The Full Circle: From a 1986 Inspection Trip to the 2026 A-List
I am delighted to share that Travel + Leisure has named me to their 2026 A-List, widely regarded as the definitive global ranking of the world’s top travel advisors. I’ve been recognized on their list as an African Safaris Specialist, with distinction for expertise in South Africa, Madagascar and Kenya.
This landmark achievement has me reflecting on what an incredible journey in the travel industry it’s been, dating back to my first inspection trip to Brazil in January 1986 at the ripe age of six weeks old. It always felt a bit like I was preordained for this job, though as with most of life’s successes, the path was rarely linear.
When I officially took over Brazil Nuts Tours 12 years ago, it was clear we were pigeonholed by our branding. The name, the colors, the website, even my personal story: everything about us was so inextricably defined by Brazil and South America at large.
This was in the era of peak OTA dominance, when travel agents were considered an endangered species evoking equal parts skepticism and irrelevance. Our web-based leads -of which there were many- were often simply looking for the cheapest trip possible to Brazil, or maybe if we were lucky to Patagonia or to Galapagos. But our repeat business was different; they wanted the best trip possible, and trusted us to deliver.
Existing clients weren’t necessarily returning to us because they were dying to go back to South America so soon; they returned because they liked working with people who weren’t just destination experts but who also “got” them as travelers. Who were planning their trips based on an understanding of them and the world at large… not just pushing them into a handful of places we knew well. That’s when it clicked: We were offering a service but marketing a product.
The solution was to niche up with what we sold, but niche down on the to whom. In other words: Sell more places, to fewer people.
We knew we wanted to go global but, true to our tour operator routes, felt strongly that we needed to possess the same deep knowledge we had of South America for other destinations we sold. Andrea and I were fortunate to have already traveled much of the world with a fair degree of frequency, but we didn’t feel that was “enough”. We did not want to be generic travel agents relying on middlemen and dated or second-hand information while advising our clients. As a team of just two at the time, this was a daunting task and we quickly realized that acquiring true expertise would mean not spreading ourselves too thin.
Without hesitation, it was decided that I’d spend the next however many years doing the deepest dive possible into Africa. South America had been the legacy of my family, but Africa was of my own choosing: the passion I’d felt toward South Africa specifically ever since my first visit in 2001 left me certain that I would be living there someday. It was (and still is) what called me most. And professionally speaking, it just made sense: the South American and African travel experiences were highly complementary. These were two continents where travelers were particularly curious and searching for something deeper than a hotel and a city tour. And two continents where even the most sophisticated travelers could easily feel overwhelmed in the planning process. There was a void in the market, and the need for insightful guidance was exactly what we'd be excelling at with Brazil Nuts.
I handed over all South American and Antarctica business to Andrea, with total confidence that no one in the industry knew the region better than she. We’d share the Europe and Asia business together as it developed, and see where things took us.
As many of you may already know, Craft eventually grew into the team we are today of eight exceptional advisors, each with her own specialty. As a tight-knit brand we are generalists, but expertise in a specific destination or field continues to be a requirement.
Now, what does all of this have to do with making Travel + Leisure’s 2026 A-List?
On some level it might sound strange to have spent 12 years attempting to disassociate so strongly with one continent only to now be so defined by another. But when you really think about it, shouldn’t we want to be defined by our passions? Can you truly master anything without going the distance?
Living in South Africa, I think about this nearly everyday: I’ve chosen to make a permanent life in the place that makes me feel like the truest version of myself and have never looked back. And during my most recent four weeks in Kenya and Madagascar, I would constantly smile, feeling fully affirmed in my decision to go all-in on these two incredible destinations that continue to surprise me… and to teach me.
Madagascar in particular reminds me of being in Brazil in the early 90s with my father. A country that still feels so untouched by the outside world. That’s undeniably gritty and harsh, but in its rawness will seduce those seeking something so difficult to find these days: unfiltered, soulful beauty. And in Madagascar, unfiltered, soulful beauty is everywhere. Like Brazil 35 years ago, Madagascar’s steep logistical barrier to entry presents a unique opportunity for those willing to dive deep. I’m leaning into a total mastery of my craft to turn these logistical hurdles into a private advantage, unlocking a destination that is effectively protected by its own complexity. Navigating this kind of friction is in my DNA, and striving toward this kind of mastery is quite frankly the only way in which I know how to work.
In 2026, there is no point of being in this industry if you aren’t going to be a true expert in something. There are more “luxury travel advisors” than ever before and artificial intelligence is quickly eliminating the need for those who cannot provide insight over information. And at this stage in my career, I am more than content to embrace my role as an expert for the destinations that speak to me most… that I love sharing most with my clients.
This wild ride has not been linear, but in many ways it does feel full circle. Like a natural evolution where our learning helps us grow but does not change the core of who we are. I am a person with passions, a person who goes all in. And in a world drowning in information, I’ll never stop chasing the insight. I’m still here for the magic, and hope you’ll continue to discover it with me.
Why This Matters
This recognition is the result of a 40-year immersion in global travel—from a first inspection trip at six weeks old to a permanent residency in South Africa today. In 2025 and 2026 alone, our team’s on-the-ground vetting included four weeks of intensive exploration in Kenya and Madagascar to unlock destinations "protected by their own complexity." We don't just book travel; we navigate the friction of the world’s most raw and soulful places.
