The Most Inspirational Women in Travel for 2024

As International Women’s Day approaches on March 8, let’s review some of our exceptional female leaders in the travel industry who serve as inspiring role models.

From Chefs and Designers, to Owners, CEOs, and General Managers – each bring their own impressive skill set to the table.

PAULETTE MONARREZ – GENERAL MANAGER AT KORAKIA PENSIONE

Paulette has been the General Manager of Korakia Pensione since 2004, bringing an impressive 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, and a total of 25 years of experience in customer service and management. Paulette’s prior management experience also includes management positions at luxury retailers such as Versace, Ermenegildo Zegna, and Salvator Ferragamo. As General Manager of Korakia Pensione, Paulette has an integral role in the overall design and concept of the property. She also works closely with ownership and the Auric Road revenue/marketing team to optimize and grow revenues and manage operating costs. Paulette’s leadership style is to create a culture of ownership, pride, and consistency among the staff, leading to strong staff retention at the property. Paulette’s passion for the Korakia ethos and lifestyle is manifested in her attention to daily rituals, design, and amenities programs at the property. Her success in managing and marketing the property has helped her develop a loyal client base among top creatives from Los Angeles and worldwide, including writers, musicians, photographers, and actors. Paulette has also been extremely successful in partnering with luxury brands such as Aston Martin, Vanity Fair, and Versace. She has built a reputation for Korakia Pensione as a top national special event and wedding venue. The property has been recognized as one of the top 50 wedding venues in America by Bride’s Magazine for 3 years in a row. Paulette has recently started to work with other Auric Road properties to enhance the brand’s “guest experience” and to further guest experience synergies across the Auric Road brand.  https://www.korakia.com

KATIE CAHILL – GENERAL MANAGER AT HOTEL JOAQUIN

Katie joined Auric Road in late Spring of 2022 when she was hired as the General Manager of Hotel Joaquin. She oversees all aspects of hotel management and operations, including maximization of financial performance, event sales and management, enhancing the overall guest experience and staff development. Since joining the team, Katie has reformatted the F&B program, improved seasonal programming, and focused on cultivating and fostering vendor relationships, while significantly growing event and group business. A native New Yorker, Katie began her career in the boutique hotel space as the Guest Experience Manager at the Mercer Hotel and consulted on projects with Chefs’ Club by Food & Wine, handling special events and the opening of a fast casual concept. Following her eight-year stint in New York, she relocated to the West Coast as Director of VIP Services at the Proper Hotel in Santa Monica, followed by the Director of Guest Experience at the Sunset Tower in West Hollywood. Katie’s background is deeply rooted in the personalization and an extremely high touch approach to hospitality and event management. She is deeply involved with the Laguna Beach community and sits on the Board of Directors of “Visit Laguna.” https://hoteljoaquin.com

DINA DE LUCA CHARTOUNI – CO-OWNER OF THE LOWELL HOTEL

Dina De Luca Chartouni is a stylish, tour de force in her own right, known for her impeccable style and entrepreneurial spirit within the hospitality and lifestyle circles of New York City. She is most widely known as co-owner of the Upper East Side’s most distinguished address, The Lowell Hotel. Her involvement with the property is extensive, incorporating her artistic vision throughout all aspects of the hotel. From redesigning its guest rooms to the renovation of the hotel’s restaurants and public spaces, Dina’s eye for design has made The Lowell Hotel the most discerning of traveler’s favorite New York City home. She is also the name behind the DDC28 brand of bath and beauty products launched in 2013, made exclusively available for guests of the hotel and inspired by travelers who are constantly on the go. From bath and spa to delicious bite-sized treats, Dina continues to expand the brand offering guests something new, delicious and effortlessly chic to enjoy throughout their stay. lowellhotel.com

UK & EUROPE

JEANETTE THOTTRUP, OWNER – BORGO SANTO PIETRO & SEED TO SKIN TUSCANY

Jeanette Thottrup and her husband, Claus, created a haven in the heart of Tuscany, Borgo Santo Pietro – once a healing stopover for medieval pilgrims – that is today an all-encompassing sanctuary for modern souls comprising a family owned boutique hotel and estate encompassing restaurants, a holistic spa, organic skincare range Seed to Skin Tuscany, bespoke yacht Satori, and the extensive working farm it calls home. The hotel and is not only emblematic of Jeanette’s exceptional eye for design – having designed each and every corner of the charming and refined property herself – but is home to her organic skincare brand, Seed to Skin Tuscany, that is created and grown on the estate. Born as a passion project after Jeanette’s desire to start a family, Seed to Skin Tuscany draws inspiration from the region’s rich natural bounty, blending traditional elements with modern innovation to revitalize the skin from within. borgosantopietro.com

