Today we’re visiting Dubai, the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates. We’ll explore the bustling city, the desert landscape, the incredible man-made achievements, and the melting pot culture. Our guests today are Emanuela Setterberg, GM of one of our favorite hotels in Dubai, One & Only The Palm and Tom Roelens, GM of the soon to open and highly anticipated, Atlantis The Royal. While the properties are just 5 kilometers apart, they are worlds away from each other in terms of experi...
Oct 05, 2022•49 min
Today we’re diving into the special country of Argentina. Spanning from the tropics all the way down to Antarctica - this magical landscape has something for everyone. Here you can hike some of the tallest mountains in the world, learn and dance tango with locals, cheer on the Argentinian soccer team, and sip some of the finest wines in our hemisphere. My guest today is the very accomplished Maita Barrenechea, Argentinian entrepreneur and philanthropist, and my partner in the county. We talk abo...
Sep 21, 2022•41 min
I started working on the concept for Luxury Travel Insider in May 2020… right about when my business Bell & Bly Travel was falling apart due to Covid. It was a completely devastating time for our industry. My team and I spent our days unraveling trips we had worked so hard to plan and our clients had been so highly anticipating. My friends, hoteliers and destination experts, were closing their doors without knowing if they’d ever open them again. With some free time on my hands, I couldn’t j...
Sep 14, 2022•52 min
My guest today is Ben Trodd, an SVP of Global Sales and Marketing at the amazing Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. While you may have heard of these gorgeous properties dotted around the world, what you might not know is that founder Isadore Sharp started off by building a motel in Toronto. Mr. Sharp says something profound about the company that we discuss in this episode. He says, “There was no vision, there was no grand dream – but there has always been a consistent thread, and that is servi...
Sep 07, 2022•47 min
I’m excited to whisk you off today to two of my favorite cities in Europe, Prague and Vienna. I think the travel world sometimes forgets that Vienna was once the center of European power, while its sister to the north is the birthplace of bohemian culture. To paraphrase Karl Kraus, while the streets of other cities are paved with asphalt, the streets of these two cities are quite literally paved with culture. Here to discuss Vienna and Prague with us are Gwen Kozlowski, my partner in the region,...
Aug 31, 2022•40 min
We have a very special guest joining us today, our first repeat guest on the show, in fact! You may remember Valentina de Santis who joined us to discuss her famed hotel Grand Hotel Tremezzo on Lake Como. Well she’s back! And this time to tell us about the jewel box of a hotel that she just finished building called Passalacqua. This revival of an 18th century villa, might be one of the most stunning properties I’ve ever had the luxury of staying in. And on top of that, the family owned atmospher...
Aug 24, 2022•50 min
Today’s show is about hospitality, the great change that is underway at hotels, and how Covid and generational shifts are changing what it means to be luxury. My guest today is the CEO and Founder of Ellis Adams Group, a consulting firm specializing in helping luxury hotel brands design jaw dropping customer experiences, build memorable hotel spaces, and keep up with new trends. Chris tells personal stories of his time working in hotels and crazy experiences helping new hotels open. We also dive...
Aug 10, 2022•40 min
Ernest Hemingway once said, “In order to write about life, first you must live it.” And as we all know, he went to live his life in the vibrant country of Cuba. Now, Cuba has both dramatically changed and stayed the same since Hemingway departed in 1960, but nonetheless it still offers one of the best travel experiences in the world. Here you can combine authentic interactions with locals, great food, beautiful beaches, and of course all the rum and cigars you can stomach. Joining me today is th...
Aug 03, 2022•48 min
Our guest today is Michael Ungerer, the CEO of Explora Journeys, one of the best known travel companies that has yet to formally launch! If you haven’t heard of Explora yet, you soon will. They are pioneering a new niche in ocean going travel, so much so that they don’t actually refer to it as cruising. The family owned company has started from scratch, learning from tens of thousands of next generation luxury travelers what they might want in a mega-yacht experience. Explora Journeys launches i...
