The Team

 

At ventura TRAVEL, we consider our most valuable assets to be our team, a group of motivated and authentic individuals who have their heart in the right place.The different characters, the common team spirit and the overall focus on achieving the company’s objectives are the reasons why our team is top notch. No obstacle is too high and no distance too far. At ventura TRAVEL, the sky's the limit.

We have currently more than 80 employees. You can find the complete team by reaching our respective brands’ team pages. Here’s a small insight into the ventura TRAVEL team! Welcome to our world.

 

Andre Kiwitz - CEO & Founder

andre printAuthentic travel & Entrepreneurship

Andre started the company during his studies in 2001 as viventura. He experienced tour operators offering boring trips throughout South America, without enabling the travelers to experience real South America. After founding the company in Germany, he moved to South America in late 2001 and lived for a total of 12 years in South America. Over the years, next to his passions for travel, South America and the Internet, a passion for Entrepreneurship and good leadership grew. As a consequence, he started Ventura TRAVEL in 2015 with a clear Vision: To empower talented tourism professionals with a strong passion for a travel niche and enable them to start their own brand within Ventura. This way the intrapreneurs could focus on what they are best in while getting the infrastructure from an established tour operator. In his private life, Andre enjoys spending time with his wife & son and loves to eat good ceviche.

Erick Feijóo- Integrator

erick

U.S.-born, Ecuadorian bred, Berliner by choice

Erick works from our Berlin office as Integrator and oversees our company's business operations. From a very early age, he's been fascinated by new languages and cultures, and he especially enjoys getting to know countries' politics and history. Erick's family is from Ecuador and Peru, and he previously worked on economic development issues across different Latin American countries. He joined ventura TRAVEL after working in Washington D.C., Germany, Belgium, and Costa Rica.

Benno - Platforms Founder and Director

Benno - Galapatours

A true South America Enthusiast

Benno has traveled all over Latin America. While traveling seems built into his DNA, his love for Central and South America started during his university studies. For a research job for his master's thesis, Benno moved to Cuba and subsequently traveled all through Central America, before ending up in Colombia and Ecuador. During his time as marketing manager for viventura.de, he fell in love with the Galapagos Islands. Benno now works both from the Galapatours head office in Berlin and the beautiful archipelago in Ecuador.

Francesca - Head of New Brands-Business Development

Francesca - Japaventura

Language freak in love with Japan

Francesca left her beloved hometown in Italy 10 years ago to explore the world and look for new adventures. Ever since, she has been living in many different cities, from Lisbon to Miami, from Kyoto to Berlin. Her great passion for people and cultures brought her to learn as many as 7 languages and to see almost 50 countries. While remaining strongly connected to her city in Tuscany, her heart beats for Japan, the place on earth she loves most. When not working on Japaventura, Francesca can be found in the best restaurants in town, practicing foreign languages and trying out some new food, possibly Japanese.

Emke Prakken - Africaventura Founder and Director  

Emke Prakken (2) (1)

A bush lover with ambition

Emke is an adventure-driven tourism professional, who will launch a new Ventura Travel brand for Africa. Born and bred in the Netherlands, with a passion for the African continent that runs deep! Her family’s love for Africa led to her dream to one day live ‘in the bush’. That dream came true when she started training as a Game Ranger in South Africa. Emke was then able to turn her passion into her profession and started working in the tourism industry. Doing what she loves most: sharing the beauty of the African continent with others! After living in Kenya and Malawi, she is now based in Cape Town where she can pursue another passion: eating well and drinking delicious wine - while surrounded by beautiful nature.

Anthony Pycroft - Asiaventura Director  

AnthonySpinelli

Adrenaline Junkie addicted to travel

Based in Thailand, I am the Brand Director for Asiaventura. I am married, I cherish family life with my 10 year old son and Honey, our golden retriever. Having lived across Asia, my passion for travel integrates seamlessly with my professional role. I contribute to dynamic projects at Asiaventura's office, weaving my experiences into the vibrant life of the travel industry.

Samuel Rollin- Brand Director Epic Trips   

samuel_profile_picture01

Global Adventurer's Journey through Diversity, Passion, and AI Exploration

Sam is a Swiss adventurer who has lived in various countries throughout his life. After spending four years in Colombia, he moved to Italy for a year before eventually returning to Switzerland. Sam has a love for the unknown and enjoys spending time with people from all walks of life. He has a particular passion for simplifying complex subjects and ensuring a great user experience. Sam has experience in sales, marketing, project management, and web development. Recently, he has developed a keen interest in the field of artificial intelligence. In his spare time, Sam likes to explore the great outdoors, often taking his dog with him on hikes.

