A Luxury Travel Blog

Marty Carr is CEO of Carr Golf Travel, which includes the brand Online Golf Travel, and offers bespoke golf travel in Europe and the US and runs several world-class golf events in Ireland. The son of Joe Carr, who won 40 golf championships and was one of the world’s best ever amateur golfers, Marty studied at the University in California before working for five years on Wall Street. He returned to his native Dublin in 1990 to set up the Carr Golf Group.

What is it that you do exactly?

I manage a business of more than 40 staff. I get up early and am in the office at 7.30am each day (when I am not travelling) and I spend a lot of my time in meetings and dealing with emails, but am at my happiest selling. No day is ever the same. I travel and am on the road at least three months of the year. I also attend a lot of international and domestic golf events and also events which we run. Our company manages several golf venues and I visit these from time to time.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

The variety, meeting people and working as part of a team. The golf business is all about fun.

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

1) Floridian Yacht & Golf Club – This was a unique club owned by Wayne Huizenga and I was privileged to be a member. The accommodation, the golf course, the clubhouse and the staff were spectacular, but it was so relaxed and so much fun. It has since been sold and is privately owned.

2) I love The Breakers in Palm Beach. I spent Christmas there with my family and it was just fantastic.

3) Doonbeg Lodge in Ireland. This creation by the owners of Kiawah Island is the finest golf links resort in the world.

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

I had an interesting meal a few years ago at Nobu in Malibu. I had just flown in from Ireland and was a little tired. I went out to dinner with Stuart Townsend and the actress Charlize Theron. The food was unbelievable (I love sushi) and I decided to pick up the tab as I was staying with them. Little did I know we were drinking vintage saki and the bill was close to $2,000. Needless to say I will never forget this one.

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

I have been fortunate to meet and play golf with many celebrities over the past 20 years. Dan Quayle and Dan Marino play in our family golf events every year. I have also played golf with Jack Welsh and Matt Lauer (who my brother and I beat in a 9-hole match, this was memorable). I also have played golf with Wayne Gretsky and Catherine Zeta Jones and we have had Michael Douglas, Rush Limbauch, Tom Fazio, Denis Taylor, Arnold Palmer, Bobby Orr work with our company over the years.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

I would like to travel around the world for six months. My two girls are 8 and 10, so I will probably have to wait a few years before I can do this, but I would like to visit South America, Australia, Asia, Africa with them over a long period of time.

Thank you for taking part in our interview, Marty.  The course at Doonbeg Lodge does indeed look stunning!

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

Simon Pardoe is a director and co-owner of The Healthy Holiday Company, which owns three luxury healthy holiday brands: fitscape, destination yoga and in:spa. Established in 2003, the company is now the UK’s leading provider of healthy holidays with a selection of large private villas and boutique hotels in Italy, Spain, Morocco, France, Greece and India.

What is it that you do exactly?

One of the reasons why I love our business so much is that it involves me in so many different ways, so there’s really no such thing as a typical day. However, my primary role is to develop and expand the business. I look after the negotiation and contracting, so I travel a fair bit. In the office, most days there’s some requirement for discussions with partners or agents; meeting with new or existing members of our team of yoga teachers, chefs, fitness trainers or nutritionists; discussing or planning promotions or marketing initiatives; talking with our staff about ideas for running the business better or making the holiday experience for our guests even more exceptional.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Providing the environment and the expertise for our guests to return from their holidays looking and feeling amazing. It’s fabulous that so many of them write or call us to say what an incredible time they had and how much they’re looking forward to booking their next trip.

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

For both summer adventures and winter skiing in the mountains, I would always choose Hotel Rosa Alpina in the Italian Dolomites. It’s a charming family run 40 bedroom Relais & Chateaux hotel with exquisite service, wonderful food and a superb spa. The hiking in the summer is incredible and the 740 miles of piste in the winter makes it an ideal base for a ski trip.

My favourite place in Africa is Tongabezi, an exceptional lodge on the banks of the Zambezi. I first visited Tonabezi 20 years ago and it has slowly evolved to become a truly fabulous 16 bedroom suite lodge with awesome river views. It is on a par with anything anywhere in the world, but for Zambia it’s astonishing. My favourite times to visit are April and October.

For a romantic getaway, you can’t beat Turtle Island in the Yasawas, Fiji. It’s a private island with 14 guest cottages (called bures) and 14 different beaches, pristine azur seas surround it and it feels delightfully remote, yet fabulously luxurious. A Robinson Crusoe environment with first class accommodation and fine dining. It’s where The Blue Lagoon was filmed.

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

A tough question! Probably discovering Gordon Ramsay at his first London restaurant in Chelsea in the early 90s before he became famous and his prices became exorbitant. Most memorable was the starter of green bean cappuccino with truffle oil served in a coffee cup.

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

We have a lot of celebrities and high profile guests on our holidays but, as you would expect, I am not prepared to divulge any secrets!

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

I would love to explore the coastline of Croatia on a yacht with my family. Hopefully next summer!

Thank you for taking part in our interview, Simon.  Sadly I have never been, but I’ve heard lots of good things about Turtle Island.

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

Jean-Christophe Nager is the General Manager of The Pavilions, Phuket, a 5-star luxury resort built on a hill-top on the delightful island of Phuket. A Swiss national with more than 25 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, Jean-Christophe (JC) graduated from Collège St-Michel, Fribourg, in Switzerland in 1978 and studied photography in Montreal, Canada for a year before returning home to join the Lausanne Hotel Management School until 1984. His enthusiasm for travel led him to work in prestigious hotels and resorts in various countries in Asia, Europe and the Caribbean before joining The Pavilions in 2009.  JC lives in Phuket with his wife and enjoys watersports and tennis.

What is it that you do exactly?

I am here to create and fulfil dreams and souvenirs, for our guests planning their holidays, looking at the website, looking for a relaxing time together. Souvenirs as our aim is that that they will leave with fond memories of their stay, tell everyone around them and return. To do that I need to orchestrate that every aspect of our guests’ experience runs flawlessly like in a movie plus add some wow factor and a genuine care from the team.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Developing new things, services, products, concepts. They can be major undertakings or small details added to an existing service. These little things make a difference at the end of a stay and there is nothing that is more heartwarming than a fond farewell to an appreciative and happy guest.

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

About 20 years ago on a break from buzzing Hong Kong to Boracay in the Philippines – in those days there was no electricity on the island. To see the chambermaid setting a petrol lamp on the porch of the bungalow at turn down illustrated a magic moment and set the tone for a few days out of time.

A safari in the Okavango Delta in Botswana in several tented camps left unforgettable memories with a sense of being within the animal kingdom with elephants grazing around the tent at night and lion roars in the not-too-far distance!

A trip to Venice a few years ago in a quiet period of the year. There is magic in the place and wherever you look, something to catch your eye. Plus the inimitable Italian flair and style for a certain art de vivre. A Campari soda or an espresso never taste better than on a terrace of a piazza in Venice.

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

When I was studying at hotel school I had the chance to dine at Girardet, a famous 3 Michelin star restaurant in Switzerland. That evening was perfection from beginning to end and rests engraved on my mind as what hospitality, creativity, attention to detail all carefully thought through was all about to make for unforgettable experiences. It was an inspiration especially at the beginning of my career as a hotelier.

