A former fashion executive and lifelong traveler, Rebecca’s keen eye for detail and knack for staying ahead of destination trends inform her approach to luxury travel design
After spending her formative years in Southern California while earning a degree in Economics/International Area Studies at UCLA, Rebecca worked in luxury merchandising and retail positions for brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Burberry for two decades. This path in the fashion space allowed her to live and work across the world including stints in Sydney, Paris, London, Rome, and Florence. A fascination with history and the arts combined with a deep appreciation for wine inspired Rebecca’s extensive travel throughout the European continent in pursuit of knowledge — right down to that perfect glass of pinot noir.
The seeds of pursuing a full-time career in travel were planted when Rebecca spent her six-month career sabbatical fulfilling a dream of exploring Southeast Asia. Her journey started and ended in Australia with the months in between spent on her thoroughly researched and planned trip crisscrossing Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, and Bali. This immersive experience led her to pivot her career into the world of travel in 2019.
While her destination knowledge spans the globe, Rebecca’s mainstays include Italy, France, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Whether it’s a repeat visit to a favorite place or discovering somewhere off-the-grid with friends, Rebecca’s recommendations are constantly being updated through her boots-on-the-ground research. In turn, her affiliation with SmartFlyer only further amplifies her destination knowledge thanks to relationships with an elite network of industry insiders who enable her to provide clients with unique itineraries and experiences.
If being a cliche and answering “Italy” is wrong, then I don’t want to be right. The irony is that when I set out to work in this industry and decide upon specializations, Italy was very much not on my list for the simple fact that I did not think the world needed another Italy specialist. Fast forward a few years and resistance was apparently futile. I jump at any chance to spend time in Italy and am fortunate to now consider some of my Italian hospitality partners very dear friends. History, art, culture, fashion, romance, food and wine, la dolce vita – Italy has it all.
On my wishlist at the moment are the beaches of Zanzibar, Madagascar, and Senegal as well as the desert and Skeleton Coast of Namibia. I’m also keen to visit the Faroe Islands. Closer to home I’d like to visit Jamaica and Bequia. I prefer spots that might be a little less luxe but what they may lack in 5-star accommodations they make up for in personality, authenticity, and natural beauty.
Keep up with the places that deserve more than a bookmark, but a check-in.
