Jessica Rizzolo
Jessica's passion for travel was ignited when she began traveling throughout Asia and Europe while performing as an NBA cheerleader. After a handful of transformative trips, she followed her heart and pursued a career in travel. Her adventures, near and far, have inspired a more holistic approach to her journeys and today she strives to build a quality of life from the inside out through practicing yoga (anywhere and everywhere) and studying to become an Ayurvedic Practitioner. As Absolute Travel’s in-house wellness expert, Jessica enjoys reconnecting with mind, body, and soul when she travels and encourages others to, too! Since 2007, Jessica has been a Sales Specialist and works primarily on Africa, Asia, & Wellness journeys. jrizzolo@absolutetravel.com

Katie Losey
Prior to joining Absolute Travel, Katie worked with Puppies Behind Bars, a non-profit that helps rehabilitate prison inmates through raising working dogs for the disabled and law-enforcement (which also brought two adorable dogs to her family!). While she cherished that experience, Katie wanted to combine her love of exploring the world with her career. She welcomes opportunities to immerse herself in travel-related philanthropic efforts - among her favorite past projects were working towards gorilla preservation through improved human health with Conservation Through Public Health in Uganda and helping to rehabilitate elephants at the Elephant Nature Foundation in northern Thailand. klosey@absolutetravel.com

Greg Chan
Born in Guyana, Greg Chan moved to the United States at the age of 11. He has always been passionate about international travel and especially loves any destination with sunny weather and a gorgeous beach. Among his favorite places to visit are the Caribbean, Spain and Mexico, and he is a diligent researcher of the nightlife wherever he goes! Greg started at Absolute Travel as an intern in 1999 and became a full-time employee in the Operations Department the following year; he is easily the most popular employee at the company. gchan@absolutetravel.com

Matthew LaPolice
Born to a European mother and an American father, Matt attributes his passion for foreign cultures and languages to his initial interest in his own heritage. He caught the “travel bug” on a People to People Student Ambassador trip to Australia and New Zealand at the age of eleven. Since then, he “flies more than he walks,” as his grandmother says. After graduating from Tufts University with a B.A. in International Relations and French, Matt interned with Absolute Travel for a semester before joining the team full-time. He is fluent in French and dabbles in Polish, Italian, Bulgarian, German, Arabic and Spanish. Matt enjoys combining his travels with visiting old friends and making new friends around the globe, photography, and trying new foods. mlapolice@absolutetravel.com

Ashley Kiel
Having spent childhood summers in the Catskill Mountains and sailing the open seas, Ashley's passion for travel was sparked by her appreciation for nature -- wherever she goes, she heads for water or forested mountain peaks. Traveling to Israel set the scene for a life of exploration where nature intersects with culture and history. Shortly after graduating from the University of Delaware with a B.A. in International Relations and Geography, Ashley hopped on a plane to Europe with nothing more than a backpack and a map. Her journey took her from Ireland to Hungary, and upon her return she decided to focus her career in travel. Ashley loves traveling because of the freedom, spontaneity, continuous learning and unexpected adventures along the way. akiel@absolutetravel.com

Robyn Mark
A born and raised New Yorker, Robyn's aim has always been to get out of the city. She grew up in a family of "foodies" so traveling for her was often in search of a perfect meal, so much so that when she studied abroad in Spain, the number one criteria she listed for her host family was "they must be great cooks." From camping in Maine on the hunt for the freshest blueberries and lobster, to seeking out the best Pho and street food in Thailand and Vietnam, to searching for the finest steak and wine in Argentina, she always wants to dine like a local. Most recently Robyn worked as a Culinary Advisor for a high-end concierge company and prior to that she worked as a sales representative for several boutique clothing and jewelry lines. She currently lives in Brooklyn and always looks forward to weekends upstate to take part in anything outdoors! rmark@absolutetravel.com

Noël Gilbert
Noël attributes her passion for travel to genetics. Born to an Austrian father and American mother, her parents and extended family are spread across the globe, from Salzburg and Paris, to Tasmania and Adelaide in Australia, and Mombasa, Kenya. From an early age, it was evident that Noël had inherited the travel itch. Growing up, she grabbed every opportunity for outdoor exploration, including a summer learning how to sail aboard a catamaran in the Caribbean, scuba diving the vibrant reefs and decaying shipwrecks along the way. Recently, she and her husband visited East Africa on their honeymoon. Noël loved the experience so much that she decided to quit her job in fashion to pursue a career in travel with the Absolute Travel team. ngilbert@absolutetravel.com

Aaron Levitt
Aaron first discovered his passion for travel upon his arrival to New Zealand after graduating Colorado State University. Coincidentally, it was the first passport he had ever owned. From that moment on he vowed to fill it with as many stamps as possible, which he did with journeys spanning New Zealand, India, Georgia, Turkey, and Southeast Asia. Whether traveling solo or with friends and family, he loves the idea of the road less traveled, always equipped with a camera and pen and pad. Not satisfied with the idea of traveling strictly for leisure he has also been employed abroad; working for an NGO in rural Southern India and most recently as an English teacher in South Korea. It seems a position with Absolute Travel was the next logical step.alevitt@absolutetravel.com

Marisa Costa
Marisa's first of many experiences hopping around the globe began with a high school exchange program which sent her to Valencia, Spain. That was just the beginning. During her college career at the University of Michigan she studied abroad three separate times, spending semesters in South Africa, Spain and Ecuador, eventually returning to Spain after graduating to teach English in Madrid, perfect her Spanish (and polish up her Italian and Portuguese on weekend rendezvous!). Before joining the Absolute Travel team Marisa had already visited over thirty countries on her own. She spends her days dreaming about her next adventure, and joining Absolute Travel has given her the means to do so while still doing her job! She is eager to share her love of travel with others and is incredibly thankful for a career she truly loves. mcosta@absolutetravel.com

Jesse Hamburger
After growing up in Northern California, where forests, beaches, and wildlife defined his childhood, Jesse attended college in Washington State at the University of Puget Sound. After his third year, summer came, bringing with it a restlessness that could only be satisfied by travel. Promptly packing his bags, Jesse spent an unforgettable two weeks in France and southern Germany, and then spent his last month of summer living in Kyoto, Japan, where he studied Japanese, explored temples and shrines, and became acquainted with Kyoto's natural and culinary wonders. Jesse returned home with renewed inspiration and an earnest desire to share the world's most unforgettable experiences with others. jhamburger@absolutetravel.com