Annette Nero Stellhorn, Owner & Group Travel Designer at Accent On Travel

With the support of my soulmate and lifelong travel companion, I stepped into the travel industry ‘just for a year or two’ to help a very small struggling travel agency in 1989 and fell in love with the life of a travel professional. Together, and in the same year we married, we set a goal to work together enriching lives through travel. Today, besides being part of the global travel conversations, we enjoy working side by side, running the company from the Rehoboth Beach, DE, headquarters, and traveling the world as travel hosts through Accent on Travel Hosted Journeys, our custom group travel division.

What do you love about travel?

How it makes me feel - the excitement surrounding visiting a new or favorite destination, the deeper connection to like-minded people from other cultures, the sense of awareness of the world outside of my home community, and the continued learning that only travel can provide. I have always been curious by nature and travel fulfills that desire. Personally, I have traveled to over 130 countries and territories, and sailed on over 92 different ocean, sailing, and river cruises. I believe my world travel experience helps guide our business ethics and is a great resource as I design enriching and meaningful travel experiences.

I enjoy working with my clients and the Accent on Travel team of professional travel consultants to skillfully create seamless and worry-free travel experiences for thousands of vacationers! On a day-to-day basis, I am fortunate to make a difference in people’s lives through travel.

What has been your favorite trip?

This is a question asked of me by many people once they hear of my travel experiences. I would have to preface my answer with my insight on creating ‘the best vacation ever’ experiences for myself and others - “It is not where you travel, it is how you travel that truly makes the difference in the experience”. Enhancing the trip would then be, who you traveled with. Can you relive that travel memory with family or friends time and time again only making the trip even more cherished? With all of this still kept in mind, culture speaks to me through food and drink in most destinations. But, ultimately, I would walk away from any meal to go on a wildlife viewing adventure or to take in some of the world’s most majestic natural landscapes so I have dozens of favorites built up since I started traveling in my early 20s. I have at least a dozen world travel favorites including expedition vacations, luxury cruises, and group travel experiences focusing on food and wine, culturally enriching destinations, or wildlife viewing experiences, all designed and managed through Accent on Travel.