Mickela Covieo Named Travel Curator of the Year

The International Association of Top Professionals selected the Luxe Girls Travel Co. founder for her leadership.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Adventure Travel

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The International Association of Top Professionals named Luxe Girls Travel Co. founder Mickela Covieo its 2026 International Travel Curator of the Year. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Mickela Covieo has been honored as the 2026 International Travel Curator of the Year by the International Association of Top Professionals. The award recognizes her vision and impact on the travel and wellness industry.

Why it matters

The recognition highlights Covieo's career transition from the oil, gas, finance, and insurance sectors into a leadership role within global travel. Her work through Luxe Girls Travel Co. now facilitates curated journeys across international destinations.

Covieo draws on 30 years of total professional experience, including a decade in the oil and gas industry and 11 years in finance. Her firm currently organizes travel experiences in locations including Morocco, Bali, Namibia, Greece, and the Dolomites.

The players

Mickela Covieo

She is the founder of Luxe Girls Travel Co. and holds a BBA and an MBA from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

International Association of Top Professionals

This organization selects award recipients through an invitation-only vetting process to honor leadership and vision.

The details

The International Association of Top Professionals utilized an invitation-only vetting process to select Covieo for this honor. Candidates for the award are nominated by honorary members or invited by the organization president following an interview.

Timeline

  1. Mickela Covieo was named the 2026 International Travel Curator of the Year in 2026.

  2. The awards gala will take place at the Plaza Hotel in New York City in December 2026.

Travel Outlook

The International Association of Top Professionals' annual gala serves as a networking platform for high-achieving professionals across global sectors. This award honors leadership across diverse industries, following a pattern set by established industry award ceremonies.

Travelers interested in curated group journeys can look to Luxe Girls Travel Co. for itineraries spanning Morocco, Bali, and the Dolomites. Prospective clients should monitor the company's offerings to see how award-winning leadership impacts travel service quality and destination access.

The takeaway

Covieo's career path demonstrates that extensive experience in corporate finance and energy can be effectively leveraged to succeed in the lifestyle and travel industries. Her recognition underscores a growing trend of professionals pivoting toward curated experiential travel roles.

What happens next

Mickela Covieo is slated to appear in a featured profile in TIP Magazine and will accept her award at the annual gala in December 2026.

Further reading

Discover more trends in Adventure Travel.

More information

View event details on the IAOTP annual awards gala page.

Live Poll

Do you trust professional awards and networking organizations to provide genuine, merit-based career recognition?