David Lauwers

The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page. – St. Augustine

Travel is in my genes: my parents took me on my first flight from our home in the United Kingdom to Spain before I could walk! When I was a toddler, we traveled mainly to the Mediterranean. I have expanded my horizons a bit since…

After leaving England, I worked in the hospitality and airline industry in Australia and the Middle East. Dubai in the United Arab Emirates was my home for five years.

Although I am now settled in Chicago, my role in the travel business takes me around the world several times a year. I visit the UK every couple of months. En route, I enjoy personally inspecting a Virtuoso Preferred Hotel or checking out a historical site or cultural attraction. And my clients? They benefit too, as my first-hand experience allows me to better prepare my clients for their vacations.

I am a member of the Virtuoso Cruise Committee.

• Adventure and Expedition Travel: snorkeling or taking a submarine to the Southern Ocean floor in Antarctica: its majesty and the amazing things you see last a lifetime.
• Ocean Cruises – although my schedule hasn’t quite allowed a world cruise yet, I’ve visited all 7 continents and many ports and countries on my over 140 cruises so far.
• River Cruises – I love waking up in a new destination every day. I also love visiting the excellent restaurants you might find on the way.
• Top hotels – a great hotel is so much more than just a place to sleep! My goal is to personally stay at as many Virtuoso “Best of the Best” hotels as I can!
• Sustainable Travel – making sure we only take memories home from our travels, and giving back to local communities.
• Australia and New Zealand – having lived “down-under” ignited my passion for this beautiful part of the world!
• Great Britain and Western Europe – as a Brit, I know my way around the United Kingdom, but also the south of France, Spain, Greece and the other delightful destinations of the Mediterranean.
• African Safaris: I’ll never forget watching elephants at a watering hole just a few feet away from me at a Lodge in Zambia, while having my morning coffee. Or the Garden of Eden-like surroundings of the Belmond Eagle Island Lodge in Botswana, with elephants, crocodiles, hippos and a variety of birds enjoying the delta.

Whether you are looking to take a river or ocean cruise, an expedition or safari…let’s work together to create a memorable trip.