BBB’s Guide to LFW AW19

Suffering from January Blues? With the cold weather and the grey skies of English Winter in full swing, we at BBB find our minds wandering to exotic places and sunnier climes…. Here is a little inspiration for those also starting to think about Summer holidays or shorter getaways somewhere lovely. All of these are fully endorsed by the BBB team as wonderful experiences and special places to visit. So why not speak to today, to see what she could do for you or your boss? She also has a wealth of other exciting and stunning locations around the globe, so get in touch on anna@thebbbook.com for more inspiration… Head to Italy for La Dolce Vita… Villa La Marcellina is just one of the stunning Tuscan villas BBB has access to. Situated on a 20-acre estate on a hill below the ancient hamlet of Panzano, the property consists of 3 villas that can be rented together, as a completely private estate, or separately. Each villa with it’s own pool, Villa delle Donne has 7 bedrooms, Villa Le Scuderie has 4 bedrooms and Villa Il Tinaio has 7 bedrooms (18 combined, so perfect for large families or groups of friends, accommodating up to 40 guests). Located in the stunning region of Chianti, famous for its impressive vineyards and less than an hour’s drive from Florence airport, the impressive villas are very private, spacious and yet just a short walk away from Panzano village. After 4 years of careful restoration, keeping many original features and with new furnishings from all over Italy, the villas are not only beautiful but make use of geothermal and solar energy, to protect the environment. Andalusian luxury in southern Spain… Located in rolling foothills, the award-winning Finca Cortesin sits in luxurious seclusion between Marbella and Sotogrande. Set on a 215-hectare estate and surrounded by undisturbed nature, the property offer stylish accommodation, excellent facilities and first class service. The hotel’s 67 beautifully designed suites and 10 villas have been inspired by traditional Andalusian architecture. The spacious, light-filled and exquisitely designed suites all feature impressive 4m-high ceilings. The villas, perfect for family groups or parties, are situated in a cluster just steps away from the main part of the hotel. Boasting one of Spain’s best 18-hole golf courses, a Michelin star restaurant, magnificent Beach Club, four pools, a luxurious spa, perfectly manicured gardens and two tennis courts, Finca Cortesin is a wonderful destination in its own right. The resort’s privileged location means that Marbella, the capital of the Costa del Sol, as well as two of the most important marinas on the Mediterranean coast, Puerto Banús and Sotogrande, are just a short drive away. And, to make things even easier, the journey time to Malaga airport is just 50 minutes, whilst Gibraltar can be reached in just 15 minutes. Conde Nast Traveller says “This is certainly one of Europe’s smartest places to escape to” – why not put it to the test yourself? Sparkling waters of magical Mykonos… Nestled into the hillside above Elia Bay, the 5-star Myconian Villa Collection is a unique and luxurious resort concept. The essence of Myconian beauty and lifestyle runs like a blue thread through a constellation of exceptionally spacious suites and rooms, while superb villas offer the discreet yet unbounded opulence of a private house on Mykonos, all complemented by personalised 5-star service around the clock. Leaning into the mountain, the terraced villas have uninterrupted views of the Aegean, culminating in a 360-degree panorama on the vast entertainment deck with its cool bar, epicurean restaurant and saltwater infinity pool. Magnificent interiors offset the local vernacular with contemporary design, investing sophistication and comfort in every detail. Service of the highest standard affords a sense of effortless luxury and ease, as you move from the unparalleled comforts of your room to poolside pleasures, the world-class Thalasso spa, or simply venture down to the fine sand beach where parasols stand to attention over private loungers. Perhaps charter a yacht on the Mediterranean… For the ultimate in exclusivity, luxury and style, there is no better way than to arrive by private yacht. Whether you seek adventure, relaxation or simply want to see the world as few have, BBB can make your dreams come true. No holiday on earth compares to one that floats on water! Yacht charters allow access to a wide range of vessels from 20 metre sport yachts to 70+ metre mega yachts, equipped with the latest entertainment, gym and spa facilities. This variety of yachts allows us to create the perfect escape, meeting your budget and requirements. Apart from the wealth of onboard activities to entertain you, it is the Captain and crew that make a yacht truly unique. Their skills are exemplary, from highly trained Chefs who will cater to your every desire, to the Hostesses, Stewards and Deckhands who will make your charter seemingly effortless. Many yachts offer Silver service creating fantastic culinary affairs in unrivalled surroundings. Let us help tailor make an experience just for you that will exceed