About Us
Established in 2010, AYA Life offers a new approach to travel planning. With a focus on specialized travel, AYA Life caters to individuals, groups and small-to-medium sized businesses. AYA Life can organize everything from a bespoke private holiday to a customized tour – we like to think that anything is possible and no dream is too big.
AYA Life’s mission is to provide customized, friendly, unique and personally rewarding travel experiences.
AYA Life focuses on health and wellness retreat, yoga retreats, culinary travel experiences with professional chefs and food experts, as well as photo and art tours. AYA Life’s customized tours include trips like a one-week epicurean tour of Ireland, rejuvenating wellness retreat in Tulum, Mexico, and gourmet cooking class and wine appreciation in Paris.
About Owner Deborah Peniuk
Vancouver native, Deborah Peniuk is a woman of many hats: Owner of AYA Life, entrepreneur, travel consultant, writer at Life, Bliss and All of This, and most recently she’s added cancer thriver to her resume.
Deborah began her travel agent career after graduating from the Institute of Technology in British Columbia with an education in Tourism Marketing and studying and obtaining a degree in Hotel Operations at the Canadian Tourism College. With over 20 years of tourism & hospitality experience under her belt, Deborah is well recognized and respected within the travel industry. During her career, Deborah managed both a bar and restaurant and held down a management role at a Hilton property in the United Kingdom.
Deborah also helped in creating and managing a home-based network of 30+ agents, implementing many training initiatives as well as sparking an interest in small group travel based on a health and wellness niche. Deborah has been recognized for her travel consulting expertise and leadership as an entrepreneur by Women’s Post and The Karina Chronicles. In 2010, Deborah founded AYA Life, a home-based travel agency, based in Toronto, Canada, and servicing clients from around the world. She also recently was the first Canadian involved completing her certification in Elite Wellness Travel from Travel Leaders Group based in the United States of America.
In 2015, Deborah was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Rather than letting the disease debilitate her, she rose above, educated herself and fought it with a positive attitude. Deborah blogs about her passion for life, travel, and wellness – especially during her cancer journey – on Life, Bliss and All of This. She is also a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader.