X8 Global Luxury Travel Podcast

0:48: Welcome back to X8; thanks so much for joining us and subscribing!

0:58: Welcome Gino Tan, General Manager at the Fullerton, Singapore

1:58: Tell us a little about the history of this beautiful hotel/family of hotels?

4:00: On how the Central Business District is ripe with excitement and beauty

4:30: About how things have been going during Covid

5:17: What do you think is the true allure of Singapore?

7:17: So tell us about the hotel, why this hotel; tell us about the Fullerton

9:46: Has the nightlife remained unchanged? Ref: Lantern bar 

11:45: The government has mandated "no vaccination, no entry”

12:25: How are the street food and open market scenes, is all that back yet?

14:00: Thank you Gino and thank you for joining us! Stay safe & keep traveling!!

How can people find out more about The Fullerton Hotel Singapore? https://thefullertonheritage.com/properties#thefullertonhotelsingapore and @fullerton_sg on Twitter @fullertonhotelsg on Facebook and INSTA

You can find us and more info on the web at www.x8travelpodcast.com or email us at [email protected] Also on Instagram @theexplorateur and Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/theexplorateur

0:48: Welcome back to X8; thanks so much for joining us and subscribing!

0:58: Welcome Gino Tan, General Manager at the Fullerton, Singapore

1:58: Tell us a little about the history of this beautiful hotel/family of hotels?

4:00: On how the Central Business District is ripe with excitement and beauty

4:30: About how things have been going during Covid

5:17: What do you think is the true allure of Singapore?

7:17: So tell us about the hotel, why this hotel; tell us about the Fullerton

9:46: Has the nightlife remained unchanged? Ref: Lantern bar 

11:45: The government has mandated "no vaccination, no entry”

12:25: How are the street food and open market scenes, is all that back yet?

14:00: Thank you Gino and thank you for joining us! Stay safe & keep traveling!!

How can people find out more about The Fullerton Hotel Singapore? https://thefullertonheritage.com/properties#thefullertonhotelsingapore and @fullerton_sg on Twitter @fullertonhotelsg on Facebook and INSTA

You can find us and more info on the web at www.x8travelpodcast.com or email us at [email protected] Also on Instagram @theexplorateur and Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/theexplorateur

0:48: Welcome back to X8; thanks so much for joining us and subscribing!

1:58: Welcome Joe Ogdie, General Manager, The Lodge at Blue Sky

2:07: So you’ve just had snow in Utah, set the stage for us!

2:28: There are a LOT of year-round adventures you offer; speak a little to us about these?

3:20: Can people actually meet with local chef’s and farmer’s?

4:20: The property looks stunning- tell us about the hotel and property; vista’s etc.

5:20: I was checking out wellness options; tell us a little about your mind/body/soul programs

7:07: Why is your location so great for families?

7:50: Do people tend to stay near campus, or do they get out and move around?

9:00: What is it about this place that keeps going back, is it just addictive?

10:15: What kinds of stuff do you like to do in your down time?

11:08: Ref Bobsledding 

11:51: Thank you Joe and thank you for joining us! Stay safe & keep traveling!!

How can people find out more? https://aubergeresorts.com/bluesky/ and via Socials: @blueskyauberge on INSTA and Facebook and @blueskyutah on Twitter

You can find us and more info on the web at www.x8travelpodcast.com or email us at [email protected] Also on Instagram @theexplorateur and Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/theexplorateur

0:48: Welcome back to X8; thanks so much for joining us and subscribing!

1:58: Welcome Joe Ogdie, General Manager, The Lodge at Blue Sky

2:07: So you’ve just had snow in Utah, set the stage for us!

2:28: There are a LOT of year-round adventures you offer; speak a little to us about these?

3:20: Can people actually meet with local chef’s and farmer’s?

4:20: The property looks stunning- tell us about the hotel and property; vista’s etc.

