Luxury Travel Expert Marisa D’VariMarisa D’Vari is a luxury travel expert and influence who has written for several of the world’s glossiest publications.
They include Ritz Carlton magazine, The Robb Report, The San Francisco Chronicle, London’s Financial Times, South China Morning Post, and many more. You can read my Forbes.com column here.
Marisa D’Vari: Key Publications and Outlets
As a luxury travel expert, Marisa D’Vari is proud that her extensive journalist career and accolades earned her acceptance to the elite Society of American Travel Writers and the American Society of Journalists and Authors.
Marisa D’Vari: Your Luxury Travel Expert
“Having lived in luxury hotels nearly half my life, I love reporting on the “insider view” of luxury.
So many luxury publications tantalize the reader with beautiful photographs and enticing copy about the hotel that reads as if it was taken from the hotel’s press release.
My goal with this online luxury magazine is to give the reader the real insider experience, beginning with the greeting at reception and ending with your luggage being whisked inside the trunk of your car or limousine.”
Luxury Travel Expert Writing Style
“I first started writing about luxury hotels and resorts for Robb Report and London’s FT in the late 1990s.
When one writes for these upscale publications, there is a certain formal tone in the writing that is expected. That formal tone creates a distance between the writer and the reader.
My approach to reporting about luxury resorts, hotels, and fabulous restaurants has changed quite a bit. My tone is approachable – it’s almost as if I’m giving a friend advice about the best places in the world to visit, and what to see and do when she gets there.”
More About Luxury Travel Expert Marisa D’Vari
“I graduated from UCLA with a degree of literature. My first position was at the talent agency International Creative Management (ICM) where I worked for a key agent in the Motion Picture Literary Department.
I quickly developed the nickname “The Machine” because of the speed in which I read, and reported on, the books and screenplays that came to our department for evaluation.
After ICM, I moved on to MGM and then TriStar films, with the title of Director of Feature Development. My job was to read and evaluate screenplays and novels to adapt into films.”
Of course, life is more interesting as a luxury travel expert.
From Hollywood To Luxury Travel Expert
“When my spouse had to move to Boston for a new position, I had to leave Hollywood.
It was in Boston that I wrote two books about screenwriting, Script Magic: Subconscious Techniques to Conquer Writer’s Block and Creating Characters.
In Boston, I also became a professional speaker and launched a PR company. I wrote three more books about those professions. Presentation Magic and Media Magic, as well as Building Buzz: How to Reach and Impress Your Target Audience.
While in Boston, I also had the time and means to travel to luxurious to luxurious resorts like St. Tropez, St. Barts, and Cabo San Lucas.
This is when I became a luxury travel expert.
A Taste of Luxury Television Show
“In writing about luxury, I also discovered fabulous restaurants. Even better, at the time Boston was becoming known for its fine cuisine and burgeoning “Celebrity Chefs.”
I developed a TV talk show, called A Taste of Luxury, featuring many of those chefs, including Todd English and Daniel Bruce of the Boston Harbor Hotel.
Soon the show became global, featuring celebrity chef guests like Daniel Boulud of Restaurant Daniel, Adam Tihany, and Charlie Palmer.
Julia Child was a guest on the show as well.
During this time, Julia Child was a key influencer in Boston – all the young chefs adored her.
She was very active in the American Institute of Wine and Food, and I worked with her as the Program Director for the local Boston chapter of that organization.
Those were great days – we had some terrific events where the city’s top chefs would invite guests to “work” in the kitchen that morning to prepare the lunch we would enjoy that afternoon.
Robert Mondavi: Career Turning Experience
Julie Child and Robert Mondavi have known each other for years. Together they created COPIA, the American Center for Wine, Food, and the Arts.
The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) is now using the museum-like COPIA space, located in downtown Napa Valley. But you can still see the pots, pans, and other utensils from Julia Child’s kitchen in that display.
I used to visit Julia’s kitchen in Boston’s Back Bay quite a bit, so seeing all her things at the CIA sent a shiver down my spine the first time I visited that exhibit in Napa.
At any rate, Julia introduced me to Robert Mondavi when he was in Boston. Robert was a guest on my show as well.
And our friendship changed the direction of my career into a wine and luxury travel expert.
The World of Fine Wine
As a Californian, I visited the Napa Valley at least once a year since childhood.
And of course, as an adult it was fun to visit the wineries and taste wine.
Yet meeting Robert Mondavi and experiencing his passion for wine ignited my passion to learn more about wine and become a luxury travel expert.
As soon as I moved to Manhattan, I took classes at the International Wine Center (IWC) and began to earn my Diploma from the Wine and Spirits Educational Trust, a three year program.
At the same time, I earned degrees in several other programs you can read about below, and entered the Master of Wine educational program.”
Marisa D’Vari: What’s Ahead?
“Though I technically live in Manhattan, in actuality I’m always traveling. My time is literally divided between traveling to the most exciting luxury resorts, and wine regions around the globe.
You can read about my wine credentials and education below that enabled me to become a luxury travel expert in the link below.
You can read my articles for Forbes here.
