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04.1.2013.
USPJEŠNI HRVATI U SVIJETU
Wande S. Radetti uspješna poslovna žena iz New Yorka
objavljeno: u Croatia Airilnes putnom časopisu

Kao dinamičan i spretan stručnjak za putovanja te komunikativna i uspješna poslovna žena, Wanda S. Radetti, vlasnica i osnivačica tvrtke VISITCROATIA.com - Tasteful
Croatian Journeys, česta je putnica.Tu šesterostruku dobitnicu nagrade Condè
Nat Travelera, vrhunski svjetski specijalist za odredišta za Hrvatsku (što je svojevrsni Oscar putničke industrije), u Hrvatsku često vračaju ne samo posao, nego i srce.Kažemo vračaju, jer Wanda je rođena u Hrvatskoj.

Wandina životna prića

Životne su okolnosti natjerale Wandinu obitelj da napusti njezin rodni grad Rijeku i preseli se u izbjeglički logor u Italiji, čekajući mogučnost odlaska u Ameriku. Obitelj je dobila dozvolu za useljenje u Sjedinjene Američke Države kad je Wandin otac, po struci kuhar, slučajno dobio ponudu za posao u restoranu u Chicagu, te se nadao da će ondje njegova obitelj početi novi život. Ali, njegova neočekivana smrt mjesec dana prije nego što je obitelj trebala otputovati, zadala je težak udarac obiteljskom snu o odlasku u Ameriku. No to nije spriječilo Wandinu majku da smogne hrabrosti i snage kako bi ostvarila obiteljski san. Odjevena u crninu, skupila je djecu i pošla na put prepun neizvjesnosti, ali i ispunjen nadom, te je svoju obitelj dovela u Ameriku.

- Smjestili smo se u New Yorku, a majka je našla posao u tvornici knjiga. Moj sedam godina stariji brat također je radio, a ja pohađala školu - prisjeća se Wanda. Uz engleski i talijanski (njezin materinski jezik), Wanda govori i španjolski te ponešto hrvatski. Poznavanje jezika i ljubav prema njima bez sumnje su joj uvelike koristili ne samo u poslu, nego i u njezinom velikom putničkom iskustvu.

- Život je oblik putovanja, on je put. Zato volim svoj posao, jer mi omogućava s drugima podijeliti regiju svijeta koju najviše volim, nudeći putnicima individualizirana iskustva koja obogaćuju život - naglašava Wanda te detaljnije objašnjava razliku između turista i putnika.

- Putnici točno znaju zašto žele putovati u neko odredište, što ondje žele doživjeti i što se nadaju iskusiti. Dobro obrazovan, sofisticiran, nezasitno radoznao, putnik se priprema za putovanje doznajući što više može o destinaciji, te uživa u očekivanju otkrića. Putnici proučavaju zemljopis, povijest, književnost i političke utjecaje odredišta. Uživaju u svim izrazima umjetnosti, u lokalnoj kuhinji i vinima. Više od svega žele upoznati i povezati se s ljudima te naučiti ponešto o njihovim običajima
i njihovim pričama. Putnik nastoji uspostaviti osobnu povezanost te trajne odnose, jer vidi svoj odraz u očima svojih novih prijatelja. Putnik cijeni ljepotu prirode, poštuje ju i uključen je u očuvanje netaknutog okoliπa.
Wanda za nas stvara romantičnu sliku: Na primjer, putnici prepoznaju razliku između
jutarnjeg lahora koji nježno miluje njihove obraze, te blagog vjetra koji donosi daπak
svježine u sparna kasna ljetna popodneva na obali Jadrana. Također, znaju i naziv vjetra što ih zapahuje tog trenutka.