your expectations… Or for the more adventurous… Escape to the furthest reaches of the earth in the Arctic North to experience an untouched wilderness and unique wildlife in a setting both rugged and fragile. More polar bears than people live here among snowy peaks, gleaming glaciers, vast ice fields and blue-tinged icebergs, ever lit by the midnight sun during summer. This is a Summer holiday with a difference! Wake up to a world of blue and white. Watch polar bears hunt for seals. Cruise bays backdropped by glaciers. Spot Arctic foxes, seabirds and reindeer from the decks of your luxury expedition Yacht. Take Zodiac safaris around icebergs. This is a unique opportunity to enjoy a circumnavigation of Svalbard on either a luxury Expedition Yacht or Oyster Sail Yacht in June/July 2018. For the first time, you will able to charter a cabin (or multiple) through BBB rather than taking the whole yacht! Classic glamour in the South of France The Château Saint-Martin & Spa is a 5-star luxury sanctuary where historic Provence charm has been restyled for the most elegant contemporary lifestyle. Set amid picturesque rocky hills and olive groves, this inspirational hotel is distinguished by spectacular panoramic views. Perched up in the Vence hills, just 20 km from both Nice and Antibes, Chateau Saint Martin is the perfect retreat from the bustle of the Cote d Azur, yet close enough that you can pop down for dinner at a moment’s notice! All the guestrooms and suites at Château Saint-Martin & Spa have new interior designs, while fresh air and sunlight come naturally to this spectacular setting overlooking the Côte d’Azur. Six private bastide-style villas are also secluded on the hillside, each with one, two or three bedrooms. Superb facilities also include Michelin-starred dining, an exclusive wine cellar, a kids club, luxury spa, fitness centre, tennis courts and a stunning infinity pool. For more information about any of these, or to discuss other Summer travel ideas you may have, please contact Anna at anna@thebbbook.com

On Thursday 7th February, BBB were invited on a day trip to Edinburgh by private terminal experts Signature Elite Class. Not only was this to be a chance to experience the airport service first hand, but the itinerary included other treats such as a tasting at Glenkinchie Whiskey Distillery, lunch at Dalhousie Castle, a visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia and afternoon tea at brand new luxury ‘floating’ hotel Fingal. It was set to be quite a day!

BBB Partnerships manager and PA Alex Popoff reports…

Arriving at Luton Airport Parkway station, a mere 30 minutes from St Pancras by rail, I was met by a Signature Elite Class luxury car and taken in comfort to the private terminal at Luton Airport – it could not have been easier. Pulling up outside the terminal building, a friendly greeting awaited me at reception. My boarding pass was taken and I was ushered straight through to a private room along with my fellow invited travellers for tea, coffee and a stunningly elegant breakfast of miniature pastries, exotic fruit plates and creamy yoghurts, topped off with Moet on ice (of course). Spacious and comfortable, the private room was calm and luxurious in mute greys, tastefully decorated and with large windows looking straight onto the runways. Guests travelling in groups or looking for complete discretion can opt for one of 2 private rooms, or the main lounge area is equally lovely, equipped with a world-class coffee machine (and barista), time-appropriate food and drink options and in the evenings, the vibe of legendary music club Ronnie Scott’s is channelled with cocktails, dimmed lights and jazz music. We were then escorted through the security process; any hold luggage is left at reception on arrival and taken care of for you straight through to your car on the other end, and for those of us travelling with hand luggage only, the process could not be simpler. Having separated our liquids as in standard airport procedure and walked through the scanners, we were straight through in just a couple of minutes, directly to the luxury vehicles waiting at the doors to take us to the plane. Another impressive element to this is that travellers are taken through the security by group (as opposed to with others from the private terminal), so guests with children, with mobility issues or famous faces can pass through with minimal hassle. Guests are given the option of boarding before or after the general public, but before is advised and we waltzed onto the aircraft like it was our own private jet! After a very easy flight, we landed at Edinburgh and were met by luxury vehicles on the tarmac to take us directly to the terminal. We were introduced to the Signature team, who told us all about their impressive private jet and air travel services, then boarded our private transfers courtesy of Sleigh to our first stop, Glenkinchie Distillery. Sleigh are a first class chauffeur and transport company who we learnt specialise in high profile clients – they have indeed been responsible for many of the Royal visits, film premieres and more across Scotland, so we were in excellent