Welcome to March Madness at Hotel Libby

Hi friends —

With Planuary and a Focused February in the rearview with March Madness in full swing, consider this your official catch-up! 2026 is off to a stellar start and I’m excited to share a few tidbits with you!

---

Los Angeles + Santa Monica:

My agency, SmartFlyer, had quite the year in 2025, reaching a B, as in BILLION, in revenue with under 300 advisors. We’re all independent contractors with our own LLCs, free to run our travel agencies within the SmartFlyer brand as we see fit. The year-over-year growth is nothing short of aspirational, and I dream of joining the ranks of our top advisors one day. (Our top 18 are responsible for over $250 million in revenue—I’m no math whiz, but damn, that’s an impressive average!) For now, I’ll continue to revel in my wins, big and small, as I learn and grow in this unbelievably fun industry.

Every year, SmartFlyer hosts our CORE conference, which means a few days of back-to-back meetings with some of the most incredible hotel partners in the world — and this year, it was set across three iconic LA properties.

My first stop was the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel, which holds a very special place in my heart. It’s where Lauren and I got married, so arriving at the Pink Palace never gets old! This was my only solo night, so I opted for a jaunt downstairs to The Polo Lounge for dinner in the bar. A dream forever and always.

From there, we moved to the home of the famous swans, Hotel Bel-Air, which sits on 12 acres in Bel Air, just nine miles away from BHH, but feels like an entirely different world. Lush, serene, tucked away. Both hotels are part of the Dorchester Collection, and experiencing them back-to-back was a reminder of what true luxury hospitality looks like.

We wrapped at the Regent Santa Monica, meeting with general managers, directors of sales, and global heads of marketing — the people who run these properties at the highest level. And every year, someone asks me if going to "these things" — our annual conference, the lunches, the dinners, the discovery trips — actually makes a difference. My answer is always a resounding yes.

We invest our time and money into being face-to-face with our partners, who travel from all corners of the world to talk travel — what's new, what's not, and how we can work together to make sure our clients have the best possible experience. These aren't transactions. They're relationships, built over years, and they're the reason I can pick up the phone and make things happen.

Our COO recently said something that has stuck with me: “Luxury is personal.” It’s not always about thread count or white glove service — sometimes luxury is a private ocean view, or coffee delivered to your door at a designated time in a different variety every single morning, or the most spectacular room service display you’ve ever seen. Luxury looks different for every single person. It’s my job to know what it looks like for you — and with the help of our partners, I can make certain that it does.

---

Mexico: Rosewood Mayakoba & Belmond Maroma

Okay, I need to talk about the nachos.

My clients had warned me — the nachos at Rosewood Mayakoba were life-changing, world-class. They were right. I’ll let the photo speak for itself.

But beyond the nachos, Rosewood Mayakoba is a dreamy property set within a stunning mangrove ecosystem that envelops you with nature in an immersive way rather than as decoration. The rooms are spacious and private, there are multiple dining options, and you can walk, run, or bike throughout the property. It’s ideal for families, longer stays, or anyone who wants a resort experience that feels expansive.

Maroma is a different feeling entirely. Hacienda-style, intimate, and deeply romantic. The butler service was extraordinary. Every morning, coffee was delivered outside the door at a preset time, and it was a different type of coffee every single day. That level of thoughtfulness is what separates good service from truly impeccable service.

Both properties are exceptional. But if you’re planning a honeymoon or a romantic escape, Maroma is your answer. Bringing the kids or staying for a week-plus? Rosewood Mayakoba will keep everyone very happy.

---

In the Kitchen at Hotel Libby

In between all of this traveling, I’ve been cooking — and I’m starting to share recipes in a dedicated section I’m calling The Kitchen at Hotel Libby. This year, I’ve been trying to cook more gluten and dairy-free dishes that actually taste like something you’d want to eat.

First up: my Valentine’s Day menu. Peruvian roasted chicken, crispy coconut rice, and a jicama salad with a lime vinaigrette — the whole menu was inspired by one of our most memorable meals, and our absolute favorite properties, Palm Heights, and it turned out beautifully!

---

What’s Coming Next

My first FAM of the year and it’s a BIG one hosted by Orient Express. First stop: Rome — the Eternal City, and checking into the brand new Orient Express Minerva for two nights— then boarding the Orient Express La Dolce Vita, with a stop in Siena, before ending in Venice for three nights at the Orient Express Venezia, where we will be the first guests in residence. An honor I’ve had once before at the GLORIOUS Rosewood Chancery in London, and as a self-proclaimed hotel nerd, it’s a real treat to see a property come to life before the rest of the well-heeled world.

Lots of questions about Orient Express and their new hotel offerings, so here’s a mini-history of the brand + getting us up to date:

Orient Express: A Brand Reborn

Born in 1883, the Orient Express became the ultimate symbol of European luxury rail travel. James Sherwood revived the romance in the 1970s, eventually rebranding his hotel and train empire as Belmond — snapped up by LVMH for $2.6 billion in 2018. In a parallel move, Accor quietly acquired 50% of the Orient Express name from French rail giant SNCF in 2017, and is now relaunching it as a full luxury lifestyle brand — hotels in Rome and Venice, a new Italian train route, and a 220m sailing yacht, all by 2026.

I’ll be sharing packing tips and essentials before I leave — what actually makes it into the bag and how to stay sane across 2.5 weeks and multiple stops.

Thank you for being here!

More soon — Libby 🌿