Preston Epstein, Founder & Senior Travel Designer
Preston is Founder & Senior Travel Designer at Celebrated Experiences. Preston lived in Italy during the 1950s while serving in the US Army. After a successful 30-year career in the fashion industry, he made a bold transition to the travel industry. With his wife Leni, he launched Celebrated Experiences in 1990. Now in his 80s, Preston keeps blazing a trail doing what he loves–personalizing itineraries.
Jonathan Epstein, Chairman
Jonathan is Chairman of Celebrated Experiences. Jonathan lives for personalizing beautiful experiences in the UK, Ireland, Italy and France. When not at work, Jonathan can be found hiking or cooking for his family on his Big Green Egg. He is passionate about wine, beer, scotch whisky, football (both types) and photography.
Samantha Betancourt, Chief Executive Officer
Samantha is Chief Executive Officer at Celebrated. Bringing 20+ years of experience in global supply chain management in a wide range of industries, Samantha manages the day-to-day operations of our team, leveraging technology to create superior processes and efficiencies. Samantha is most passionate about protecting our company culture, enhancing client experience, and finding innovative solutions to better support Celebrated Hotels, Guides, and Experience Partners. Now based in Colorado, she grew up in Lima, Peru, and continues to explore the world through travel with her husband and three daughters. The ruler of her house is Milo, her diva rescue dog!
Ty Horn, Managing Director
Ty is Managing Director and works closely with our hotel and agency partners. He has over 15 years of experience in sales & marketing in luxury hotels. Ty is a big fan of his husband, dog, tennis, football, hiking, and full bodied red wine and peat whiskey.
Dana Welch, Chief Client Engagement Officer
Dana focuses on Celebrated’s mission to design meaningful itineraries and to help our travel advisor clients grow their businesses. She has over 15 years of strategic marketing experience in the luxury consumer space, most recently as Tourism Ireland’s Vice President of Marketing in the United States. Prior to this, Dana led Tourism Ireland’s operations in Canada. Before joining the travel industry, she worked at Cineplex Entertainment in Canada focusing on their premium experiences. Growing up as a competitive figure skater, sports play a big role in Dana’s life. She enjoys running and is learning how to surf on the beaches of Northern Ireland. She is passionate about time with family and friends, in particular at Charleston Lake near her hometown in Canada.
Neelam Karani, Chief Administrative Officer
Neelam is our Chief Administrative Officer and has over 15 years of experience in all facets of accounting. She feels strongly about leaving a positive imprint on people's lives through professional and personal relationships. She lives with her significant other and 2 wonderful boys in Atlanta, GA. In her spare time, she loves to experiment with new recipes and spend time with extended family.
Zoltan Berger, Director of Finance
With over 15 years experience in finance and accounting, playing key roles in the finance teams for companies such as Diageo, Zoltan has a passion for planning and analysis and is excited to be leading strategies for growth at Celebrated Experiences. Zoltan is based in Atlanta, having moved here in 2016 from Budapest. Zoltan spends his free time with his wife, son and dog, Rover, visiting new parts of Georgia and the U.S. He enjoys cooking and starting the day with an early morning run!
Olive Roberts, Senior Vice President of Travel Design
In addition to managing her own Travel Design Team, Olive works hard to develop new experiences for our clients. Olive is focused on showing off the best of our destinations to our clients, along with improving the Travel Design process. Olive’s own Travel Design Team primarily focuses on golf, special groups and other unique itineraries. She is based in Cork and worked previously at hotels in the UK & Ireland for over 20 years. She loves traveling, laughing, music and enjoying the outdoors with her husband and two children.
Lorri D’Amico, Director of Celebrated Italy
There has never been a time in Lorri’s life that she was not immersed in Italy! Her immigrant grandparents taught her to love their culture so at age 25 she moved to Central Italy, where for almost two decades she worked as a tour guide, at hotels and tourist offices and raised two amazing boys. Her deep passion for Italy has only grown stronger over the years and she is thrilled to be on year 20 of designing Italian itineraries. She is actively involved with her local Italian-American Club teaching children's Italian language courses. Lorri is an avid painter and has captured several Celebrated Hotels on canvas.
Marianna Mazzuccato, Vice President of Italy Development & Training
Born in Venice, this is also where Marianna began her career in the luxury travel industry. For over 20 years she worked for a number of the finest hotels in Venice and other regions of Italy. She loves to share her knowledge of her home country, especially off-the-beaten-path destinations and experiences. From grape stomping in Tuscany to scuba diving in Ischia, she enjoys designing special itineraries. Marianna now lives in Chicago. She loves the Windy City and enjoys its restaurants, museums and beautiful Lake Michigan with her two active boys.
Jennifer Fenton, Vice President of Travel Design
For nearly a decade Jennifer has managed her own team as they have created brilliant personalized itineraries. As our Vice President, she also oversees our entire Travel Design Team structure and process. She is always focused on innovations and best practices that lead to even better itinerary planning and design. She has traveled to Ireland extensively and loves everything about Ireland, especially the many friends she has made there. Aside from traveling, Jennifer loves spending time with her wife, decorating, Alabama Football, baking and her two dogs (Teddy & Sadie).
Katy Henderson, Vice President of Business Growth
Katy is based in Scotland and joined Celebrated Experiences in 2023. She brings 15 years of luxury hotel and travel experience to our team, and is an innovator in this space. Katy loves to engage with our travel advisor clients and it gives her great satisfaction to support their businesses. When Katy is not working she can be found exploring new places, with her husband, two young boys and tiny dog!
Natalie Cobb-Mahmood, Vice President of Hotel Partnerships
Originally from Nottinghamshire (Robin Hood's county), Natalie moved to London in 2013 to pursue a career in hospitality. With a background spanning in restaurants, hotels, and luxury events, Natalie has led sales and marketing for a collection of independent British luxury hotels, building strong relationships with travel advisors worldwide and delivering award-winning brand campaigns, including recognition on the Walpole Power List! Outside of work, she enjoys great coffee, a good book, whilst exploring with her husband and toy schnauzer, Toffee, she's also part of the local village's women’s cricket team.
Danielle Pitonyak, Vice President of Ground Partnerships
Danielle is the Vice President of Ground Partnerships, bringing over 20 years of experience across travel media, independent hotel loyalty programs, and expert-led day tours. Based in Philadelphia, she is passionate about connecting independent travel advisors with exceptional partners and supporting small businesses. She loves quirky independent hotels, farm-to-table dining, and experiencing, story-driven tours with her husband John, daughter June and mini Bernedoodle Maggie, along with her stepsons Sam & Will.
Frank Laino, Director of Concierge Services
While boasting proud Italian heritage, Frank is a born and bred Londoner. Frank has 35+ years of experience as a Les Clefs d'Or Concierge serving at some of the most prestigious hotels in the city. Named “Best Concierge in the World,”, his long-standing relationships enable our team to access the best event tickets at competitive prices, including Wimbledon, Premier League Football, London Theatre, and other special events. Frank loves family – and notably has 35 first cousins! He is an avid Chelsea fan, a keen skier, and a passionate cyclist, raising funds each year for Le Cure, a breast cancer charity, by taking on some of the Tour de France’s challenging Alpine climbs.
Simone Papiri, Director of Sales
Simone is based in London and supports our Celebrated Hotel partners with their sales activities. Simone is the key point of contact for our travel advisors clients, and he spends much of his time visiting them across North America. He is completely focused on ensuring they receive the support they need. Originally from Rome, Simone moved to the UK in 2005 when he joined the travel industry. He has worked for Virgin Atlantic, American Express Centurion member services, and one of Scotland’s most elite Celebrated Hotels. He loves cooking and entertaining his friends and family, while also being a bit obsessed with Cross Fit.
Kimberly Newman, Director of Operations
Kim's background in software project management and real estate to bring exceptional attention to detail to everything she does. Originally from Tampa, FL, she relocated to Blue Ridge, GA in 2021. A lifelong sports enthusiast, Kimberly is also deeply devoted to her family, with two grown sons and three grandchildren who bring her great joy. Her love for travel, inspired by childhood adventures with her grandparents, continues to fuel her exploration of new destinations across Europe and the U.S.
Katie Stewart, Travel Design Director
Katie is based in New York City and joined Celebrated Experiences in 2021. Previously, Katie spent 8 years as a luxury travel advisor. Katie focuses on creative ways to ensure travelers enjoy authentic connection with a destination and its people. Her love for travel began at a young age when she visited Australia and New Zealand. With her camera in hand, Katie is always looking for the next adventure. She enjoys the outdoors and is most happy when immersing herself in a culture. Katie volunteers for a service dog program called Puppies Behind Bars, where she helps socialize dogs that become service dogs for wounded veterans and first responders.
Lisa DeRemer, Travel Design Director
Lisa DeRemer is one of our Travel Design Managers for Celebrated Italy. With over 7 years of Italian travel planning experience, we are more than thrilled to have her on the team. She began in the hospitality industry behind the front desk of a hotel and later became both a corporate and leisure travel agent, while also working with a private jet chartering company. When not working, she is usually found on a sports field cheering for her son during all of his high school football and baseball games.
Sara Hosford, Travel Design Director
With a Master’s Degree in Tourism Management and years of experience working in both incentive and luxury travel, Sara knows the ins and outs of travel design! Based in her home county of Cork with her fiancé and daughter, Sara loves exploring Ireland and the U.K. and is passionate about getting visitors to go off-the-beaten-path with experiences that truly resonate and bring joy. In her down time, Sara enjoys the simple pleasures of a handwritten card and a pecan pastry. A big fan of outdoor activities, she loves team rugby, rock-climbing and snowboarding. She’s also an unashamed language nerd who relishes studying grammar and the nuances of meaning!
Margherita Biancucci, Travel Design Director
Born and raised in a small village near the beautiful Val d’Orcia region of Tuscany, Margherita has been travelling around Europe with her family since she was very young. This sparked her love for discovering unknown places, experiencing new cuisine, learning about different cultures, and sharing her knowledge with others. Margherita lives in London, where she has worked in various roles in the hospitality and travel design industry. She even has worked at our Celebrated Hotels! Her favorite part of the job is searching for authentic experiences and discovering unique destinations.
Ekaterina Bottaro, Travel Design Director
Ekaterina grew up traveling the world and has visited over 30 countries! Born in Belarus, she speaks five languages and has lived in Russia, New York and now London for the past 16 years. Ekaterina has over 10 years of significant experience in the travel industry and is an expert on designing itineraries in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and France. Ekaterina is a valued member of our UK, Ireland & France Team. Her primary focus is designing once in a lifetime trips, making the most of her strong relationships in our destinations. When she isn’t designing itineraries, Ekaterina is passionate about exploring our destinations with her husband, fashion, music, and sampling new cuisine.
Shawn Hendricks, Travel Design Director
Shawn is a key part of our Celebrated Italy Team. He is a keen team player and immediately made an impact. Born in Sri Lanka, Shawn has lived in England for many years and now lives with his wife in the scenic countryside of Hampshire, England. A dedicated travel specialist with 20 years experience in the industry, Shawn is always looking for innovative ways to turn a great vacation into something truly unique and personalized! When not creating special itineraries, Shawn loves long coastal walks and epic road trips across the UK and Europe with his wife and dog, Cooper!
Meagan Howarth, Travel Design Director
Meagan is a Senior Travel Design Director, having worked her way up from Senior Travel Design Coordinator at Celebrated and has enjoyed every minute of her time planning travel. She specifically loves to plan driver and guide experiences. Meagan has loved her inspection tours to the UK and is so passionate about England that she married an Englishman!
Julia Sidko, Travel Design Director
Julia ushered in a new chapter at Celebrated Experiences as our first team member to be based in France! Julia brings over a decade of experience in the luxury travel and tourism space. Julia thrives on navigating the intricacies of high-end travel experiences, and brings a heartfelt passion for our Collection and experiences in her homeland. Living in Paris, she enjoys immersing herself in modern and contemporary art, unique city experiences and spending time with friends. With an impressive MBA in Cultural Entrepreneurship and Tourism/Art Management, Julia can also speak three languages!
Victor Balaban, Travel Design Director
Victor is a London-based travel industry professional with over a decade of experience, specializing in crafting memorable journeys across England, Scotland, Ireland, and France. His expertise spans travel design, hotel and service bookings, and hands-on assistance for high-profile clients, ensuring seamless and exceptional travel experiences. Victor's passion for providing personalized service is matched by his dedication to understanding clients' needs, delivering tailored solutions, and building long-lasting relationships. Outside of work, Victor values quality time with his young family and stays energized through sports and getting out in the English countryside!
Erin Shelley, Travel Design Director
Erin was born and raised in Evanston, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. She now lives in Barcelona with her husband and three children. She has always been active in her local community, and that continues today in Spain. Prior to working in travel, Erin was in learning and development in higher education. An avid lifelong traveler, Erin has spent significant time in South and Central America, Asia, and all over Europe. She is passionate about food as well, and she feels it broadens one’s perspective and access to new cultures and lifestyles. Her favorite location in Italy is along the coast of Sorrento.
Vanessa Hurley, Travel Design Director
Armed with a passion for travel, family and horses, Vanessa works on crafting stunning itineraries for the UK and Ireland. Based in Ireland, she spent most of her youth immersed in the world of everything horse related and after finishing school, she moved to Switzerland to work with horses. When she returned to Ireland, she worked as a front of house receptionist at the legendary Dromoland Castle. After a few years away from the Castle to focus on family, she returned to Dromoland for 8 years as part of their reservations team. In her spare time, she loves snorkelling, walking, reading, exploring off the beaten track parts of Ireland, and most of all - quality time with her family and two pups, Daisy & Lily.
Maria Maksimova, Travel Design Manager
Maria joined our Travel Design Team in the lead up to launching Celebrated France. Bringing a wealth of luxury experience and invaluable destination knowledge. Maria holds a master’s degree in Curating and Cultural Leadership, and has over 9 years of experience in cultural and luxury retail management. Maria is skilled at crafting engaging itineraries, and loves the storytelling aspect of travel. Having spent her formative years in Russia, Thailand, and Australia, Maria's multicultural upbringing has enriched her outlook on designing trips for discerning travelers.
Eneida Stripling, Finance Manager
Eneida is our Finance Manager and has been with us for 6 years, and has a wide range of accounting expertise. When not working to make sure our agents and hotels are paid on time, she spends a vast amount of energy being the best mom and wife for her family of three. She enjoys old school reading (non e-books), cooking Central American cuisine, and watching old Law and Order shows.
Sylvia Ibrahim, Destination Partner Support Manager
Sylvia is a leader in luxury travel and a destination expert in France. Based in Paris, she holds a Master's degree in Tourism Studies and a lifetime of travel experiences! From her Indonesian heritage to her Parisian home, Sylvia is has a deep appreciation for diverse cultures, and traveling authentically. She's passionate about slow travel, uncovering hidden gems, and connecting travelers to local communities, and this has shaped her career over the past decade in France. When she isn't at work, Sylvia enjoys yoga, swimming, nature, and family adventures. She's also a qualified Reiki teacher and Balinese massage therapist!
