New York Office

Cathy Decker

Principal

A fixture in the travel industry for over 35 years, Decker is a girl boss and mom of three who believes in mentoring, the exhilarating thrill of solo travel and the power of forgiveness.

Unforgettable dining experience? 

The catamaran pulled up to a stunning slice of Jamaica beach and we feasted on roasted yam, curried goat and stewed oxtail cooked on an open fire.

Pro family travel tip? 

Prepare and then relax.  Moms often set the tone for the whole family; if you are relaxed, confident and looking forward to fun – so will the rest of the tribe.

Where next? 

Visiting faraway family and friends is the priority this year, but then, I am going to Petra.  

Devyn Barker

Senior Vice President

A seasoned PR and marketing strategist with over 15 years of experience, Devyn brings a thoughtful, creative approach to every campaign. When she’s not building brands or shaping stories, she’s planning her next trip, catching the latest on Broadway, seeing a concert (#allhailQueenBey), or checking out a new restaurant.

Most memorable travel experience? 

Flying over Mount Everest in Nepal probably tops the list of most memorable experiences. But nothing beats summer on Cape Cod, the beauty of Lake Como and Greece, or returning to two of my favorite cities: Paris and London.

If you had to eat the same meal every day? 

Pizza.  Although I’ve lived in NYC for over 10 years, as a native CT girl, I will argue with anyone that New Haven has the best slice.

Where to next? 

Scuba diving in the Galapagos or hiking Machu Picchu

Kristin Sluyk

Vice president

Keeping a pulse on the spirit of the zeitgeist and the intersection of compelling research, Kristin is a trend-spotter with a knack for crafting strategy that captivates. A lover of talking story and in constant pursuit of creative living, she approaches her work like an artist, drawing inspiration from everyone and everywhere.

Where to next?

Bear camp in Alaska; building an eco-villa in Costa Rica; traversing the lavender fields and tasting Provence wines in France, catching waves at surf camp in Taghazout, Morocco. 

Favorite travel experience(s):

Eating French fries (with mayo) in Brugge; meditating in a riverside hut in Kauai; having lunch with local artisans in Amman, Jordan; feeling the mist on my face from the colossal Skogafoss waterfall in Iceland; living on a sailboat in Croatia; the overwhelming awe of seeing the Taj Mahal and all of its majesty; sampling exotic fruits with an indigenous womens tribe in the Amazon rainforest; paragliding over the Paracas coast and camping in a desert oasis in Peru; walking amongst viking ruins in Greenland; eating fresh pecorino and sipping on Montepulicano with my mom at an agriturismo in Tuscany; waking up to a supergroup of humpback whales in the Denmark Strait and witnessing the dancing northern lights in the middle of the Arctic ocean.

…and the list goes on…

 Fun fact:

When I’m not traveling or telling stories of travel– I’m practicing, studying, and teaching the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda and Yoga, and free-writing poetry. 

Lindsay Stein

Director of media relations

With a career that spans both sides of the byline, Lindsay brings a rare perspective to travel PR. For a decade at Decker/Royal, she’s led media strategy for tourism boards, hotels, and tour operators, while also freelance writing travel for outlets like Travel + Leisure and Brides. Whether she’s pitching a trend or landing dream coverage, Lindsay is passionate about storytelling, building connections, and inspiring others to see the world.

Where to next?

Thanks to working in both travel PR and freelance travel writing, I’ve checked off the majority of my dream destinations…43 countries and counting. Next up: exploring more of Asia, taking my son on an African safari one day, and finally making time for a trip to Costa Rica.

Most memorable meal:

Dining at Sushi Gion Matsudaya, a 6-seat reservation-only Michelin-starred omakase experience in Kyoto, Japan. No menu, no distractions, and the best sushi I’ve ever had.

Fun fact:

I mentor high school and college students who are passionate about pursuing a media-focused career in the travel industry. 

