Who are the Hidden Gemologists?

The Hidden Gemologists are Marilee Kostadimas and Paul Kostadimas, the founders of Spotlight Sojourns.

Or rather, as the business cards officially read: Marilee Kostadimas, CMP Fellow, DMCP, Creative Director and Chief Storyteller. Paul Kostadimas, Co-Founder and Visual Director.

We’re professional creators, bloggers, and storytellers. As well as travel partners in life, through life, for life.

Meaningful travel is part of our own story from the very beginning.

We met as graduate students on an archaeological dig in Greece.

He’s a trained photographer; I (Marilee), a writer. So I said to him then:

“Your pictures. My words. Our travels.”

Life later took those plans and tossed them like a Greek salad.

In other words: We went corporate.

But in truth, life has a way of coming full circle, doesn’t it?

Because a transformational travel moment in Lisbon, Portugal, led us back to that long-ago promise and purpose.

Today, Spotlight Sojourns is literally:

“His pictures. Her words. Meaningful travel.”

What are the Hidden Gemologists’ qualifications?

Here’s a few of our fancy-pants qualifications:

Strategic consulting

Paul Kostadimas, in his 25-year career in litigation management and cloud software consulting, honed superlative strategic and operational skills.

He's especially known for handling complex scope, difficult stakeholders, and impossible deadlines.

Moreover, he's equally recognized for achieving measurable, repeatable, scalable success.

For instance, Paul delivered critical consulting support for the largest-ever bankruptcy of a utility company, with $37 billion in pre-filing assets.

Marilee Kostadimas built an award-winning career as a strategist and industry leader in destination management, corporate events, and her specialty, incentive travel.

Marilee is also a writer and public speaker with the purpose in mind to educate, engage, and inspire.

She has addressed groups of every size, from intimate gatherings to hundreds and indeed thousands in the audience.

Credentials and standards

Paul holds credentials as an FAA-certified and FAA-licensed commercial drone pilot (Federal Aviation Administration). 

Paul is also a trained photographer with 30 years of experience in photography and photographic printing.

Marilee holds credentials as a Certified Meeting Professional (Events Industry Council) and Destination Management Certified Professional (Association of Destination Management Executives International).

She’s a byline contributor to the international planner’s indispensable Events Industry Council Manual 9th Edition: A Working Guide for Effective Meetings and Conventions.

In 2024, the Events Industry Council honored Marilee's career accomplishments and global industry contributions by elevating her to CMP Fellow.

Industry engagement and leadership

We've belonged to international and national industry organizations, including:

• American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP)
• Association of Destination Management Executives International (ADMEI)
• Meeting Professionals International (MPI)
• New York State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA)
• Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE)

Additionally, Marilee has led multiple professional industry associations.

Her style of inspirational leadership seeks to elevate excellence and transform experience, motivating diverse members to unite behind a singular vision and mission.

Global perspective

Meaningful travel is the perspective that WHY you go matters more than WHERE you go.

Because meaningful travel broadens horizons, creates connections, and deepens understanding.

Paul particularly embodies this global perspective:

He’s lived not only in the capital cities of Ethiopia, Greece, and Canada; but also in California's cultural capital, San Francisco.

Furthermore, he speaks three languages fluently.

What’s the Hidden Gemologists' WHY?

Above all, the WHY underscores everything, as we always say. So here's ours:

At the pinnacle of corporate success, we suddenly and unexpectedly left everything behind to care for our last parent 3,000 miles away.

During Mamma's two-year final journey, we learned the profound power of storytelling.

Because Mamma’s daily stories of her epic life and travels in Africa, Asia, and Europe became part of her legacy.

Then a transformational moment in Lisbon, Portugal, subsequently led to our mission to:

• Inspire and connect eager travelers with travel, tourism, and hospitality brands through storytelling.
  ~ and ~
• Inspire and motivate others to tell their own stories.

Because meaningful travel is part of a meaningful life.

And stories enrich the meaning.

So what’s next for the Hidden Gemologists?

Well, it’s more about what’s next for you.

For you as a traveler, we’re here for your journey:

We support your travel dreams and travel experiences with original writing, original photography, and original storytelling –– always 100% human, not AI –– on the Spotlight Sojourns blog.

Get our exclusive free storytelling guide to help you easily tell your travel story.

For you as a travel, tourism, and hospitality brand:

If you want to spotlight your destination story and show your location in a new light, we’re here to help.

Our strategic, creative, high-quality content and authentic storytelling — 100% human, not AI — are at your service.

Ready? Let's go!