Experiential Travel
and Beyond

LUCA FRANCO CEO & FOUNDER

Luca is passionate about growing businesses, collaboration, and global opportunity. As an owner of LLPI—an international advisory and management company servicing developers and investors in luxury mixed-use hotels/resorts—he contributed significantly to the successes of Exclusive Resorts, Private Escapes, and DCP International throughout Europe and the Americas.

Luca was also an Equity Partner with Strategic Hotels and Resorts on projects with hospitality leaders like Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Bulgari Resorts, Auberge Resorts, Hyatt, The Stein Hotels, Icehotel, Ferragamo, Marriott Vacation Club International, Interval International, and RCI.

Luca has a Building Engineering degree from Pavia University and served as an Architect for the Icehotel project.

An avid adventure-seeker and marathon runner, Luca loves to participate in extreme marathons for both fitness and as a way to see amazing corners of the world. He has completed over 25 marathons to date, from the Arctic Circle to Chile.

Graeme Labe CHIEF DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, PARTNER

Graeme is a specialist in the design and development of sustainable lodging products. Over the past 25 years, he has accrued a vast knowledge of alternative building methods and a wealth of experience in ecologically sustainable off-grid developments.

Prior to joining the Luxury Frontiers team, Graeme founded FTK Design and Development, working internationally with companies such as Wilderness Safaris and Tourvest Africa to design, develop, and refurbish award-winning tented camps and eco lodges.

Graeme has also operated as Head of Design and Development for Abercrombie & Kent developing Sanctuary Retreat properties throughout Sub-Saharan Africa for 12 years, as well as served as General Manager and Project Manager for Orient-Express Safaris in Botswana for 8 years.

Graeme completed a Hotel Management degree from the University of Johannesburg. True to his love of design and the outdoors, Graeme enjoys collecting/restoring classic motorbikes, admiring old buildings, and fly fishing.

JESÚS PARRILLA PARTNER

Jesús is a true multi-disciplinarian with broad experience in management, sales, marketing, communications, operations, and business development.

Cultivated in the adventure tourism world, Jesús was the CEO and Commercial VP of Explora Lodges in South America for 7 years and held Board of Directors positions at Metropolitan Touring in Argentina, Chile, and Peru.

Jesús also serves as Executive Director of Smartrip Chile, an organization that aims to contribute effectively and efficiently to the sustainable development of tourist destinations in Chile.

Jesús received an International MBA from the University of Memphis with a concentration in Marketing and his Bachelor’s degree in General Management and International Business from St. Mary’s University.

Ever the nature enthusiast, Jesús is happiest when trekking, hiking, mountaineering, and living outdoors and most driven by environmental, food waste, and social inclusion initiatives.

ROY PAUL PARTNER

Roy is a senior executive with over 30 years of global experience in the planning and development of over 50 luxury hotels and resorts in 27 countries.

Notably, he led development efforts at Four Seasons Hotels for over 20 years helping take the company from 19 hotels to 75, and he served as Chief Development Officer for Orient-Express Hotels, Trains and Cruises for 3 years.

Still globetrotting, Roy is a Partner in a hotel and residential real estate development firm, a private advisor to HNW investors. He is also Partner at Cedar Capital, a specialist in hotel real estate advisory and asset management services.

Roy earned an MBA from York University with concentrations in Finance and Marketing, and he received his Bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Food Administration from the University of Guelph.

Throughout his life, Roy has been most passionate about new experiences and exploring off the beaten paths as well as history and his family.

JAMIEROSE BRIONES DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY & DEVELOPMENT

JamieRose is passionate about developing and enhancing luxury hospitality products and experiences in the most remote adventure destinations. As a specialist, she has consulted Four Seasons, Orient-Express, One&Only, Wilderness Safaris, and various high-profile asset owners of such properties.

She strategically transitioned from a finance career with Citigroup in New York to hospitality via operations, serving as co-General Manager of Abu Camp in Botswana to attain a comprehensive knowledge of low-volume, low-impact yet high-revenue and world-class resort operations.

JamieRose earned her Executive MBA in Hospitality Administration from Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne and her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and International Business from New York University's Stern School of Business.

Whether she is at work or out in nature, JamieRose loves conquering the challenges of breaking out of her comfort zone and learning something new.

AARON GJELLSTAD DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Aaron brings a disciplined management approach to Luxury Frontiers from his experience in military aviation operations and hospitality administration. He was formerly a Blackhawk pilot and served as a U.S. Army officer leading aviation operations on 3 continents. He translated this leadership acumen to hospitality administration through his role as co-General Manager of Abu Camp in Botswana.

Aaron is versed in both operating and consulting on luxury hospitality products, having consulted Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti and various high-profile asset owners/developers of renowned adventure hospitality properties.

He earned an MBA concentrated in Tourism Management from the IE Business School and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Aaron is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

A wanderer at heart, Aaron is most content when immersed in different places around the world and being swept up by new cultures and surroundings.

ANOMIEN SMITH DIRECTOR OF ARCHITECTURAL & INTERIOR DESIGN

Anomien’s desire is to push the envelope of sustainable architectural design for resorts in remarkable destinations, and she has been driven by this desire as Luxury Frontiers’ lead designer since 2015.

Anomien was raised in a small conservancy near the Kruger National Park in South Africa, and as such, nature in its unscathed state has inspired her to create architecture that is environmentally sensitive, contextual, and enjoyable for all. She is experienced in alternative building methods in off-grid locations as well as in providing architectural solutions which set new benchmarks in resort design.

She completed her Master’s degree in Architecture at the University of Pretoria in 2009 and worked on an array of different international commercial projects before specializing in hospitality architecture.

While she is interested in all that is design related, Anomien also enjoys being a tourist herself accompanied by her family. She is a foodie of note and enjoys getting lost in a good book.