Sarah Wood, Destination Partner Support Manager
Sarah joined our Operations team in 2021. She loves combining her love of travel and perfectionist tendencies to build relationships with our partners, supporting them to move forward together. She loves exploring new destinations, focusing on architecture, history, and local cuisine. When not at work, you can find Sarah horseback riding, reading, or sipping bourbon while planning her next trip.
Kristin Wallace, Project Manager
Kristin brings a unique background to Celebrated Experiences after nearly a decade with the FBI and Defense Counterintelligence & Security Agency. Raised on the island of Saipan, her lifelong passion for travel has taken her across six continents. Now based in Birmingham, she enjoys reading, puzzles, and playing as much tennis as possible.
Ana Loya, LATAM Business Development Manager
Ana is based in Guadalajara, Jalisco, the land of mariachi and tequila! With over more than a decade of experience in global operations and relationship driven roles, she brings a genuine passion for cultivating meaningful partnerships, with a clear love for travel. Outside of work, she treasures time with her family, loves trips with her friends, and is still trying to master both tennis and skiing!
Moustapha Diallo, Accounting Manager
Moustapha brings over 10 years of accounting experience to the Celebrated Experiences team. Originally from West Africa, he earned his BBA in Accounting from Kennesaw State University and is fluent in both French and English. Based in Atlanta, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children. Whether taking family walks, staying active at the gym, or discovering new ways to learn and grow, he finds joy in balancing professional dedication with personal connection.
Alexandra Ingram, Travel Design Optimization Manager
Alexandra has a strong background in operations, bringing valuable industry experience and a thoughtful approach to our Travel Design Team. Based just outside of Washington, DC in Alexandria, Virginia, she is a big foodie who loves exploring new restaurants and local activities. In her free time, Alexandra enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, and planning her next adventure!
Fabiola Forte, Destination Partner Coordinator
Born in Calabria, in the south of Italy, Fabiola has called Rome home for over 20 years. With a degree in tourism and more than two decades of experience, she built a strong career in the industry, including 14 years specializing in travel and authentic Italian experiences. While she grew up by the sea, Fabiola discovered her passion for the mountains at 40. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, staying active, and spending time with her partner, family, friends, and animals. Her passion is hiking and being within nature, allowing time for peace and true inspiration.
Molly Brennan, Travel Design Senior Coordinator
Molly has always loved to travel and try new things, and her favorite place to visit is London. She graduated from Florida State in 2021, where she majored in Hospitality. She lives in Atlanta with her sassy cat Scarlett. In her free time enjoys health and fitness, checking out the new hot restaurants and bars, and planning personal trips with her friends.
Lexie LoGiudice, Travel Design Senior Coordinator
Lexie discovered her love for travel after spending a semester abroad in Florence, Italy. Ever since then she has had a passion for travel and exploring new places. In her free time, she enjoys trying new restaurants, wine, reading and spending time with her dog Griffey and husband Daniel.
Erica Wiethorn, Travel Design Senior Coordinator
Moving back to her hometown of Detroit after living abroad in Australia and Spain, Erica transitioned to the travel industry. She learned the ropes as a luxury travel advisor for a top agency before joining the Celebrated Italy travel design team. Her passion for travel stems from its inherent quality of cultivating personal growth, and she hopes each traveler returns home with a broadened mind and greater respect for the people and places they visited. Outside of the office, Erica is active in her local yoga community and ends each day with a good book and a cup of tea.
Cait Stevens, Chief of Staff
Cait Stevens is based in our Atlanta HQ and joined Celebrated after working in wealth management for a leading financial services company. A graduate of Florida State University with degrees in Accounting and Finance, she also spent time studying abroad in Florence, where she fell in love with Italy, her passion for Italy is on display every day in her diligent work. Born in Louisiana, Cait is also passionate about great food and loves recommending great dining experiences for clients!
