KENDRA THORNTON, president and owner of Royal Travel & Tours is eager to help you resume travel plans. Operating the luxury travel agency her parents founded 50 years ago comes naturally to this Northwestern University graduate, nationally recognized travel expert, and frequent fixture on local and national news. The Winnetka resident put her travel savviness and business knowledge to use in expanding the Royal Travel brand across the North Shore. Thornton is part of the exclusive Travel + Leisure magazine Travel Advisory Board and oversees an impressive team of Luxury Travel Advisors based in key markets throughout Chicago’s north and west suburbs. True travel royalty, her crown is one she has no plans of abdicating.

What’s on the horizon? Founded in 1972, we have great plans for Royal Travel and its clients to celebrate the 50th anniversary milestone Mantra? Not all who wander are lost Guilty pleasure? Pillow chocolates Favorite foods? Parisian sugar crêpes, Moroccan chicken tagine, Japanese vegetarian teppanyaki, Peruvian quinoa salad, Argentine strip steak Music you love? Classic 70s like Steve Miller Band, Eagles, Bob Segar Best advice ever given to you? This wasn’t given to me per se, but I’m sure that the Dalai Lama intended it for me: “Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before” Best advice you’ve given? Doing what you like is freedom; liking what you do is happiness Earliest memory? Racing my brother onto airplanes to be the first to get our “wings” What’s on your bookshelf? Tchotchkes from all over the world are nestled amongst the books—a framed print from Siem Reap; Limoges boxes collected from every trip to France; a bottle of Bora Bora sand; a silk elephant gifted to me in Jaipur; a Russian nesting doll from St. Petersburg; handmade jewelry from the Maasai villagers in Kenya; and my first Mickey Mouse ears embroidered with my name You can’t live without? Hugs and TSA Pre, in that order Love to escape to? Any sandy beach or the streets of Paris Advice you would give to your younger self? Dreams remain dreams until you take action

ON THE SHORE

Your style is? Casual and comfortable Can’t leave the house without? My phone Transportation? Porsche Cayenne Driving music? The Weeknd, Dua Lipa, or Post Malone Place to eat? 501 Local or Towne & Oak for team lunches and EJs, Pomeroy, or Minos for dinners out with my husband and friends Shop? Athene and Bunny & Babe Best thing about the Shore? Royal Travel clients Worst thing about the Shore? Waiting for Hometown Winnetka to open The perfect day is? Breakfast at Walker Brothers Pancake House; power walk along the lake; lunch with our Royal Travel crew; post lunch catch-up with clients; dinner as a family at our club; showered and in bed early to watch a show with my husband

ON-THE-GO

Your style is? Fashionable and fun Can’t leave the house without? My phone for picture taking and social posting Transportation? Car service Driving music? French rapper Lomepal Place to eat? Champagne brunch on the Maasai Mara; lunch at Bagatelle in St. Tropez; Scorpios Mykonos or Sexy Fish London for a chic dinner and a nightcap at Comptoir Darna in Marrakech or Ozone Bar at the Ritz Carlton Hong Kong Shop? Harajuku in Tokyo; Saint Germain des Pres in Paris; GUM in Moscow; the markets of Marrakech Best thing about traveling? Room service Worst thing about traveling? Missing home The perfect trip is? The one I just took and the next one I’m planning