Who We are
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
Introducing our amazing team of professionals who are here to help you plan the perfect trip. No matter where you're going or what kind of experience you're looking for, these passionate and experienced individuals can make it happen. From travel concierges to destination analysts, from social media strategists to event planners, this dynamic team is here to help you create a unique and unforgettable journey.
Christian Tamte
Owner
Married to the love of my life and mum to 3 pups and an elderly cat named “Kitten”, I have a passion for all things related to the sea and a great appreciation for delicious food and fine whisky.
My dad always said “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life”. He was right, of course, and although some days are grueling- I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
Now- doing something I love completely differently than how most others do it…. that’s where it gets interesting…
It all started with planning our honeymoon to Thailand.
My wife, like so many of us, had a bucket list activity to ride an elephant.
I set to work, researching, planning and perusing all the many vendor options for this event. It wasn’t long before we realized that this was harmful to the animals and in fact, the process of separating a mother from her calf is quite brutal and happens often for businesses that offer this activity.
We quickly discovered the dark side of this type of tourism and it did not sit well with us.
We shifted our focus and instead decided to spend a day at the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
We were instantly enamored with this entire experience from the education to the hands on exposure with the rescued pachyderms.
We spent the whole day walking with, feeding and bathing them.
This easily became one of, if not our favorite memory in all of our travels around the world.
From that point on, I was a changed travel specialist.
After about 20 years of working in nearly every aspect of the travel industry, I had set a new trajectory for my career and newly founded business.
Now, when I travel personally or professionally, I’m hooked on finding unique experiences that are both fun and philanthropic.
CONNECT
I love meeting the local people where I’m visiting. I especially enjoy supporting local small businesses wherever I travel.
As a business owner, myself, I find it incredibly rewarding to connect with other entrepreneurs from around the world and hear their successes and struggles- and then work with them however I can.
HELP
I have several organizations that I give to each year including Kaleidoscope Youth Center and the Coral Restoration Foundation.
LOVE
Fundemar is a fantastic organization working to help restore the coral reefs in the Dominican Republic.
Each year I am making it a point to spend time with local dive shops in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic, like Slow Dive Casa Chihuahua, that partner with Fundemar to clean the reefs and assist with the coral spawning.
This is not only a very rewarding experience, but I have so much fun giving back and getting a unique perspective in the oceans.
Ray Guida
Director of marketing
As the Director of Marketing at Zone Travel, I bring over a decade of diverse experience in marketing strategy, digital marketing, project management, creative services, and storytelling. My journey into marketing traces back to my childhood, steeped in the captivating world of theatre, where I spent endless hours both as an audience member and a performer. It was within this immersive environment that my passion for storytelling was ignited. From an early age, it was clear that marketing was more than just a career path for me—it was my innate calling.
Beyond the realm of marketing, you'll often find me either doting on my lively pup, Harmony, or engaged in spirited board game sessions with friends. Interestingly, it was my shared enthusiasm for board games that led me to cross paths with Christian, the visionary and owner of Zone Travel. This chance encounter sparked a dialogue about how I could contribute to the innovative ventures at Zone Travel.
Upon deliberating potential collaborations with Christian, I took a moment to introspect on my enduring love for travel and cultural exploration, realizing that these passions had yet to be fully integrated into my professional endeavors. While I proudly call Columbus, OH, my home and consider myself a true Buckeye, I've been fortunate enough to call various parts of the U.S. my home and traverse almost every state—a collection of experiences that has profoundly enriched my life.
My wanderlust, however, extends far beyond just American borders, with adventures that have led me to immerse myself in the vibrant cultures of Spain, Germany, Mexico, Panama, Canada, and Australia. Each journey has left an indelible mark on my worldview, expanding my horizons and fostering connections with people from diverse backgrounds. As evidenced by my photo, I am also unapologetically a Disney enthusiast, always eager to embark on magical adventures at Disney Theme Parks.
Joining Zone Travel represents the seamless convergence of my passions for storytelling, travel, and community. I am elated to be part of a team that prioritizes giving back and making a positive impact on communities worldwide. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to share the remarkable stories of our clients' journeys each week and thoroughly enjoy collaborating with the team to curate the most unforgettable travel experiences that enrich lives and create lasting memories.
Connect
Help
Love
Lonny Keels
Destination Analyst
I grew up in a small Ohio town but there was enough culture to instill a sense of adventure. I couldn't wait to move to a bigger city so like a lot of other Ohio kids, I moved to Columbus and eventually ended up in Olde Towne East where I enjoyed the historic homes and energetic crowd for over 30 years. Three years ago, we decided we needed more nature and adventure so we moved to the quiet life of rural Maine where we enjoy easy access to the ocean and mountains.
