Luxury Real Estate

Courtesy of Judy Sweetland of Private Trade Winds

If you’re a regular Private Trade Winds blog reader or if you follow us on Facebook and Twitter, then you’re probably already aware of our new “Spotlight Destination” promotion. The promotion launched in June with our Spotlight shining on Hawaii where we featured villas on the Big Island, Oahu, Maui and Kauai. The weeks following brought us to the coastal communities and wine country of South Africa; the desert, mountains and beaches of California; and lastly the laid-back beauty of Mexico! It’s been a blast, and I’m happy to report that people are loving it!

Each week we’re shining our Spotlight on a new destination which will be announced on our blog, facebook and Twitter. Don’t worry, if social media isn’t your thing you can also email jsweetland@privatetradewinds.com and let us know that you would like to receive our weekly Spotlight Destination announcement in your email.

So, what’s it all about? In the interest of full disclosure – we want to spoil you! We’re giving you the opportunity to travel like a Private Trade Winds client. It’s our version of a try before you buy program. Just book any villa featured in our weekly Spotlight Destination and you will receive all the value added inclusions normally reserved for clients of Private Trade Winds. That would be services like daily housekeeping and roundtrip airport transportation; the personal assistance of our dedicated Travel Advisors and Concierge for all your air and ground transportation, and a welcome gift will be waiting for you at your chosen destination, along with something special from Private Trade Winds to make your trip more enjoyable. It could be a decadent spa treatment, a round of golf or perhaps a personal chef credit. Each destination has its own unique offering which is gifted to you by Private Trade Winds. Other amenities await your arrival like luxurious spa robes, high-end bath amenities, and bottled water and coffee replenished daily.

Why are we doing this? We’re giving you the opportunity to try before you buy. We’re confident that once you take your first Private Trade Winds Villa Vacation you won’t want to travel any other way. So be sure to check in daily on our blog, and follow us on facebook and twitter to see where our Spotlight will be shining next. Remember you can also email Judy Sweetland at jsweetland@privatetradewinds.com or call 866.PTW.4LUX Ext. 804 to receive your announcements and updates. Spoiler Alert - this week . . . Costa Rica!

Courtesy of Judy Sweetland of Private Trade Winds

Travel Agents have weathered the perfect storm of catastrophic events over the last few years – an economy that hit rock bottom collided with a wave of “book-it-yourself” internet sites, and I’m happy to say they have not only managed to survive through the wreckage, but rather to thrive.

I just returned from a training seminar in Scottsdale, Arizona where I had the privilege of speaking in depth with Travel Agents from all over the U.S. and Canada, and I have to tip my hat to them. What a great bunch of people to be surrounded by. Travel Agents illuminate customer service, and it’s evident even in short conversations. They’re friendly, helpful, and willing to go the extra mile. I’m the person that walks out of a store in the mall and can’t remember which way I just came from. I asked one of the Travel Agent attendees if he knew where the Starbucks was located inside the resort, and he not only told me how to get there, but walked me in and had a cup of coffee with me. That’s a Travel Agent.

While it is true that sites like Travelocity and Orbitz have cut into the business share of Agents, a steadfast client base has been maintained. Why, you ask? Because people want people. Travel Agents are service-oriented by nature, and they have that gene that makes you feel cared for and protected. They not only want to book a great trip for you, but they want to ensure a great experience. They care about your security and somehow manage to stay current on the ever changing policies at the airports. Try to get that from a computer booking!

So, I’d just like to take this opportunity to say, “thank you” to all the Travel Agents that weathered the storm and came out the other side with a smile on their face. I’d like also like to thank our own Travel Agents for representing Private Trade Winds with the best in service, integrity and care. You make me proud to work for this Company. And I’d also like to thank “Ed” for a great cup of coffee.

Times such as these need new ideas, new approaches, new collaborations, and in short, everything the Fractional Summit USA 2011 promises to deliver and more.

Luxury Real Estate is a proud sponsor of the conference and is delighted to offer our clients a limited $100 USD discount per ticket purchased. Click here and enter LRE as the discount code to secure your discounted tickets.

Here's some of the highlights this year:

• Fractional 101
• Press and PR (New for 2011)
• Selling to the new elite (New for 2011)
• Looking inwards: Realize your greatness (New for 2011)
• 'Fuzion networking' (New for 2011)
• Fractional hotspots (New for 2011)
• Future luxury fractional consumer (New for 2011)
• Rethinking marketing (New for 2011)
• Fractional owners panel
• Cocktail cruise (New for 2011)
• Meet the experts
• Live fractional practical exercises (New for 2011)
• For the first time ever! Fractional finance in today's world - FREE conference tickets for lenders
• Fractional exchange, resales and rentals
• Ultimate Q and A

Last year's inaugural event was an unqualified success - click here for a video review. So don't miss out on your 2011 tickets - visit www.fractionalsummitusa.com to book now.

