The visionary who said "we deserve this" and built an empire to prove it
Photo credit: Caviar in the Air
Let's talk about what it really means to shift culture. Not post about it. Not tweet about it. Actually build something that changes how an entire community experiences the world.
That's Claire B. Soares.
A 5X Condé Nast Top Travel Specialist—five years running, for those keeping score—Claire didn't just enter the luxury travel space. She reimagined it. She looked at an industry that had largely ignored Black professionals and said, "We're not waiting for an invitation. We're creating our own table."
And then she set that table with Champagne, Cognac, Croatian coastlines, and a mega yacht with our own DJ.
The Firsts That Made History
Claire's resume of "firsts" reads like a masterclass in what happens when vision meets audacity:
First to charter a mega yacht for Black professionals in Croatia—with our own DJ. Picture this: a private mega yacht cruising the Adriatic, filled with accomplished Black professionals living their absolute best lives, soundtrack provided by a DJ who understood the assignment. That wasn't a dream on someone's vision board. That was a Tuesday in Claire's world.
First to lead the largest African American expedition to Antarctica. The seventh continent. The bottom of the world. And Claire brought the largest documented group of African Americans to set foot there. We're not just visiting the places they expect us to go. We're planting flags where they never imagined we'd show up.
Creator of the Champagne & Cognac journey. Leave it to Claire to look at France and think, "Why choose between the two most celebrated spirit regions when you can have both?" This signature itinerary through prestigious Champagne and Cognac houses became an instant classic—sophisticated, indulgent, and unmistakably Caviar in the Air.
Building the Blueprint
Before Claire, the luxury group travel space for Black professionals was essentially nonexistent. Today, you'll see other brands following the path she carved. That's not shade—that's legacy.
She founded Up in the Air Life in 2013, establishing herself as a serious player in luxury travel. From there came Innclusive Travel, expanding access and representation. In 2024, she launched Caviar in the Air, the brand that has become synonymous with luxury group travel for Black professionals. And in 2025, she co-founded À Privé Journeys with Julia Coney—because when you're building at this level, you find collaborators who match your energy.
The Philosophy: Intentional Luxury
What separates a Caviar in the Air experience from everything else? Intention.
Every destination is chosen with purpose. Every hotel is vetted for how they treat us—not just as guests, but as the accomplished professionals we are. Every itinerary balances indulgence with authenticity, ensuring you're not just seeing a place but experiencing it.
"When you travel with us, you're surrounded by people who get it," Claire has said. "No code-switching. No explaining yourself. Just showing up as your full, brilliant self and being celebrated for it."
That's not just travel. That's therapy. That's community. That's home—in every corner of the world.
The Impact
Here's what the numbers say: over $14 million in luxury travel sales. Six continents. Destinations spanning Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, the Amalfi Coast, Greece, Portugal, and beyond.
But the real impact isn't in the numbers. It's in the moments:
The first-time safari-goer who realized she belonged in the bush as much as anyone. The executive who finally took a vacation—not for work, but for herself. The group of strangers who landed as travelers and left as family.
That's what Claire builds. That's the Caviar in the Air difference.
What Claire Teaches Us
Claire B. Soares is proof that you don't wait for the world to make space for you. You build the space. You fill it with excellence. And you leave the door open for everyone coming after you.
She saw a gap and filled it with five-star hotels, curated experiences, and the audacity to believe that Black professionals deserve the finest things life has to offer.
We do. And Claire made sure we'd never have to wonder about that again.
Discover Claire B. Soares and other Black history pioneers who are redefining what's possible. Ready to experience it for yourself? Explore our upcoming trips and see why the most accomplished Black travelers trust Caviar in the Air with their most important journeys.
