Meet Sara Hollander
We had the good fortune of connecting with Sara Hollander and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Sara, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I believe the second factor behind a successful business or personal brand comes down to two things: trust and persistence.
First, trust is everything. In the travel industry, I’m handling something incredibly valuable… people’s time, money, and often some of their most important life experiences. Clients need to trust that I’m providing expert guidance, educating them on their options, matching them with the right destinations and experiences, and ultimately delivering a trip that they couldn’t have easily created on their own. Building that trust takes consistency, transparency, and a commitment to delivering exceptional service every single time.
The second piece is persistence. Building a brand doesn’t happen overnight. Success is rarely the result of one big moment. It’s the result of showing up day after day, learning from challenges, adapting when things don’t go as planned, and continuing to move forward. Some of the most successful businesses aren’t necessarily the ones that had the easiest path, they’re the ones that stayed committed long enough to grow through the difficult seasons.
I’ve found that when you combine trust with persistence, you create a foundation that allows a business not only to survive but to truly thrive over the long term.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Today, I am the founder of Paradise Road Travel and the co-founder of Travina, and both businesses were built from seeing a need and wanting to create something better.
At Paradise Road Travel, we partner with couples and families to design destination wedding travel, curated honeymoons, milestone celebrations, and multigenerational journeys that evolve alongside them. What sets us apart is our belief that travel should never feel one-size-fits-all. Our planning philosophy is rooted in personalization, connection, and elevation. We take the time to understand our clients, their priorities, and what matters most to them so that every journey feels effortless, elevated, and deeply personal. We handle the details so our clients can stay present for the memories they’re making because travel should feel as special as the milestones it celebrates.
Travina came from a challenge I experienced firsthand as a travel advisor. I often found it difficult to find professionally managed vacation rentals that met the standards my clients expected, while property managers struggled to connect with advisors who could confidently recommend their homes. My co-founder and I saw an opportunity to bridge that gap and create a platform that brings travel advisors and vetted vacation rental professionals together through direct relationships built on trust and transparency.
The path to building both businesses has not been easy, but I don’t think entrepreneurship is supposed to be. Before travel, I spent years in sales, operations, and leadership roles, and while those experiences gave me a strong foundation, there is nothing quite like building something of your own. There have been challenges, setbacks, and plenty of lessons along the way.
One lesson that stands out is that relationships are the foundation of everything. Paradise Road Travel has grown largely through referrals, repeat clients, and people sharing our story with others. Travina is being built on that same principle. In a world that often focuses on technology and automation, I still believe people do business with people.
What I am most proud of is that both companies are centered around connection. Paradise Road Travel helps people celebrate some of life’s most important moments through meaningful travel experiences. Travina helps strengthen connections within the travel industry itself. While they serve different purposes, they were both built from the same belief: when you focus on relationships, trust, and service, incredible things can happen.
If there is one thing I want people to know about me and my brands, it is that we care deeply about the people we serve. Whether we are helping a couple plan a destination wedding, a family create lifelong memories together, or an advisor find the perfect vacation rental for a client, our goal is always the same: to create experiences and relationships that last long after the trip is over.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Since I live outside of Atlanta, my answer is probably a little different than most people would expect. While If one of my best friends was visiting for a week, I would spend most of our time exploring the small towns, rolling hills, local farms, and hidden gems that make this part of Georgia so special.
I would start them in Serenbe, where we’d spend a few days slowing down and enjoying the community. We’d grab coffee from the local café, walk the nature trails, visit the seasonal farmers market, and enjoy dinners at some of the area’s farm-to-table restaurants. One of my favorite things about Serenbe is that it reminds people that luxury doesn’t always mean five-star hotels—it can mean peace, connection, nature, and time to breathe.
From there, we’d head west into the Chattahoochee Hills area. We’d spend time exploring Cochran Mill Park, hiking some of the beautiful trails, and taking in the scenery that surprises so many people who don’t realize this exists just outside Atlanta. If timing worked out, we’d visit local farms and community events that showcase the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of the area.
I’d also make sure we spent a day in nearby Newnan, which has one of the most charming downtowns in Georgia. We’d browse the local shops, grab lunch on the square, and experience the small-town hospitality that makes the region so welcoming.
What I would want them to remember most is not the skyline of Atlanta,it’s the feeling they get when they’re sitting on a porch in Serenbe, walking a trail through the woods, or watching the sunset over the rolling hills of Chattahoochee Hills.
One of the things I love most about travel is helping people discover places they weren’t expecting to love. This corner of Georgia is exactly that. It may not be the first destination people think of, but it offers something many travelers are searching for today: authenticity, connection, beautiful landscapes, and a chance to slow down and be present.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It’s hard for me to name just one person because so many people have played a role in my journey. From a business perspective, my biggest shoutout goes to April Schmitt (fellow travel buisness owner). She took me under her wing, believed in me, invested in my growth, and provided guidance and support that helped shape the business owner I am today. Having a mentor who is willing to share their knowledge and champion your success can make all the difference.
I also want to recognize something that I think is often overlooked: the power of community. When people talk about supporting small businesses, it truly matters. In the early days of building my company, there were friends, family members, and community members who liked and shared my social media posts, referred clients, and trusted me with their travel plans. Those seemingly small actions had a tremendous impact.
Many people don’t realize that a recommendation, a social share, or simply choosing to support a small business can help create momentum that leads to long-term growth. My business has been built on relationships, and I am incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported me along the way.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paradise.road.travel/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahollander
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCTMYqoMl4CiGt6aFco3A3A
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
