Podcasts about Belmond

“Đi tàu từ Nam ra Bắc giúp tôi khám phá sự đa dạng của Việt Nam. Kỷ niệm của tôi về tàu hỏa ở Việt Nam, đó là một phương tiện di chuyển thực sự chậm, nhưng không hề lãng phí thời gian vì tàu thường chạy đêm, sáng mai thức dậy là nhìn thấy cả đồng lúa xanh rì bên ngoài cửa sổ…”. Từ phương tiện giao thông chậm, rẻ hơn máy bay, tàu hỏa đang được phát triển thành cách du lịch chậm, tham quan ngay từ khung cửa sổ. Những cảm nhận trên là của Jean-Marc De Jaeger, phóng viên chuyên mục du lịch của nhật báo Pháp Le Figaro khi trả lời RFI Tiếng Việt. Ông là tác giả cuốn Đi tàu hỏa ở Châu Á: 22 Hành trình trên Đường ray (En train En Asie : 22 itinéraires sur les rails, NXB Voyage Gallimard, 2025), trong đó có Việt Nam : Tại sao có Việt Nam trong lộ trình? Đối với tôi, việc này quan trọng vì đây là một quốc gia khá rộng lớn về mặt địa lý và dân số. Và đặc biệt, tuyến tàu Thống Nhất giống như huyết mạch của đất nước, dài hơn một nghìn km, kết nối các điểm đến chính của Việt Nam, trong 36 giờ. Cho nên trong một cuốn sách hướng dẫn về du lịch bằng tàu hỏa, không thể bó quả Việt Nam. Còn theo tạp chí du lịch Lonely Planet, tuyến đường sắt Bắc-Nam nằm trong số những tuyến đường sắt đẹp nhất thế giới năm 2025. Tàu hỏa ở Việt Nam chạy rất chậm, chỉ khoảng 50 km/giờ, chỉ có một đường, khổ cũ 1,43 mét, từ thời Pháp thuộc và tránh nhau tại các ga lớn. Tàu hỏa không phải là phương tiện để đi khi có công việc gấp, nhưng là “cứu cánh” cho những người say xe, sợ máy bay. Nhưng những năm gần đây, tàu hỏa đã được phát triển thành một dòng du lịch trải nghiệm sang trọng, đề cao dịch vụ cá nhân, “sống chậm”. Đây là một trong những mảng được định hướng để phát triển du lịch nghỉ dưỡng cao cấp ở Việt Nam. “Nhâm nhi thời gian trôi, có nghĩa là khi đi máy bay, thực sự là chẳng nhìn thấy gì nhiều. Ví dụ nếu bay từ Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh đến Hà Nội, chúng ta sẽ chỉ thấy sân bay khởi hành và sân bay đến, rồi ngắm được một chút quang cảnh ở độ cao 10.000 m, nhưng sẽ không thấy các chặng trung gian, sẽ không được hòa mình vào cuộc sống. Đi tàu có thể ngắm rõ quang cảnh vì tàu chạy khá chậm, khoảng 50 km/giờ, đặc biệt là ở phía bắc Đà Nẵng, nơi tàu chạy dọc bờ biển và quang cảnh đẹp một cách ấn tượng. Với tàu hỏa, chúng ta cũng được thoải mái ứng biến, có thể xuống ở một ga nhỏ, nơi không có sân bay, và tự do khám phá đất nước, gần gũi với thiên nhiên, với người dân hơn”. Độc đáo du lịch tàu hỏa Có khoảng 7 tuyến du lịch sang trọng đang được khai thác hoặc sắp được triển khai ở Việt Nam. Nổi tiếng nhất, có chí phí cao nhất (hơn 9.000 đô la) là tuyến SJourney xuyên Việt 8 ngày 7 đêm (Hà Nội - Ninh Binh - Quảng Bình - Huế - Đà Nẵng (Hội An) - Nha Trang - Mũi Né - TP Hồ Chí Minh). Đoàn tàu là khách sạn 5 sao di động, chỉ có 10 toa ngủ với 30 phòng ngủ và đón tối đa 60 khách, tập trung vào chăm sóc cá nhân và nghệ thuật ẩm thực. Từ phòng riêng, du khách có thể thấy phong cảnh lướt qua những ô cửa sổ lớn, từ những phố thị ồn ào, sôi động cho đến những vùng nông thôn yên bình, ruộng đồng thẳng cánh cò bay. Và mỗi sáng thực dậy lại là một địa điểm khác và bắt đầu chuyến tham quan những địa danh được xếp hạng di sản văn hóa thế giới. Không sử dụng SJourney, nhưng nhà báo Pháp Jean-Marc De Jaeger cũng dừng ở những chặng như vậy : “Đi tàu từ Nam ra Bắc đã giúp tôi khám phá sự đa dạng của Việt Nam : Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh là một thủ phủ kinh tế khá năng động và hiện đại, thành phố Đà Nẵng ven biển với thiên nhiên hùng vĩ, còn Hà Nội là một thành phố đậm chất văn hóa, khá truyền thống, và cách không xa đó lắm là những rặng núi ở Sapa (…). Ngày đầu tiên tới Việt Nam, tôi bắt tàu Violette Express ở thành phố Hồ Chí Minh (…). Những ngày đầu tiên tôi ở Việt Nam là trên tàu hỏa. Kỷ niệm đọng lại trong tôi rất đẹp. Tàu khá thoải mái, có rất nhiều khách du lịch. Tàu có hai hạng, giá vé chênh lệch nhau, có những toa tàu mà khách du lịch ưu tiên và những toa tàu mà người dân địa phương ưa thích”. Violette Express là loại hình toa tàu du lịch chất lượng cao, được gắn vào đoàn tàu quốc gia để phục vụ khách, giống như tàu đêm Hà Nội - Sapa của Victoria Express, Sapaly Express, le Vic Sapa Train hoặc Chapa Express, Hoa Phượng Đỏ với các toa VIP trên tuyến Hà Nội - Hải Phòng. Ngoài ra, còn có một số tuyến được khai thác riêng, như The Vietage nối Đà Nẵng - Quy Nhơn, được coi là khách sạn 5 sao di động với giá khoảng 450 đô la/chuyến. Hành trình được chọn đi qua những cung đường đẹp, một bên là biển, bên kia là cánh đồng và làng mạc. Đậm chất du lịch trải nghiệm hơn còn có tuyến La Reine dài 7 km nối Đà Lạt - Trại Mát, được công ty đường sắt Việt Nam khai thác, tàu du lịch Hà Nội 5 cửa ô nối Hà Nội - Từ Sơn (Bắc Ninh), Revolution Express : hai tiếng đi tàu từ Đà Nẵng đến Huế với đầu máy hơi nước của những năm 1960… Điểm chung của những tuyến tàu du lịch này là dịch vụ, trải nghiệm văn hóa, truyền thống, kết hợp tiện nghi của hiện đại với vẻ đẹp của kiến trúc Đông Dương để tạo nên nét tinh tế, sang trọng và rất lịch sử. Đây là “chìa khóa để tạo nên những tour trọn gói, đẳng cấp” và là “chiến lược nhằm khai thác nhóm đối tượng khách hàng sẵn sàng chi trả cho những dịch vụ chất lượng vượt trội” trong phân khúc du lịch bằng tàu hỏa, theo báo Nhân Dân ngày 03/06/2025. Phó Cục trưởng Du lịch Quốc gia Việt Nam Phạm Văn Thủy, được trang Nhân Dân trích dẫn, cho rằng những chuyến tàu không chỉ kết nối địa lý mà còn kết nối trải nghiệm, góp phần thúc đẩy và lan tỏa giá trị vùng miền đến đông đảo du khách trong và ngoài nước theo cách độc lạ, góp phần mở đầu cho một hình thức tour tuyến mới trong việc phát triển du lịch Việt Nam trong nhiều năm tới. Nhật ký ảnh hành trình du lịch bằng tàu hỏa ở Việt Nam Nhà báo Jean-Marc De Jaeger truyền tải kinh nghiệm du lịch tàu hỏa ở Việt Nam qua dạng nhật ký hành trình với những hướng dẫn thực tế và thông tin lịch sử, văn hóa những địa danh ông đi qua. “Đây là một cuốn sách minh họa, có nhiều hình ảnh, có cả phố Đường tàu nổi tiếng ở Hà Nội, giới thiệu một số địa điểm không thể bỏ qua khi tới Việt Nam. Đây là một câu chuyện, một hành trình, nên tôi tìm cách nói với độc giả, kiểu : “Nào, hãy theo tôi, lên tàu cùng tôi, khám phá địa danh này, địa danh kia”. Tôi nghĩ thông qua hành trình này mà tôi kích thích được độc giả khám phá đất nước bằng tàu hỏa. Trong số những địa điểm tôi ở lại vài ngày có Đà Nẵng, thành phố mà tôi rất thích vì có bờ biển xung quanh, thiên nhiên hùng vĩ, rất nhiều di tích tôn giáo. Và đặc biệt Đà Nẵng là trung tâm đường sắt của Việt Nam, có nghĩa là có những chuyến Bắc-Nam, hoặc có những chuyến đến Đà Nẵng rồi quay đầu. Tiếc là không có tàu đi từ Đà Nẵng đến Hội An, mà phải đi taxi hoặc xe buýt thêm gần một tiếng. Qua đó cũng thấy rằng từ ga tàu, có thể tỏa đi các địa điểm xung quanh bằng taxi hoặc phương tiện giao thông công cộng”. Cuốn sách không chỉ là những hướng dẫn mà cũng là nơi chia sẻ cảm xúc, cảm nhận của tác giả về hành trình. Mỗi thành phố, mỗi địa danh đã được Jean-Marc De Jaeger nghiên cứu và tìm tài liệu tỉ mỉ từ trước đó, tham khảo ý kiến những người biết rõ về Việt Nam. Và nếu có nhiều thời gian hơn, Jean-Marc De Jaeger nói là “có thể truyền đạt nhiều hơn trong sách. Nhưng chắc cũng không đủ chỗ mà sẽ phải làm một hướng dẫn riêng”. Một điểm nữa được nhà báo của tờ Le Figaro nhấn mạnh đó là đi tàu làm nảy sinh những mối liên hệ, kết nối, là cách hay nhất để hiểu được phần nào cuộc sống của người dân địa phương : “Khi ở trên tàu, tôi được tiếp xúc với người dân địa phương, mặc dù không phải ai cũng nói được tiếng Anh. Nhưng tôi vẫn có thể thấy một chút về lối sống, thói quen ăn uống trên tàu, cách mọi người di chuyển trong một hành trình dài như vậy. Đó là cách trải nghiệm rất hay. Tàu hỏa là cách tìm hiểu và gần gũi với người dân địa phương, để biết thêm một chút về cuộc sống hàng ngày của họ. Hành trình từ Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh đến Đà Nẵng có vẻ dài, mất 16 hoặc 17 tiếng, nhưng tôi không để ý thời gian trôi qua vì tàu rất thoải mái, có nhiều dịch vụ. Hơn nữa, tôi thực sự đánh giá cao lòng hiếu khách của đội ngũ nhân viên trên tàu, những người rất tận tâm với hành khách. Bữa sáng được tính trong vé. Khách luôn có thể yêu cầu đồ ăn bất cứ lúc nào ban ngày hay ban đêm. Vì vậy, đây là một phương tiện di chuyển khiến bạn cảm thấy như là ở nhà. Trong khoang tàu, ban đầu có thể là những người không quen biết, nhưng sau đó cũng có thể bắt chuyện rất dễ dàng”. Du lịch bằng tàu hỏa xa xỉ có thể sẽ phát triển hơn nữa trong thời gian tới. Công ty Belmond, trực thuộc tập đoàn LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), đã ký thỏa thuận khung với Tổng công ty Đường sắt Việt Nam để thực hiện đề xuất đưa 10 toa tàu cổ của Eastern & Oriental Express đến Việt Nam, phục vụ khách du lịch giữa Hà Nội-Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh. Tập đoàn Belmond khai thác các đoàn tàu du lịch nổi tiếng Venice-Simplon Orient Express, Royal Scotsman và Andean Explore. Tuy nhiên, kể từ khi được bộ Giao thông Vận tải Việt Nam “bật đèn xanh” vào tháng 03/2024, không có thêm thông tin nào về dự án này.