VALENTINA DE SANTIS – OWNER OF PASSALACQUA, LAKE COMO

As a third-generation entrepreneur with a great passion for her heritage and the field of hospitality, Valentina De Santis was born in Como. For nearly 50 years, as owners of the Grand Hotel Tremezzo since 1973, Valentina and her family have been an integral part of Lake Como’s history and now, Valentina continues to pave the way for luxury hospitality with the recent opening of the family’s latest passion project, Passalacqua, in June 2022. After achieving her degree in Economics for the Arts, Culture and Communication followed by a specialization in General Management, Valentina began her career at strategic management consultancy firm, Bain & Company, where she mainly dealt with projects in the field of fashion and luxury. During the centenary year of Grand Hotel Tremezzo in 2010, Valentina began to immerse herself in the family business with a focus on developing the sales & marketing strategy for the hotel. With a fresh and innovative perspective on the hospitality industry, Valentina pursued a new career following in the footsteps of her parents, maintaining the perfect balance between honoring tradition and infusing innovation, all with inspiration drawn from Lake Como. In 2019, she was ranked one of the 100 most successful Italian women by Forbes and in 2021, won the Patrizio Cipollini Award as ‘Italian Hotelier of the Year’ during Duco, a luxury travel show dedicated to Italian excellence. In 2022, global luxury travel network Virtuoso honored Valentina as ‘Hotelier of the Year’ in the sought-after Virtuoso Awards. www.passalacqua.it/en

 

DOMINIQUE CRENN – HEAD CHEF AT GOLDEN POPPY, LA FANTAISIE

Originally from Locronan in Northwest France, Dominique was adopted at an early age by a French couple from Versailles and spent many summer months at the family’s farm in Brittany. It was this experience on the family farm, alongside her mother’s home cooking and her visits to high-profile restaurants with her father and his friend – food critic, Albert Coquil – that inspired Crenn’s love of cooking. Crenn moved to San Francisco to pursue her culinary aspirations in the late 1980s. Her first restaurant position was at Stars, a prominent restaurant run by celebrity chef, Jeremiah Tower. After two years, she moved on to work at restaurants such as Campton Place, 2223 Market, and Yoyo Bistro at the Miyako Hotel, before taking a position as Head Chef for the restaurant in the Intercontinental Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia. In 2011, Dominique opened Atelier Crenn in San Francisco, where ‘artistry is at the forefront, cuisine is a craft, and the community is an inspiration’ and, since opening, has been awarded three Michelin stars – the first and only female chef in the US to achieve this. Crenn is also an activist, a champion of women’s rights and an icon of both the restaurant and the LGBTQ+ communities. 2023 will see Chef Dominique Crenn’s culinary return to France as she launches Golden Poppy at La Fantaisie, the hotly anticipated new hotel opening in Paris’s bustling Faubourg-Montmartre neighborhood. Centered wholly around local and sustainable products, Dominique’s cuisine at La Fantaisie will adopt a zero plastic and zero waste philosophy. Reviving the link between food and nature, the menu will offer enticing dishes such as turbot ceviche with spiced parsnip milk and leche de tigre. Inspired by an antique garden greenhouse, Golden Poppy’s glass roof will connect the restaurant to the natural world outside, creating a relaxed atmosphere synonymous with Crenn’s restaurant in San Francisco. www.lafantaisie.com

SOPHIE VOLANT – HOTEL MANAGER OF THE LEGENDARY HOTEL DU CAP-EDEN-ROC

Sophie Volant is the newly appointed Hotel Manager of the iconic Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, part of the prestigious Oetker Collection. Hidden away on the southernmost tip of Cap d’Antibes, Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc has been the setting for deeply glamorous tête-à-têtes and soirées for over 150 years. Over several years, Sophie has consolidated her experience in several prestigious establishments around the world, from the Hôtel du Palais Biarritz to the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris, to The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Walt Disney World, Orlando, and the New York Palace Hotel. During this time, Sophie has held positions in departments including catering, accommodation, reservations, events, sales, and marketing. Sophie joined Oetker Collection in 2008 as Sales Director of Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc and sister property, Château Saint-Martin & Spa. Under the guidance of Managing Director, Philippe Perd, Sophie’s career has seen her progress to Regional Head of Sales and Marketing at three hotels within the portfolio, including L’Apogée Courchevel, before becoming Resident Manager at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. Her new role as Hotel Manager will allow Sophie to continue to showcase the history and heritage of the French Riviera’s Grande Dame, whilst upholding the tradition of excellence and service that has made Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc one of the finest jewels of the international hotel industry. www.oetkercollection.com/hotels/hotel-du-cap-eden-roc