5:20: I was checking out wellness options; tell us a little about your mind/body/soul programs

7:07: Why is your location so great for families?

7:50: Do people tend to stay near campus, or do they get out and move around?

9:00: What is it about this place that keeps going back, is it just addictive?

10:15: What kinds of stuff do you like to do in your down time?

11:08: Ref Bobsledding 

11:51: Thank you Joe and thank you for joining us! Stay safe & keep traveling!!

How can people find out more? https://aubergeresorts.com/bluesky/ and via Socials: @blueskyauberge on INSTA and Facebook and @blueskyutah on Twitter

You can find us and more info on the web at www.x8travelpodcast.com or email us at [email protected] Also on Instagram @theexplorateur and Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/theexplorateur

X8_Ep21 “Beautiful Days and Nights at Plaza De Russie- Viareggio, Italy”

0:48: Welcome back to X8; thanks so much for joining us and subscribing!

1:44: Welcome Salvatore Madonna, CEO, Soft Living Places Group, of which Hotel Plaza e de Russie, Viareggio Italy, is managed!

2:00: So where are you sitting and won’t you please tell us of your properties? Ref: Versilia Rivera and Apuan Alps, Lucca 

6:00: on local food and wines

10:00: Andrea Bocelli on his horse story

11:33: Tell us about the beaches, we hear they are stunning?

13:05:  How do you find and design your incredible properties? Ref: Hotel Byron

16:07: What is your background in this business, how did you find yourself here?

17:35: What do your weekends look like; what don’t the tourists know about?

23:33: Thank you Salvatore and thank you for joining us! Stay safe & keep traveling!!

How can people find out more? Hotel Plaza de Russie and @RelaisChateaux on Socials: Twitter & INSTA

You can find us and more info on the web at www.x8travelpodcast.com or email us at [email protected] Also on Instagram @theexplorateur and Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/theexplorateur

X8_Ep20 “The Spectacular New W Hotel of Algarve Portugal”

0:48: Welcome back to X8; thanks so much for joining us and subscribing!

0:54: Gabriella’s special place…

1:43: Welcome Cajetan Araujo GM of W Hotel Algarve Portugal!

2:47: This is an entirely new build for the W?

3:22: Who was it designed for?

5:35: It just looks stunning! 

6:00: Americans are beginning to travel more internationally, just in general.. talk about why should they come to Portugal? Ref: Ria Formosa Oysters  Coasteering

13:36: It’s just laid back and you have protected and included this vibe!

14:20: It’s such an understated area…

14:30: A little on the design language of the new hotel

15:54: Regardless of the city, you can almost always tell by the design that it’s a W hotel!

18:30: If you had to describe the hotel’s personality, what would you say about her?

19:40: Thank you Cajetan and thank you for joining us! Stay safe & keep traveling!!

How can people find out more? https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/faowh-w-algarve/overview/

You can find us and more info on the web at www.x8travelpodcast.com or email us at [email protected] Also on Instagram @theexplorateur and Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/theexplorateur

0:48: Welcome back to X8; thanks so much for joining us and subscribing!

1:50: Welcome Gregory de Clerck, GM of The Ritz-Carlton, Abama on the Canary Island of Tenerife

2:15: United is flying to Tenerife beginning in June? Yes! 

2:24: When you say there is never a dull moment.. tell us about life on the island? 

8:00: So the Canary bird was named after the islands, not the other way around?

8:25: And about 25m away from you is largest water park/nature reserve in Europe?! Siam Park

11:22: Tell us about the star quality factors of this flagship Ritz Carlton ref: Villa Club 

15:12: We have no neighbors that are hotels!

16:21: Funny you mention “serving ladies and gentlemen.. Ref: Zombie Loyalists: Using Great Service to Create Rabid Fans

18:14: Thank you Gregory and thank you for joining us! Stay safe & keep traveling!!

p.s. Did we mention the water park?!

