Dani Wieder

"we have the fun job of telling stories about the kinds of remarkable travel experiences that our clients get to have around the world"

Head of Marketing

"we have the fun job of telling stories about the kinds of remarkable travel experiences that our clients get to have around the world"

I was bitten by the travel bug early, spending my teenage years blown away by the curation, detail, and care that goes into hospitality. I often caught myself wondering: “people get to do this for a living?” That feeling stuck with me through an early detour into finance where – after not too long – I decided that I needed to be closer to the action. This is what brought me to hospitality.

Since then, I’ve worked across a range of brands – from innovative startups to global powerhouses. I’ve had the privilege to open hotels around the world and to experience a wide range of cultures. For me, it’s always been about creating memorable experiences that leave people with the lingering feeling that they just experienced something remarkable. That’s the thing about travel: it stays with you.

At Black Tomato, I lead the marketing team; which means I get to work with some of the most talented, humble, and thoughtful people. We’re often the first point of contact that anyone has with Black Tomato, so we have the fun job of telling stories about the kinds of remarkable travel experiences that our clients get to have around the world. As somebody who is really driven by curiosity, I’m in the perfect place: having the privilege to find out about other people, and other travellers – understanding what they care about and, ultimately, how we can help them to see the world.

"we have the fun job of telling stories about the kinds of remarkable travel experiences that our clients get to have around the world"

"Even with a language barrier, their hospitality and kindness spoke volumes"

A closer look at Japan

For our honeymoon in Japan, we set aside three days to hike part of the Kumano Kodō – a millennia-old series of pilgrimage trails on the Kii peninsula. My husband is the hiker in the family, so I admit I was a little sceptical about this part of the trip. But of the nearly 20 days we spent in Japan, it turned out to be the most profound.

We wound our way through mountains and forests, climbing more than 2,000 feet each day, passing centuries-old shrines and staying in tiny villages you’d struggle to find on a map. The trail was humbling; not just physically – with the relentless climbs – but spiritually, as we walked paths worn smooth over hundreds of years beneath trees that had stood even longer than the shrines themselves.

Each night ended at a ryokan – a type of traditional Japanese inn – which gave us an immersion into Japanese culture; with tatami mat rooms and elaborate kaiseki dinners. What stood out most wasn’t the food or the soothing onsen, as incredible as they were; it was the warmth of the people who welcomed us. Even with a language barrier, their hospitality and kindness spoke volumes.

Take me there