Jenna Lang

account Director

Jenna caught the travel bug as an intern for D/R way back when, and when not keeping up with the latest in pop culture is constantly seeking out her next adventure. 

What’s the one thing you can never travel without?

My portable luggage scale. I’m a chronic over-packer and can’t resist shopping in new places; a deadly combo when the return flight rolls around.

What’s your biggest pinch-me travel moment?

Call me cliché, but there’s nothing more magical than the Eiffel Tower sparkling at night. Seeing it for the first time in all its evening glory {made even better with a chocolate crêpe in hand} was a movie-like moment I’ll never forget, and an experience that will never get old. I was also able to not only see, but climb inside one of the pyramids in Egypt – my biggest bucket list check to date. 

Unforgettable dining experience?

I was lucky enough to have dinner at the Michelin-starred Aroma restaurant in Rome, overlooking the Colosseum. It was my first Michelin dining experience and hands down the best meal I’ve ever had, with an epic backdrop to boot.

Where to next?

I’m dying to go on an African safari, and also explore more of my own backyard in the States. I’m always up for a good road trip and checking out a new city or national park! 

Melannie Arolick

account supervisor

A traveler since birth, Melannie is always looking for the most underrated cities to explore and the longest trails to hike. Having her passion for travel as a part of her career is a dream come true!

Favorite travel experience:

Riding a hot air balloon in Cappadocia. There’s nothing like seeing the sun rise from high up in the sky, surrounded by the mountains and hundreds of fellow aeronauts.

Where to next?

Machu Picchu! I’ve never been to South America and I would love to hike the Inca Trail.

What’s the one thing you can never travel without?

Headphones. Listening to Taylor Swift while walking aimlessly through the streets of a new city is pure magic.

Fun fact:

I’m running my first marathon in the fall! Maybe an international race will be in my future.

Kayla Ibe

account supervisor

A seasoned PR pro, Kayla comes to D/R with years of experience in media-centric brands having worked on clients such National Geographic, The New Republic, The Hollywood Reporter, Verizon Media, Telemundo, Smithsonian Magazine, and more. Now, she’s aligning her personal and professional interests in the world of travel PR.

Favorite Travel Experience:

During Covid a friend and I took a six week road trip through the US and hit 16 states and 12 national parks, all while working remote! My favorite part was driving the entirety of Highway 1 in California over the course of four days.

SOMETHING SOMEONE WOULD NEVER GUESS ABOUT YOU?

I am a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan and I've been to the last two Super Bowls they were in.

Next Travel Adventure?

I would love to see the Taj Mahal in person, so India is high on my list. Also dreaming of vineyards in Italy & France and the famous white houses on the cliffs in Santorini.

Bailee Mulder

senior account executive

Born and raised in beautiful Northwest Washington and now based in Nashville, Bailee brings more than five years of hospitality PR experience and a love for storytelling to her role. In the office, she’s a creative thinker, skilled writer, and media relations maven, and outside of work, she’s likely spending time outdoors or trying a new coffee spot. 

FAVORITE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE(S):

Road-tripping through Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, summer trips to British Columbia, and taking the road to Hana in Maui and staying at a cabin in Waiʻānapanapa State Park with two of my best friends.

WHERE TO NEXT?

The Netherlands is at the top of my list. I’m half Dutch and my grandparents immigrated to the US in the 1940s, so I’d love to take a heritage trip, especially with my family. Also dreaming of an Alaskan cruise, hitting some Caribbean islands, and taking a train through Europe.

Something SOMEONE would Never guess?

My love for comms was sparked through FFA in high school, where I competed in a career development event called Agricultural Communications – my team went to nationals and placed in the top 5! I also raised and showed pigs through the organization.

Aly Wichmann

senior account executive

After interning for D/R, Aly has grown with the team and is now an AE. Born and raised in Arizona, Aly is always planning her next adventure and looks forward to exploring more of the world.

Pinch Me Travel Moment?