How can people find out more? https://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/spain/abama

You can find us and more info on the web at www.x8travelpodcast.com or email us at [email protected] Also on Instagram @theexplorateur and Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/theexplorateur

0:48: Welcome back to X8; thanks so much for joining us and for subscribing!

1:01: We are talking about Helsinki... Finland!

1:15: Welcome Aino Mellais of Helsinki Partners!

1:20: Is it true that Fins never have to plow snow because your streets are heated?

2:16: Why are you called the happiest people/happiest country in the world?

3:51: How do you keep your overall design scene so fresh, timeless and cool?

4:50: Say we’re in Helsinki for a long weekend, what should we do that one one else really knows about?

6:10: Tell us about some of your outdoor activities; for all seasons?

7:35: Sometimes of year there are 6 hours of sunlight, sometimes you have 20 hours!

8:40: About varying temperatures

8:58: Is your Päijänne Water Tunnel the longest in the world? How’s the tap water?

10:16: The sauna is a very big part of your culture; please tell us all about this?

12:22: How can people find out more? www.MyHelsinki.fi  www.HelsinkiPartners.com and @MyHelsinki on INSTA  Twitter  Facebook and @VisitHelsinki on YouTube

13:15 Thank you Aino and thank you for joining us! Stay safe & keep traveling!!

You can find us and more info on the web at www.x8travelpodcast.com or email us at [email protected] Also on Instagram @theexplorateur and Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/theexplorateur

X8_Ep17 “Latvia, A Wonderfully Baltic Gathering Place at Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga ”

0:48: Welcome back to X8; thanks so much for joining us and subscribing!

0:56: So the World Health Orginization is saying that travel bans are ineffective.. thoughts, Peter?

1:50: Intro and welcome Leon Baum, General Manager at Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga

2:20: Most people probably know of Lativa, but why would it be a travel destination?

3:00: Ref: Our interview with Kai Schukowski, GM at Grand Hotel Kempinski, Vilnius

4:06: Latvian innovations: Tiny Minox camera. Levi Strauss’ history w/ Jacob Youphes

6:02: Is there a Digital Nomad vibe happening there?

6:37: In addition to the history, is there a new, more edgy, emerging side of the city also?

8:00: Can you still get kind of a deal on a luxury property?

8:42: Tell us a little about the hotel, it’s history, location and so on?

10:42: Tell us what we should do if we only have 72 hours to spend?

12:36: What is this “lady in red” I’ve been reading about?

13:36: How can people find out more?  Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga https://www.kempinski.com/en/riga/grand-hotel-kempinski-riga/

14:17  Thank you Leon and thank you for joining us. Stay safe & keep traveling!!

You can find us and more info on the web at www.x8travelpodcast.com or email us at [email protected] Also on Instagram @theexplorateur and Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/theexplorateur

X8_Ep16 “Mission To Malta- The Easy Getaway!”

0:43: Welcome back to X8; thanks so much for joining us and subscribing!

1:46: Intro and welcome Michelle M. Buttigieg of the Malta Tourism Authority

2:20: Where is Malta and how do we get there from here?

3:29: Is the reputation Malta has for scuba diving still accurate?

4:10: What’s the ‘above ground’ history like; Malta is about 7,000 years old right?

5:34: Ref: Knights of Malta/Valetta

6:19: Was Game of Thrones filmed in Malta also?

7:45: What should food lovers never miss while in Malta? Ref: Taste History Malta

10:41: Which side of the road is driven in Malta?

11:00: What types of hotels are available; any specific recommendations?

13:20: When you’re on a quick trip; what’s the best way to get around and in-between?

14:26: Would you say that Malta is a year-round destination?

16:08: Why is Malta such an easy choice for a get-a-way?

17:22  Thank you Michelle and thank you for joining us. Stay safe & keep traveling!!

You can find us and more info on the web at www.x8travelpodcast.com or email us at [email protected] Also on Instagram @theexplorateur and Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/theexplorateur