The Woman Redefining the Art of Luxury Travel: Maxime van Gelderen of CTD

Van Gelderen wants clients to know that CTD doesn’t offer itineraries; it offers belonging.

Some travel stories start with a key you can’t see, and those are often the best kind. That’s the appeal of Maxime van Gelderen: founder and CEO of Connecting the Dots (CTD). Based in Dubai, her work often begins long before an itinerary exists.

You might ask yourself, ‘Why Dubai?’ van Gelderen explains, “Dubai is a crossroads of the world. It pushes us to think bigger.” In the spirit of thinking bigger, the travel agent’s approach makes trips feel less like a performance and more like being welcomed into a room where you already belong.

A Passport to Belonging

CTD didn’t grow from a list of bookings, but from relationships and asking better questions. What does a guest truly want to remember a year from now? Who needs to be in the room for that to happen? The answers shape everything that follows. One client may be happier sitting at a chef’s prep table, while another enjoys the sparkle of crystal toasts in a glitzy setting. Either way, CTD is happy to meet each client where they stand.

Becoming the Insider’s Insider

‘Insider access’ gets tossed around as a phrase, yet it rarely explains how a moment becomes personal. Van Gelderen’s method is practical. Her philosophy? Start with trust, not hype. Then, learn the rhythms of a place. Match a client’s tempo to the city’s calendar and begin with introductions that make sense. A backstage pass given after a thoughtful exchange with the designer feels completely different than an obligatory response to expected quid pro quos. True connection creates lasting memories because meaning sits inside it.

Feminine Leadership in Luxury

Van Gelderen’s leadership style favours intuition and follow-through. Teams are encouraged to notice the small things, like a preferred seat at a late dinner or a friend who quietly joins a day trip.

For van Gelderen, it’s all about honouring the value of the female perspective in a space often shaped by louder voices. She says, “I do think women bring a different kind of intuition into leadership, and I see that as one of my greatest strengths.”

CTD’s philosophy of listening first and then moving quickly doesn’t equate to softness. It’s strategy. Clients can sense the difference when their needs are anticipated before they even express them.

She explains, “Our strength is relationships … it’s about being in the right place, in the right way.”

A Pace That Balances Spark and Stillness

CTD’s calendar toggles from high-energy events to quieter retreats, and the brand moves with it. Some travellers want the rush of major festivals or races. Others may enjoy decompressing with calm waters or mountains. Regardless, van Gelderen is ready for anything, be it the Cannes Film Festival or the turquoise calm of the Maldives.

The company treats both vibes as legitimate choices, not opposing camps. The ideal arc may include a morning in an atelier, an afternoon with a collector, and a night that ends early on purpose. Travel, in this framing, is a composition. Empty space is part of the score.

A Process That Respects Privacy and Time

Behind the scenes sits a calm process, where discovery conversations set both tone and boundaries. Research follows. Then, discreet confirmations. The team keeps circles tight and feedback loops short, so changes land quickly without turning a trip into homework. Instead of measuring results by spectacle, CTD is more interested in whether a client felt fully themselves inside the experience. Is it subtle? Yes. But that’s the point. For van Gelderen, luxury should be clearer, not louder.

Looking Ahead Without the Billboard

Van Gelderen prefers growth that protects the worth. Expansion may come, but only if the intimacy stays intact. That means developing deeper local ties, investing in teams, and keeping the promise that a door will open only when it should.

That mantra is steady, providing the groundwork to develop journeys that feel like a welcome instead of a display. According to van Gelderen, access should serve the story rather than overshadow it. CTD aligns with that belief, so clients can keep returning for the same reason they started. That way, their trip feels like theirs and not someone else’s.

Van Gelderen wants clients to know that CTD doesn’t offer itineraries; it offers belonging. She sums it up best: “Luxury isn’t about extravagance, it’s about intimacy and memory.”

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