THE INNOVATORS, EPISODE 2: WOMEN REDEFINING TRAVEL, HOSPITALITY, & LIFESTYLE

Malcolm Carfrae, Founder and Principal, Carfrae Consulting, was born in Sydney, Australia and educated at both the University of Sydney and the University of California at Berkeley, where he achieved his Master’s Degree in History. Carfrae began his career in communications at Bryan Morel Public Relations in London, where he oversaw multiple fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands.

In 2003 Carfrae relocated to New York City as Vice President of Public Relations at Calvin Klein, Inc. In 2008, he was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, overseeing all communications for all CKI brands globally including the oversight of Public Relations, Corporate Communications, Special Events and Celebrity Relations. In 2014, Carfrae joined Ralph Lauren as Global Head of Communications, Public Relations and Media. In this role, he was tasked with oversight of Corporate Communications, Public Relations, Public Affairs, Philanthropy, Special Events, Celebrity Services, Social Media, Employee Communications and Media Buying for all brands globally including Ralph Lauren Collection, Polo Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Home, Denim & Supply, Lauren and Chaps.

Carfrae left Ralph Lauren in May 2016 to establish Carfrae Consulting, a global branding and strategic communications consulting firm based in New York. Drawing on his expertise in worldwide communications, media, marketing and brand building over the past twenty years, Carfrae works with clients in the fashion, beauty, retail, luxury, shelter, hospitality and travel sectors to create bespoke strategies to achieve global recognition and success. His experience demonstrates a proven track record of building and executing creative, innovative and customized 360 degree solutions across a wide variety of categories and international markets.

Carfrae is the co-founder of the Australian Fashion Foundation; a US based nonprofit organization which supports emerging fashion talent in gaining international experience and mentorships. Carfrae is a mentor for the Incubator Program of the Council of Fashion Designers of America and is on the Board of the Australian Fashion Chamber.

Photo: BFA

Deborah Calmeyer is the founder and CEO of ROAR AFRICA, the ultra-luxury African travel company she founded in 2005 to redefine how the world’s most discerning travellers experience the continent. Raised in Zimbabwe and shaped by a lifetime in Africa’s wild places, Calmeyer brings to travel something that cannot be manufactured: lived knowledge, instinctive judgment and relationships built over decades. Her work is rooted in the belief that true luxury is not display, but discernment — the unseen intelligence, care and precision that allow a journey to unfold with absolute ease.

Under her leadership, ROAR AFRICA has become the authority in privately designed African travel, known for extraordinary access, exacting execution and a deeply personal understanding of place. Calmeyer’s philosophy is expressed most powerfully in The Greatest Safari on Earth, ROAR AFRICA’s privately designed, continent-spanning journey aboard the Emirates Executive Private Jet — the first safari of its kind.

Beyond travel, Calmeyer is committed to advancing African women in tourism and conservation through ROAR AFRICA’s guiding belief: “If African women rise, wildlife will thrive.” Her annual Women’s Empowerment Retreat brings together women from across the continent to share mentorship, knowledge and opportunity, reinforcing her conviction that conservation, community and female empowerment are inseparable.

Calmeyer has been recognised by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Robb Report and Condé Nast’s 30 Most Powerful Women in Travel, and was named one of South Africa’s Top 25 Entrepreneurs. She has spoken internationally on wildlife trafficking, tourism and emerging economies, and has been featured in Oprah Daily and CNN’s Quest Means Business.

At the heart of her work is a simple conviction: Africa should not be consumed as a  sdestination, but encountered with intelligence, humility and awe.

roarafrica.com

Photo courtesy of ROAR AFRICA.

Jayma Cardoso is a Brazilian-born entrepreneur, hospitality visionary, and creative director known for creating some of the most influential lifestyle destinations of the past two decades. After moving to New York at age 17, she built her career from the ground up, eventually co-founding the iconic nightlife venue Cain and becoming a partner in several celebrated hospitality concepts. In 2008, she founded The Surf Lodge in Montauk, transforming a modest motel into a globally recognized destination for music, art, wellness, and culture. She later expanded her vision with The Snow Lodge in Aspen. Widely recognized for anticipating cultural trends and creating immersive experiences, Jayma has become one of hospitality’s most influential innovators, bringing together artists, entrepreneurs, and tastemakers from around the world.

Photo: Ben Watts

Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos is the co-founder, President, and COO of Flag Luxury Group, a real estate development firm specializing in luxury hotels and residences, as well as land-based entertainment and retail. She oversees site selection, finance, acquisitions, branding, design, construction, and asset management.

Her portfolio includes the 250-key Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad (named a “Best Hotel in New York” by Condé Nast Traveler), ICON Park (ranked among the “Best Things To Do in Orlando” by U.S. News), and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Residences, South Beach–“beach houses in the sky” redefining Miami luxury.

Before Flag Luxury, Dayssi worked as a real estate analyst and broker in New York. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, where she has served on the Dean’s Board and as a guest lecturer, and a Master’s in Real Estate Development and Finance from NYU. She is also a member of the President’s Council of Cornell Women and previously served on the Trustee Council of the University. Dayssi is also a member of the Hospitality and Real Estate Advisory Board for the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University.

Beyond business, Dayssi co-founded Women’s Power Series, founded The Friends of New Yorkers for Children, and serves on the board of Save Venice. Her honors include, but not limited to, the CRE Women in Real Estate and Hospitality Design’s Platinum Circle.

Sarah Wetenhall is the force behind two of America’s most iconic resort destinations: The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach and The Hedges Inn in East Hampton. As Owner and CEO of both properties, she has transformed each into a design- and community-driven landmark—a celebration of style, story, and sense of place.

A graduate of Vanderbilt University and a Midwest native, Wetenhall lived in more than six cities during her first twenty years, fostering a lifelong love of travel and storytelling. She lives in New York City and splits her time between Palm Beach and Sag Harbor, drawing inspiration from the communities she calls home. Those experiences have shaped her distinctive approach to hospitality—one that goes beyond accommodation to create vibrant, immersive experiences rooted in connection, culture, and community. 

thehedgeseasthampton.com

thecolonypalmbeach.com

Photo: Greg Kessler