“Đi tàu từ Nam ra Bắc giúp tôi khám phá sự đa dạng của Việt Nam. Kỷ niệm của tôi về tàu hỏa ở Việt Nam, đó là một phương tiện di chuyển thực sự chậm, nhưng không hề lãng phí thời gian vì tàu thường chạy đêm, sáng mai thức dậy là nhìn thấy cả đồng lúa xanh rì bên ngoài cửa sổ…”. Từ phương tiện giao thông chậm, rẻ hơn máy bay, tàu hỏa đang được phát triển thành cách du lịch chậm, tham quan ngay từ khung cửa sổ. Những cảm nhận trên là của Jean-Marc De Jaeger, phóng viên chuyên mục du lịch của nhật báo Pháp Le Figaro khi trả lời RFI Tiếng Việt. Ông là tác giả cuốn Đi tàu hỏa ở Châu Á: 22 Hành trình trên Đường ray (En train En Asie : 22 itinéraires sur les rails, NXB Voyage Gallimard, 2025), trong đó có Việt Nam : Tại sao có Việt Nam trong lộ trình? Đối với tôi, việc này quan trọng vì đây là một quốc gia khá rộng lớn về mặt địa lý và dân số. Và đặc biệt, tuyến tàu Thống Nhất giống như huyết mạch của đất nước, dài hơn một nghìn km, kết nối các điểm đến chính của Việt Nam, trong 36 giờ. Cho nên trong một cuốn sách hướng dẫn về du lịch bằng tàu hỏa, không thể bó quả Việt Nam. Còn theo tạp chí du lịch Lonely Planet, tuyến đường sắt Bắc-Nam nằm trong số những tuyến đường sắt đẹp nhất thế giới năm 2025. Tàu hỏa ở Việt Nam chạy rất chậm, chỉ khoảng 50 km/giờ, chỉ có một đường, khổ cũ 1,43 mét, từ thời Pháp thuộc và tránh nhau tại các ga lớn. Tàu hỏa không phải là phương tiện để đi khi có công việc gấp, nhưng là “cứu cánh” cho những người say xe, sợ máy bay. Nhưng những năm gần đây, tàu hỏa đã được phát triển thành một dòng du lịch trải nghiệm sang trọng, đề cao dịch vụ cá nhân, “sống chậm”. Đây là một trong những mảng được định hướng để phát triển du lịch nghỉ dưỡng cao cấp ở Việt Nam. “Nhâm nhi thời gian trôi, có nghĩa là khi đi máy bay, thực sự là chẳng nhìn thấy gì nhiều. Ví dụ nếu bay từ Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh đến Hà Nội, chúng ta sẽ chỉ thấy sân bay khởi hành và sân bay đến, rồi ngắm được một chút quang cảnh ở độ cao 10.000 m, nhưng sẽ không thấy các chặng trung gian, sẽ không được hòa mình vào cuộc sống. Đi tàu có thể ngắm rõ quang cảnh vì tàu chạy khá chậm, khoảng 50 km/giờ, đặc biệt là ở phía bắc Đà Nẵng, nơi tàu chạy dọc bờ biển và quang cảnh đẹp một cách ấn tượng. Với tàu hỏa, chúng ta cũng được thoải mái ứng biến, có thể xuống ở một ga nhỏ, nơi không có sân bay, và tự do khám phá đất nước, gần gũi với thiên nhiên, với người dân hơn”. Độc đáo du lịch tàu hỏa Có khoảng 7 tuyến du lịch sang trọng đang được khai thác hoặc sắp được triển khai ở Việt Nam. Nổi tiếng nhất, có chí phí cao nhất (hơn 9.000 đô la) là tuyến SJourney xuyên Việt 8 ngày 7 đêm (Hà Nội - Ninh Binh - Quảng Bình - Huế - Đà Nẵng (Hội An) - Nha Trang - Mũi Né - TP Hồ Chí Minh). Đoàn tàu là khách sạn 5 sao di động, chỉ có 10 toa ngủ với 30 phòng ngủ và đón tối đa 60 khách, tập trung vào chăm sóc cá nhân và nghệ thuật ẩm thực. Từ phòng riêng, du khách có thể thấy phong cảnh lướt qua những ô cửa sổ lớn, từ những phố thị ồn ào, sôi động cho đến những vùng nông thôn yên bình, ruộng đồng thẳng cánh cò bay. Và mỗi sáng thực dậy lại là một địa điểm khác và bắt đầu chuyến tham quan những địa danh được xếp hạng di sản văn hóa thế giới. Không sử dụng SJourney, nhưng nhà báo Pháp Jean-Marc De Jaeger cũng dừng ở những chặng như vậy : “Đi tàu từ Nam ra Bắc đã giúp tôi khám phá sự đa dạng của Việt Nam : Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh là một thủ phủ kinh tế khá năng động và hiện đại, thành phố Đà Nẵng ven biển với thiên nhiên hùng vĩ, còn Hà Nội là một thành phố đậm chất văn hóa, khá truyền thống, và cách không xa đó lắm là những rặng núi ở Sapa (…). Ngày đầu tiên tới Việt Nam, tôi bắt tàu Violette Express ở thành phố Hồ Chí Minh (…). Những ngày đầu tiên tôi ở Việt Nam là trên tàu hỏa. Kỷ niệm đọng lại trong tôi rất đẹp. Tàu khá thoải mái, có rất nhiều khách du lịch. Tàu có hai hạng, giá vé chênh lệch nhau, có những toa tàu mà khách du lịch ưu tiên và những toa tàu mà người dân địa phương ưa thích”. Violette Express là loại hình toa tàu du lịch chất lượng cao, được gắn vào đoàn tàu quốc gia để phục vụ khách, giống như tàu đêm Hà Nội - Sapa của Victoria Express, Sapaly Express, le Vic Sapa Train hoặc Chapa Express, Hoa Phượng Đỏ với các toa VIP trên tuyến Hà Nội - Hải Phòng. Ngoài ra, còn có một số tuyến được khai thác riêng, như The Vietage nối Đà Nẵng - Quy Nhơn, được coi là khách sạn 5 sao di động với giá khoảng 450 đô la/chuyến. Hành trình được chọn đi qua những cung đường đẹp, một bên là biển, bên kia là cánh đồng và làng mạc. Đậm chất du lịch trải nghiệm hơn còn có tuyến La Reine dài 7 km nối Đà Lạt - Trại Mát, được công ty đường sắt Việt Nam khai thác, tàu du lịch Hà Nội 5 cửa ô nối Hà Nội - Từ Sơn (Bắc Ninh), Revolution Express : hai tiếng đi tàu từ Đà Nẵng đến Huế với đầu máy hơi nước của những năm 1960… Điểm chung của những tuyến tàu du lịch này là dịch vụ, trải nghiệm văn hóa, truyền thống, kết hợp tiện nghi của hiện đại với vẻ đẹp của kiến trúc Đông Dương để tạo nên nét tinh tế, sang trọng và rất lịch sử. Đây là “chìa khóa để tạo nên những tour trọn gói, đẳng cấp” và là “chiến lược nhằm khai thác nhóm đối tượng khách hàng sẵn sàng chi trả cho những dịch vụ chất lượng vượt trội” trong phân khúc du lịch bằng tàu hỏa, theo báo Nhân Dân ngày 03/06/2025. Phó Cục trưởng Du lịch Quốc gia Việt Nam Phạm Văn Thủy, được trang Nhân Dân trích dẫn, cho rằng những chuyến tàu không chỉ kết nối địa lý mà còn kết nối trải nghiệm, góp phần thúc đẩy và lan tỏa giá trị vùng miền đến đông đảo du khách trong và ngoài nước theo cách độc lạ, góp phần mở đầu cho một hình thức tour tuyến mới trong việc phát triển du lịch Việt Nam trong nhiều năm tới. Nhật ký ảnh hành trình du lịch bằng tàu hỏa ở Việt Nam Nhà báo Jean-Marc De Jaeger truyền tải kinh nghiệm du lịch tàu hỏa ở Việt Nam qua dạng nhật ký hành trình với những hướng dẫn thực tế và thông tin lịch sử, văn hóa những địa danh ông đi qua. “Đây là một cuốn sách minh họa, có nhiều hình ảnh, có cả phố Đường tàu nổi tiếng ở Hà Nội, giới thiệu một số địa điểm không thể bỏ qua khi tới Việt Nam. Đây là một câu chuyện, một hành trình, nên tôi tìm cách nói với độc giả, kiểu : “Nào, hãy theo tôi, lên tàu cùng tôi, khám phá địa danh này, địa danh kia”. Tôi nghĩ thông qua hành trình này mà tôi kích thích được độc giả khám phá đất nước bằng tàu hỏa. Trong số những địa điểm tôi ở lại vài ngày có Đà Nẵng, thành phố mà tôi rất thích vì có bờ biển xung quanh, thiên nhiên hùng vĩ, rất nhiều di tích tôn giáo. Và đặc biệt Đà Nẵng là trung tâm đường sắt của Việt Nam, có nghĩa là có những chuyến Bắc-Nam, hoặc có những chuyến đến Đà Nẵng rồi quay đầu. Tiếc là không có tàu đi từ Đà Nẵng đến Hội An, mà phải đi taxi hoặc xe buýt thêm gần một tiếng. Qua đó cũng thấy rằng từ ga tàu, có thể tỏa đi các địa điểm xung quanh bằng taxi hoặc phương tiện giao thông công cộng”. Cuốn sách không chỉ là những hướng dẫn mà cũng là nơi chia sẻ cảm xúc, cảm nhận của tác giả về hành trình. Mỗi thành phố, mỗi địa danh đã được Jean-Marc De Jaeger nghiên cứu và tìm tài liệu tỉ mỉ từ trước đó, tham khảo ý kiến những người biết rõ về Việt Nam. Và nếu có nhiều thời gian hơn, Jean-Marc De Jaeger nói là “có thể truyền đạt nhiều hơn trong sách. Nhưng chắc cũng không đủ chỗ mà sẽ phải làm một hướng dẫn riêng”. Một điểm nữa được nhà báo của tờ Le Figaro nhấn mạnh đó là đi tàu làm nảy sinh những mối liên hệ, kết nối, là cách hay nhất để hiểu được phần nào cuộc sống của người dân địa phương : “Khi ở trên tàu, tôi được tiếp xúc với người dân địa phương, mặc dù không phải ai cũng nói được tiếng Anh. Nhưng tôi vẫn có thể thấy một chút về lối sống, thói quen ăn uống trên tàu, cách mọi người di chuyển trong một hành trình dài như vậy. Đó là cách trải nghiệm rất hay. Tàu hỏa là cách tìm hiểu và gần gũi với người dân địa phương, để biết thêm một chút về cuộc sống hàng ngày của họ. Hành trình từ Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh đến Đà Nẵng có vẻ dài, mất 16 hoặc 17 tiếng, nhưng tôi không để ý thời gian trôi qua vì tàu rất thoải mái, có nhiều dịch vụ. Hơn nữa, tôi thực sự đánh giá cao lòng hiếu khách của đội ngũ nhân viên trên tàu, những người rất tận tâm với hành khách. Bữa sáng được tính trong vé. Khách luôn có thể yêu cầu đồ ăn bất cứ lúc nào ban ngày hay ban đêm. Vì vậy, đây là một phương tiện di chuyển khiến bạn cảm thấy như là ở nhà. Trong khoang tàu, ban đầu có thể là những người không quen biết, nhưng sau đó cũng có thể bắt chuyện rất dễ dàng”. Du lịch bằng tàu hỏa xa xỉ có thể sẽ phát triển hơn nữa trong thời gian tới. Công ty Belmond, trực thuộc tập đoàn LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), đã ký thỏa thuận khung với Tổng công ty Đường sắt Việt Nam để thực hiện đề xuất đưa 10 toa tàu cổ của Eastern & Oriental Express đến Việt Nam, phục vụ khách du lịch giữa Hà Nội-Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh. Tập đoàn Belmond khai thác các đoàn tàu du lịch nổi tiếng Venice-Simplon Orient Express, Royal Scotsman và Andean Explore. Tuy nhiên, kể từ khi được bộ Giao thông Vận tải Việt Nam “bật đèn xanh” vào tháng 03/2024, không có thêm thông tin nào về dự án này.

