Garrett Cayton’s path to becoming a travel advisor is not dissimilar to many other advisor origin stories. Cayton and his wife Ana are avid travelers, and friends and families were constantly asking them for recommendations and advice.
So, a year-and-a-half ago, the pair started their agency, The Discerning Travellers, to create experiences that feel unique and non-commercial for their American and European clients who are both extremely well-traveled and high-net-worth.
While Cayton’s wife will continue running the daily work of their agency, he is taking on a new role in the travel industry — that of hotel owner. Here, he shares why he became a co-owner of El Encanto in the hills of Santa Barbara, California, and how his background as a travel advisor will shape the guest experience for both clients and fellow advisors.
Garrett Cayton and his business partners purchased El Encanto from LVMH earlier this month for $82.2 million.
Credit: 2025 Mike Kelley
What will your role be as co-owner of El Encanto?
As a co-owner of the hotel, I'll focus on enhancing the guest experience. I see what works and what doesn’t work at other properties, and I want to bring those best practices to life in a way that aligns with our overarching vision.
[A great hotel] unfolds a curated reality, and as an owner, you get to create a world from your own imagination and continually refine it.
One of my other passions is film, and like a great movie, a great hotel drops you into a fantasy. It unfolds a curated reality, and as an owner, you get to create a world from your own imagination and continually refine it. Being able to create that kind of dream environment is a real privilege.
Will there be any synergy between your role as an advisor and a hotel co-owner?
Each role will inform the other, and seeing both sides — buyer and seller — will sharpen how we position the property for the advisor community.
You learn so much from being exposed to various products in the industry and by listening to client feedback. Our clients are incredibly discerning, and their insight — along with what we see firsthand and hear from colleagues — provides a real wealth of knowledge, and that will inform every detail.
What are some of your favorite hotels that you hope to emulate at El Encanto?
My partners and I believe El Encanto should fully embody the idea of California living, given its location on the American Riviera. That means a sense of wellness that is pervasive but not prescriptive — local wine and produce, beautiful nature and carefully considered spa offerings.
Lily of the Valley in the South of France really gets that balance between chic relaxation and holistic health. You can go there for a classic St. Tropez beach vacation or engage in a host of holistic offerings and never leave the property.
Villa Treville in Positano, Italy, is an influence on Cayton.
Credit: 2025 Villa TrevilleAnother place I look to is Villa Treville in Positano. The sense of casual luxury there is so appealing — even in one of the toniest resort towns in the Mediterranean, you feel you can walk around the place barefoot, like you are at a good friend's home. Yet, it is one of the classiest places I have ever stayed.
Will your experience as an advisor impact how you work with fellow advisors booking clients or visiting on fam trips?
Absolutely. Advisors are a vital part of the travel industry, and we view them as true partners in delivering an exceptional guest experience. Some properties make working with advisors unnecessarily difficult or overly corporate in how they interact, and I don’t think that helps anyone, least of all the clients.
We are entrusted with people’s time and money, and that is a responsibility we take seriously. We will work closely with advisors and aim to deliver above and beyond on every booking. We’ll also keep them updated on new offerings and enhancements as we continue refining the guest experience.
Did you sell and/or visit El Encanto as an advisor? If so, what struck you (and your clients) about it?
The Santa Barbara/Montecito area wasn’t a market we booked regularly, but El Encanto always felt like the best value five-star hotel in the region. It has a unique authenticity, thanks to its history. That said, there were some soft product issues that kept it just below the top of the market. With the upcoming renovation and immediate service improvements, I believe it will be well-positioned to become the most in-demand drive-to destination from Los Angeles.
Cayton hopes to position El Encanto as a must-visit drive destination from Los Angeles.
Credit: 2025 Mike Kelley
Do you see more hotel ownership in your future?
Definitely. I have tons of ideas for hotels in different places — it just depends on what opportunities arise. For now, though, the focus is on making this one shine.
What’s your philosophy on travel and the trips you create?
People should be truly transported when they travel. Most of our clients have already seen much of the world, so our job is to show it to them in a way that they haven’t experienced before. They may be on their 10th visit to Paris, but we can offer them an after-hours drink in the Louvre. These clients have incredibly comfortable home lives, so wherever they go needs to feel even better — whether that’s insider access, phenomenal dining or an unforgettable adventure.
And every trip is completely bespoke. Whether it's an iconic destination like London or somewhere more remote like the jungles of Africa, the entire trip has to be exceptional and seamless.