Hannes Schleicher- Marketing Director

HannesDigital nomad. Nature lover. World saver. Always on the lookout for the next adventure 

Hannes is a passionate designer. His love of data and design is reflected in his work. But above all, he is a team player who puts his heart and soul into the growth of his team and Ventura. What is his goal in life? To make every trip an unforgettable experience and leave the world a bit better in the process. 

Antonino Segreto aka Nino - SEO Specialist

Antonino Segreto aka Nino - SEO SpecialisBook-loving travel addict

Nino’s background is in Sustainable Tourism and Economics. A book-lover and travel addict, he has developed a great passion for the digital world in the past 6 years while working as a Digital Marketer for different Berlin start-ups. He now works at Ventura Travel as an SEO Specialist. His other interests include rock music, movies, and sociology.

Louis Poissant - SEA Specialist

Louis Poissant - SEA SpecialistAlways open to novelty

Specialist of performance marketing, he is a big fan of sports and gastronomy. After an MBA in Paris and his first work experience in Berlin, he moved to Asia for several months and took Japanese classes to increase his immersion. In charge of performance marketing in the marketing department of Ventura Travel, he can combine two things he enjoys: numbers and writing.

Kelly Dignan - Copywriter Team Lead    

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Perpetual wanderer

Originally from Toronto, Kelly’s passion for discovery has led her around the world, having visited more than 65 countries and experienced countless adventures, including spending five days on a boat floating down the Amazon, accidentally attending a Bedouin wedding, and being “trapped” in Bali during an active volcano. After seven years in Asia, she now lives in Berlin where she satisfies her curiosity with lake swims, gallery visits, and weekend markets. An avid reader and writer, Kelly hopes to share her love of exploration to inspire others to not just put more stamps in their passports but collect more stories to share.

Gisella Duro - English and Dutch Market Coordinator  

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A good communicator with a passion for people, environment and cultures

Gisella just joined the Marketing Department at Ventura Travel. She is soon finishing her studies in Communication. Over the years, she has been living in different countries across Europe learning new languages, getting new interests, and meeting a lot of people. Working for Ventura connects her interest in traveling and sustainability with her professional goals in Marketing and Communication.

Sophie van der Meulen - Social Media Specialist 

Sophie van der Meulen (1)

Sustainable solo traveler with a taste for craft beer

Sophie works in the marketing team for Ventura Travel. She is originally from the Netherlands but settled in Berlin after a few years as a digital nomad. Sophie is passionate about sustainable tourism, solo travel, and is always looking for adventure. She especially loves trying local craft beer and street food on her travels. In the summer, you can find her hiking in nature or relaxing in a beer garden.

Zlatan Porobic - Paid Search Specilaist 

Zlatan Porobic

Musician & dog lover

Zlatan is part of the marketing department, working as a Paid Search Specialist. Originally born in Germany, he has lived in Bosnia and Herzegovina since he was 2 years old. He speaks Bosnian, German, English and has studied French as well. After acquiring a degree in psychology, he started working at an advertising agency, where he had the chance to work with some of the biggest brands in the world through paid search and programmatic advertising. His interests include music, video games and meeting new cultures.

Annie Keller - Copywriter Specialist

Annie Keller

Cat person, fascinated by the unknown

Annie is part of Ventura Travel's marketing team, working remotely, mostly from Germany. She's making sure the German-speaking people out there know just how awesome and exciting travel can be, hoping they will all put a trip with one of Ventura's brands on the top of their next birthday wishlist! Annie herself considers herself lucky to have lived in Australia, Turkey, Malta, and Ireland. But no matter where she is, Annie loves to hike, read books or watch movies, do pottery, study Turkish and dance Lindy Hop.

Massiva Aliane- Copywriter Specialist

Massiva

Author, lover of words, aesthetics and unknown lands

Massiva is a member of Ventura Travel's Marketing team, based in Paris. She invites travelers to explore the world in the most authentic way possible, engaging with people, savoring the beauty of nature, and delving into the mysteries of other cultures. Having lived in several European countries and in the Middle East, Massiva, a passionate yachtswoman, traverses both land and sea. She is eager to share some of her travel secrets with you, whether it's a yoga and well-being retreat in Bali or a culinary epic in Vietnam. 

