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Annie is back from Paris (and still on a Celine Dion high) before she and Jack launch Embark’s Q3 Trends Report. The overall phrase at the center of the report is: the reduction of noise. As AI creates more information than ever, they talk about the new tastemakers, relevance vs. reach, brand point of view, and H2H again (human to human connection). Then we learn a lot about cars with Canossa founder Luigi Orlandini who takes us inside the world of cavalcades and Ferrari road rallies, from moving 60 cars through Patagonia to the friendships (and sometimes romances) that form along the way. Embark advisor and F1 obsessive Jackson Kaiman talks Embark's Inside Track program and the best ways to experience F1: Monaco versus Singapore, paddock access, the best-value races and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Annie and Jack are back with a wide-ranging catch-up: why Geneva deserves a new look, the fairy-tale hotel in Switzerland that Annie's daughter is obsessed with, why hotels should just have Coke and Coke Zero instead of just the local soda brands, sourcing $450,000 watches, and we continue the conversation on why luxury brands are increasingly selling community and connection. They also get into the rise of “Betweeners" and Annie's story for Elite Traveler and travelers living across multiple homes. Then Annie sits down with longtime friend and Embark advisor Limor Decter, who entered the travel industry at 50 and earned just $87 on her first commission check. Ten years later, she reflects on the grit behind the glamour, the relationships that built her career, her famous “schlep factor,” why suppliers are the secret sauce, her love of Africa, and how her definition of luxury has changed along the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An "emergency" recording from Vegas and Italy to discuss the travel world's biggest story this week - Amanvari vs. YouTube host Amanvari in Los Cabos opened and almost immediately became the center of a viral fight over cameras, privacy, strategic narratives, and the rights of a paying guest if they also have a YouTube channel and are filming the entire stay. Jack (whose company books millions worth of Aman stays every year) and Annie break down what happened, why they largely side with Aman and what the hotel could have done better. Then, in a special-edition interview, Annie sits down with Anne Scully, who at 80 is more relevant than ever, to talk AI, great advisors, staying curious, selling the dream trip first and what 45 years in travel has taught her about people, service and a life well traveled. Here is the Wall Street Journal article that Jack is quoted in: https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/aman-amanvari-ryan-walker-youtube-3cc8284b?st=wAws8x&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is a summer catch-up with Annie and Jack. They discuss why "floating hotels" are be the biggest evolution in luxury cruising, from Orient Express and Four Seasons to Aman, and why they're fundamentally different from yachts. They also share the hotels, destinations and cultural moments they're most excited about this season (from Venice and Scotland to Montenegro, Geneva and Wales) plus why concerts, exhibitions and shorter itineraries are increasingly shaping how people travel. Along the way: a hot shopping tip from Spain, Europe's underrated November season (more to come!), and a new booking psychology Annie heard called "price chicken."  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Annie Fitzsimmons sits down with Jack Ezon to unpack his Embark Beyond's Q1 and Q2 trends report, combined for the first time thanks to a whiplash-inducing year of headlines. Before getting into the data, Jack and Annie trade notes from travel and events–a private dinner for Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp inside the Delvaux flagship on New Bond Street in London; an Embark top producer trip to the Ranch at Rock Creek with founder Jim Manley; why the Schiaparelli exhibition in London is so good it deserves at least two visits; a St.Tropez weekend with Bo House villas, and a stay at Borgo Egnazia in Puglia. Then they dig into the report–Jack makes the case that the so-called experience economy is over and that connection is the real engine behind travel decisions. He and Annie walk through his four Ps–peptides, paddle, passions and predictions–and they talk through why loneliness has become one of the biggest forces shaping how brands and hotels need to show up for their guests. Along the way, they cover how Ferrari was one of the first brands to bring owners together (and thoughts on the latest design), the complicated crowding in St. Bart's and Capri that makes enjoyment hard, and why the general manager who actually shows up on the floor matter much more than another beautiful lobby. And how the next big influencers are the administrators of the right WhatsApp groups. Join them for this lively, fast-moving conversation about luxury travel and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What we loved in Rio, live from Embark Immersion Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jack Ezon and Annie Fitzsimmons recap a whirlwind stretch: being with the world's top event planners in Monaco, an incredible 40th anniversary celebration for Noteworthy at the Natural History Museum, how to plan the ultimate 16th birthday in Paris and more - shopping in Charleston, a cool project in Morocco, and meeting gorillas in Uganda along the way. They also talk through the real whiplash affecting travel this season, including airfare volatility, oil prices, and broader global uncertainty.  Our number 1 travel tip right now? BUY NOW. Then, live from Milan, they sit down with Franco Loro Piana to talk about Sease, the brand he has built after leaving his family business, and about heritage, performance, the best fabrics, and why the future of luxury lies partly lies in creating a community people want to belong to. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first ten minutes, Jack and Annie talk art, permanence, and the psychology of design decisions. Annie is still trying to buy a rug (four years and counting), Jack argues that not everything has to be forever. They also zoom out to where to find trusted travel intel when editorial lines feel increasingly blurred...and a quick mention of Embark's growth to $350 million. Plus, a recurring argument about one particularly unfortunate hotel photo in Wengen. Then, they both sit down in Milan with Giulia Molteni, CMO of Molteni&C, inside the brand’s newly opened palazzo showroom. As a third-generation leader of one of Italy’s most historic design houses (and the granddaughter of one of the founders of Salone del Mobile) Giulia talks about innovation versus heritage, why the first question in any home project should be emotional rather than aesthetic, and how Molteni keeps the legacy of Gio Ponti alive through exclusive re-editions. They also discuss why Milan has become one of the most important global capitals for design. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

January starts with a little existential whiplash but then it’s turned into a travel and trends forecast. In the first half, Jack and Annie start planning for 2026 and look back on surprises of the last month: Dubai’s glow-up (Jack likes to say it’s the new winter St. Tropez); client shifts like less alcohol and the most-requested feature of the moment: a padel court. Annie shares her latest obsession, Estelle Manor in the English countryside, plus a quick New York trip (Faena has the best bar in NYC right now and the Waldorf’s public spaces are incredible). In the second half, Jack sits down with Veronica Bocelli at the Ritz-Carlton Central Park for a meaningful conversation about how the Andrea Bocelli Foundation scaled its mission through education and music, and how philanthropy, community, and culture intersect in the Bocellis’ Italy world, like Forte dei Marmi — including how Embark clients can access exclusive, invitation-only Bocelli concerts and gala experiences in Italy. Stay tuned for how they met at the very end. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jack and Annie give a recap of ILTM (International Luxury Travel Market) Cannes (only a small bit of gossip this year), plus favorite hotel openings and destinations for 2026 from the Q4 trends report and why sustainability is the word of the quarter, but not in the way you're thinking. And at the end, listen for Jack's big tip on how to save 50% on airfare to Japan and add on a trip to Amanpulo at the same time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jack and Annie check in after a buzzing trip to Milan (“Salone is the new Art Basel”) and break down why the city is on fire right now. They swap hotel notes–the Park Hyatt Milan bar playlist really is that good–before diving into Annie’s new Roman obsession, the Orient Express La Minerva, and the fabulous hotel in Germany where she got the best Botox of her life (“a tiny but exquisite facelift”). They also debate the credibility of the World’s 50 Best list (and all the lists) and why Annie loved the glamour of it and being surrounded by hotel obsessives. Plus, at the end, Annie interviews Jack about his favorite things to do and why Monaco always calls him back.