Going from meetings with travel agents to meeting with fellow walkers, Alan has spent another week on the Camino — his third year walking the Camino del Norte, an 876km walk from Irun to Santiago. It might sound worlds away from the day job, but the lessons from the trail aren’t so different: preparation pays off, keep the goal in sight, and enjoy the journey.
The Route
So far, the route has taken Alan from Irun to Bilbao in year one, Bilbao to Santander in year two, and most recently from Santander to Ribadesella — a 180-kilometre stretch that included overnights in Boo de Piélagos, Santillana del Mar, Comillas, Unquera, Llanes, and Ribadesella. Now more than halfway to Santiago, the plan is to return twice next year, with the final leg to follow in 2027.
Preparation is Key
There’s something grounding about travelling at walking pace. With no business meetings or sales visits — just the steady rhythm of progress and the camaraderie of fellow travellers. As Alan puts it, “Advance preparation, be it for a 40k walk or an important agent sales visit, is key to a successful outcome.’
Shared Journeys
At ASM, we often talk about shared journeys — working alongside our supplier partners and supporting agents to reach our goals. The Camino might be a different kind of path, but the idea’s the same: with clear purpose, good preparation, and the right people alongside you, the destination takes care of itself. And so, the Camino journey, just like in work, continues.
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- Signpost in Alfoz de Lloredo, Cantabria, Spain
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- Alan on the Camino trail
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- Pontifical University of Comillas, Madrid
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- Church of San Martín de Tours, Cigüenza, Spain.
