Travel and Personal Growth: Matthieu Jost Of misterb&b On Why & How Traveling Can Help Us Become Better Human Beings

Be open-minded. When traveling, unexpected situations are inevitable. You’ll run into bumps along the road, cross paths with people you never thought you would, and sometimes your plans will be thrown to the wayside. But, if you have an open mind, to new places, people, and unexpected circumstances, each bump in the road will provide an unmatched opportunity for personal growth and will enrich your trip.

Thankfully, the world is open for travel once again. Traveling can broaden our horizons and make space for people to become more open-minded. How can travel give us the opportunity for personal growth? What are some ways that travel can help us become better human beings? As a part of our series about “How Traveling Can Help Us Become Better Human Beings”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Matthieu Jost, co-founder and CEO of misterb&b.

Matthieu Jost is the co-founder and CEO of misterb&b. Ranked as a Top 100 Most Influential Leader, Matthieu raised $15M to build misterb&b, the world’s largest LGBTQ+ travel company helping to create a more welcoming world, and has since grown the app to over one million global users. Prior to misterb&b’s founding, Matthieu co-founded mygaytrip.com in 2011, the #1 gay trip advisor website and app in Europe, with a print magazine extension.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?

I grew up in a very small town in the northeast of France. It was challenging for me to grow up in such a small town; being a gay man made it pretty complicated because I felt like there was no one else around who was like me or who understood my life experience. I know my experience is one that resonates with many in the LGBTQ+ community, but in a time before the internet or social media, it was almost impossible to find and connect with other queer individuals. Once I finished my studies, I moved to Paris because it was much easier for me to live freely and openly as a gay man there. I felt real connection for the first time in my life and discovered so many people who were in similar situations to me.

I was also an entrepreneur from very early on, starting my first company when I was 16 years old, which was a digital platform dedicated to television, almost like a French version of IMDb. From there, my passion for entrepreneurship ignited and I went on to become a serial entrepreneur, starting several companies before finally founding misterb&b as it is today.

What or who inspired you to pursue your career? We’d love to hear the story.

I always knew that I wanted to focus my career on the LGBTQ+ community. Before founding misterb&b, I was a serial entrepreneur. I started MyGayTrip.com, Europe’s top gay trip advisor and platform. With My Gay Trip, we immediately saw and felt the need for community around LGBTQ+ travel. The LGBTQ+ travel market is a $218B industry that was largely untapped at the time, so we knew there was great potential for another LGBTQ+ travel company. misterb&b came about after a trip to Barcelona with my partner. We had booked a home share rental because we loved to experience travel through the lens of the local life and local people. When our host realized that my partner and I were gay, she became visibly uncomfortable and asked us very inappropriate questions. We made the decision to leave to find more welcoming accommodations, and I realized that I never wanted to have that same kind of traumatic experience again, for myself, or for my community. So, I decided to start misterb&b to give the LGBTQ+ community a safer and more inclusive option for travel booking.

None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Was there a particular person who you feel gave you the most help or encouragement to be who you are today? Can you share a story about that?

When I first started misterb&b, I struggled to raise venture capital in France because many French investors were conservative and weren’t open to investing in LGBTQ+ companies. They didn’t understand the need or the massive business opportunity. I decided to establish misterb&b as a global platform and was introduced to Chris Sinton, who at the time was Chair Emeritus of Start Out’s board, the U.S.’s largest organization for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs. What was supposed to be a thirty minute meeting between Chris and I turned into hours of conversation. He immediately understood the misterb&b brand and my vision for the platform, and I invited him to join the brand as a co-founder. Chris helped establish the company in the U.S., connecting us with business engineering contacts in San Francisco and the Global 500 startup accelerator program. Chris and I still talk daily; he brings such a unique and diverse perspective to the team and he’s encouraged and supported me in so many ways, both personally and professionally.

It has been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share the funniest or most interesting mistake that occurred to you in the course of your career? What lesson or takeaway did you learn from that?

As I said before, it was very difficult to raise funds for misterb&b in France. In France, the local ecosystem is conservative and in some ways old-fashioned, which made it hard to convince VCs to invest in an LGBTQ+ business– it was risky or taboo. I’m not sure if it was necessarily a mistake on my part, but if I could do it over again I would have saved the time and immediately relocated to Silicon Valley to prove much earlier that the concept of misterb&b was time-tested and had value in the U.S. through investors and consumers.

The biggest takeaway I learned from the situation was to focus on the people that understand your mission and vision, and don’t spend too much time fretting over the people that don’t get it.

Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does that resonate with you so much?

