Illustration by: Bashel Lubarsky

There's a new trend sweeping the travel world, particularly in the hotel space. I like to call it collab-mania.

Brands are increasingly reaching out to fashion designers, artists, chefs, and influencers to

collaborate on everything from capsule collections to hosted retreats and exclusive dinners. It's a way of expanding your audience reach, and of course, keeping things fresh.

I got a taste of a cool collaboration recently at Montage Los Cabos, an intimate, discrete and yet also family-friendly property set on Santa Maria Bay. (If you're a devoted ocean swimmer, you'll love their beach–one of the few swimmable stretches in the area, with a nice breeze and great waves.) The resort had invited the esteemed chef Jorge Vallejo, of the World's 50 Best Restaurant-celebrated Quintonil, to fly in from Mexico City. The multi-course meal Vallejo cooked for our group proved to be an extraordinary, well-paced, downright delicious experience. And–big shocker!—it made me want to hop on a plane to Mexico City.

As I plan more adventures for the year, I'm seeking out innovative ways to see a place that might be considered classic, and a collaboration might be just the ticket. And I'm also hooking certain trips around marquee events or cultural moments, including our own Food & Wine Classic in Charleston, held September 27-29. This inaugural event, presented by Explore Charleston, will bring together three brands—Food & Wine, Southern Living, and Travel + Leisure—for a celebratory weekend of cooking demos, wine tastings, and a traditional Southern tailgate. I will also be personally curating a shopping tour to some of my favorite boutiques run by incredible female entrepreneurs. To me, the beauty of this destination is the friendliness of the locals, who always greet my family with a hug and a "How are you?" We can't wait to welcome you to the party.