Kristen Fernandez
Owner | Luxury Travel Advisor
Kristen Fernandez is the founder of Elli Travel Group, an award-winning luxury travel agency specializing in custom luxury vacations, Backroads active travel, luxury wellness resorts, and five-star hotels around the world. She works with discerning travelers seeking exceptional service, exclusive access, and thoughtfully curated itineraries that blend adventure, wellness, and luxury.
After earning a Finance degree from Babson College and beginning her career on Wall Street, Kristen followed her entrepreneurial passion for luxury travel. In 2009, she and her husband, Juan, founded Elli Travel Group in a storefront in Larchmont, New York and Virtuoso member agency. Supported by the Westchester County community, the agency has grown into one of the country's top-producing luxury travel agencies, with more than 25 travel advisors across six states.
Kristen is recognized throughout the luxury travel industry for her expertise and trusted relationships with the world's leading hotel brands. She currently serves on the Park Hyatt Americas Strategic Partner Council and the Casa de Campo Advisory Board, and has previously participated on Belmond's Maroma Opening Committee, Virtuoso's Preview Advisory Board for Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, and Airelles Venezia. These partnerships provide her clients with exclusive insights, VIP recognition, and elevated experiences at many of the world's finest luxury hotels and resorts.
As a certified Backroads Specialist, Kristen is passionate about helping travelers discover the world's best active vacations, including luxury cycling tours, walking and hiking adventures, family active travel, and wellness-focused journeys. Whether clients are exploring the vineyards of Tuscany by bike, hiking through the Alps, or enjoying a multi-generational adventure, she helps match each traveler with the ideal Backroads itinerary while managing every detail before, during, and after the trip.
Kristen is also a trusted advisor for luxury wellness travel, designing restorative escapes that combine exceptional hospitality with transformative health experiences. She has personally experienced many of the world's premier wellness resorts, including Miraval, Canyon Ranch, Palazzo Fiuggi, The Ranch, Euphoria Retreat and other leading destinations specializing in longevity, fitness, mindfulness, nutrition, and holistic wellness. Her firsthand knowledge allows clients to choose the wellness retreat that best aligns with their personal goals, whether they are seeking relaxation, weight management, stress reduction, performance optimization, or a complete reset.
Known for her personalized approach and deep destination expertise, Kristen creates tailor-made itineraries featuring luxury hotels, private guides, exclusive experiences, and seamless logistics. From European active travel and luxury safaris to wellness retreats and once-in-a-lifetime celebrations, she helps clients travel with confidence while enjoying the benefits of her longstanding industry relationships and insider knowledge.
Kristen and Elli Travel have been featured in Condé Nast Traveler, Forbes.com, Travel Weekly, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Westchester Magazine, as well as local TV and radio.
