Melanie Brandman
Girl boss. Travel Curator. Addie’s mum. Melanie Brandwoman. She’s a woman of many labels. One of the most disciplined, credible experts in luxury travel public relations, Melanie is a seasoned agent—unflappable in the boardroom, on a boat, or on the streets of her homebase New York City. Recipient of HSMAI’s “Lifetime Achievement Award” and spotlighted as one of the “50 Most Important Women in Travel” by WONDERLUST, Melanie’s global reputation is soundly rooted in leadership, style, support, and in her endless energy and eternal optimism.
Melanie rose through the corporate hotel and media ranks, working as Vice President of Corporate Affairs for InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, for Vogue Australia, and for herself, as the founder of The Brandman Agency and several successful travel start-ups, including Travel Curator.
Business—and pleasure—have taken Melanie to 70+ countries, four of which she’s called home, including her native Australia, Israel, and London. Her client list reads like a who’s who of the luxury travel and lifestyle industries, for which Melanie oversees partnerships, creative projects, strategic alignment, and crisis management.
Outside of work, Melanie enjoys beach time at her Southampton bungalow, her post on the Bodhi Tree Foundation board, and her time as Manager of the US Elephant Polo team. [Yes, you read that correctly]. She’s also quite fond of Vegemite, avocados, pizza, great wine, martinis, and truffles. Always truffles.
"Travel...breaks down borders. It transforms lives."
“I think we can all agree we need travel now more than ever. Travel has an immediate socio-economic impact on uncounted businesses and communities. It breaks down borders. It transforms lives. For me, travel public relations and marketing are the perfect way to connect with people all over the world.”
“Many people are surprised to learn that I’m quite the handywoman. I cook a wicked Pavlova, can sew a pretty chic Kaftan in an hour before a pool party, and build things like the people on HGTV—I’m very DIY around the house, and, believe it or not, I do wear jeans. I love tackling random projects and keeping handwritten lists, both at home and in the office.”
“I live for extremes. There’s so much I want to do and conquer, but there just aren’t enough hours in the day. When I’m on, I’m full-on. But at the same time, I relish in the luxury of having absolutely nothing to do. I can never have enough sunny days by the water with my pup, Addie, and with friends and family.”
“Some say I was born to do this job. I’m an eighth generation Australian, from a family of cattle farmers in a small mining town about 300 miles east of Perth. Australians are wanderers at heart, we have to be. My father got each of us a passport at a young age, and it literally meant the world to me. My parents raised me and my siblings to be global citizens, and instilled in us an unstoppable desire to experience the world and share whatever wisdom we pick up along the way.”