Travel promo items to elevate your next excursion

Brand-boosters help keep groups comfortable and coordinated

By Stephanie Lamie

Americans are on the move. A record 904 million travelers opens in new window passed through U.S. airports last year, and travel forecasts are sky high for 2026 opens in new window. As travel surges, group trips remain a popular way to explore new places—whether it’s a youth program heading to a far-away camp or a community center planning day excursions. Coordinating schedules, transportation and the safekeeping of personal belongings for dozens of people is no easy task—but thoughtful promotional products can make all the difference in helping groups prepare and stay organized. Gunpowder Falls District’s Troop 124 opens in new window, a group within Scouting America Baltimore Area Council, and Reston Community Center (RCC) opens in new window are two organiza­tions that used travel promo items to help keep travelers comfortable, coordinated and con­nected while on the go.

Scouting crew was nicely prepared for the Icelandic climate

Branded travel gifts provide comfort and camaraderie

Last year was a special one for Troop 124’s high-adventure crew. The group—which consists of the troop’s older and more experienced Scouts—embarked on its first-ever international trip in years. Fourteen Scouts and their adult leaders spent 10 days camping, hiking, kayaking and horseback riding in Iceland. They also explored an active volcano and spent time with Scouts from Iceland, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ukraine.

Kim Bissett, a troop committee member and adult leader, helped organize the excursion. One of her planning tasks along with her co-leader, Angela Joseph, was choosing promotional travel gifts for the group—a tradition for Scouting trips.

“Although we were going in July, we knew we were going to be kind of bundled up,” Bissett said. “That meant nobody would see our troop team shirts because we’d have sweatshirts and jackets on over them.” Iceland averages 10-12 days of rain each month opens in new window, and summer temperatures often are in the 40s and 50s, so waterproof jackets were the perfect choice. “It was a no-brain­er,” Bissett said.

Be certain travelers are comfortable on the go

The group received these water- and wind-resistant jackets at an informational meeting before the trip. The navy blue jackets—chosen to match the troop’s branding—fea­tured an embroidered patch with a logo de­signed specifically for the occasion. Whether in an airport or on an outdoor adventure, the branded jackets made it easier for the adults to keep track of the teens. They also fostered a sense of community and, later, served as a reminder of the experience.

“The jackets became a source of pride for those who attended because they’re the only people with them in the troop,” Bissett said. “They stand out and people ask them questions about them. It’s nice to have that cohesion, and it makes the Scouts feel kind of special.”

The practical advantage of the jackets also paid off. “I think it rained every day,” Bissett said. “It was the best choice we could have possibly made.”

Reston Community Center trips stay on track

Travel promotional products foster togetherness

Another organization providing exciting experiences for its members is Reston Community Center. Since 1979, RCC has offered high-quality leisure, aquatics, cultural and arts programming as well as group travel opportunities.

While open to all ages, day trip attendees are often older adults. Participants visit museums, arts performances, botanical gardens and more. Scholarship programs make these trips accessible to almost everyone. At a time when nearly 40% of travelers said they took more trips last year opens in new window than in 2024—and 76% intend to travel more in 2026—opportunities like those provided by the community center make new experiences more feasible.

One popular yearly trip took travelers to Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Philadelphia Flower Show, the country’s largest and longest-running horticultural event, known for remarkable displays by the world’s top floral, garden and landscape designers. Ali Clements, lifelong learning program assistant, accompanied about 50 people on the journey from Reston to Philadelphia last year. After organizing similar excursions, Clements and her colleagues learned valuable lessons about keeping people organized and identifiable. That’s why attendees were given branded lanyards and wristbands. Each had a valuable part to play.

Wristbands help make group organization easy

Lanyards help groups connect in busy spaces

“The show welcomes tens of thousands of patrons, and there are hundreds of buses bringing people to and from the convention center,” Clements said. “The lanyards helped us identify who was in our group and helped them find each other.” The travel promo items served another practical purpose: They held each traveler’s emergency contact information and event ticket.

Wristbands, meanwhile, helped trip organizers keep track of the guests. Each traveler was assigned a number and given a wristband at the start of the trip. When they returned to the bus to head home, the wristband was removed. “They’re numbered based on our roster, so if we had 50 people and only 48 were on the bus, we could check the wristbands we’d collected and see which two were missing,” Clements said.

Beyond their practical purpose, the promo items helped build a sense of community—often among strangers. For some travelers, the sight of a Reston Community Center lanyard or wristband on another attendee eased stress and reminded them that, while far from home, there was community all around.

Travel promotional products make for smoother sailing

Gunpowder Falls District and Reston Community Center are taking thoughtful, strategic approaches to promotional products. From rainy adventures abroad to beautiful sightseeing closer to home, the two organizations show how travel promo items not only improve group experiences, but also amplify their brands.

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