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

Some members of the British Royal family used to holiday in a resort on a small island off Antigua in the Caribbean and afterwards I had the opportunity to welcome guests from the British jetset, wanting to stay at the same place. More recently in the Maldives we would host some well-known people from the music and fashion industry. Another person who stayed with us was a famous entrepreneur in the airline industry, who also happened to own an island amongst other business ventures. Most if not all were down to earth, appreciative of the care provided by the team and a pleasure to have as guests.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

I always try to discover new places in the region where I work. After Northern Thailand and the temples of Angkor in Cambodia, Australia and perhaps Tibet are next on the list. A cruise on a sailboat with friends in the Andaman Sea is also in planning.

It was a great pleasure to meet you, JC. Thank you for your time in answering our questions and best of luck with fulfilling your travel wish list.  Our regular readers may remember that we ran a special feature about the Passions Programme at The Pavilions recently.

Luke Powers is a passionate traveller, always keen to explore new destinations. But mostly he enjoys exploring his own back yard: greater Cape Town. He loves a slow road trip on backroads, with plenty of time to meet the locals and take loads of photos. He lives in Cape Town and revels in every detail of this popular layered city, especially the City Bowl and surrounding mountains. He is a bit addicted to running, especially on trails. What else? He has a fascination with junk stores, flea markets and left field collectables. He is constantly searching for the perfect cup of coffee and croissant.

What is it that you do exactly?

I am the Managing Director of Africa Bespoke. This means that I am involved in the day to day operations of the business. This includes sourcing new business,dealing with some enquiries, managing and updating the website, blog and socialmedia aspects, marketing, plus going site inspections and educational of our preferred properties. Never a dull moment.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Planning travel for our clients: plotting the trip, pitching it perfectly, matching it to the person’s likes and needs, plus putting it together so that the result is seamless travels. I also really enjoy dreaming up exciting new journeys by combining interesting destinations and activities. Africa has so many unique aspects to explore.

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

Rovos Rail - I recently took this legendary luxury train from Victoria Falls to Pretoria. What a treat! It really is a superb experience, with every detail thought of, incredible service, fine cuisine and the most scintillating wine list one can imagine. Hard to beat just whiling away the hours in the Observation Car reading a novel, talking or playing backgammon to the rhythmic clickety clack of the train.

Jinja, Uganda - Lived in a tent overlooking the White Nile River for 3 months whilst working for a river rafting outfit. We live a simple life on the equatorial forest-lined river banks with the mighty Nile flowing past below, red earth in between my toes. Good beer fantastic people, great memories.

Sabi Sabi Selati Lodge - The Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve is hard to beat. Legendary for its Big Five sightings, it delivered my Big Five dream: a world class leopard sighting. We were guided by a ranger who charming raconteur with and unsurpassed knowledge of the fauna and flora.

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

Tough question as I love my food and restaurants, plus we are lucky to have so many good ones to choose from in the Cape. I would have to say wild boar hunting stew and roast pheasant in Italy, near Rome. Cooked by my Italian cousins and eaten in a medieval village atop a hill. Hard to describe the authentic vibe and tastes.

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

A few years ago in Brazil we were in a small surfing beach village near Salvador, called Itacare. There were very few travellers around, so every day we shared the beach with a small band of English speaking travellers, which included a couple of good looking girls. English speaking girls were a rare find in Brazil, so the singles amongst us got a lot of flak for not chatting them up. No brainer, right? Nothing happened of course, until a couple of days later when the penny finally dropped and we suddenly realized it was none other than Charlize Theron, Stuart Townsend, Kate Bosworth and Orlando Bloom! Our single mates were then forgiven for not attempting their best chat up lines on these Hollywood A listers.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

Nepal – for some incredible trekking and whitewater kayaking.

Thank you for taking part in our interview, Luke.  Your responses make for an enjoyable read.

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

Lauren Cicione is an ex-New Yorker (former contemporary art dealer) Italian American who moved to Montalcino, Tuscany two years ago. She knew it was time for a career switch when her foodie tendencies to visit every new restaurant in NYC started taking precedence over her interest in checking out new installation sculpture. Growing up in an Italian American family, she had a long-standing passion for good food and Italian wine with a strong connection to all things local and organic. After spending much time cooking with brilliant renowned chefs, harvesting grapes, working in the vineyard, becoming close friends with many of the top Brunello producers in Montalcino, she started a company called Tuscan Auteur to share with other oenophiles and wine collectors, the fortunate, lush lifestyle she lives there.

What is it that you do exactly?

Tuscan Auteur is a very specialized concierge service for the town of Montalcino, where I curate innovative itineraries for wine collectors coming to explore the world famous Brunello and the surrounding area south of Siena. In addition to the winery visits, I offer the complete luxury Tuscan experience, booking villas for clients, bringing in private chefs, organizing wine paired dinners, arranging cooking class, etc. I’m branching out this year to begin work with corporate clients arranging incentive trips to the area as well as wine retailers offering oenophilic travel to their top collectors.

In addition to trip planning and touring with clients, Twitter, Facebook and PR for Tuscan Auteur (documenting Tuscan life and the majority of what I eat and drink here) constitute much of my time. I’m also continually visiting wineries in search of artisanally produced jewels to share with clients (in and beyond Montalcino.) I’m an avid eater and always trying out the hundreds of restaurants from Michlin stared establishments to mom and pop local trattorias sourcing the best tastes around. I never give a restaurant suggestion to clients without recommendations on which dishes to order. That being said, I have to revisit several times and seasons to cover the majority of menus.

I also enjoy the simplicity of country life working in my vegetable garden and cooking with native friends learning about the local culinary traditions. Periodically I volunteer to work in the vineyards of my favorite producers to see hands on, exactly which stage of the growing season they’re at. For me it’s important to be in tune with what’s happening with the season and grapes in order to truly explain the place my clients are visiting, the wine they are tasting and the terroir it comes from.

On a wine tour day with clients, we meet in the morning. If it’s our first day together, I explain the very strict growing and aging regulations that make Montalcino the most restricted winemaking zone in Italy. Depending on the group, we will visit anywhere from 2 – 4 wineries in a day. We visit only small family run vineyards mostly working organically, biodynamically or in an old fashioned farming method. I strive to open the eyes and pallets of my clients to the artisanal Brunellos being produced. At each winery, we meet personally with the owner, walking through the vineyard, touring the cellars and often barrel tasting in addition to current vintages from bottle. If we’re not eating at the kitchen table with the producers over a vertical tasting at lunch, we’re at one for my favorite Montalcino restaurants where I’m a regular. At the end of each visit, clients can purchase hard to get wines direct from the vineyards to be sent home to their personal cellars. Tuscan Auteur then organizes the grouping and shipping of these select wines for each client.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

It’s hard to choose one thing that I love most about my job. In essence, I have chosen what, to me, is an ideal lifestyle and I share that with clients. That said, spending time explaining the town and wine I have fallen in love with never really feels like work. I love meeting guests coming from all over and always connecting seamlessly due to a common passion for wine and food. All this while I am concurrently promoting well made artisanal wines and honest producers whom I truly believe in.

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

A few years back I took an adventure vacation to Costa Rica. There we stayed at the Pacuare Lodge. The only way to arrive to this hidden river paradise is via white water rafting. It is the closest to jungle luxury one can get – private cabanas, stone swimming pools and outdoor showers hidden amidst the tropical flowers, birds and trees.

My local go to is Il Pellicano on the Tuscan coast. Over the decades, this Italian tradition has been frequented by the likes of the Kennedy’s and Missoni’s. The dramatic sunrise over the sea is priceless.

When visiting my native Ischia, an island off the coast of Naples, Italy, I often stay at a friend’s villa in Forio or hop over to the Mezzatorre, one of the island’s most beautiful hotels perched over the Mediterranean, where I sip caprioscas at the salt water pool build into the cliffside above the sea.

