Meet The Destinations & Detours Team

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We're a team of travelers, planners, and experience designers who believe the right journey changes everything. Between us, we've coordinated corporate events across three continents, explored 33 countries, and logged more side quests than we can count. Every client gets a dedicated travel architect who knows your goals, handles every detail, and stays with you from the first conversation to the final night.

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Eric Harrison

Managing Partner

Eric Harrison is a North Carolina-based experiential strategist whose perspective is shaped by Appalachian roots and a familial connection to Polynesia. Raised in the mountains, he learned the value of resilience, community, and straight talk. Inspired by the islands, he embraced wonder, movement, and the belief that culture and environment transform energy.

After building a career in strategic sales and event leadership, Eric co-founded Destinations & Detours to reimagine travel as a catalyst for momentum. He specializes in designing incentive travel programs and immersive group experiences that balance precision planning with emotional impact. Whether coordinating corporate retreats or curating destination escapes, Eric believes the right setting can shift conversations, strengthen teams and personal relationships, and create breakthroughs that linger long after the return flight. 15+ years coordinating events.

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“Eric is consistently reliable, proactive, and a pleasure to work with! He brings passion, energy, and dedication to every engagement.”
— Julie M, Director of Sales
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Shaun Strauss

Managing Partner

Shaun Strauss is the Managing Partner of Destinations & Detours, where he helps clients transform travel into memorable, purpose-driven experiences. With 20+ years coordinating large-scale corporate events — including his work with Home Depot, one of the country's largest retailers — Shaun brings a level of operational depth and relationship intelligence that most travel companies simply can't match.

Shaun believes travel has the power to bring people together in meaningful ways. He works with organizations and private groups to design trips that reward achievement, strengthen relationships, and create unforgettable shared moments. Known for his relationship-focused approach, Shaun works closely with clients to understand their vision and collaborates with trusted travel partners around the world to bring it to life. For Shaun, the best travel experiences go beyond logistics — they create moments of connection, celebration, and discovery that stay with people long after the trip ends.

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Meet The Travel Architects

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Elaina Wise

Elaina Wise is a Travel Architect based in Knoxville, Tennessee, dedicated to creating thoughtfully curated journeys that blend seamless planning with unforgettable experiences. Inspired by her travels to remarkable destinations such as Vienna, Prague, Rome, and Hawaii, Elaina developed a deep appreciation for the beauty of different cultures, architecture, and ways of life.

She believes every destination offers something meaningful to discover and approaches travel with the philosophy that every place is worth experiencing at least once. Whether designing an efficient corporate itinerary, organizing a memorable group trip, or planning a relaxing escape, Elaina focuses on creating travel experiences that feel effortless and personalized.

With a background in event planning, hospitality, customer service, and education, Elaina brings exceptional organization, attention to detail, and thoughtful coordination to every journey she plans. Her clients value her ability to manage the logistics while ensuring each itinerary reflects their interests and priorities. Elaina feels a deep sense of accomplishment in handling every detail so her clients can focus on enjoying the experience.

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Sarah Fields

Sarah Fields, an East Tennessee native, spent much of her life in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains and taking frequent trips to nearby Nashville. Her journeys sparked an appreciation for discovering new places. She enjoys vacations that include culturally immersive experiences and exciting adventures with time to rest and recharge in between.

As a Travel Architect, she specializes in planning personal vacations, business travel, and corporate conferences. With a professional background in both corporate environments and small businesses, Sarah understands the importance of thoughtful planning and exceptional service. Whether coordinating a relaxing getaway or organizing a corporate event that makes employees feel valued and inspired, her goal is to create seamless travel experiences that are both meaningful and memorable.

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Mallory McGill

Growing up in East Tennessee with a love for the mountains and time spent with family and friends, Mallory developed a natural appreciation for meaningful experiences and beautiful destinations.

Mallory enjoys discovering destinations that combine adventure, relaxation, and unique local culture,whether it’s a scenic mountain escape, a tropical beach getaway, or an exciting city to explore. She takes pride in carefully curating each itinerary so that every detail is thoughtfully planned and completely stress-free for her clients.

Known for her warm, approachable style and attention to detail, Mallory works closely with each traveler to understand what matters most to them. Her goal is simple: to create personalized journeys that feel effortless to plan and incredible to experience. For Mallory, travel is about making lasting memories and helping others experience the world in a way that feels truly special.

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Harley Wise

Harley brings a background in sales and marketing, with a strong focus on building meaningful relationships and understanding client needs. He enjoys helping people find solutions that align with their goals and creating experiences that deliver real value.

As a Travel Architect with Destinations & Detours, Harley combines strategic thinking with a passion for designing exceptional travel experiences. He works closely with clients to understand what they want from a trip—whether it’s connection, celebration, relaxation, or adventure—and transforms those ideas into thoughtfully planned and memorable journeys.

For Harley, travel is about more than logistics. It’s about creating moments that people remember for years to come. He is excited to be part of the Destinations & Detours team and to help design experiences that bring people together and open the door to new discoveries.

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Abby Strauss

Travel & Hospitality Intern

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This Could Be You!

Interested in joining the Destinations & Detours team and putting your passion for travel to work?

Reach out & introduce yourself, we’d love to meet you.

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