Meet Karen Shiers | Co-founder, Parea Travel

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karen Shiers and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karen, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I grew up in Connecticut in a multicultural, interfaith home – my mother is a first generation Jewish woman from Turkey, and my father comes from a Roman Catholic family in New York. From a young age, I was immersed in diverse traditions: my mom spoke French, Turkish, and English, and I have vivid memories of her making her signature baklava or taking me to Istanbul to visit my grandparents, aunt and cousins in the summer. My dad, on the other hand, instilled in me a love for the energy of New York City – he’d often take me into Manhattan to explore, eat, and soak in the city’s vibrancy.

These early influences shaped my passion for travel and hospitality – I’ve always been drawn to the feeling a place can evoke and the way meaningful moments are created through thoughtful experiences. Years later, I met my husband – now my business partner and co-founder of Parea Travel – while on a trip to Israel. We spent three years in a long distance relationship, meeting in cities around the world and building our connection through shared discovery. His love of exploration mirrored my own, and together we envisioned a way to bring that same sense of wonder and connection to others.

Parea Travel was born from that vision – to craft extraordinary journeys and meaningful experiences that connect people to the world and to each other.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Parea Travel was born from a deep love of travel and a desire to create unforgettable experiences that go far beyond the expected. We saw a gap in the market – there were incredible luxury travel advisors, and there were high-end event planners, but rarely both under one roof. We built Parea to bridge that gap: a boutique agency that combines ultra-luxury travel planning with immersive, high-concept event design.

One of the things that truly sets us apart is our focus on new and emerging frontiers in hospitality – particularly the rise of experiential travel on hotel superyachts, private trains, exclusive islands, and private aviation. We’ve developed deep expertise in this space through our work with brands like The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Four Seasons Yachts, Aman at Sea, and Orient Express Yachts, making it feel approachable for our clients to access these extraordinary settings – whether for a personal getaway or global brand activation.

It definitely hasn’t been easy. We launched with bold ideas and uncompromising standards, and we had to earn our place in a highly competitive space. But our background in luxury hospitality – and deep experience managing complex logistics – gave us the foundation to deliver high-touch experiences with precision and care. Combined with trusted relationships and a strong creative vision, it’s what has allowed us to grow both quickly and intentionally.

What I’m most proud of is how personal our work feels – for both our clients and our team. We put real heart into every detail and always aim to create experiences that are not only beautifully executed, but also deeply memorable for the people living them.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh this is hard because every itinerary totally depends on which best friend is in town – but let’s go with my bestie from Connecticut who loves a luxury moment and all the best of the best in Miami, with a little local flair mixed in.

We’d kick off the weekend with sunset drinks at Klaw – because that rooftop is stunning…followed by dinner at Casadonna for the ultimate scene and be seen experience. Saturday is all about beach vibes, so we’d spend the day at Faena, grab a casual (but incredible!!) bite at Campo across the street, then head home to get ready for a fun night out. We’re not doing the dinner then club thing anymore (we’re not in our twenties anymore…!), so we’d hit up somewhere like Jaya at The Setai, MILA, Queen, or Delilah – where we can eat, drink, dance, and stay in one place all night.

Sunday starts with yoga at the Botanical Gardens, followed by a stroll through the Lincoln Road Farmers Market – because a little wellness + local color feels like the perfect start. After that, we’d ease into a chic brunch at Cecconi’s or Zuma, and then spend the afternoon out on the water. We’d wrap up the weekend with dinner and drinks at Seaspice – always a vibe, especially after a day on the yacht.

During the week, it’s more of a work/play balance. We’d post up at the 1 Hotel lobby or Soho House for a cozy spot to chill or get some work done. Lunches would be healthy – Pura Vida or SunLife Organics – and dinners would be a mix of classics and hidden gems. Carbone or Smith & Wollensky for that classic Miami feel on the Beach, or Mamo and Claudie in Brickell. And of course I’d make sure we hit some of my low key favorites – La Natural for amazing pizza, Tam Tam for something a little funky, and Lung Yai Thai, which is hands down the best Thai food in the city.

And because it’s Miami – during the week, we’d spend time with some of my favorite people in the hospitality world, getting sneak peeks at their hotels, upcoming projects, and the next big things on the horizon in luxury travel.

What a perfect week in Miami! Great food, people, sunshine, long laughs, and just the right amount of adventure!!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, I have to thank my parents – for their unconditional love, support, and encouragement to follow my dreams. They gave me a deep appreciation for culture and experience from a young age through family trips and meaningful exposure to the world.

I’m also incredibly grateful to the many leaders and mentors who have shaped my career. It would be impossible to name them all – so many people make an impact without even realizing it, and that’s something I always carry with me in my own role as a leader.

A few who stand out: Dominique Sidley, a strong, ambitious sales leader who guided me during my time at Merlin Entertainments. She showed me how to lead with confidence and never apologize for who you are. Peter Koch, a mentor who shared both marketing insight and genuine friendship, always leading with integrity. And Douglas Prothero, who brought me into the cruise world as part of the founding team at The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. He took a chance on me and introduced me to a new world of hospitality that forever influenced my path.

Website: https://www.pareatravel.com/

Instagram: @travelwithparea

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pareatravel/

Image Credits
Scott Clark (photo 4)
Adrian Nina (cover photo, and photos 1, 2, 3, and 8)