Interview with Emyr Thomas, Founder and Director of Bon Vivant

Emyr Thomas is the Founder and Director of Bon Vivant, a concierge and lifestyle management service based in London with global coverage. Bon Vivant is aimed at people with insufficient time to manage their lives who want to regain control of their time, access an insiders knowledge and expertise, and enjoy exclusive treatment andcomplimentary benefits. Bon Vivant distinguishes itself from other concierge services by making personal service its priority, giving everyone their own personal concierge as standard, and by offering their services at an affordable price.

What is it that you do exactly?

Bon Vivant is a concierge and lifestyle management service, which means that we arrange and manage the lifestyle and leisure needs of our members. A large part of what we do is creating bespoke travel itineraries and recommending and booking holidays and hotels all over the world.

Another large focus is arranging the daily lives of our members such asrecommending and booking restaurants, arranging parties and events, arranging entry to exclusive clubs, sourcing tickets for the theatre, concert and VIP events, arranging flowers to be delivered and much more!

Our members have access to exclusive treatment and complimentary benefits, including hotel upgrades and discounts, priority booking and complimentary Champagne at several London restaurant hotspots and discounts at a large range of lifestyle services including hair salons, spas, florists etc.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

I have always had a passion for travel, dining and trying out new places so its great to be able to do something that I am wholly passionate about as a job. I love that each day is a little different because everything depends on what our members want, which can be extremely varied.

I try to get out a few times a week to meet the managers of new venues and keep in touch with existing contacts and its great to be at the forefront of hearing about and trying out new venues so that we can advise our members in the best way. The exclusive party invites are always a plus too!

What would you say are the 3 best places youve ever stayed?

My favourite place in the world is St Barts in the Caribbean as its just idyllic the turquoise sea, the white sand and the glorious weather. The island is so intimate and its the perfect blend of barefoot luxury with a splash of glamour! My favourite hotel there is Eden Rock as it encapsulates all that I love about the island.

Being based in London means we have the whole of Europe within easy reach and I love going to Paris for the weekend. Its great to visit a different hotel each time as Paris has so much to offer Im staying at the Plaza Athenee soon, which Im sure will be a highlight of the trip.

The best service I have ever experienced was in the Hotel Bel Airin Los Angeles; the staff were incredibly attentive and the service was discreet and seamless. The hotel isin a beautiful setting with a great pool and its a lovely antidote to the frenzy of LA!

Whats been your most memorable dining experience to date?

One of the most memorable experiences was in The White Caves restaurant at the Kirini hotel in Santorini. Our table was inside a white cave with gorgeous views of the caldera, which was truly spectacular. Dinner was paired with a selection of Santorini wines, which made the experience even more memorable. Another notable highlight was the truffled fries by the pool at the Bel Air hotel.

Have you rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous, either through your work or your travels?

As a luxury concierge service, we often have requests from high profile clients, therefore we are very discreet and respect our members right to their privacy.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

I would love to see more of Italy, especially the Amalfi Coast, but further afield, a trip to Argentina would be fantastic, especially if it involved wine tasting in Mendoza. Oh, and a trip to St Barts is always welcome!

Its been great hearing about what you do at Bon Vivant, Emyr, as well as hearing some of your wonderful travel experiences. Thanks for taking part.

If you would like to be interviewed on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

Interview with Emyr Thomas, Founder and Director of Bon Vivant is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A luxury trip to Machu Picchu

Image
24th July of this year marked 100 years exactly since Yale man and National Geographic explorer Hiram Bingham puffed and sweated his way up to the jungle-covered ruins of Machu Picchu. A century later, travelers who want to take in this true wonder of the world arent limited to explorer-style bivouacking; rather, there are now a wide range of accommodations, dining experiences, spas and adventures that rival the best in the world. So, in honor of Machu Picchu, Hiram Bingham and the incredible cultural patrimony of Peru, I would like to show you what a luxury trip to Machu Picchu looks like today. Most visitors begin their journey in Lima. A short stay allows you to soak in the glorious colonial past of Limas central plaza. Palms, tropical-yellow buildings with exquisitely-carved wooden balconies and Spanish palaces sweep you back in time. Before becoming too nostalgic, head for the modern and very hip Miraflores district. Hugging the green cliffs, Miraflores offers visitors an incredib
Keep reading

Guide to Swahili street slang in Stone Town, Zanzibar

Image
All photos by author. Mambo! Its the classic street slang for whats up? in Stone Town, Zanzibar and in most of urban East Africa. It literally means, things or issues? The upbeat term is often paired with the word vipi (how) as in, Mambo, vipi? How are things? There are at least 20 ways to answer the popular question that I never learned in formal Swahili classes. The gap between school and street could not be wider than in Stone Town, Zanzibars capital city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, that nearly 400,000 residents call home. Here, the lugha ya kisasa slang or lugha ya mitaani street language changes by the minute, mostly by young people who flip or shine an old word, or fashion a completely new one, inspired by hyper-local contexts, meanings, and realities. I thought I knew Kiswahili. Id earned an advanced certificate at the State University of Zanzibar. The program prides itself on teaching a kind of Swahili described as sanifu (standard) or fasaha (clean). It was rigorous
Keep reading

Interview with Kerstin Brand, Director at Dar Fakir

Image
Kerstin Brand is the Director at Dar Fakir since its re-opening in 2011 after an undergoing extensive refurbishment in 2010. Dar Fakir belongs to a chain of successful enterprises in Marrakechsuch as the infamous Nikki Beach, Le Tanjia restaurant and LAvenue, all owned by Nordine Fakir. If someone knows how to create a In place that people want to go to here you are at the right address. Kerstin herself brings with her a wealth of understanding within the travel industry herself from extensive travel around the world and also having set up Bare Minimum Travel an up-market low-mid range accommodation agency for Morocco. Having travelled to Morocco for over 12 years before finally settling over here she has seen the country develope and knows even the far reached corners. Her experience and understanding of Moroccan culture adds valuable insights to anyone being a guest in the Riad. What is it that you do exactly? My name is Kerstin Brand, I am the director at Dar Fakir. before coming
Keep reading