A Luxury Travel Blog

Welcome to Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera where the sun always shines - every day of every year.

Kevin May is editor of Travolution, an industry-focussed magazine for online travel and division of Reed Business Information.  It consists of a blog, e-news service and a physical magazine, and is a leader in its field with an advisory board that comprises some of the biggest names in the travel industry.

What is it that you do exactly?

I am responsible for all editorial content on Travolution, including our magazine, website and blog. I also produce our fortnightly podcast, The Purple Pod, and organise our conferences and other events as well as oversee the Travolution Awards. It’s a busy job!

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

The most rewarding aspect of editing Travolution is being able to track and analyse such a wonderfully diverse and innovative industry as travel and its use of the web. Equally, as a journalist at heart, when we set the record straight or uncover a scoop still gives me an incredible buzz. I’m very lucky to work with some fantastic writers and reporters.

What would you say are the 3 best places you’ve ever stayed?

Hanoi: easily the most fascinating city I have ever visited. My wife and I stayed there during a seven-month jaunt around Asia in 2000. We were mesmerised by the colour and smells, the French and traditional Vietnamese quarters, and - whether it exists in reality or not is another question - a sense of proud nationhood. A remarkable capital in a remarkable country.

Varanasi (Benares): This central Indian city is an assault on the senses and consciousness. Despite it being a place where many people come to die (simply because of its proximity to the holy Ganges river), life abounds everywhere. The customs associated with death, while perhaps alien and odd to some westerners, are seen as life affirming to Hindus, giving it the feeling of being a place where people actually come to celebrate life. My wife was also taken very ill here so I have the utmost respect for Indian medical staff forced to work in, er, challenging conditions.

Lake Toba, Sumatra: The most beautiful place I have had the pleasure of visiting. Once a sunken caldera (super-volcano), currently a giant lake, Toba has incredible feature, plant life and a real feeling of isolation. There are few places on earth that have had such a dramatic physical history and the laid-back attitude of the people is in absolute tune with the environment around them. An almost perfect location on many levels.

What’s been your most memorable dining experience to date?

I spent four days practically marooned on a slow boat travelling across the Tonle Sap lake in Cambodia. I ate rice every meal as - being a strict vegetarian - the boiled ’something’ didn’t appeal and there was absolutely nothing else to eat. After finally arriving in Siem Reap, I ate almost everything I could on the menu at the guesthouse - mounds of vegetables, a huge omelette, slice after slice of bread, any fruit I could get my hands on, cereal, yoghurt… everything. It might not sound like a feast for a king, but it tasted so good.

Have you rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous, either through your work or your travels?

I have been fortunate to meet many wonderful and talented people through work or when travelling, although I have a tendency to steer away from so-called celebrities, even when given the opportunity. In fact, most of the “richest” people I’ve met are probably those that have created a fantastic business and subsequently reaped the rewards for their innovation and passion for travel and the Web.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wishlist?

I am currently at that stage, with a young family, where I am yearning to return to places I have visited previously, primarily - though not guaranteed at all (!!) - in the vain hope of sharing the experiences I had. I hope to return to Angkor Wat in Cambodia one day and also trek the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal (a three-week hike). Egypt, Mexico, Peru and New Zealand would also make my current wishlist.

Unfortunately the overseas trips of a business magazine editor these days consist primarily of enjoying the inside of some very nice hotel conference suites. A shame really…

Thank you, Kevin. And keep up the good work at Travolution!

The Grand Hyatt Cairo is a luxury landmark hotel situated on Roda Island; a peaceful haven with all of its stunning rooms overlooking the River Nile. The hotel enjoys a perfect location in the centre of the business and commercial district of the city, and yet it is also very close to Cairo’s many cultural and tourist attractions, including the Pyramids of Giza, Cairo Tower and the Cairo Museum. Of its nine top-class restaurants, the magnificent Revolving Restaurant is the highest restaurant in the Middle East. It has unprecedented views of Cairo and is 30 metres in diameter whilst rotating 360 degrees in 75 minutes, bringing the Pyramids, the River Nile and the entire city of Cairo all into view.

• La Villa des Orangers - Marrakech, Morocco
• Four Seasons Resort Sharm El-Sheikh Egypt - Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
• Table Bay Hotel Cape Town - Cape Town, South Africa
• Belle Mare Plage Hotel - Belle Mare, Mauritius
• Ngorongoro Crater Lodge - Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
• Le Touessrok - Trou d’eau Douce, Mauritius
• Cape Grace - Cape Town, South Africa
• Hyatt Regency Sharm El-Sheikh Resort - Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
• Steenberg Hotel - Constantia, South Africa
• Shamwari Game Reserve - Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Come back tomorrow for the final instalment - the best in Canada!

Fairmont Towers, Heliopolis is a new high-rise hotel in Cairo with 247 rooms and suites, three restaurants and more than 30,000 square feet of function and meeting space. It has a large atrium with tropical gardens and palm trees, and will have a spa added by the end of the year.  Next door is another hotel that Fairmont acquired - work will begin there next month and that will be known as just the Fairmont Heliopolis.  It too will have three restaurants, as well as 588 guest rooms, outdoor tennis courts and indoor squash courts.

iExplore, named the Best Adventure Travel Website by Forbes Magazine and Travel + Leisure, has announced a list of top 10 world travel destinations as determined by purchases made by adventure and experiential travellers.  Egypt retains its number one spot, but South Africa jumps to the number 2 spot (from 19th position the year before). Argentina and Italy fell to 21st and 26th positions respectively, having previously been in the top 10. Here’s their current top 10, with the previous year’s ranking in brackets:

1. Egypt (#1)
2. South Africa (#19)
3. China (#6)
4. Antarctica (#2)
5. Peru (#4)
6. Galapagos (#17)
7. Thailand (#5)
8. Costa Rica (#11)
9. Tanzania (#8)
10. India (#14)

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is to introduce its renowned St. Regis brand to Africa, with plans to debut a new property in the heart of downtown Cairo in 2011. The St. Regis, Cairo will include 299 lavishly furnished rooms and 103 serviced apartments as part of a luxurious, mixed-use development overlooking the River Nile. Owned by Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, the St. Regis, Cairo will represent the ultimate expression of contemporary luxury in Egypt’s thriving capital city.

The key winners from this year’s Spa Finder Readers’ Choice Awards are recognised by ‘Crystal Awards’. These are the crème de la crème of the innumerable winners, limited to just one from each continent. The five (there aren’t many to choose from in Antarctica!) to shine through this year are as follows:

• Favorite Spa of Africa: Four Seasons Resort Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt
• Favorite Spa of Asia: Chiva-Som, Hua Hin, Thailand
• Favorite Spa of Australia: Spa Chakra Hayman, Australia
• Favorite Spa of Europe: Fonteverde Natural Spa Resort, Tuscany, Italy
• Favorite Spa of North America: Miraval Life in Balance, Tucson, Arizona, USA
• Favorite Spa of South America: Kurotel Longevity Center and Spa, Brazil

Congratulations to these very select band of winners.

Let Egypt stimulate your mind, captivate your heart and steal your soul.

Romina Cambiasso is General Manager of Las Balsas in Patagonia, Argentina. Born in Buenos Aires, she majored in Tourism and has extensive experience in the industry, including posts at Park Hyatt Buenos Aires, The Aryaduta Jakarta and Iguazu Grand Hotel Resort & Casino, among others, prior to moving to Las Balsas.

What is it that you do exactly?

I manage a Relais & Chateaux in Patagonia. It´s an incredible property of only 15 rooms by the lake in the middle of a forest, surrounded by mountains. I´ve been working here for 8 years. Since last year I’ve been living between Villa La Angostura and Buenos Aires. In BA we have our sales & marketing office.

