Melissa Weshler Oratz

I love luxury, but I tend to personally gravitate to boutique, off-the-beaten-path, or places less known when I travel. In my experience, every trip that is multi-locational should have a bit of both—that’s just for me. I understand all categories and why they may or may not satisfy a particular client. There is a reason the well-known five-star places have that rating, but there is something magical about discovering lesser-known places, IMO. My style is to plan with the intention of the client while still offering the chance to see something they may not have considered on their own, simply because they just didn’t know about it.

26 years ago I was heading out west to see Napa and the California coastline (Big Sur, Monterey, etc) and I found this place called the Post Ranch Inn. It was not very well-known and a less expensive (although incredibly well-designed, and desirable) alternative to the very well known Ventana across the way. Today it is a well-known and still highly desired place. I like to find new and amazing places.

I love luxury, but I tend to personally gravitate to boutique, off-the-beaten-path, or places less known when I travel. In my experience, every trip that is multi-locational should have a bit of both—that’s just for me. I understand all categories and why they may or may not satisfy a particular client. There is a reason the well-known five-star places have that rating, but there is something magical about discovering lesser-known places, IMO. My style is to plan with the intention of the client while still offering the chance to see something they may not have considered on their own, simply because they just didn’t know about it.

26 years ago I was heading out west to see Napa and the California coastline (Big Sur, Monterey, etc) and I found this place called the Post Ranch Inn. It was not very well-known and a less expensive (although incredibly well-designed, and desirable) alternative to the very well known Ventana across the way. Today it is a well-known and still highly desired place. I like to find new and amazing places.