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jack and Annie check in live from Hotel Lutetia in Paris, swapping honeymoon ideas for Taylor Swift (think Royal Malewane, Cape Town, Singita, and Kisawa), their own fall goals (half marathons, stylists, Africa trips, and launching lifestyle experiences), and why travel is the ultimate way to activate passions. Then, a conversation with Omer Acar, CEO of Raffles and Fairmont, one of the top minds in global hospitality, and one of Jack's major inspirations. He shares why he makes his bed every day (even in hotels), how luxury brands should surprise, delight, and disrupt, and the lessons he’s learned leading some of the world’s most iconic hotels. Omer talks passion, curiosity, inspiration, his favorite thing about living in New York City, and the TV show that has him hooked. Just don't try to find him on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at Wilderness Mombo camp in the heart of Botswana, Annie Fitzsimmons and safari expert and Embark Safaris founder Justin Huff, share the unforgettable moments and reasons that make Botswana unlike anywhere else on earth. From leopard sightings under a double rainbow to the great elephant crossings of the Linyanti River, this conversation dives into why Botswana isn’t just a safari–it’s a soul-shifting experience. Whether you’re dreaming of your first safari or seeking the masterclass of safari travel, this episode reveals the stories, places, and perspectives that will change how you see the wild forever. With an introduction from Jack Ezon and Annie Fitzsimmons. Justin Huff - “Botswana isn’t just a safari–it’s an aura, a pulse. Once you’re tuned to it, you’re never the same.”  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the decades, Eli Zabar has built a mini‑empire on the Upper East Side that includes Eli’s Market, an artisan bread bakery, a wine shop, and restaurants, all driven by his obsessive pursuit of quality and what satisfies him. He is the youngest son of Louis and Lillian Zabar, founders of Zabar’s on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. In 1973, he struck out on his own, opening E.A.T., a gourmet food shop and café on Madison Avenue, inspired by the grand food halls he admired in London and Paris. Episode Description Jack and Annie open with a Virtuoso Week highlights reel, including Jack's biggest tip for the Fashion Week of Travel to not sleep - "The real business is done on the dance floor and the bar…People do business with people, not products.”  Favorite finds include mocktail bars and islands in Saudi Arabia; Barbara Muckermann on hiring archivists for Kempinski and finding out they invented wine by the glass; TCS around the world plane journeys; the ever-growing train travel trend (so excited for Aurora Australis in Australia); and more. Then, a delicious interview with Eli Zabar, whose Upper East Side empire has been feeding New Yorkers for over 50 years.  How “being the ultimate editor” guides his curatorial instincts (“the biggest mistake is listening to the customer"), and how he brings intentionality to every loaf of bread, wine pairing, and sandwich. "I'm not looking for the best, I'm looking for what satisfies me, what I find pleasing."How Eli's editing instinct compares to the need for department stores to revolutionize and have a voice/be an editor ("Are you the Barneys of food?" Jack asks) Eli's thoughts on wine ("I don't like the cabernet or merlot grape, so I don't sell anything that has those grapes in it") and restaurants ("I love small places where it's one person's notion and they're doing it the way that I like") Eli gives some of his favorite hotels and Jack tries to be a matchmaker with new options for him - but it's tough when he loves his own bed so much. We might get him to The Arts Club in London. Musings on how to attract younger customers and what his twin sons are doing (even though they disagree on bagels) The secret to marriage with Devon Fredericks, the original owner of Loaves and Fishes in the Hamptons What Eli thinks are the two best sandwiches of all time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Embark Q3 Trends Report will launch on Friday, August 8th. Jack and Annie talk about the report and key highlights, analyzing the current state of luxury travel as we enter Q3 which is typically the industry’s strongest season, but this year is marked by shifts in demand and guest behavior.  This is rich but restrained...and is it a vibecession? A data-informed look at what’s happening now, and what’s next, in global luxury travel based on what we are seeing.  Also discussed: the stunning renovation of the Belmond Hotel Splendido, the brand-new Waldorf-Astoria New York, and the life-changing Hyrolox hair treatment (for Annie). Plus: How to layer AI with EI (Emotional Intelligence) Who is traveling and what they're spendingDestination breakdown: Paris is outperforming expectations post-Olympics, while London is still in decline (why?). The French Riviera has overtaken Italy as the top summer destination, and Greece is emerging as a "value." Group trips are exploding, solo travel among women is on the rise, and experiences are increasingly passion-driven including mahjong, en plein air (painting outdoors), and art.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.