Hi, I’m Carol — the creative force behind First Arrival Travel & Events.

I’ve spent more than a decade managing award-winning hospitality venues and producing experiences for Fortune 500 companies and global brands including the United Nations General Assembly, the Clinton Foundation, Salesforce, Samsung, and CultureCon. I’ve led events ranging from 200 to 40,000 guests, which have shaped brand stories, built global communities, and earned features in Forbes, NBC7 Chicago, and FashionWeek Online.

After falling in love with the beautiful country of South Africa during solo trip in 2023, I decided to make Cape Town my second home, splitting my time between SA and Brooklyn, NY.

That is where First Arrival was born. Our mission is to build Africa’s sports economy through travel, hospitality, and education.

We create travel experiences around major sporting events while connecting African sports organizations and infrastructure projects with investors and the strategic partners needed to support their growth.Through our work, we aim to expand access to funding and resources while creating more economic opportunities for the local businesses and communities driving Africa’s sports industry.

At the heart of everything I do is one goal: for people to walk away feeling seen and celebrated. That belief shapes how I build, how I create, and how I connect with the people and places around me.