EMBA WORLDWIDE
EMBA WORLDWIDE
EMBA WORLDWIDE
EMBA WORLDWIDE
EMBA WORLDWIDE
EMBA WORLDWIDE
EMBA WORLDWIDE
EMBA WORLDWIDE
EMBA WORLDWIDE
EMBA WORLDWIDE
Our Global Vision
Destination Partners is a travel management company dedicated to helping universities, non-profits and corporations source, plan, manage & execute enriching travel programs and experiences, all over the world, from groups of ten to hundreds.
Our Approach is to apply high-touch management & innovative programming to ensure successful programs that will connect people from around the world, making us all better global citizens.
Account Team Destination Partners has a dedicated team of seasoned travel management professionals to attend to the unique needs of the many different types of group travel clients.
Adam Carter
President / Founder
Adam is a native New Yorker and a proud NYU alum. Prior to his career in travel, Adam studied abroad in Europe and Latin America, and received his MBA from Stern in International Marketing in 1980 (spending a semester in Rio de Janeiro at UFRJ/ COPPEAD). Afterwards he spent several years in New York on Madison Avenue in the advertising industry, honing his skills in product development and management.
Looking to combine his love of travel and marketing, he left advertising and in 1984 opened Brazil Nuts Tours, a company dedicated to creating innovative special interest tours. Under his direction, Brazil Nuts Tours became recognized as a leader in such key travel segments as Ecotourism, cultural tours and corporate meetings and incentives. In 2007 Adam was elected Chairman of the Brazil Tour Operators Association. To meet the demand for quality short-term group travel programs among institutional clients in the educational, NGO and corporate sector, Adam and his wife opened the Destination Partners division in 2001 and have grown the business with an emphasis on strong client service, destination expertise and creative programming and solutions.
acarter@destinationpartners.net
Maria Luisa M. Carter
Director - Event Planner
CHO Chief Happiness Officer
With a professional background in the arts, health and education, Luisa received her Masters in Education from Southern Connecticut University. Her varied professional experience, multi-cultural background (born in Brazil, studied in Europe), and her ability to connect with people from all over the world make her a key part of Destination Partners success. As a Given her rich background, Maria Luisa has special interest and expertise in programs relating to the African Diaspora, education, and community service, thereby adding a unique dimension to our offerings. So much so that in 2009 Luisa opened a non-profit organization, Bee Gaia, dedicated to promoting global citizenship through programs of art, education, travel and well-being. Bee Gaia has adopted four projects that it supports and integrates into faculty led programs when appropriate: an orphanage in Haiti, a school for the developmentally challenged in Bhutan, and two villages, one in the Brazilian Amazon and one in Ghana.
Awarded as ” Queen Mother of Torgorme Village” Ghana Africa- 2012 view link
2015 Excellence in Diversity Awards Hodges University view link
2016 SWF Face Awards view link
2020 Lady Liberty Leader Woman March to Win Award view link
lcarter@destinationpartners.net
Sarah Navarro
Senior Account Manager
After spending a semester abroad in France and traveling around Europe as well as China, Sarah decided to couple her love for other cultures with a Master of Arts in Comparative and International Development Education, focusing on International Education Exchange. This education, along with four years of experience working in the hospitality industry, led her to the travel industry and Destination Partners as Senior Account Executive. She enjoys helping others gain travel experience and cultural knowledge as well as expanding her own to include South America and Africa!
snavarro@destinationpartners.net
Holli Franchi
Senior Account Executive
With over a decade of professional experience in mortgage & insurance, Holli found the travel world quite by chance. She quickly discovered her passion in South America; travelling, creating & operating leisure programs for individual travel, becoming proficient in both individual & group air systems & processes, and supporting group programs. With over 11 years with us now, her role with Destination Partners is ever evolving, including commercialization & operation of group programs & air support for the division. Her travels around South America include extensive trips throughout Brazil, Argentina, Peru & Ecuador/Galapagos. Most recently her travels have led her over the Atlantic through the U.K., Spain and Hungary. “I’m passionate about culture & diversity, nature & wildlife, and I love sharing my impressions and experiences with prospective travelers”.
hfranchi@destinationpartners.net
Luciana Belfort
Seninor Account Executive
Luciana Belfort is a seasoned account executive, joining Destination Partners with 25 years in the travel industry working with a variety of clients from the private, public and non-profit sector including Xerox, Fleischman’s, John Deere, TV Globo, The Wall Street Journal Fundacao Getulio Vargas University and the United Nations. She is experienced in developing tailor-made, special interest group travel as well as managing large events, conferences, meetings and corporate incentives. Luciana holds a degree in Business Administration from University Candido Menzies and enjoys travelling extensively throughout Europe and South America.
Luciana D' Andrade
Account Executive
Luciana has been in the travel business for 20 years, with experience on Incentive Programs and luxury travel. Another passion is planning and producing social events.
Luciana has a degree in Economics and an MBA in Marketing and Business from the renowned Fundação Getúlio Vargas, speaks English and Portuguese but also has Italian & French language skills.
Luciana has joined Destination Partners in 2018 where, with great enthusiasm, she became an account executive for university groups.
She is also resposible for the division of welness in-spire us.
These groups are also part of her responsibility, such as the development of the program for Bhutan, this remote country where collective happiness is an official measure.
Lia Alpis
Account Executive
Lia has a great passion for travel, people and different cultures. She brings over 30 years of experience in the travel industry including work with short term, faculty led travel, corporate incentives, conference organization, teambuilding, events, and special interest group travel. Lia is committed to developing tailor-made itineraries with creativity, flexibility, that meet clients’ needs, providing unforgettable travel experiences along with detailed logistical management. Lia holds a degree in Bachelor in Tourism, and in her free time loves to explore the world, see new places, interact with people, and have unforgettable experiences.
![foto bio DP[1]_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/012e9a_dd3cc2a488aa49769319aa788f5473c8~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_105,w_1115,h_1126/fill/w_201,h_203,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/foto%20bio%20DP%5B1%5D_edited.jpg)
Rosangela Forter
Project Manager
Graduated in Advertising from Universidade Gama Filho and in Administration from Universidade Estácio de Sá.
She always liked and traveled a lot, I was invited to work with a friend, as a travel agent. In recent years, I have been able to learn more about the commercialization of national and international tourism.
I assisted numerous customers, sold tickets and tour packages, contracted transport companies, scheduled visits, issued airline tickets, informed customers about aircraft routes, scales, schedules and rates.
She is the project manager to World Happiness Summit WOHASU.
Pericles DeSouza (Peri)
European Field Coordinator
Pericles has worked in tourism most of his adult life, combining his passion for travel with his love of people. His role at Destination Partners is to support our large group operations throughout Europe and Africa. His organizational skills and attention to detail have ensured the success of numerous high profile/ large volume group movements.
His academic and technical background is impressive, including A degree in Translation & Interpreting in English/Portuguese at Kensington & Chelsea College in London, an MA in Applied Linguistics from UFSC (Federal University of Santa Catarina) as well as other international certificates in tourism management. He is an accredited Tour Guide by EMBRATUR (South America) and ETOA (Europe). Prior to his work with Destination Partners he has worked as a freelance travel manager and guide for major tour operators both in South America and Europe.