On this episode of Humans of Travel, new host Chelsee Lowe talks with fashion and lifestyle pro Carson Kressley, who is well known from the Emmy-winning television series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, as well as reality competition shows Dancing With the Stars and RuPaul’s Drag Race. Kressley discusses how curiosity and a love of exploration have shaped his life and career, including how a post-college move to New York City led to a job with Ralph Lauren and how a sense of humor has helped him carve his professional path. When he took a risk and joined the original Queer Eye cast, a long television career began. All the while, travel remained a constant passion.
Kressley also looks back on childhood road trips to horse shows and family vacations planned with the help of AAA TripTiks. Today, he hands all the travel planning responsibilities over to travel advisors, and as ALG Vacations’ (ALGV) Travel Advisor Champion — a title he’s held for three consecutive years — he recommends other explorers do the same. ALGV estimates that Kressley has helped the company reach 130 million travelers in the last year, thanks to joint projects such as the “Carson Curates” and “Carson Checks In” social media series, both of which are available on ALGV’s consumer-facing website, TravelAdvisorsGetYouThere.com.
This episode is sponsored by Tourism Cares.
Carson Kressley, fashion and lifestyle pro and Travel Advisor Champion for ALG Vacations
Credit: 2026 TravelAge WestResources Mentioned in the Episode
Follow Carson Kressley on Instagram
ALG Vacations
TravelAdvisorsGetYouThere.com
Designs by Carson Kressley Via Ballard Designs
Carson Judges on BBQ Brawl
Carson Judges on RuPaul’s Drag Race
About Your Host
Chelsee Lowe is Senior Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She’s an avid reader, writer, interviewer and traveler. Los Angeles is her home base.
TravelAge West also produces events including Future Leaders in Travel, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.
About the Show
TravelAge West’s award-winning podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from notable authorities in the travel industry, high-profile executives, passionate explorers, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.