Inside Black Tomato with Tom Marchant: Transformational Travel, Human Connection & the Future of Luxury

In this episode of The Layover, we sit down with Tom Marchant, co-founder of Black Tomato, the award-winning luxury travel company known for designing deeply immersive, emotionally driven journeys around the world. From backpacking through the Philippines and Brazil to building one of the most influential brands in experiential travel, Tom shares how curiosity, not comfort, has always been the compass.

Tom unpacks how Black Tomato has helped pioneer the rise of transformational travel, creating trips that prioritize how travelers want to feel, not just where they want to go.

In this conversation, Tom explores:

• Why luxury today is defined by thoughtfulness, access, and emotion, not just five-star amenities
• How Black Tomato finds meaningful experiences beyond overtouristed destinations
• The role of local fixers and human relationships in creating truly personal journeys
• Designing family and multi-generational travel that brings people together—without friction
• Why AI can support travel planning but will never replace human intuition and trust

Whether you’re fascinated by the psychology of travel, seeking deeper experiences beyond the bucket list, or curious how luxury brands stay human in an AI-driven world, this episode offers a thoughtful look at why the most powerful journeys don’t just change where you go—they change how you see the world.

🌍 Discover more about Black Tomato and their approach to transformational travel at blacktomato.com.

• Website: https://www.blacktomato.com/
• Instagram: @blacktomatotravel
• Tom Marchant on Instagram: @tommymarchant10
• Gift of Boredom (mentioned in conversation)

Destinations and itineraries mentioned:

• Iceland: Snorkel and dive between tectonic plates
• A Journey into Mongolia (for campfire cookouts, eagle hunting, and mountain monasteries)
• Ultimate Bhutan: A Luxurious & Cultural Retreat (spiritually enlightening and as remote as they come)
• An Adventure Across Iceland (for magma chambers, trolls, and geothermal tomato farms)
• Switzerland & Italy (a luxury vacation in the Alps, lakes, and coast)
• An insiders guide to the Amalfi Coast: Limoncello, sweeping vistas and storied villas