luxury travel doesn’t stand still and neither do i
One of the questions I’m often asked is why to book through a private travel designer and how I keep up with such a fast-moving industry whilst you can find information online and with AI.
The simple answer is that real immersive learning never stops.
Every hotel, destination and travel experience evolves each season. General managers move on, renovations take place, new villas open, restaurants change, and the little details that make the biggest difference to a holiday are constantly shifting.
That’s why a significant part of my role happens long before a client decides where they’d like to travel.
Luxury travel isn’t simply about knowing beautiful places. It’s about knowing the people behind them, how they operate, how they respond, and what they do to go the extra mile.
Over the coming months I’ll be attending a number of hotel showcases, destination presentations and industry events. These aren’t glamorous holidays; they’re opportunities to spend time with hotel owners, general managers, destination specialists and trusted partners from around the world.
Those conversations often tell me far more than any brochure or website ever could.
One of the greatest strengths of working with a well-connected travel advisor isn’t that we’ve personally stayed in every hotel.
It’s that we’re part of a global network of people we trust.
If I haven’t visited a destination recently, there’s every chance that another trusted advisor, hotelier or destination partner has. We share honest feedback, practical observations and recommendations based on real experiences.
That means my clients benefit from far more than my own travels—they benefit from the collective knowledge of an international network built over many years.
Over the next few months I’ll be spending time with some exceptional partners, including:
Hotel Esencia – Riviera Maya, Mexico
Barbados & Canouan – viewing 10 properties, staying in 7, meeting local partners, immersing in activities and excursions, and learning about what’s new across the region
The Black Book Luxury Travel Show – Exclusive travel event, London
360 Inspire – Algarve, Portugal
Each event offers something different, but they all have the same purpose: helping me give clients thoughtful, up-to-date recommendations with confidence.
When I recommend a hotel, it’s rarely because the photographs look beautiful. It’s because I understand who it suits. Perhaps the service has become exceptional under a new General Manager. Perhaps a recent refurbishment has transformed the experience. Perhaps another advisor has just returned and told me exactly which suite has the best outlook, which restaurant consistently exceeds expectations, or which family villas work brilliantly for three generations travelling together. Or indeed, when a property isn’t meeting expectations and has gone downhill.
These are the details that rarely appear online, yet they’re often the details that shape a holiday.
One of the things I enjoy most about my work is that I’m always learning.
Every conversation, every hotel visit and every industry event adds another layer of understanding that I can bring to my clients.
Over the coming months I’ll be sharing those insights with you. Not simply where I’ve been, but what I’ve learnt and why it might matter for your future travels.
