Why the "Leading Ladies" Residency isn't a "Cheap Deal" (And why that's the point).

Feb 15

In my business, I have a rule: The 1 AM Oakland Rule. I learned the hard way that a "lowest price" filter is usually a trap that costs you your sanity, your hygiene, and your sleep. (And if you aren’t familiar with that rule—or you just want to feel better about your own life choices—read the full horror story HERE.).

When I started architecting the Leading Ladies Series: Chicago Residency (May 7–10, 2026), I had a very specific vision. I looked at the travel industry’s approach to Mother’s Day weekend—which is basically a high-stakes gauntlet of the "Family Industrial Complex" and performative brunches—and I decided to Flip the Script.

The "Why": Finding the Gaggle

I built Follow the Goose Travel because I looked around the industry and I didn’t see myself.

Don’t get me wrong—as a childfree adult, I actually love a waterpark and all things Disney. (I would pay triple the price to have those experiences be adults-only for even a day or two. Who’s with me?) But the market was failing me elsewhere.

I am a middle-aged, size 16, childfree queer woman who didn't fit the mold. I wasn't comfortable on queer travel sites that leaned into identity as a "personality trait," I was exhausted by family-centric agencies selling the same stale vacations centered on kids' amenities, and the legacy luxury brands made me feel like I was "pretending" to be a client (or had to sell a kidney to become one).

I wanted a brand that said: "Show up as you are." A brand for the woman who loves a 5-star hotel as much as she loves her sweatpants and swearing like a sailor.

**A Sanctuary for Every Woman**

While my agency's daily focus is the childfree traveler, the Leading Ladies Series is a sanctuary for all women.

For the "Invisible 25%": This is a weekend where you are the default, not an afterthought in a world of minivans.
For the Mothers: This is your "radical release.". You are 100% off-duty, rediscovered outside of your role as a caregiver, and celebrated for your own essence.

What the "Goose Standard" Actually Looks Like:

The Sanctuary: Single-occupancy living at The Gwen. I’ve secured a block of private sanctuaries because I believe true luxury is the absence of compromise—and the presence of "high-thread-count silence.".
The Master Account: I explicitly reject the "nickel and diming" of traditional travel. From the moment you arrive, you will never see a check, calculate a tip, or split a bill.

The Vetting: You aren't just paying for a room; you're paying for my vetting standard. I’ve audited the housekeeping and checked the renovation schedules so you never have to play "what is that stain?" ever again.

The Heart of the City: We bypass the "Founding Fathers" for architecture tours focused on women like Jeanne Gang and explore the living culture of Pilsen through its female-led murals.

Whether you show up in Target sneakers or Milanese couture, you belong at our table.

First Access for the Gaggle

Because this is an intimate residency of only nine women, I am keeping the booking link private for now. I want the "Gaggle" to have the first opportunity to claim their sanctuary before the page goes live to the public next week.

First Access