Trip Designers
DINA LANZITrip DesignerWith an Italian father, Dina’s love of travel started early. Summers were spent travelling between Italy and her homeland England, along with everywhere in between. After studying for her BSc in Hotel Management, Dina felt it was time to open her eyes to new challenges and adventures. Over the next 10 years she travelled and lived in many parts of the world, including the US, Italy, France and the Middle East. She has now settled in beautiful Vancouver with her husband (and two adorable pugs!). |
ANNE ZAKULATrip DesignerAn escapee from the world of finance, Anne parlayed her extensive travel experience and innate wanderlust into a far more relevant (and, dare we say, rewarding) career in 2006 as a Bespoke Trip Designer. She’s traversed three continents—Asia, South America and Europe, including time living in Sweden, Paris and Provence—and is a whiz at sourcing out great cultural experiences and seldom-visited trails. Recent stints in Peru and Spain has her eager to use her latest discoveries in her extensive trip-planning arsenal. |
GEORGIA YUILLTrip DesignerGeorgia joined B&R for a one-time summer getaway 13 years ago and found too many good reasons to stay. Creative trip planning and new challenges are a welcome pleasure whether that means crafting a romantic getaway including a vow renewal and lodging at Italy’s top properties or a kid-friendly itinerary for a multi-generation family with multiple interests based out of a grand Tuscan villa. And when it comes to detail, Georgia spares attention to none. If you’ve got a question about where to go and what to do in Italy, she has the answer. |
TOM ABRAHAMTrip DesignerA natural-born outdoorsman with a scholarly streak, Tom holds several diplomas and certifications in a variety of fields and spent 15 years as a ski, kayak and rafting guide before applying his skills and passion for foreign cultures to B&R. Born and raised in British Columbia, he has explored virtually all of the world’s wide-open spaces, from Belize to Baja to Bhutan and beyond. He has a special interest in designing trips to environmentally and culturally threatened regions. His most recent research expedition was to Rwanda where he trekked into the hills to get face-to-face with the mountain gorillas. |
LINDSAY OWENTrip DesignerLindsay was born and raised in North Vancouver and had not really considered the great big world out there until after completing her Bachelor of Commerce degree. A five month backpacking trip around Europe propelled her into a career in aviation where she spent the next eight years working, living and exploring all seven continents as a commercial pilot. More than 30 countries later, and two full passports, Lindsay is thrilled to be living back in her hometown and designing trips to some of the many amazing places in our world! |
ORSOLYA KAKOTrip DesignerAfter teaching English in both Korea and Japan, and backpacking off the beaten path through Asia, Orsolya pursued her love of travel to work for a small travel agency and the Korean Tourism Organization. Soon after, she was introduced to B&R where she found her passion in designing unique private trips and making travellers’ dreams come true. When not busy planning trips, Orsolya can be found biking and hiking with her two fun-loving kids, and exploring as much of the world as possible (she’s making plans for Japan and Thailand in the spring!). |
MICHELLE ALLEYTrip DesignerFollowing an early start as a travel agent, Michelle parked her wanderlust temporarily to run a family business in Marketing and Advertising. 20+ years later the world called, and she found her way to B&R where her project management skills translated nicely into piecing together custom private trips. Recent travels include Peru, Hawaii, England and Wales, and swimming with wild dolphins in the Bahamas. Michelle lives in Toronto with her two freedom seeking, travel loving kids, and their Golden Retriever. |
JONATHAN LANSDELLTrip DesignerIt seems John has always been creative when it comes to travel itineraries. When he won a travel grant at the age of 16 to research the wines of the Medoc region, he spent a month hitchhiking throughout France with a friend. These days he researches trips in Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the Americas. The latest stamp on his passport? Laos, where he had the hardship of experiencing our popular Laos to Vietnam Biking trip! |
OLIVIER MAILLARDTrip DesignerOlivier combines his two passions in life—Morocco and his native Burgundy— by serving as the Regional Director for both. Starting out as a bike mechanic at B&R’s atelier in Beaune, this Burgundian now has 80+ trips under his belt and an avid passion for travel and cycling. (He watches the Tour de France every year—roadside!) “Today my desire to discover the world isn’t over yet, but I’m always delighted to show and explain the destination that both my grandfather and George Butterfield are fanatics of. On a bike we’ll follow their paths, we’ll follow their paths to continue the tradition. My tradition.” |
COURTNEY MUNDYTrip DesignerWhen it comes to local immersion, no one can top Courtney. Pennsylvania-born, she lives in Tuscany full-time (such a hardship, we know) and is so entrenched there the locals consider her one of their own. An elementary-school music teacher in her pre-B&R life, Courtney has led trips in Ireland, Holland and New Zealand, but Italy is her first and truest love; she’s at home wherever the Chianti and olive oil flow freely. Not surprisingly, Tuscany and Amalfi are her favourite destinations; the former for its incredible scenery and fantastic food and wine, the latter for its sleek sophistication, relaxed attitude and the stunning Pathway of the Gods walk. |
KATHY STEWARTDirector, Media Relations (& Trip Designer)With parents in the Foreign Service, travel has been a fundamental part of Kathy’s life from the start—by age 18, she’d already been to more than 30 countries. Since joining B&R in 1994 Kathy has sold, designed and guided trips all over the world. As our Director of Media Relations, she now channels her abundant energy and expertise into sharing B&R with the world but still designs private trips for a special roster of B&R clients. |
LINDSAY LUCASPrivate Travel Administrative ManagerLindsay was first introduced to B&R in 2005 as a student intern—her love of travel and her attention to detail soon made her indispensable to our Bespoke team. She has since found a permanent spot with us as a Bespoke Administrative Manager. Along with her studies in Anthropology and Tourism, Lindsay spent time studying French in Nice, & has travelled to 18 countries (Spain, France, Italy, Brazil & Laos to name a few). |
MEGAN OATESBespoke Administrative CoordinatorMegan’s love of travel led her to B&R as a student intern in early 2011, after she completed both her History degree and her Cultural & Heritage Tourism Management post-graduate certificate. To balance all that hard studying she worked in trips to Thailand, Hong Kong, Europe and Kenya. Next on her list of places to travel: Eastern Europe or back to Africa! |
