AboutClaire B. Soares,AI Keynote Speaker and Founder of Travel AI University.
AI Expert · AI Strategist · AI Keynote Speaker · 6x Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist.
Claire B. Soares sold more than $3.4 billion in enterprise software to Google, Microsoft, IBM, Boeing, the federal government, and the DoD as a top 10% performer every year, across more than a decade of Fortune 500 enterprise sales. She flew more than a thousand flights doing it. Somewhere over the Atlantic she fell in love with the rhythm of international travel, and with the quiet sophistication of a trip that runs exactly as promised.
Founded 2013Up in the Air Life100,000+ community members
As Seen In
Forbes✦
Condé Nast Traveler✦
USA Today✦
ASTA✦
Virtuoso✦
Black Enterprise✦
Essence✦
Ebony✦
Travel Noire✦
Huffington Post✦
AfroTech✦
VICE News✦
The Root✦
Rolling Out✦
Forbes✦
Condé Nast Traveler✦
USA Today✦
ASTA✦
Virtuoso✦
Black Enterprise✦
Essence✦
Ebony✦
Travel Noire✦
Huffington Post✦
AfroTech✦
VICE News✦
The Root✦
Rolling Out✦
The Story
From a thousand flights to a travel company of her own.
In 2013, she channeled that love into Up in the Air Life, a luxury group travel company that became the vanguard of the Black Travel Movement and a multi-million dollar business with an audience of more than one hundred thousand worldwide.
Travel Noire named her one of the most influential Black women in travel. Airbnb included her in their inaugural Black Travel Leaders List. Walmart featured her in the Black Girl Magic campaign. Condé Nast Traveler has named her a Top Travel Specialist six years in a row.
In 2025, she earned her Certification as an AI Consultant and documented a Capstone project that produced a 490% increase in organic traffic in forty-five days and $97,000 in new revenue from organic search alone. That methodology became the V.O.I.C.E. Method™, the framework now taught inside Travel AI University.
Up in the Air LifeCaviar in the Air, launched 2020
Travel AI University is the institution she wishes had existed when she started. Calm and practical, built for the travel professional who wants to lead the industry instead of chasing it.
65 Countries
A few pages from the passport.
Everything taught at the University runs inside a real travel business first. These are the trips.
Antarctica
Largest Black-led travel movement to Antarctica
Bali
Giza
Giraffe Manor
Roland Garros
Lisbon
the islandsCaviar in the Air
cheers to the next one
Antarctica: the largest Black-led travel movement to Antarctica.
The Path
From São Paulo to Travel AI University.
2003–2013
Enterprise software sold to Google, Microsoft, IBM, Boeing, the federal government, and the DoD. Top 10% every year. $3.4B closed.
2013
Founds Up in the Air Life on a flight home from São Paulo.
2015
Travel Noire names her one of the most influential Black women in travel.
2018
First Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist designation.
2019
Airbnb Inaugural Black Travel Leaders List.
2020
Launches Caviar in the Air, the luxury group travel concierge.
2023
6x Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist · 100,000+ audience · multi-million dollar travel co.
2025
Earns Certified AI Consultant credential. Builds the V.O.I.C.E. Method.
2026Now boarding
Launches Travel AI University.
2003–2013
Enterprise software sold to Google, Microsoft, IBM, Boeing, the federal government, and the DoD. Top 10% every year. $3.4B closed.
2015
Travel Noire names her one of the most influential Black women in travel.
2019
Airbnb Inaugural Black Travel Leaders List.
2023
6x Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist · 100,000+ audience · multi-million dollar travel co.
2026Now boarding
Launches Travel AI University.
2013
Founds Up in the Air Life on a flight home from São Paulo.
2018
First Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist designation.
2020
Launches Caviar in the Air, the luxury group travel concierge.
2025
Earns Certified AI Consultant credential. Builds the V.O.I.C.E. Method.
next stop: your business
next stop: your business
Credentials
Receipts.
Claire B. Soares · Itemized
016x Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist
02Certified AI Consultant
03B.S. in Computer Science
04Top 10% enterprise sales executive · sold to Google, Microsoft, IBM, Boeing, the federal government, and the DoD
05$3.4B+ in enterprise software sales
06$16M+ in luxury travel sales
07Founder of Up in the Air Life, Caviar in the Air, and À Privé Journeys
08Former World Bank Educator
09Most Influential Black Women in Travel (Travel Noire)
10Travel Noire, Best Black-Owned Tour Company
11Airbnb Inaugural Black Travel Leaders List
12Walmart Black Girl Magic Campaign
13Led the largest Black-led travel movement to Antarctica
1465 countries visited
Paid in fullThank you
Featured In
The press.
Forbes
Condé Nast Traveler
USA Today
ASTA
Virtuoso
Black Enterprise
Essence
Ebony
Travel Noire
Huffington Post
AfroTech
VICE News
The Root
Rolling Out
Blavity
Shoppe Black
Griots Republic
Voyage ATL
FlyBrother Magazine
Airbnb
Walmart
Read the coverage
USA Today
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