Mario Del Duca, Managing Director, NUBA

In an interview with Invest:, Mario Del Duca, managing director for luxury travel agency NUBA, discussed how the firm is leveraging Miami as a strategic gateway to expand its global footprint while redefining luxury travel through highly personalized, experience-led itineraries. “The convergence of global connectivity, evolving client expectations, and new travel formats is creating opportunities to redefine what luxury travel means,” Del Duca said.

Why was Miami chosen as a strategic hub for the Americas, and how does the city support the company’s global ambitions?
NUBA has been in business for over 30 years, but the United States has always been on its radar. With a U.S. family as majority shareholders, along with a strong presence in Latin America, particularly after key acquisitions in Mexico, expanding into the United States was a natural step toward becoming a truly global player.

Miami serves as a natural hub, connecting Latin America, Europe, and the United States. Over the past 18 months, the company has seen growing interest from high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, both locally and beyond. Establishing a presence in Miami has opened doors to new client relationships, as prospects recognize the company’s footprint in the United States and engage more readily.

The city also offers an attractive lifestyle for employees and clients alike. The company has built a team that includes both relocated professionals and local travel advisors, fostering a strong community of travel experts. Its office in Coconut Grove plays a central role in this strategy, serving not only as a workspace but also as a venue for client engagement and networking. With rotating art collections and curated events, the space provides a differentiated experience that reflects the company’s broader philosophy of combining travel, culture, and community.

How does NUBA’s bespoke travel model differentiate it from more traditional luxury travel offerings?
The company takes a highly curated, experience-led approach to designing travel. Every itinerary is tailor-made, with no two trips being the same. Understanding the client, their profile, and their preferences is fundamental — not only the individual traveler, but also anyone traveling with them, whether family or friends. This deep understanding allows the company to craft journeys that are truly aligned with each traveler’s preferences.

A key differentiator lies in its network of travel advisors, who possess extensive global knowledge and firsthand experience. These advisors go beyond recommending luxury hotels to uncover unique experiences, from hidden culinary gems to lesser-known cultural highlights.

While technology has made it easier than ever to book travel, building a meaningful and personalized journey remains complex. The value lies in relationships — connections that enable access to exclusive opportunities, such as private homes, curated art experiences, or bespoke dining events. These are experiences that cannot be easily replicated through online platforms, reinforcing the importance of human expertise in the luxury travel space.

How is the company leveraging unique and experiential travel to meet evolving client expectations?
Demand for unique, experience-driven travel continues to grow, particularly among high-net-worth travelers. The company has responded by strengthening its global network to ensure access to the right people and opportunities in key destinations.

In recent years, it has also developed its own proprietary experiences, built around several core pillars. Art is a significant focus, with clients increasingly seeking access to private collections, curators, and acquisition opportunities not available on the open market. Gastronomy is another major area, combining access to renowned chefs and restaurants with highly localized experiences, such as discovering authentic, family-run establishments that are not featured in traditional guides.

Wellness and sustainability are also shaping travel preferences. The company designs experiences that align with clients’ interest in healthy living, longevity, and mindful travel. Ultimately, these pillars are not mutually exclusive — clients often seek a blend of cultural, culinary, and wellness experiences within a single journey.

At the core of this approach is a deep understanding of each client. By learning about their past travel experiences, interests, and motivations, the company can design itineraries that evolve, ensuring each trip builds on the last.

Who are your target clients, and how are their needs evolving within the luxury travel market?
The company primarily serves highly experienced travelers who are already well-versed in global destinations. These clients are not necessarily looking to travel more frequently, but rather to travel more meaningfully and look for deeper immersion into local culture.

There has been a noticeable shift away from fast-paced itineraries that cover multiple cities or countries in a short period. Instead, clients are seeking deeper, more immersive experiences. They prefer spending extended time in a destination, exploring it in greater detail, and engaging with local culture in a more meaningful way.

This approach emphasizes authenticity and comfort. Clients want to feel connected to the places they visit, whether through local gastronomy, cultural experiences, or interactions with residents. Even in traditionally structured experiences, such as African safaris, there is a growing emphasis on cultural immersion — understanding local communities, their history, and their relationship with the environment.

Overall, the focus has shifted toward depth over breadth, with travelers prioritizing quality, authenticity, and personal enrichment.

How do you build and leverage your global network to deliver highly personalized travel experiences?
The company’s travel advisors are central to its model. They are typically well-traveled individuals with a strong passion for exploration and a deep understanding of global destinations. Through structured training and ongoing collaboration, the company ensures advisors are equipped to design exceptional journeys.

In addition, the company is part of a global network of leading travel agencies and luxury hospitality brands, providing access to exclusive relationships and opportunities worldwide. Combined with decades of experience, this network enables the company to respond to highly specific client requests with precision and creativity.

These relationships are built over time through consistent engagement and a strong presence in key markets. Whether arranging access to a hidden culinary experience or coordinating a complex itinerary, the company relies on its extensive network to deliver seamless and personalized results.

As technology continues to evolve, the importance of these relationships is expected to increase. While automation can streamline processes, it cannot replace the value of human insight, experience, and connection. The role of the travel advisor, therefore, becomes even more critical in delivering meaningful and differentiated experiences.

What key trends are shaping the future of luxury travel?
The industry is experiencing significant growth, with new hotels, destinations, and travel concepts emerging globally. Concerns around overtourism and market saturation are also prompting a shift toward less traditional destinations.

The company is actively guiding clients toward emerging locations that offer unique experiences without the challenges associated with heavily trafficked areas. Even in well-established destinations like Italy, there remain opportunities to explore lesser-known regions that provide a more authentic and less crowded experience.

Another notable trend is the resurgence of experiential modes of travel. Luxury train journeys, for example, are reintroducing elements of the early 20th-century “golden age” of travel, combining elegance and leisure with modern amenities. Similarly, the growth of luxury yachts and boutique cruise experiences reflects a broader desire for immersive and differentiated travel.

While air travel itself has seen limited transformation in terms of speed or comfort, the broader travel experience continues to evolve. Innovations in hospitality, transportation, and experiential design are reshaping how travelers engage with destinations.

Overall, it is an exciting time for the industry. The convergence of global connectivity, evolving client expectations, and new travel formats is creating opportunities to redefine what luxury travel means — with Miami serving as a key platform for continued growth and innovation.