And to encourage more developers - the lifeblood of the industry - to enter the fractional space, we are offering an exclusive Developer Special discount, with tickets at $499, a saving of $250 on the regular price. Visit www.fractionalsummitusa.com to take advantage of this great offer.

Courtesy of Ron & Alexandra Seigel of Napa Consultants, International

Diana Bull of  Sterling Properties and Rebecca Riskin of Villagge Properties, both Luxury Real Estate members, are mentioned in this article  on the Napa Consultants, International blog Language of Luxury.

Courtesy of Judy Sweetland of Private Trade Winds

That seems to be the nagging question 365 days a year, and there’s no reprieve while on vacation. In fact, it can be even more challenging when you have children of varying ages with specific likes and dislikes to deal with – and let’s face it, they all have likes and dislikes! While you and your spouse might be dying to try that fine dining Hawaiian Fusion restaurant that everyone has been raving about, you know that little Johnny will have no part of seafood, and keeping Sally entertained in the highchair will require nothing short of a live appearance from Elmo himself. This poses the ultimate vacation challenge, because it’s not a mere question of “What’s for Dinner tonight?” you need to know what’s for breakfast and lunch, too – times 7! So, on your typical week vacation this question will beg to be answered 21 times!

Let’s consider you have the stamina to repeatedly answer this question each day, and are equipped with the ingenuity to satisfy everyone’s palate. Now you have to take into consideration the expense of eating out 21 times. Let’s see, a family of four, three times a day (don’t forget to carry the 1), and Cha-Ching! – you could have stayed another night!

Ok, you see where I’m going with this. Finicky kids + Added Expense = Why are we doing this again?

Enter Private Trade Winds Villa Vacations (can you hear the hallelujah chorus?). Renting a villa as opposed to a hotel room has multiple advantages, but for Johnny and Sally’s parent’s sake, I’m just going to focus on meals. Private Trade Winds villas are equipped with either a complete or gourmet kitchen, with the former complete kitchen offering guests the ability to prepare a standard meal, and the gourmet kitchen is equipped with all the high-end appliances and cookware needed to prepare an entire Thanksgiving feast! With the added convenience of a kitchen, the need to dine out for every meal is eliminated and money and sanity are restored.

Another service provided by Private Trade Winds is the option of pre arrival grocery shopping. Families love this service, and our Travel Advisors coordinate this so groceries are conveniently stocked in the cupboards and refrigerator upon your arrival. The only thing you need to do is fill out the shopping list. The last thing you want to deal with after a long plane ride is a stop at the grocery store to stock your villa, and shopping at an unfamiliar store takes so much longer, because you’re not sure where everything is. Pre arrival grocery shopping takes that stress away and allows you to start enjoying your vacation immediately upon arrival.

Of course, going out to dinner is relaxing when you don’t have to go out for every single meal. Our Concierge will not only book your dinner reservations, but will arrange a babysitter so you can spend a nice romantic evening at that Hawaiian Fusion place for just you and your spouse.

The main concern most people have in booking a villa vacation is that they fear they will forfeit the service and amenities typically found only in high-end resorts. That is a valid concern, and you should avoid randomly booking a villa without doing your due diligence, but a company such as Private Trade Winds specializes in villa rentals, and we do our due diligence to guarantee a 5-star experience for you. Not only will you not sacrifice the service and amenities found in a hotel, but you will gain a place at the table for Johnny and Sally. And you know that when Johnny and Sally are happy –everybody’s happy!

Courtesy of Judy Sweetland of Private Trade Winds

Private Trade Winds is on a "Royal" roll between last month's addition of our 5-story, 3-bedroom townhouse in Regents Park, London, and now this month's 3-bedroom showstopper in the Seychelles - the exclusive locale where Prince William and Kate Middleton, now called The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge enjoyed their honeymoon escape. One of our clients jokingly asked if the addition of the two villas was intentionally timed to coincide with the marriage and honeymoon of the Royal Couple, but the fact is we just seem to have a knack for predicting the next 5-star destination.

The Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean is a most spectacular getaway for those seeking romance, privacy and unprecedented beauty. Think “champagne wishes and caviar dreams” and you won’t be remotely disappointed.

Seeking out a private island is no small task and should be left to the professionals for an experience custom tailored to the likes of each traveler. While the rare sensual beauty of the islands has been known to lure lovers from around the world, most are family-friendly as well, and a memorable experience can be made for those ranging in age from 2 to 102.

