Shannon Summerville-Interian shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Shannon, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
As a travel advisor, there’s a common misconception that I receive exclusive “deals” or steep discounts for travel. In reality, I often encounter hesitation from potential clients who say, “I found the same hotel for less on another website.” And that may be true—on the surface.
What they’re usually seeing is a smaller room, a non-refundable rate, or a location tucked next to the ice machine or elevator. The difference lies in the details.
Travel advisors aren’t bargain hunters—we’re experience curators. Our role is to design your dream vacation with intention and insight. We’ve walked the cobblestone streets, sailed the rivers, stayed in the hotels, and vetted the experiences so you don’t have to. We save you time, eliminate guesswork, and elevate your travel through our firsthand knowledge and trusted relationships.
You’re not hiring a travel agent for a discount. You’re hiring a travel curator for expertise.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Shannon Interian—I am a travel advisor and the founder of Dorian Destinations, and co-host of the Dorian Destinations Podcast. I work at the intersection of storytelling and experience design, helping people turn their travel dreams into unforgettable realities. Alongside my co-host, Franco Interian, we run Dorian Destinations, a white-glove travel agency that curates personalized, culturally rich adventures across Europe and beyond.
What makes our brand unique is that we don’t just book trips—we design meaningful journeys. I bring 28+ years of firsthand European travel experience, and together we blend deep local insight with luxury service. Whether it’s sipping Brunello in a hidden Tuscan vineyard or planning a multi-generational family cruise through the Danube, we focus on details that elevate the entire experience.
Our podcast is an extension of that vision—mixing travel tips, destination deep-dives, wine pairings, and myth-busting conversations that inspire people to explore the world more thoughtfully. We like emphasis that we are NOT influencers, we are advisors.
We’re currently working on expanding our travel content across YouTube, Apple, and Spotify as well as our social platforms focusing on storytelling, insider guides, and expert tips that make travel not just easier, but more enriching.
Whether you’re planning your next great escape or just dreaming of one, we’re here to help you travel better—with passion, purpose, and a personal touch.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
Is that constantly sought external validation before trusting my own instincts. I also think that comes with age.
For years, I measured my worth through productivity, perfection, and other people’s approval. It pushed me to succeed, to strive, to build—but it also kept me second-guessing, shrinking, and delaying my own voice.
That version helped me get here, but it no longer fits the life I’m creating.
Now, I release the need to over-explain, over-apologize, or dim my light to make others comfortable. I choose to move forward with self-trust, clarity, and a deep belief in the work I do, the stories I tell, and the journeys I help others create.
Because the future I’m stepping into demands authenticity—not approval.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
One of the most defining wounds of my life was losing my mother and my brothers at a young age. Their passing left a space that felt unfillable—a silence that echoed through every milestone they both didn’t get to see. It shattered the foundation I’d always relied on, and for a long time, I carried grief like an invisible weight.
But that loss also became a promise. I made two vows to my mother before she passed: to finish college and to see the world. And in honoring those vows, I began to heal.
Travel became more than a passion—it became my therapy, my teacher, and my way of staying connected to something bigger than myself. Each new country, each quiet moment in a foreign square, each conversation with a stranger helped me reclaim pieces of myself that grief had scattered.
Another wound came from years of feeling like I had to play it safe, to stay small, to choose the “practical” path. I taught for Miami Dade Public Schools for nearly 20 years, pouring my heart into students, but always knowing that my soul wanted to wander farther. Letting go of a stable career to follow my true calling—to become a travel advisor and build Dorian Destinations—was terrifying. But it was also liberating.
Healing, for me, has looked like rewriting my story with intention. It’s looked like building a life where grief and joy can co-exist. Where I honor the past, but live fully in the present.
I’ve learned that our deepest wounds often hold the key to our purpose. And mine led me here—to a life of travel, connection, storytelling, and guiding others to find beauty in the world…and in themselves.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
This is a great question. I have always been told my whole life that I have no filter and too honest. I never understood that. I hate to be lied to or told one thing but it really be something else. I am originally from Brooklyn so maybe that’s where that rawness comes from. What you see is what you get.
What I share through Dorian Destinations, on our podcast, or with clients is absolutely rooted in truth: my passion for travel, my love of storytelling, my belief in connection, culture, and meaningful experiences. That version of me is joyful, knowledgeable, nurturing—and it comes from a deeply authentic place.
Before opening my business on social media I have always had my socials on private. Like others we post our trips and family on vacation for my friends and family to see. I had started business Instagram and Facebook etc. however, I had friend/client tell me, “When I want to travel with my family I look at your personal page not your business pages. I want to see the real you tell me about travel and locations. If you are traveling there that makes me want to go, not your fancy pictures. I want to see your family and your travels.”. So I deleted the business pages and opened my personal pages for my business. I am being authentic to clients. That’s what everyone want is that authenticity.
So yes, the public me is real. But she’s curated—not in a fake way, but in a focused way. She’s the storyteller, the guide, the dream-builder. And behind her is a whole person.
If anything, my goal is to keep bringing the private and public selves closer together—to lead with integrity, softness, and truth. Because I believe that the more we show up as our full selves, the more we give others permission to do the same.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
When it comes to travel many people do not understand is that travel is not about escape. It’s about return.
Return to yourself. Return to what matters. Return to presence.
So many people view travel as a break from life, a reward, or something to “check off.” But when done intentionally, travel can be a mirror. It strips away routine, ego, and noise. It reveals who you are when you’re out of context—when you’re unsure of the language, lost in a side street, or surprised by the kindness of a stranger.
I’ve learned that the most meaningful journeys aren’t about where you go—they’re about how open you are when you get there. That’s why I design experiences that are thoughtful, immersive, and personal. Because transformation doesn’t happen through Wi-Fi and checklists. It happens in the pause, the taste, the story, the stillness.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.doriandestinations.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannon_at_dorian_destinations/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-interian-83b957258/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DorianDestinations/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@doriandestinations
Image Credits
Photograph by hubby: Franco Interian
