tour leader, travel agency owner in Amalfi coast

our private resort/winery in Marsala, Sicily

My name is Lorenzo Filaci, and I have lived and worked in the world of tourism for as long as I can remember. Travel, hospitality, and taking care of people are part of my DNA. I come from a family that has worked as tour leaders and travel organizers for three generations around the world, and growing up in this environment meant learning early on that traveling is not just about moving from one place to another, but about managing people, emotions, unexpected situations, and expectations.I started by doing a bit of everything, as often happens when you grow up in this industry. I saw tourism from behind the scenes, observing how a structure, a group, and a journey really work. I began in my hometown, Sorrento, first as a porter, then as a bartender, then as a receptionist, and then, almost suddenly, I found myself working as a tour leader for Wherevertours, a travel agency based in New Jersey. This professional growth allowed me to understand what happens at every level and what is truly needed to make a traveler’s experience perfect from every point of view.I was 18 years old when I accompanied my first group: 30 people on a Best of Italy tour, starting in Milan and ending in Sorrento. I knew nothing, obviously. I got lost with the group in Venice, then I lost one person in Pisa… but I knew how to listen, react quickly, and stay calm. That was where I truly learned the profession.That kind of experience shapes you fast. It teaches you how to make decisions, how to handle problems without passing the stress on to others, and how to understand that, in tourism, details make the difference. Over time, I became very attentive to everything that surrounds a journey: timing, people, logistics, rhythm, and the balance between organization and freedom. Not out of a need for control, but because I cannot stand the mediocrity of an ordinary trip, and I know how the right details can turn an experience into something memorable.In 2021, together with my father, I opened a travel agency in Sorrento, in the heart of the Amalfi Coast. From here, in synergy with Wherevertours, we organize trips for American clients all over Europe, with a particular focus on Italy. We specialize in creating 10–15 day tours for families and private groups of 15 to 25 people, tailor-made and far from the logic of mass tourism.What sets us apart is not only organizational experience, but also our way of working. Approachability, human connection, and the ability to create an atmosphere of trust are central elements of our approach. The people we work with throughout Italy are not simple suppliers: they are professionals carefully chosen over the years through direct field experience as tour leaders. These relationships are built on friendship, mutual respect, and professionalism, and this allows us to guarantee our guests something rare: feeling truly Italian, even if only for one journey.Wherever you go, we will have a friend who keeps an eye on you, who cooks for you at home, who tells you their stories and takes you with them. Our idea of tourism is based on the real life of the country, on traditions lived every day, on people who don’t just talk about Italy, but live it. This is what makes an experience authentic and memorable.In Sorrento we also have our home: Villa Giovanna, a villa surrounded by greenery with a sea view, which I would define more as an international social club than a simple hotel. Here, people from all over the world meet, share time, stories, and passions. Between a cooking class, a day in Capri, an excursion to Amalfi, or an improvised dinner, that kind of magic is created—something you can’t plan, only facilitate.My work today is the result of a journey made of hands-on experience, early responsibilities, mistakes, continuous growth, and deep respect for this profession. I continue to study, to challenge myself, and to look for new ways to improve the experience of our travelers, without ever losing sight of what truly matters to me: people.Because in the end, more than organizing trips, my goal is to create connections, memories, and moments that last.