Kirsten Pickelsimer, Operations Coordinator
Kirsten Pickelsimer, works alongside Kim as our Operations Coordinator. Kirsten is from Blue Ridge, Georgia and has a background in modern language and linguistics. She is hyper organized and loves to put her use of languages to work. Kirsten has explored over ten countries across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. When she is not supporting our team, she loves reading, baking, and hiking
Ali Mosshart, Travel Design Coordinator
Ali is a Travel Design Coordinator on the Celebrated Italy team. While she is newer to the travel industry, she is passionate about helping create amazing travel experiences in Italy. Studying abroad in England as a Theatre performer and touring the U.S. as a musician sparked a love for travel and a passion for discovering new places. Ali is based in Detroit and prior to her time with us she worked at impressive companies such as Shinola in Detroit. When not focused on a client trip or her own adventures, you can find her cozied up with her cat and dog or challenging her husband to a game of Gin.
Tori Baker, Travel Design Coordinator
Tori joined the Celebrated team shortly after graduating from the University of Tennessee, with an impressive degree in Kinesiology. She plays an important role on our UK & Ireland Team always bringing her positive energy and desire to help others. Before coming to Celebrated, she worked for our hometown team, the Atlanta Braves! Tori enjoys spending the weekends with her friends, going to concerts, and catching up over good coffee. She is also an early riser, enjoying sunrise hikes to start the day right.
Hilton Poultney, Travel Design Coordinator
One of our most adventurous Travel Design Coordinators, Hilton Poultney, provides incredible support. Hilton grew up in charming Oxfordshire and spent ten years in the Alps, where his passion for travel and hospitality grew . Drawing on his expertise in property management and creating epic cycling trips, he is a master at crafting standout experiences. When he’s not at work , you’ll find him conquering ski slopes around the world—from Japan to Iceland, Canada and beyond!
Cathy Lynch, Travel Design Coordinator
Born and raised in Cork, Cathy joined the UK and Ireland team after graduating with an accounting degree from University College Cork. Cathy loves discovering new and exciting gems in our destinations, and is always eager to find the most special and unique experiences for clients. Her passion for travelling was first sparked when her family went inter-railing around Europe when she was eight years old. Now, she loves traveling to festivals with friends, shopping for pre-loved vintage clothes and exploring her scenic surroundings with her two rescue dogs, Bieber and Cody.
Caroline Matthews, Travel Design Coordinator
Originally from Cork and now based in Bordeaux for the past 18 years, Caroline brings over 16 years of travel industry experience, specializing in bespoke journeys across France and Italy’s wine regions. She also speaks Italian and has lived in the UK. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors with her family and two boys, usually near, in, or on the water!
Emily Brown, Travel Design Coordinator
Emily joined our team after graduating in Marketing and Communication. Growing up in Charlotte, North Carolina, Emily is now based in Charleston. She is an energetic go-getter on the UK and Ireland Travel Design Team, who loves to support on exciting and memorable trips. In her free time, Emily loves being immersed in the outdoors, especially being out on the water. She is also a registered yoga teacher, and plant enthusiast. One day her dream is to have a beautiful big backyard garden, but for now she loves caring for her miniature garden at home.
Ashley Selinksy, Travel Design Coordinator
Raised in Pittsburgh and now based in Orlando, Ashley joined the travel industry driven by her lifelong passion for exploring the world and sharing it with others. She holds a Master’s degree in International Business. Ashley is an avid skier and traveler, and in her free time you can find her hiking with her dog, Aspen. A true foodie, she loves cooking, discovering new flavors, and getting creative with recipes inspired by her travels.
Michela Diletti, Travel Design Coordinator
Italian-American Travel Design Coordinator Michela brings nearly a decade of industry experience and a deep-rooted love for Italy. After spending seven years living in Florence, she developed a true appreciation for the country’s traditions, cuisine, and warm hospitality. Now based just outside Florence, Michela enjoys discovering new destinations, seeking out the best local food, and adventuring with her Sicilian pup, Kai.
