About CDV
Twenty years. Six countries. One commitment.
We are not a booking platform or a logistics company. We are a boutique operator that builds direct, lasting relationships - with communities, with families, and with every team we bring into the field.
Who We Are
Culture Discovery Vacations was founded in 2006 by Michael and Paola Kovnick out of a single conviction: that travel done right is one of the most transformative forces available to human beings. After falling in love with the rhythms of village life in Tuscany, they built a company around that conviction - one direct relationship at a time.
What makes CDV different is structural, not cosmetic. More than 70% of every dollar stays in the destination. We hold no commissions from hotels or suppliers. We cap group sizes to protect the integrity of the experience. Our teams live on the ground in every country we operate. These aren't marketing claims - they are architectural decisions that have compounded over twenty years.
In 2026, we formalized our MICE division to bring that same architecture to corporate travel. Your team deserves more than a resort itinerary. They deserve the kind of experience that changes how they work together - and a platform that can prove it.
Explore
Everything you want to know about CDV.
Our Story
From a kitchen in Tuscany to six countries.
How two people fell in love with village life and built something that lasted twenty years.
Read moreOur Philosophy
The 70% rule. Small by design. Anti-luxury.
The principles we will not compromise, and why they make every program better.
Read moreExistential Sustainability
The framework we wrote - and the test we pass.
A formal theory of sustainable travel that starts with a simple question: if we removed you, would the community be better or worse off?
Read moreAnti-Luxury
Why your best people choose village kitchens over five-star hotels.
Real luxury is contact, not insulation. Our 31% repeat rate and Hall of Fame status make the case.
Read moreAwards & Press
Don't take our word for it.
TripAdvisor Hall of Fame, Magellan Gold, CTIE - twenty years of independent validation.
Read moreThe Team
The people behind every program.
Michael Kovnick
Founder & CEO
Michael has spent twenty years building direct relationships with communities across Italy, Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Argentina, and Uruguay. He created the Existential Sustainability framework and leads CDV's MICE strategy.
Paola Kovnick
Co-Founder
Paola co-founded CDV and has shaped every program CDV has ever run. Her fluency in Italian and Portuguese and her deep relationships with local families are the reason CDV gets access that other operators cannot.
Sofia Marchetti
Head of European Programs
Sofia manages CDV's Italy and Portugal operations. Based in Florence, she has been with CDV for eleven years and oversees every European program from initial design through on-the-ground execution.
Diego Hernández
Head of South American Programs
Diego leads CDV's Argentina and Uruguay operations from Buenos Aires. He joined CDV when the South American division launched in 2022 and has grown it into one of the most requested programs in the portfolio.
Where We Work
Three offices. Six countries.
Tampa
Florida, USA
Global Headquarters & MICE Division
Tampa, FL - +1 (656) 333-6123 - [email protected]
Florence
Italy
European Operations Hub
Florence, Italy - European program design and on-the-ground coordination
Lisbon
Portugal
Iberian Operations
Lisbon, Portugal - Portugal and Spain program operations
What people say after twenty years.
“It's not a tour company, it became a family.”- Joe D. · Naples, FL · Reviewed October 2025 · TripAdvisor
“A Culture Discovery Vacation is no ordinary tour experience.”- Gregory R. · Emerald Isle, NC · Reviewed November 2025 · TripAdvisor
“I would write this as one of our best vacations ever.”- Anna D. · Lasalle, ON · Reviewed October 2025 · TripAdvisor
About CDV - Common Questions
Ready to see what twenty years of direct relationships can do for your team?
Two ways to start.