Gustavo  Cataño - IT Director 

Gustavo  Cataño - Technical Lead

IT geek with a contagious lust for life

Gustavo loves the world of software. Long before he finished his studies in System Engineering, he had participated in various projects related to process automatization in web environments. Gustavo has also occasionally lectured at Antioquia University in Colombia. Aside from all things IT-based, he likes sports and enjoys going to rock concerts. He spends much of his free time with his family.

Deyby Vasquez - Scrum Master

Deyby Vasquez - Scrum MasterFamily man with the entrepreneur vibe

Deyby is passionate about tech and entrepreneurship. He is always involved in projects combining the tech world, entrepreneurship, and teaching. He loves to spend time with his family. He tries to learn something new every day, with a bigger focus every 3 months. You’ll find him flying drones, reading, or dancing in his free time.

Genesis Guerrero Martinez - IT Developer

Genesis Guerrero Martinez - IT DeveloperTotal geek

Genesis spent six years developing software for enterprises, even before finishing his studies in System Engineering at the University of Magdalena (Santa Marta, Colombia). He's an open-source enthusiast, python evangelist, and JavaScript lover. He also has experience as a lead developer, freelancer, and startup co-founder. Genesis loves to drink craft beer with friends, attend rock concerts, and discover new places to walk and eat.

Jesus Garcia - Website Team Lead 

jesusGamer and Food Lover

Jesus is a Systems and Computer Engineer from Barranquilla, Colombia, passionate about web and mobile development. He enjoys learning new technologies and constantly challenge himself, in his free time he loves to play video games or prepare innovative food recipes.

Juan Daniel Rios- IT Developer

jdrr (1) (1)

Curious is my third name

Daniel is part of the amazing IT team, with an MBA degree, who decided to change his career for something that he really loves... Tech! He loves photography, playing guitar, travel on his motorcycle, and learning how things work.

Julio Mendez- IT Developer

Julio Mendez 3x4

Chess lover and life learner person

Julio is a web developer and electronic engineer, a continuously growing person that likes to learn and teach about interesting subjects. Right now, Julio is working at Ventura as a software developer. His hobbies are dancing salsa and playing chess, he also enjoys playing guitar. As of now, he is happy with the Ventura team and is looking forward to keeping learning and making meaningful connections.

Santiago Diaz- IT Developer

Santiago Diaz (1) (1)

A balanced mix of curiosity, passion and adventure

Santiago is a mixed bag of a passion for technology, music, and travel. He has been working in IT since his twenties, and in the past years became a Web-oriented developer. With an endless hunger for new things, you can find him reading about the latest Tech, producing his own music, or traveling somewhere around the world. He loves to socialize, give his best, and debate new ideas or interesting concepts.

Alejo Garcia- IT Developer  

Alejo García

Bookworm, programming addict, music lover

Alejo is an Argentinian full-stack web developer. Besides programming, he loves reading (mostly sci-fi), learning about the stock markets, and listening to pretty much any music genre. When hanging out with friends, he likes to play chess, video games, and card games, he also enjoys discussing life and politics

Roberto Spinelli- IT Developer  

Roberto spinelli

Outdoors and computers

Roberto has a background as a professional mountain guide and Wilderness First Responder. He is based in El Chaltén, Patagonia. In the last few years, he decided to dedicate himself to studying IT, and building a professional career as a developer. He now works as a full stack developer on Ventura's IT team. When he's not programming, he loves to spend his time practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or being outdoors in the mountains.

Javier Salvador- QA Developer  

JAVIER SALVADOR

Tech-passionate, music lover, and travel addict

Javier is an engineer passionate about technology, during the last few years he found his path in the QA area and now, works at Ventura Travel, in the IT team. He calls himself a “music lover”, loves to listen to several types of music, and he’s a musician too. Javier plays the guitar and sings; he has even performed in several events and bars in Buenos Aires. Last but not least, he enjoys traveling. He says the Asian Southeast is one of the most beautiful places he visited, and he would like to visit again!

Pablo Basili- IT Developer  

Pablo Basili (2)

Chill hiker and father.

Pablo is an easy-going developer from Argentina. He is a proud father of two sons, one who is five years old, and another on the way, expected to arrive in 2024. Residing in the hilly area in the center of Argentina, his spare time is devoted to outdoor activities and family time. During his college years, he was also an amateur soccer player, but now, running and stretching take up all the weekly training hours.

