Liana has been planning itineraries and traveling the world for as long as she can remember. What started as an unlikely obsession with luxury hotels when she was just a teenager, grew into a true passion for the travel industry that has continued in earnest throughout her entire personal and professional life. Liana completed a master’s degree in hospitality management from Cornell University, and has had a 10 year career working in luxury hotels in New York City, most recently with Rosewood Hotel Group and Four Seasons. Liana decided in 2018 to make the leap and begin booking travel full time in order to put her lifelong knowledge and passion for travel to work for her clients. Liana has visited over 40 countries and continues to discover new destinations every year. When she is not traveling, researching, or planning itineraries, Liana loves spending time at home in her Brooklyn apartment with her husband and Australian Shepherd puppy. She is an avid reader, an animal lover, a perpetual student of art, history and architecture, and an advocate for small, sustainable farming practices, such as those practiced by her family’s farm in the Hudson Valley.
Liana Kraushaar Merriman
Swoon Travel
Favorite Memory
Celebrating St. Martin’s Day at Sao Lourenco do Barrocal with my cousin by eating roasted chestnuts and drinking homemade wine around the fire with the staff and fellow guests. It was raining and cold and the warm chestnuts, hot fire, and delicious wine was so cozy and comforting! Our whole experience at Barrocal felt like visiting our extended Portuguese family’s fabulous farm.
Insider Tip
At every Querido property that I’ve visited, one of the highlights has always been the way the staff and management truly treats you like family. To best appreciate each Querido property, I suggest getting to know as many team members as possible during your visit! They will take amazing care of you, you’ll leave feeling like you made great new friends in a new country and you’ll want to plan a return visit ASAP!
Next Dream Trip?
Borgo Egnazia! Dying to get myself to Puglia to experience this part of Italy. Craving the delicious food & olive oil, the authentic masseria’s and trulli houses, the sandy beaches, and the friendly people. I lived in Italy for 6 months in 2007 but I never made it to “the Boot”.
Cannot travel without...
A great paperback novel.
- Beach Destinations, History & Culture, Hotels