Normally when I’m at the hotel I wake up not very early in the morning and the first thing I do is call my assistant to find out if there is anything urgent to take care of. After that phone call, I have “mate” with my husband, who happens to be the executive chef, and then go straight to my office where I drink my first decaf of the day with the papers. Then it depends on the needs but as being in charge of everything in a small hotel I do always have meetings to attend, lunches with guests, discuss the day’s work with staff and late in the evenings I assist to my regular political meeting. I’m at the board of a political party in my small town. When I’m in Buenos Aires I go to the office very early in the morning and do presentations to potential clients.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

To be honest I enjoy many things. But to name two I would say: to make my guests’ stay as special and unforgettable as I know it is and to train young people to be ready for their future as potential leaders. Most of all to let them understand what is important in serving other people. Of course it is very exhausting because it takes much more time and energy but the result is amazing and when people tell me what great team I have I know is because of that.

What would you say are the 3 best places you’ve ever stayed?

Fernando de Noronha - a small island in Northeast Brazil. The sunsets and deep blue sea are so romantic… I love scuba diving and this is one of the best places ever!!! And it was part of my honeymoon…

Paris - I just simply love it… everything there is great… classy and
beautiful. Whenever I can I go there.

Perito Moreno Glacier - an enchanting place. It is where I met my husband. Incredibly energetic…

What’s been your most memorable dining experience to date?

That’s a tough question… Pablo, my husband is an incredible chef, so creative; and we enjoy eating very much… his food is my favourite. But I would say in 2003 on our honeymoon we went to a small restaurant that belongs to a famous photographer in Pipa (Brazil) called Beijupira. We were alone and we took the tasting menu. Everything was delicious and the ambiance was so romantic with candles and everything. It was the warmest night. When we took our credit card to pay, the waiter who was really kind told us that they did not accept credit cards… we started laughing because we thought we did not have enough cash to pay the bill. Fortunately, everything was solved but we offered to drive our waiter back to his house because our cash was not enough for the tip!!!!!!!

Have you rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous, either through your work or your travels?

We welcome a lot of rich and famous guests because the hotel is very exclusive and private due to its location. Queen Beatrice of Holland, Princess Maxima and Prince William of Holland, Sir John Major, Jaques Laffitte, to name a few. They choose to come here because they feel safe and comfortable. It is like being at home… and last year in our International Congress in Monaco, we were with Princess Stephanie and Prince Albert. 

What currently ranks highest on your travel wishlist?

I would say Israel & Egypt. The first one for a religious matter and the second one is because of its culture. South Africa for the safaris and the south of Italy because my family comes from there.   

Thanks, Romina.

Doug Gollan is one of three founders of the Elite Traveler magazine.  While his title is President and Editor-in-Chief, his responsiblities include overseeing editorial, sales, marketing and distribution.

What is it that you do exactly?

I would say my time is divided mainly between the editorial, sales and marketing, with about 10% spent on circulation.

We publish seven issues a year - six bi-monthly issues of Elite Traveler and our Annual Elite Hotels Resorts Spas, so depending on where we are in the production cycle, there is no typical day.  However, on the editorial side I review all galleys reading all stories and reviewing all layouts.  I also do a column and will write some of the pieces for our “News and Previews” section.  After each issue we have a Post Mortem where we review each issue page by page to look for mistakes and things to improve.  Annually, we put together an Editorial Calendar for the next year, typically early summer.  As we have distribution on private jets in over 90 countries and our readers are global jetsetters, we always strive to have a global perspective.

On the sales side, I hold a weekly sales conference call on Mondays to review status of advertsing for the next issue as well as to discuss how to get new advertisers we think would benefit by communicating with Elite Traveler readers. On any given day I am out of the office with salespeople meeting with potential advertisers to explain what the magazine is all about - the first and only private jet lifestyle magazine - and the fact that we have global circulation, and why that is good.  Most magazines are specific to a single country.  I then also attend press functions to learn about new products and announcements as well as trade shows.

The fact that I am invovled in advertsing and sales gives me a unique perspective. Many companies tell salespeople one thing and editors another, so I think I get a much better viewpoint on which products and services really fit for our readers.

In terms of circulation, the private jet market is booming, so we always want to make sure we are aboard the jets of any new operators.  We have over 400,000 readers every issue, but to get that, we have over 4,000 distribution agreements.  What’s more, while there are lots of private jets in Aspen in the Winter, there are less in the Summer, so we are always busy making sure we send our magazine to where our readers are!

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

The opportunity to deal with so many different companies.  In a sing