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| Hotel Santa Caterina on Italy’s Amalfi Coast is one short private jet break offered by Jeffersons. |
The sky’s the limit when it comes to a luxury vacation by private jet.
Wave goodbye to crowded check-in counters, annoying delays, missed connections and lost luggage, and enter a rarefied world of ordered calm where clients are picked up from home by limousine, whisked through airport formalities, settled into plush leather seats and served chilled Champagne as their Gulfstream or Learjet prepares for departure—precisely on schedule.
So begins an extraordinary journey in which travelers can avoid all the hassles and frustrations of commercial air travel, set their own timetables, land at remote and hard-to-reach places, experience VIP arrivals, maximize precious leisure time and enjoy an unforgettable vacation with family and friends where everything is taken care of—from five-star hotels to private chefs and expert guides.
Four years ago, Ultimate Jet Vacations saw a gap in the Caribbean travel market—with its sometimes challenging commercial air schedules and island connections—and launched all-inclusive and ultra-luxe vacations, combining private jet charters with exclusive resorts and special experiences from private beach dining at Cap Juluca in Anguilla to whale-watching at Amanyara in Turks & Caicos.
Capitalizing on the buying power of its parent company, Forest Travel, and the expertise of its private air charter partner, Privé Jets, Ultimate Jet Vacations can provide luxury travel advisors access to 5,000 jets worldwide as well as competitive pricing and value-added amenities (such as suite upgrades and complimentary additional nights) at some of the Caribbean’s best resorts.
Note: The Florida-based company currently services 10 destinations: Anguilla, Antigua, Nevis, Paradise Island in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, St. Barths, and Turks & Caicos, as well as Mexico’s Riviera Maya and Costa Rica.
Carlos Edery, vice president of sales, says all the private jet vacations are custom made to fit each client’s requirements and interests. The hotels used by Ultimate Jet Vacations are all handpicked and there are no cookie-cutter packages.
Tip: Ultimate Jet Vacations can transport clients by private jet into the Caribbean from anywhere in U.S. or globally, and can also provide “empty-leg” flights, which help reduce charter costs.
Luxury travel advisors sourcing private jet vacations in Asia should contact Remote Lands, a full-service bespoke travel provider which operates only in Asia—in 19 destinations from Bhutan to Vietnam.
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| A Citation Sovereign has a 66-inch-wide cabin with fully adjustable seats. |
Founded six years ago, Remote Lands has developed deep relationships with private jet operators, pilots, crew and a network of influential “friends” throughout Asia to create tailor-made itineraries and one-of-a-kind experiences (think dining with the Maharajah of Burdwan in West Bengal or trekking in Nepal with Jamling Tenzing Norgay, son of the legendary Tenzing Norgay, who was the first to summit Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary).
Note: Remote Lands’ 14 experienced staff are split between the head office in New York City and an “on-site” office in Bangkok, run by co-founder and COO Jay Tindall, whom luxury travel advisors can contact at any time during their client’s journey. The Bangkok office micromanages every step of the way, says co-founder and CEO Catherine Heald.
High-net-worth clients are extremely demanding and it’s essential they have a smooth and seamless trip, she adds. We like Remote Lands because it handles everything, and is able to respond to changes and make things happen very quickly.
Remote Lands can charter aircraft from smaller Beechcraft King Airs (4-8 passengers) to midsize Gulfstreams and Lears (6-9 passengers), and “heavy” jets such as Challengers and Falcons (9-16 passengers), as well as seaplanes and helicopters, which are more economical and can access remote coastal and inland landscapes that Asia is famous for. Every detail from villa rentals to private chefs, expert guides, child care and visas can be arranged.
In Europe, London-based Jeffersons offers short breaks by private jet to an array of glamorous destinations—from lunch at Alain Ducasse’s Le Louis XV Restaurant at the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo (a day trip) to romantic weekends at Villa d’Este on Lake Como, ski trips to Verbier and golf at Gleneagles, to name a few.
The majority of Jeffersons clients are celebrating a special occasion, wedding anniversary or business triumph, or are visiting clients in London and want to take a break in Europe, says Managing Director Robin Fawcett. The company says it’s also noticing an increase in people getting engaged on a special trip.
Jeffersons packages everything—transfers by limousine or helicopter, all airport formalities and in-flight services, luxe hotels, dining, and special touches such as a private wine-tasting in Burgundy at the three-star Michelin restaurant Bernard Loiseau.
Tip: A good place for luxury travel advisors to research and source private jets is Air Charter Guide, an extensive database of more than 5,500 aircraft, 1,900 operators and 23 brokers in the U.S. alone, and thousands more worldwide.
Many private jet operators are also adding concierge services to their core business of air charter, understanding that high-net-worth clients not only want to fly from A to B for business or a vacation but also want all the leisure components taken care of.
Paramount Business Jets, for example, provides Extended Concierge Services beyond arranging hotel rooms, restaurants, sightseeing and limousine transfers. The Paramount TicketAssist program can secure hard-to-get tickets to entertainment and sporting events worldwide, and its SkyParty and SkySpa service takes care of in-flight celebrations, and massage and beauty treatments so you arrive refreshed and looking great.
Larger group private jet vacations are also experiencing growth. Market leader TCS & Starquest Expeditions has been expanding its program of all-inclusive and educational private jet vacations. It sold seven trips in 2010, 10 in 2011, and is quickly filling 13 planned for 2012 and 16 for 2013. It is adding a second customized 757 jet, owned by Thomson Airways, to keep up with demand, says Managing Director Shelley Cline.
One long-term bonus for luxury travel advisors is that private jet vacations are addictive. Once hooked, a client will find it very hard to go back to a commercial airline counter.
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| Remote Lands employs Gulfstream G300s to fly guests around Asia. |