About Us

IMAGINE A DIFFERENT WAY TO DISCOVER, CELEBRATE & PLAN LUXURY TRAVEL

Lisbon, Portugal

Departure Lounge makes the travel planning process enjoyable and rewarding.  As a global luxury travel agency with travel advisors in North America and Europe, we have a team of planning specialists to assist you with any destination or type of travel that interests you.  As a member of the prestigious Virtuoso international travel network, Departure Lounge has access to amazing complimentary upgrades and perks for its travel clients.

Let us know the destination or type of trip you want to plan, and we’ll select the perfect advisor to work with you.  We have more than 200 specialists who are among the best in the business.

For the same price or lower that you would have paid directly, Departure Lounge can often reserve a trip for you that includes some special perks, upgrades and/or amenities, accessed through the agency’s Virtuoso membership or its status with the preferred agency programs of the top luxury travel brands.  By working with a Departure Lounge travel advisor, you’ll also have someone to watch out for you before, during and after your trip.

We love creating amazing vacations, and we have the best travel provider partners worldwide.  We look forward to collaborating with you to make your next journey outstanding.

Meet Our Founder

Keith Waldon
Keith WaldonFounder
A native Texan, Keith Waldon began his career in luxury travel while still in college in Dallas as an intern for Rosewood Hotels, where he continued his career as a marketing manager after graduating from Southern Methodist University. Keith later spent 16 years as a senior executive for the international luxury travel network Virtuoso, where creating the Virtuoso brand and elevating the awareness of travel advisors were among his accomplishments.

With 27 years in the luxury travel industry, Keith launched Departure Lounge in 2013, first as a specialty retail storefront travel agency. Since then, the agency has organically grown into an international luxury host travel agency with more than 200 travel advisors reaching $200 million in annual sales in 2023.

Keith was voted Most Innovative Travel Advisor by the Virtuoso network in 2019. He is honored to be featured on Travel+Leisure Magazine’s A-List of travel experts as a family travel specialist, and he also serves on the magazine’s Advisory Board. He also serves on advisory boards for Marriott luxury brands, Hilton luxury brands, IHG luxury brands, Corinthia Hotels, Lindblad Expeditions, Truevail and the British Virgin Islands.

Keith's home bases are Texas and Tuscany when wanderlust has not taken him elsewhere.

Departure Lounge Is A Proud Member Of Virtuoso

virtuoso logo

What Is Virtuoso?
And Why Is It Important To You?

Virtuoso is a global network of the best travel advisors and travel providers all focused on providing you with the best travel experiences.

BEST OF THE BEST

Virtuoso is a by-invitation membership.  To be invited, you have to be at the top of your game and a proven seller or provider of luxury travel.

BUYING POWER

The Virtuoso network produces more than $29 billion in travel sales annually. That's buying power in your favor for upgrades, perks and amenities.

TRUE RELATIONSHIPS

Departure Lounge travel advisors meet face-to-face annually with Virtuoso preferred travel providers.  When we say we know them, we know them.