Wanda i njezin visokoprofesionalni tim pomno rade kako bi osigurali da njihovi putnici
dobiju profesionalnu uslugu dok uživaju u prekrasnim trenucima koje će zauvijek
pamtiti. Njezina tvrtka, VISITCROATIA.com - Tasteful Croatian Journeys u praksi potvrđuje latinsku poslovicu nomen est omen, tj. ime je znak. Oni koji putuju u Hrvatsku s Wandom ne samo da će dobro upoznati ljepote naše zemlje, nego će i probuditi svoja osjetila dok uæivaju u različitim okusima, bojama, mirisima
i melodijama. Na posebnom putovanju za male skupine, Annual Tasteful Croatian
Journeys’ Spring Processions of Korcula putnici imaju priliku doslovno uroniti u živote
hrvatskih obitelji koje su cijenjeni članovi triju drevnih bratovština u gradu Korčuli: Svih Svetih iz 1301. godine, Sv. Roka iz 1575. te Blažene Djevice Marije od Utjehe iz 1603. godine. Putnika posvajaju obitelji tijekom Velikog tjedna, i on se pridružuje obiteljskim tradicijama i ritualima, pomažući pri pripremi hrane, kuhanju, pečenju i blagoslovu jela, te sudjeluje u kompleksnim procesijama koje organiziraju
bratovπtine. To je jedinstvena prilika čiji je vrhunac obiteljsko slavljenje ponovnog
rođenja i obnove proljeća za uskrsnim stolom u nedjelju.

Putovanja u Hrvatsku

Kao odraz načina na koji ju je majka dovela u SAD, čak i prije nego što je rat potpuno završio u svim dijelovima Hrvatske, Wanda je 1995. imala hrabrosti osmisliti i organizirati putovanja Tasteful Istra and Kvarner Journeys. Aranžman je organiziran za žensku udrugu Histra u New Yorku. Bio je to put samootkrća za sudionice, te uistinu emocionalan i sentimentom nabijen povratak u rodni kraj. Aranžman je bio vrlo uspješan te je potražnja za njim i dalje velika. Godine 1995. Wandin je san o organiziranju luksuznih putničkih iskustava u Hrvatskoj primio pohvale od hrvatskog tiska, koji ga je nazvao avangardnim.
- Naravno, trebalo je obaviti mnogo posla, i bio je to nevjerojatan izazov koji je postigao uspjeh, što mi donosi najveće zadovoljstvo. A sada je Hrvatska odredište koje nudi putovanja s pet zvjezdica.

Wanda danas organizira luksuzna iskustva za sofisticirane i zahtjevne članove sve duže liste putnika koji dolaze iz svih dijelova svijeta. Sa svojim putnicima Wanda dijeli težnju prema najvišim standardima kvalitete i vrijednosti, a to i ostvaruje što se svega tiče. Vjeruje da dobro obavljen posao ovisi o osjetljivosti na detalje i nijanse. A rezultati su neosporivi i, kako Wanda kaže, prekrasno je raditi s ljudima i donijeti osmijeh na njihova lica, to je najveće zadovoljstvo koje dobijemo nakon napornog rada.

Rad na novim projektima

Wanda uvijek nastoji obogatiti svoju ponudu novim projektima koji su istinski odraz njezina duha i u skladu s njezinim životnim putovanjem. Za Rijeku, grad svog rđenja i svoj emocionalni dom, snuje izgradnju Mediteranskog iseljeničkog spomenika časti, poput Zida časti na Otoku Ellis u New Yorku, gdje su zabilježena imena useljenika koji su prispjeli u Sjedinjene Države. Taj spomenik svake godine
privuće milijune posjetitelja iz svih dijelova Sjedinjenih Država i svijeta u New York. Smisao Mediteranskoga iseljeničkog spomenika časti bio bi obrnut, jer na njemu bi bila navedena imena hrabrih ljudi koji su napustili svoje domove, obitelji i prijatelje kako bi našli svoje mjesto u svijetu − i on bi doveo svijet u Hrvatsku.
- Granice su zamišljene kao mjesto gdje se možemo sresti, a ne razilaziti. Trebao mi je cijeli život da shvatim kako je blagoslov što sam rođena u regiji gdje se susreću mnoge europske kulture, tvoreći prekrasantalijsnaki, germanski i slavenski mozaik umjetnosti, povijesti, arhitekture, glazbe i kuhinje. Moj me život u Americi još više obogatio. Ja sam Hrvatica, Talijanka i Amerikanka.

U skladu sa svojom misijom da združuje ljude, sada radi oko projekta pod nazivom Dining Beyond Borders (butik putničog iskustva) koji istražuje gastronomiju Hrvatske, Italije i Slovenije. Nadalje, projekt će predstaviti zajedničku kulturu, povijest i baštinu što je dijele te tri susjedne zemlje koje su nekad bile
dijelom Austro-Ugarskoga Carstva.

