THE CONFIDENTIAL

What's your claim to fame?:

I’m the Co-Founder of Roman & Erica and Rêve Travel Club. I often describe myself as a lifestylist, someone who curates not just trips but lifestyles. Our clients aren’t coming to us for a quick hotel booking or a one-off dining request; they come because they want every detail of their leisure time to feel extraordinary. My claim to fame is that we don’t just design these experiences, we live them ourselves. Roman and I spend months on the road every year, from dancing loudly at the world’s best beach clubs to finding the quietest corner of Lake Como to watch the sunset. When I make a recommendation, it isn’t pulled from a brochure; it’s because I’ve been there, I’ve felt it, and I know how it will land for the person sitting in front of me. That’s why our clients trust us so deeply and why many of them have been with us for over a decade.  

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Tell us the story behind what you do—how did your journey begin, and what motivates you today?:

My journey into luxury lifestyle management began almost two decades ago when I realized there was a massive disconnect in how one’s leisure time was being handled. The options were either concierge and travel companies that offered “exclusive” services to many people at once, plagued by hidden fees and a lack of transparency, or traditional travel agents who operated solely on commissions. Both felt diluted and impersonal. How could the most valuable asset we have, our time, be left to something or someone so out of touch with the direct client? That’s when Roman and I built Roman & Erica, the first lifestyle management company of its kind. We decided to charge a membership fee, but have it be more akin to a part-time or full-time salary, which would effectively position us as members of our clients' staff.  Like a personal assistant dedicated exclusively to their leisure time, our structure allows us to dedicate our time and attention to a select handful of individuals and families. Over the years, the motivation has remained the same. I want people to simply show up to the moments that matter most in their lives without having to worry about the details. What drives me every single day is knowing that our work doesn’t just create vacations, it creates memories, milestones, and legacies for people that impact their lives in the most fulfilling way.

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How have your surroundings or lifestyle shaped your creative process, mindset, or brand ethos?:

Our ethos is rooted in one simple truth: don’t curate it, live it. Roman and I are not sitting behind desks pulling from someone else’s reviews; we are on the ground, in the rooms, on the excursions, and at the dinner tables. We spend about six months of the year living the very experiences we recommend, which means that everything we suggest to our clients has already passed through our own filter. We’ve walked the cobblestone streets, hiked the hidden paths, and even counted the steps from a suite to a restaurant for a client with mobility needs. Our lifestyle is our research. Because we live what we design, our creative process is organic. It comes from firsthand experience, not theory. This is what sets us apart and why our clients feel like they’re living something real, not something prepackaged.  

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What’s something about your work or approach that might surprise people?:

Most people are surprised to learn that I don’t try to convince anyone that I’m the right consultant for them. In fact, I openly tell people, I might not be your person. This is such a relationship-based business. You’re entrusting me with your time, your family, and your most personal moments. If we don’t genuinely connect, then I’m not the right fit. I always say, if you wouldn’t want to grab dinner or a glass of wine with the person planning your life’s most special moments, how much do you really vibe with them so that you should entrust them to make lifestyle decisions on your behalf? The right lifestyle and/or travel consultant should get you so deeply that they can anticipate your needs before you even know them yourself. That chemistry is everything. So while I may not be everyone’s cup of tea, when I am the right fit, the relationship goes far beyond the workday. It becomes friendship, trust, and a rhythm where my clients know I’ve got them completely covered.  

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What's currently inspiring you—whether it's a person, a place, a project, or something totally unexpected?:

I have always been a writer. About a year ago, I started doing it intentionally, once a quarter. I don’t like the idea of calling it a “newsletter” in this case because it's not really updates or news. Instead, it’s simply my musings on why we accept certain social constructs. A diary of the things that make us go “hmmmm” or what we ALL think but perhaps don’t say out loud. Generally, mailings like this receive about a 20% read rate, but UNFILTERED sits at a very pretty 60% average read rate. It’s really remarkable, and I absolutely love the way it is resonating with so many people.  Subscribe here.  

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What are your favorite rituals, spaces, or hidden spots that bring you joy or spark ideas?:

For sure, it's when I am skiing, one headphone in, music on, in packed powder, making my own tracks. This is my happy place, and as any skier knows, THIS type of adrenaline high is what makes all the prior schlep for that 15-20 minutes of pure bliss, worth it! In those moments, it feels like the world falls away, and it’s just me, the mountain, and the rhythm of my turns. It’s the perfect combination of freedom, focus, and joy, and it always leaves me inspired.  

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Follow Erica on: ReveTravel Club