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