Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist for 2026
New York City, Tuesday, March 10, 2026
My dear friends, family, colleagues, partners, esteemed and most interesting travelers, and Tasteful Croatian Journeys Team.
Just in time to help me celebrate another substantial birthday on March 22, 2026, my gift has arrived.
I am delighted to share that I have been named a Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist for 2026 — and especially proud to be recognized as the first specialist for Croatia ever included on this prestigious list for the past 20 years.
This recognition comes at a particularly meaningful moment as we celebrate 30+ years since founding VisitCroatia.com – Tasteful Croatian Journeys, a company born of a lifelong passion for travel and a deep personal connection to Croatia — the place of my birth and a country that continues to inspire my work every day.
My journey into travel began long before founding the company. Born when it was the Italian city of Fiume — today the Croatian city of Rijeka — I spent my early childhood in refugee camps in Italy and later immigrated to the United States. Travel awakened my curiosity about the world. Adventures across Latin America, Africa, and Asia shaped a lifelong belief that travel is one of the most powerful ways to understand cultures, build friendships, and expand our horizons.
When I returned to Croatia in 1994, as the country emerged from its War of Independence, I felt a calling to share the beauty, history, and soul of this remarkable place with travelers from around the world. That inspiration became VisitCroatia.com – Tasteful Croatian Journeys, where for the past three decades we have designed thoughtful, immersive journeys across Croatia and the Adriatic region. I have approached every itinerary much like composing a musical work — carefully listening to each traveler’s wishes and weaving together the people, places, and experiences that create a harmonious journey.
Being recognized by Condé Nast Traveler is a wonderful validation of the intent, dedication, and expertise built over many years. It also deepens my commitment to continue this work with even greater care and alacrity — always striving to remain worthy of the confidence placed in me.
This recognition also reflects the extraordinary people who work beside me — a team dedicated to care, integrity, and excellence. I have been incredibly fortunate to mentor and work alongside a remarkable team that shares the same philosophy of care, ethics, and excellence in service.
Tia Lovisa Moreira, the Senior Top Luxury Travel Designer at Tasteful Croatian Journeys, whom I have had the pleasure of mentoring and guiding, designs exceptional journeys across Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, and Bosnia & Herzegovina, and more…. Her work has been recognized by Travel + Leisure as among the best for the past two years — a testament to her extraordinary talent and dedication.
In Rijeka, Croatia, Mirela Benić, the Tasteful Croatian Journey Concierge, is the quiet force behind every seamless journey. She is our travelers’ guardian angel — the thoughtful concierge who, behind the scenes, accompanies them with care and grace, ensuring that when dining, the best table is reserved for them and that every moment on the ground unfolds with comfort and confidence. She is also our Product Development specialist — our team’s “Sherlock” — who continuously searches for, interviews, evaluates, and uncovers exceptional guides, hoteliers, captains, artisans, and partners who enable us to deliver experiences worthy of the world’s most sophisticated and discerning travelers.
And Diego, our Operations and IT professional, who ensures that everything functions with precision. His disciplined approach keeps us organized, technically sharp, and always moving along the straight and narrow that leads to excellence in execution.
Travel is about people — the travelers we serve, the communities we visit, and the professionals who bring every journey to life. In that respect, I truly feel that I have hit the lottery for good fortune to collaborate with such exceptional colleagues who share our philosophy and commitment to thoughtful, meaningful travel.
To our wonderful travelers, to our partners across Croatia, Slovenia, the Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, and the island, the cities, the tiny towns, the sailors along the Adriatic, and to my extraordinary team — thank you for being part of this journey.
As the adventure continues, my heart dances to the happy notes of gratitude.