Our Casto Concierge team has extensive travel industry experience and each was hand selected by Maryles Casto. The average industry experience of the team is over 15 years. They are experts in anticipating their guest's needs and finding creative solutions to any travel problem. Each Concierge agent is well-traveled and understands the challenges presented by today's traveler. Meet the team!

Mariette Ames   |  David Gilchrist   |  Marian Ronquillo   |  Mark Powell   |  Marie Palavi

Mariette Ames

Mariette has been in the travel industry since 1977 and joined Casto in 1987. She enjoys servicing clients as a Casto Concierge because she gets the opportunity to truly customize the experience for each traveler. Mariette has lived in South Africa, England, and Israel and continues to travel extensively throughout the world.

David Gilchrist

David has been in the travel industry for 20 years. He started his career planning group travel in Beverly Hills and then taught at a travel agent academy for 8 years. David has been with Casto for 11 years working on the International Rate Desk and the VIP Desk, which has grown into the current Casto Concierge program.

David's hobbies include sailing on the San Francisco Bay and the Delta and travelling with his family. He lived aboard his own sailboat at the age of 18 and has sailed as far north as Vancouver BC - single handed. His favorite travel memory is from a trip to the Pacific Basin in the late 1970's where he sailed 4 boats around the basin for a year and a half.  He tries to take at least 2 vacations each year - 1 domestic and 1 international. Last year he reached a milestone with his 40th trip to Vancouver - his favorite travel destination.

Marian Ronquillo

Marian began her career in the travel industry as a Reservations Agent at Philippine Airlines. After 5 years, she moved to Qantas Airways where she worked as a Reservations Agent, Rate Desk Agent, and finally as a Ticketing Agent. After 9 years at Qantas she made the move to a travel agency. From then on, she was hooked and spent the next few years in between vacation and corporate travel. Marian has been with Casto for the past 8 years and is currently the Concierge Supervisor. 

Mark Powell

Mark Powell has been with Casto Travel for over 20 years. He has enjoyed a wide range of responsibilities within Casto and his transition to the Concierge team was the natural result of a history of excellent service to a wide range of clients.

Understanding and fulfilling clients' expectations of their needs is Mark's primary focus. Establishing great rapport ultimately delivers the best results in anticipating those needs. He feels especially fortunuate that great relationships have been forged with clients over the years.

Travel is a big part of Mark's life outside work as well. He lived in Mexico for over five years, and has spent extensive time in France and Paraguay. His favorite vacation spot is a return to his home turf: the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest.

Marie Palavi

Marie joined Casto Travel in September 1983 as a corporate agent in the international department. She was one of the first agents to work on the VIP desk as well as in the group department. She also managed the ticketing department, was assistant manager of the domestic reservation department, as well as onsite agent at several corporate accounts.

Marie's extensive background in travel and customer service makes her a great addition to the Concierge desk.