Jul 27, 2022•34 min
Today we’re mixing things up a bit to hear how you can bring the luxury hotel experience into your own home. Darcy Guttwein has spent two decades building a lifestyle concept she calls Hotels to Home. She’s traveled the world taking inspiration from luxury hospitality brands and figured out a way to incorporate many of the aspects that you love about traveling into the everyday. Darcy and I discuss simple and affordable “hacks” to creating this lifestyle, all the way to elaborate and elegant cha...
Jul 20, 2022•37 min
I’m so excited today to be speaking with two amazing travel and remote work experts, Matt Kepnes and Dan Andrews. Matt is the founder of the successful blog, Nomadic Matt and is a New York Times bestselling author of two books. Dan hosts the successful podcast, Tropical MBA, co-founded Dynamite Circle to connect and empower digital entrepreneurs, and also founded Dynamite Jobs. Both of our guests have spent years as digital nomads. This episode is a bit of a departure from our typical shows but ...
Jul 13, 2022•43 min
This time I’m taking you to Singita’s Pamushana Lodge in remote, Southeast Zimbabwe. Perched high on a sandstone ridge, overlooking a shimmering lake full of hippos, this is one of the most inspirational safari destinations I have ever had the privilege of visiting. The lodge is set on the Malilangwe Reserve which is now famous for its rhino and ecological conservation efforts, its absolutely awe inspiring anti-poaching team, and of course the world class service of Singita. Since I’m in the fie...
Jul 06, 2022•40 min
Our guest today is Malik Fernando, Founder and Managing Director of Resplendent Ceylon, a collection of luxury boutique hotels in Sri Lanka. It’s hard to even call Malik’s properties hotels. They’re more like beautiful places to rest your head wrapped into a full on experience of living life and diving into Sri Lankan culture. From the palm fringed shores of Cape Weligama, to relaxing on a working tea plantation in the mountains, to being on safari at Wild Coast Tented Lodge - you can’t get more...
Jun 29, 2022•33 min
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...
Jun 22, 2022•35 min
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...
Jun 15, 2022•53 min
Today we’re diving into the world of Auberge Resorts with CEO Craig Reid. Whether you are skiing in Aspen, horseback riding in Costa Rica, or harvesting mushrooms with the chef before dinner - Auberge delivers an experience based kind of luxury that’s hard to find anywhere else. Craig had a long career at some of the most storied brands in luxury travel. In talking to him, you can sense that coming to Auberge was like coming home to what he feels is the heart of hospitality - simple every day pl...
Jun 08, 2022•46 min
Today we’re diving into the paradox that is the country of Israel. In such a small nation you can be surrounded by tech entrepreneurs, holy men and women from multiple faiths, geopolitical conflict, world class nightlife, and natural wonders like the Dead Sea AND the Mediterranean Sea. To try to unravel some of this beautiful complexity, we have three guests on our show today. My friend and partner in the region, Yoav Gal - an expert in luxury Israel itineraries; Eyal Riess - a Rabbi in the myst...
Jun 01, 2022•54 min
Today I’m whisking you away to experience the greenest of countryside, the freshest of salt air, and the purest heart of hospitality. A visit to Ireland will give you all this and much more. My guest today is Crothúr Murphy, a long time expert not just in tourism to Ireland, but in the history, culture, and soul of its people. Crothúr grew up here and has been showing his country off for nearly 30 years - which if you can imagine, takes a whole pot of passion at the end of the rainbow to do and ...
May 25, 2022•46 min
If you’ve been paying attention to the mental health and wellness space, you know that psychedelics have burst onto the scene in a big way. Major universities like Johns Hopkins, Yale, and Berkeley are studying their effects on PTSD, anxiety, depression, and more. Many guides and shamans in this space describe the use of psilocybin, MDMA, and other substances together with integrative therapy sessions to be equivalent to years and years of traditional therapy. And now, these plant medicine journ...
May 18, 2022•38 min
My guest today is Tom Rutherford, the Regional Director for three gorgeous Aman hotels in Southeast Asia - Amansara in Cambodia, Amantaka in Laos, and Amanoi in Vietnam. When you head to this region of the world, especially away from the hustle and bustle of the major cities… time just seems to slow down. Here there is enough time for the Laotian farmer to tend to the animals, the crops, break bread with his neighbors, and honor his family. There’s enough space on the beaches of Vietnam to quiet...
