With mentions in Forbes and Condé Nast Traveller, Tiffany Layne is one of the most respected travel advisors in the USA. Tiffany specializes in curating luxury holidays to Riviera Maya, St. Barthelemy, and Playa Del Carmen for her jet-setting clients. OYSTEO caught up with her to discuss how a travel advisor can curate a truly unique holiday experience.
When I first try and speak with Tiffany Layne, she's speeding through New York on her way into the city. The signal is patchy and, in the background, the familiar chugging of metal wheels on metal tracks. The metaphor writes itself. Tiffany has an enviable life, traveling the world in search of the next great experience to offer her clients. They say never trust a thin chef, well, never trust a travel advisor who spends too much time sitting in their office.
Tiffany is the founder of LaVon Travel and Lifestyle, a travel planning and concierge service with extraordinary reach. Tiffany finds the best analogy, 'Like a tailored suit, one size does not fit all; in travel, I make sure every experience is the perfect fit for each client.' The level of bespoke service is not unusual in the world of luxury travel; however, Tiffany has perfected the art of holiday curation, both for leisure and corporate clients, making her company one of the most revered around the world. As she explains, the network she has developed is the bedrock of her service, 'Our luxury partners are the basis of our industry relationships, which translates into elevated experiences for our clients- experiences they wouldn't find booking on their own.'
It's precisely that ability to source experiences out of the public's reach that makes travel advisors invaluable. On the one hand, Tiffany can recommend destinations that some may not have heard of. For example, she recommends the idyllic Bled, a small community built around a stunning lake in Slovenia, as a destination some may overlook. Alternatively, Bolzano in South Tyrol, a city at the foot of the Dolomites with exquisite natural vistas and stunning Italian vineyards. However, where LaVon Travel comes into its own is organizing truly unique trips. I ask Tiffany if she can share some examples; she smiles, acknowledging there have been frankly too many to mention on one call. She starts by recalling one family's two-month-long safari trip, seeing all the wonders of the African bush before moving on to describe the time she booked out an entire museum for a private showing. On the other end of the spectrum, she fondly remembers arranging a three-country wide scavenger hunt for a client who – to our knowledge – undertook the world's most extreme game of hide and seek!
Tiffany herself lives in New York City, which she loves for the 'sheer variety' on offer. It's a brilliant city to visit, not least for the number of world-class hotels, of which she cites by the name the Baccarat, The Beekman, Greenwich Hotel, The Mark, The Crosby, and The Whitby. At hotels like these, clients of LaVon can often expect priority room upgrades and perks such as complimentary meals. But a holiday is so much more than just travel to Tiffany's clients. She is at pains to stress that travel is simply one aspect of a lifestyle; of travel, she says, 'It's an integral part of how [our clients] live and what they want to experience, whether enhancing their well-being or seeking adventure.'
So, where next for someone whose life revolves around travel and exploration? Japan, Peru, and Tanzania are all on Tiffany's radar, an enviable list that leaves one itching for the thrill of hopping on a plane and waking up somewhere completely new. As I ring off my call with Tiffany Layne, I'm left with the overwhelming realization that although there are many ways to arrange a holiday, the only option for those seeking something truly unique is to work with a respected travel advisor. As she says herself, 'Luxury has taken on a new meaning; it's no longer about opulence. Luxury means convenience, access, service, and customized experiences.'
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