Camila Cañaveral- UX_UI Designer

Camila

Meditation and yoga nerd

Camila is our UX_UI designer. She describes herself as a real nomad (truly has moved around a bit too much), a huge empath, a total dork about all things design and art, likes to have deep conversations and make people smile. 

Fidel Caicedo- IT Developer

Fidel Caicedo

Philosophy loving Geek and code enthusiast

Fidel works at Ventura as a Full Stack automations Developer. By day, he builds automation empires with Make, sculpting travel tech masterpieces. By night, philosophy helps him wrestle with life's big questions. Data's his echo of globetrotting dreams; AI his quest for meaning in work schedules. His office? Plato's Cave or Medellín, lines of code shadows of ancient wisdom. He whispers: the real journey's within. So book your trip, and let this philosopher king make sure your existential consciousness gets there safely.

Sebastian Morales- IT Developer

Sebastian Morales

Food and music lover

Sebastian is passionate about creativity, design, and writing. He is a software engineer working in the IT department as a full-stack developer in a medium-sized city in Colombia called Bucaramanga. Sebastian studied music at university, majoring in classical piano. As a hobby, he plays the bass guitar and occasionally produces his own compositions and songs. Sebastian is eager to learn new things out of curiosity, is a team player who does not believe in organizational heroes, and is an easy-going person. He possesses a great sense of product quality and user experience.

Steven Goez- Backend Developer

StevenGoezFoto

Food, traveler, gamer, and pet lover

Steven is passionate about traveling from town to town, playing with friends, and trying all kinds of foods. He enjoys learning new things every day. Additionally, he is a person who always thinks positively and tries to see the good in bad situations. When everything gets complicated, a walk with his little dog fixes everything!

 

 

 

Juan Sepúlveda- Data Team Lead

Juan Sepulveda (1)

All I need is a laptop and a swimming pool

Juan is an Aeronautical Engineer from Colombia, passionate about Data and Software Development. In 2018, he had the opportunity to live and study in Barcelona as an exchange student, and from that experience, he discovered his potential and passion for programming. Since then, he has been involved in software projects with high impact in local communities. Now he is a player of the IT Team of Ventura Travel as Data Engineer. When he is not coding, you can find him in the Church or in the swimming pool.

Manuel Orejuela- Data Engineer

Manuel Orejuela

Passionate reader and enthusiastic investor of financial markets.

Manuel is an Electronic Engineer who loves thinking that by coding and analyzing the data, the world can be changed. After the COVID-19 pandemic, he discovered as a hobby the passion for finances, stock market investment, and learning from reading books. As a Data Engineer at Ventura Travel, he is looking to grow professionally as much as he can by meeting new people, learning new technologies, and living life itself.

 

Marcia Sánchez - Human Relations Director

Marcia Sánchez - HR Coordinator

Passion for travelling and discovering new cultures

Marcia loves working with people and found her passion working in Human Resources. In her spare time, she loves to travel and feels the happiest when she can get to know a new country, a new culture and new people.

Ana Maria Caceres - Human Relations Specialist

Ana_Maria-removebg-preview-removebg-preview

Family, friends and chocolate

Born in Medellin, raised in Bogota and Santa Marta. Ana is the HR coordinator for our office in Medellin. She has been an entrepreneur for most of her working life. She has a communication degree and her passion is to help others. She enjoys traveling to tropical places and loves the Caribbean. She is very family orientated and enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends. She enjoys cooking all kinds of food and watching movies. Dark chocolate, wine, and coffee are always welcome.

Areli Callisaya - Human Relations Specialist

Ari

Always looking forward to meeting new people and their cultures

Originally from Bolivia, Areli has spent almost half of her life in Germany for various reasons. She developed a fondness for Berlin due to its diverse cultures and the warmth of its people. Areli's academic achievements include a Bachelor's degree in Business Management, with a focus on the hospitality industry. Her passion for promoting an inclusive work environment inspired her to pursue a career in the HR department. She strives to make every individual feel valued and supported in their professional development. In her leisure time, Areli enjoys various activities such as dancing, singing, and socializing with friends. Traveling is also one of her favorite pastimes. 