hands! Glenkinchie was fascinating. Our guide Willie was possibly the most entertaining tour guide I have ever had the pleasure to meet! The visit was interesting, highly enjoyable and ended with a tasting! A very serious looking individual with several large bodyguards in tow was also enjoying a visit, so it’s great to see that all types of visitor are well catered for! Next stop for the day was Dalhousie Castle & Aqueous Spa, a converted castle luxury hotel just 30 mins outside Edinburgh. Driving up to the property is breathtaking – the scenery of sweeping hills, trees and stunning architecture is wonderful. After a royal welcome on the door, we were taken to the Dungeon Restaurant where we ate first class lunch surrounded by stone walls, suits of armour and candlelight – magical! After lunch, we viewed everything the hotel had to offer in terms of facilities and learned a little of the incredible history of the place. The various public spaces include a library bar, a fabulous chapel-esque room for weddings and parties, a banquet room and stunning outdoor grounds. We also saw the various underground passages that provide secret entrances and pathways between the rooms, meaning Murder Mystery events, surprise party performers or naughty guests are all accommodated! The rooms are what you’d expect; tasteful castle elegance with lush upholstery, muted colours and traditional art. Overall, the hotel is a great location very close to Edinburgh and would be perfect for weekends away, corporate stays, celebrations and luxury stop-overs. Back in the car we went and off to Royal Yacht Britannia, the largest tourist attraction in Scotland welcoming over 400,000 visitors per year. The general public enter via a connection in the adjacent shopping centre, but we arrived like family and were welcomed up the royal gangway! Our host took us behind the ropes and into the personal spaces enjoyed by the Queen, much to the envy of the visitors around us, and we learnt about the possibilities for events aboard the yacht. Evening hire is available on an exclusive basis, you can dine in the official banquet room and enjoy drinks on the deck. Any occasion would be stunning here and truly memorable, but I can imagine wedding dinners, brand launches, entertainment industry parties and more would be ideal. The rates were less than you might imagine, so definitely somewhere I’d love to host an event in future! Next up was the Fingal, a luxury floating hotel just 1 minute in the car round the port from the Britannia. Fingal started life in Glasgow and was the final ship built by Blythswood Shipbuilding Company in 1963. Her duties included sailing the storm lashed seas, bringing vital supplies and equipment to some of the most remote lighthouses in Scotland. Each cabin on Fingal is named after a lighthouse. The specific lighthouses have been chosen by NLB due to their characteristics, location or history. Today, Fingal has been transformed, through a journey of glamour and sophistication, to provide stunning cabin-style accommodation in the form of double rooms, duplex rooms and the incredible Skerryvore Suite, with private dining area (ideal for entertaining), large living space, private outdoor deck, Super King bed and luxurious bathroom with freestanding bath. The details on board are all carefully considered, with everything from fabric design, wooden finishes and even the beautiful Italian Art Deco circular lift adding to the ambience of the boat. The event space on board is also impressive, a wood panelled hall space with mezzanine that would be the perfect backdrop for a wedding party, a birthday or even corporate dining. After a delicious afternoon tea in the hotel’s dining room, we set off once again for the airport and after a very fast flight back to London, were met once again on the tarmac by luxury vehicles to take us to the Luton Private Terminal. Those travelling with luggage or internationally would then have their bags brought to them in the lounge and their passports checked, all whilst enjoying a snack or some more champagne. The full benefits of the Signature Elite Class service were highlighted when we were off the plane and out of the terminal in 15 minutes, on our way back to London! To take out of the stress of the public terminal, baggage carousel, immigration etc, and save in all likelihood an hour to boot, makes this service invaluable and I’m certain will be popular amongst celebrities and busy professionals who value privacy and stress-free travel. Personally, I never want to travel any other way again! It was a delight, from start to finish, and I wholeheartedly recommend it as a good value add-on for any trip. I know the network of airports that this service is available is to be extended this year, so I have no doubt it will become a BBB favourite for 2019. For more info, please contact the BBB team. SPECIAL OFFER – travellers can benefit from 20% off the usual price for any bookings departing from Elite Class London Luton (the offer is valid for any bookings confirmed and paid for before 31st March 2019, travelling any time).  To book, just email eliteclass@signatureflight.com quoting BBB.