DUCO Travel Summit acquired by investor group led by new president Rebeca Pinheiro
What's the deal? DUCO Travel SummitDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a boutique luxury travel trade platform, has been acquired by an entrepreneurial investment fund led by incoming President and Partner Rebeca Pinheiro and backed by private investors. Founder Carolina Perez retains a stake as shareholder and joins as a strategic board member, guiding long-term strategy and portfolio expansion. Financial terms were not disclosed.
What's the endgame? Pinheiro takes over day-to-day leadership alongside the existing DUCO team, with a focus on operational stability and expansion into new regions. "My priority is to preserve what makes DUCO unique while supporting the talented team that has earned the trust of our partners around the world," she said.
Why now? The deal frames the transition as continuity rather than change. Perez, the company's sole founder, described her responsibility as ensuring "DUCO continues to evolve while preserving the essence that has always defined it," adding that she found a leader in Pinheiro who shares that vision.
What changes for partners? Little, by design. DUCO confirmed its core team stays in place to run operations, event logistics, and partner relations, so travel designers and hoteliers keep their existing points of contact. Participants from the Middle East and GCC remain a valued segment of its high-net-worth network.
The backstory: Founded in 2016, DUCO carved a niche in luxury travel events through a single-destination, immersive format. Its portfolio includes DUCO ItalyDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → (moving to Rome in 2027), DUCO FranceDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → in Paris, and DUCO Spain & PortugalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → in Marbella, with a UK & Ireland debut set for London in 2027.
The signal: Pinheiro, who holds academic credentials from MIT and a background in international business, is betting on measured expansion over reinvention. The acquisition keeps founder involvement intact — a common structure for preserving brand identity while bringing in fresh capital and leadership to scale.
Image credit: Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit
