We’ve all heard that quote from Susan Sontag : “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” And that quote? That’s me. (And I think it is you too, otherwise you probably wouldn’t be here). From trekking to remote waterfalls to lounging in a luxury high-rise in Dubai—I want it all.

The problem is:

I never know where to go next (the list truly is endless).

1. Every time I see a beautiful photo on Instagram or flip through one of my many travel books, I feel overwhelmed by how many incredible places exist.
2. I had piles of books, messy folders on my desktop, half-remembered Instagram saves, and dozens of browser tabs open with ideas, tips, and inspiration. But every time I went to actually plan a trip, I was starting from scratch. Again. And I always felt like I was going to miss that special place I saw….somewhere.

What if I got a last-minute opportunity to go to Iceland—but didn’t remember where I saved that post about the perfect hidden hot spring? What if I found myself in Finland and completely forgot about that hotel I’d bookmarked years ago with a front-row view of the northern lights?

It was all there—but nowhere I could find it when I needed it.

My Excel spreadsheet just wasn’t cutting it anymore (yes, embarrassing but true). What I needed was a map. A visual, intuitive, and delightful way to save ideas and organize my travel life.

That’s how Ailyak started.

At first, it was just meant to solve my problem: a simple, map-based tool to keep track of all the places I wanted to go, and why. But the deeper I got into researching the travel industry—and talking to travel advisors I admire—I realized I wasn’t alone.

Travel professionals face the same problem I did, just multiplied by dozens of clients. They juggle scattered notes, endless vendor contacts, PDFs, Instagram saves, and little nuggets of wisdom tucked away across five platforms. They’re overwhelmed, short on time, and lacking a tool that brings it all together.

So, we asked: What if Ailyak could help them, too?

What if the same map I dreamed of could store a travel advisor’s go-to hotels, DMCs, activities, restaurants, and contacts? What if they could pull up a saved experience and immediately share it with a client—confident that it’s organized, vetted, and ready?

With that question, Ailyak evolved. From an idea to a platform. From a personal solution to a professional tool.

Now, Ailyak is on its way to becoming a central hub for travel advisors—where they can manage their business, plan beautiful trips, and organize the trusted recommendations they’ve built up over years of experience. Think client communication, proposals, library organization, and CRM, all in one place.

Of course, building a business from scratch is a trip (pun very much intended). The ideas are flowing like the Nile, and it’s hard to rein them in. We want to launch with everything perfect—but we know that’s not realistic.

So, we’re starting simple. A beautiful foundation. A few trusted advisors to test it out. And then? The sky’s the limit.

Michelle and I are so excited to share Ailyak with the world. Whether you're a travel advisor or a curious traveler, we hope it becomes a place you can return to—when you’re ready to plan, when you need to organize, or even when you just want to dream a little.

Because when everywhere is on your list, Ailyak helps you start somewhere.

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