In this episode, James and Otto sit down with Kayley Watson—Account Director of Celebrations at Belmond—for a journey through the soul of luxury hospitality. With her signature blend of warmth, wit, and unshakable professionalism, Kayley pulls back the curtain on what truly sets Belmond apart: curated experiences rooted in place, culture, and human connection. From designing unforgettable moments across Belmond's legendary global portfolio to nurturing the kind of planner partnerships that last a lifetime, Kayley shares what it means to lead with generosity, curiosity, and joy. This isn't a conversation about logistics—it's about legacy. It's about turning every celebration into a love letter to a destination. If you're a planner, creative, or hotelier who believes in the magic of service done well, this episode will leave you inspired (and probably craving an Italian rail journey).

Belmond has spent decades redefining the romance of travel—inviting guests to slow down, savour time and inhabit destinations rather than pass through them. Across 43 properties in 24 countries, the brand has become synonymous with slow luxury. Arnaud Champenois, Senior VP of Global Brand, Marketing and Communications, is the architect of that vision, balancing Belmond's storied heritage with the cultural shifts reshaping modern travel. In this episode, Arnaud sits down with Anant Sharma to discuss what slow luxury actually means in practice. They explore Belmond's property-first approach, the creative risks behind reimagining icons like the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, and how partnerships with figures such as Wes Anderson are reframing the brand for a new generation. A conversation about slowness as strategy, the craft behind hospitality, and why the journey can still matter more than the destination.

Happy November!Welcome back to My Secrets to Stamina—the show where we uncover what it really takes to thrive in high-performance careers without losing your spark.Today's guest is someone who defines global luxury, leadership, and lasting impact—Christina Deeny.  Christina has been a friend and client for many years and has so much insight to share with us all today.Christina has led brand, commercial, and marketing strategies for some of the world's most iconic names in hospitality—Aman, Belmond, Langham, and more. She's lived and worked across continents, always bringing a deep sense of brand storytelling and innovation to the table.Can't wait for you to tune into this one!Contact & Follow Cindy! Follow on Instagram at cindy_novotny, Facebook and LinkedIn for every day inspirational posts.Email at cindynovotny@masterconnection.com

