if you think private jet travel is out of the question ... · excellent food at gran hotel son net...

$: If you think private jet travel is out of the question ... · excellent food at Gran Hotel Son Net 10 ... discover in the South of France 17 ... fractional ownership, jet cards and$
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ISLAND LIFE ON MALLORCA l IBIZA AND BEYOND l REDISCOVER THE COTE D’AZUR l A PRIVATE JET REVOLUTION

If you think private jet travel is out of the question...

thinkagain

ViCtOR

2 • VICTOR


2 • VICTOR

CONTENTS

With thanks to: Nando Esteva – creative photography (front cover, p2, p4, p6), www.nandoesteva.com Samantha Hemsley – portrait photography (p19)www.samanthahemsley.com

Published for Victor, www.flyvictor.com, by WordWide, 4-8 Rodney St, London N1 9JH. www.word-wide.co.ukThe greatest care has been taken to ensure accuracy, but the publishers cannot accept responsibililty for errors or omissions. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the publishers.

CONTENTS

VICTOR • 3


4 Meet Victor Victor is revolutionising private jet travel

6 island lifeDiscover Mallorca’s hidden treasures, from bespoke jewellery to the latest cuisine

8 artist in residencia La Residencia offers art and amazing views

9 far froM the Madding crowdRestful calm, great views and excellent food at Gran Hotel Son Net

10 splendid isolationSon Brull is one of Mallorca’s best new luxury hotels

11 Jetsetter’s diary Start planning your trip now with our Victor schedule

12 beyond the balearic beatClubs aside, party island Ibiza offers the luxury traveller plenty

14 going the extra isleThis luxury hideaway is the perfect retreat from hedonism

15 aZUr liKe itWhy there’s still more to discover in the South of France

17 soMe liKe it yachtClassic yacht travel with modern luxury

18 profile Serial entrepreneur Clive Jackson talks about revolutionising the private jet market

Victor is making jet travel to the whole of Europe more accessible and affordable. There is a revolution in private air travel – and you can

be a part of it. Whether you own a home abroad, you’re

chartering a yacht or you’re just planning a break somewhere special, Victor is opening up destinations across Europe previously only served by low-cost airlines.

This summer Victor takes you by private jet to Mallorca, Ibiza and the Côte d’Azur. Think you’ve seen it all before? Think again as we uncover the most exclusive, luxurious places in which to eat, drink, shop and relax.

Our guides have been prompted by Victor members themselves. They’ve created their own schedule by pooling their demand for seats to these destinations.

With Victor, your check-in takes just five minutes and you bypass the stress of a busy terminal – it really is the best of all worlds.

Victor, it’s where the smart money is moving.

“as a Victor member, do let me know if you are booking with one of our hotel partners, and i will speak to the general Managers, whom i know well, and we will arrange a surprise treat to make your stay extra-special.”

clive Jackson

Welcome

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Victor – a new social class of traVel

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Victor - the world’s first marketplace for private jet charters and per-seat bookings

CONTENTS


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Private aviation is undergoing a revolution. Just as mainstream airlines have seen their business models disrupted, thereby offering

lower prices, more tailored services and new routes to new audiences, something similar is now happening in the rarefied world of private aviation with the arrival of Victor.

If you’re chartering jets, and you’re not with Victor, then it’s time you switched. Already over a thousand like-minded people who want the convenience and the flexibility of private aviation, but have been wary of high prices, opaque pricing structures and complex booking arrangements, are now Victor members. Clive Jackson was frustrated by his own experiences with the world of aviation

generally, and unimpressed with the way in which private jets have traditionally worked.

So the serial entrepreneur, who has built a number of highly successful global online businesses, launched in August a pan-European private jet service which is challenging long-established practices.

Harnessing the power of a growing community of private jet travellers, he has dared to challenge many misguided beliefs in an industry that is yet to react to the power and efficiencies of the internet.

At Victor we are revolutionising this highly conservative market, giving people who previously could never afford it access to the benefits of private aviation. Membership is free, there are no upfront

costs and no pre-paying for block hours. Say goodbye to fractional ownership, jet cards and paying over the odds. With Victor, you pay when you want to fly – and with over 200 aircraft to connect with, it’s more like an up-market Expedia.

Victor members are driven by a desire to sidestep the stress of commercial aviation, avoid overcrowded airports and their willingness to share a private jet to their travel hotspot. So they’re connecting with each other to create a service that has been defined by those who actually use it. If they’re already jet charterers, they want to know which operator they’re booking with, before they commit, and that brokers aren’t increasing profit margins at their expense. They want more transparency, and

“ say goodbye to fractional ownership, jet cards and paying over the odds”

Ready for take-off: the private jet revolution

THE PROPOSITIONVICTOR


MEET vIcTOR

4 • VICTOR

Victor, the online community of jet traVellers, is reVolutionising priVate aViation, as a new generation of passengers is discoVering


VICTOR • 5

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATUREVICTOR

above all they want to be in control of the whole buying process – hardly surprising, then, that over half of our new shareholders are active Victor members.

