Culture Discovery Vacations Welcomes Marta Marques as CSO Through Strategic Merger
TAMPA, FL - January 05, 2025 - Culture Discovery Vacations, the luxury cultural immersion travel company, today announced a strategic merger with Wild Douro, its long-standing ground operations partner in Portugal. Through this merger, Wild Douro has been renamed Culture Discovery Destinations and founder Marta Marques joins Culture Discovery Vacations as Chief Strategy Officer and fourth principal shareholder alongside Michael Kovnick, Paola Kovnick, and Daniele Pintaudi.
The merger formalizes a partnership that has operated seamlessly for years, with Wild Douro serving as Culture Discovery Vacations' exclusive ground operator for Portugal programs. Marques, who founded Wild Douro in 2018 as a specialized Destination Management Company (DMC), brings extensive B2B tourism expertise and deep market knowledge of Portugal and Spain to the expanded organization.
"Marta has truly become family over the years we've worked together," said Michael Kovnick, CEO of Culture Discovery Vacations. "Her commitment to authentic cultural experiences and her innovative approach to destination management perfectly align with our values. This merger makes official what has been our operational reality - we function as one company dedicated to creating transformative travel experiences."
Proven Tourism Expertise
Marques brings significant credentials to her new role as CSO. A graduate of the prestigious Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo do Porto (Hotel and Tourism School of Porto), she has been nominated multiple times for wine guide recognition and has established Wild Douro as a leading DMC specializing in innovative, customized experiences throughout Portugal and Spain.
Under her leadership, Wild Douro developed expertise in crafting unique programs for international tour operators and travel companies, focusing on lesser-known destinations and authentic cultural connections. The company's philosophy of providing "quality time in Portugal" and creating memorable experiences has made it a trusted partner for operators worldwide.
"Joining Culture Discovery Vacations as CSO represents the natural evolution of our partnership," said Marques. "We've been working as an integrated team for years, hosting Culture Discovery guests and creating the authentic Portuguese experiences that define both of our companies. Now we can expand that vision across all our destinations."
Enhanced Operational Capabilities
The merger strengthens Culture Discovery Vacations' direct operator model across all destinations. Culture Discovery Destinations will continue managing Portugal operations while expanding strategic partnerships in Spain, complementing the company's existing offices in Italy, Portugal, and Spain.
As Chief Strategy Officer, Marques will oversee strategic development initiatives across all destinations, focusing on B2B partnerships, destination innovation, and the expansion of authentic cultural programming. Her experience in destination management and deep knowledge of Iberian markets will support Culture Discovery Vacations' continued growth while maintaining its commitment to small-group, family-centered experiences.
"Marta's B2B expertise opens new possibilities for strategic partnerships and market expansion," noted Daniele Pintaudi, COO. "Her understanding of destination management and operator relationships will be invaluable as we continue growing our direct operator capabilities."
Commitment to Authentic Experiences
Culture Discovery Destinations will continue providing the personalized, culturally immersive Portuguese experiences that have distinguished Wild Douro in the competitive tourism market. The company's focus on connecting travelers with local families, traditional experiences, and hidden destinations aligns perfectly with Culture Discovery Vacations' mission of creating authentic cultural exchange.
The merged organization will maintain its commitment to small-group experiences across Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Croatia, with enhanced capabilities for cross-destination programming and innovative cultural immersion opportunities.
About Culture Discovery Vacations
Founded in 2006 by Michael Kovnick, Culture Discovery Vacations creates authentic cultural immersion experiences across six countries. Headquartered in Tampa, FL, with offices in Italy, Portugal, and Spain, the company operates as a direct provider with proprietary infrastructure in all tour destinations. Culture Discovery Vacations specializes in small-group luxury experiences featuring hands-on cooking classes in family homes, exclusive community access, and genuine cultural exchange. The company holds TripAdvisor Hall of Fame recognition and now operates Culture Discovery Destinations as its sister company focused on Portugal and Spain markets.