About Us
Exploring is what life's all about
Explorabout connects vacation rental guests with curated local experiences, enhancing their stays and creating additional value for Property Managers, Hosts, and Tour Operators.
Karen Piscitelli built Explorabout after experiencing the problem herself. As the owner of a vacation rental in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, she noticed something surprising: guests consistently raved less about the property and more about the local experiences she personally recommended. The challenge wasn't a lack of things to do. It was a lack of discovery. Guests didn't know where to find the best experiences. Local operators struggled to reach visitors. Property managers missed opportunities to enhance guest satisfaction and generate additional revenue. Explorabout was built to solve that problem.
At Explorabout, we believe travel experiences should stir the soul. Today’s guests are looking to live deeply and discover hidden gems, connecting with locals, and creating meaningful memories. Whether it’s a family, solo traveler, or active group, our platform helps guests of all ages and fitness levels uncover unique, off-the-beaten-path experiences that make their stay unforgettable.
The better the experience, the bigger the memory.
Meet the Team
KAREN PISCITELLI
Founder/CEO
Career brand builder with deep roots in luxury, lifestyle, and coastal hospitality, opening her own agency at 27 to serve Breitling and Golf Magazine.
Founding marketing driver behind the Greenwich Water Club and Greenwich Boat Show for 20+ years.
Member of VRMA Welcome Ambassador Committee and Startup Leadership Program Fellow. Speaker at the Vacation Rental Women's Summit and co-author of Hospitable Host: STR Sisterhood Edition
HAIYAN CHEN
Tech Advisor
Led R&D at Teradata, delivering eight database patents
Founding Engineer of AWS QuickSight Analytics Engine
Transformed OfferUp tech stack for agility and revenue
ROBIN HARNISH
Head of Product
Scaled Viator/Tripadvisor Experiences as part of the executive team, driving substantial growth.
Co-founded startup for Experiences Operators to a successful exit.
Recognized leader and speaker in the Experiences sector, with 20+ years of travel industry expertise.
MARIA ARONE
Chief of Staff
HR leader with 20+ years driving strategy, org development, and growth across industries
Certified Executive Coach focused on unlocking professional potential through tailored coaching
Columbia dual Master’s grad blending academic depth with real-world business impact
NATASHA OSBORN
Distribution Strategist
20+ years in distribution, marketing & revenue management strategies for inti. hospitality companies
Led startups in adventure tourism, directing complex major events
Managing Vacation Rentals & Short Term Rentals since 2012
DEBI STEIGERWALD
Revenue Ops Advisor
15+ years leading marketing, sales, & business strategy in tech startups
Led large-scale marketing & sales initiatives that improved customer experience and ROI
Built & scaled teams that transformed operations and increased revenue
Kaylee Shinaver
Solutions Director
2023 International Studies & Entrepreneurship BGSU Graduate
2024 Venture for America Fellow
Passion for growth & business development
Rick Kral
Board Member
President, Greenwich Water Club
President, Beacon Point Marine
