Happy Thanksgiving 2025 from Jonathan

Ty Horn Nov 26, 2025 Announcements

Happy Thanksgiving! A tradition continues as I distill a year of personal moments, professional highlights, and global plot twists into my annual note of gratitude.

It’s been a year of learning, growing, and climbing – record climbs, actually (more on that later). Our travel community continues to inspire me, and I hope this list in turn inspires smiles, encourages you to raise a glass to resilience, and acknowledges the many big and small reasons we have to celebrate this Thanksgiving.

This year I am thankful for (in no particular order)…

1. The White Lotus. The moment we launched Celebrated France, it was only natural that HBO would hint that the next season of the insanely popular show would be in France. We will gladly take the spotlight. Merci, HBO.

2. Oasis. Against all odds, the Gallagher Brothers completed the Oasis reunion tour without a single meltdown. We helped so many clients with tickets, hotels, and entire itineraries around the shows. Never bet against nostalgia – or Frank Laino and our team’s access to tickets!

3. The best October ever. After years of championing year-round travel, the message is breaking through. October set a record, and Spring Break is booming. Wise travelers continue to make European travel a priority across the year, creating greater balance.

4. Preston, the best dad, friend, and teammate ever. We took a trip of a lifetime and explored Poland to see where his grandparents emigrated from. I am so grateful that they took the bold risk to come to America. At 89, Preston Epstein is living the American Dream, still working because he loves it and making other people’s dreams come true through the itineraries he designs.

5. The Supreme Court refused to take on a case that would have undermined marriage equality. Dignity and love are always worth supporting, and we should never forget the battles waged to secure these rights in the first place.

6. Laura. I turned 50 in April, and Laura has made 2025 a year-long celebration, while continuing to juggle everything so well. I am so grateful.

7. Travel agent referrals. Hundreds of agents recommended us to a record number of colleagues in 2025. Thank you. Your trust means everything.

8. New tools that support travel advisors. How did Celebrated Experiences honor our 35th anniversary? We got better. Clients can now book trains with us, and we invested in Canary, an app that lets travel advisors send credit card details in seconds, securely and easily.

9. David’s college applications are complete! Applying to film schools is hard work, and I am so proud of David’s effort and the portfolios he created. I even had the privilege of being in two of his short films. Stay tuned for The Dogfather, which I look forward to sharing with you soon!

10. The most challenging hike of my life. David and I tackled 12+ miles and 5,200 vertical feet in one day in the German Alps. The views and the time with my son were worth every step.

11. Niall Rochford. The general manager of Ashford Castle is not only my friend but a hero in the fight against pancreatic cancer. After losing his wife, Stella, Niall turned heartbreak into purpose – walking 250-kilometers from Cork to Cong in 12 days, raising thousands for research and awareness. We are proud to support this campaign through Celebrated Impact. If you would like to join us in honoring Stella’s legacy and backing Niall’s mission, please donate here. Pictured on his walk with Olive Roberts our Vice President of UK/Ireland Development & Training.

12. Being an assistant basketball coach on Isla’s team. Isla is now 8, and I’m grateful to spend more time with her, sharing sidelines and more milestones.

13. Team Celebrated. Thirty-five years ago, Mom and Dad started Celebrated Experiences. When I joined in 2006, we grew to a team of five. Today we number 70. Our people are the magic, and they create joy every day. Mom would be so proud of this team and the culture we have built together.

14. Celebrated France. Our first full year exceeded expectations. If you have not yet booked one of our 70+ hotels across France, confirmed one of our handpicked expert guides, or booked clients into our cooking classes, art walks, or wine tours, your clients are missing out.

15. After 2+ years of horror, the last living hostages were finally freed and are back with their loved ones. A ceasefire is in place, and we continue praying for peace.

16. Rewilding keeps winning. White-tailed eagles again soar over Ireland, beavers are building in England, Eurasian lynx roam the Scottish Highlands, and wolves have returned to the Italian Alps. Rewilding brings balance back to fragile ecosystems.

17. Our operations team, who work behind the scenes to make everything flow. The result? Faster confirmations, smoother processes, and happier travel advisors.

18. Aldo, Alessia, Gianluca, Giordana, Luca, Umberto, Paolo and so many other Celebrated Guides in Italy. We had a record-breaking year with significant growth in our guide and experience bookings in Italy. We love sending business to our extraordinary friends/guides who go the extra mile. Real human connection = unforgettable travel.

19. The Venice Film Festival. It keeps getting better, and this year, Venice was the true star of the show, looking as fabulous as ever!

20. Travel advisors who love discovery as much as we do. Magic happens when you ask clients detailed questions, share their answers, and collaborate with care. This enables us to do our best work, helping your business, and make your clients’ dreams come true.

21. AI can truly help, but only when we keep it real. No more excuses for missing an email: just ask Microsoft Copilot (or your AI choice): “Did I forget to reply to any emails today?” But let’s agree to use AI as an efficient starting point, not your 100% ghost writer. The world doesn’t need more emails mentioning that we should “dive in,” “break things down,” or “leverage synergies from a high-level perspective.”

22. New flights to Europe. Some of my new favorite routes include: Dulles and Dallas nonstops to Venice; Boston and Washington join Atlanta with direct flights to Nice; Philadelphia and Chicago to Naples; Detroit and Raleigh-Durham with direct access to Dublin; St. Louis is back flying to Heathrow; and even new nonstops to Sardinia and Edinburgh.

Ladies and gentlemen, no request is too small. We challenge you to flood our inboxes. For that, we would truly be grateful.

One Final Thought:

The view from here – after 35 years, 70 team members, and 22 Thanksgiving messages – keeps getting better. Despite a rocky economy, we continue to grow, and it’s entirely thanks to you. Our joyful work supports not only travel advisors and travelers but also the guides, drivers, hoteliers, and artisans who make England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales unforgettable. We’re proud to be a bridge connecting them to you and your clients. Travel remains one of the most powerful forces for good and meaningful connection.

So thank you for booking with us, for trusting us, and for letting us be part of your journey. Let’s keep climbing higher together.

Gratefully,

Jonathan Epstein, Chairman

Celebrated Experiences