Last updated: 9:00 AM ET, Tue October 28, 2025
Gabrielle Estel. (Photo Credit: Gabrielle Estel)
Bio
Gabrielle Estel started her travel journey as a full-time travel advisor with Destinations Unlimited three years ago. Her first full year in the industry, she booked $950,000. Last year, she booked over $1.2 million, and this year is on track to book $1.5 million. Before becoming an advisor, she invested four years living abroad in Taiwan and Egypt in order to travel to lesser-known places.
As an advisor, she continues to invest in her knowledge and hone her luxury travel niche by completing TLN's Leisure Certificate, TTI's Luxury Specialists Certificate, and is near completion of TLN's Luxury Certificate. Estel is also a mentor to other advisors in her agency and has extensively mentored two colleagues new to the business.
This year, she served as a guide at the Future Leaders in Travel conference, where she helped new attendees navigate the conference and helped with educational events such as workshops, focus groups, presentations, and more.
What sets her apart as a travel advisor is the way she blends deep destination expertise with a highly personal approach to luxury travel—especially across Asia, where she's built rich, on-the-ground knowledge. She works to understand her clients as people, not just travelers—their interests, preferences, and even the things they don’t say outright. That insight allows Estel to craft highly customized itineraries with thoughtful, often unexpected touches: a private after-hours temple visit, a tucked-away tea ceremony, or a modern art gallery hidden in an alleyway.
Each trip becomes a reflection of who they are, layered with cultural depth, sensory detail, and seamless execution—all with the elevated service they expect from a luxury experience. This intentional, personalized approach has led to her business growing steadily through word of mouth, as clients return and refer others who are looking for something more meaningful than just a vacation.
Estel is 30 years old.
"Being named to the TravelPulse 40 Under 40 days before my third anniversary of being in the travel business marks a shift in my career—from lifelong mentee to both mentee and mentor," said Estel. "I’m grateful to the experienced advisors who shaped my understanding of our dynamic industry. Now, I answer questions from newer advisors navigating challenges I once faced."
"I remain committed to pushing myself further, embracing new challenges, expanding my expertise, and continuously raising the bar for the experiences I deliver."
Industry References
"Gabrielle Estel has worked at our agency for the past three years. She began her employment assisting our team of leisure advisors and quickly stood out as an excellent candidate to become a leader on the sales team," said Aimee Langlas, Destinations Unlimited. "Within the first year of serving as a full-time leisure travel advisor, Gabrielle’s sales skyrocketed, and by her second year, they exceeded $1 million. This early success can be attributed to several factors. Gabrielle has a solid work ethic and is a committed achiever. She does whatever is needed to get the job done."
"Gabrielle’s welcoming and professional manner instantly puts clients at ease and exudes confidence," added Langlas. "She is exceptional at truly listening to her clients, while imparting her knowledge to skillfully guide trip inception. Her enthusiasm for travel comes naturally, as does her ability to educate clients on destination highlights."
"Gabrielle is focused on continual learning and is dedicated to mastering her craft. She is diligent in her processes and pays meticulous attention to detail. Gabrielle consistently conducts extensive research to further her knowledge of global destinations and the many facets of the travel industry. Her efforts have significantly contributed to our agency and to her value as a trusted travel advisor," said Langlas.
"Gabrielle is a top professional under 40. You will find her to be a steadfast ambassador for her clients and the world they love to travel in."
"I had the pleasure of meeting Gabrielle last year at the Northstar Travel Media’s Future Leaders in Travel and have consistently been impressed by her dedication to excellence as an advisor and unwavering commitment to professional growth," added Natalia Yepes, Certified Travel Associate, Adventuresque Travel Boutique.
"I find it admirable that Gabrielle has built her travel business almost exclusively through referrals—a true testament to her personalized approach and the deep relationships she fosters with clients. She goes above and beyond in the client journey, including thoughtful post-travel follow-up calls and sending personalized thank-you notes to commemorate her travel advisor anniversary. These touches are not only memorable, but they’ve also played a key role in sustaining and growing a loyal client base," added Yepes.
"As a leader, Gabrielle is someone I turn to for guidance. Ever since last year, she's given me advice and insight on several travel industry topics. She has taken an active role in shaping the future of our industry, notably through her participation in the Future Leaders in Travel this year as a guide," said Yepes. "Within her own agency, she has mentored three colleagues—each of whom found their unique path thanks to her support. One is now a successful travel advisor, another has become their in-house marketing expert, and the third continues to thrive in operations—all thanks to her thoughtful coaching and encouragement."
"Her pursuit of continuing education further demonstrates her passion for luxury travel," she added. "She recently earned The Travel Institute’s Luxury Specialist Certification and is currently completing the Travel Leaders Network Luxury Certification. She’s also investing in firsthand experiences to better serve clients, particularly by exploring the growing luxury travel market in Asia—ensuring that she offers both insight and authenticity when planning high-end itineraries."
"In short, Gabrielle is a great combination of professionalism, empathy, and drive," concluded Yepes. "She elevates not only her client experiences, but the standards of our industry. I am glad to recommend her and am confident she will continue to make meaningful contributions to the travel industry for years to come."
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