A Moment With: Darren Burn, founder of tailor-made luxury travel company OutOfOffice.com

We caught up with Darren Burn, founder of luxury travel company OutOfOffice.com, which specialises in LGBT friendly itineraries, to learn about his latest projects and what's up next on his destinations wish list. 

What influences do you draw upon to fuel your creativity?
I'm a brainstormer. I often find my creative juices flowing when I'm nowhere near a pen and paper. I try to meditate regularly and despite doing my best to focus solely on my breath, inevitably that's when I have the most clarity and come up with my ideas.
 
What is your current passion project?
We launched OutOfOffice.com only 10 months ago, so that takes up nearly all my time, but it's great to be working on something that I'm so passionate about - travel. I'm determined to explore every corner of this earth before my time is up, so being able to help others to do the same by using our expertise to tailor-make travel experiences is so important to me. Too many people these days just book a room and a flight rather than immersing themselves in a destination. And to be able to say we're one of the only travel companies to place an emphasis on gay-friendly travel is really important to me, too.

What is your idea of food Heaven? Food Hell?
Food heaven - there are too many choices, but anything with garlic usually ticks the box and anything chocolate orange flavoured is up there. A chocolate orange melt in the middle pudding - ideal. Food hell - mushrooms. I just don't understand why you'd want to eat a fungus!

Inspirational quote that you live by?
"It is my belief that we all have the need to feel special. It is this need that can bring out the best in us, yet the worst in us." - Janet Jackson

What city do you find the most:
-Inspirational? Key West
-Invigorating? London
-Relaxing? Sydney 
-Like your home away from home? New York

Favourite ‘blow the bank account’ place you like to stay when you’re treating yourself?
In a glass igloo in Lapland under the Northern Lights. Totally magical.

Favourite restaurant in the world?
The Hunt and Fish Club in New York.

Favourite holiday memory?
Being on an island in Fiji for a week with no phone signal whatsoever. Bliss.

What are your must-have travel essentials?
- Portable phone charger
- Travel pillow
- A comfy hoodie for long flights

What is your next adventure?
Next year I'll be heading to Mauritius, Key West and hopefully the winelands in South Africa. I also am desperate to get over to Japan and the Far East, but that may have to be on 2018's agenda.

​

---