  

Patricio Grez - Finance Director

Picture Patricio green

Enthusiastic, curious by nature, opening new paths

Patricio joins our Ventura Team as Head of Finance, bringing a vast experience with him. Not only in pure finance topics, but also in its relation across different areas of an organization. Passionate traveler, but slow travel. Spending time and living in different countries and cultures has always given him good experiences. He is open to new challenges and willing to share with others.

Gabriela Palma - Accountant Expert, South America

Gabriela  Palma - Accountant Assistant

Responsible and punctual

Gabriela lives in Cuzco, Peru. She graduated from a private university in Australia 3 years ago. After graduation, Gabriela worked in an accounting firm and is now an accounting assistant at Ventura TRAVEL. Active and responsible, Gabriela loves teamwork and cooperation! When it comes to her, one thing is certain: the job will be well done. She hopes to contribute to the smooth running of Ventura TRAVEL.

Santiago Piedrahita - Finance Specialist

20210907_150922-removebg-preview (1)

Friendly and always willing to know new people and cultures.

Santiago is a financial administrator with around 5 years of experience in accounting and finance-related areas. He joined Ventura TRAVEL as a finance specialist and is happy to put his experience in the service of the company and acquire new knowledge. He enjoys hanging out with friends, and traveling is the activity he likes the most. He's been to over 5 different countries but hopes to know much more in the future.

Luz Riveros - Finance Specialist

Luz Riveros (1)

Hard-working woman with a passion for life, dancing, books, and learning

Luz has been enrolled in the great finance department in order to keep the fast pace and the motivation going. She is located in Bogotá, Colombia but has experience in different countries, thus contributing to Ventura's international background.

Dimakatso Mokoena - Finance Specialist

Dimakatso Mokoena

Courageous Healer

Dima is based in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is joining the Finance team as a Finance Specialist. Dima enjoys visiting the mountains for rejuvenation and spiritual connection. With a degree in finance and extensive experience in foreign currency transactions, she is eager to share her knowledge to ensure the smooth operation of the finance team and contribute to the company's success. Dima is also excited about learning from colleagues around the world.

Yanga Mbixane- Finance Specialist

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Cartoon-loving homebody.

Yanga is based in Pretoria, South Africa. She has a great appreciation for peaceful natural scenery and a good sci-fi book. With a Finance degree, her experience ranges from basic financial administration to tax work. Yanga is joining the finance team as a finance specialist and is looking forward to learning and growing with the company.

Marie Witzel - VSocial Director

MarieTravel addiction and curiosity

Discoveries and great encounters while traveling are the reason for Marie's involvement and passion for tourism. Marie has traveled almost all of South America and lost her heart to Argentina. Taking a different perspective for a while traveling is especially educational and inspiring for her. Her involvement with VSocial and a master's degree in non-profit management have changed her perspective professionally. Previously, Marie worked for Viventura in product and sales management. She is happy to now be able to support the communities in the destinations with VSocial.

Ifigenia Garita aka Ifi - Coordinator Central America

 Foto_3_x_4_IGC-removebg-preview (1) (1)Traveling, Understanding, Helping Others

Ifgenia inherited her passion for the natural sciences from her mother and dedicated her studies to discovering the delicate and fascinating world of tropical biology. She combines her knowledge of natural science with a belief in the power of education to help preserve the natural wealth found in tropical forests.

Camilo Alvarado - Coordinator South America

Camilo Alvarado - Coordinator South AmericaAddicted to theater and to discovering new places

Camilo also enjoys sharing a good meal with good wine. He is the coordinator of vSocial's social projects for South America. He worked for several years in the field of human rights and for local development projects in different regions of Colombia and Latin America. He is convinced that the combining of processes, networked work, and collaborative work can strengthen local processes and territorial autonomy. He has been part of vSocial since August 2017.

Gabriela Cascione - Operations Director

fotoTravel Enthusiast

Gabriela always had a passion for travelling and knowledge. Born in Brazil, she chose Berlin for her home. Having worked before in a travel agency, she realizes that it is in the Tourism Industry that her passion lies. Working at Ventura Travel as Ground Operations Manager, she can put this passion into practice.

Marilia Rosa - Add-On Coordinator FR Market

mariliaPassionate traveler and language enthusiast

Her passion for traveling began at a young age, during family trips. Growing up in a small town, she was always in contact with and enjoys being close to nature. Her interests include learning new languages and discovering more about other cultures, habits, and traditions. So far, she speaks Portuguese, English, French, and Spanish. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her dog Samba, playing board games, and watching movies and series. Loves drinking coffee and eating good food. She lives in São Paulo, Brazil, and works as a Travel Product and Operations Specialist (Add-ons department) for the French Market.