Prior to Victor, conventional wisdom held that no private jet user in their right mind would want to share an aircraft. At any one time, 40 per cent of jets in the air are empty, and those with passengers typically carry just two. However, when Victor researched what travellers actually wanted, we found that some 92 per cent were happy to share a cabin with like-minded people. They might, for instance, find themselves swapping ideas for holiday destinations or tips on Asian market values. Ultimately, though, the ability to substantially offset the cost of their charter by selling spare seats in their cabin or returning aircraft is a powerful incentive, even for the super-wealthy.

Victor is a marketplace – not a brokerWe are the world’s first online quote comparison, book-and-buy marketplace for private jet charters. But more than that; Victor is the sum of its members – a vibrant, go-getting community of people who have chosen to work together to reduce the cost of private jet travel. Jet charterers should switch to Victor simply because of the financial incentive – they can potentially receive around 50 per cent back on their original charter cost.

The process is simple. Victor members charter a jet at the most competitive price and sell any spare seats on their outbound or returning empty flight to other members. Not only do they secure the best possible charter price from Victor’s network, they then receive 70 per cent of the revenue from selling surplus seats. So members pay as they go, and reduce their costs each time Victor sells a seat on their behalf. Of course, it won’t happen every time, but the odds are increasing by the day, and as most jet charterers will fly privately anyway, it’s an added bonus when the seat sales ring up.

“Since switching to Victor, I have booked eight aircraft and sold eight seats, which was a nice surprise,” says Alan Wood, a founding member. “I have also bought four seats when travelling back to the UK, so it very much works for me.”

The reason the marketplace is so successful is because there is complete transparency. Jet charterers can easily search for the best aircraft and operators

to meet their needs, and with all relevant information about the operator and its aircraft openly published on the Victor website – even down to its direct telephone number – they can make a more informed choice. The fee is always only a flat five per cent, whereas a broker charges 10 to 15 per cent at best.

By bringing together private jet charterers with operators and their aircraft on a single online trading platform, Victor enables both parties to match demand for private jet flights with available capacity. Members use Victor to play the market and do all the hard work for them, enabling them to make informed decisions and comparisons easily.

Jet charterers can request quotes online by entering their desired route and travel dates into the Victor ‘Get Quotes’ function. Victor will provide up to three comparable quotations from different operators and


Who wouldn’t accept an opportunity to fly on a private jet? Even if you couldn’t rationalise

chartering a whole jet, it’s now possible to buy seats on one. Victor has opened up this brand-new market of seat buyers.

As a member, you simply select individual seats on the flight you want using Victor’s easy online booking system. If no flight is available on your chosen date then watch that date, indicating to other members in the community and to Victor that you are interested in seats then.

Demand for seats on particular dates and routes increases the likelihood of a flight being booked – and seats becoming available. Getting your friends to join and follow their preferred routes couldn’t be simpler. Most of our members elect to sell seats at a fixed price, however we also offer the Fareshare™ pricing mechanism where the price of a seat reduces each time another seat is sold on that flight.

The simple principle is that the more people fly, the lower the cost becomes for everyone.

Fixed pricing is the most popular simply because our members can sell 25 times more seats and an increasing number of our operators are also starting to do this.

Victor is now the only marketplace for operators to sell on a per-seat basis, and with a lower entry point (fixed price), more buyers are attracted.

You can follow routes you are interested in travelling from our network of 940 airports across Europe. We fly to smaller and less congested airports with private terminal facilities, getting you closer to your destination. The private terminals in well-known commercial airports are havens of peace. We also take you to places where commercial airlines simply can’t or won’t fly, particularly in the off-peak seasons.

Our community of like-minded members has identified five key routes over the coming summer, where enough people have flagged their interest, and Victor has now placed a limited number of flights and seats to the Côte d’Azur, Ibiza and Mallorca starting from £995 pp (page 11).

We also provide a much more luxurious, alternative way of reaching some of Europe’s most attractive destinations which, until now, have only been served by low-cost airlines. With a seat on a private jet now comparable with many airlines’ European business class fares, and a maximum of just six places per aircraft, these remarkable seat deals won’t be around for long.

aircraft, with the first quote sent to the jet charterer within 60 minutes of the request being received. This means members are released from the usual endless phone calls and are free to get on with living their lives.

Victor has already formed partnerships with hotel and yacht operators who recognise that the transparency and openness we provide is the only way to ensure that their valued clients get the very best pricing and service available.

Meanwhile companies that use private jets are starting to realise that Victor’s booking platform will help automate the sharing and booking of seats – usually an impossible task.

Sharing also means losing some of the stigma associated with private jets, and provides a real cost saving when selling spare seats to the wider Victor community; leaving you to enjoy the benefits of speed and convenience.

Yes you can - fly private for under £1,000/g1,200 per seat

“ up to 50% back on your original charter cost... who wouldn’t want to sell a seat on their empty leg?”

