Firsthand, mostly. Hundreds of hotels, seven continents, and a decade of doing this professionally. What I have not seen myself, someone I trust has recently. I have spent years building relationships with general managers, DMCs and other industry professionals who will tell me the truth about a property before it shows up in a press release. When I do not know, I say so, and then I find out.

Hotels and villas cost you nothing. The property pays me. Trips carry a planning fee, quoted per trip, based on scope.

Usually not. If the booking was made directly, I can often take it over, hold your rate, and add what you did not get. Send me the confirmation and I will tell you the same day whether it is worth moving.

No. You pay the same rate you would find yourself, and sometimes less. Where the rate qualifies I add amenities on top: breakfast, a property credit, early arrival and late departure where available, and a room upgrade subject to availability. I’m also typically able to offer complimentary massages, meals, and other perks.

If you find a lower qualifying rate, send it to me. I will have it matched and keep the amenities.

Because I bring them the right guest and I tell them who is arriving. Hotels pay commission to advisors who send business and reduce their risk. I only send someone to a property I would stay in myself, so the hotel knows before you check in that the fit is right. It is also why the relationship compounds. The more I know about how you travel, the sharper the picks get.

A card programme routes you to whoever picks up. That person has no relationship with the hotel you are walking into. I do.

I also work through the preferred partner programmes the hotel groups run themselves, and they are not all the same one. Different hotels sit in different programmes, and the best value is rarely in the same one twice. My job is to know which one wins on your dates and book it there.

A card line will not call ahead about a quiet low floor room for your parents, or make sure the team on property knows your daughter is allergic to shellfish.

No, but it works better that way. Give me the easy nights along with the more complex ones. The volume is what creates the leverage I use on your behalf.

Say so and I will book it. Not every trip needs an in depth discussion. Some need one phone call to the right person.

You hear back within 24 hours. A call is typically the first step, so I understand how you travel. Then options with my opinion attached to each, because the opinion is the point.

9am-6pm Pacific Time for planning.

If you are traveling and something goes wrong, call and I am available. That is what the number is for.

I add real value from about $800 a night. Below that I probably cannot improve on what you would book yourself, and I will always tell you rather than take the booking.

A convertible in St. Barth’s on twelve hours’ notice. A passport moved overnight. A sold-out bag found.

I use AI to work smarter. Your request is never triaged to an agent. You are dealing with me.