Carmen Mancino, Travel Design Coordinator
Carmen brings nine years of travel industry experience and over 13 years in operations, alongside a passion for languages and meaningful travel. She studied Spanish, Italian, and Modern Greek and holds a degree in Creative Writing. After studying abroad in both Siena and London, Carmen developed a lifelong love of exploration, traveling throughout South America, Europe, and Australia. Based in Minneapolis with her fiancé and beloved dog, Lancelot, she enjoys great books, storytelling, and new adventures.
Chelsea Marquart, Travel Design Coordinator
Based in Albany, New York, Chelsea's connection to Ireland began long before her career in travel. After spending many years visiting family across the country, she developed a deep appreciation for its history, culture, and landscapes that continues to inspire her today. With more than nine years of experience specializing in UK and Ireland travel, Chelsea combines her industry expertise with firsthand knowledge to help create unforgettable journeys. A self-proclaimed history enthusiast with a particular fascination for the Vikings, Chelsea even crafts her own axes in her spare time. When she's not planning incredible adventures, she's a proud cat and dog mom who enjoys cooking, sampling Irish whiskey and wine, attending the theatre, and spending quality time with her wife, family, and friends.
Katrina Petherick, Travel Design Coordinator
Katrina joined Celebrated Experiences after working at Red Carnation Hotels, where she held roles as a Duty Manager and Executive Assistant following her completion of the Graduate Management Program. Her love for hospitality was deepened during her time at university, which included a placement year on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, while studying Hotel, Resort, and Tourism Management. Now based in Cornwall, Katrina enjoys paddle boarding and invigorating sea swimming!
Ella Pappas, Project Assistant
Based in Atlanta, Ella graduated from Elon University in 2024 with a degree in Marketing and a minor in Italian Studies. Her love for travel was sparked early through family trips and deepened during a semester abroad in Florence, making Italy a favorite destination. In her free time, Ella enjoys spending time with friends, family, and her dog Leila, especially on long walks, trying new restaurants, listening to podcasts and discovering great coffee spots!
Melina Linck, Travel Design Assistant
As part of the Travel Design Team in Italy, Melina always brings huge positive energy and a caring nature to the team. Born in Brazil and raised in the Metro Detroit area, her passion for travel was sparked in her childhood by her dad’s captivating stories of far-off places. Melina loves nature and the outdoors, you can often find her hiking, kayaking and camping at the weekend.
Brittany Burkhamer, Travel Design Assistant
Although new to the travel world, Brittany’s adventurous spirit thrives on the Italy Team, designing beautiful and exciting itineraries. She graduated from the University of Florida and moved to Atlanta to pursue a career as an actor in the TV and Film industry. In her free time, she enjoys binge watching the newest shows on Netflix, playing video games, doing puzzles, and spending time with her girlfriend and their sweet corgi pup, Willow.
Avril McCarthy, Travel Design Assistant
After a short 16 year career break to focus on raising her three children Avril joined Celebrated Experiences in 2016 and works alongside Olive in our Cork Office. She loves designing personalized Itineraries for our fabulous clients and in her spare time, Avril enjoys gardening and reading & is a long-standing member of her local Book Club. Avril also loves travelling and tries to go abroad as often as she can with her husband.
Soily Gammino, Travel Design Assistant
Born in Italy, Soily grew up exploring the riches of her native country as travel was always important to her and her family. After an exciting, life-changing move to the US, Soily joined Celebrated as a Travel Design Assistant. Her deep understanding and passion for Italy is supplemented by her attention to detail and passion for assisting clients. Based in California, when Soily isn’t working on Italy itineraries, she enjoys spending time with her husband, loyal dog and pet bunny.