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

One best meal?! Virtually impossible for me as there are so many variables that make for a good eating experience – company, location, food, wine. Memorable, though, would include a baby sucking pig roast paired with a vertical tasting of multiple vintages of Brunello and Rosso at one of my favorite vineyards in Montalcino; or a five course, romantic Champagne infused seaside dinner at La Pineta on the Tuscan coast, complete with pesce crudo and then spaghetti with sea urchin, my forever favorite!

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

As for hobnobbing with the rich and famous, five years in the New York City international art world was the perfect platform. From artists, to collectors, to writers, I mingled and worked with it all. When engaging with high-profile clients here in Tuscany, it’s wonderful being on a more relaxed level as they are on vacation and enjoying life with good wine and company in a breathtaking setting. I have worked with several high profile clients, journalists and wine producers since moving to Tuscany. As one may imagine, the clientele of art collecting to wine collecting is expectedly similar.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

I’m hoping to make my way to northern India this winter but the specific plans are still not in stone. This summer, I spent the later part of July in Corsica visiting artisanal wine producers of the island.

Thank you for taking part in our interview, Lauren, and good luck with your trip to India.

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

Guy Louis Roger is President at Asiana Pearl Vision, a boutique travel designer based in Cebu city and operating exclusively in the Philippines, focusing on high end tailor made tours and bespoke travelling experiences. Guy has an hotelier background and he has been working on senior management positions for Accor, Dusit, Pan Pacific, Le Meridien, Lucien Barriere groups and some independent luxury boutique hotels. He spent 25 years in South East of Asia.

What is it that you do exactly?

I spend my time to developing and implementing the philosophy of our small company. We are committed to a style of travel that is environmentally, culturally and socially responsible.

Beside an excellent knowledge of the country the fact of being directly established in the Philippines allows us to behave more effectively, we are every day in narrow contact with our guides and can react at once for any particular wish of our customers or in improbable problems which could arise during the journey.

But especially it allows us to ceaselessly improve our services: discoveries of new tours out of the mass tourism, regular visits of our partners and permanent research of new even more authentic and more comfortable addresses, very privileged contacts with our guides, systematic meeting with all our clients at their arrival and departure of their stay and direct return of their feedback.

We particularly like mixing experiences, it is a part of our added value and in accordance with the destinations and when it is possible we invite our customers to live alternatively in luxury hotels, boutique resorts and then in a delightful home stay with Filipinos.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

I love to discover new authentic destinations out of the beaten paths and to deliver unique experiences to our guests including contacts and inter actions with the local population.

I am also a luxury hotels addict and I really enjoy providing high quality of services with a concierge and “white gloves” approach to meet the high expectations of the discerning travelers.

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

The Amanpulo, a beautiful and romantic hideaway on a private island in Palawan, Philippines, this ultra-exclusive destination is a wondrous lost paradise where earth- given beauty and a luxury resort embrace the island hosts for a dream.

The Ritz in Paris, a legendary Palace with an old tradition of excellence and elegance, a synonym for
perfection.

The Banyan Tree Seychelles, the stunning pool villas combine contemporary and colonial décor with spectacular views of the Indian Ocean, swaying palm trees and lush tropical forest.

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

A 4 hours lunch with my family at Michel Bras, a unique fine dining restaurant located in the remote mountains of Aubrac, France with sweeping views over the valley towards the village of Laguiole. This is an essential culinary trip for anybody who loves food. The gorgeous surroundings, outstanding staff and overall zen-like atmosphere of the property make this restaurant a sensational destination. You must book a table several months in advance.

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

In my long carreer in the hospitality industry, I have been serving a few celebrities such as Mick Jagger, Juan Carlos King of Spain, Jacques Chirac President of France. I have also learnt from my first boss that all the guests are VIPs.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

I am a tropical islands lover and I am planning to discover Sumba in Indonesia. I need to find some time for this… not so easy!

Thank you for taking part in our interview, Guy. Sumba looks stunning – a paradise for birdwatchers, I imagine, or for nature lovers in general. I take it you would be staying at Nihiwatu?

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

Helen Howitt is co-founder, with her partner Adam, of Sheepskin, a small collection of unique holiday properties located in inspiring landscapes throughout the UK. Prior to forming Sheepskin, they both worked in international product development. They left corporate life to pursue a love of travel and a passion for discovering beautiful and unusual places. Some of the most awe-inspiring places they found were in the UK and Sheepskin was formed from a desire to share these with others. Since Sheepskin launched they have continued to add unusual, carefully selected properties to their collection. Sheepskin’s collection now includes 12 properties in Wales, four in the West Country and one in the Peak District; in 2011 they will expand to the Cotswolds and hopefully into Scotland.

What is it that you do exactly?

We are a small, close-knit team at Sheepskin, so on a daily basis I get involved in everything from helping guests organise their stays at our properties and putting together their tailor-made guides, updating our website, blog and social media pages, planning and implementing marketing and PR activities, responding to specific requests from the press with editorial and images, continuing the search for further unique properties to add to our collection and liaising with their owners.

Many weeks I travel out of the office to visit new properties. We only include places where we would love to stay ourselves (in fact we do stay in every one before they join the collection). I work with every owner to ensure that our guests will get absolutely the level of comfort, service and experience that they expect when they stay there. Then I re-visit with our photographer, we take a portfolio of honest yet beautiful images and whilst I am in the house I write the details to represent the house on our website.

Any spare time; I try to spend thinking about where Sheepskin can go next as a business; Sheepskin Snow is next on our list.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

When I am ‘off the map’ on a dirt track somewhere following the owner’s directions to a great new property I think I have the best job in the world but this would leave me feeling a little empty if it wasn’t for hearing how our guests enjoy staying at these places. It’s the best feeling and best part of my job when guests tell us how much they enjoyed their time away and appreciated our help. You know that you have helped someone find a great place to relax and escape for a while and have a holiday that they will remember.

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

My 3 places are all ‘best’ for very different reasons;

1. During our travels in South America, Adam and I drove into the Andes, off the tourist trail to Laguna Santa Rosa. We had a tent with us which we tried to pitch in the hard, salt crusted earth by the lake as we watched the flamingos but as the sun started to set it soon got very cold at 4000m and we resorted to bedding down in the wooden refuge hut. A two room cabin which at a push would accommodate 10 on the floor but it was only us that night (and for some nights before it seemed from the visitor book). With the exception of altitude sickness, this location is one of the most stunning and memorable places I have ever had the privilege to visit and stay. In the middle of the night, we thought about packing up and heading to lower altitude but we persevered and gradually acclimatised and we were glad we did. Sun rise over the lake, surrounded by salt beds, sandstone craggy hills and Llamas was spectacular, we woke early and saw Flamingos bathing nearby in the cool waters. We were sorry to leave but didn’t want to stay another night in case someone else wanted to enjoy the peace and solitude of this beautiful place. This was luxury of a kind that you do not find in many places on earth!

2. Jnane Tamsna and Eco Lodge outside Marakech

We left work on Friday afternoon and late that night we had been transported to another world in a guest house in the Atlas Mountains perched on a hillside at the edge of a village. I don’t normally like these types of places where a hotel is built in the middle of a rural village as it is normally only the owner and the guests that benefit from the arrangement. This place was different though; local villagers had been involved in the restoration and are now involved in running the lodge from the man who meets you at the village café, puts your luggage on a donkey and leads you up the hillside through walnut groves with a tin lantern to light the way, to the people who cook your wonderful meals and the guide who can walk with you into the Atlas mountains each day if you wish.

We were sorry to leave but after 3 relaxing days exploring the mountains it was time to experience Marakech. Wanting to enjoy the hustle and bustle but be able to escape it we had booked Jnane Tamsna in the Palmerie. None of the places here are in the most stunning locations but stepping inside was like a gateway to another world. The eight individual and traditionally furnished rooms where all off the cool, shaded porticos around the inner courtyard. On the night we arrived we didn’t realise that we were the only guests, we came out into the courtyard for dinner to find one table, places in the centre of the courtyard, lit by tens of candles all around it. Day or night it was a tranquil place to relax and unwind. We couldn’t stay still for long though and didn’t need to with Marakech just a few minutes away.

3. I have to mention one of the properties in our collection (and I promise I am not being biased). Adam and I fell in love with Lletty, in the Brecon Beacons, the first time we saw it. We stayed there with friends over New Year and it really is just an idyllic place. All the creature comforts you could want, peace and tranquillity, a private view of the Black Mountains and a real sense of home. On our previous visits we had ensured that the beds were all very comfortable and made extremely cosy with faux fur throws and our Sheepskin bathrobes were all in place. We had picked up a goose on the way from the local butcher so we had everything we needed for a quiet but completely indulgent New Year’s celebration. At midnight we took the Sheepskin rugs outside and sat on the deck watching the fireworks against the inky black, night sky across the valley.

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

Oh my, that’s a difficult one. Food is one of the reasons I travel, to experience the different cuisines of the countries, I keep a food journal whenever I travel.

Normally I would say that the food is more important than the surrounds (you don’t look for air-conditioning and table cloths if you want great, local food in places like Kuala Lumpur for instance) but the meal I will choose was lunch during a trip around South Africa. Near Franschoek we spotted a tiny sign for a vineyard (it wasn’t in the official list but we thought we’d have a look). On the vineyard they had a small restaurant where for some reason we were the only guests. At first we were a little apprehensive particularly with the quite limited menu. But we had a table in the sunshine on a terrace overlooking the vines stretching across the valley so we chanced it and were glad we did. We had, possibly the best fish and chips (no ordinary fish and chips for sure!) I have ever tasted and a magnificent, oaked Chenin blanc all sitting looking out over a tranquil valley under a perfectly clear blue sky. Simple but wonderful!

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

A couple of our property owners are, not quite rich and famous but well known in art and media circles though I do not want to encroach on their privacy by saying more. Mariella Frostrup stayed at one of our properties for the Hay Festival this year though all was organised via her agent so we didn’t exactly rub shoulders.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

I’d like Adam and I to ride our motorbikes from the UK through Europe and eventually into India. Two things are in the way at the moment, first the time it would take is way longer than we wish to be away from Sheepskin at the moment and secondly we would want to do it in style. We’ve done motorbike holidays before, camping on the way, it’s fantastic for a week or so but after that it gets a little tiresome so we’d be searching for great places to stay along the way this time.

Thank you for taking part in our interview, Helen.  Regular readers may recall that we ran a special feature on a Sheepskin property – the Music Mill in the Peak District – earlier this year.

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

George Tyshchenko is Head of Sales & Marketing at national cruise specialist Gill’s Cruise Centre, which is head-quartered in Cardiff and has offices in London.

George has always had links with the sea, having been brought up in the port of Cardiff, and he spent his early working life with the Merchant Navy as an officer with Cunard Line. He has worked in the world of travel, and specifically cruise travel for upwards of twenty five years now.

What is it that you do exactly?

A typical day starts when I arrive promptly at my office based in pleasant surroundings on the outskirts of Cardiff, and settle down with a coffee, liaising with our Sales Division, Analysts and Web team to examine the previous day’s statistics– bookings, revenue, the number of incoming phone calls and web enquiries in response to our adverts. It’s the only way to start the day in order to keep my finger on the pulse.

The next, equally important part of the day involves getting together with our enthusiastic commercial team to decide what key offers to include in upcoming national news adverts, direct mail & e-mail marketing. This is largely driven by daily communication with our cruise line partners, as they can provide up to date news on their activities within the cruise market, and advise of any offers & incentives that may be available to our clients. We work with all the major cruise lines – Cunard, P&O, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Fred Olsen and MSC to name but a few.

When selecting the cruises that feature in our advertisements, we usually look for a good range of itineraries, prices, cruise lengths and destinations so that we can provide the best possible choice for our cruise guests. Gill’s has been selling cruises for over 50 years and over that time we have built up a very loyal following – our regular guests look to us to provide the best possible deals and we work closely with our cruise partners to endeavour to keep one step ahead. That includes educational ship visits to experience the ‘product’ for myself – as a cruise specialist Gill’s prides itself on the excellent first-hand knowledge that our staff have of our cruise line partners and their ships.

I am lucky enough to live on the outskirts of Cardiff, and after my working day is done, I love to run or cycle through the hills behind the city to let off steam for a couple of hours.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

I love my work – it is one fast rollercoaster juggling act, trying to maintain the best possible product mix for our clients. It can get quite intense, especially when it gets close to deadline time, but we’ve a great team here and I love the camaraderie. It’s great finding a good offer, working with our talented design team to discover the best & most attractive way of presenting it, and then seeing it go down really well with our customers – it makes my day!

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

When you say places, I am including ships in that description!

Seaborne Legend: The Seaborne Legend is not a large ship, in fact she’s small and intimate, but the quality of the ship is outstanding. My time on board was a unique and memorable experience. We cruised to Lundy Island, Dublin, Guernsey & Rouen – but it wasn’t so much the itinerary that was special, although that and the company were very pleasant, but the surroundings were sheer, undiluted, unpretentious luxury.

Oosterdam: I would describe my stay aboard Holland America’s cruise ship Ouisterdam as ‘luxury on a large scale’. She has the facilities of a large liner and we enjoyed excellent service to match. We cruised up Mexico’s Pacific Coast, visiting places such as Cabo san Lucas, Mazatlan and San Diego.

Cape Town is my third choice. I have visited Cape Town many times and I would rank it as one of the most stunning places I have visited for its spectacular scenery and the fact that everything is very high quality. It’s a very upmarket city and the seafood restaurants are amazing – and incredible value for money.

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

The Queen’s Grille dining room on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 – I was privileged enough to take a mini cruise aboard this iconic vessel. I appreciate good food and this was one of the most exquisite dining experiences I have had. I found the whole experience outstanding, from the understated elegance of the dining room and the fine quality of the china and glassware to the incredibly high level of service – she is in a league of her own. It is no surprise that Queen’s Grille dining has been voted one of the top restaurant experiences in the world.

One funny-memorable dining experience for all the wrong reasons is when I collected a take-away from my local Indian restaurant – I was walking out of the restaurant, twiddling my car keys absent-mindedly on one finger, when they span off, flew across the room, and landed in someone’s curry. I made an apologetic exit!

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

I was quite star-struck when I encountered esteemed actor Robert Powell and his beautiful wife Babs of Pans People fame aboard Cunard’s new Queen Elizabeth – I’m not sure who made the greater impression on me! I was also privileged enough to meet the Royal Ballet’s very elegant Principal Ballerina, Darcy Bussell, aboard P&O Cruises’ Azura when she came to name the vessel.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

You may have gathered that my life has something of a food theme going on – I would absolutely love to go back to Mexico to experience a lot more of their fascinating dishes. I would also be fascinated to experience the Northern Lights, and I have long fancied a trip to the beautiful Galapagos islands. Of course, one of the hazards of working for a cruise specialist is that we get to see wonderful images of far flung places every single day and I never get de-sensitised to them – it would be great to have Dr Who’s skills to be able to transport myself instantly to wherever tales my fancy!

Thank you for taking part in our interview, George. Having experienced the Northern Lights in Greenland myself, it’s something I’d high recommend!

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

Karen Gee is Managing Director of Journeys of Distinction, a specialist tour operator selling luxury escorted tours from the UK to a wide range of destinations worldwide from New Zealand to Russia and from South America to India. The company offers a very high level of customer service and Karen regularly meets with customers to get their feedback including going undercover on a Journeys of Distinction holiday once a year. Every destination is carefully researched and every holiday is carefully planned using only the very best hotels to ensure the perfect experience. Karen has extensive experience in the travel and leisure industry having previously in escorted touring, package holidays, camping holidays, cruise, theme park and travel shopping channel sectors.

What is it that you do exactly?

I’m Managing Director of Journeys of Distinction which means I get involved in lots of different things, from researching destinations and planning our next range of brochures to negotiating prices and reading customer feedback. No two days are the same!

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

People often think that the highlight of my job is the travel that I’m lucky enough to experience but actually what I most enjoy is hearing from customers about the fabulous Journeys of Distinction holidays they’ve just had. I tend to get a lot of correspondence from customers and I just love reading about their experiences and what made it special for them. In fact I quite often get invited to customers homes for tea and cake so I can hear more about their travels in a very relaxed, personal way.

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

1. Wildflower Hall, Shimla, Indian Himalayas – Situated at 8,250 feet in the Indian Himalayas with breathtaking views, Wildflower Hall was Lord Kitchener’s private residence in the 1900’s and it’s my favourite hotel in the world. Grand and glamorous, plus they do a mean gin and tonic.

2. Skycity Grand, Auckland, New Zealand – Not for anyone with vertigo, this ultra contemporary hotel has a very modern and elegant approach to hotel design and decor. Not to be missed is Orbit, their highly acclaimed revolving restaurant in the revolving tower which, once you’ve got over the lift journey which takes you up 190 metres, the food and wine are great and the 360 views of the city make it particularly memorable part of the tours to New Zealand.

3. The Imperial, New Delhi – This stylish Art Deco hotel is simply the best hotel in Delhi to my mind and is minutes away from the restaurants and shopping of Connaught Place. There’s an all-cream colour scheme throughout the hotel and every room is slightly different so it makes your stay unique. The rooms have really comfortable beds, perfect thread count bedlinen and a delicious coconut lip balm in the bathroom. Sometimes it’s the little touches that make the difference.

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

Enjoying a Himachal Thali dinner at Wildflower Hall in a private dining room lit only by two hundred candles and a roaring fire and being served by Udit, the perfect butler who can predict your needs before even you know you need it. With over twenty different delicious Indian dishes, the whole atmosphere was just wonderful and was an experience I will never forget.

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

I’m the absolute soul of discretion and wouldn’t even dream of saying!

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

I’m looking forward to travelling through China next month and my wishlist for this trip is a Kindle and a plentiful supply of Jo Malone.

Thank you for taking part in our interview, Karen. We wish you well on your trip to China… but haven’t you kind of ‘let the cat out of the bag’ with regards to your next ‘undercover’ trip?!

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

Mery Calderon is the founder and President of Kuoda Travel, a tour operator that pioneered private luxury travel in Peru. Born and educated in Cusco, she is an expert in the Andean region and has shown countless guests the majesty of Machu Picchu and the warmth of Peruvian culture.

After growing up in her mother’s souvenir shop and earning her degree in tourism, Mery went on to supervise operations for the leading luxury properties and tour operators in Peru. An epiphany struck after watching her high-end guests being herded onto a group tour bus: travellers electing to stay in the best hotel in Cusco should have access to private guides, private transportation and a much more personalized experience. Thus, Kuoda Travel was born. Ever since, Mery has dedicated herself to the growth of her company via providing flawless operations and impeccable friendly customer service.

What is it that you do exactly?

If we have guests in Cusco, my priority is visiting them. I make it a point to know every guest by name. Sometimes I meet guests at the airport or check in with them at their hotel. I like to personally know how they feel about Peru, South America and their travel experience overall. And, I love to promote my country. Whether a guest is traveling with us or someone else, as long as they enjoy Peru, I am happy.

When I return to the office, I answer emails and then check in with our Travel Designers, who create the client itineraries. I answer questions and make suggestions. I have daily meetings with our Operations Supervisor and we discuss all guests currently in the country. Perhaps we’ve just learned that a particular traveler loves music – we’ll then work together to find ways to include a concert or private music lesson in his itinerary.

I also keep in touch with our suppliers (guides, hotels, restaurants, etc.) on a daily basis. My goal is to learn something new about what I can offer my guests each day.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

As a young woman, career aptitude tests showed that I should be an engineer, but I loved meeting people from other places and so I went into tourism. It’s the same today – I love meeting people from all around the world. I also love seeing how life-changing trips can be or how special. For example, sometimes a trip is the only time a family can really spend together. We had a family travel with us last year. Now their 15 year old son is coming back to spend two weeks volunteering with us and learning Spanish. One guest, after traveling with us, asked us to find local organizations and projects to support, and I was so proud that we had inspired him and that he put this trust in us. I love when people come as visitors and leave as friends. Many guests keep in touch and have even hosted me in their home countries.

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

I love hotels with history and personality. For example, one of the best places I’ve ever stayed was the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica in Peru’s Amazon rainforest. Inkaterra is the pioneer in Peruvian eco-tourism and they combine incredible knowledge and attention to detail with comfort and luxury. I learned so much about sustainable tourism while I stayed there, and falling asleep to the sounds of the jungle is incredible.

Another wonderful place is the Mansion Del Angel in Quito, Bolivia. It simply feels like romance – the hotel for honeymooners. This is a boutique situated in a colonial mansion. There are just six rooms so you feel like you are a guest in someone’s beautiful home. It is so friendly and peaceful – just perfect.

Finally, I would say the Quinua Villa Boutique in Cusco, Peru. It’s not as luxurious as the Inkaterra La Casona, but the owner – an Italian historian – has given each of the five boutique apartments a personality, so the experience of staying there feels very personal.

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

I would have to say a late afternoon lunch in the MAP café in Cusco. This is the café of the Museo de Arte Pre Colombino, which is basically a modern glass box snuggled in a corner of the beautiful colonial courtyard of the museum. The food is impeccable – delicious Peruvian classics, like ceviche or creamy Aji de Gallina (juicy chicken breast in a creamy spicy sauce), served with modern precision. It is essential to relax, let the fabulous wait staff take care of you and enjoy one of Peru’s best pisco sours! What I love is that despite the modern ambiance and the world-class food, MAP never loses the feeling of being an intimate, friendly café. Plus, you can visit the museum before or after your meal, which is truly one of Cusco’s best.

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

Our guests are highly accomplished individuals. We’ve had everyone from well-known writers, to perfume designers to presidents of large corporations to retired school teachers. That said, I must adhere to our policy of privacy and discretion when it comes to our clients.

I will say that I was visiting Cusco’s Monasterio Hotel one afternoon when I was told Richard Gere was in town. That was quite thrilling!

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

I very much want to visit Patagonia right now. It sounds so pristine, intriguing and magical. And while I’m passing through Argentina, I would love to learn to dance tango.

Thank you for taking part in our interview, Mery. We don’t usually get to cover South America as much as we’d like on A Luxury Travel Blog, so it’s been wonderful to enjoy some of your insights.

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

Camilla Shaughnessy is the founder of EventfulStays.com, a UK accommodation website which specialises in mid- to high-end home stays available for short term lets searchable by event. Camilla enjoyed the echelons of senior positions in corporate life before establishing her own consultancy firm in 1994. She went on to launch Eventful Stays in December 2010, inspired by renting out her Oxfordshire home to help generate additional income after the market crash in early 2010 when she and her husband lost their savings. While investigating ways in which to rent out her home – which features a pool house, helipad and gym – Camilla realised that, whilst there are numerous holiday rental companies, none specialise in major event-focused breaks or indeed personal ‘events’ such as special birthdays, wedding anniversaries and hen weekends – and so Eventful Stays was born.

What is it that you do exactly?

I get up at 5am when my head is usually buzzing with ideas and get a couple of hours of work done before the phones start ringing. I look after the day-to-day running of the website, deal with new potential rentals to make sure they adhere to our standards and manage the marketing and public relations teams. By 7.30am it’s time for a break so I go for a run, cycle, do a bit of kickboxing or 60 lengths in the pool. I’m lucky that my office is in my home – my team works from the summer house – so no commuting for me. When everyone has arrived, the office banter begins and we start the day with a motivational chat. As I recruit mainly young graduates I make sure they are involved or know about all the big decisions so they can see the effort that goes into running a new business. They’ve all had to watch me lament the loss of my beloved sports car which had to be sold to pay for the next phase of the website!

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Starting a website and overcoming all the hurdles that inevitably brings is mentally stimulating and I’m sure not everyone can say that about their job. I’m also a member of ‘Modern Muse’, which was established last year by the Everywoman network. Modern Muse aims to inspire and motivate young women and girls about business and entrepreneurship. I recruit young, mainly female graduates on paid internships and arm them with the skills needed for a professional upmarket start up business. Once a week, some of the team stay for supper – or as they put it ‘are held hostage’ – so that they can have open and frank exchanges about their hopes and aspirations, ideas and frustrations. I also line up discussion groups with schools and college sixth forms to engage young women in understanding the opportunities that can be made available to those with drive, determination and a bit of imagination. All they need is a little inspiration and to know what is possible. That gives me a lot of satisfaction.

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

I’d say the strangest place I’ve ever spent a night was a luxury converted Double Decker Bus with an on-board Jacuzzi, which I now think of as a great alternative for the more, uhm, discerning festival-goer (that would be doing Glastonbury in style!).

To celebrate my sister’s wedding we stayed at this delightful pousada in Portugal. I’m a big fan of avoiding hotels and B&B’s when a home stay is an alternative, if you haven’t noticed.

I enjoyed a stay at a fabulous Georgian Beach House in Ilfracombe, Devon where we celebrated a memorable winter family reunion. But then our family, being of Irish descent, usually have pretty sizable get-togethers! We just celebrated my father’s 87th birthday at a sumptuous cottage in Gloucestershire. We dined in style and a spontaneous game of water polo turned into a fun riot, as no one seemed to know the rules – or be bothered about them. The kids just looked on in horror at their mad parents until they gave in and joined the fun. My father played referee – needless to say!

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

Well, I once helped out my friend Gerald – the owner of a firm that provides personal bodyguards – by having lunch at The Ivy with a ‘loaned’ team of protectors positioned in and around the restaurant, foyer and outside – with cars at the ready. Best favour I’ve ever done! The bodyguards were on their final VIP training exercise so I stepped in as their client. Needless to say the other diners were completely intrigued – especially as they obviously didn’t recognise me. I then went to Brown’s, where I had a business meeting over tea, and the doorman was completely taken aback when asking if I wanted a taxi, he suddenly realised I had three cars awaiting me. Shopping in Harrods was equally as entertaining. It was like having five husbands watch what you are spending.

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

Well just this week I rubbed shoulders with the Prime Minister at a Conservative lunch and I often see Jeremy Clarkson as he lives about 10-miles away from my home from Chipping Norton.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

My schedule is pretty punishing so if I went anywhere it would sadly have to be with my laptop and iPhone in hand! But first and foremost is spending time with my husband and son. This summer I have decided to go back to my roots and spend a week cycling and fine dining in Ireland – for the simple reason that my husband would only agree on the basis of the fine dining and my 15-year-old son’s prerequisite was dare-devil off-road biking. My next priority is time with my friends. Perhaps a trip to Scotland to walk, talk and stay in a Laird’s castle. And once the sports car is replaced – definitely a priority – I’ll look at going somewhere warm and beautiful like the Maldives.

Thank you for taking part in our interview, Camilla. I’m off to Scotland myself next month to do a special feature on some very luxurious accommodation on a Scottish island… watch this space for details!

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

Kerstin Brand is the Director at Dar Fakir since its re-opening in 2011 after an undergoing extensive refurbishment in 2010. Dar Fakir belongs to a chain of successful enterprises in Marrakech such as the infamous Nikki Beach, Le Tanjia restaurant and L’Avenue, all owned by Nordine Fakir. If someone knows how to create a “In” place that people want to go to – here you are at the right address.

Kerstin herself brings with her a wealth of understanding within the travel industry herself from extensive travel around the world and also having set up Bare Minimum Travel an up-market low-mid range accommodation agency for Morocco. Having travelled to Morocco for over 12 years before finally settling over here she has seen the country develope and knows even the far reached corners. Her experience and understanding of Moroccan culture adds valuable insights to anyone being a guest in the Riad.

What is it that you do exactly?

My name is Kerstin Brand, I am the director at Dar Fakir. before coming to Morocco I’ve lived in Germany, England and Sweden. An average day at the riad consists first and foremost in looking after our guests, answering reservations, negotiating contracts with travel agencies and other commercial aspects of the riad.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Speaking with the guests and making sure that they have an enjoyable stay is the biggest satisfaction of my work. Especially as many people can at first find Marrakech a little daunting. It is a hectic place with small narrow winding streets that some guests find intimmidating at first. I always give guests a good introduction not only to sights and general things to do in and around Marrakech but also help and explain a little about the culture. People feed back to me that it is the latter that makes all the difference and allows them to have a great time during their stay. My goal is always to make people leave saying “We’ll be back” and the majority do.

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

Loving to travel myself I like places that are exotic and remote. Bagan in Burma was absolutely amazing. It is like Ankor Wat must have been over 20 years ago. Watching a sunset from the top of the temple with only a handful of other people around was breathtaking. Another very memorable place to me is the Sahara desert, be it Tomboctou in Mali, Merzouga in Morocco or Nouakchott in Mauritania. Sleeping under the stars in the desert is a feeling you can not beat. But the best of all places for me has got to be Marrakech. Having traveled here regularly over 12 years, I have still not got bored of this beautiful city and amazing country that has some much variety to offer… and this is why I live here now.

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

Bugs, I think no one forgets eating bugs but in Cambodia I kept being offered water beatles that I really didn’t enjoy. But after having managed to chew and swallow the first one they kept offering me more in different flavoured varieties, insisting I just hadn’t tried the right one yet. I finally got out of it by insisting that grasshoppers were more to my liking. It did the trick.

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

The owner of Dar Fakir is Nordine Fakir, who also owns the “In” places L’Avenue and  Nikki Beach where, for example, Sex and the City 2 was filmed, so it is unavoidable to meet famous people. As I however meet these people in a private enviroment here in the riad so there is a need for discretion to protect their privacy.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

I really wish for my Moroccan friends to be able to get the opportunity to discover Europe and other destinations together with me one day.

Thank you for taking part in our interview, Kerstin. I can hardly believe that it’s been over 20 years since I went to Marrakech but I have a suspicion that it is still very much the same as when I went there back in the late 1980s.

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

Philip has worked at Cox & Kings since 1993. Having travelled extensively in South America, Africa and Europe, both before and after University (Edinburgh), he had caught a severe case of the travel bug and he joined the company as a Latin America tour consultant. He was only supposed to be there as a two-week cover for someone on leave, but something must have clicked, because he’s still here over 17 years on. Three years later he moved into the in-house PR role at the company, before getting involved in wider marketing activities such as brochure production etc. He eventually became the Marketing Director in 2003.

What is it that you do exactly?

Essentially, I oversee all of Cox & Kings’ marketing. This includes a wide variety of promotional activities, from traditional brochures and press advertising, to direct marketing, including the Cox & Kings travel magazine, “Compass”; public relations; sponsorships; third-party affiliations; sales through travel agents; and, ever-increasingly, the online promotion through the website, search engine optimisation, paid search, blogging, emails, social media et al. There are twelve of us in the team, and we have specialists working on all these activities, so my role is to keep an eye on the whole lot. Inevitably, this involves a lot of meetings and discussions with the various members of the team, other Cox & Kings departments, outside agencies who support us and organisations we are running joint promotions with. Just to add to the variety, as a director I also get involved in many aspects of the business that are nothing to do with marketing. I am actually married to another of the directors at Cox & Kings, and we live within 20 minutes’ walk of the office, so the day starts with a pleasant stroll, during which we often chat about what’s going on at work. At the end of the working day, on the way home we tend to be pretty good at leaving work behind and looking forward to the evening ahead.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Having worked so long and exclusively for one company my work is far more than just a job for me. I feel part of the fabric of Cox & Kings and the company is part of my fabric. This means that I feel the ups and downs of the company’s fortune quite profoundly. When things go well the satisfaction is great – equally, when things go less well I really feel it. I particularly enjoy it when a new marketing initiative is well received or, more importantly, generates new business. We employ some really good (in all senses) and mutually supportive people at Cox & Kings, and the relaxed-but-professional working culture we have developed is also a source of great pleasure

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

Devi Garh, nr Udaipur: The north west Indian state of Rajasthan is choc-a-block with fantasy hotels, converted from old forts and palaces, or created from scratch in a pastiche of regal glory. Devi Garh is the ultimate heritage property. Arriving through the grandest of gates into a manicured formal garden, the hotel, perched on a hill in countryside near Udaipur, looms large above you with its glorious exterior of cupolas, terraces and balconies. Its interiors are far less intricate – here, marble clad minimalism combines clean-cut modernity with old Indian motifs. The whole is very stylish. The views are stunning, the food exquisite and the service faultless.

Ceylon Tea Trails, Sri Lanka: Ceylon Tea Trails is a collection of four former planters’ bungalows dotted about a steep-sided valley that leads up from the loch-like Castlereagh Reservoir in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. All around is swathed in rows of bright green waist-high tea bushes. Our bungalow had just five beautifully furnished rooms, all with a distinctly 1920s feel. The same spirit is carried onto the verandah, where meals are served by the friendliest staff while one overlooks the neatly kept garden, croquet lawn and beyond to the lake. The meals are delicious, with a mix of traditional Sri Lankan curries and traditional English dishes, and a proper tea is served in the afternoon, including cakes and scones. Why did I love Tea Trails so much? It’s hard to my finger on it, but I do know that it was perfectly relaxing and its simple pleasures and majestic surroundings chimed with me and I’d go back like a shot.

The Observatory, Sydney: The Observatory is my favourite city hotel. The first thing it gets right is its location on a quiet road within walking distance of the Rocks, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the main harbour attractions. The rooms offer views out onto the harbour. It’s not a stuffy or pompous hotel, nor is it particularly buzzy, but it is run with great attention to detail and created with a lovely eye for design.

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

L’Eau Vive in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: Travelling through the semi-desert Sahel region of West Africa, gastronomic delights are few and far between. Indeed the night before this meal, I was chewing on some species of squirrel on a stick caught for us by some young goat herds and charred over a camp fire in the middle of nowhere. It maybe as a result of this that the dinner I had at L’Eau Vive in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou, lives on in my memory almost twenty years later. The restaurant, which is still going today, is run by Catholic nuns. Sitting under the stars in a peaceful courtyard, tucked away from the fumes and noise outside, the food was very and wonderfully French. I still remember that I started with a delicious cervelle de veau (calf’s brain) and followed it with a beautifully cooked steak. Then, to accompany dessert, one of the beautiful young nun started strumming a guitar and the other nuns broke into an exquisite rendition of Ave Maria. The diners were all given word sheets and encouraged to join in. A quite unexpected and truly magical end to a surprisingly delicious dinner, in the kind of city you don’t find yourself in very often.

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

I was doing the PR for Cox & Kings at a time when holiday programmes were still a mainstay of prime-time telly, with shows such as BBC’s Holiday and ITV’s Wish you Were Here? So, I accompanied a few filming trips, with the likes of Caroline Quentin in Belize, Les Dennis & Amanda Holden when they were a couple in Argentina, and the late Paula Yates in Sri Lanka. On another trip, whilst dining in Devi Garh (see favourite hotels above) my wife and I encountered Eric Cantona at the neighbouring table over dinner and years ago I was introduced (excruciatingly as a ‘fellow VIP’) to Henry Kissinger at the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur. Cox & Kings has arranged holidays for many well-known personalities, but we’re much too discreet to say who and where I’m afraid.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

Having had the wonderful experience of encountering mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in the wild in central Africa, I would love to explore Borneo or Sumatra in search of orang utans. In terms of kit, I have never found a sunhat that packs up small, keeps its shape and that doesn’t either make me look like the village idiot or the archetypal British colonialist abroad.

Thank you for taking part in our interview series, Philip, and good luck in your quest to get to Borneo or Sumatra.

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

John Dixon is the co-founder, Chairman and Managing Director of independent tour operator Prestige Holidays and has worked in luxury travel for over 40 years. Prestige Holidays is celebrating its 22nd year in the luxury travel market and is  known for its quality holidays, excellent personal service and strong attention to detail. The company features four and five star hotels in Southern Spain, Mallorca, five of the Canary Islands, Cyprus, the Algarve, Madeira, Morocco, Malta and Gozo and in the summer Turkey, The Italian Lakes, Sardinia and Crete. It is also the leading tour operator to Bermuda  and offer a comprehensive programme to Canada. Prestige’s ”Closer to Home” brochure features the Isles of Scilly, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm.

What is it that you do exactly?

No two days are ever the same. One day I can be up to my eyes in brochure copy, another I could be number crunching or meeting the Director of a tourist office. I guess that is one of the big attractions of the job! I also need to spend time thinking ahead about how I should develop the company and where our next investment should be directed. I cannot allow the company to stand still.

In fact, we have just launched a new 64 page Croatia brochure so that has taken up a lot of my time over the first quarter of this year and it is a relief and a delight to have the brochure now on the shelves of travel agencies and in the hands of clients and potential clients.  The response to it has been fantastic in terms of agents, bookings and in the media exposure it has received.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

I love the variety of my job, the travel of course and also the people I work with. We have moulded a great group of people in Prestige Holidays and working with them is a real pleasure.

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

One of my favourite places is my friend’s beautiful log cabin that is lost in the woods on an obscure lake in the wilds of Nova Scotia. It’s the perfect place to relax, unwind and enjoy the peace. It’s also a great place to go walking and see the wildlife.

Bermuda is one of my favourite destinations and I try to get there at least twice a year with my wife.  One of my favourite hotels is luxurious cottage colony, Cambridge Beaches.  Set on a 30 acre peninsula and offering stunning ocean views, five great beaches and three fabulous restaurants it’s the perfect romantic getaway.

