About CDV
Twenty years. Six countries. One commitment.
We are not a booking platform or a logistics company. We are a boutique operator that builds direct, lasting relationships - with communities, with families, and with every team we bring into the field.
Who We Are
Culture Discovery Vacations was founded in 2006 by Michael and Paola Kovnick out of a single conviction: that travel done right is one of the most transformative forces available to human beings. After falling in love with the rhythms of village life in Tuscany, they built a company around that conviction - one direct relationship at a time.
What makes CDV different is structural, not cosmetic. More than 70% of every dollar stays in the destination. We hold no commissions from hotels or suppliers. We cap group sizes to protect the integrity of the experience. Our teams live on the ground in every country we operate. These aren't marketing claims - they are architectural decisions that have compounded over twenty years.
In 2026, we formalized our Corporate Retreats & Incentives division to bring that same architecture to corporate travel. Your team deserves more than a resort itinerary. They deserve the kind of experience that changes how they work together - and a platform that can prove it.
Explore
Everything you want to know about CDV.
Our Story
From a kitchen in Tuscany to six countries.
How two people fell in love with village life and built something that lasted twenty years.
Read moreOur Philosophy
The 70% rule. Small by design. Anti-luxury.
The principles we will not compromise, and why they make every program better.
Read moreExistential Sustainability
The framework we wrote - and the test we pass.
A formal theory of sustainable travel that starts with a simple question: if we removed you, would the community be better or worse off?
Read moreAnti-Luxury
Why your best people choose village kitchens over five-star hotels.
Real luxury is contact, not insulation. Our 42% repeat rate and Hall of Fame status make the case.
Read moreAwards & Press
Don't take our word for it.
TripAdvisor Hall of Fame, Magellan Gold, CTIE - twenty years of independent validation.
Read moreThe Team
The people behind every program.
Michael Kovnick
Founder & CEO
Michael originated CDV's anti-extractive tourism model, the 'anti-luxury' philosophy, and authored the 2025 SSRN research documenting that the company retains 70%+ of guest spending in local economies. He co-founded CDV with Paola in 2006.
Paola Kovnick
Co-Founder & CFO
Paola is the financial architect behind CDV's two decades of debt-free, self-funded growth, and the steward of the family-centered operating ethos that shapes how the company works.
Daniele Pintaudi
COO
Daniele joined CDV in 2015 and became a partner in 2025. As Chief Operating Officer he ensures CDV's anti-extractive model is delivered with consistent, world-class quality across every destination.
Marta Marques
CSO
Marta joined as a partner in 2025 when her Portuguese DMC, Wild Douro, merged into CDV. As Chief Strategy Officer she leads the corporate retreats and incentives division from Porto, architecting CDV's B2B partnerships and market expansion.
Where We Work
Three offices. Six countries.
Tampa
Florida, USA
Global Headquarters & Corporate Retreats & Incentives Division
Tampa, FL - +1 (656) 333-6123 - [email protected]
Soriano nel Cimino
Italy
European Operations
European program design and on-the-ground coordination
Porto
Portugal
Iberian Operations
Portugal, Spain, and Iberian program operations
What people say after twenty years.
“It's not a tour company, it became a family.”- Joe D. · Naples, FL · Reviewed October 2025 · TripAdvisor
“A Culture Discovery Vacation is no ordinary tour experience.”- Gregory R. · Emerald Isle, NC · Reviewed November 2025 · TripAdvisor
“I would write this as one of our best vacations ever.”- Anna D. · Lasalle, ON · Reviewed October 2025 · TripAdvisor
Case Studies
The proof behind the relationships.
Programs we actually ran, named and on the record. This is what twenty years of direct relationships delivers.
50th anniversary leadership program
Globetrotter Travel Service AG
For their 50th anniversary, Globetrotter wanted a three-day experience for 33 of their leaders that they couldn't build in-house. We split the team into four groups, took away their phones, and handed them paper maps.
Read the case studySpecialized cultural journey, run three times back-to-back
North American group-travel specialist
A North American operator handed us the same premium heritage program three times, on overlapping dates across Portugal and Spain. Here is how it held.
Read the case studySix-day executive offsite in Tuscany
A technology company
A technology team came to Tuscany expecting a five-star offsite. They left as temporary locals.
Read the case studyAbout CDV - Common Questions
Ready to see what twenty years of direct relationships can do for your team?
Two ways to start.