On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks with Stephanie Rizzolo, co-founder of Sette Travel & Lifestyle, an affiliate of Embark Beyond, about her recent visit to Sardinia’s northern coast and her stays at the W Sardinia – Poltu Quatu, Aethos Sardinia and Romazzino, A Belmond Hotel.Rizzolo reveals why the new W Sardinia is surprisingly sophisticated, shares the stark differences in beach access across luxury and lifestyle properties (some require boats!) and explains why shoulder season is the secret to experiencing this emerging Italian destination. She also discusses how Sardinia offers a fresh alternative to over-touristed hotspots like the Amalfi Coast, with Delta’s recently launched direct flight to Olbia making the destination more easily accessible.Currently in its third season, The Last Resort is a monthly hospitality-focused podcast brought to you by Travel Weekly. In each episode, travel advisors share their first impressions of the last resort they visited.The 11th episode of the third season will be posted on November 10.Further resources: Stephanie Rizzolo Sette Travel & Lifestyle W Sardinia – Poltu Quatu Aethos Sardinia Romazzino, A Belmond Hotel Sardinia hotels to join Belmond and Cheval Blanc portfolios (Travel Weekly) Want to share feedback on the last resort you visited?Email us: TheLastResort@travelweekly.com Theme Song:Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeodLicenseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're heading to the sun-drenched island of Mallorca, a place where rugged mountains meet the sparkling Mediterranean and olive groves stretch as far as the eye can see. There's a reason creative souls like Joan Miró and Robert Graves made this island their home—it's a place that inspires art, reflection, and a slower, richer way of living. Joining me from the hillside village of Deià, at the legendary Belmond La Residencia, is General Manager Thomas Moons. We explore the island's layered history, local traditions, and hidden corners that many visitors never see. Thomas also shares insider details about the property and its stunning art collection.  So get out the olive oil and crusty bread, imagine taking a deep breath of that Mediterranean air, and enjoy this new episode of Luxury Travel Insider.   Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/   Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com   Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn  

This episode of Travel Market Life is recorded live at the International Hotel Technology Forum in Vila Mora, Portugal. While the weather might be rather grey, I'm joined by some of hospitality's sharpest minds—Diogo Vaz Ferreira from Clink Hostels, Tiago Alves from Belmond, Rohit Mishra from Park Plaza, and Luis Martins from SHR. Together, we're diving into how technology is shaking up the industry.We're talking about the big stuff: how automation saves time without ruining the guest vibe, the struggle of getting used to new tools, and keeping things personal in a world overflowing with digital noise. We discuss how hoteliers can streamline operations, cutting costs, and level up guest experiences.Travel Market Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode of Travel Market Life, we're previewing the 22nd International Hotel Technology Forum, landing in Algarve, Portugal, March 18th-20th, 2025. It's your taster of what's ahead—hotel pros and tech pioneers exploring digital tools to shake up operations and guest experiences. I'll be hosting Stream B, from that first click to slick in-room tech.We've got Tiago Alves from Belmond teasing their PMS and POS digital revamp, and Magdalena Osmola from Villamora World blending neuroscience, AI, and a virtual marina concept. It's a sneak peek at how tech and human connection will redefine travel at the forum!Travel Market Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Llega a #LosDioses187 Ulises Reyes, nada más y nada menos que el Sales and Marketing Director de Hotel Mondrian, la firma de lujo en hospitalidad. ¡Nos fuimos hasta el Sky Bar para entrevistarlo!Ulises Reyes es un profesional de la industria del hospedaje de lujo. Con más de 20 años de carrera, ha colaborado en las empresas y marcas de mayor prestigio en el mundo de la hotelería: Hilton Worlwide, Grupo Presidente, Fairmont Mayakoba, Belmond, The Luxury Collection y Numu Boutique Hotel, propiedad de Hyatt. Desde 2023, es el Sales and Marketing Director de Mondrian Mexico City, la primer marca de Ennismore en tener presencia en México (tiene hoteles en Cannes, Doha, Hong Kong, Ibiza, Los Angeles, Seoul, Singapore, SouthBeach). Tiene un Master en Marketing Strategy por la Universidad en Cornell, y una Especialización en Marketing and Hotel Sales por el ITESM.#LosDiosesDelMarketing es una producción básica para Genio.soy

Thank you for joining us for How To Start Up's first panel event & first live recording of the podcast!  My name is Juliet, the host of How To Start Up  & just wanted to thank you for listening & joining today too. We're up to over 140 eps & having closed a successful season on all things productivity in December, I wanted to gather some of our guests together to discuss the topic & help listeners with theirs. I hope today will involve some myth busting on productivity plus that we have time for a Q&A with our panel.Firstly, introductions. Emily Austen is the founder of leading PR agency EMERGE & the author of SMARTER: 10 lessons for a more productive and less-stressed life. Having founded EMERGE in 2012, Emily has navigated entrepreneurship & discovered a tried and tested formula for avoiding unproductive busyness. Eva Alexandridis is a founder who has achieved that work / life balance. Having co-founded 111SKIN in 2012 with her husband Dr Yannis, Eva has not only built a globally recognised brand but has practised the brand values in ensuring she also looks after herself as well as her business. Anant Sharma is the Founder & CEO of Matter Of Form, a leading luxury brand & digital agency based in London. Having founded his company in 2009, Anant and his team work with some of the world's leading brands including Aman, Belmond & Knight Frank.  Anant in his ep shared how his ADAH impacts his work and how he manages it.FF&M enables you to own your own PR & produces podcasts.Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason.  Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason. FF&M recommends: LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.Google Workspace is brilliant for small businessesBuzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directoryCanva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  LicenceText us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

Today in Talking Travel, Ella highlights the fabulous experience that is the recently introduced Belmond luxury train journey which now chuggs it's way throught the British Countryside. 

American Express Global Business Travel is defending its proposed $570 million acquisition of CWT against a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit, arguing the deal, slated to close in March, would not harm competition despite DOJ concerns over pricing and innovation. Meanwhile, luxury hotel brand Belmond is promoting its properties with hour-long ambient videos, aiming to differentiate itself from competitors who focus on short social media clips. Lastly, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced plans to raise taxes on holiday rentals, aligning with a new EU directive and addressing concerns about their impact on housing availability and affordability. American Express Global Business Travel pushed back on a recently filed U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit Ultra-luxury hotel brand Belmond is sharing hour-long videos with minimal action Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced plans on Monday to raise taxes on holiday rentals Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Nicholas Streff, vice president-strategy and communications for Belmond, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month's ILTM Cannes luxury show. Streff details the newest trains, barges and hotels in Belmond's growing portfolio. For more information, visit www.belmond.com. All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our Youtube channel (youtube.com/insidertravelreport), and as podcasts with the same title on: Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean,  iHeartRadio,  Google, Amazon Music/Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox.

Join Emily Austen, EMERGE & SMARTER, Anant Sharma: Matter Of Form & Eva Alexandridis, 111SKIN to learn their best productivity tips to help you achieve your 2025 goals. On 27th January at 12.30pm GMT, Juliet Fallowfield, host of the How To Start Up entrepreneurship podcast, will moderate the panel.Book via this link. All ticket proceeds will be donated to Cancer Research UK. We'll be hearing how these leading entrepreneurs structure their time to ensure they are productive, how they avoid burn out & overcome challenges presented by entrepreneurship. Expect myth busting, frank conversation & an opportunity to ask your questions to the panel. The How To Start Up panel:Emily Austen: Founder & CEO of leading PR agency EMERGE and the author of SMARTER: 10 lessons for a more productive and less-stressed life, published in November. Having founded EMERGE in 2012, Emily has navigated entrepreneurship and discovered a tried and tested formula for avoiding unproductive busyness. Anant Sharma: Founder & CEO of Matter Of Form, a leading luxury brand and digital agency based in London. Having founded his company in 2009, Anant and his team work with some of the world's leading brands including Aman, Belmond & Knight Frank. Eva Alexandridis: Co-Founder of leading international skincare brand 111SKIN. Eva has not only built a globally recognised brand since 2012 but has practised the brand values in ensuring she also looks after herself as well as her business. About How To Start UpHow To Start Up is the entrepreneur's ultimate handbook. With experienced entrepreneurs offering valuable advice on what to do now, next or never when starting a company, the podcast regularly features in Apple Podcasts' entrepreneurial charts and sits within the top 25% of all podcasts globally. Listen to all previous episodes here. If you'd like to learn how to produce your own podcast, drop us a line hello@fallowfieldmason.com Text us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

Belmond, a luxury brand under LVMH, is expanding its portfolio with new high-end trains, private villas, and Michelin-starred experiences to meet the growing demand for immersive travel. Meanwhile, family-run hotels are winning over travelers who prefer understated, personal experiences over ostentatious, cookie-cutter luxury. Finally, the debate over sustainable aviation fuel continues, with ambitious targets and strong industry resistance highlighting the challenges of going green in the aviation sector. Luxury travel brand Belmond is emphasizing experiences  How family-owned hotels are adding their own touches to luxury We examine sustainable aviation fuel Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Following a historic vote in France's parliament, we get the latest from Paris on what's next for the government. Then: we look at what both Donald Trump and Joe Biden are describing as a politicised justice system and hear about Germany's war preparedness plans. Plus: we meet the new director of Art Basel Miami Beach, Bridget Finn. Then: our team in Cannes for the International Luxury Travel Market sits down with Dan Ruff, the CEO of Belmond. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Zee Humura Show - a podcast dedicated to sharing the beauty of Africa with you and the rest of the world. Join me as I take you on a fastpass tour of the Belmond hotels in Africa. I'll share must-do activities inside and outside the hotels, and give you a taste of the luxury and adventure that awaits. Get ready for a quick, insightful look into these exquisite destinations in Africa! Enjoy - Humura Ruth (mailto:mbabaziruth77@gmail.com)

