A Bermudian travel adviser has earned global recognition for curating luxury trips for travellers.

Alicia Lister, the owner of The Travel Guru, featured on Condé Nast Traveller’s list of 2025 Top Travel Specialists.

Ms Lister, who is known for curating luxury, personalised travel experiences and championing travel for Black women, was celebrated for designing high-touch, immersive journeys for clients who seek transformative experiences that restore, inspire and connect.

It was her first time receiving the honour, which is awarded to a select group of travel experts worldwide whose work sets the standard for excellence, creativity and client satisfaction.

For Ms Lister, who is an independent adviser with the Travel Edge Network’s New York office, travel was a lifelong calling.

She said: “Travel has been part of my story for as long as I can remember.

“It’s not just about where you go, it’s about how you feel while you’re there.

“My greatest joy is watching my clients be fully present on their trip, rested, happy and making memories that last for ever.”

The recognition follows a year of standout achievements for Ms Lister including a 2024 Best of Bermuda Award.

Michelle Leal, Travel Edge Network’s vice-president of member engagement, said: “I have full confidence that she will not only continue to excel but also play a significant role in shaping Bermuda’s travel landscape.”

Ms Lister began exploring the world at the age of 9, embracing linguistic exchange programmes, voluntourism and often enjoying the role as navigator on family trips.

Her path included studying in the Netherlands, being hired as a British Airways mixed fleet flight attendant and managing vacation rentals as well as a local tour company.

A statement added that the journey reflected Ms Lister’s deep, lived understanding of how travel shapes identity.

Through her company, The Travel Guru, she offers bespoke itineraries, group travel and personal concierge services that take the hassle out of planning.

Her speciality includes curating luxury trips for families, couples and solo travellers, with a particular passion for helping Black women, which the company said was “an often overlooked demographic” to “reclaim rest, joy and exploration through personalised, stress-free journeys”.