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Co-Founder & Chief Research Officer, The Elegance of Travel LLC
Alberto Benitez is the Co-Founder and Chief Research Officer of The Elegance of Travel, a bespoke luxury travel design firm based in the Ballantyne area of Charlotte, North Carolina, serving an affluent and ultra-high-net-worth clientele who value privacy, precision, and truly exceptional experiences.
With a lifelong passion for travel and discovery, Alberto is known for his meticulous approach to destination research, relationship-driven access, and his ability to uncover what discerning travelers seek most: experiences that cannot be found online and cannot be replicated without the right connections. From private villas and yachts to rare cultural encounters and VIP access to the world’s most coveted events, his role is to ensure every journey is built on insider knowledge, strategic planning, and impeccable sourcing.
Alberto co-founded The Elegance of Travel with his wife and business partner, Shelley Benitez, Chief Detail Officer, combining his deep research expertise with her mastery of execution and personalization. Together, they have positioned their firm around a single promise: Where Every Journey Becomes a Signature Experience.
Serving the prestigious golf and country club communities of South Charlotte, Alberto works closely with successful entrepreneurs, executives, and multi-generational families who view travel not as a commodity, but as a meaningful investment in time, legacy, and life experiences. His affiliation with Departure Lounge allows him to further elevate his clients’ journeys through elite global partnerships, Virtuoso-level relationships, and access to the world’s most exclusive travel opportunities.
For Alberto, luxury is not defined by price point alone, but by thoughtfulness, access, and the confidence that every detail has been anticipated long before the journey begins.
Over the years, our own lives have been shaped by access to experiences that most travelers never see—and those moments are the foundation of The Elegance of Travel.
We’ve stood behind the velvet rope and beyond the public itinerary: private concerts and intimate encounters with world-class performers like the Gipsy Kings; VIP Disney experiences created for milestone celebrations where doors quietly open and crowds disappear; and stays in legendary properties such as the St. Regis Monarch Beach in Dana Point, where oceanfront privilege, impeccable service, and refined coastal elegance set the stage for evenings spent mingling with the stars of the hit television series Vegas—moments where glamour feels effortless and access is simply assumed.
We’ve experienced iconic resorts such as the Conrad Orlando and other five-star sanctuaries where the general guest sees luxury, but we experience access—private lounges, curated culinary moments, and behind-the-scenes privileges designed for those who value refinement and privacy.
We’ve sailed the world not as tourists, but as invited guests—discovering the profound difference between mass-market cruising and the rarefied world of yacht collections, ultra-luxury expedition ships, and boutique vessels where the captain knows your name, the sommelier curates your cellar, and destinations are reached that large ships simply cannot access.
We’ve shared tables with master chefs, including intimate rooftop cooking experiences in Italy with artisans like Urbano Brini, where ingredients are flown in, menus are handwritten, and every course tells a story. We’ve walked ancient cities after hours, explored cultural landmarks before the doors open to the public, and designed family journeys that become legacy memories—moments that are not found on Google, in brochures, or in mass itineraries.
These are not trips.
They are privileges.
They are relationships.
They are access.
And they are the standard by which we design every journey for our clients.
Because at The Elegance of Travel, we don’t plan vacations.
We curate the kind of exclusive, unrepeatable experiences we’ve been fortunate enough to live ourselves—so that your journey, too, becomes a Signature Experience.

