Recognized Luxury Travel Leaders 2025

Having journeyed to all seven continents, consider Angela Adto your luxury travel aficionado. She’s summited Mount Kilimanjaro, scuba-dived with enormous manta rays in the Maldives, watched the humpback whales in Antarctica, para-glided in Cape Town, swam with sharks in the Galápagos Islands, and hiked Machu Picchu.Angela is very passionate about sharing her love of travel. She takes an incredible amount of pride in giving clients a personalized and meticulous travel experience, offering unparalleled service with impeccable attention to detail.Angela is a Condé Nast Top Travel Specialist for 2021 and has been featured in the Washington Post and Seattle Times.Aside from being a travel advisor, she leads yoga retreats as a certified RYT 500 yoga teacher to breathtaking destinations that she loves sharing with clients.AZA means space in Sanskrit, reflection in Swahili, strength in Hebrew, and comfort in Arabic. I hope AZA LUXURY TRAVEL will instill every aspect of these great qualities into your life.

I help couples, families, and busy professionals plan luxury travel without the stress. Specialties: destination weddings, honeymoons, all-inclusive vacations, and family trips. Based in Toledo, Ohio. My website is bit.ly/lisaschictravel

Tim Kroeger is the founder of Universal Traveller and a luxury wellness travel specialist based in Bangkok. After 15+ years of nonstop travel across 110+ countries, constant flights and jet lag pushed him to shift from chasing “more places” to protecting better energy. Today, he writes and speaks about travel recovery—how sleep, nervous system regulation, movement, and environment determine whether a trip restores you or drains you. He reviews luxury wellness hotels and spas through a performance lens, combining firsthand testing with expert insights from Beyond the Spa and global industry roundups.

Christina Gales is a luxury travel advisor and founder of Christina Gales Travel, a boutique travel consultancy specializing in European itineraries, Caribbean escapes, elevated family travel, milestone celebrations, and luxury ocean and river cruises. A Fora and Virtuoso-affiliated advisor based outside Chicago, Christina has planned hundreds of trips across 20+ countries and serves over 100 clients nationwide. With extensive destination training across Europe, the Caribbean, Iceland, Hawaii, and Mexico—plus specialist certifications in luxury travel, cruise planning, and ecotourism—she brings both breadth and depth to every journey. Her preferred status with 8,500+ hotels, resorts, and cruise lines globally allows her to secure exclusive perks and VIP experiences for clients. As both a travel professional and mother of five, Christina is frequently sought after for her expertise in family travel strategy, multi-generational trip design, and making luxury travel approachable for real families. She speaks regularly on European travel planning, destination trends, the psychology of travel, and the shift toward meaningful, purpose-driven travel experiences. Her itineraries favor local culture, boutique hospitality, and personalized experiences over mass-market tourism. Known for her warm, collaborative approach and concierge-level support, Christina helps travelers feel confident, connected, and inspired—from dream to departure to memories that last a lifetime

My name is Kristen and I have traveled, lived and worked all across the globe for over a decade. In 2013, after nearly a decade building a career in corporate marketing in NYC, I left it all behind to travel solo across 3 continents and 26 countries. From there I became a scuba diving instructor, and spent the next 10 years living and working in Thailand, Mexico, St. Croix and Florida. In 2017, I was voted PADI's Inspiring Woman Diver of the Year. Beginning in 2024 I joined Fora as a luxury travel planner and have launched my own travel brand and blog, Dear Destination Travel, so that I could help inspire others to make their travel dreams and goals come to life. I have now traveled to 6 continents and over 35 countries. My website, deardestinationtravel.com, is a complete travel resource and inspiration hub.

At the heart of LaVon Private Luxury is a belief that travel isn’t just about going somewhere—it’s about transformation. As Founder, Tiffany Layne has dedicated her career to curating bespoke journeys that are as enriching as they are unforgettable, creating experiences that transcend vacations to become life-changing moments. An avid traveler with a love for art, theater, and wellness, Tiffany’s path has been anything but conventional. She began her career as a biomedical scientist, immersing herself in the pursuit of knowledge and discovery. Eventually, she traded her lab coat for a new adventure, managing the intricate lifestyles of high-profile families in New York City. It was here that Tiffany’s appreciation for thoughtful, luxurious travel deepened, as she saw firsthand how meaningful moments of connection and discovery could be transformative for even the busiest lives. Through her carefully cultivated relationships with the world’s finest properties, exclusive operators, and cultural insiders, she’s able to open doors that are closed to most, crafting journeys that blend sophistication, personalization, and heart. Recognitions & Accolades: Virtuoso Advisor (Ultraluxe Community) | Conde Nast Top Travel Specialist | Travel + Leisure A-List (Wellness Specialist)

Licensed, insured, and bonded professional travel agent. I love to travel whether it be for adventure or relaxation. I love to share my passion of traveling with others. I have experience in booking travel of all kinds.

