Where local travel experts plan to go in 2022

Trip

From Maine to Mexico to Europe.

As 2021 draws to a close and Covid-19 pandemic sets new case records, 2022 is upon us, bringing the promise of never-before-seen experiences and destinations.

We asked local travel experts where they plan to go in 2022. While no travel is guaranteed – restrictions are changing and precautions are needed – their responses included domestic and overseas destinations.

Here are their projects.

Chris Lehane, senior vice president of global policy and communications at Airbnb

The Lawrence native, who now lives in California, will kick off the new year with a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico for food, art and culture.

“If you’re just looking for a really interesting cultural experience, there’s just a ton to offer there,” he said. “It’s been one of our top destinations for about a year.”

His family loves their annual summer trip to Maine – “always a must” – and he is planning trips to Spain, Sicily, Prague and Ireland.

Martha Sheridan, president of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau

Sheridan will travel to Italy, where she looks forward to immersing herself in the country’s food and history. She will vacation in Aruba to “rest and relax” and will also travel to New York on New Years for dinner and a theater performance.

Daniel Velez, New England regional spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Velez often travels to New England for work. But there’s a trip to New England he’s planned in 2022 specifically to spend some quality time with family and friends — in Vermont. He’s also planned getaways to Phoenix, Arizona; Dallas, TX; and Tampa, Florida to attend spring baseball training.

Keiko Matsudo Orrall, executive director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism

Orrall is keeping his trips local in 2022. His goal: to explore the state’s ‘hidden gems’ and ‘extraordinary stops’ 16 tourist regions in 2022, starting with Mount Wachusett in Princeton.

Frederic Lalonde, founder and CEO of flight-tracking app Hopper, which has an office in Boston

Lalonde, who splits his time between Boston and Montreal, is looking forward to spending time in Maine this summer.

“This is my favorite vacation spot because I love surfing with my daughter at Higgins Beach in Scarborough,” Lalonde wrote in an email. “And Portland has become such a culinary hot spot. There are so many fantastic restaurants to visit.