Founded in 2011 as “the next generation in gay travel,” Brand g recognized that LGBT+ travelers were looking for new and more exotic types of travel opportunities. Since river cruising was quickly becoming the hottest segment in travel, it only seemed natural to offer deluxe river cruise tours all over the world – a style of travel we personally love.
Since then, we’ve expanded into deluxe land-only tours, as well, to countries like Africa, Ireland, Japan, and Scotland, which have earned us some of our best reviews and most fervent repeat travelers.
Over the past nine years, Brand g has grown from a two-person company offering one trip a year to a six-man staff producing and operating 11 trips a year around the world. And without the hard work and talents of the awesome individuals below, there would BE no Brand g. They’re not in it for the money – well ok, maybe a little money (a girl’s gotta eat) – they’re in it because they love travel, they love people, and they love wearing drag in foreign countries. (Don’t ask.)
On any given Brand g vacation, you’ll likely have either Jeff – and his equally handsome husband, Troy – or uber-social Brian onboard (along with an additional host, like Johnathon or Nick), making sure everything runs like clockwork and that you’re having a great time. These guys genuinely care.
Jeff Gundvaldson
Jeff joined Brand g in March of 2013 bringing more than 25 years experience in management and customer service, previously as President of RSVP Vacations.
As CEO, Jeff designs vacations, negotiate deals, and spend numerous hours every week making sure that Brand g is a well-oiled machine.
Brian Van Wey
Co-founder and current CFO, Brian brings over 20 years experience in brand management, marketing and event production, most recently as Director of Marketing at RSVP Vacations.
A passionate traveler, Brian has worked in France, Italy and Switzerland, and has operated travel programs in over 60 countries.
Nick Pavlick
Nick also hails from RSVP, and, as Director of Operations, brings a fabulous level of organization – not to mention charm – to the company.
Nick is in charge of reservations, and he makes sure that your trip fees are exactly as quoted and that every other detail of your vacation is handled with care and love. Nick is a find.
Johnathon Gallagher
Johnathon hails from the U.K. and lives in Bonnie, Scotland. Johnathon has a wealth of management and customer service experience, and has even served royalty whilst working with British Airways.
Many of you know him as the hilarious, warm and fun host. However, when not hosting, he is busy planning future trips and sourcing Brand g’s entertainment.
Eric Poole
As Director of Marketing, Eric came to Brand g in an unusual way: he won the annual free cruise giveaway in 2016. (He loved the experience so much, he went to work for the company.)
A former Fox Television marketing executive, Eric handles all the marketing, from ads to social media to blogs and articles. When he’s onboard, Eric also enjoys making sure guests have a great time.
Troy Bermel
Many of you know him as Brand g’s resident shutter bug and host. Troy is a self-taught photographer with a keen eye and an easy smile.
However, when not hosting or capturing the Brand g experience with his photos, Troy is busy working as a landscape designer back in Minneapolis.
Brand g Gives Back
A big part of our philosophy at Brand g is to leave countries just a bit better than we found them. That’s why all our exotic trips (India, Asia, etc) contain a philanthropy moment that our guests call “life-changing”.
Once you’ve visited a needy community – like a school in Cambodia where the children have to sit and work on the floor, or a tribe in Tanzania that has to walk miles each day for water – you become personally invested. We and our enormously kind guests have helped fund desks and computers, a fresh water well, even helped build a new school. What would be lunch money to us can literally change the lives of people in third world countries.