May 11, 2022•32 min
We’re talking about travel insurance and other forms of travel protection. I can’t tell you how many myths abound about this aspect of travel - from thoughts that claims don’t get paid anyway, to not fully understanding why it’s so important. We insure our cars, our watches, our dog’s vet bills - and even though luxury travelers are spending MUCH more on their trips than on these items… they don’t all insure. Over the past two years in my business I can’t tell you how valuable having travel insu...
May 04, 2022•45 min
Today we find ourselves on “The Ice” deep in the heart of Antarctica. And I mean the interior of Antarctica, land of majestic mountains, the Emperor Penguin, and the magnetic south pole. Though you once had to go on months long expeditions to reach these destinations, you can now fly five hours on a Gulfstream from Cape Town and experience all the Great White has to offer from the comfort of a luxury camp. Our guest today is Patrick Woodhead - founder and CEO of White Desert, the logistics and h...
Apr 27, 2022•49 min
Today we’re chatting with Bob Lepisto, President of Sea Dream Yacht Club. SeaDream owns two mega yachts, each with about 50 cabins. The biggest no no when talking about SeaDream is to call it a cruise! Bob has been with the company for 20 years so we get to chat about the history of the cruise industry and how with SeaDream they wanted to start something different. Something where you wouldn’t have to organize your own yacht and all the work that goes along with that, but where you’d still get t...
Apr 20, 2022•47 min
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 th...
Apr 13, 2022•39 min
Imagine looking up at a blanket of stars, the sound of the ocean lapping, and the smell of sea air mixed with sweet pine. Then picture another scene - crowds squealing with excitement, bulls rushing by, and a cup of sangria refreshing your soul. Today we’re discussing the country of Spain - a place so diverse it may as well be a hundred different destinations in one! Whether you’re here to focus on world class gastronomy, experience local festivals, or just relax in the sun, this dynamic country...
Apr 06, 2022•43 min
Today we’re discussing the iconic destination of New Zealand. Known for sweeping vistas, life-giving hiking, sumptuous food and wine, and ridiculous adventure activities. Though famous for towns like Queenstown - the real magic of New Zealand happens when you get to have vast open spaces all to yourself. With the right planning and guides, that can happen quite easily! Our guest today is my friend Sarah Farag, Owner and Director of Southern Crossings New Zealand. The company has been around for ...
Mar 30, 2022•31 min
Today we’re talking about a particular type of travel that is gaining popularity around the world - villa rentals. In the past this kind of travel was reserved for the uber wealthy and very well connected. Finding amazing villas in Italy or San Tropez was a nightmare, and imagine renting something so expensive sight unseen or with one photo sent you in black and white and via fax machine! Then came the advent of home rental websites which have really opened up this type of travel to the every da...
Mar 23, 2022•29 min
Today we’re headed to Provence in Southern France to be well, soak up the sun, and inhale the scent of lavender. This special region has so much to offer, from intense outdoor activities to easy bike rides, to impressionist history, and of course a refreshing glass of rose’. Our guest today is Alain Bachmann, the GM of a special property near Luberon called Coquillade. This gem was originally built in the 11th century and much of that history is preserved. Today, it’s a haven for all kinds of tr...
Mar 16, 2022•32 min
Today we’re touching down in the Alps… the Swiss Alps to be precise. In this most stunning of landscapes we’ll encounter over 7,000 lakes, four different spoken languages, some of the world’s best chocolate, and an abundance of charming villages and towns. Switzerland is a mecca for cultural tourists, spa goers, and anyone who appreciates the majestic outdoors. My guest today is Mario Wuersch, Swiss himself and an expert in luxury travel to the country. Mario’s company has been around since 1865...
Mar 09, 2022•38 min
Our guest today is Chris Prelog, President of Windstar Cruises - a small ship cruise line that focuses on sailing vessels… yes.. With actual sails! Imagine yourself on deck of one of these magical ships, pulling out of port, the 1492 Conquest of Paradise song playing, sails unrolling, and heading into the open ocean. What nostalgia for a time gone by! Except on Windstar you’re also met with every modern comfort, fabulous destinations like Tahiti, The Black Sea, Iceland, and the Mediterranean, an...
Mar 02, 2022•36 min
