Sales Professionals with highly specialised knowledge of the Latin American travel industry
Jacarandá Connections was founded by Ana Carla Polla and Lars Wriedt, sales and marketing specialists who have been working within the luxury hotel and travel sector for over 40 years combined.
By creating Jacarandá Connections, Ana Carla and Lars have combined their highly specialised knowledge of the Latin American markets along with their sales and marketing expertise in order to enable the high net-worth Latin American travellers to discover some of the world’s best hotels and travel experiences.
Both have worked with numerous sales, marketing and PR representation companies throughout their careers. Having sat on the other side of the table for many years, they have the deep understanding that each hotel and luxury travel company has their own individual requirements. This enables them to offer a tailor-made and personalised service to each of their clients.
Originating from both South America and Europe, Ana Carla and Lars offer the dream combination of Latin temperament and passion with European composure and effectiveness.
All through her career, Ana Carla has worked for hotels located both in buzzing metropoles and in colourful leisure destinations such as Buenos Aires, Iguazú and Bariloche. Here she gained in-depth understanding of the Latin American tour & travel industry, corporate segments as well as MICE business.
Prior to creating Jacarandá Connections with Lars, Ana Carla successfully headed up the Sales & Marketing department of the Llao Llao Hotel & Resort as Director of Sales & Marketing, ensuring that this landmark property continuously evolved to entice the most high-end travellers from all across the world.
After having been fully involved in managing the day-to-day business of Jacarandá Connections together with Lars for 4 years, Ana Carla took on a full-time sales & marketing position with the award-winning Nayara Resorts in Costa Rica and Chile in May 2021. As Non-Executive Director she continues being a valuable asset within the strategic planning and running of Jacarandá Connections.
Throughout his life, Lars has had a nomadic lifestyle. By the time of graduating school, he had called Amsterdam, London, Helsinki and Hamburg home.
A career in the hospitality business was therefore inevitable. He found his calling within pro-active sales and strategic planning at the niche property The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences, located in the prestigious Mayfair area of London. Leaving behind the corporate arena of London, Lars ventured into the glamourous Alpine destination of St. Moritz, where, amongst others, he successfully opened the Brazilian market and moved the incentive and meeting segments to new heights as Director of Sales for the world-famous Badrutt’s Palace Hotel.
After calling the Swiss Alps his home for 7 years Lars followed his heart to Buenos Aires where he was able to settle into the Latin American way of life rather quickly: mastering the art of an Argentinian “asado” as well as learning the Spanish language.
Olivia is the canine associate of Jacarandá Connections. Originally from Pilar, a suburb of Buenos Aires, she moved to Palermo in her early days and has been Ana Carla’s companion ever since. Over the years, she has been able to conquer the hearts of most influencers within the Buenos Aires travel industry.
At Jacarandá Connections, she covers the office when Ana Carla and Lars are on the road and makes sure that on office days they both receive at least a minimum amount of outdoor exercise, three times a day.
Throughout the portfolio of Jacarandá Connections Olivia shares her tips and advice on especially family- and pet-friendly features.
