Victoria Peters McDowell

Tell us a little about yourself.

Born and raised in beautiful Pupukea on Oahu’s North Shore, I’m a proud homegrown local girl and graduate of Kahuku High School. I later graduated from the School of Travel Industry Management at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where my love for host cultural tourism grew into a lifelong calling.

As a mea hookipa, one who welcomes and cares for others, I find purpose in serving my community, nurturing aina, our youth, and ohana, and bringing people together. I have a deep appreciation for culture in all its dimensions, from ancestral and spiritual traditions, language, and ways of life to social systems, cuisine, and our relationship with nature. I embrace every opportunity to create meaningful connections, deepen understanding, and contribute to a more compassionate and connected world.

My faith is at the center of how I live and serve. I believe caring for our body, mind, emotions, and spirit enables us to live fully into our God-given purpose. Staying active through strength training, yoga, soccer, and other forms of fitness helps me maintain the energy and resilience to show up and serve others well.

At my core, I have the heart of a servant and the spirit of a steward. Whether welcoming travelers, leading teams, supporting my community, or simply helping someone along their journey, I strive to do so with aloha, humility, and genuine care.

What did you do for work before becoming a Tour Manager?

My passion for host cultural tourism began at just 11 years old, when I realized that much of what visitors knew about Hawaii was inaccurate. Even then, I recognized that the root of the issue was a lack of authentic cultural education and context. By age 12, I had made it my personal mission to positively influence the stories visitors took home with them by authentically sharing Hawaii’s host culture and intentionally embedding meaningful cultural anchors into their experiences.

My hospitality career began in the food and beverage industry, where I built a strong foundation in hospitality and service before pursuing my career for the hotel industry. Over the course of 24 years, I served as an executive leader with luxury and ultra-luxury hotels and resorts across Hawaii, including Maui, Kauai, and Oahu, as well as in Southern California and New York City.

Along the journey, I also gained experience in retail before most recently becoming an entrepreneur and building a successful exotic, classic, and luxury car rental company in Southern California. That experience expanded my expertise in entrepreneurship, operations, business development, and creating exceptional customer experiences.

Together, these diverse experiences have shaped my leadership philosophy and given me a well-rounded perspective on hospitality, service, operations, and people experience which I’m excited to bring to my role with Non-Stop Travel.

What are your hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time?

My interests naturally center around well-being, fitness, culture, nature, learning, and human connection. I’m endlessly curious and love learning new things, exploring new places, meeting new people, and discovering perspectives that expand the way I see the world.

I enjoy researching, exploring, testing, and sharing practices that help people optimize their health and quality of life, from mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being to nutrition and physical fitness. Perhaps my Six Sigma and Kaizen mindset plays a role in this; I’m naturally driven to learn, improve, and find meaningful ways to make life better. Health, ohana, purposeful living, and using my talents to positively impact others are at the heart of what matters most to me.

You’ll often find me outdoors, hiking, running, swimming, exploring, or simply playing in nature with family and friends. I love curating fun, meaningful experiences that bring people together, deepen human connection, and create lasting memories.

Ultimately, my hobbies are an extension of my purpose: learning, traveling, perpetuating culture, cultivating connection, caring for well-being, and serving others wherever I can.

Where is your favorite place to travel? What is your favorite thing to do there?

Choosing a favorite place is nearly impossible for me because what makes a destination special isn’t simply where it is, but what it teaches me and how deeply I’m able to experience it.

Japan is one of my favorite places to travel because it feels both effortless and endlessly fascinating. I appreciate the way people, place, and processes flow and absolutely love the cultural intricacies, traditions, and the deep roots that continue to shape everyday life. There is always something new to discover.

But one of my most profound travel experiences was in South Africa, experiencing the African bush on safari. Being immersed in nature in such a raw, wild, and authentic state was thrilling and deeply surreal. Witnessing these residents (people, animals, nature) just live and communicate through their sounds, movements, behaviors, and routines created a sense of connection to the natural world that is difficult to put into words. The long journey was absolutely worth it for an experience that was truly one-of-a-kind and impossible to replicate.

Ultimately, I’ve realized that my favorite destination is wherever I can immerse myself deeply, learn something new, connect with people, place, and culture, and come home seeing the world a little differently. Traveling exponentially increases my gratitude for Hawaii. For me, the value of travel is measured by the richness of the experience waiting on the other side. And that’s probably why I have a hard time choosing just one favorite. There is simply too much of the world left to discover.

What do you like most about being a Tour Manager?

What I love most is orchestrating meaningful journeys and watching people’s hearts, minds, and spirits light up as they discover new places, cultures, perspectives, and experiences. Whether it’s a lifelong dream, a journey of connection, self-care, or adventure, I love helping people embrace the transformative value of travel.

I’m honored to be a trusted vessel, helping travelers safely and confidently journey from home to places they may never have explored on their own. Bringing our Non-Stop Travel team’s carefully curated experiences to life, while creating seamless, joyful, and memorable journeys, gives me tremendous purpose.

I love it, I’m good at it, and it matters to me. It’s where my passion for travel, people, culture, and service come together and it genuinely brings me joy.

Is there anything else you’d like our tour members to know about you?

I’m naturally curious, adventurous, and always ready for a new experience, a good laugh, and a little exploration! I love creating memories, connecting with people, and finding joy in the unexpected moments along the way. Becoming a grandmother has only deepened my appreciation for the preciousness of time and the importance of making meaningful memories with the people we love.

So, when we travel together, come with an open heart, a curious mind, and a spirit of adventure. Let’s explore, learn, laugh, connect, and make some incredible memories along the way. I’m excited to travel with you and create our own little Non-Stop Travel ohana!