Vicky Gurovich has recently been promoted to Executive Sous Chef at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town. It's been a long time coming. She was head of pastry there under Chef Rudi Liebenberg and now runs the kitchen under the steady hand of Executive Chef Luke Barry. Together they've driven innovation in the iconic 'Nellie' Hight Team Tea and have launched a Saturday Braai experience for guests, as well as an extension of the Planet Bar serving a Mediterranean-inspired menu driven by local produce. We chatted about the revered hotel's commitment to working with sustainable local supplier and the importance of this 125-year-old institution's footprint on the culinary landscape of cape Town. Small wonder the 'Pink Lady' was recently named the best hotel in Africa and currently sits at number 28 on the World's Best Hotels list. It was so good to sit and natter with Vicky.Send us a text On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise credited Title music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

Send us a textCompiled & Mixed By Mike Flux01. Alex Mind vs Far Too Loud - Bring Back Boogie (Original Mix)02. Beam vs Frog - Rocka (Dee & Crane Remix)03. Chunkie - Party Crasher (Genairo Nvilla DD10Y Anniversary Remix)04. Cristian Marchi Feat. Luciana - Keep Calm & Twerk On (Cristian Marchi Perfect Mix)05. Emeli Sande - Clown (Henry Fong Vs Mike Hawkins & Pablo Oliveros Remix)06. Froidz - Finally (Wobble Mix)07. Green Velvet - La La Land (Bingo Players Remix)08. Hailing Jordan - Wolfhound (Original Mix)09. Marco van Bassken - Minnie The Moocher (Djs From Mars Remix)10. Mike Candy - Insomnia (Chris Crime Infinity Remix)11. Belmond & Parker - Mad World (Club Mix)12. Dada feat. Sandy Rivera & Trix - Lollipop (Energy Makerz Remix)13. Daft Punk - Harder Better Faster Stronger (Felguk Rmx)14. Example - Stay Awake  (Micky Slim Remix)15. G & G - Personal Jesus (Michael Mind Mix)16. Joachim Garraud & Alesia - Hook (Original Mix)17. Kosheen - Catch (Relanium Remix)Support the show© 2025 AAHM GLOBAL GROUP | MIKE FLUXallabouthousemusic.com

The UK's Chartered Management Institute has previously found that 41% of managers believe having direct reports increases their own productivity. So, I wanted to hear from someone who has built a strong team to help them achieve more. Anant Sharma is the Founder & CEO of Matter Of Form, a leading luxury brand and digital agency based in London. Having founded his company in 2009, Anant and his team work with some of the world's leading brands including Aman, Belmond & Knight Frank. Keep listening to hear Anant's advice on discovering your strengths & how to build a team around you to enhance your own productivity. Anant's adviceYour business will evolve as you personally grow and change; you may have to let go of some initial ideasPrioritise what is important and what you should be doing; this may mean handing on to others the things you are experienced atConcentrate (without guilt!) on reflection / exploring opportunities / less quantifiable “work”Celebrate thinking time and allow space for it in your weekThere is no need to keep packing in information which is not always productiveBe modest about your daily to-do listHave belief in where you want to goKnow yourself and employ accordingly; you may require mirror personalities of yourself, or you may need strong support in those areas where you know yourself to be weakKnow the value of meditationFF&M recommends: LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.Google Workspace is brilliant for small businessesBuzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directoryCanva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason.  Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason. MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  LicenceText us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

Becky Lukovic is a 20 year veteran in the travel industry. She started On the Go Travel Company in Indiana in 2001 after an “aha” moment in Sorrento, Italy. Standing on a bridge overlooking the sparkling Bay of Naples, Becky realized planning independent and culture-centric travel was her passion. In the next 20 years, she would use that passion to design unique, custom adventures for her clients.Becky developed an extensive book of luxury travel connections and became involved in the American Society of Travel Agents, held a position on the Mid-America Chapter board, and served on the national ASTA communications committee in the early 2000s.In 2010, Becky rebranded her company as Bella Travel Planning, LLC. in Carmel, Indiana to reflect her passion for beautiful, engaging, life-changing travel. In the summer of 2015, she and her husband moved cross-country to beautiful Atlanta, Georgia to start a new adventure.Becky designs adventures for her clients across seven continents ranging from private scuba dives in Costa Rica to tiger sanctuaries in India to the 2008 Summer Olympics in China to cruises at the bottom of the world – Antarctica. She is a specialist in Culinary travel, Wine tasting trips, Italy, France, South Africa, Adventure travel, Antarctica, Incentive trips and meetings, and girlfriend getaways.Recently, Becky trekked in the mountains of Uganda to visit a family of Silverback Gorillas—what an adventure. She's been on land in Antarctica photographing colonies on Penguins, and explored countless off-the-beaten path European Ski resorts and Christmas Villages. A well-crafted tasting menu with wine parings are her love language and she counts many hotel owners and general managers as personal friends. A quick google of her name will reveal how many times she's been quoted for industry publications as well as being featured on the cover of Luxury Travel Advisor Magazine.Her mantra is “travel, like fine wine, should be savored as an experience and not gulped down in a hurry.”Becky is a former member of the Saveur Magazine Travel Advisory Board and is currently a member of The Vast adventure travel society and the Culinary Travel Community with Virtuoso. She holds many destination and resort specialist certifications and is a preferred advisor with Four Seasons, Relais & Chateaux, Belmond, Ritz Carlton, Luxury Collection, Blackberry Farms, and Mandarin Oriental just to name a few. With these partnerships, she can wow her travelers with upgrades, complimentary breakfasts, hotel credits, and special rates for your travels.https://bellatravelplanning.com/

Do you love trains? Travel back in time on trains from the 1930s and 50s for family friendly day-trips at around 7-12 euros with Fondazione FS. Or travel in style (there is a dress code), in all out luxuriousness with La Dolce Vita by Orient Express or Venice Simplon Orient Express by Belmond with trips stating around 4,000 euros. In this episode we talk about it all. Let's get into it. Want to support our podcast? You can use our links to book your train trip.  *Links with an asterisk are affiliate links. By using our affiliate link to book hotels you help our podcast! We get a kickback from the company and you will not be charged extra.  When we travel by train we typically book through ⁠Train Line*⁠ which is an aggregate site or directly on the train company website at ⁠TrenItalia⁠ and ⁠Italo*⁠. Did you miss your train while listening to this podcast? Or want to be prepared just incase? Check out Nathaniel's article ⁠“What to do if you miss your train in Italy”⁠ on our website!    Thank you so much for listening! We would absolutely appreciate it if you could follow us and rate us wherever you listen; it helps the podcast grow and it makes us feel like we're making a difference!  You can find us at ⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@onlyabagpodcast⁠⁠. 

Episode Notes Columnist Colin Nagy believes a growing number of luxury travelers are looking for depth instead of hyper glitz. With that in mind, he provides his list of this summer's biggest innovators in travel as well as information about more than a dozen noteworthy trends in the industry. Nagy writes his list is inspired by brands that build and execute with integrity and vision. He praised Belmond, his choice for hospitality brand of the year, for embracing the idea of slow luxury. Nagy also commended the Mandarin Oriental for showing a deep respect to Oman's culture in the opening of the company's newest property in the country. In addition, Nagy cited Sri Lanka and the Pacific island nation of Palau as destinations he's paying close attention to.  Next, the National Park Foundation recently received a $100 million grant to help combat overtourism at the country's national parks. Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam lists three ways national parks are looking to manage visitor numbers.  More parks are requiring visitors to make a reservation for peak periods. Glacier and Mount Ranier National Parks have implemented vehicle reservation systems for popular entrances while Yosemite reinstated its requirement that visitors book their visits in advance during certain periods.  The National Park Service also plans to implement a uniform permit application process for tour operators. In addition, some parks — including Zion and Glacier — have raised camping fees to cover maintenance costs, while others have submitted proposals for fee increases next year. Finally, Trip.com Group reports that China's senior citizens are spending a large amount of money on travel. So the company is taking more steps to appeal to that growing segment of China's population, writes Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia.  Trip.com Group recently launched the Old Friends Club, which is geared toward travelers older than 50. The company said Chinese senior citizens have spent more than $224 million on its platform this year. CEO Jane Sun said during its earnings call this week that seniors are showing a growing interest in customized tours.   Bhutia notes China's population is aging rapidly, with 28% of Chinese projected to be older than 60 by 2040. Producer/Presenter: Jose Marmolejos Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

This episode is a listeners favourite! We picked from the top downloaded episodes to start series 15 of the podcast. We couldn't be happier to re-release @augusts_garden chatting about her huge career switch into gardening from high up in the sky. @mrplantgeek and @ellenmarygardening talk with the ever smiling, floral dressing, passionate gardener August - known as Augusts Garden to her over 100,000 instagram followers. Find out how August went from a long career as an air hostess to her work at Belmond le Manoir and gardening with children.    Proud to announce Hydria as the series 15 sponsors! Hydria™ is the world's first all-in-one water fountain kit that fits any planter or pot. Perfect for patios, balconies and even indoors as a water feature with a difference. Not only can the water sound soothe you and look wonderful in your garden but the fountain is available with various colours, attachments and tiles so you can truly personalise your fountain to your own space. Find out more about Hydria when you listen to the podcast and via their website: https://www.hydrialife.com Also check them out on socials:  Instagram: @hydria_fountain Facebook: @hydriafountain

Monocle's Fernando Augusto Pacheco celebrates the centenary of the iconic Copacabana Palace hotel in Rio. He speaks with Belmond brand and marketing director Roberta Almeida and Gabriel Oliveira, Farm Rio's brand director, who recently launched a special selection of products to celebrate the hotel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He's one of the most charismatic guests we've had.Nelson's career has been dynamic and multifaceted, and it started early. He juggled classes, friends, internships, clubs and being part of a very exciting start up while at Cornell.He leaned into everything the Hotel School had to offer and had a chance to experience some very exciting industries during and after Cornell. An expert on luxury vacations, he entertained our ideas for brand ambassadors at Belmond, where he is Account Director.This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes workings of the entrepreneurial hospitality world and life as a hotelie!Find Nelson here:LinkedIn: Nelson BillingtonInstagram: Nelson BillingtonBelmond:https://www.belmond.com/Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

Embark on an adventure through South Africa with Liam Tomlin (Cape Town chef), Deborah Calmeyer (ROAR Africa founder), and Tiago Sarmento (managing director of Belmond in Southern Africa), whose stories and insider tips on crafting the ultimate travel experience will have you hooked on this something-for-everybody destination. On his recent trip to Cape Town and Tswalu Kalahari reserve in South Africa, Bruce caught up with Tomlin and Sarmento to talk about Cape Town's culinary delights, under-the-radar gastronomic and adventure tours, going on safari with children, and other unique experiences beyond the ordinary. Bruce also spoke with safari expert Calmeyer, who shares tips for first-timers, malaria-free areas, the best farmer's market in Cape Town, and a two-week blowout itinerary. You'll also learn where locals from Cape Town go for vacation—hint: there's great whale watching—and get fun facts like where you can order half a goat in a car wash. Whether you're a seasoned safari-goer or planning your first trip, whether you're going with kids or just adults, this episode has something for you. Listen and catch the full details of why South Africa is a must-visit, and hear Bruce give his email for anyone who would like his help with planning a safari experience. Wait until the end to hear Bruce share a few of his favorite picks for safari adventures in South Africa and beyond. --- You can find out more details about the locations mentioned in the episode below: Mount Nelson, a Belmond Hotel, https://www.belmond.com Chef's Warehouse, https://www.chefswarehouse.co.za ROAR Africa, https://www.roarafrica.com  Tswalu Kalahari, https://tswalu.com Delaire Graff Estate, https://www.delaire.co.za Oranjezicht Farmer's Market, Cape Town Singita Sabi Sand, https://singita.com Cheetah Plains, https://www.cheetahplains.com Singita Grumeti, https://singita.com Selinda Reserve / Great Plains Conservation, https://greatplainsconservation.com Wilderness Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp, https://www.wildernessdestinations.com Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge, https://www.belmond.com Belmond Eagle Island Lodge, https://www.belmond.com Pigcasso, https://pigcasso.org --- Travel That Matters is a CurtCo Media production. Host: Bruce Wallin Producer: AJ Moseley Marketing: Catrin Skaperdas Music: Joey SalviaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Arnaud Champenois, senior vice president-global brand, marketing and communications for Belmond, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last month's ILTM Cannes luxury show about Belmond's blueprint for 2024 and what it expects will be a "year of transformation' for the luxury hospitality company. For more information, visit www.belmond.com. If interested, the original video of this podcast can be found on the Insider Travel Report Youtube channel or by searching for the podcast's title on Youtube.

Listen and enjoy Season 3, Episode 3 of 20 Minutes Of Women IN Leadership as moderator; Barbara Scofidio, editor of Prevue Magazine, is joined by is joined by Rachel Carey, CITP, VP National Sales and Industry Relations at CSI DMC; Rhonda Brewer, CIS CITP, VP Sales for Motivation Excellence; and Michelle Mariani. CIS CITP. Divisional Director for Sales – Groups North America for Belmond, as they discuss their industry path and the role of relationships in their success. Relax for the next 20 minutes. Sit back, listen, and learn. 20 Minutes Of Women IN Leadership is produced by GlobauxSource, in partnership with SITE Texas, SITE, and the SITE Women In Leadership initiative.

Update: Since the original episode audio was recorded, new information was released about the Wednesday's crash involving a motorcyclist and bus. The podcast was updated to include the new information.Stories referenced– Cedar Rapids motorcyclist who crashed into bus has died– Canadian National buys Iowa Northern Railway– ‘Mary Poppins' ready to work magic in Coralville centerEpisode TranscriptsYou are listening to The Gazette's Daily News Podcast on Friday, December 8. I'm Bailey Cichon filling in for Stephen Schmidt.A Cedar Rapids man has died from his injuries after a Wednesday crash in Cedar Rapids. 29-year-old Lewis McColley crashed his motorcycle into a bus that was turning into a Casey's gas station on the corner of Ellis Boulevard and O Avenue Northwest Wednesday afternoon. A Cedar Rapids police officer had attempted to pull him over for not having a license plate. He had been fleeing police for about a minute before the crash. McColley was taken to Saint Luke's hospital in Cedar Rapids with serious injurie, then transferred to University of Iowa hospitals and clinics where he died Thursday. The bus driver, 63-year-old Mark Campbell of Cedar Rapids, was the only person in the bus at the time and was not injured.Linn County Sheriff's Office is handling the investigation. The case remains under investigation.Canadian National is adding 275 miles of track with its purchase of Iowa Northern Railway. Montreal-based Canadian National made the announcement Thursday. The sale is pending regulatory review by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board. Canadian National is one of North America's six biggest railroads and operates more than 18 thousand miles of track across Canada and the United States. Meanwhile, Iowa Nothern Railroad serves agricultural and industrial markets. The line runs diagonally through Iowa from Manly to Cedar Rapids with branch lines from Waterloo to Oelwein and Forest City to Belmond. Iowa Nothern Railway chairman Daniel Sabin said the Iowa carrier believes Canadian National shares the railroad's commitment to local stakeholders and that the sale will benefit customers, employees and the local Iowa economy.The magical musical ‘Mary Poppins' is coming to Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. City Circle Theatre Company will bring the show to life onstage and in the air December 8 through 17. Allison Dixon of Iowa City plays Mary Poppins, a magical nanny joined by her chimney sweep Bert, played by Cedar Rapids' Calvin Boman. Boman will defy gravity as Bert in an upside down tap dancing number. Read more backstage details in The Gazette's story by Diana Nollen, available online. Use the link in this episode description to get there.Finally, let's take a look at today's weather in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Today will be partly cloudy with temperatures reaching a high of 54 and a low of 38. Looking ahead to the weekend, Saturday will be cloudy and colder than the past few days. Expect a high of 39 and low of 23. Sunday, temperatures will continue their downward slide. Expect a high of 32, a low of 20 and mostly sunny skies.Thank you for listening to The Gazette's Daily News Podcast. I'm Bailey Cichon.

Federico Echaiz, area manager-Mexico for Belmond and general manager of the Belmond Maroma Belmond  Resort, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his luxury property, one of the first on the Riviera Maya in Mexico. Echaiz describes the resort as it is today and how it will dramatically expand, almost doubling in size, by the end of this year. For more information, visit www.belmond.com. If interested, the original video of this podcast can be found on the Insider Travel Report Youtube channel or by searching for the podcast's title on Youtube.

Este episodio del Podcast Experto en Hoteles fue grabado en Maroma, a Belmond Hotel, la reapertura más esperada de 2023 en México. Marcos Toscani dialoga con Federico Echaiz, Area Manager para Belmond en México y GM de Maroma; Sylvia Smith, Area Director Sales and Marketing para Belmond Mexico y Daniel Camacho, Chef Ejecutivo de Maroma, a Belmond Hotel

Welcome to episode 073 of the Green Healthy Places podcast in which we discuss the themes of wellbeing and sustainability in real estate and hospitality today. I'm your host, Matt Morley and today I'm in the Caribbean talking to Alejandro Leo, a hotel wellness, spa and sustainability expert.Alejandro is a hotel wellness professional working for luxury resorts like the Oetker Collection's Jumby Bay Island Resort in Antigua where he managed the spa and sustainability program. Prior to that he was Global Head of Wellness for HABITAS, an innovative new hotel group, and previously worked for Azulik in Tulum, Mexico as well as stints at brands such as Six Senses, Belmond and Rosewood. ALEC Wellness Consulting (LinkedIn) Alejandro Leo (LinkedIn) Oetker Collection, Jumby Bay Island Habitas Hotels Azulik, Mexico Six Senses Resorts Green Healthy Places

The Belmond Venice Simplon Orient Express is one of the world's greatest and most luxurious trains, harkening back to the original Orient Express made famous by Agatha Christie. Join us on an excursion from Venice to Paris for two days of total luxury, and don't forget to bring your tuxedo! Read the story on GoNOMAD Travel https://www.gonomad.com/219889-belmond-orient-express-train --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/max-hartshorne/message

If you're like most Americans, Machu Picchu is on your bucket list!  But Peru has so much more to offer and experiences that will enrich your life and bring you closer to the ones you love.   Join me for this chat with Edson Chacón-literally one of the nicest people on the planet! Edson ChacónCo-Founder & Executive Director – Kindle JourneysBorn in Cusco, Edson has always been passionate about Tourism. With over 18 years of experience, he has worked for many leading companies including Peru Experiences By Orient Express, Lima Tours, Journeys in Peru by Belmond and Inkaterra Experiences. He started off as a Concierge Supervisor in Peru Experiences by Orient Express and later took a role of an Operations Supervisor where he managed a team but also trained them on providing excellent Customer Experience. In his latest Experience where he was the Executive Director at Kuoda Travel, he lead the company to grow from 50-60 clients a month to a hundred clients a month. All of which has given him first hand experience and the know how to about the diversity and richness that lies hidden in an admirable destination - Peru. He started Kindle Journeys in 2014 bringing all of his knowledge and Experience Under a Brand that ‘Kindles' a deep emotion of meaning and value in every customer journey through Peru.He and his team at Kindle Journeys strongly believes that “By providing unique travel experiences and unforgettable moments, one is able to encourage travel and exploration. A transormative and meaningful travel experience comes when everyone involved is able to provide the ‘WOW' moments while being kind to the environment. With Kindle Journeys, clients not only discover the place, learn about its history and all which is outlined in the itinerary but they can also choose to make random stops and capture moments that are unique and meaningful to them. Ones which Kindle joy, serenity and leaving our clients with a deep feeling and a special value within them. Kindness begets kindness, even when we share a bread with a child or any person in need along the way, we aren't ending world hunger, but to help any hungry person is to water the seeds of compassion.All the links!https://kindlejourneys.com/FB: https://www.facebook.com/KindleJourneys IG: https://www.instagram.com/thekindlejourneys/ Twitter:https://twitter.com/KindleJourneys Casa Huaran:IG: https://www.instagram.com/casitahuaran/Black Dog Luxury Travel Website: https://blackdogluxurytravel.com/Want to connect? I'd love to hear from you! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackdogluxurytravel/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackdogluxurytravelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blackdogluxurytravel/

20 YEARS IN PERSPECTIVE:I told myself I'm going to be a hotelier. Okay so how do I become a hotelier? Well, no hotel owner in their right mind will ask me to run their hotel. So I guess I need to be a hotel owner myself.In my thirties I was kind of a Parisian nightlife kingpin and had a lot of fun, a lot of fun. I probably had a little bit of a delayed teenage crisis and threw my career out the window and decided to go into nightlife.Money came and then went even faster, but I definitely checked a lot of marks in the bucket list and so I enjoyed myself greatly. I decided maybe it was time to get a grip and do something more serious with my life.I'm the son of an architect, I love good design, I love hanging out with people, I love creating things that last;I am about to develop the most beautiful hotel of the Italian riviera, the Grand Miramare Castiglioncello.Seeing my kids grow and being able to impact them and the way they're going to impact the world is something that I derive a lot of happiness from.ON TOPIC: HOSPITALITY, HOTELS, LUXURY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIPMy project for the hotel is to make it the Italian Riviera's most beautiful hotel.The hotel industry: there's an underlying real estate element that makes it easier to financeA checklist for what an asset should look like - location, location, location, architecturally interesting, a straightforward storytelling, etc.Of course, you need to have a good bed, and it needs to be great design, etc., but very difficult to compete on that, because everybody knows how to buy a good bed and hire a good interior designer. It's not that complicated and you see there's a proliferation of luxury hotels.Exceptional service is difficult to achieve. I think it's about making people feel welcomed. You don't go to a luxury hotel to feel at home. You go for something exceptional, you want to feel exceptional. You want to feel like you've been expected to that place for all of your life and when you leave you can't wait to come back.70% repeat rate on clients - when you can achieve that, that I think is true luxury. That you can give people such an experience, that they feel amazing, that everything around makes them feel good and makes them feel exceptional. So much so, that they love to talk about it and word of mouth is the best.ON TOPIC: ENTREPRENEURSHIPReinventing yourself permanently is pretty difficult and it is challenging.You have to be a little bit full of yourself and believe that you're made for being a successful entrepreneur and that if you failed before it's not your fault and you've learned from that and that you have to try again.The reason why I love being an entrepreneur is being able to have an impact.it's the journey more than the goal that matters and then you just do it.I like to put problems in a box and open them when I have to.You can't be good at everything and you should keep a focus on what you are good at.You need to hire people who are smarter than you and better than you.ON GIVING BACKEducation is probably the best way to help the world become a more civilized place and to lift people from poverty.There's some material success of course, but the yield curve on material happiness flattens very quickly.References, mentions: modern luxury, magazine Monocle, How to spend it, Hotel Il Pelicano, Orient Express, Belmond group, humane management, Dead Poets Society, Dino Buzzati, Space invaders, Pirandello, Toscanini, Mastroiani, Visconti, Rossellini, Churchill, Tuscany, Corsica, Elba, Florence, Pisa, San Gimignano, Bolghera, Italian riviera, “wine concierge”, truffle hunting, Relais et Chateaux

En este episodio del Podcast Experto en Hoteles, Marcos Toscani dialoga en vivo desde Nizuc Resort & Spa en Cancún con Alfonso Martinez, su General Manager. Además Santiago Garcia Solimei, Global Head of PR & Social Media para Meliá Hotels International habla sobre la estrategia del grupo hotelero español. También, halamos con Eric González, General Manager de Casa de Sierra Nevada, la propiedad de Belmond en San Miguel de Allende, México

Today we're headed to France to learn about slowing down, enjoying life, and soaking it all in. Let's jump on board a river barge to explore the back waterways of some of the most iconic regions of this beautiful country.  Our guide for the day is Jonathan Foschini who runs guest experience for Les Bateaux Belmond, the most luxurious barge experience in France.  Now whether we choose to float in Champagne, Burgundy, or Provence we'll be treated to the finest wines, chef prepared meals, and custom experiences all the way. Jonathan and I discuss why this method of travel is so unique, dive into some very exclusive experiences, and chat about the benefits of slow travel.  Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com   Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn  

This week, Domonkos Kékesi, concierge at Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois, shines a light on Basel and Rob Bound speaks to Max Aniort, co-founder of Le Collectionist. Also in the programme: Monocle's Tom Webb takes us on a tour of Portofino, Fernando Augusto Pacheco celebrates the centenary of Rio's Copacabana Palace, owned by the Belmond group, and we hear the latest aviation news from Murdo Morrison of Flightglobal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You absolutely NEED to listen to this episode if you ever book a vacation. We cover: Why would someone book a vacation with a travel advisor rather than booking online themselves? What to look for when planning an African safari  Where to get the best bang for your buck Whether it's a good time to travel to Asia, as well as which countries have lesser known experiences Luxury all-inclusive resorts The best timeline for booking a hotel How to plan a trip to Europe, especially Italy, when the prices are higher than they have ever been Distinctions between Belmond, Aman, and Auberge properties Lesser known luxury vacation options and experiences Finding good deals in Greece Options for families who are traveling on a budget To support the show on Patreon and access our 100+ bonus episodes, including our Royal's Deep Dive, click here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This special episode of the Art Angle is produced in partnership with Belmond.  Recently, four photographers got a dream assignment. They were dispatched into the Maya Riviera to capture the distinctiveness and beauty of the landscape. But it wasn't all as tranquil as it sounds. The creators battled hurricane season and extremely tight deadlines to get the shots they wanted. The result of their hard work is “Fotografía Maroma,” a collection of photographs commissioned by Belmond. The images will go on display at Maroma, Belmond's hotel in the Riviera Maya, when it reopens in May 2023. Before then, however, they are going on a world tour. It starts with a display in the Miami Design District during Art Basel Miami Beach and continues with presentations at ZonaMaco in Mexico City in February and Photo London in May. In partnership with Belmond, the Art Angle spoke with the curators behind the project. Fariba Farshad is co-founder and director of Photo London and Patricia Conde is the founder of Patricia Conde Galeria in Mexico City. Together, they gave us the lowdown on why they chose these four photographers, how the project came together in record time, and what it shows us about Mexico's vibrant photography scene.

Pascal Deyrolle, General Manager of The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, joins Melissa Biggs Bradley to talk about the rich history of train travel in Europe, the timeless elegance of the restored train cars, the preservation of artisanship, and the incredible experiences travelers have had and continue to have on The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express TRAIN.  Pascal and Melissa transport you to the past as it meets the present…to a world of royalty, spies, legendary authors, glamour, and elegance. In the conversation, they'll also touch on the exquisite dining experiences you can have on board the train, live piano in the bar car in the evenings, the majestic views, and the best time of year to train travel.  This week's Travel Hack focuses on keeping it simple and streamlining your luggage to travel carry-on only when flying in order to save time, money, and inconvenience. For more on The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express visit their website. And follow the Venice Simplon Orient Express on Instagram Follow Melissa on InstagramLearn more about Indagare Travel 

Qual o papel do RH nas organizações? O que mudou de 20 anos pra cá? Como ter um RH estratégico que efetivamente potencializa o business? Não perca este episódio recheado de insights para o seu desenvolvimento. Hoje eu converso com uma convidada, símbolo de determinação: Grazi Di Battista. Ela se destaca por saber bem como aproveitar as oportunidades que surgem pelo caminho. Com uma formação admirável, Grazi estudou Gestão de Hotelaria na Suíça, na renomada IHTTI School e na Bournemouth University e fez MBA na INSEAD, na França. Ela começou a carreira no The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, na Espanha, e rodou o mundo pelo Belmond. De volta ao Brasil, ela passou pelo Carrefour, pela DOW, e em 2013, entrou para o Boticário, onde construiu uma carreira de 9 anos até chegar a posição de Chief Human Resources Officer - Uma Vice Presidente de Recursos Humanos. Durante a conversa, abordamos assuntos sobre carreira, liderança e Grazi não deixou de relevar as inúmeras experiências que conquistou durante toda sua trajetória de sucesso. Adquira meu livro Lugar de Potência: Lições de carreira e liderança de mais de 10 mil entrevistas, cafés e reuniões

On this episode Todd Belmond, Principal of the Scotsman Guide, joins Sean Z to talk about all the commercial and non-qm opportunities loan originators have to grow their business. Todd also discusses the 25yr history of the Scotsman Guide and how they have always been focused on being the best resource for loan originators. 1:15 Intro to Scotsman Guide4:33 Commercial lending opportunities9:40 Non-QM opportunities18:45 The evolution of the housing industryTakeaways:The platform is 100% free to originators. Commercial lending is another niche to think about for loan officers. Now is the time to expand your horizons and take advantage of every income opportunity. Non-QM is not like the subprime of old. A lot of borrowers are average to above credit scores and have a lot of cash.Now is the best time to be the industry expert in your communityQuotes:“Scotsman guide is a great resource for originators.”“There are opportunities for residential loan officers to get into commercial lending.”“Now is a great time to pick up the phone and create relationships with commercial lenders.”“You are really missing an opportunity if you are not learning about Non-QM.”“We have more temporary pain right now, but houses will be more expensive 10 years from now.”Show Links:Community Platform: www.BecomeNL.com Strategy Call: www.NLStrategyCall.com  Social Media:Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/NextLevelLoanOfficers/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwSyHzkvBri1YWJSH7df1CQLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-level-loan-officers/about/

Hear from @augusts_garden about her huge career switch into gardening to kick off series 8 of the podcast. @mrplantgeek and @ellenmarygardening chat with the ever smiling, floral dressing, passionate gardener August - known as Augusts Garden to her over 100,000 instagram followers. Find out how August went from a long career as an air hostess to her work at Belmond le Manoir and gardening with children.  NEW! We welcome sponsors of series 8 of the podcast Florette Salad, find out more about them on the podcast and website www.florettesalad.co.uk NEW! Expect to hear from four new regular contributors this season, starting with @oldhouseintheshires and @flowerstud with some great information about plants and gardening.   The Plant Based Podcast:  www.theplantbasedpodcast.net   Instagram Twitter Facebook 

Das Belmond La Residencia fügt sich nahtlos in das historische Ambiente des Dorfes ein – die verschiedenen ockerfarbenen Villen verteilen sich über den ganzen Hang, dahinter ragen die Olivenbäume und schließlich die wilden Bergrücken der Serra de Tramuntana empor – seit zehn Jahren wird dieses Fleckchen Erde von der Unesco geschützt.

We might as well call this “The Big Book of Mexico” episode, because it's filled with a lifetime of adventures, insider spots, and authentic luxury hotels throughout the country. Our guest is Zachary Rabinor, the founder and president of Journey Mexico, a unique luxury travel company that takes clients far beyond the country's well-known beach destinations. Not that he doesn't appreciate Mexico's great beach resorts—he's been living in Puerto Vallarta for almost 20 years, and he joins Bruce in person from the town they both call home for this special episode. Zachary is the perfect person to lead us on a whirlwind tour of Mexico's cultural, natural, and culinary riches, from Campeche and Chiapas in the south to the Copper Canyon and Baja wine country in the north. If you love Mexico like we do—or even if you're just slightly curious about the country—this episode is a must listen! Learn More: Journey Mexico HACIENDAS: Hacienda De San Antonio: https://haciendadesanantonio.com/ Hacienda San Gabriel De Las Palmas https://www.haciendasangabriel.com/en/ Casa De La Real Aduana http://www.realaduana.com/ COSTALEGRE Four Seasons Tamarindo https://www.fourseasons.com/tamarindo/ XALA https://www.luxury-frontiers.com/project/xala/ COPPER CANYON Copper Canyon Train: https://chepe.mx/en/ CAMPECHE Calakmul Biosphere Reserve Jaguar Observation https://www.calakmul.org/html/learn.html PUEBLA Banyan Tree https://www.banyantree.com/mexico/puebla Cartesiano https://cartesiano360.com/en/ La Purificadora https://www.lapurificadora.com/ Wallin Wrap-Up I'm just going to assume that hearing from Zach got you very excited to visit Mexico. And now that you're coming down here to visit, you're going to need a few ideas about where to stay, so I thought I'd share some of my personal favorite hotels and resorts around the country. Now, Mexico really does have some of the best hotels in the world, and one that I'd say has kind of been the standard bearer over the years is Las Ventanas in Los Cabos. There are so many great beach resorts in Cabo—you've got One & Only Palmilla, Esperanza, Zadun, Pedregal—and you really can't go wrong at any of them. But I've visited Las Ventanas a few times over the years, and I'm just always blown away by how good it is—the feel, the ambience, the service is spectacular.   Another Rosewood resort that is right up there with anything is Rosewood Mayakoba on the Riviera Maya. We've talked about this place before on the show, and it's this very peaceful sanctuary in the mangroves and along this great stretch of beach. The food is really a standout here. Other spots I love on the Riviera Maya—the Hotel Escencia and the Belmond Maroma. Both on incredible beaches—like that soft white-sand beach Caribbean dream beach. Escencia is a very chic designer type place, while the Belmond is a little more classic Mexican in style. That one is closed for the next couple years for renovations, and I'm curious to see how that turns out. Closer to where I've been based here in Puerto Vallarta, Zach briefly mentioned Las Alamandas, which is a truly magical place. It's on the Costalegre, south of Vallarta, and like Zach said, this area just hasn't been developed like other coastal regions, so you have these huge pieces of land with only one small resort or a few homes. Alamandas is on 2,000 acres, it's got four private beaches, and there are less than 20 suites. Definitely one of my favorite hideaways. Another one that came up in our conversation is Hacienda de San Antonio. This place is a working hacienda in the foothills of the Colima Volcano. Honestly, I don't even know how to describe it. You just have to go check out their website, look at how incredible the photos and videos are, and then trust me that it really is that incredible. Unlike anywhere else I've ever been. Another hacienda property I love is Hacienda de los Santos in northern Mexico. Not a place that's very easy to get to, but it's in a great town called Alamos, which is kind of like a smaller, less discovered San Miguel de Allende. There are, of course, many, many great hotels in San Miguel and other cities throughout the country, but my favorite is the brand-new Casa Polanco in Mexico City. It's just opening this month, and it's another one of these converted mansions—I think it has 16 suites. It's in probably the nicest location in the entire city, right on Lincoln Park in Polanco. You walk a few blocks one way and you're at Bosque de Chapultepec, which is like the Central Park of Mexico City but twice the size. Walk a block the other way, and you're in Polanco's main shopping and dining area. Mexico City is such a fantastic place for food, for museums, for exploring, and when you come back at the end of the day, Casa Polanco is like returning to your own private mansion on the park. I'll tell you, my recent trip to Mexico City definitely got me thinking that my next stint abroad should be in the capital. But for now, I'm going to enjoy the rest of my time in Puerto Vallarta. And I hope to see you all down here—or somewhere else in Mexico—very soon. Wrap Links: Rosewood Las Ventanas https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/las-ventanas-los-cabos/overview One &Only Palmilla https://www.oneandonlyresorts.com/palmilla Esperanza https://aubergeresorts.com/esperanza/stay/ Ritz Carlton Zadun https://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/mexico/los-cabos Waldorf Astoria Pedregal https://www.waldorfastorialoscabospedregal.com/ Rosewood Mayakoba https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/mayakoba-riviera-maya/overview Hotel Esencia https://hotelesencia.com/ Belmond Maroma https://www.belmond.com/hotels/north-america/mexico/riviera-maya/belmond-maroma-resort-and-spa/ Las Alamandas https://alamandas.com/ Hacienda De San Antonio https://haciendadesanantonio.com/ Hacienda De Los Santos https://haciendadelossantos.com/wp/ Casa Polanco https://www.casapolanco.com/ ----------------------------------- Learn more about the podcast: https://www.curtco.com/travelthatmatters Hosted by: Bruce Wallin Produced by: AJ Moseley Music by: Joey Salvia A CurtCo Media Production See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're shaking it up today with a panel of food and beverage experts from one of our favorite hotel brands, Belmond! Together we'll explore the skill and hard work that goes into creating some of your favorite drinks - from the shorelines of Italy to the palaces of St. Petersburg.  Our guests today are: Tommaso Mansi and Nikita Yurin. Tommaso is the head bar manager at the stunning Belmond Caruso hotel situated along the Amalfi Coast. He is also a local and an expert in lemon production, one of the key ingredients in any good cocktail in this region.  Nikita is the head vodka and caviar sommlier at Belmond's luxurious hotel in St. Petersburg, Grand Hotel Europe - a spot which also boasts the oldest continually used restaurant in all of Russia.  What I love about this episode is hearing Nikita and Tommaso speak so passionately about their crafts. Imagine all that passion poured into something as simple as a drink or a set of caviar. To me it demonstrates another way that people in the hospitality industry show real love and caring for their guests.  Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com   Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn