Get to know the Discovery Map team: Peter Hans

Next up is Peter Hans, our CEO!

Peter grew up in Albany, NY.

"I lived in Albany through high school. Then I moved to the greater Burlington Vermont area and attended St. Michael’s College, where I completed a Master of Arts in economics before moving back home to Albany.

After about a year, I moved to Boston to work for a bank, and began studying for an MBA in the evenings at Babson College."

Peter caught the travel bug after college.

"I did some traveling in my childhood, but after I finished my MBA, I went to Europe to visit a friend. It was on that trip that I decided I wanted to live abroad.

So, After graduating from Babson, I did an international internship in Zurich, Switzerland. I stayed for 6 years working for the UBS head office and even later transferred to London for another 6 years.

When I finally moved back to the States, I acquired a company called Resort Maps, which then became Discovery Map!"

Below are Peter's 3 favorite places that he's visited.

1. Zermatt, Switzerland

"Being a keen skier and having lived in Zurich for several years, I had the opportunity to visit my favorite ski destination many times. Zermatt has no cars so the air is pristine and quiet. A traditional Alpine village with old school architecture, great food, limitless mountain hiking paths, great skiing and oh, did I mention the Matterhorn looms over the village offering some of the most stunning views on the planet."

3. French and Italian Rivieras

"It may seem like I’m dropping names here but I am really trying to stay out of trouble. You see, my wife and I spent our honeymoon sailing from St. Tropez to Portofino. Of course, we had to stop in the Portofino area for a few days and sample all the Hotel Santa Margarita has to offer.

The sail was incredible; we put in each night to a new world-class destination – Cannes, San Remo, Finale Ligure – and invariably ate al fresco. After a few days sailing we reached Santa Margarita and went from roughing it to luxury. We toured in a rented Vespa, did a bit of swimming and, of course, ate very well. Do you sense a theme here?"

2. Waitsfield, Vermont

"I have traveled to Waitsfield, Vermont and haven’t left. That’s right; I live in Waitsfield but it still makes my list of great destinations. Each season – we have six here – offers a completely different experience than the previous. I would tell you some local secrets about Waitsfield and the Mad River Valley but you will have to look at our destination page for that. 😉"

Wish List: Galveston, Texas; Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Butte, Montana; and Bozeman, Montana.

"I have to admit that I have been lucky enough to travel to many of Discovery Map’s destinations. After all, our cartographic experts need a driver! With that said, I still have not been to Idaho and we have a couple of franchises in that state. I would also like to Visit Galveston, Texas; Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Butte, Montana; and Bozeman, Montana. Finally, I would be happy to visit those other places I have been, again."