Exploranter Life Style

My name is Flavio Melo. I am a certified BASI (British Association of Snowsport Instructors) Ski Instructor Level 2.

I have been skiing since 1984, work in the hospitality industry since 2000 and speak German, Spanish, English and Portuguese.

I have extensive experience in customer service, having led my clients in wilderness areas for 8 years, mostly in Patagonia, Argentina, Chile and Brazil, while running my own Hotel on Wheels Overland Expeditions Company (please, check this New York Times article on my company – http://bit.ly/DLtEM ).

I also have extensive experience in promoting businesses, using traditional, new and social medias. Also I have access to major Brazilian Ski Tour operators.

FLAVIO MELO

Contacts
E-mail: flavio (at) exploranter (dot) com
Skype: exploranter
www.exploranter.com
http://linkedin.com/in/exploranter

Professional Qualifications (and latest reviews)

- Ski Instructor (BASI level 2 - British Association of Snowsport instructors – aspiring Sep’09)
- Canadian Special Olympics Coach Level 1 (WDHS 1988)
- Avalanche Awareness (Club Andino de Bariloche - Peak Leaders – Aug’09)
- Backcountry Introduction (Club Andino de Bariloche - Peak Leaders – Aug’09)
- First Aid (Club Andino de Bariloche - Peak Leaders – Aug’09)
- ILM Level 3 Award in Leadership (International Leadership Management - Aug’09)
- Army Lieutenant – Infantry (Brazilian Army Reserve Corps)
- Lawyer (University of Sao Paulo – USP - Dec’94)

Languages

- Very good or fluent
o German – learned in High School in Germany
o English - learned in High School in Canada
o Spanish - learned working in Patagonia for 5 summers
- Beginner
o French – starting to learn – can read some
- Mother Language
o Portuguese

Relevant Work Experience

9 years hospitality experience
8 years experience leading groups in wilderness areas
10 years experience as speaker (subjects: Brazil, Tourism and Generation Y)

Exploranter Overland Expeditions - www.exploranter.com (Jul’00 – Present)
Hotel on wheels with expeditions all over Brazil, Patagonia, Atacama and other parts of Chile and Argentina
- Founder (please, check this article on the New York Times – http://bit.ly/DLtEM )
- Lead guide on most tours and on all technically difficult tours.
- Creation of itineraries and choosing of attractions and local partners
- Presently acting as advisor

Txai Resort – 5 star resort in Bahia – exclusive service provider – Land Rover Excursions and Special Experiences Creation (Jul’07-Apr’08)

Blackcomb Snowmobiling – Whistler, Canada - Snowmobile guide (Dec’96) (invited by Robin Pegg)

Bucsky Hotel – 4 Star Hotel in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro - Cross Training Internship (Jul’87-Nov’87)

Relevant Nature and Sports Related Experiences

- Ski since 1984
- Practiced over 50 different sports, studying and learning the technique
- Competed in regional and national level in White Water Kayaking (1986-87), Motorbike Cross Country Enduro (1996-04), Cross Country Rally – cars (1999-00) with trophies in all categories
- Best placed competitor in Orientation during the Army School Olympics (jul’90)
- Focus on Safety - Practicing and competing in action sports since a very young age made me very aware of all safety issues involved.
- Lived all my childhood and teenage years in natural areas (mountains in the State of Rio, Lake Constance in Germany and Great Lakes in Canada) having an intimate relationship with the outdoors

Recommendations and references - please see more @ http://www.linkedin.com/in/exploranter

“Excellent Relationship Manager and Entrepreneur. Flavio’s competitive advantage is his ability to anticipate customers needs, find/ create the right product and magnificently deliver it. He is passionate about his business and constantly challenging himself through ambiguity.” May 8, 2006
Rodrigo Rivera
was Flavio’s client - Rodrigo.RIVERA (at) newedgegroup (dot) com

Latest Business Partner – Bob Wollheim @ Sixpix Publishing – bob (at) sixpix (dot) com (dot) br

Education

- Studied Law at Universidade de Sao Paulo - USP
- Graduate studies in Business Administration at Fundacao Getulio Vargas - FGV – CEAG
- Specialization in Entrepreneurship at Babson College - Franklin W. Olin Graduate School of Business
- Specialization in Tourism – Travel Agency Module at FGV - CEAG
- Travel Agency Management and Entertainment Modules at SENAC
- High School – Germany, Brazil and Canada

Other Work Experiences

- Sixpix Publishing – Media - Director of Strategic Planning and Generation Y Consultant (aug’08-feb’09)
- Arisco – Food Industry – Strategic Planning Analyst (jan’99-dec’99)
- PriceWaterhouseCoopers – Business Consultant – Change Management (oct’95-dec’98)
- Law Practice – Corporate, Banking, International and Tax Law (internships and practice from 1989 to 1995)