ourisman travel virtuoso

David Ourisman

When you work with Ourisman Travel to plan your next trip, you will have an entire team working to help you reach your travel aspirations. We offer collaborative itinerary design services for unique itineraries as well as no-hassle hotel booking services.

Our team members are passionate about luxury hotels with exceptional design and hospitality, hands-on adventure travel like trekking tours and specialty safaris, behind-the-scenes culinary and tasting experiences, swoon-worthy honeymoons, and epic voyages at sea.

We are also certified Wanderlist specialists and we can help you achieve all of your travel dreams through a well-organized plan. Wanderlist is the travel industry's first travel portfolio to turn travel dreams into plans.

Destination Specialties

• New Zealand
• French Polynesia
• United States - All
• Puerto Rico
• Turks And Caicos Islands
• Beach & Sun
• Family Travel

99% Recommended (118 Reviews)

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David Ourisman

Ourisman Travel Asheville, North Carolina

Specialties

Adventure & safari, ocean cruise, sun & sand, travel certifications.

Certified Tahiti Tiare Agent

David Ourisman's Team

Allie Weachter

Travel Coordinator

Angela Valenti

Courtney Sanak

Meg Langrehr

David's testimonials, i wanted to write to thank you so much for your assistance in booking our hawaii vacation. it was truly the trip of a lifetime my daughter and i loved getting to stay in such special places while celebrating with my family. the staff at both hotels were incredibly kind and accommodating. we loved the welcome amenities in our rooms and the breakfast buffets were absolutely amazing. i’m so grateful we worked with you and were able to receive such special benefits i will certainly recommend you to all of our friends, thanks for the short notice bookings in hong kong and bali. we had a lovely upgrade to a junior suite at the intercontinental hong kong which really shows the benefits of the virtuoso booking. we loved the jimbaran puri bali your site inspection was spot on. it is a beautiful resort with lovely rooms (the pool villa was fantastic) and a low key relaxed vibe. very good value for the money; we hope to return as soon as possible..

Ciaran and Andrea

I just wanted to drop a quick note of kudos for making our arrangements for our long weekend at the Four Seasons Punta Mita. The trip was really enjoyable. The property was magnificent and we received an upgrade to a fabulous suite. We truly received “rock-star” treatment which exceeded the normally awesome service we expect at Four Seasons. My wife has been so impressed that she has been recommending your services to several colleagues and friends since our return. It is our sincere hope this leads to a little bit more business for you. As a side note, I’ll probably be reaching out to shortly to arrange a family holiday once we figure out what we want to do.

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Jessica Ourisman

Travel Advisor

Jessica is passionate about luxury travel, wine, and entrepreneurship.

Interests: Food & Wine, Safari, Ocean Cruising, Culture, History & Arts

Destinations: Mexico, Turks And Caicos Islands, Saint Lucia, United Kingdom, Austria, Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana, South Africa, Uruguay, Costa Rica, United States, especially Hawaii

Meet Jessica Ourisman

Jessica has been in the travel industry for over a decade and during that time she has honed her skills as both a luxury advisor and traveler. Passionate about the finer things in life, Jessica's standards for her personal travel are high and her standards for her clients are even higher. For Jessica, the planning process is as exhilarating as the trip itself, which is why thinking strategically with several years in mind highlights her skillset perfectly. Jessica's ability to connect with her clients on a personal level allows her to hone in on the true motivations behind their travel aspirations. Her mantra when designing custom itineraries is to always balance the head and the heart. This allows her to create a travel strategy that is not only beautiful and exciting, but also achievable. Soon after launching her career in travel, Jessica found herself in high demand and in need of an intern. She hired Iana and it quickly became clear that they had found something special in each other. After nearly a decade of collaboration in luxury travel, Jessica and Iana have developed a well balanced business partnership and personal friendship. Jessica loves traveling the globe with her husband Josh, extended family and friends. Her rottweiler, Bayliss, has also become quite the expert on dog-friendly hotels around the country. Not one to be rushed, Jessica believes that each destination is worthy of thorough exploration and treats each trip as an immersive experience. Passionate about wine and a beautiful meal, Jessica always does her homework before a trip and makes sure to include some incredible restaurants on her itineraries. Of course, she does leave some time for exploring and has discovered some truly incredible pubs, cafes and eateries on her adventures.

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Meet David Ourisman: A Minister Finds His Calling in Travel

After 15 years in the ministry and several more in academia, David Ourisman took a leap of faith and launched a successful travel agency. Ourisman, owner of Ourisman Travel in Berkeley, Calif., spoke with Travel Market Report about his unusual career path and the mentorship program that helped make the transition work. What was your background prior to becoming a travel agent? Ourisman: I was in the ministry from 1978 to 1992 and then was an adjunct professor for a few years at a theological seminary. I was bored in academia and had always loved traveling and helping friends with travel plans. My 55th birthday present to myself was to start a travel business. How did you get started?

Ourisman: At first I was with a big vanilla agency where I found myself hitting a plateau that I couldn’t move beyond. I decided to join a Virtuosos agency and discovered Brownell Travel. Then I found out Brownell was starting a mentorship program. I was a guinea pig in its first group. ( See Agency’s Mentoring Program for ICs Yields Sales Stars ) How did you benefit from Brownell’s mentorship program? Ourisman: What the mentorship does is accelerate your professional growth. You are put in touch with top experts. We had monthly conference calls and talked about the different kinds of travel products and how to sell them. It was a guided learning process. One of the interesting things that came out of it was my decision to be a luxury hotel specialist. Rebecca Willson, who runs Brownell’s mentorship program, told me that hotels are my strength. Part of mentoring is helping somebody see things about themselves that they might not recognize. Has your experience as a minister influenced your work as an agent? Ourisman: In both cases you are counseling people and helping them get more out of their lives. The ministry requires sometimes dealing in unhappy situations but, like travel, it does have its aspirational side. They both are service areas where relationships are important.   The big difference is that in the ministry you can’t fire clients. How is your agency structured? Ourisman: Ourisman Travel is an independent affiliate of Brownell, which serves as our host agency. I’m home-based in Berkeley, Calif., and there are three part-time travel counselors who work in my home office with me. Also with the agency is my daughter-in-law Jessica Ourisman. She specializes in safaris and destination weddings and works out of her home in Baltimore. Has being a hotel specialist worked out for you? Ourisman: Not many agents are specializing in hotels, so I’m in a niche that is rare. I’ve become a luxury hotel specialist, with 80% of my bookings with Virtuoso hotels. Specialization is the key to succeeding in today’s Internet-drive environment. My typical client is pretty Internet savvy, so they book their own air and know what they want. What I can get them are the Virtuoso partner amenities – the added value that a Brownell agency brings. Do you handle other types of travel besides hotels? Ourisman: One of my assistants is a cruise specialist, so I pass all that business her way. I like to stay with hotels. I’ve never been on a cruise and don’t feel comfortable handling them. It’s important to follow what you’re interested in. People can tell if you have expertise and it takes time to develop one.  I’ve been selling hotels for 17 years and I know what I’m talking about. What is your annual sales volume? Ourisman: We had over $5 million in sales during the last fiscal year and are seeing steady growth every year. What’s the key to your success? Ourisman: The mentorship program taught me marketing. We had to put together a marketing plan. This was back in 1996 when social media as we know it today did not exist. But I got active on Internet travel forums, which were an early form of social media. I built my business through this. I’ve been writing a blog for seven years and I have a professionally done website. I still contribute to travel forums and it’s amazing how people find you. It becomes a magnet. Do you travel a lot yourself? Ourisman: Absolutely. You tend to sell those regions that you know best. I just got back from a trip to Vienna, Berlin and Prague where we visited every Virtuoso hotel. I write trip reports and post them on my blog.

