VIRGINIA MOORE
Best hotel you’ve stayed in the past year–
Cheval Blanc St-Barth. They anticipate every need before you think to ask. They already knew where my dinner reservation was each evening and would call a taxi thirty minutes in advance without me asking.
What are your clients asking for that they weren’t two years ago?
A slower pace. Less interest in rushing through five cities on one trip. More time at each place, slower mornings, wellness experiences — trips that actually feel relaxing rather than exhausting.
Don’t sleep on–
Anguilla. The beaches are incredible, the hotels are exceptionally well done, and it has a much calmer feel than most Caribbean islands.
If you are going to splurge–
The hotel, every single time. A well-connected hotel can unlock reservations, experiences, and access that completely change the quality of a trip. The best concierge teams know which restaurants are worth your time, which tables to request, and which beaches are worth the drive.
KATHERINE ROGERS
The place that surprised you most?
Iceland. I don't love the cold, but the food is delicious, and the people are so funny. I felt like we laughed the entire time.
Best hotel you've stayed in the past year–
Singita Ebony Lodge in Sabi Sand, South Africa. It felt like staying in someone's personal safari lodge.
What are your clients asking for that they weren't two years ago?
Ultra-personalized experiences. Private Mass at the Vatican. Private hot air balloon over Tuscany. Center Court Wimbledon tickets. VIP Andrea Bocelli tickets.
Don’t sleep on–
Colombia. A four-hour flight from Atlanta, the second most biodiverse country in the world.
Best trip you've ever taken?
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda. One of the cleanest countries I've ever visited, and the conservation efforts around the gorillas are extraordinary.
What's the most overrated destination right now?
The Amalfi Coast. It has become so crowded. I'd recommend Ischia instead — easier and far more relaxing.
If you are going to splurge–
Go to Africa. It will change your life.
LISA HARRIS BOYD
Don’t sleep on–
Vietnam. American travelers flock to Thailand, but Vietnam has just as much to offer.
What's the most overrated destination right now?
Italy isn't overrated, but almost every first-time visitor requests Rome, Florence, and the Amalfi Coast. Italy has so much more.
Best trip you’ve ever taken?
South Africa. Safari, Cape Town, and the winelands make for a perfect combo.
If you are going to splurge–
VIP airport meet-and-greet on arrival. It saves time and makes for a far more enjoyable start to a trip.
MARYDEE SNOW
Best hotel you've stayed in the past twelve months?
The Rosewood Amsterdam. Waterfront canal views, extraordinary original art throughout — including an art vending machine — and sumptuously sleek rooms. One of the most impressive new hotels I've seen.
One destination that's changed completely in the last five years?
Italy. The classic Venice-Florence-Rome itinerary is giving way to the Dolomites, the lake regions, Sicily, and Sardinia. Empty nesters are also shifting to spring and autumn travel to avoid summer crowds.
What are your clients asking for that they weren't two years ago?
Pairing travel with major events — F1, tennis, golf, live music. One recent trip ended in Belfast for Van Morrison's 80th birthday concert.
EMILY WEST
Where are you going next?
My own honeymoon in September — the Amalfi Coast. After years of planning hundreds of honeymoons for clients, it feels full circle. Our final stay is at Le Sirenuse in Positano. It's family-owned, and you can feel how deeply they care. I'm especially excited for their new beach club, Le Sirenuse Mare.
What are your clients asking for that they weren't two years ago?
Travel insurance. It's the least glamorous part of this industry, but more clients than ever are prioritizing it to protect their investment. Peace of mind has become a consistent theme.
Don’t sleep on–
Grand Cayman, especially Palm Heights on Seven Mile Beach. You can have your toes in the sand by noon and feel a world away. It's also become a favorite for celebrities looking for a low-key escape — you never know who you'll bump into.
JOHN SKELTON
The place that surprised you most?
Slovenia. For such a small country, it offers everything — beautiful landscapes, great food and wine, and you can reach Ljubljana in under three hours from Venice. Within two hours of the capital, you have lakes, mountains, vineyards, and coastline. Every client I've sent there has been blown away.
Best hotel you've stayed in the past twelve months?
Mezzatorre in Ischia. The moment you arrive, you feel at peace. It sits at the end of a long private driveway with its own beach club and a spa with thermal baths. The staff makes you feel completely at home.
Where are you going next?
The brand new Orient Express Corinthian sailing yacht on the French Riviera. The Orient Express brand launched its La Dolce Vita train in Italy last year, opened a hotel in Venice, and now this. When you love what you do, every trip is a pleasure.
Don’t sleep on–
Ischia. An hour from Capri by private boat, but a world apart. Rugged coastlines, lush hills, natural hot springs, and understated luxury. It's for people who want to truly connect to a place — not the see-and-be-seen crowd.
Best trip you've ever taken?
Morocco and India, and I can't choose between them. Experiencing Morocco during Ramadan was something else — arriving in Fes, then watching Marrakech come alive during Eid al-Fitr, then hiking the High Atlas Mountains. India was equally extraordinary: a private gala at the City Palace in Jaipur, tiger trekking in Bandhavgarh.