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” — Mark Twain

Traveling opens your mind to new and different people, places, and experiences and in turns breaks down our natural human barriers of narrow-mindedness and prejudice. This quote resonates with me so much for this reason, and it’s the reason why I built misterb&b: to create a more inclusive, accepting, and welcoming global travel community.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?

misterb&b just launched Weere, an in-app travel social networking extension to our platform. With Weere, travelers can meet LGBTQ+ locals and tourists at their destination, or create memories right from home, chatting with upcoming visitors to their city or connecting with travelers for an upcoming trip. Weere allows our users to update their profiles, interests, and mood to find like-minded individuals from across the world or across the street. Our users can also create bucket lists and plan trips while connecting and visiting with other travelers, with the option to share trip costs. 70% of misterb&b’s user base are solo travelers, so the addition of Weere will help them by offering a unique opportunity to share travel experiences with other solo travelers.

OK, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the core focus of our interview about travel and personal growth. Let’s dive deeper into these together. Based on your research or personal experience, why do you think travel can lead to personal growth? Can you share a story?

I’ve seen firsthand in my own life and through the lives of others in LGBTQ+ community the profound impact that travel can have on personal growth. Growing up in a small town in France, I struggled with my identity and being a gay man until I was able to expand my world through travel, and by moving to Paris. It’s difficult for LGBTQ+ individuals to find and connect with other gay people, and travel provides a unique opportunity to grow with like-minded individuals. I grew in so many ways when I began to travel and meet others like me. I felt so much relief, knowing that I was not alone in this world and that there were like-minded individuals that I could connect with. That’s what misterb&b is about at its core: connecting people globally around travel. All of the personal growth I’ve experienced has been made possible through travel.

A recent survey from Psychology Today showed that over 80% of participants found that travel helped them with problem-solving or decision-making. Why do you think this is true for so many people?

Travel forces you outside of your comfort zone and makes you think on your feet when you’re in an unfamiliar place or situation. Even tough situations while traveling help you develop your problem-solving and decision-making skills. For example, myself and my partner had to make the high-pressure, difficult decision to leave the rental property of the host who was unwelcoming to us. Travel inevitably puts you in situations that you’re not used to being in on a day-to-day basis, so I think that’s why so many people feel that traveling has helped them with problem-solving and decision-making.

Do you think travel enhances our mindfulness, optimism, or sense of gratitude? How? Can you please explain with an example or story?

Travel absolutely enhances our mindfulness, optimism, and sense of gratitude, and it makes us more open-minded. Having the opportunity to connect with people and places that are different from you allows you to open your mind to new and different experiences while also increasing your sense of gratitude for where you came from. I’ve learned so much about the direct impact that travel has on personal growth and increasing our optimism through hearing first-hand stories from our misterb&b hosts and travelers, which is always very heartwarming. For example, this host told the story of how hosting travelers from different backgrounds and cultures enriches him as a human being: “I really enjoy hosting people with a very different lifestyle and who constantly travel and have a lot to say. I love to listen to their stories. I also enjoy conversations especially with gay guests because we get to talk about private circumstances and relationships, life and more stuff. It is nice when people you do not know can open up to you as they feel they can trust you. I constantly learn while hosting. People would tell you about the music they listen to, movies they have watched or interesting places they have been to. The best moisturizer to defy age or the most amazing iPhone app etc. But most importantly I learn how to deal with different people with very different backgrounds/ages/cultures. This enriches me as a person.”

Hearing stories from people of other backgrounds and getting to connect over shared experiences from very different cultures is incredibly impactful on people. It helps us open our minds, which inevitably enhances our mindfulness, optimism, and sense of gratitude.

Surely not everyone who travels automatically becomes an exemplar of human decency. What are a few reasons why some people completely miss out on the growth opportunities that travel can offer?

Many people choose to travel without any real connection to the local experience or locals in the area. You’re missing out on so many growth opportunities if you don’t open your mind to connecting with locals from the area or other like-minded travelers visiting the city. In my opinion the best way to grow while traveling is to have an authentic experience in the city you’re visiting, and that’s why so many of misterb&b’s vacation rental properties are home shares or private rooms that offer our users a chance to connect with someone new. The goal of misterb&b is to start the trip as strangers and leave as friends.

Thank you for that. Now for our main question; What are your “5 Habits You Should Develop In Order Make Travel Into An Opportunity For Personal Growth?”

