.
AAdvantage Business benefits include:
- Earn one mile for each dollar spent on eligible travel with American Airlines, excluding taxes and fees.
- Fast track to personal AAdvantage status for frequent travelers
- A suite of tools to manage travel, including reporting and control features that help businesses optimize their travel spending
- The opportunity to offset travel expense by using miles for flights, upgrades, car rentals, hotels, and more
Creating a Memorable Travel Experience for Customers
American Airlines goes beyond simply offering a business loyalty program. They are also committed to providing an exceptional travel experience for customers. With insights from Kim Cisek, American Airlines Vice President of Customer Experience, the company emphasizes the thrill of discovery during travel. “Travel’s excitement lies in discovering new experiences whether it’s food, language, landscapes, and beyond. Americans are always looking for ways to expand those opportunities for discovery, well before our customers get to their destination.”
Through their partnership with Thirteen Lune American Airlines gives passengers access to exclusive skincare products from diverse brands, many of which they might not have considered before. This collaboration is a testament to America’s commitment to creating unique, thoughtful experiences for their customers, while also helping elevate female-founded brands.
The Impact of Travel on Female Entrepreneurs
The importance of travel for female entrepreneurs is evident at gatherings like the FFC Nette Retreat, where business leaders come together to share insights and strategies for success. Many female founders attribute their company’s growth to their ability to travel regularly with AAdvantage, whether for securing new business, attending networking events, or forming key partnerships. In a world that is increasingly driven by digital tools, the physical presence still holds significant value in establishing trust and fostering long-term business relationships.
By offering a comprehensive program like AAdvantage Business, American Airlines has made it easier for business owners, especially women entrepreneurs, to leverage the power of travel to grow their companies. Whether it’s facilitating connections with investors or creating memorable experiences for customers, travel plays a central role in the success stories of high-growth female founders.
Conclusion
As female founders continue to shape the future of business, their need for seamless, rewarding travel experiences will only grow. Programs like AAdvantage Business provide the tools and incentives to make business travel more efficient and cost-effective while rewarding loyalty and supporting business growth. At the same time, collaborations with brands like Thirteen Lune showcase how businesses can elevate their customer experience through partnerships, bringing new products and experiences to travelers worldwide.
In the coming years, business travel will remain a cornerstone of the entrepreneurial journey, particularly for women founders seeking to expand their influence, build relationships, and drive innovation. AAdvantage Business continues to support this mission by empowering female founders to travel smarter, build stronger networks, and turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality.