- Ljudi se vole vratiti svojim korijenima, te što dulje žive, to su skloniji gledati unatrag. Kako godine prolaze, postaje nam sve važnije znati tko smo i odakle dolazimo. Sve više klijenata čiji su korijeni u Hrvatskoj i okolnim regijama angažira nas kako bismo za njih kreirali putnički aranžman Tasteful Heritage and Culture Journeys. Nakon završetka putovanja, užitak mi je čuti kad govore o svojim
ispunjenim emocionalnim reakcijama, o obogaćenju žvota i širenju srca i uma. Jer,
Hrvatska je prelijep dragulj koji plijeπi različitim bojama kad se gleda iz različitih kutova, naglašava Wanda.
Moja pustolovna i hrabra hrvatska majka kaže: Putovati je lijepo, i treba putovati u
životu, ali je najljepše kad imate dom u koji se možete vratiti.
Wanda pak zaključuje: Volim putovati i pomoći ljudima da putuju. Kad se napokon vratim u svoju domovinu, vračam se u Rijeku… u Hrvatsku.

Oni koji putuju u Hrvatsku s Wandom ne samo da će dobro upoznati ljepote naše zemlje, nego će i probuditi svoja osjetila dok uživaju u različitim okusima, bojama, mirisima i melodijama.

poslala: Wanda S.Radetti / HIA-portal
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4th January,2013.
SUCCESSFUL CROATS IN THE WORLD
Wande S. Radetti from New Yorka

Dynamic and agile travel professional and communicative, successful business
woman, Wanda S. Radetti, owner and founder of the company VISITCROATIA.com - Tasteful Croatian Journeys, is one of our frequent passengers. The six-time Condè Nast Traveler Awardee as World Top Destination Specialist for Croatia (think the Oscars of the travel industry) has repeatedly been drawn back to Croatia, not only due to her work, but also her heart. We say back to Croatia because Wanda was born here.

Circumstances of life compelled the family to leave her birth town of Rijeka and move to the refugee camps of Italy while waiting to migrate to America. Permission
to immigrate to the United States of America was given to the family when Wanda’s father, a professional chef, was fortuitously offered a job in a restaurant in Chicago where he hoped to bring his family to start a new life.

However, his sudden and unexpected death one month before the family’s scheduled
departure dealt a staggering blow to the family’s dream of going to America. That did not stop Wanda’s mother from mustering up the courage and strength to follow through with the realization of the family’s dream. Dressed in the black of mourning, she gathered her children and embarked upon a voyage fraught with uncertainty, but filled with hope as she brought her family to America.
- We settled in New York City and my mother got a job in a book factory. My brother, who is seven years older than I am, also worked while I went to school, remembers Wanda. In addition to English and Italian, her mother tongue, Wanda also speaks Spanish and a bit of Croatian. Her knowledge and love of languages has, ndoubtedly, been very useful not only in her work, but also in her extensive personal travel experience.
- Living is a form of travel; it is a journey. That is why I love my work as it permits me to share the region of the world that I love most by offering customized, life-enriching experiences to travellers, Wanda emphasizes, and goes on to more precisely explain the difference between a tourist and a traveller.

- Travellers know exactly why they want to travel to a destination, what they wish to
experience there and hope to discover. Well educated, sophisticated, insatiably curious - the traveller prepares for the journey by learning as much as possible about the destination and revels in the anticipation of discovery.They study the destination’s geography, history, literature and political influences. They take pleasure in all the expressions of art, savour the local cuisine and enjoy the wines. Most of all, they want to meet and connect with the people and learn about their customs and their stories. A traveller endeavours to personally connect and establish long-lasting
relationships as they see the reflection of themselves in the eyes of their new friends.
A traveller appreciates the beauty of nature, respects it and is engaged in the preservation of a pristine environment. Wanda creates a romantic image for us,
Travellers, for instance, recognize the difference between the morning breeze that gently caresses their cheek, and the mild wind which brings a bit of freshness to the late afternoon of a hot summer day on the Adriatic Coast.
And, they know the name of the wind that envelops them in that particular moment.
Wanda and her highly professional team work meticulously to ensure that all her travellers are professionally served while experiencing beautiful moments that they will forever cherish Her company, VISITCROATIA.com.

