The Team
Melissa McElfresh
Co-Founder, Guest Experience & Growth Lead
Melissa is the heart behind guest experience, community engagement, and growth strategy for The Sacred Land Project. With an extensive background in startups, sales, client success, and hospitality, she understands how to attract, retain, and delight guests while building meaningful partnerships.
A lifelong animal whisperer, wellness advocate, and spiritual explorer, Melissa brings a deep sense of hospitality, connection, and care to the project. As a mother of four (ages 5 to 25), she ensures that families, solo travelers, and adventure seekers all find something special in our destinations.
Her expertise in relationship-building, guest services, and holistic travel experiences will be instrumental in crafting a destination that fosters connection, relaxation, and adventure—ensuring that The Sacred Land Project becomes a place where guests return year after year.
Travis McElfresh
Co-Founder, Business & Operations Lead
With 20 years of experience in business leadership, operations, and innovation, Travis has worked across startups and Fortune 50 companies, including Microsoft, leading teams in luxury tourism, technology, logistics, and wellness.
For the past several years, Travis served as the SVP of Consumer and Digital Products at Virtuoso, where he led the development of innovative products and partnerships that enhanced the luxury travel experience—from trip planning through post-travel engagement. His work focused on empowering travelers, travel advisors, and high-end hospitality providers with cutting-edge digital solutions, ensuring seamless, personalized, and enriched travel journeys.
Living the Lifestyle, Designing the Future
Melissa and Travis now live full-time on the road in a fifth-wheel RV with their family, giving them firsthand insight into the needs, challenges, and opportunities of modern outdoor hospitality. Their nomadic lifestyle allows them to experience destinations from the guest perspective, identify market gaps, and continuously refine their vision for sustainable travel.
With deep backgrounds in hospitality, environmental conservation, and business strategy, they are passionate about preserving sacred landscapes, driving sustainable development, and creating immersive outdoor destinations that blend comfort, adventure, and cultural connection.