Builder of global alliances, partnerships and international operations. Experienced in Vertical B2B SaaS, International engineering and operations growth and expansion. Producer of memorable conferences, travel and event experiences. Startup strategy experience as a board director, mentor and consultant to founders, investors and non-profit accelerator growth programs supporting emerging markets.

Luxury travel advisor, 500hr yoga-trained, aerial instructor, community leader of 150K, international resort leader

Since my inception into the travel business 45+ years ago, I have always had an unwavering passion for luxury travel experiences and making my clients happy. I derive the greatest pleasure in the feedback that I get from my clients. Beside my love of travel, I am romantic at heart. It is my unwavering passion for romance, travel, unique experiences that led me to create my business Honeymoon Islands, Inc. I think what separates me from other luxury travel advisors is my genuine love for what I do and making people happy. More important than the professional accolades, I live and breathe romance & travel and the finer things in life. I will go the distance to ensure that the travel experiences I put together for my clients creates memories for them that transcend lifetimes!

www.thetravelwhisperer.com www.mountainmanagement.com

As the one of the Director of Travelosei, I have been providing the best tour guides to various hotels, resorts, MNCs, and embassies in India for over 14 years. I have a passion for making the guests' visits to the sights in India memorable and cherished, and I have received multiple appreciation certificates from prestigious clients such as the US Embassy, The Lodhi, and the UK Royalty.With a graduate degree in Microbiology and a license and certificate in Tourism from the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, I have a unique combination of knowledge and skills that enable me to offer high-quality and customized services to diverse and demanding customers. I specialize in working with corporate houses, multinational companies, embassies, and luxury hotels.

Bespoke luxury travel & VIP concierge services. Creating extraordinary journeys worldwide with multiple certification programs.

Bio Sarah Bonsall is the founder and owner of Latitude 21 Travel, an award-winning boutique travel agency known for high-touch vacation planning and realistic guidance. Since launching the agency in 2022, she has built a strong repeat and referral-based client base by focusing on personalized service and trusted supplier partnerships. She works closely with clients planning all-inclusive vacations in the Caribbean and Mexico, cruises, European itineraries, and milestone trips. Sarah is frequently consulted on pricing changes, hidden costs, resort differences, travel insurance considerations, and how travelers can navigate disruptions with minimal stress. Her perspective is shaped by daily, hands-on client work and firsthand destination experience, allowing her to offer practical insight rather than theory. She is known for explaining complex travel decisions clearly and helping travelers understand trade-offs so they can book with confidence. Sarah has been previously quoted in national travel publications including Frommer’s, TravelPulse, and Travel Market Report, and regularly advises on travel trends, consumer expectations, and the evolving role of travel advisors. Expertise Luxury travel planning, all-inclusive resorts, destination weddings, cruise travel, experiential vacations, travel trends, pricing transparency, travel disruptions, advisor-client relationships Credentials – Founder, Latitude 21 Travel – Diamond Elite Agency, ALG Vacations – NEST Elite Agency – Hyatt Privé Advisor – ASTA member, IATAN-accredited agency – Certified specialist with multiple luxury resort brands and cruise lines Topics Journalists Quote Me On – All-inclusive resorts: what’s included vs. what’s not – Luxury vs. mid-range travel experiences – Destination weddings and group travel logistics – Cruise vs. resort decision-making – Pricing fluctuations, refunds, and insurance – Travel advisor value vs. DIY booking – Managing travel disruptions Availability Available for written quotes, expert commentary, trend insights, and deadline-driven requests.

With 25 years in the travel industry across Europe, I have recently started my own business as a travel consultant. Leveraging my experiences as a tour guide in France, Norway and the Benelux, as well as resort work in other countries, I now help plan itineraries for independent travelers to Europe,

Dana is an investment management executive with 20+ years of experience in product structuring, marketing, fundraising, investor relations and corporate communications. Before spending the last few years building LUXUS in WealthTech, Dana worked as a Managing Director at Blackstone, Harbinger and with other prominent hedge funds and family offices. She began her career as a lawyer at Schulte Roth & Zabel. Dana has a BA from the University of Vermont and a JD from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

Julian de Graaf is the co-founder of Elite Rentals Dubai, overseeing a fleet of high-end cars and yachts, including Dubai's exclusive Lamborghini Yacht. Since 2019, Julian and his partner Kristan have expanded their collection to more than 90 luxury vehicles and vessels. Julian is also known for transforming Dubai’s luxury real estate, flipping mansions into record-setting properties. Julian’s vision and dedication fuel the success of his luxury ventures.