To understand the world, you have to go out and experience it. We know destinations because we’ve explored them first hand and we bring that experience to the table with every client we engage. We believe in a culture of collaboration, transparency, honesty and integrity. These values are integral to not only how we run our business, but also our lives.
“If you want to go fast, walk alone. If you want to go far, let’s walk together.” -African Proverb
David DiGregorio
David is a seasoned international marketing executive specializing in the travel and tourism industry. He is the founder of CornerSun Destination Marketing which provides marketing and consulting services to destination brands throughout the tourism sector. He has personally played a role in promoting over a dozen destinations around the world including South Africa, Ireland, Norway, Seychelles, Malawi, Guyana, Maldives, Uganda, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Argentina, Peru, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. He serves as Executive Board Member and Director of Marketing for the Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa (APTA), the nation’s leading B2B organization dedicated to promoting tourism from the USA to Africa and as a member of the Associate Member Advisory Committee of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA).
Prior to founding CornerSun Destination Marketing, David served as Head of Marketing and Communications for South African Tourism in North America. From 2009 to 2014, David helped put South Africa on the map leading an overall increase in annual arrivals from the USA of +49% and launching the destination’s social media strategy. David spearheaded major campaigns including partnerships with Major League Soccer around the 2010 FIFA World Cup and full episode integrations with TV’s The Bachelor, JEOPARDY! and All-Star Celebrity Apprentice.
While living in Australia, David served as a Marketing Associate for the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce (AICC) where he developed and executed bilateral trade programs, special events and trade missions in order to promote Israel as a trade destination to Australia. His other international experience includes consulting for the wine industry in France, managing media relations during the Beijing Olympic Games in China, and reporting for the Sochi 2014 Olympic News Service in Russia.
David holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Boston University and a Masters in Commerce with focus on International Business from the University of Sydney in Australia. He also holds a Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). His marketing work has been awarded with an AFAR Vanguard Award, eight Travel Weekly Magellan Awards, five HSMAI Adrian Awards, and earlier in his career he was twice recognized on the Hot List of “Rising Stars” by travAlliancemedia. He has contributed to The Huffington Post, TravelAge West magazine, National Geographic Travel, Men’s Journal, Explorer and Affluent New York magazines. David has lived and worked abroad in Australia, Spain, China and Russia and has traveled extensively to over 100 countries on all seven continents, often with his wife and two young daughters in tow.
Christina Koontz
Christina is an ambitious communications professional with nearly eight years of experience leading public relations campaigns for world-renowned brands and start-ups alike. A sampling of past clients serviced in both agency and in-house settings include Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Disney Parks & Resorts, South African Tourism, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hard Rock Cafe International, and Andiamo Luggage, among others. Specializing in the areas of media engagement, brand positioning, social media marketing, and strategic partnerships, she possesses a unique perspective and deep understanding of growing long-term customer relations through a variety of creative and innovative promotional strategies.
Christina’s media expertise ranges from pitching and securing feature stories across national print, broadcast and online media platforms to managing and executing both large and small-scale events, celebrity and executive media tours, destination press trips, and one-on-one editor meetings. Her dedicated media efforts and strong relationships have landed her clients on the pages of leading national newspapers, such as USA TODAY, Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post; top lifestyle publications including Travel + Leisure, Town & Country, Shape, Esquire, and Real Simple; and key trade outlets such as Travel Weekly, Recommend, and Skift.
Most recently, Christina led the re-branding strategy and consumer launch of Andiamo Luggage, including managing the brand’s social media accounts, spearheading public relations and media efforts, and building a robust influencer program of nearly 300 partners in the fashion and lifestyle space.
Christina holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations from Quinnipiac University with a concentration in Spanish. When she’s not strategizing new and unexpected ways to keep her clients top of mind among core audiences, you can find Christina teaching yoga as an RYT-200 or planning her next worldwide adventure. She is based in the Greater New York City area.
Olivia Liveng
Olivia Liveng (née Balsinger) is a seasoned publicist who has played several influential roles across the tourism industry value chain, including developing products with tour operators, working as a travel journalist and editor, producing television shows, and securing placements for clients in prestigious Tier One outlets.
Liveng has secured placements for clients across all industries in publications, including The New York Times, CN Traveller, People Magazine, Time Magazine, The Today Show, Travel & Leisure, Forbes, Fodors, Business Insider, The Ladders, Matador Network, Oprah Winfrey, Time Magazine, Black Enterprise, and Good Morning America.
Before becoming a consultant, Liveng directly contributed to a wide variety of publications, including Fodors, Forbes, The New York Post, Business Insider, Paste Magazine, Elite Daily, Yahoo, TravelAge West, Travel Pulse, Insider Travel Report, O! The Oprah Magazine, Canadian World Traveller, American World Traveller, LA Style Magazine, AFAR, among many others. Olivia now uses her position as an influential travel journalist and an incredible wealth of contacts in travel media to bring value to her clients and exposure to their brands.
Liveng is also the co-host and co-producer of Journeys Beyond, coming soon to Amazon Prime (her co-host/producer is Benjamin Bryant, the former co-executive producer of the Daytime Emmy award-winning drama series Anacostia). She was also a producer and publicist of the PBS series Fly Brother with Ernest White II, launched in 2020.
Sarah Kingdom
Sarah Kingdom is a renowned travel writer, mountain guide, and devoted mother whose life story reads like an adventure novel. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Sarah discovered her passion for the untamed beauty of nature early on. At the age of 21, her journey took a pivotal turn when she set foot on African soil and immediately felt a profound connection with the landscape and its culture. This marked the beginning of a lifelong affair with the continent.
Over the years, Sarah has become a familiar figure on Kilimanjaro, guiding expeditions to its summit countless times. Her mountaineering achievements are not confined to Africa, however, as she has also led and participated in numerous climbs across the Himalayas, expanding her expertise and reverence for the world’s most majestic peaks.
With an insatiable appetite for the road less traveled, Sarah has ventured into some of Africa’s most secluded corners, unearthing stories and experiences that most can only dream of. Her work as a travel expert for CornerSun has allowed her to blend her dual perspectives as an insider and a seasoned traveler, bringing a unique depth to the content she creates. Her compelling narratives and insightful reflections on tourism are showcased across prominent publications such as Travel Africa magazine and Travel + Leisure, as well as online platforms like Safari Culture.
As a content strategist for CornerSun Destination Marketing, Sarah’s mastery in storytelling is put to strategic use. She crafts a rich tapestry of articles, newsletters, and multimedia assets that narrate the allure of travel destinations with authenticity and passion. Her work not only informs and inspires but also bridges the gap between curious travelers and the cultural and natural treasures waiting to be discovered. In every piece of content she produces, Sarah’s deep-rooted love for exploration and discovery shines through, positioning her as a leading voice in the world of travel and adventure tourism.