What is it that you do exactly?

Bon Vivant is a concierge and lifestyle management service, which means that we arrange and manage the lifestyle and leisure needs of our members. A large part of what we do is creating bespoke travel itineraries and recommending and booking holidays and hotels all over the world.

Another large focus is arranging the daily lives of our members such as recommending and booking restaurants, arranging parties and events, arranging entry to exclusive clubs, sourcing tickets for the theatre, concert and VIP events, arranging flowers to be delivered and much more!

Our members have access to exclusive treatment and complimentary benefits, including hotel upgrades and discounts, priority booking and complimentary Champagne at several London restaurant hotspots and discounts at a large range of lifestyle services including hair salons, spas, florists etc.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

I have always had a passion for travel, dining and trying out new places so it’s great to be able to do something that I am wholly passionate about as a job. I love that each day is a little different because everything depends on what our members want, which can be extremely varied.

I try to get out a few times a week to meet the managers of new venues and keep in touch with existing contacts and it’s great to be at the forefront of hearing about and trying out new venues so that we can advise our members in the best way. The exclusive party invites are always a plus too!

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

My favourite place in the world is St Bart’s in the Caribbean as it’s just idyllic – the turquoise sea, the white sand and the glorious weather. The island is so intimate and it’s the perfect blend of barefoot luxury with a splash of glamour! My favourite hotel there is Eden Rock as it encapsulates all that I love about the island.

Being based in London means we have the whole of Europe within easy reach and I love going to Paris for the weekend. It’s great to visit a different hotel each time as Paris has so much to offer – I’m staying at the Plaza Athenee soon, which I’m sure will be a highlight of the trip.

The best service I have ever experienced was in the Hotel Bel Airin Los Angeles; the staff were incredibly attentive and the service was discreet and seamless. The hotel is in a beautiful setting with a great pool and it’s a lovely antidote to the frenzy of LA!

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

One of the most memorable experiences was in The White Caves restaurant at the Kirini hotel in Santorini. Our table was inside a white cave with gorgeous views of the caldera, which was truly spectacular. Dinner was paired with a selection of Santorini wines, which made the experience even more memorable. Another notable highlight was the truffled fries by the pool at the Bel Air hotel.

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

As a luxury concierge service, we often have requests from high profile clients, therefore we are very discreet and respect our members’ right to their privacy.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

I would love to see more of Italy, especially the Amalfi Coast, but further afield, a trip to Argentina would be fantastic, especially if it involved wine tasting in Mendoza. Oh, and a trip to St Bart’s is always welcome!

It’s been great hearing about what you do at Bon Vivant, Emyr, as well as hearing some of your wonderful travel experiences. Thanks for taking part.

If you would like to be interviewed on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

Interview with Emyr Thomas, Founder and Director of Bon Vivant is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

La Samanna

Partners in Paradise is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

Villas with a view is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

What is it that  you do exactly?

My daily objective is to position Cambridge Beaches as an inimitable resort getaway to upscale and aspiring vacationers who can appreciate old-world style, romance and privacy. To successfully deliver these objectives, I must ensure that the elements of service, physical amenities and infrastructure meet and exceed the expectations of incoming guests. I am Chairman of the Bermuda Hotel Association, Co-Chairman of the Bermuda Alliance for Tourism and Chairman of the BAT Airline Committee, all of which assists me in my daily objectives.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

I like variety. I like to push the envelope, challenge my team and provoke imagination, quality, consistence and delivery. I am creative and like to develop new ideas or conceive new ways to improve Cambridge Beaches on a daily basis. I relish guest feedback and enjoy trying to get Bermuda and Cambridge Beaches front of mind. I also enjoy counseling and pushing for better performance, better results and superior guest satisfaction.

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

The Safari Lodges run by CC Africa are magical as nature provides the very best and worst on the same page. The magnificent continent, animals and staff, who just want to please, and the physical amenities make you feel comfortable, safe and exclusive.

My favorite business hotel is the Four Seasons in London, UK. They make a full-on effort to please and their observatory rooms are amazing. The hotel is one of the best managed and the people fall over themselves making you feel at home.

One of my favorite leisure destinations is Eden Rock in St. Barts. The island offers a European-sophisticated style, is a lot of fun and the food is excellent.   For me, it encompasses all the necessities with a laid-back atmosphere that really works.

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

It doesn’t get any better than the private island dining experience here at Cambridge Beaches.   My wife and I thoroughly enjoy the entire evening, from the gentle lapping of the waves to the golden moon-beams, the swishing of the palm trees and just being in the atmosphere with that special person is so romantic. The butler is discreet, popping and pouring champagne and then takes his exit only to return for the next course.   Everything is surreal, your sense of taste is heightened, the colors look brighter and the night is so very quiet.   We usually end the evening with coffee and liqueur and then a private shuttle in and around the beaches at Cambridge. There is nothing quite like this out there and yet, it’s a simple, elegant pleasure that lasts forever.

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

As a past Minister in the Government of Bermuda, I had the opportunity to meet many world leaders. Cambridge Beaches is fortunate in welcoming many famous people from both the political and Hollywood side to even those from royalty. My career has afforded me the pleasure of meeting prime ministers, presidents, princes and film stars. What is most interesting is that the Hollywood-types, royals and politicians all covet the same things: privacy, comfort, pampering and the ability to do nothing. Isn’t that what we all want?

What currently ranks highest on your travel wishlist?

I yearn to visit India, for an incredible opportunity to witness a tiger safari, and/or to chase leopards in Africa. My wife and I are hoping to visit French Polynesia in the near future. Of course, China is on my list and I want to spend more time enjoying the spas of the world, specifically the spas of Austria, Germany and the Far East.

Thanks, Michael. Having honeymooned with CC Africa a few years ago, I can heartily endorse your recommendation of the company.

Interview with Michael Winfield of Cambridge Beaches is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

• Azores, Portugal: Pousada da Horta
• Java, Indonesia: Amanjiwo
• Long Island, New York: The Chequit Inn
• Mauritius: The Oberoi Mauritius
• Oahu: Halekulani and W Honolulu
• St. Barts: Hôtel Guanahani and Hôtel St-Barth Isle de France

A year of island hopping: May is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

Iglesias and Kournikova in the Caribbean is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

St Barts – an increasingly popular luxury travel destination? is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog