· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Interview with Randy Antin of Perfect Escapes

Randy AntinMy first interview is with Randy Antin, Director of Interactive and Social Media at Perfect Escapes, a luxury hotel start-up focussing on 4- and 5-star hotels. Randy previously worked at Travelocity for 8 years as a travel writer/editor and then progressed into Search Engine Marketing. What is it that  you do exactly?
Mostly, I spend my days searching the Internet and figuring out ways to find people who would be interested in our luxury hotel offers that we have. I also run the blog on our site, and I am thinking of ways to bring luxury travelers together so we can all share our experiences and help inform each other about great places to go and stay worldwide. I spend my free time (ha) either making artwork (oil painting and needlepoint), snowboarding (where the snow falls is where you’ll find me), seeing live music, eating and drinking in restaurants and bars everywhere, and traveling (Galapagos, Snowbird, and Aspen are coming up).
What do you enjoy most about what you do?
I enjoy spending my entire day thinking about luxury travel, researching luxury travel, reading and learning about new sites and people on the internet sharing their experiences. I love being on the forefront of technology and helping people not just be a tourist but be a traveler and travel well.
What would you say are the 3 best places you’ve ever stayed?
1. Four Seasons Kona on the Big Island – if I could take outdoor garden showers every day…. 2. Meribel in the French Alps – more of a condo than a hotel but right above the main street, with an easy walk to the slopes of the Three Valleys. 3. Avalon Grand Panama in Panama City – the hacienda-esque buildings of the all-inclusive hotel are in a rainforest in Las Cumbres, outside Panama City. One of the villas here was actually Noriega’s private retreat.
What’s been your most memorable dining experience to date?
Fondue Hut at the top of Keystone, Colorado’s ski resort – taking a gondola up is fun but taking it back down when it is so cold out – eh. Good thing I like cheese.
Have you rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous, either through your work or your travels?
Tom Waits was on my last flight to the Big Island but I felt weird approaching him since he was with his family. Instead, my friend and I took a photo of ourselves with him standing about 15 feet behind us, perfectly lined up between us in the shot. In Dallas at the Hotel Zaza, I bumped into Jessica Simpson at the hotel pool, right before I fell in to it.
What currently ranks highest on your travel wishlist?
Staying at the new Gehry-designed Hotel Marques de Riscal in Elciego, (Alava) Spain.
Thanks, Randy.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Daily Telegraph.

Did you enjoy this article?

Receive similar content direct to your inbox.