Advertise on podcast: "Where To From Here" A Luxury Global Podcast By Renae Leith-Manos

Liv Gussing Burgess has spent more than two decades working in luxury hotels around the world.She started her carer as a hotel butler at The St Regis Hotel in New York City.Today she works with hotel owners creating some of the most spectacular and luxurious hotels concepts from the ground up. A student from Cornell University, she has worked with the Aman resort group, Six Senses, and more in Asia and Europe, and is at the forefront luxury hotel trends, changes and the evolution of the entire luxury hospitality business Liz is a University nominated alumni trustee at Cornell University,and served on the Dean’s Advisory and was Global President of the Cornell Hotel Society in 2013. Here she talks to Renae about her incredible career, the projects she is working on and the future of the luxury hotel businesss.

Kara Freedman lives in New York City, and is Complex Director of Marketing for the prestigious luxury Conrad hotel brand for New York Downtown and Conrad New York Midtown. She oversees marketing strategies for both properties including the development, management, execution and measurement of all aspects of the marketing and branding. Freedman and her team execute positioning, social media, website management, paid advertising, asset creation, public relations. Here she reveals the state of the New York City luxury hotel industry, how the industry is changing and how as a young woman she feels the future is brighter than ever. Freedman already has a considerable career history creating and working with the marketing and DNA of luxury brands, having worked as the opening marketing manager for Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach and PR and marketing coordinator for Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach.

John Blanco is General Manager at the spectacular and ultra luxe Capella Bangkok. In this fabulous interview, he talks about the unique signature that is Capella, and why he has chosen to work for the prestigious brand. He talks through the luxurious Bangkok property located on the Chao Phraya River. The 101 suite five star hotel has stunning views across the river, particularly from the hotel's best villas, the riverfront jacuzzi plunge pool villas. And provides a tranquil haven from the world outside, as it is located in a bustling area of Bangkok full of life. The hotel's Presidential suite offers 595 square meters of living and has its own private entrance and its own waterfront dining area. John talks abotutthe changing face of luxury and how Capella is also adapting and changing to suit the demands and needs of the luxury traveller.

Thomas Bourdois is the General Manager of one of Bordeaux's most luxurious five-star hotels located right in the heart of beautiful Bordeaux, the city of art and history in France. The Intercontinental Hotel Le Grand is located within a building steeped in history, with one of Bordeaux's most magnificent rooftops, a Guerlain spa, and beautifully appointed elegant rooms. It is home to one of France's most successful restaurants, Le Pressoir d'argent Gordon Ramsay, the upscale 2 Michelin star restaurant people drive miles to enjoy. One of France's most dynamic hoteliers, in an intimate conversation here, Bourdois reflects on the huge growth Bordeaux has undergone, the growth and changes within the luxury hotel industry, and ponders the question of the lack of swimming pools in France, especially in Paris. Thanks to a new GTV fast train network, the city can now be accessed directly from Paris in around 2 hours.

Six Senses Malolo Island in Fiji is a tropical paradise and one of Fiji's most luxurious and exclusive resorts. Australian General Manager Mark Kitchen is running it, and has been passionate about Fiji for many years. He talks us through the Six Senses DNA, and also about Fiji and why this unique destination is loved by so many Australians and Americans looking for the ultimate luxury island holiday. Just 25 kilometres from Nadi airport, most guests arrive at the island by helicopter to enjoy the 24 spacious pool villas and crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches. Wellness and sustainability are pillars of the properties as are GEMS - guest experience managers to ensure every single guest at Six Senses Fiji has the holiday experience they are looking for.

Ananda is the Himalayan Luxury Health and Wellness Retreat adored by many celebrities and famous people looking to emotionally heal, recharge and find a better, more balanced way to live. Located on 100 acres of land in Northern India at a former Maharaja's Palace, it is a unique and fulfilling destination for anyone to visit. Here we speak to Mahesh Natarajan, the Chief Operating Officer who lives an incredible balanced, holistic life in the surrounds of this mystical, life changing location and retreat. Ananda was founded by Swami Kriyananda in 1968. He was a true visionary who could foresee the human need for holistic support and balance as well as insights into living healthier, better and longer. Ananda offers Ayurvedic treatments, as well as comprehensive and targetted wellness programs, simple but effective spa treatments and holistic healing. Today Ananda is owned by Ashok Khanna, grandson of the legendary hotelier Rai Bahadur Mohan Singh Oberoi, and high profile guests have included Bollywood and Hollywood royalty as well as Oprah Winfrey, Price Charles and Camilla, Kate Winslet, Uma Thurman, Ricky Martin and many more. The programs are Ananda are constantly changing and adapting to the evolving wellness community and changing needs of guests who go there to de-compress from the world and find new and valuable ways to show up in their lives as family members, friends, colleagues and humans. Here Mr Natarajan gives unique insights into the challenges he sees we are all facing and ways we can all contribute not only to a better world but a better life.

Canadian Jeff Smith is officially eco-friendly. He has spent his life pursuing sustainability and taking care of the environment. Today he is Vice President of Sustainability at Six Senses, a prestigious luxury hotel brand with 20 hotels and resorts in 17 countries, and another 34 properties currently in development. Six Senses was well ahead of its time when it launched in 1995, 28 years ago. They were the pioneers of eco-luxury, creating five star luxury resorts focusing on wellness and sustainability as well as the environment within which they are located. Today, eliminating plastic, and coming up with a plethora of creative but practical ideas is part of Smith's daily brief to reduce the impact of Six Senses resorts and hotels on the environment and the world. Smith talks here about the practices within his own life he has adopted to contribute to a better world and has plenty of tips for each of us to take into our own lives and worlds. He talks about an ambitious program he went into to save elephants and how he sees the future of the luxury hotel business in relation to sustainability.

