en
Singapore
How Giselle Makarachvili turned motherhood, a luxury hospitality career, and a gap in the market into TravelTod — a globally ambitious eco-premium brand for the world’s littlest travelers.
There is no perfect moment to start a business. Giselle Makarachvili knows this better than most. She launched TravelTod — a Singapore-based eco-premium bamboo essentials brand for infants — with a baby under one year old, pregnant with her second child, and fresh off the closing of an M&A deal that had ended her tenure as CEO of another company. Most people would have taken a breath. She built a brand.
Today, TravelTod holds OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification, has secured its first hospitality contract with Novotel Living in Singapore, and is actively expanding across Southeast Asia — with a long-term vision to become the reference brand for children’s amenities in global hotel groups. This is the story of how she got there.
You spent 14 years in luxury hospitality before founding TravelTod. What made you leave that world to build something of your own?
I am a hotelier at heart and a mother by nature. My career in hospitality, including years working with global brands, shaped my understanding of quality, service standards, and the importance of thoughtful experiences. However, it was motherhood that redefined my purpose.
When my first child was born, I began searching for products that were truly safe, beautifully designed, and aligned with my values of sustainability and responsibility. I found a gap in the market: many products were either premium but not eco-conscious, or sustainable but lacking in design, storytelling, and durability. I wanted something that combined all three — quality, sustainability, and family values. TravelTod was born from that void.
From day one, I committed to eco-premium bamboo sourced from certified forests in Asia, and to packaging that is natural, recycled, or biodegradable. I wanted the brand to not only provide softness and comfort, but also to spark conversations about sustainability within families.
TravelTod isn’t just a consumer brand. Can you explain the B2B side of what you do?
My hospitality background plays a critical role here. With 15 years in luxury hospitality, I understand that amenities for children are often overlooked, yet they shape memorable family experiences. TravelTod develops curated children’s amenities for hotels — from crib bedding and sustainable plush toys and beyond, with eco-certified essentials tailored to the operational and brand needs of each property. We provide properties with sustainable, high-quality options that elevate guest experience while supporting their environmental commitments.
Similarly, we partner with newborn hospitals to curate co-branded welcome hampers featuring bamboo essentials that mothers genuinely appreciate and babies love to wear. These thoughtfully designed sets combine practicality, comfort, and meaningful storytelling — enhancing the first moments of a family’s journey.
We have already secured our first hospitality contract with Novotel Living in Singapore, which marks an important milestone and validates this direction.
You built all of this while raising two children under two, and simultaneously running another business. How did you manage?
Entrepreneurship itself is a journey of mixed emotions — courage and doubt, exhaustion and excitement, resilience and vulnerability. Doing it with two children under two, while also managing another business, required a level of discipline and strength I did not know I had.
One of the biggest challenges was building the company without a co-founder. I often wished I had someone to share the journey with — another woman, perhaps another mother — to exchange ideas, divide responsibilities, and support each other during critical moments. In the early days, I had to say no to certain opportunities simply because time and availability were limited.
But my children have been my greatest inspiration — the reason I started, the reason I continue, and the reason I persevere. TravelTod has evolved into something that reflects our home values. It is not just a company; it is an extension of my motherhood journey and my belief that business can be purposeful.
Why did WBE certification matter to you — and why now?
During my years in hospitality, particularly working with multinational corporations such as Marriott International, I saw firsthand the importance of supplier diversity and the intentional inclusion of women-owned businesses in procurement processes. I admired organizations that actively created space for women entrepreneurs to grow.
Capability is not defined by gender — my career has shown that. However, the reality is that access, visibility, and networks matter. Platforms that elevate women-owned businesses create tangible opportunities for growth, partnerships, and cross-border expansion.
Certification offers credibility, structure, and access to a global ecosystem of corporations actively seeking responsible, values-driven suppliers. From the beginning, I never built TravelTod to remain local. Singapore gave me the foundation to start — but my vision has always been international.
Being Women’s Business Enterprise certified felt natural. This business is all about women, mothers, those who are choosing for their little ones. Being certified Women-Owned is critical — it feels like who we are.
What does being part of the WEConnect International network mean for TravelTod specifically?
My journey with WEConnect International is just beginning, but I already see immense potential in being part of this global network.
For TravelTod, the potential impact is significant. As a brand operating at the intersection of sustainability, hospitality, and infant essentials, being connected to global corporations — particularly within the hospitality sector — opens doors to introduce our capabilities in enhancing memorable children’s programs for hotels worldwide. With the right introductions, we can collaborate with international hotel groups to develop eco-conscious amenities for their youngest guests.
Beyond buyer access, the network of women business owners is equally powerful. There are opportunities to connect businesses with businesses — forming supplier relationships, co-branding initiatives, knowledge exchange, and cross-border collaborations. I see WEConnect not only as a certification, but as a growth platform that enables women-led enterprises to scale beyond their home markets.
For me personally, the WEConnect Effect means expanding globally while staying rooted in purpose — leveraging community, credibility, and connection to build something that is both commercially strong and impact-driven.
What’s the most important trend shaping your industry right now?
One of the most compelling trends is the shift from sustainability as a feature to sustainability as a baseline expectation — particularly in baby products and hospitality.
Today’s parents are more informed and intentional. They look beyond softness and design to certified materials, transparent sourcing, responsible production, and durability that reduces waste. Sustainability is no longer a niche preference; it is a core purchasing driver.
In hospitality, this shift is even more pronounced. Working with sustainable and certified partners is no longer optional — it is an expectation. Hotels are actively seeking suppliers that align with their ESG commitments and guest values. This is where TravelTod is positioned to contribute meaningfully.
The industry is evolving toward responsible luxury — where quality, experience, and sustainability coexist without compromise.
What advice would you give to other women business owners?
Motherhood and entrepreneurship are not competing forces; they can strengthen each other. The resilience, empathy, and discipline we develop as mothers are powerful leadership tools. Embrace the challenges, trust your timing, and don’t wait for the perfect moment — growth often begins in the most demanding seasons.
www.traveltodjourney.com