SONIA DAVIES – CEO OF SCOTT DUNN

Scott Dunn is passionate about championing women in tourism – and leading the charge is the company’s own CEO, Sonia Davies. Sonia Davies joined Luxury Travel Group in January 2018 having worked across a number of different industries, including Chief Commercial Officer at private aviation company, NetJets and most recently as European Change Director at Sysco. These roles, along with eight years in strategy consulting, have given Sonia significant experience leading and working with global teams. She was named one of the ‘Women to Watch in Hospitality, Travel and Leisure Index 2019.’ Sonia was promoted to CEO in November 2018 overseeing the company’s global business operations. Since her appointment, she has focused on building out a world-class leadership team and focusing on the UK strategy of the business. www.scottdunn.com

BIANCA SHARMA – OWNER OF MONASTERO SANTA ROSA HOTEL & SPA

Bianca Sharma is a US entrepreneur and owner of Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa. A former Montessori nursery teacher, Bianca had no prior experience as a hotelier. Bianca first caught sight of the abandoned monastery in 2000 while on holiday with her sons. Enchanted by what she saw and knowing that the building would make a fabulous hotel, she embarked on a decade-long journey to revive the forgotten building, turning it into the charming boutique hotel and spa it is today. Bianca worked closely with a team of local architects, engineers, and historical authorities to painstakingly maintain the historical beauty and integrity of the property while simultaneously incorporating the intricate modern details of a luxury hotel. The hotel opened in 2012 and Monastero Santa Rosa is now regarded as one of the finest luxury boutique hotels on the Amalfi coast. The hotel retains the unique features of the original monastery, and the original vaulted ceilings and arched windows of the nuns’ rooms and refectory have been preserved and linked together to create just 20 beautiful individually decorated rooms and suites. Bianca currently splits her year equally between living in the US (South Carolina and Colorado) and Italy (Amalfi Coast) and is very much involved and hands-on in all aspects of the hotel operation. www.monasterosantarosa.com

ASIA

LANDSCAPE OPERATIONS MANAGER & DESIGNER – BAWAH RESERVE

Nintya Avriantari is the Landscape Operations Manager and Designer at Bawah Reserve. Situated 160 miles from north-east of Singapore, Bawah Reserve is an intimate, sustainable retreat of 6 islands, covering 300 hectares with 13 beaches and three lagoons. Bawah offers the true meaning of sustainable luxury and takes pride in its outstanding landscapes and permaculture gardens. Originally from Indonesia, Nintya began her role at Bawah Reserve in August 2020 and has since implemented landscape design projects across the resort by utilizing locally sourced materials, native plants, and overseeing regular landscape operations. In accordance with Bawah’s earth-first philosophy, centered around preserving the pristine nature of the reserve, Nintya handles sustainability-related practices ranging from waste management, composting, maintenance, development of edible gardens and wood waste upcycling. Nintya also leads Bawah’s guests on permaculture garden tours and shares her extensive expertise and knowledge on the plants, gardens, and the growing process behind the beautiful landscapes. Guests can discover Bawah’s organic and ecological gardens on these eye-opening guided tours led by Nintya, to learn about the recycling and pioneering farming practices which allow the property to grow the freshest and most delicious organic produce possible. www.bawahreserve.com

AFRICA

ELIZABETH ELLIS – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TIME + TIDE FOUNDATION

Established in 2015, Time + Tide Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Time + Tide tourism brand; a collection of the most remote and exclusive properties in Zambia, Madagascar, and soon, Cape Town. The independently governed non-profit foundation invests in the future productivity of wildlife economies through community and school-based learning. Based in Zambia, Elizabeth Ellis leads a team of 70 employees and over 200 volunteers for important work with local communities. The foundation’s main focal point is on supporting the most educationally disadvantaged, namely adolescent girls and children with special needs. With over 1.5 million children of primary school age in Madagascar and 500,000 children