Payam Zamani’s story reads like the American dream—one that begins with his escape from religious persecution in Iran as a teenager and culminates, years later, with ringing the bell at NASDAQ. Along the way, he has built, scaled, and turned around multiple companies. Today, as CEO of Inspirato and founder of One Planet Group, he’s applying his entrepreneurial instincts to reimagine what luxury travel can look like.
From Refugee To Public Company CEO
Zamani’s book, Crossing the Desert, became a USA Today bestseller in 2023. In it, he shares his journey of leaving Iran as a Baha’i refugee, arriving in the United States stateless, and eventually co-founding a company that went public just 11 years later.
But for Zamani, the book wasn’t just memoir. It was a reminder of what America represents: “Hope and light for the world,” he told me. “We forget how valuable that hope is.” That sense of mission has followed him into his business ventures.
The Inspirato Turnaround
When Zamani took a controlling stake in Inspirato last year, the Denver-based luxury travel club was in need of reinvention and disruption. “It was a turnaround, no question about it,” he said. But Zamani has a history of thriving in those environments.
Inspirato’s model—leasing rather than owning luxury properties under long-term contracts—allows flexibility as destinations rise and fall in popularity. Members gain access to a global portfolio of stunning homes without the maintenance and repetition of owning a second home. The club also curates high-touch experiences, from gorilla trekking in Rwanda to attending World Cup matches in style.
The results speak for themselves. Net Promoter Scores consistently sit above 70, exceeding benchmarks like the Four Seasons. “The last 10 reviews of our experiences had an NPS of 100,” Zamani said proudly.
The Launch of Inspirato Pass
Perhaps the boldest move under his leadership is the relaunch of Inspirato Pass, a subscription priced at $40,000 annually. Members can hold two bookings at a time, potentially traveling up to 126 days a year without additional fees—for luxury homes that often rent at thousands per night.
“It’s about monetizing shoulder nights and underutilized inventory,” Zamani explained. “Our core club members get first pick. Pass members take advantage of what’s available, and everyone wins.”
Capacity is capped at 2,500 Pass members based on current supply. Notably, many existing Inspirato members are opting into the Pass as a complementary benefit, rather than a substitute.
Looking Ahead: From Club to Platform
Zamani’s vision stretches beyond a country-club model for the ultra-affluent. He sees Inspirato evolving into a global luxury travel portal. While Expedia or Hotels.com cater to everyday business travel, the luxury space remains fragmented.
“In the next 12 months, we’ll open Inspirato to the world,” Zamani said. “Anyone can book curated luxury experiences, but membership will offer premium access, better pricing, and elevated services.”
It’s a bold attempt to become the first truly scaled, branded luxury travel marketplace.
Four Lessons For Leaders
Zamani is quick to credit old-school business fundamentals:
- Profit first. “If it’s not profitable, it’s not worth doing. I care about cash flow and EBITDA above all else.”
- Elevate the experience. Inspirato has replaced homes that didn’t meet luxury standards and doubled down on service quality.
- Stay focused. “A company with hundreds of millions in revenue and over 10,000 members shouldn’t struggle. It just needs focus.”
- Avoid revenue obsession. Growth for growth’s sake isn’t the goal; profitable, sustainable growth is.
He cites former Continental Airlines CEO Gordon Bethune: “Why fly to cities you lose money on?” For Zamani, the same logic applies to luxury travel: prune what doesn’t work, scale what does.
Building Inspirato And The American Dream
From refugee to builder of global platforms, Payam Zamani embodies resilience and reinvention. His relaunch of Inspirato and the bold expansion into luxury travel at scale signal a future where affluent travelers get more flexibility, more access, and more seamless experiences.
For leaders in any industry, his playbook is simple but powerful: profitability, service excellence, and clarity of focus.