The Team
Paul
Paul started Karibuni back in 2000, just one man and his minibus, offering tours both in the UK and France to small groups of adventurous guests. However his aspirations soon outgrew his minibus and he bought the Aravis Lodge in France (not to mention more minibuses) to accommodate the ever increasing number of guests keen to experience the incredible activities, both summer and winter, that the French Alps have to offer. Having moved to the Alps full time, he now runs a very successful company, with the help of his team, which is growing every year.
Paul loves the outdoors and is happiest when walking or running in the mountains or road biking - his new hobby - in summer, snowboarding or skiing in winter, and generally sharing his love of the mountains with guests.
A busy man, he can be elusive, but mention a pre-dinner beer in the bar and he’ll be there!
Jess
Jess joined the Karibuni team in 2005, originally just for a winter season, but afterwards she couldn’t be persuaded to leave. Her love of the mountains and her passion for skiing kept her grounded in France. She now does a bit of everything, but is officially the person in charge of marketing, pr and travel shows following on from a background in Marketing in her previous life. She also spends a lot of time in the chalet, working closely with the chalet hosts and housekeepers to make sure things are running smoothly on all fronts and that the guests are enjoying their holiday.
A fan of the stunning autumn leaves, the amazing walking, beautiful lake Annecy and the fantastic skiing, Jess is always keen to leave the office to get out and about in the fresh air, no matter what the season. At the end of an active week however she loves cosy Sunday evenings in front of the tv with a glass of wine!
Tom
Tom is now entering his fifth season with Karibuni, finally settling down after a nomadic life working mainly in France in the holiday business. The lynch pin of the office he will be your first point of contact on both phone and email. He also ensures that the booking process runs smoothly, our chefs know how many people to expect for dinner, our housekeeping team know how many beds to make up and our drivers know who to pick up from the airport and at what time.
Tom particularly loves snow boarding and manages to do a great job combining boarding with his other love – photography. In summer he loves walking and trips to lake Annecy, always with his camera of course. He also loves to cook and makes a mean curry!
Alex
Alex started with Karibuni in 2006 as a driver/ski host; and despite leaving several times to pursue other projects both in Australia and the UK, he just can’t stay away! He brings a wealth of experience from his travels which he uses to good effect. These days he is most likely to be meeting you at the airport or running you round to your various activities, but he is also an invaluable office support member ready to jump in and help on any project. Passionate about sustainable tourism, Alex is the guru of all things ‘green’ and strives to ensure that Karibuni betters its eco credentials every year.
A keen skier in winter Alex is well known for his freestyle attempts but better know for his dubious claim he’s ‘skied out of it’! In summer Alex runs and road bikes and is often around to share his general love of activities with you.
Maya
Maya joined Karibuni in 2010 as part of the chalet ski team, but has since graduated to become one of the full timers in the office. Responsible for operations - that's trip delivery to you and me - she will make sure that your activites are booked, there is a minibus available to meet you and run you around resort and you know where to be at all times to make the most of your activities.
An enthusiastic skier in winter, Maya also enjoys climbing, walking and running in the summer. She will often accompany you out on the mountain, either as a ski host or as a walking guide, to show you the best views and help you make the most of your Karibuni holiday.
Erica
Erica, a longstanding friend of Karibuni, finally took the plunge to work with us in 2010. She is responsible for keeping Paul in order - particularly when it comes to the accounts - and ensuring the day-to-day business side of the office ticks along as it should do. With a keen eye for figures Erica will ensure that the cash boxes balance, the bills are fully paid-up and the VAT return will never be late again.
Erica loves the mountains, hates any sort of communal games and would rather walk than ski anyday! Having said that her skiing is coming on brilliantly and we're sure she'll change her mind soon... Always a cheery face, you can often find her enjoying a glass of red in the bar, you'll know it's her by her lovely Irish accent.
In addition to the full-timers Karibuni always has an excellent team of seasonal staff, both summer and winter. You can see more about our current seasonal team on the team page on Ski Weekender.