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ThirdNightFree.com

Thursday, june 13, 2019, regent cruise | $400 shipboard credit.

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Farmhouse inn | 3rd night free.

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• Daily Full breakfast for up to two in room guests (up to $50 daily breakfast credit)
• $100 USD Spa Services credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
• Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
• Complimentary Wi-Fi

Friday, June 7, 2019

St. regis hong kong (3rd night free).

• The St. Regis breakfast (semi-buffet) for 2 guests daily at Rùn on 2/F served from 0630hrs to 1030hrs
• Complimentary room upgrade subject to availability upon arrival to the next category
• Early check-in and late check-out on request subject to availability
• US$100 Hotel Credits for use in The Drawing Room, The St. Regis Bar, Lenvol, Rùn, in room dining, minibar, lanudry or spa (excluding purchasing of spa products and transportation)
• Butler service                                

Monday, April 8, 2019

$900 resort credit | dorado beach.

• Daily full breakfast, for up to two in room guests in Mi Casa by Jose Andres
• $150.00 Resort credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)

Monday, February 11, 2019

Farmhouse inn | 3rd night free, friday, february 8, 2019, hotel cafe royal | 3rd night free.

• Complimentary full English breakfast for two daily for duration of the stay 
• $100 USD equivalent hotel credit to be utilised during stay
• Late check-out, subject to availability
• Welcome arrival amenity
• For Grand Junior Suites and above: one way airport transfer included and complimentary minibar (soft drinks and snacks) 
• For Regent Suite and above: roundtrip airport transfers and complimentary minibar (soft drinks and snacks) 

Monday, January 7, 2019

Hotel de la ville, rome | 3rd night free.

• Sir Rocco's Knight's amenities
• Daily Continental Breakfast for Two
• € 85 Food & Beverage Credit
• Priority Upgrade upon arrival, subject to availability
• Complimentary High Speed Wi-Fi
• 15% off spa services

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Loch Lomond in fog and rain

Live from montreal, it's leonard cohen.

You should, by all means , watch Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen — a Journey, a Song  on Apple TV+. A biographical tribute to his life, the film portrays his genius, his struggles, and his music. I found it quite moving.

We arrived this afternoon in Montreal, and we are looking forward to a walking tour of the old city tomorrow morning. The streets around our hotel are lined with all sorts of interesting restaurants — so many places to eat, so little time! The photo above should give you a sense of the character of the neighborhood. Stay tuned for more from Montreal.

copyright (c) 2023 by Ourisman Travel LLC.  All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member.

downtown New York sights

Downtown Manhattan is distinctly different from uptown or midtown. During my previous stays in NYC, I've (mostly) stayed at hotels in midtown — the vicinity of 59th Street (Central Park South) — and the Upper East Side. These parts of New York feature world class museums (the Metropolitan Museum, the Guggenheim, the American Museum of Natural History), high end shopping on Madison and Fifth Avenue, and of course Central Park, one of the world's greatest urban parks.

Where to stay downtown?  We are enjoying our Oculus Suite at the Four Seasons (to which we were graciously upgraded) and are going to do a site inspection tomorrow afternoon at the new Ritz Carlton NoMad. And there are plenty of other choices including The Greenwich Hotel, an intimate downtown boutique property owned by famed actor (and new papa) Robert De Niro, another favorite of my clients.

Next trip to New York , consider staying downtown!

Fine Hotels & Resorts | worth $695 a year?

There may be good reasons to spend $695 a year  for an American Express Platinum Card. In fact, I have one myself. It gets me into Centurion and Delta airport lounges, provides a monthly Uber credit (that I use for Uber Eats), and pays my Sirius XM and CLEAR membership fees.

But what about booking hotels through FHR?  You definitely have better choices  than American Express when you want to book a luxury hotel. Here's why...

Looking for hotel advice?  Don't look to the American Express call center for expertise. They're not set up to know you personally, understand your preferences, or steer you to the perfect hotel for you . Say you're going to Paris. Do you want to stay on the Left Bank, the Right Bank, or don't know the difference? Do you want a traditional Parisian palace hotel or an elegant contemporary hotel? Do you prefer a large hotel with dining choices? Or a cute boutique hotel? I've been to Paris dozens of times. I've visited the hotels, seen their locations, experienced their lobbies and viewed their rooms. I've shared that knowledge with my Team. We can listen to your Parisian dreams and make recommendations for your perfect stay in Paris. The random AMEX agent isn't set up to do any of that!

Want to get upgraded? American Express can offer upgrades upon arrival subject to availability. Because of Virtuoso and our exclusive relationships with luxury hotel partners, we can get you upgraded at booking at eight different Parisian hotels! Because we are Four Seasons Preferred Partner, your booking is at the top of the upgrade list at the George V (or any Four Seasons in the world), ahead of FHR and Virtuoso bookings.

Want more than a continental breakfast?  American Express has a standard continental breakfast amenity ... but what if you want more than a croissant and a coffee? Would you like to order anything on the menu or enjoy the indulgent luxury of in-room dining? Many Virtuoso hotels offer daily complimentary Full Breakfasts. In fact, one of our hotel partners invites you to order anything you want on the menu (except alcohol and caviar), enjoy your breakfast in any venue (restaurant or in-room dining), and they even cover the tax and gratuity.

Want to be welcomed like a VIP?  Once an American Express agent makes your booking, her job is done. But we've only begun  to work our magic. We have invested many years getting to know hotel reps all around the world, and we personally reach out to our representatives every time we make a booking for you. We let them know you're coming, who's traveling with you, your special preferences, and your arrival time (if you've shared that information with us), and we personally ask for an upgrade.

Need a 4 p.m. late check-out?  While this is FHR's contracted amenity with each of their hotels, if you really need that late check-out, we will reach out to our representative and ask if they would extend it to a Virtuoso or Preferred Partner booking. If they can not, we can still make your FHR booking for you through Amex ... and follow through to personally VIP your stay.

Beverly Wilshire | beautiful new room product

Traveling to the us | easy covid testing.

I recently flew back to the US from Zurich . Before leaving for our trip, we ordered a two-test kit from e.med.com . I packed the two kits in my suitcase and downloaded the NAVICA app to our iPhones. When we were within 72 hours of our return home, we were tested from the convenience of our hotel room at Park Hyatt Zurich.

Easy and convenient , there was no need to locate an approved pharmacy that could perform the test, and the cost was significantly lower than having our hotel make the arrangements. Here's how it worked:

(1) While still in the US, we ordered a two-test kit and installed the NAVICA app on our phones. I set up our Navica accounts with usernames and passwords for Claire and me.

(2) The package made it clear: do NOT open the test kit until you're online with your certified emed guide.

(3) When we were ready to do the test, I sat in front of my MacBook. All you need is a computer, iPad, or phone with working camera and internet connection.

(4) I surfed to emed.com and logged in to begin the test .

(5) Once our certified guide came online (it was only a couple of minutes), they gave us clear step-by-step instructions. We were asked to place the unopened test kit on a flat surface in view of the video camera (to verify the integrity of the unopened kit). Then holding the QR code on the box up to the camera, the guide scanned it, then watched as we opened the box, removed the testing swab from its packaging, swirled it inside each nostril, inserted it in the test kit, put a few drops of the provided reagent onto the kit, and finally left everything in place for 15 minutes. Everything was done in view of the camera.

(6) After the 15 minute wait, another guide came online to examine the test result. It was posted to the NAVICA app in about 10 minutes, and we also received an email with the certified test results. We uploaded our negative tests to the travel ready section of our United app. They were approved, and we were all set to fly home

The entire process took less than 30 minutes per passenger. It could not have been easier! 

copyright (c) 2021 by Ourisman Travel LLC.  All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member.

is river cruising for you?

We've just returned from a river cruise  on the Rhine and Moselle rivers. This being the first European river cruise we've ever taken, Claire and I have been reflecting on the experience. Here are my takeaways.

1. Why we chose Tauck, not Viking ... Everyone knows about Viking river cruises as they advertise extensively. If you watched Downton Abbey, you've seen their television commercials and marveled at the shots from the air of cruise boats rounding scenic river curves beneath picturesque castles. Viking offers a fine product, but I feel Tauck's is better. Two reasons:

a) larger cabins and fewer passengers — Riverboats are all the same size (135m long), but Tauck has larger rooms and the fewest passengers onboard of any river cruise company (130 on Tauck vs. 190 on Viking). The standard double Tauck cabin is 225 square feet while Viking's standard stateroom is just 160 sq ft. The extra living space is a definite plus.

b) truly all-inclusive — Virtually everything is included in Tauck's fare: three full meals a day (and great food, btw); all your cocktails, wine, and beer any time of day; every available shore excursion; and all gratuities. The only things you'll ever pay for are laundry services, items purchased from the gift shop, and spa treatments (and the spa receipt reminded us that the gratuity had already been taken care of). Viking, by comparison, does not include gratuities. You'll pay for cocktails ... and for wine and beer not consumed at lunch or dinner. You'll also have to pay for tours other than the one included choice in each port.

2. What's a Tauck river cruise like?  River cruises combine the best of land tours and ocean cruises. 

a) Like an ocean cruise , the best thing is packing and unpacking just once. Once settled into our amazingly well designed cabin, we put our hanging clothes in the closet, our folded clothes in drawers, our toiletries in the bathroom, and our empty suitcases under the bed, and we were all set for the next 15 days and 14 nights. We had breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Compass Rose (the main dining room) and could get snacks day and night from the bar or the smaller lounge at the front of the boat. As previously mentioned, all beverages are complimentary — even cocktails. Wines for dinner were well curated, and every evening the maitre d' would discuss that evening's wine selections.

b) Like a land tour , you'll never have to worry about logistics. There were multiple options for land tours every day in port, and all options were included. Some guests had even requested a special tour to some World War 2 sites, and Tauck arranged those tours on a complimentary basis. Another Tauck bonus: you won't be crowded onto a bus filled to capacity. There were just 48 passengers on board, and though we all could have fit into a single bus,  at least two busses  were always provided to accommodate us.

3. What did I learn about river cruising?  

a)  You don't have to go with the program  or stick with the group. There may be days when you'll want to take Tauck's bus into town but, instead of joining the walking tour, pursue your independent interests. If there is a notable art or historical museum, go there and spend as much time as you'd like. If there's a famous cathedral or picturesque church, visit it on your own. Especially if you're in town on a Sunday, find out in advance the hours that you can visit as a tourist or attend mass. Bottom line: you can follow your own travel dreams, even on a river cruise .

b) T ake advantage of opportunities for bike rides.  Tauck provides e-bikes for its guests, so I signed up for a 20 mile ride along the Moselle River. It was a beautiful day, and we rode on a paved lane reserved just for bikes and pedestrians. Stopping along the way, our guide told us stories about the castles perched high above the river (see the photo above) . Tauck also treated us to a coffee and pastry stop in the middle of the ride ... and some wine tasting at the end while we waited for the boat to catch up to us.

c) Choose a river cruise with an appropriate activity level to accommodate your needs. Consult with your travel advisor to find the right cruise for you. Are you fit? Do you enjoy strenuous activity? If so, you won't be satisfied with cruises that offer "low" activity excursions. Conversely, "mellow yellows" will be unhappy if the choices involve a lot of walking and changes of elevation.

d) Spend several pre-nights in your destination before boarding the cruise . This will give you a chance to adjust to the new time zone and experience more of the first city on your itinerary. It also eliminates the worry of missing your cruise departure if your flight is late.

Happy river cruising!