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.

FHR is one program. I can book it. I also work through Virtuoso and the preferred partner programs the hotel groups run themselves: Four Seasons, Rosewood Elite, Dorchester Diamond Club, Belmond Bellini, Maybourne Illustrated, Mandarin Oriental Fan Club, Couture by Langham, Accor Preferred, Firmdale, Hyatt Prive, IHG Destined including Six Senses, Marriott Stars and Luminous, Oetker Pearl, Peninsula Pen Club, Relais and Chateaux, Rocco Forte Knights, Shangri-La Luxury Circle, and more. Different hotels sit in different programs, 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. FHR also will not call the hotel about a quiet low floor room for your parents or reinforce with the team on property that 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.