Ericka Ammurio - Flights Director

Ericka Amurrio_full

Passion for Flights

Ericka has a university degree in Tourism Management and an education in hotel Management and Gastronomy. She is a friendly, fun and open-minded person who enjoys learning new things. One of her great passions is traveling, she loves to get to know new people and cultures. She is especially enthusiastic when people come to Bolivia to discover it because she loves her country, her culture and the Bolivian way of life. Ericka is responsible for the Flights department at Ventura TRAVEL.

Stefan Kühn- Flights Specialist

stevie (1)

Committed to each occurrence

Stefan has been responsible for flights at Viventura since May 2005.
His last trip to Peru was in 2014. Especially the diversity of the country and the unique nature inspired him.

Cintia Frias - Flights Specialist

cinti

Cake and Sweets Lover

Cintia likes to read historical books or biographies of great people. She appreciates the peace and quiet at work, because at home with her children it is often noisy. She loves challenges and is usually a perfectionist in her job.

Isabel Sánchez - Flights Specialist

Maria Isabel Sanchez_full

Loves to Dance

Maria Isabel is a cheerful person who loves to travel, learn from different cultures and explore new places, especially when activities in the water are involved. She also enjoys volunteering and works once a month with a group of friends who are fans of the local football team Bolívar, visiting places such as retirement homes and public schools outside La Paz. They help with repairs and wherever help is needed. Although she enjoys these activities a lot, she loves dancing the most. She has been following this passion for almost 15 years and not only dances hip hop, jazz, and contemporary dances but is also a Zumba teacher.

Ana Llerena - Flights Specialist

Ana_1x1

Passionate Cook and Traveler

Ana works as a Flights Specialist in La Paz, Bolivia. She is very calm, hard-working and loves to help others. Life in harmony is very important to her. She is looking forward to learning at Ventura TRAVEL because for her every day is a great opportunity to learn from people, places, and experiences.

Adrian Uc - Flights Specialist

Adrian_1x1

Music and Football Lover

Adrian is our Mexican with a great passion for football. With his headphones, he loves to walk around without a destination and he loves cinema and chocolate! During his 7 months in Europe he discovered his passion for new cultures. Helping people and being empathetic are his two pillars. For him, there is nothing more stable than movement. Adrian supports Ventura TRAVEL as a Flight Specialist and looks forward to learning new skills and developing existing ones.

Sandy Durán - Flights Specialist

resize Sandy

Love for Travel and Food Tasting

Sandy works in the field of tourism for more than 12 years, it is truly her vocation. She really loves to travel and meet new people, tasting delicious food and trying different tourism activities in new places. Also, she loves listening to music while she takes a walk, reading novels and especially spending time with her friends.

Sandy Durán - Flights Specialist

resize Sandy

Love for Travel and Food Tasting

Sandy works in the field of tourism for more than 12 years, it is truly her vocation. She really loves to travel and meet new people, tasting delicious food and trying different tourism activities in new places. Also, she loves listening to music while she takes a walk, reading novels and especially spending time with her friends.

Rayhaan Fredericks - Flights Specialist

Rayhaan Fredericks

Outdoors Enthusiast

Rayhaan is our Flights Specialist based in Cape Town. In this role, he leverages his capabilities to offer valuable insights and support in the travel and flight sector, contributing to the success of the team and ensuring a seamless experience for Ventura Travel customers. Outside of work, Rayhaan loves listening to music and appreciating the wonderful views of nature and the beauty of landscapes.

Rosa Pacheco - Ground Operations Manager

Rosa Pacheco (1)Passionate traveler and lover of weaving silver and wool threads.

Rosa has always been passionate about work in tourism, it allows her to know, experience, and appreciate everything around her, also inspires people to travel to share an experience. She enjoys looking for improvements to create awesome travel experiences, she feels that working in tourism is doing what she was meant to do. She feels very lucky of working in the tourism industry and, furthermore, in a company that develops sustainable tourism. 

