Paul Tumpowsky: Redefining Luxury Travel Through Innovation and Leadership
When people talk about visionary leaders in the luxury travel space, the name Paul Tumpowsky consistently rises to the top. With decades of experience spanning consulting, venture capital, hospitality, technology, and premium travel, he has become a central figure in reshaping how discerning travelers book, plan, and experience their journeys. His career illustrates a rare blend of business acumen, entrepreneurial drive, and deep understanding of what modern luxury travelers demand.
From his early consulting years at Accenture to founding Skylark, creating New Yonder, building AIR1, and now serving as Chief Revenue Officer at Fora Travel, Paul Tumpowsky has left his mark on multiple industries while keeping luxury travel at the heart of his professional legacy.
Early Life and Education of Paul Tumpowsky
Academic Background
Paul Tumpowsky earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign between 1990 and 1994. During his time there, he immersed himself not only in engineering but also in sequences in Japanese and economics. His leadership roles included serving as Chairman of the Dean’s Student Advisory Committee and founding the Student Engineering Alumni Relations. Recognized for excellence, he was also a member of the Senior 100 Honorary and Ma Wan Da Senior Honorary Society.
Later, he pursued further education at Columbia Business School from 1999 to 2000, sharpening his understanding of business strategy, entrepreneurship, and leadership. This unique combination of technical and business training became the foundation of his multifaceted career.
Professional Journey of Paul Tumpowsky
Early Career in Consulting and Venture Capital
Paul Tumpowsky began his professional career at Accenture as a Senior Consultant (1993–1998), where he built skills in technology and business transformation. He later moved into venture capital as a Principal at Metropolis Venture Partners (2000–2004), focusing on investment strategies in emerging businesses.
During this time, he also became CEO of aluminium.com, guiding the company through a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and managing to return several million dollars in capital to investors despite inheriting significant debt. This demonstrated his resilience and ability to navigate complex financial challenges.
Leadership in Hospitality and Private Equity
From 2004 to 2006, Tumpowsky served as COO of Two Twelve / Ross Common Partners, where he co-founded a private equity partnership that invested in high-end restaurant concepts globally. His work involved collaboration with Creative Artists Agency, Capital Sports and Entertainment, and Napa Valley vintners, combining finance with lifestyle industries.
In 2007, he became Chairman and CEO of Square Zero, a software company building big data integration tools. His innovation centered on creating proprietary technology to handle massive data complexity, showing his interest in bridging technology with real-world business solutions.
Entrepreneurial Ventures of Paul Tumpowsky
Cloverline and Startup Advisory
Between 2006 and 2012, Paul Tumpowsky founded Cloverline, a venture dedicated to advising startups and creative businesses. His projects included:
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DashT.ag: A software product leveraging NFC for logistics and social interaction (later acqui-hired by Kovio).
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Norman Seeff: Assisting the renowned photographer in monetizing creative assets.
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Serotta Bicycles: Advising a high-end custom bicycle manufacturer on growth strategy.
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Outstanding in the Field: Scaling a nomadic dining concept, increasing revenue fourfold.
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Original Music Workshop: Leading partnership development for a nonprofit music venue.
These ventures highlight Tumpowsky’s flexibility, moving seamlessly between technology, lifestyle, and creative industries.
Goodwin & Wells
In 2012, he founded Goodwin & Wells, a company developing oral products designed to reduce the side effects of radiation in the gastrointestinal tract. This venture showed his commitment to science and healthcare, diversifying his portfolio beyond travel and hospitality.
Paul Tumpowsky and Luxury Travel Innovation
Skylark: The Breakthrough in Travel
Perhaps the most defining chapter in Paul Tumpowsky’s career was founding Skylark in 2015. Skylark reimagined luxury travel booking by pairing intuitive technology with human expertise. The platform delivered exceptional vacations, competitive airfare pricing, luxury hotel perks, and around-the-clock customer support. Backed by Ovation, a billion-dollar travel company, Skylark quickly gained recognition in the luxury travel community.
Under Tumpowsky’s leadership, Skylark became synonymous with personalized service, blending digital convenience with the irreplaceable touch of human advisors.
New Yonder and AIR1
After Skylark, Tumpowsky transitioned into New Yonder and AIR1.
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New Yonder: Focused on connecting travelers with expert advisors, exclusive hotel discounts, and unparalleled airfare services.
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AIR1: Established as a premier air hosting agency for boutique luxury travel agencies and Destination Management Companies (DMCs) worldwide. This venture positions Tumpowsky as an industry leader in airfare optimization, ensuring boutique agencies can compete with larger players.
Fora Travel: Expanding Horizons
In July 2024, Paul Tumpowsky was appointed Chief Revenue Officer at Fora Travel. In this role, he continues to influence the luxury travel market by focusing on scaling revenue streams, expanding advisor networks, and reinforcing Fora’s mission to empower travel entrepreneurs. His leadership at Fora blends his entrepreneurial insights with his deep industry expertise.
Contributions to Education and Mentorship
InSITE Fellowship
From 1999 to 2024, Paul Tumpowsky served as Chairman of the InSITE Fellowship, a nonprofit program that brings together graduate students from top universities such as Columbia, Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and others. The fellowship combines education, startup projects, and venture capital exposure, building a powerful network of over 800 alumni. His long-term dedication to InSITE underscores his commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and mentoring future leaders.
Teaching and Mentorship Roles
He also co-taught at Columbia University in the Data Science and Technology Entrepreneurship course (2013–2014) and served as a mentor in the White House Department of Energy Business Plan Competition. These roles reinforced his passion for knowledge-sharing and innovation.
Personal Life of Paul Tumpowsky
While Paul Tumpowsky is widely recognized for his entrepreneurial ventures and leadership in luxury travel, he has also shared occasional glimpses of his personal life. In a travel feature published during his time at Skylark, he described visiting the Maldives for his honeymoon with his wife, Desi Petrova, highlighting his passion for both travel and family experiences.
Paul and Desi were married on June 18, 2016, in New York City, and she is often seen with him at public events, such as fashion and luxury brand gatherings in New York. Desi, whose professional background includes roles in marketing and technology, is also known as Desislava (Desi) Tumpowsky in professional circles.
Although there is no publicly verified information about whether the couple has children, it is clear that family, travel, and shared experiences are central to their life together. By blending his personal love of travel with his professional vision, Paul Tumpowsky continues to live the values he brings to his clients—memorable journeys, meaningful connections, and an emphasis on quality experiences.
Legacy and Impact in the Travel Industry
A Visionary in Travel and Beyond
Paul Tumpowsky’s journey from engineering to consulting, from startups to luxury travel, reflects a career built on adaptability, innovation, and vision. His leadership at Skylark, New Yonder, AIR1, and now Fora has reshaped the way luxury travel is booked and experienced.
Building Networks and Empowering Others
Through InSITE and his advisory roles, he has helped guide countless entrepreneurs, proving that his impact goes far beyond his own ventures. His ability to connect industries—technology, hospitality, finance, and healthcare—demonstrates rare versatility.
Conclusion: Paul Tumpowsky’s Enduring Influence
In the world of luxury travel, Paul Tumpowsky is more than just a name—he is a brand of innovation, resilience, and service. From the early foundations of his career to his latest role at Fora Travel, he has consistently demonstrated a forward-thinking approach that blends technology with human expertise. His ventures continue to set new benchmarks in the industry, proving that true leadership lies in anticipating change and delivering excellence.
As the luxury travel landscape evolves, Paul Tumpowsky’s influence ensures that the traveler’s experience remains at the center—personalized, enriched, and unforgettable.
