In the press.

Travel Noire Awards 2025, Best Black-Owned Tour Company

6x Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist

Airbnb's Inaugural 'Black Travel List'

“Claire Soares is the mastermind behind the million-dollar flagship startup travel company, Up in the Air Life, founded in 2013. As a former sales executive at a Fortune 500 company, Claire is a savvy million-miler who has visited over 50 countries while mastering the art of travel hacking.”

How Claire Soares Created A Black-Owned Luxury Travel Company

“Former Fortune 500 sales executive Claire Soares left corporate America to create Up In The Air Life, a company focused on curating luxury experiences around the world geared toward African American travelers.”

This Founder Left Corporate America to Curate Affordable Luxury Experiences for Black Travelers

“… Claire Soares, entrepreneur and founder of Up In The Air Life, created a travel company that focuses on curating luxury experiences all around the world while making Black travelers a priority.”

Celebrating International Women's Day: Girl Power Advice by 25 Inspiring Women

“If you often have wanderlust or are an avid traveler, then Claire Soares can help you. As a former Fortune 500 sales executive, she went on to launch the multimillion-dollar flagship start-up travel company, Up in the Air Life, which connects guests to epic and exotic experiences around the world.”

How Supporting Black Businesses Took My Company to 7-Figure Success

“I started my travel company, Up in the Air Life in 2013 because, despite the number of Black travel groups cropping up back then, there were none catering to Black people like me who craved affordable luxury travel.”

Up in the Air Life Founder Shares How She Built a Million Dollar Travel Business

“Up in The Air Life is an international travel company founded by Claire Soares. The company is focused on showcasing luxury travel and amazing experiences that you’ve never imagined.”

#BlackGirlMagic: Celebrating the Drive for Black History Month

[Cool Jobs] Globe Hopping with Claire Soares

“If you’ve already been thinking you need to step up your passport stamp game, well then, you do. And Claire Soares can help you.”

Up in the Air Life: Black Professionals Travel the World

“This has always been the goal of Up in the Air Life founder Claire Soares. …”

Meet Claire Soares of Up in the Air Life and The 7th Level Coaching Program

“I started Up in the Air Life (www.upintheairlife.com / @upintheairlife on Instagram) in 2013 because there wasn’t a place for black luxury travelers who wanted to experience the finer things in life. …”

Black Travel: More Than Just a Movement

Real Traveler Stories: Ditch the DIY

“After a booking crisis, this sun-loving couple found that a travel advisor made all the difference.”

The Challenges of Working in the Travel Industry as a Black Woman

“Luxury travel brand Up in the Air Life was created by Claire Soares, who grew frustrated with the lack of high-end luxury spaces in the U.S. that appealed to Black travelers. …”

Airline or Hotel Owe You Money? Use These Tips to Get Your Refund

““It’s always best to book any tour, hotel or activity for your trip with a major credit card,” explains Claire Soares, founder of the travel company Up in the Air Life. …”

The New Travel Experience: It's a Group Thing

“… In 2013, Claire Soares founded Up in the Air Life after seeing a void in the luxury travel sector to introduce African American travelers not only to the world of luxury in terms of hotels, but in terms of food, culture, and the arts.”

The Best Budget-Friendly Solo Travel Destinations for Black Women

“Entrepreneur Claire Soares experienced this firsthand when she visited Paris alone in 2011. As founder of Up in the Air Life, a luxury travel company, she says going on trips by yourself may forge a new worldview.”

The Luxury Travel Shift

“Luxury travel has long been associated with expensive hotel rooms, first-class flights or even private jet hire with companies like Jettly, and other traditional materialistic things. In the last few years, there has been this shift in the luxury travel space from luxury “things” to luxurious “experiences.””

Up Helly Aa: Scotland, Vikings and Torches… Oh My!

“Ten years ago I saw a picture of men dressed as Vikings walking down a street with fire blazing torches. …”

10 Sites for Black People Traveling Abroad

“UITAL is the perfect option for the traveler who wants to simply show up to the airport and go. Everything from flight, lodging, tours and activities is taken care of.”

Black Travel to Cuba on the Rise [Photos]

“Up in the Air Life (the “upscale travel company dedicated to social adventures” founded by world traveler Claire Soares) boasts organized international jaunts for African-American vacationers to exotic locales like Mexico, Colombia, Greece, Croatia and Thailand. …”

For Us, By Us: 5 Black-Owned Travel Groups You Should Know About

“The brand: A self-proclaimed “upscale travel company dedicated to social adventures”, Up in the Air Life specializes in creating lifestyle experiences for working professionals who enjoy the finer things in life.”

Founder of Up in the Air Life Shares 3 Destinations Every Black Woman Should Experience

“Up in the Air Life creator Claire Soares shares her top travel tips and three destinations every Black women should visit.”

Trump Is Making Black Americans Want to Travel Abroad More

“At an annual sales meeting at the Fortune 500 company where she works, Claire Soares found herself face-to-face with a Trump supporter just before the inauguration. …”

Up in the Air Life Features Black Travel That Gets Both Lit and Luxe

“A glittery diamond on an increasingly dark travel-movement landscape, UITAL’s rep for serving up consistent black excellence from Cuba to Croatia is so strong, it’s caught the attention of corporate giants like Walmart …”

Black People Traveling Abroad Has Increased Since Donald Trump Took Office

“Up in the Air Life owner, Claire Soares plans detailed trips for minorities with hopes of soothing any anxiety that may come with living in the U.S. as a person of color. …”

Building a Travel Empire in Mexico with Claire B. Soares

“Claire shares how corporate burnout lead her to move to Mexico and to develop the million dollar brand and business, Up In The Air Life.”

Doing, Being and Living with Claire Soares of Up in the Air Life

“Founder of luxury travel company Up In The Air Life, Claire Soares, believes in DOING what you love, BEING who you are, and LIVING life out loud. She’s a firm believer of living each moment to the fullest and creating your best memories with no regrets!”

The World Is Her Office: Claire Soares

“Claire is the owner of luxury travel company, Up In The Air Life. After working in corporate for more than a decade, Claire resigned from her position to build UITAL full-time!”

Claire Soares Is Trailblazing the Black Travel Movement

“Claire Soares is trailblazing the Black travel movement with her platform Up in the Air Life.”

The #BlackGirlMagic Is Real with Claire Soares

“Up In The Air Life Staff Member, Ruth Hickman, celebrates the entrepreneurial drive of Founder, Claire Soares, in the latest installment of our #BlackGirlMagic series.”

Fly Brother Talks to Claire Soares of Up in the Air Life

“On this week’s show, I’m interviewing Fly Sister Claire Soares, Entrepreneuse, World Traveler, and Adventure Planner Extraordinaire from Egypt. Claire is the mastermind behind luxury travel company, Up in the Air Life, among many other ventures!”

Black Travel to Cuba on the Rise [Video]

“… This year Soares targeted Cuba, coordinating a recent cultural tour of Havana for almost a dozen wanderlusting vacationers.”

Episode 52 | Claire Soares: Luxury Travel Experiences: Up in the Air Life

“Claire Soares is the founder of the luxury tour company "Up in the Air Life" based in the Washington, DC area. She has traveled to over 45 countries.”