I'm an animal lover and haven't spent much time in my life without at least one dog, currently my fiancé and I have three. Dogs in need somehow always find me and I couldn't be happier about it. I'm an active environmentalist, recycling, natural gardening practices, and a vegan diet are my ways to help the earth recover. If you have any good vegan recipes, I wanna hear about them!
My lifelong quest for adventure has led me to many cities and nature spots all around the United States and the world, which I do whenever I can. I love to be in or near the water, on a mountain trail, and I'd even be a space tourist if given the chance! When I'm not traveling, I'm often dreaming about it or experiencing other coultures in VR. Before I worked at Zone Travel, Christian planned my trip to Greece. It was such a great experience that I wanted to get involved so I joined the team. The way I like to travel lines up perfectly with the company's ethos so it's a great fit!
Connect
I’m a confirmed introvert but love to talk to local people along my travels. I find that is the best way to really learn about a culture, and the best places to visit.
My oldest connection is with my family of course. My siblings and my fiancé also happen to be my best friends!
Help
I enjoy supporting locally owned businesses and spreading the word about their Awesome food, products and services.
I’m highly interested in science and medicine and how the innovations can help people. This led me to becoming a living kidney doner recently. I think I benefited personally from the experience as much as the recipient did medically. I hope by doing this and talking about it will allow more people to consider it too. You can connect and find out why living donation is so important at support.kidney.org.
Love
I truly believe everyone has the right to nutritious food. I love growing my own organic fruits and veggies but there’s always way more than we can eat! I give the extra food to The Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine.
I know this food will go to the people who need it because they are a member of Feeding America, an organization I really trust and support financially.
Shawnie Kelly
Travel Guide, Writer, Chef
I am a Columbus-based author, and a travel and food writer who has published four books, as well as hundreds of history, food, and travel related magazine articles. I attended Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA., where I received a Bachelors Degree in History, after which I pursued graduate studies at The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. After receiving a Master’s in Art History with a focus on Medieval and Renaissance architecture and sculpture, I embarked on a post-graduate fellowship at the The University of Edinburgh in Scotland. My academic background afforded an opportunity to work in Europe for five years with English Heritage and Historic Scotland, during which time I traveled extensively throughout Europe and Great Britain for research purposes. My work took me all over France, Spain, and Italy and needless to say, I fell in love with all the food.
During these years, I began taking cooking classes as a social outlet - everywhere from Istanbul, Tuscany and Stockholm to the Caribbean and Mexico, seeking out seasonal ingredients and local cooking techniques. As a food and history lover, I am particularly interested in regional culinary traditions and how food connects us with a culture and with each other. I have been teaching travel and cooking classes for the past 18 years and has been conducting culinary and cultural tours throughout Europe and the U.S. since 2008.
I am a popular Chef Instructor at Columbus State and, in recent years, I’ve hosted weekly cooking segments on local television, participated in cooking competitions, and I’m passionate about my guests having a great culinary experience.
I’m an avid runner, herb gardener, wine enthusiast, and cat lover.
The hashtag #foodislove is the mantra my family and I live by, daily!.
Connect
I connect with people and places through food and architecture. Each provides a sense of place and speaks to both history and current times.
Real food has connected me with so many interesting business owners during my three decades of travel, I sniff out people and businesses serving local, seasonal, sustainable food.
And as a former architectural historian, I enjoy visiting UNESCO sites and protected landscapes.
My travel mantra is to maintain the integrity of place, tangible heritage, and show respect for other cultures.
Help
I regularly donate to several hunger and animal-focused charities, but the two nearest and dearest to my heart are the Children’s Hunger Alliance- an Ohio-based non-profit dedicated to ending childhood hunger in more than 88 countries.
Cat Welfare of Columbus is where I feel that my money, supplies, and time has been most immediately impactful.
Love
My best friend is the Finish-Line Captain at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon. I have been her right-hand man for 12 years (as of October 2023). We spend time through the year helping the organizing committee plan the Marathon weekend, making sure the Finish Line is safe, restorative, and most of all celebratory.
It is so inspirational seeing tens of thousands of people meet their goal of finishing a Marathon (or half) and participating in an event that has raised millions of dollars for Children’s Hospital.
It is super inspiring watching the winners cross the finish line, but it is even more important to be there to cheer on the very last person to finish!
We are associated with the following organizations:
