Ask Liz Suomi what her ideal day in Charleston looks like for a first-time visitor and she suggests how that day might unfold. “I’d recommend a morning walking tour of the historic district followed by lunch at a favorite oyster spot, shopping on King Street, rooftop cocktails and then a night of live music.
Suomi launched her destination management company, Palm & Proper, in June 2024 following a career in corporate events. She saw a gap in the market for a boutique, luxury DMC in Charleston that focused on leisure travelers and small groups. Having planned multiple trips for family and friends coming to Charleston, Suomi realized she could fill that space well.
When a college sorority sister who wanted to hold a bachelorette party in Charleston agreed to be Palm & Proper’s first client, the business was launched. Since then, Suomi has been forging contacts with travel advisors to assist their clients in Charleston. “Their clients are who I want to be working with. I now have some great momentum and I'm excited to keep doing a lot more,” she says.
Suomi goes way beyond first-timer itineraries, especially for those Charleston aficionados who have been to the port city several times already.
“I love suggesting new restaurants or local hidden gems to clients who have been here before,” she says. “One of my favorites is the Good Neighbor Sunday Block Party at Graft,” she says, referring to Graft, a wine bar/wine shop on King Street that closes off its parking lot to create space for a communal gathering. “There’s great wine, great food and people,” says Suomi. “They usually have a food truck. They're pouring wine, you can bring your dog, and they just opened a new pizza place right next to it that has guest chefs who might do a special kind pizza. So, people can start there on a Sunday and have dinner somewhere else, or they can spend their Sunday there with pizza and wine. It’s one of my favorite things to do in Charleston.”
Other suggestions? “She says that a boat cruise along the Intercoastal is a fun way to see the scenery. “You get picked up at Shem Creek and sail toward the Isle of Palms. It’s a fun and different way to look at the Lowcountry; it’s exactly what you would picture from the movies.”
Exploring the nearby islands off Charleston is another great option, she notes. “Sullivan's Island provides a very local experience with its Main Street and the beach and John's Island has some fabulous restaurants. Or you can visit The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island,” she says, referring to the Forbes five-star resort 21 miles from Charleston.
Suomi most recently has seen a surge in requests for planning milestone birthday celebrations ranging from eight to 40 guests. She recently arranged a celebration for a couple; both were turning 40 within two weeks of each other. They brought 20 other couples down to Charleston for three nights. The first evening they enjoyed a “dinner roulette” where they all got split up into the top restaurants in town. Afterward, they met up for cocktails at a rooftop bar. The second evening they had a casual barbecue and went to a nightclub afterward. On the final evening, they had an elegant dinner downtown; afterwards, Suomi arranged for them to be picked up in rickshaws to take them to an after party.
Some of the more interesting itineraries she’s developed have included exclusive walking tours with a peek into a private garden, a girls’ beach day with cabanas, a historic holiday walking tour followed by a Christmas cocktail-making class, and a dine around for 40 people at the five top restaurants in town.
Oyster farming and farm tours are other options Suomi is interested in trying out for clients; she also wants to add in wellness components to itineraries, such as pickleball, tennis or Pilates, which clients have been asking for.
When we spoke, Suomi had just hired an intern to assist with the influx of business, and overall, she’s excited about the future of Palm & Proper.
“The fun part about this job is finding the right client and saying, ‘Let's make it happen. What are they interested in? Let's brainstorm to see what we can do,’” says Suomi. Contact her at liz@palmandproper.com if you’re sending your VIP clients to Charleston.