- Tasteful Croatian Journeys, in practice confirms the Latin saying nomen est omen, i.e. a name is a sign. Those who travel to Croatia with Wanda will not only become well acquainted with the beauties of our country, but will also reawaken their senses as they take in the various flavours, colours, scents, and melodies. On a particular small group journey, the Annual Tasteful Croatian Journeys’ Spring Processions of Korcula™, the travellers have a chance to literally immerse themselves into the lives of the Croatian families that are the venerated members of the three ancient
fraternities in the town of Korcula: All Saints from 1301, St. Rok from 1575, and Our Lady of Comfort from 1603. The traveller is adopted by the families during Holy Week and will join in the family’s traditions and rituals, help with the foraging, cooking, baking, and blessing of the food, and participate in the fraternities’ elaborate processions. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity that culminates with the family’s
celebration of rebirth and the renewal of spring at the Easter table on Sunday.
In reflection of the way her mother brought her to the U.S., even before the war was completely over in certain parts of Croatia, Wanda had the courage to design and organize Tasteful Istra and Kvarner Journeys™ in 1995.
The tour was organized for the Histra Association for Women in New York. It was a journey of self-discovery for the participants and a truly emotional and sentimental return to the land of their birth. The tour was a wonderful success and remains in great demand.
In 1995 Wanda’s dream to organize luxurious travel experiences to Croatia was hailed as avant-garde by the Croatian press. There was, of course, a lot of work to be done, and it was an incredible challenge that has become a most satisfactory accomplishment and success. And now, Croatia is a destination that delivers five-star travel.
Presently, she arranges luxury experiences for the sophisticated and demanding members of a growing list of travellers that come from every part of the world. Wanda shares a keenness with her travellers for the highest standards of quality and value, and delivers in all capacities. She believes that a job well done is reliant upon sensitivity to detail and nuance. And the results are undeniable, as Wanda states, It’s wonderful to work with people and bring a smile to their faces − it is the greatest satisfaction we can get after much hard work.

Wanda is always striving to enrich her offerings with new projects that are true to her spirit and coherent with her life journey. For Rijeka, the city of her birth and her emotional home, she dreams of building the Mediterranean Migration Monument of Honour, a reflection of the Honor Wall on Ellis Island in New York City which records the names of immigrants who arrived in the United States. The monument brings millions of visitors every year to New York City from all parts of
the United States and the world. The design for the Mediterranean Migration Monument of Honour would be the reverse, as it would list the names of the courageous people that left their homes, families and friends in order to find their
place in the world - and it will bring the world to Croatia.

- Borders are meant to be a place where we can meet, not where we separate. As a child of borders, it took me a lifetime to understand that I was blessed to be born in a region where many European cultures converge resulting in a beautiful Italic, Germanic and Slavic mosaic of art, history, architecture, music and cuisine.
My life in America has further enriched me - I am a Croatian Italian American.
In line with her mission to bring people together, she is currently working on a project
called Dining Beyond Borders™, a boutique travel experience exploring the gastronomy and wines of Croatia, Italy and Slovenia. Moreover, the project would present the common culture, history and heritage shared by these
three neighbouring countries that used to be part of the Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy.
- People like returning to their roots and the more they live the more inclined they are to look back. As years go by, it becomes increasingly more important to us to know who we are and where we came from. More and more clients with ancestral roots in Croatia and surrounding regions engage us to create their Tasteful Heritage and Culture Journeys™. Upon completion of their journeys, I delight in learning about their fulfilling emotional reactions, the life enrichment, and the expansion
of their hearts and minds. Croatia is a beautiful jewel which gives off different flashes of brilliant colour when looked at from different angles. As my adventurous and courageous Croatian mother would often say, Travel is wonderful, and one must travel in life, but it is most wonderful when there is a home to return to.
Wanda concludes, I love to travel and to help people travel. When to my ‘domovina’ I eventually return, I return to Rijeka... to Croatia.

Those who travel to Croatia with Wanda will not only become well acquainted with the beauties of our country, but will also reawaken their senses as they take in the various flavours, colours, scents, and melodies .


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