Maria Cristina Egüez- Ground Operations Specialist South America

crisLover of nature, animals and daily learning

Ecuadorian, passionate about traveling, and a lover of football and reading. She has been working in tourism since 2010 and knows that Ecuador is the perfect country to discover the diversity of cultures, landscapes, gastronomy, and wildlife of a small part of South America. She likes to offer the world the wonders that can be found in every corner of her beautiful country. Not only that, but she works every day with the purpose, that our customers are happy and satisfied with the products and quality we offer. For this and more, she invites you to enjoy the best and most unforgettable experiences in Ecuador and many destinations around the world with Ventura Travel

Pablo Calla- Ground Operations Specialist South America

Pablo Calla_full (1)Living life intensely, traveling where adventure calls

Operations Specialist in the Latin American region and consultant for other countries, the work on the site reflects the passion we have for our diverse cultures and scenarios, the objective is to be able to share beautiful experiences that make each of the people who visit us feel they are received like home.

Cristina Castillo - Ground Operations Specialist South America

unnamed (1) (1)Passionate Ecuadorian in love of the beautiful colors of Ecuador.

Cristina is a proud Ecuadorian who was inspired by the opportunity to get to know this diverse country and therefore make tourism her passion and profession. She likes to work in tourism to offer sustainable activities to travelers all over the world. With her work at Ventura, she wants to contribute with her professional and personal experience so that our travelers can take the best memories from colorful Ecuador.

Maria Soledad Cruz - Ground Operations Specialist South America

Soledad_Cruz_foto-removebg-previewAlways with a smile.

15 years ago Soledad finished her career in Business Administration and by chance went to do her internship at a travel agency, since then she has lived her passion for Tourism every day. It has been 3 years in ground Operations, coordinating and negotiating with suppliers to provide the best experience to our clients. She puts her heart into everything she does.

Neida Montoya - Ground Operations Specialist South America

NeidaThe path is made by walking

Neida describes herself as an enthusiastic, empathetic, collaborative, and kind person. She is always willing to offer help and give a smile. Neida is determined in the projects she works on. She understands that life is made up of both good and challenging moments. She believes that it is essential to recognize who we are in order to move forward in every situation, even when we are vulnerable

Haidy Garofalo- Ground Operations Specialist Colombia

Haidy GarofaloCurious Explorer and Tourism Enthusiast

Meet Haidy, a curious explorer passionate about uncovering the "whys" behind cultures and places. With a love for learning and a keen interest in tourism, Haidy enjoys connecting with people. As a Ground Operations Specialist in Colombia for Viventura, she actively contributes to the industry, constantly seeking improvements to create memorable journeys. Combining curiosity and a love for exploration, Haidy feels privileged to work in sustainable tourism, adding a unique touch to every adventure.

Derek Hollenbaugh - Ground Operations Specialist Japan

Derek HBAdventurer Looking for the Best Food

Derek was born in Yokohama, Japan, and grew up there until he was 6 years old. Then he moved to the United States, where he moved around a bit until his graduation from the University of Houston in 2022. He moved back to Japan after university and plans to stay here for the unforeseeable future. Another thing about him is that he really loves traveling, and he has visited about 10 countries so far! His love for discovering brand-new foods and learning about different cultures really broadens his mind and improves his taste palate!

Precious Ramukhadi - Ground Operations Specialist - South Africa

Precious Ramukhadi HBHorror movie fanatic

Precious is the Southern Africa Tour Operations Specialist for Africaventura. She is based in Cape Town, but has plenty of experience all around the country and in different parts of industry.

Son Le Cong - Ground Operations Specialist - Vietnam

Son Le Cong (1)Endless passion with the beauty of my homeland.

Son was born in Hanoi, the charming capital of Vietnam with a thousand years of history. With a passion for travel and culture, he completed a bachelor's degree in tourism management and became involved in the tourism field. He loves the mountains in the Northwest, adores the beautiful long beaches, and appreciates the hospitality of the local people. He loves Vietnam. As a Ground Operation Specialist, he works with local suppliers to improve quality and ensures that 'everything is in order.' He desires that all clients will have the best experience during their trip in Vietnam.

Kathleen Ishibashi - Ground Operations Specialist - Japan

Kathleen.Ishibashi.Profile.PictureOregonian by birth but Japan is home

Kathleen is working out of Japan as a ground operations specialist with Japaventura. Originally from Oregon, USA, She has been living in Japan for over 17 years. She previously worked as an English instructor and currently holds a master’s degree in applied linguistics. She sees Japan as a beloved second home and is excited to share all the things she loves about Japan with others.

Fuku Masuda - Ground Operations Specialist - Japan

Fuku

Loves to travel

Fuku is ground operation specialist for Japaventura based in Tokyo, Japan. He has acquired 2 bachelor degrees in International Business and Tourism Management. He has worked in Operations in Hospitality industry for more than 7 years including hotel operations, DMC, online travel agent. During his free time, he enjoys hanging out with friend, checking out new cafes in the neighbourhood and travelling.

Alberto Wirz - TC Operations Manager

Alberto Wirz (1)Passionate Globetrotter

Alberto Wirz is a highly enthusiastic Peruvian-Swiss team player with a passion for traveling and learning. He has traveled to 60 countries (and counting). He is fluent in English, Spanish & French and he is learning Italian. A former luxury TC himself, he has more than 15 years of worldwide working experience in the Travel industry, and he is our Tour Guide Operations Manager. He loves to enjoy Life.

Johan Jansen - TC Operations Specialist

Johan (1)Nature loving rock climber and mountain runner

Hiking and running in the mountains from a tender age instilled into Johan a passion for the outdoors that has only grown stronger over the years. He grew up in a small town close to the Kruger National Park, a setting that reinforced his love for nature. Johan has been actively involved in the Adventure industry since 2010, when he earned a National Diploma in Adventure Tourism Management. Since then, he’s been registered and qualified in Mountain Walking Leader, Off-Trail Overnight Mountain Guiding, Level 3 Wilderness First-Aid and Single-pitch sport-climbing. Johan has also led operations for various adventure companies based in South Africa and the UAE. Johan will be responsible for TC Ops topics for brands situated in Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Danae Delgado - TC Operations Specialist

Danae DelgadoNature & Adventure junkie

Danae's sense of adventure started since she was very little, and was able to make a career out of it in the tourism industry. She's always looking for new opportunities to explore the world and enjoys so much being in touch with the Pachamama (Mother Earth). During her tour leading years around Central & South America, she discovered her passion for diving: being able to breathe underwater is a feeling she will never let go. Fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese, and with over 10 years of experience in travel operations in the region, Danae has joined the Ventura Travel family as part of the TC Operations Specialist team for Latin America.

Pablo Perez - TC Operations Specialist

Pablo Perez-1Cultural Travel Enthusiast

Pablo is a Chilean globetrotter who was born in Madrid, Spain and raised in Germany, with strong roots connecting him to his beloved Chile. He has a deep passion for travel, immersing himself in diverse cultures and idiosyncrasies, while also relishing the beauty of various landscapes and thrilling adventures around the globe, all with an open mind. Apart from his extensive travel experience, Pablo nurtures a profound interest in literature, sports, photography, music, and cinema. As a polyglot, his native languages are Spanish and German, and he is also highly fluent in English.

Louise Granval- TC Operations Specialist EMEA

Louse GranvalEuropean touring travel professional.

After traveling the world, and Japan in particular, Louise decided to enter the tourism industry. She began working as a guide for Japaventura, and after several trips, she decided to transition to the corporate side to assist guides in the field, improving their experience and making their jobs easier!

Kim Feldesz, Sales Director

Profile Pic Kim

Adventurer at heart

Ever since she can remember, Kim was driven by a natural curiosity that brought her to new places and cultures. Always searching for the unknown, she has lived and worked in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Canary Islands, before she finally settled down in France. Despite her adventurous heart, Kim loves when things are in order. As part of the Ventura team she can live out her two sides: organization geek and passionate adventurer.

Claudia Ghersi - Sales Specialist

Claudia (1)

Foodie by Nature and Traveler at Heart

Claudia works from Lima as Sales Specialist. Always passionate about travelling, learning and having new authentic experiences, Claudia found her vocation in the Hospitality Industry. She moved to Switzerland to finish her Masters and decided to stay working in Europe afterward. Later, she moved to the Middle East to continue her career, working in both operations and sales departments before moving to Peru.

Maxime Fournier, Sales Specialist

MaximeTravel addicted kitesurfing fan

Maxime is a 33-year-old French expatriate currently telecommuting from Curitiba, Brazil, as a sales specialist for Ventura travel. Passionate about geography and history since early childhood, it was only natural that he should choose a career in tourism. Driven by curiosity and discovery, he never misses an opportunity to travel. An avid kitesurfer, he has traveled the world in search of the most beautiful spots and to satisfy his passion for travel and sport.

Alix Paitrault - Sales Specialist

Alix PaitraultPastry and travel fan

Alix is a 29-year-old French woman who loves to cook and travel, and joined Ventura's sales department.