Empyrean means “above the heavens.” It's the standard we plan to.

Gigi Becker's own summary of the business is hard to improve on: “Your time is valuable. Let us plan your corporate and leisure travel.” For more than 42 years she has done exactly that — researching, planning and booking travel for business travelers and for people chasing the trip of a lifetime.

Empyrean is deliberately small. Every enquiry, itinerary and change goes through Gigi directly, so clients deal with one advisor who knows their preferences rather than a rotating desk of agents. Corporate clients get a travel manager who understands their policy and their people; leisure clients get someone who has made French Polynesia and Africa her signature specialties.

As an affiliate of Andavo Travel, a Virtuoso member agency, Empyrean gives clients access to Virtuoso's network of hotels, cruise lines and tour partners — and the amenities that come with it, such as daily breakfast, upgrades when available and property credits at participating hotels.

And yes — when the trip allows, the dog comes too. Gigi has written about a DogCation in Santa Barbara on the Empyrean blog, and is happy to plan around four-legged travelers.