It’s a tie between sailing on a yacht in the Amalfi Coast and paragliding off the Swiss Alps in Switzerland.

Fun Fact?

You can catch me always capturing and filming my travels and adventures on my iPhone. I now have almost all of my trips in the past 10 years documented in short videos to watch and relive.

where to next?

Traveling to an island is at the top of my list right now. Hawaii, Caribbean, Maldives, or Bora Bora - I’m not picky! 

I’m a first generation American, and Ukrainian was my first language.

A book that's been collecting dust on my nightstand. They’re always some of my best reads and never fail to put me in the vacay mood. 

Where to next?

Bali has been on the to-do list for a while, but I’m also hoping to visit Egypt and/or Amsterdam soon!

Bre Cherry

Account Executive

Coming from a family of travel enthusiasts, it surprised no one when Bre decided to jump into the world of travel PR. After years of agency hopping, she found her work family at D/R and has worked across an assortment of clients, including destinations, hotels, and cruise lines.

PINCH ME TRAVEL MOMENT?

Alright, I probably have a “pinch me” travel moment for every country I’ve visited, but I would say my top would be seeing the Northern Lights on my birthday with my mom by my side.

WHERE TO NEXT?

I’ve been lucky enough to hit 6/7 continents, and now it’s time for me to go 7/7 with a trip to Antarctica. 

SOMETHING YOU’D NEVER GUESS?

I’m scared of just about everything (can hear my friends saying now, “yeah, we know Bre”). People think because I travel by myself a lot, and on my own, that I must be pretty brave, but really, I’m just testing how hard I can push myself.

Chloe Tappan

Account Executive

Chloe started at D/R as an account coordinator and is now an account executive. Prior to D/R, Chloe spent a year working on the Disney Signature Experiences public relations team with a focus on the Disney Cruise Line fleet, along with Nike Communications, where she worked on accounts such as Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Gurney's Resorts, and more.  A graduate of Florida State University, Chloe currently lives in Orlando and can often be seen cooking something up in the kitchen, attending a musical, or enjoying one of the local theme parks.

FAVORITE DINING EXPERIENCE?

I recently had the opportunity to eat at what is considered the best restaurant in Paris (call it my Ratatouille movie moment). Each dish was unlike anything I’d tasted before, and only solidified my obsession with experiencing travel through food.

WHERE TO NEXT?

The world is my plate really – after crossing the food markets in Japan off the bucket list, I’d love to visit Italy, Mexico City, or Thailand next. 

SOMETHING YOU’D NEVER GUESS?

I almost studied musical theatre and my favorite sport is water skiing.

Alexia Saucedo

Account Executive

After agency hopping in undergrad, Alexia landed at D/R and has grown into an AE. Raised in both the Mitten and Lone Star State, she lives (for now) in Boston, Massachusetts. 

FUN FACT?

I grew up as a migrant farm worker and never spent more than 7 months in one place! My summers as a teenager were spent weeding and packaging dill, beets, radishes, beets, and more.

WHERE TO NEXT?

After conquering the Dolomites in Italy, Japan (Osaka and Okinawa, specifically) is next on my list. My village in Mexico is always my go-to for the holidays, though!

ANNIE KATZ

Account COORDINATOR

Annie brings a journalist’s curiosity and a publicist’s instinct to her role at D/R. She got her start writing for a New Jersey-based luxury lifestyle magazine, where she discovered a passion for travel and the connections it creates. With a pulse for the energy and momentum of agency life, Annie leads with her love for the unexpected.

FUN FACT?

I’ve always loved to write, so much so that I often find I can write my thoughts better than I can communicate. I am a self-proclaimed natural storyteller.

WHERE TO NEXT?

I was born and raised in New Jersey and keep my East Coast roots close to my heart — but I’ll always jump at any chance to head somewhere tropical. My bucket list is constantly growing… perhaps St. Barts?

London Office