At Paris’ iconic Le Meurice, FAB UK sat down with Eric Czerlonka, Founder and CEO of Czerlonka Event Design & Management, to talk about the evolving meaning of luxury, the power of travel to create genuine human connection, and the journey behind a company celebrating its 15th anniversary.
From his early career in elite hospitality to building a global luxury travel and event company, Czerlonka has spent the past 15 years creating highly personalized experiences around the world. His philosophy goes beyond extraordinary destinations: true luxury, he believes, is about time, access, personalization and the feeling of being genuinely understood.
As Czerlonka enters its next chapter, Eric speaks to FAB UK about entrepreneurship, trust and intuition, how the expectations of today’s luxury traveler are changing, and why the most memorable journeys are ultimately defined not by an itinerary, but by the connections and emotions they leave behind.
FAB UK meets Eric Czerlonka in Paris to discover the philosophy behind Czerlonka — and what the future of truly personal luxury travel might look like.
FAB UK: Czerlonka celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. Looking back, what moment makes you the proudest, and what has been the biggest lesson of your entrepreneurial journey?
Eric Czerlonka: The moment that makes me proudest is looking around a room and seeing the people who have become part of this journey—my team, clients, partners, friends, and even strangers who became friends through the experiences we created. Building a successful company is something I am incredibly proud of, but creating meaningful connections and earning people’s trust over the past 15 years is what matters most to me.
The biggest lesson of my entrepreneurial journey has been that you cannot wait until everything is perfect—or until everyone understands your vision—to move forward. Some of the most meaningful things I have created began as ideas that may have seemed unrealistic, or even delusional, to others. I have learned to trust my instincts, remain open to the unexpected, and surround myself with people who believe in what is possible. Success is rarely a straight line, but if you lead with integrity, nurture your relationships, and keep moving forward, the right path has a way of revealing itself.
FAB UK: Luxury travel has evolved significantly over the past decade. How has your vision of luxury changed, and what do today’s most discerning clients value the most?
Eric Czerlonka: My vision of luxury has evolved from being centered on beautiful places and exceptional things to being defined by time, access, personalization, and meaningful connection. Luxury is no longer simply about choosing the most expensive hotel or flying privately—it is about creating an experience that feels effortless, deeply personal, and impossible to replicate.
Today’s most discerning clients value being understood. They want privacy, flexibility,
authenticity, and access to people and experiences they could not easily arrange themselves. Most importantly, they want someone to anticipate their needs before they have to ask. True luxury is found in the thoughtful details—the moments that feel spontaneous but have been carefully curated—and in giving people the freedom to be completely present.
FAB UK: Czerlonka is known for creating highly personalized experiences. What do you believe transforms a beautiful trip into a truly unforgettable memory?
Eric Czerlonka: A beautiful trip becomes an unforgettable memory when it creates an emotional connection—to a place, a culture, or the people you share it with. Beautiful hotels and extraordinary destinations provide the setting, but it is the unexpected moments, personal interactions, and shared experiences that stay with us long after we return home.
For me, the most memorable journeys are thoughtfully curated but leave room for spontaneity. They allow people to be fully present, step outside their comfort zones, and experience something they could not have planned or replicated on their own.
Ultimately, we may forget the details of an itinerary, but we never forget how a journey made us feel—or the relationships it helped us create.
FAB UK: Your work takes you to some of the world’s most extraordinary places. Is there one destination or experience that has had a profound impact on you personally?
Eric Czerlonka: A 10-day journey through Argentina and Chile had a profound impact on me personally. I traveled with 17 people who began the trip as strangers, but through shared experiences, adventure, and an openness to the cultures and traditions around us, we returned home as friends.
That journey reminded me that travel has the power to create genuine human connection in a remarkably short period of time. It ultimately inspired The Delusional Nomad (a docuseries about my business and travel) and changed the way I think about the experiences I create. It reinforced my belief that travel is not simply about where we go—it is about who we meet, what we discover about one another, and how those connections can stay with us long after the journey ends.
FAB UK: As you celebrate 15 years, what is your vision for the future of Czerlonka, and what exciting projects or ambitions can your clients look forward to over the next chapter?
Eric Czerlonka: As I look toward the next chapter of Czerlonka, my vision is to continue growing without ever losing the personal approach, attention to detail, and relationships that have defined us for the past 15 years. I want us to keep pushing beyond traditional luxury—creating experiences that offer extraordinary access, genuine cultural connection, and moments our clients could never simply find or book on their own.
We are expanding our global reach, developing increasingly ambitious journeys through CURATED by Czerlonka, and using The Delusional Nomad to share the stories, people, and destinations that inspire our work. I am excited to bring together travel, hospitality, entertainment, and storytelling in entirely new ways.
Ultimately, my ambition is not simply to take our clients to remarkable places. It is to continue
surprising them, introducing them to experiences they never imagined, and creating meaningful connections and memories that remain with them for a lifetime.