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Stacy Dreyfus | Founder

Stacy Photo by Kari SkaflinFor over 10 years, Stacy Dreyfus has worked in the hotel and hospitality industry in New York City and Chicago. Her former companies include Le Parker Meridien, Ian Schrager Hotels and Hotel Gansevoort. While working for Ian Schrager, she was dedicated to the opening of the stylish Hudson Hotel, and subsequently launched the New York Global Sales Office for Ian Schrager Hotels. Stacy then held the position of Director of Sales & Marketing at Hotel Gansevoort in Manhattan. Currently, Stacy is in her third successful year of her own boutique sales, marketing & partnership agency, Orchid Worldwide. Her company has offices in New York City & Chicago and is currently marketing Winvian, The Pitcher Inn, blue, Soho House New York, Pure Escapes in Maui & Kauai Island Villas, along with various past other clients such as BlackBook Magazine and Equinox Fitness Clubs.

Stacy holds a B.A. in Travel and Tourism from Clemson University. Ms. Dreyfus is currently a board member in Chicago for Dress for Success, which assists economically disadvantaged women transitioning from unemployment to self-sufficiency by providing clothing, confidence boosts and career development.

Stacy is also a contributing writer for TCW (Today's Chicago Woman).

 

Christina Willett | Senior Director, Sales & Marketing

Prior to joining Orchid Worldwide, Christina has worked with luxury retailers such as Ralph Lauren and Barney’s New York, both of which provided immeasurable experience in management, sales, and client relations.

Christina brings energy, intelligence, commitment, a high level of service, and a little elbow grease to her daily work. She is keenly interested in the world around her, which adds dimension to her efforts with clients as well as to the community where she lives and works. She is actively involved in the Junior League of Chicago; her volunteer efforts have ranged from Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans to working with substance abuse victims and their children in Chicago.

Christina holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from DePaul University. As a public communication major and a psychology minor, Christina has garnered a skill set that combines observation, consumerism, creativity, and a strong business sense.

 

Dora Karanikas | Director, East Coast Sales

Dora Karanikas started her career in hospitality with the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, as part of the opening team of the Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park. She spent the next eight years cultivating her diverse sales and marketing experience from a variety of luxury sectors including, travel, hospitality, publishing, and retail. Most recently, Dora has held the position of Director of Travel Industry Relations for JG Black Book of Travel.

Dora has a proven track record of increasing awareness and sales, cultivating relationships with key players in the luxury travel community, and managing a diverse portfolio of global luxury travel products including resorts, villas, city center hotels, adventure travel, cruise product and safari lodges.

Dora holds a Bachelors degree in Marketing from Johnson & Wales University, as well as an Associates degree in Culinary Arts and Certificate in Graphic and Web Design. Dora has traveled the world since she was a toddler, visiting 22 countries to date. In her spare time you will likely find her exploring New York City on her bicycle, cooking up new gourmet recipes for family and friends, planning her next adventure or learning a new language. She is fluent in Greek and Spanish and has recently starting teaching herself Italian.

 

Michelle Finkelstein | Director, West Coast Sales

Michelle has over 15 years of experience in the luxury market, initiating her career in fine arts in the Asian Art department of Butterfield & Butterfield auction house. She became a photo shoot producer, working with Pottery Barn and design firm AGA before moving to the exclusive travel world six years ago. Most recently, she has held the position of Vice President of Sales for Our Personal Guest, a boutique travel firm specializing in customized trips worldwide for discerning clientele. She has traveled the globe scouting the best properties, suppliers and experiences for savvy clients. Her vast knowledge of the international high-end hospitality industry and dedication to maintaining exemplary client relationships make her a perfect fit for Orchid Resorts & Escapes.

Michelle holds a Bachelors degree in Art History from Tulane University and a Masters in Art History from George Washington University. It was during her studies abroad in Strasbourg, France that she realized her passion for travel.

When she isn’t busily planning her next trip (there’s always a next trip), Michelle enjoys freelance travel writing, photography, scuba diving, interior design and is known for hitting some fierce serves on the tennis court.

 

Sonia Tarbox | Sales Consultant, The Rockies

Sonia has spent the last 7 years immersed in the sales & marketing worlds of luxury retail and hotel brands. Most recently, she was the Director of Sales & Marketing at exclusive resort and Orchid friend, Dunton Hot Springs. Sonia came to Dunton, Colorado after spending 5 exciting years in New York City where she refined her sales techniques and exemplary customer service at accomplished fashion houses Norma Kamali and Prada.

Sonia brings a creative eye and a polished taste to all of her endeavors and enjoys the fine tuning of beauty and pleasure into all that she encounters.

Sonia holds B.A. in Spanish Literature from the University of Colorado and a degree in Marketing from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in San Diego. At age ten, her family moved from Greenwich, CT to San Juan, Puerto Rico, the tropical island she still considers home. She has also lived in London and Seville and is a citizen of the E.U. In her free time, Sonia can be found hiking and snowboarding in the beautiful San Juan Mountains where she presently resides and prefers to vacation at the beach, the perfect balance of mountain and sea. Environmentally conscious, she is also involved in such organizations as The Surfrider Foundation, The Sierra Club & The Rocky Mountain Institute.

 

Michele Brown-Spahr | Sales Consultant

Mrs. Brown-Spahr has held key positions at NBC, Miramax and VH1 in Talent, Events and Publicity before making a career change to the hospitality industry four years ago. Her love and interest in travel, food and wine and her key strengths in the Entertainment Industry made the change to selling luxury travel a perfect fit.

She now specializes in Leisure and Corporate Travel and has developed an extensive client base including numerous Fortune 500 companies & premiere brands including Viacom, Disney, Time Warner, LVMH, Google, Sony and Morgan Stanley as well as works with high end Event, Talent and Meeting Planners. She has worked for companies such as Abercrombie and Kent, Mandarin Oriental, Anassa, Sol Melia, the Mark and the Gansevoort Hotel. She has always met challenges head on and brings enthusiasm to all her projects.

Michele holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Buffalo. In her free time when she is not traveling she will be in her kitchen making a meat sauce, and testing out new recipes on her friends and family.

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