Maeve Kennedy, Travel Design Assistant
Originally from Galway and now based in Cork, Maeve spent over 12 years working in the UK hotel industry, with career stops in Germany, Glasgow, and the UK. She studied Hospitality Management in Galway and later completed a Business degree in the Norwich. A proud mum of three sporty teens, weekends are filled with GAA matches and family time. She loves traveling through Europe, especially Italy, France, and Spain, as well as trying new recipes at home and training for her next half marathon (having already completed 9!). Her favorite part of the job? Rediscovering Ireland’s hidden gems and connecting with local artisans along the way.
Matt Riesterer, Travel Design Assistant
Matt joined Celebrated Experiences through his passion for travel. Based in Michigan, his enthusiasm for exploring fuels his talent for crafting exciting itineraries. As part of the UK & Ireland Team, Matt especially recommends booking tickets to English Premier League soccer games for clients, being a huge fan himself. Before joining our team, Matt spent years in a touring rock band, and when he's not at work, he still loves to play guitar.
Dani Baker, Travel Design Assistant
Dani Baker’s passion for travel has led her on an exciting journey from her hometown of Tampa to the fashion capitals of Milan, Paris, and London, where she’s currently studying Luxury Brand Management at Politecnico di Milano. With a Psychology degree from Florida State University and a background in custom luxury clothing, Dani loves creating bespoke experiences for luxury travelers.
Louise Mooney, Travel Design Assistant
Louise joined Celebrated Experiences with a background in events management, and tourism. Based in Ireland, she is driven by her passion for her homeland, and lights up when she shares her knowledge of her favorite regions and the special experiences we can create. Louise is also passionate about wildlife and sustainability. She recently embarked on an expedition cruise in the arctic circle to see polar bears, which had been a dream of hers since childhood.
George Laino, Travel Design Assistant
George is a Travel Design Assistant based in London. Originally working in ticket sales, he has grown his experience in luxury travel over the past six years, and clients love his passion, kindness and helpful nature. A keen golfer (has he mentioned his hole-in-one?) and a lifelong skier, he’s also an avid traveler, having visited Bermuda, France, Spain, and Greece recently. When George isn't exploring, he enjoys movies, theatre, music festivals, and co-hosting a podcast with a friend.
Leslie Weaver, Travel Design Assistant
Based in Nashville, Leslie has a deep appreciation for nature and loves getting outside whenever she can. Traveling with her family from a young age sparked her passion for global adventures. She fell in love with Italy during a college study abroad program in Montepulciano, where she had the opportunity to explore many regions of the country and is now part of our Italy Travel Design Team. When not traveling, Leslie enjoys spending time with friends and family, hiking, relaxing at the beach and hanging out with her cat, Theo.
Jessica Barrett, Travel Design Individual Contributor
Irish by birth, Jessica has recently relocated to Dijon in the heart of France’s Burgundy region. With nearly a decade of experience in the hotel industry and a degree in Hotel Management, she has a passion for travel and crafting seamless, detail-driven guest experiences. Outside of work, she enjoys running and training for races, and travels extensively to support her partner in the professional cycling peloton. Along the way, Jessica loves discovering new destinations, cultures, and restaurants.
Kelly Bastianon, Travel Design Assistant
Kelly grew up near Venice and has always had a passion for travel and discovering new cultures. After spending seven years living in Ireland, she explored destinations across Europe and even volunteered at an animal sanctuary in Canada. Now based back in Italy, Kelly brings four years of luxury hotel experience to our team, along with an insider’s knowledge of Italian hospitality. Outside of work, she loves hiking and spending time in nature, as well as cooking and, of course, enjoying all kinds of cuisine.
Truman
Truman followed Jonathan to Celebrated in 2006. When not preparing sales and marketing plans, Truman lays around a lot, licks windows and patiently waits for guests to stop by the office. He is passionate about 19th century English literature, Scottish history, Italian sports cars and Guinness. Sadly, Truman passed away in November 2019 but we just can't remove him from this page as he always will be with us in spirit. RIP Truman.