Mahe, with its lush botanical gardens is also home to Intendence, a half mile stretch of the most powdery white sanded beach in all the Indian Ocean. It is also the transportation hub for island-hops and day excursions to neighboring islands, and all other islands within Seychelles.

SEATTLE – (July 1, 2011) – Luxury Real Estate is pleased to announce the inclusion of Eeva Pregitzer of Sotheby’s International Realty in its prestigious network of fine high-end estate brokers and firms. Eeva Pregitzer was selected to represent Sun Valley, Ketchum, and Hailey, Idaho at the invitation of Chairman/Publisher John Brian Losh. Mr. Losh extends membership invitations to brokers and firms throughout the world who consistently demonstrate expertise in the marketing of luxury properties. Currently, Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate includes more than 1,400 members with properties in 69 countries and nearly every state in the U.S.

This exclusive group’s properties can be viewed on the network’s award-winning website LuxuryRealEstate.com, the most-viewed real estate website expressly dedicated to luxury properties. The site features more than 60,000 of the world’s finest for-sale listings with an average price of more than $2 million. According to the Web information service Google Analytics, LuxuryRealEstate.com receives more than 2.6 million unique page views per month coming in from 197 countries around the world.

The 2011 edition of Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate’s annual membership directory is available by calling Eeva Pregitzer or writing to: Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate, 2110 Western Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98121.

Courtesy of Anika Anand of Msnbc.com

Luxury Real Estate member MacArthur & Company Sotheby’s International Realty was featured in a recent msnbc.com article. Written by Anika Anand, the article features a $13.9 million home in Kukio, Hawaii.

“Its Japanese gardens, meditative shrine and separate painting studio are likely to instill a deep sense of tranquility to visitors of this Hawaiian home that offers a full, 360-degree view of the ocean.”

To read the full article by Anika Anand, click here.

Courtesy of Luxury Real Estate

Luxury Real Estate is pleased to announce the inclusion of MacArthur & Company Sotheby’s International Realty in its prestigious network of fine high-end estate brokers and firms. MacArthur & Company Sotheby’s International Realty was selected to represent the island of Hawaii at the invitation of Chairman/Publisher John Brian Losh. Mr. Losh extends membership invitations to brokers and firms throughout the world who consistently demonstrate expertise in the marketing of luxury properties. Currently, Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate includes more than 1,400 members with properties in 67 countries and nearly every state in the U.S.

This exclusive group’s properties can be viewed on the network’s award-winning Web site LuxuryRealEstate.com, the most-viewed real estate Web site expressly dedicated to luxury properties. The site features more than 60,000 of the world’s finest for-sale listings with an average price of more than $2 million. According to the Web information service Google Analytics, LuxuryRealEstate.com receives more than 2.6 million unique page views per month coming in from 197 countries around the world.

The 2011 edition of Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate’s annual membership directory is available by calling MacArthur & Company Sotheby’s International Realty or writing to: Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate, 2110 Western Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98121.

Courtesy of Judy Sweetland of Private Trade Winds

Thanks to the rapid growth of real estate development in the luxury vacation industry over the last 10 years, buyers have opened the door to explore the world of luxury vacation ownership, fueling the traveler’s demand for luxury vacation rentals. Discerning travelers have always appreciated traditional villa rentals usually found in France and Italy, and have selected high end vacation rentals for special occasions. However, the wide variety of real estate options available today gives travelers a new concept of modern villa rentals, which come in the form of luxurious vacation homes, condos, condo-hotel units, and fractional and residence club properties, most with a variety of hospitality options.

As the first hybrid club concept to hit the market in 2007, Private Trade Winds maintains the goal of helping travelers enjoy the various options presented to them. The inclusion of a full-service licensed travel agency and concierge booking service makes villa travel easier than it has ever been before. A quality branded product along with the ability to listen intently to what the luxury traveler wants and needs has strengthened our commitment to excellence, and has defined our concept of what a 5-Star Villa Vacation ought to be. We are seeing a growing interest in this type of travel as luxury vacationers are coveting the modern conveniences of space, privacy, service and security. As the economy continues to improve, this will quickly become the preferred choice of travel on a regular basis, not just for special occasions.

Real Estate Agents and Developers worldwide can partner with Private Trade Winds to introduce this concept to their buyers and sellers, and maximize the value of the vacation homeowner’s asset(s). We have the ability to create custom options, and bring mutual benefits and rewards to capitalize on this type of partnership. Historically, prospective vacation home buyers have a piqued interest when they learn of this added incentive, and are anxious to take the next step in moving forward to close the sale.

Learn more about villa travel and find out how Private Trade Winds can work for you in your business, by viewing our website www.privatetradewinds.com and calling 866.PTW.4LUX Ext. 809.