Last but certainly not least is the Phinda Game Reserve in northern KwaZuluNatal. The Vlei Lodge has just a handful of very private beautifully presented suites, service of the highest level and the Game Reserve has some of the best game viewing I have ever experienced in all our visits to South Africa. Just heaven on Earth.

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

It has to be dining at sunset on the beach in Bermuda at Cambridge Beaches. Soaking up the stunning views on Long Bay over a glass still sea and enjoying freshly caught fish with my ideal dining companion, my wife of 31 years, Cheri. Yes I’m a romantic and long live romance I say!

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

A long time ago I managed a travel agency in London near the BBC in Shepherds Bush. My client list was very impressive including many famous Russian conductors and soloists, actors, writers and jazz musicians. One of my most regular clients was an up and coming actress who appeared on television almost every week and, horror of horrors, I could never remember her name!

And then there was the time I stayed in Antigua in an hotel where Michael Caine and David Warner were staying whilst making a film. The hotel was very quiet so it was almost impossible not to bump into them. In fact I felt very sorry for them because they seemed to spend a lot of time waiting for an improvement in the weather!

Prestige Holidays has many famous clients in different walks of life including politicians, sportsmen and business leaders but we are totally discreet and never name drop.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited lots of places in the world but there are still many I’d like to discover.  I want to see more of Southern Africa. Canada fascinates me too, it seems to offer every kind of experience imaginable. Other travel goals are to see real flamenco in Southern Spain,  spend more time with friends in Switzerland and enjoy cosy pub dinners for two in Scotland. And then I have not yet been to South America…!

Thank you for being our latest interviewee, John… the anonymity of the up-and-coming actress makes me wonder if you still can’t remember her name!

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

Will Bolsover has worked in travel and Africa for the past 15 years. Starting out as a teacher in the remotewestern region of Kenya, he went on to study French and African and Asian Studies at Sussex University then worked as a safari guide in numerous African destinations. Six years ago, he set up the luxury touroperator, World Primate Safaris based in Brighton, Sussex. Since then, the company – Natural World Safaris – has expanded into other wildlife niches, namely World Big Cat Safaris and World Bear Safaris.

What is it that you do exactly?

That is what I love about my job…day to day I do so many different things.

I get an early start, dropping off my son at nursery, followed by a walk along the beach with Sprokit the dog. Once in the office, the main focus of my work nowadays revolves around developing new products, but this involves so many different job descriptions.

In the first instance, the ground work must be done and this involves experiencing the product. For example, launching World Bear Safaris involved a lot of travel to various bear haunts throughout 2010. From there, I build a website, work on SEO and launch the experience to our clients. Usually we develop a new product on the back of client demand so feedback from clients is always gratefully received.

Managing a company such as Natural World Safaris is a forever changing job role and aside from developing new products my daily routine can include anything from assisting the sales team with enquiries, training our consultants on destination knowledge, and updating websites to liaising with our in country staff and ensuring a quality experience to our client base.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Liaising with clients is a personal favourite. Receiving feedback from clients that have travelled with us in the past and who have had a thoroughly enjoyable and unique experience makes the long days worthwhile. Client satisfaction and providing a truly quality experience are the foundations of the company.

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

Zarafa Camp – a truly exclusive luxury camp based in the private Selinda concession in Botswana. With only 4 luxury tents, private plunge pools and exclusive high class game viewing, Zarafa Camp is hard to beat.

Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge – a luxury lodge located in the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes. Stunning views across the valleys and countryside of Rwanda and the ideal place from where to set off on one of the best wildlife experiences there is…gorilla tracking.

Anjajavy – located in a private nature reserve on the north west coast of Madagascar this lodge offers comfort at the same time as a remote wilderness experience. You have sifakas (a type of lemur) dancing across the lawns, sandy beaches and a tropical climate.

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

A meal with my father at the George V in Paris in celebration of my upcoming marriage to my now wife Ciara. Are there really that many different olive oils…?!

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

Surely this is a trick question?! Yes…but as a company we would never reveal who, where or when.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

Even though I have been to Botswana numerous times it is still up there. Otherwise, the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica, a return trip to Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. As to travel gadgets, a Nikon 200-400mm lens is very tempting…

Thank you for a fascinating insight into your world, Will, and we hope your safari business goes from strength to strength. Great name for a dog, by the way!

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

Jack Sarvary is the co-founder and CEO of Itinerie, a flash-sale startup. Itinerie expands on flash-sale sites like Jetsetter and Vacationist by offering full luxury vacation packages, rather than just hotels. All of these luxury one-week packages are fully private and include all accommodations and transportation to 2-4 destinations in a single Latin American country. In addition, we arrange a number of customizable activities for each of our travellers. Before starting Itinerie, Jack worked for the Boston Consulting Group in New York City and Endeavor in Buenos Aires.

What is it that you do exactly?

Every day is different. We are only a few weeks away from launching our first sale and we are finalizing many last details to ensure we enter the market with the strongest product possible. These days, I might spend my morning working with our partner in Peru to decide whether we should offer our customers a photography tour or a cooking class – or both. Later, I likely will spend some time on our website. Which picture should we use on this page? What content do we want in this section? I also routinely check our Twitter account and Facebook page to see if there is any consumer insight to be picked up there. Finally, I am a sucker for data, so I will spend time going through our site usage stats, our subscription growth rate, and our finances to make sure everything is on track.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Working in the travel industry has been new for me and so far I am a big fan. There is something nice about working with a product designed to help people relax. Also, it is a great pleasure working with my co-founder and partner, Nick Milne. I learn something new from him every day.

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

The Inkaterra Lodge in Machu Picchu: After exploring the mystical ruins of Machu Picchu earlier this year, there could have been no better setting to maintain that level of wonder and awe than the Inkaterra Lodge. The property’s beautiful grounds and warm, inviting rooms made it very hard for me to board the train the next day back to Cusco.

Shakespeare’s Sister in Portsmouth, England: one summer in college, I sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, from Newport, RI, to Portsmouth, England, with some family members and a couple old boat hands. After an unbelievable month-long experience, we finally docked in Portsmouth harbor. My bunk that night on our boat Shakespeare’s Sister was filled with such a sense of accomplishment that it will always be one of the best places I have ever stayed.

The Panoramic Hotel in Iguazu Falls: The Panoramic Hotel gave us beautiful views over a very quiet and peaceful Iguazu River, just a few miles downriver from the thunderous falls. Iguazu is an inspirational place, and that river reminded me that while things might get rough sometimes, everything eventually smoothes out a little further downstream.

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

When I left New York City to work for the non-profit Endeavor in Buenos Aires, I decided, as a final goodbye to the city of excess, to make a reservation at Del Posto. In the spirit of the night, we ordered the 7-course tasting menu. The NYTimes nailed it in its review, Del Posto’s is a pleasure that lasts, offering memories of flavors that may return later in a dream.� I do still wake up thinking about that divinely simple ball of fresh mozzarella cheese wrapped in buttery-soft prosciutto.

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

My celebrity experiences date back to my first job as a caddy at the Golf Club of Purchase, in Westchester, New York. I hustled my way around the course carrying golf bags for the likes of Kenneth Cole and Michael Bloomberg. We haven’t gotten there yet with Itinerie, but we are still young.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

Since I’m a nature and animal nut, as well as a science geek, I have to choose the Galapagos Islands. Given its amazing wildlife and significance in scientific history, it’s a wonder I haven’t been there already.

Thank you for taking part, Jack, and we wish you all the best with your new venture.

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