Luxury Travel Insider

Do you love travel? Are you always searching for the absolute best experiences? Join us each week for an insightful chat with some of luxury travel’s most iconic people. We’ll interview travel experts like Robert Bowe who has been part of the guest experience at Ashford Castle for 33 years; Jamie Gaymer, the lead conservation manager at an ultra-luxe safari lodge; or the Owners and General Managers of some of the world’s top hotels like Amangiri, Canaves Oia, and Zannier Hotels. You’ll leave each episode with an Insider appreciation for new destinations, luxury travel, and all the heart that goes into creating these magical experiences. Luxury Travel Insider is hosted by Sarah Groen, an expert in luxury travel. Sarah has traveled to 100 countries and all 7 continents, is a contributing travel columnist for CEO World Magazine, and is the owner of Bell & Bly Travel, a top travel advising firm working with executives and entrepreneurs.

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Episodes

Cottar's 1920 | Owner, Calvin Cottar: Moving at the Pace of Nature, How Visiting Africa Invokes Humanity, and Why Luxury Safaris are so Costly

Our guest today is Calvin Cottar, the owner and director of Cottars 1920s Camp. The Cottar family is iconic in the world of safari, as they were one of the first families to pioneer the safari experience we all now enjoy. Cottar’s Camp itself sits on the edge of the Maasai Mara in Kenya and conserves over 7,600 acres of land. While the camp is gorgeous, full of modern luxuries, and amazing service - you can tell Calvin’s passion lies in the experience and conservation of land. Calvin and I discu...

Oct 28, 2020•18 min

Canaves Oia | Owner, Markos Chaidemenos: How Santorini Became a Famous Destination, Secret Swimming Spots, and Lots of White Paint

Our guest on this episode is Markos Chaidemenos, co-owner and Managing Director of Canaves Oia luxury properties in Santorini, Greece. Canaves is a collection of 6 of the top luxury properties in Santorini, all set in the whitewashed town of Oia, overlooking the sapphire Aegean Sea. After a day of wine tasting, bike riding around the island, or visiting centuries old ruins you can relax in your private plunge pool with a glass of champagne overlooking one of the most iconic views in the world. A...

Oct 21, 2020•28 min

One & Only Mandarina | GM, Serge Ditesheim: Stylish Tree Houses, Pueblos Magicos, and a Preview of this Yet to Open Luxurious Retreat

Today we’re welcoming Serge Ditesheim, the General Manager of the new One & Only Mandarina in Nayarit, Mexico. The One & Only Mandarina is one of the most talked about openings in all of luxury travel, set to open in two weeks on November 1st. The property will be a collection of stylish treehouses and clifftop villas nestled into the rainforest and overlooking the Pacific ocean. You’ll be able to spend your days in your private plunge pool, out surfing, or indulging in arguably some of ...

Oct 14, 2020•28 min

Sol y Luna | Owner, Petit Miribel: Off the Beaten Path in Peru's Sacred Valley, How the Hotel Funds Schools, and Luxury Travel with a Heart

If you love luxury with a heart, Sol y Luna is the spot for you. The hotel is a gorgeous set of little villas, decorated in rich colors and artwork, and cooks up some of the best food you’ll find in the Sacred Valley. Petit wasn’t always in the travel world - she had a corporate career first, which brought her to Peru. It was then that she and Franz realized something different was calling them - so they quit their jobs to seek it out and started a foundation in the Sacred Valley. The hotel came...

Oct 07, 2020•25 min

Vermejo | MD, Jade McBride: Your Own Private National Park, 18 Years to Save a Fish, and True Service in the American West

Jade McBride is the Managing Director of Ted Turner Reserves and GM of Vermejo Park Ranch. Vermejo is set on 550,000 acres in Northern New Mexico on a spectacularly beautiful and diverse reserve. Here you can head out on adventures around property to go hiking, fly fishing, or see wildlife like bison, elk, and black bears. Then after it all, you can come back to the lodge, enjoy a world class dinner with a fine wine, and tell stories of your day around the fireplace. This is truly where adventur...

Sep 30, 2020•30 min

Amangiri | GM, Julien Surget: Dinosaur Bones, Honoring Navajo Nation, and What's New at One of America's Top Hotels

Julien Surget is the General Manager of the famed Amangiri hotel in Southern Utah. Amangiri is a modern sanctuary situated among 600 acres of wilderness and isolation in the desert. Every detail of the hotel was thought through in order to honor the surroundings - from building the pool around a massive boulder, to using the desert light to play off the structures, to the 25,000 square foot spa that just exudes relaxation. Julien, of course runs one of the top hotels in the US, but is also a tru...

Sep 11, 2020•32 min

Cayuga Collection | Co-Owners, Hans & Andrea: Authentic Sustainability, What Makes a Nat Geo Unique Lodge, and True Friendship in Central America

Andrea Bonilla and Hans Fister are the co-owners of Cayuga Collection in Central America. Cayuga is a collection of 7 independently owned luxury boutiques in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama. The company employs over 450 local staff and protects 1,500 acres of rainforest. Though each property has its own unique soul - what ties them all together is Hans and Andrea’s commitment to people, service, and sustainability. They’ve managed to create a unique culture where you can experience both luxury...

Sep 11, 2020•31 min

Welcome to Luxury Travel Insider!

Introducing Luxury Travel Insider, hosted by Sarah Groen. Each week we'll chat with Icons in luxury travel to bring you insider details on some of the best hotels in the world, most interesting destinations, and top tour guides/conservationists. Our goal is to inspire you to experience the world and understand, at a deeper level, the heart and soul that goes into creating bespoke travel experiences. In this short episode I'll discuss who the podcast is for, reveal some of our amazing future gues...

Sep 11, 2020•4 min

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