Blending over three decades of travel industry experience with a passion for design, culture, and connection, Marienne crafts bespoke journeys that are as effortless as they are meaningful, thoughtfully tailored to each traveler’s unique story.

Marienne brings unmatched expertise and a profound passion for creating bespoke itineraries that allow clients to truly recharge and reconnect. As the founder of The Design Travel Group, she merges exceptional, high-touch service with her personal passions—architecture, design, fashion, and gastronomy—to craft meaningful, detail-rich travel experiences that resonate on a deeper, more soulful level. For Marienne, true luxury is rooted in authenticity and a profound connection to place, with every element thoughtfully tailored to meet the unique needs and desires of each traveller.

Specialising in multi-generational family holidays, couples’ retreats, and women’s escapes, Marienne draws inspiration from her own extensive travels—including many cherished adventures shared with her family—to design journeys that are as effortless as they are unforgettable. She makes life simpler for her clients by connecting the dots, anticipating every detail, and inspiring them to experience places and moments they may never have dreamed of. Above all, Marienne ensures that each traveller feels cared forand truly looked after from beginning to end.

Whether it’s a sun-drenched private island, a yacht or jet charter, an enchanting city, a snowy mountain retreat (Marienne isa self-confessed ski enthusiast), a bucket-list adventure, or a once-in-a-lifetime African safari, her goal remains the same: to connect her clients with the most extraordinary experiences, precisely tailored to fit where they are in their lives. Operating as a word of mouth, referral-based business, The Design Travel Group thrives on trust and glowing recommendations, a testament to Marienne’s commitment to delivering personalised service at every turn.

Why did you create your own travel advisory business?

I founded Design Travel Group to create personalised, meaningful journeys—not just itineraries. After years in a large travel company, I wanted the freedom to curate trips that truly reflect my clients’ lives, passions, and stories, connecting them to the right experience at the right time.

Partnering with SmartFlyer—a brand I have long admired for its global relationships, integrity, innovation, and luxury credentials—brings international connections and insider access to every trip I plan, allowing my clients to travel better, with ease and intention.

Luxury means different things to different people. To me, it means choice, flexibility, security, and complete personalisation.

Which destination do you go back to again and again? Why?

The list is long—there are so many places I return to for different reasons, each offering something unique. But a few stand out. Italy will always have my heart—its people and hospitality, diversity, culture, and beauty keep drawing me back, and with family roots in Calabria, it’s deeply personal.

I also have a love for mountains and winter—after living in Vancouver, Canada feels like a second home, especially during ski season. And then there’s Africa… it’s unlike anywhere else; travel here changes you. I’ve been lucky to visit several times and experience multiple countries, but I know I’ve only just scratched the surface.