1. Be open-minded.
   When traveling, unexpected situations are inevitable. You’ll run into bumps along the road, cross paths with people you never thought you would, and sometimes your plans will be thrown to the wayside. But, if you have an open mind, to new places, people, and unexpected circumstances, each bump in the road will provide an unmatched opportunity for personal growth and will enrich your trip.
2. Travel like a local.
   While it’s easy and can feel more comfortable to stay at a familiar hotel chain in a tourist hotspot neighborhood, you’ll get the most personal growth out of traveling like a local. Choose to stay in a shared home with a local, take their recommendations for places to see and things to do, and connect with other locals in the area. You’ll not only meet new friends along the way, but you’ll also have the unique opportunity to explore a new place through the eyes of a local and open yourself up to personal growth.
3. Step outside of your comfort zone.
   Whether it’s visiting a new place or a town off the beaten path, or trying a new experience you never thought that you would, allowing yourself to step outside of your comfort zone while traveling will open you up to countless opportunities for personal growth. We’ll never grow if we stay in our comfort zone, and travel is the perfect opportunity to push your limits and open yourself up to new experiences.
4. Plan ahead.
   The best way to set yourself up for success and open yourself up to opportunities to grow personally is to plan ahead. Pre-booking your accommodations and tours and planning an itinerary on apps like misterb&b allows you to avoid issues and stress when you’re on your trip and allows more time to experience and grow. Of course, make sure to leave time on your itinerary to see and explore with no set plans. Setting aside time to let experiences and exploration come to you allows for the best opportunities for personal growth.
5. Connect with others
   Traveling is an incredible experience that’s enhanced through personal connection. When traveling, make an effort to connect with other tourists or locals in the area and travel with them. misterb&b just launched a new in-app travel social network called Weere, which allows users to find other travelers who are traveling to the same destination or booking the same accommodations as them to connect and make plans to meet at their destination or even share accommodations. Whether you’re traveling with friends or as a solo traveler, meeting new people and creating community abroad is a unique travel experience that many don’t ever think to tap into.

From your experience, does travel have a negative impact on personal growth too? Is there a downside to travel?

Travel, adventure, and connection are all essential parts to the human experience and travel creates so many opportunities and positive experiences. The only downside to traveling is that there are still areas of the world that are unsafe and unwelcoming to certain travelers, like the LGBTQ+ community. Even in the U.S., LGBTQ+ discrimination is on the rise with anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and travel advisories in places like Florida. In many places where gay people are persecuted, travelers might feel unsafe or that there are sets of rules that they must accept and abide by to travel there. That’s why I created misterb&b, because in destinations that aren’t welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community, it’s the hosts, cities, and tourists that feel the negative impacts of not being able to welcome in new, vibrant perspectives. With misterb&b, I want to open up the world to safe and welcoming travel experiences, and help dispel any downsides to travel.

We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we both tag them :-)

As a fellow entrepreneur, I’ve always looked up to Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple. His journey, being the first openly gay CEO of a Fortune 500 company, is both inspiring and relatable for me. It resonates with my own mission to break barriers and create inclusive spaces in the travel industry for the LGBTQ+ community. His leadership, evident in the way he has transformed Apple, is something I truly admire and strive to emulate in my own ventures. Beyond his professional success, what truly makes Tim Cook a role model for me is his commitment to raise his voice to protect our community.

Also, Simon Porte Jacquemus is a role model for me due to his exceptional talent as a fashion designer and his ability to break industry barriers. As an openly gay man, he inspires self-acceptance and empowers others to embrace their identities. His success story from a humble background offers hope and his advocacy for diversity and inclusion in the fashion world challenges traditional norms.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

Your readers can keep up with all the latest misterb&b announcements on our website or the app, which can be downloaded on the Apple App Store or Google Play Library. misterb&b shares gay travel news, LGBTQ+ city guides, and recommendations on our blog, which you can read here.

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.

About The Interviewer: Maria Angelova, MBA is a disruptor, author, motivational speaker, body-mind expert, Pilates teacher and founder and CEO of Rebellious Intl. As a disruptor, Maria is on a mission to change the face of the wellness industry by shifting the self-care mindset for consumers and providers alike. As a mind-body coach, Maria’s superpower is alignment which helps clients create a strong body and a calm mind so they can live a life of freedom, happiness and fulfillment. Prior to founding Rebellious Intl, Maria was a Finance Director and a professional with 17+ years of progressive corporate experience in the Telecommunications, Finance, and Insurance industries. Born in Bulgaria, Maria moved to the United States in 1992. She graduated summa cum laude from both Georgia State University (MBA, Finance) and the University of Georgia (BBA, Finance). Maria’s favorite job is being a mom. Maria enjoys learning, coaching, creating authentic connections, working out, Latin dancing, traveling, and spending time with her tribe. To contact Maria, email her at angelova@rebellious-intl.com. To schedule a free consultation, click here.