Canadian Jeff Smith is officially eco-friendly. He has spent his life pursuing sustainability and taking care of the environment. Today he is Vice President of Sustainability at Six Senses, a prestigious luxury hotel brand with 20 hotels and resorts in 17 countries, and another 34 properties currently in development. Six Senses was well ahead of its time when it launched in 1995, 28 years ago. They were the pioneers of eco-luxury, creating five-star luxury resorts focusing on wellness and sustainability as well as the environment within which they are located. Today, eliminating plastic, and coming up with a plethora of creative but practical ideas is part of Smith's daily brief to reduce the impact of Six Senses resorts and hotels on the environment and the world. Smith talks here about the practices within his own life he has adopted to contribute to a better world and has plenty of tips for each of us to take into our own lives and worlds. He talks about an ambitious program he went into to save elephants and how he sees the future of the luxury hotel business in relation to sustainability. You can watch every episode with spectacular visuals from some of the world’s best and most luxurious hotels over on Renae’s YouTube channel, “Renae’s World, Where to From Here”.

John Halpin is the legendary American General Manager of The Oberoi Hotel in Bali’s Seminyak. This luxurious five star haven sits on a huge15 acre piece of well manicured land, stretching 450m along the beachfront, making it one of the best locations for access to both the peace and calm of the beach and the buzz of shopping, clubs and restaurants on the whole island.  Halpin was part of the launch team of Oberoi Lombok, (another extraordinary Indonesian property) in 1996 when he  moved to Asia, and initially spent 9 years working between Oberoi Lombok and Oberoi Bali, first in Food and Beverage and then in Senior Management.   He was lured away by the prestigious  Como Hotels and Resorts where he worked in Bhutan and Ubud, but it was Executive Chairman Mr PRS Oberoi who wanted him back in Bali, and back at The Oberoi. In 2012 Halpin returned to The Oberoi Bali and has never left.  Today the Oberoi Bali buzzes with stays from successful and high profile guests the world over, and many Europeans check in for as long as 2-3 months and some do this every year. For many it offers traditional old school service combined with the best of five star luxury.  You can watch every episode with spectacular visuals from some of the world’s best and most luxurious hotels over on Renae’s YouTube channel, “Renae’s World, Where to From Here”.

John Halpin is the legendary American General Manager of The Oberoi Hotel in Bali’s Seminyak. This luxurious five star haven sits on a huge15 acre piece of well manicured land, stretching 450m along the beachfront, making it one of the best locations for access to both the peace and calm of the beach and the buzz of shopping, clubs and restaurants on the whole island.  Halpin was part of the launch team of Oberoi Lombok, (another extraordinary Indonesian property) in 1996 when he  moved to Asia, and initially spent 9 years working between Oberoi Lombok and Oberoi Bali, first in Food and Beverage and then in Senior Management.   He was lured away by the prestigious  Como Hotels and Resorts where he worked in Bhutan and Ubud, but it was Executive Chairman Mr PRS Oberoi who wanted him back in Bali, and back at The Oberoi. In 2012 Halpin returned to The Oberoi Bali and has never left.  Today the Oberoi Bali buzzes with stays from successful and high profile guests the world over, and many European guests check in for as long as 2-3 months and some do this every year. For Australians, Europeans and local South East Asian travellers, The Oberoi Bali it offers traditional old school service combined with the best of five star luxury.  You can watch every episode with spectacular visuals from some of the world’s best and most luxurious hotels over on Renae’s YouTube channel, “Renae’s World, Where to From Here”.

The Slate in Phuket Thailand, is another incredible Bill Bensley designed hotel and is leading the way in the wellness arena in Thailand with its new Be Original Light Hearted Dining or BOLD initiative in terms of dining. The hotel has also introduced a science and medical based Wellness Offering for every guest who can have their body thoroughly checked upon arrival to ascertain how their health is tracking. Last year marijuana was de-criminalised in Thailand, and The Slate has jumped on the opportunity to offer a sophisticated cannabis dining experience. The restaurant serves a 5 course degustation where dishes as well as drinks use various parts of the cannabis plant including the flowers, seeds and leaves to create a unique and powerful dining experience. Renae spoke to the hotel's enigmatic General Manager, Claude Sauter who talks through the rise of wellness for the luxury traveller, and the unique position Thailand is in to create innovative and creative experiences for their guests.

The Slate in Phuket Thailand, is another incredible Bill Bensley designed hotel and is leading the way in the wellness arena in Thailand with its new Be Original Light Hearted Dining or BOLD initiative in terms of dining. The hotel has also introduced a science and medical based Wellness Offering for every guest who can have their body thoroughly checked upon arrival to ascertain how their health is tracking. Last year marijuana was de-criminalised in Thailand, and The Slate has jumped on the opportunity to offer a sophisticated cannabis dining experience. The restaurant serves a 5 course degustation where dishes as well as drinks use various parts of the cannabis plant including the flowers, seeds and leaves to create a unique and powerful dining experience. Renae spoke to the hotel's enigmatic General Manager, Claude Sauter who talks through the rise of wellness for the luxury traveller, and the unique position Thailand is in to create innovative and creative experiences for their guests.