THE PROPOSITION

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ISlAND lIfEIT’S BEEN A HOLIDAY fAvOurITE fOr DECADES BuT, WITH ITS CrEATIvE BuZZ, MALLOrCA IS ALSO PErfECT fOr THE LuXurY TrAvELLEr – AS TWO vICTOr MEMBErS DISCOvEr

Does familiarity breed contempt? If so then Mallorca could well be pretty contemptible. After all, with dramatic cliffs,

powder-white beaches and crystal-clear seas, the island has been a favourite with holidaymakers for nearly 50 years.

However, Mallorca is changing – and it’s moving up-market. As well as 22 championship golf courses, the island now has over 25 five-star hotels and a growing number of Michelin-starred restaurants. It also has an increasingly exciting fashion scene, featuring designers from Madrid, Paris and Milan, in the capital, Palma.

In addition, Formula One is rumoured to be coming to the island (Bernie Ecclestone has been sighted several times in the past year looking for a seafront property). Mallorca is clearly poised for a luxury renaissance over the next few years. The only problem has been that getting to this sunbathed opulence has traditionally involved a gruesome low-cost airline experience.

Until now, that is. The launch of Victor and its new summer schedule means that today luxury travellers can

reach Mallorca in style, at a time that suits them. We certainly felt calm and relaxed as we stepped off the private jet we’d shared with a charming middle-aged couple and their collection of dogs. Sauntering through the private jet terminal we felt ready to explore the island’s growing number of luxurious but

herb aioli followed by a surprisingly light loin of beef with peppers and onions.

The next day we drove to nearby Binissalem, the island’s traditional wine region and Bodega Biniagual. The bodega is family run and throughout the year the grapes are cared for by hand until September when they are harvested, again manually, in traditional baskets and then chosen for ripeness. Justifiably, Mallorcan wine has a growing army of fans outside the island. As the latest recruits, we bought two cases of their powerful, sophisticated Gran Verán Seleccionado, Verán and Sant Gall, safe in the knowledge that on a private jet, limitations are not a problem.

Our retail urges alight, we set off to find the workshop of Boris Jakob. This jeweller, originally from Germany, is attracting fans from around Europe, with modernist, highly textural rings and pendants – their soft shapes and rugged, primitive designs, reminiscent of mystic Dark Age reliquaries. In his open studio in Palma, we watched as Jakob worked on a piece to commission and heard how he will even blend your own hue of red gold to match

“ we opted for apicnic on top of the world”

discreet boutique hotels, its innovative cuisine and fast-developing arts scene.

Our first stop was Santi Taura in the town of Lloseta in the centre of the island. Even the most sophisticated cuisine on Mallorca is never pretentious and in this understated restaurant, we watched as the eponymous chef/owner and his team prepared their regularly changing six-course tasting menu in the open-plan kitchen. Having booked well in advance, we enjoyed a silky squid-ink risotto with delicate slivers of grilled sea bream and

Port d’Andratx

6 • VICTOR


DESTINATION

MALLORCA

any existing watch or favourite piece of jewellery.

We’d been told that the best way to get a real appreciation of the rugged beauty of Mallorca with its two mountain ranges, its beaches and olive groves, is to fly above it. So the next morning we set off early to meet Jonny Greenall, Chief Pilot of Sloane Helicopters. High above the north coast, we found ourselves gazing down on the Tramuntana mountain range with only the deep-blue sky above us.

Jonny and his team will happily whisk you away to a restaurant but we opted for a picnic on top of the world. In a secluded mountain spot which Jonny knows well, appetites stimulated by the intoxicatingly fresh air and stunning views, we fell on our pack of local cheeses, fresh bread and sweet juicy tomatoes plus a bottle of the crisp, refreshing white wine that we’d bought at Bodega Biniagual.

The next day, still looking for seclusion, we went up to the north of the island where some friends were staying at Castell de Manresa. Situated near the unspoilt Bay of Pollensa, this

such as Mallorcan oranges and lemons which are piled up alongside home-grown vegetables and local sausages. By turns beautiful and grotesque, the displays of fresh fish on acres of ice were followed by stalls with local bread and cheeses. With superhuman self-discipline we bought just enough for a picnic on the jet home again – a wonderfully evocative reminder of this island which still has so much to offer.

spacious villa lies in an estate bordered by nearly a kilometre of beautiful coastline.

After a swim on a nearby beach, they showed us the light, modern living space complete with the latest technology. Close to the former castle there are five other historic buildings including an old country house, a dovecote and a small fisherman’s house, all of them converted into guesthouses with absolute privacy and stunning views.

On our last morning we found ourselves craving people and noise, so we made our way to Palma’s indoor markets in the Santa Catalina quarter and at the Plaza Olivar. Here we feasted our eyes on fresh, seasonal products

16 July: the

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weblinkswww.restaurantsantitaura.comwww.bodegabiniagual.comwww.borisjakob.dewww.sloanemallorca.comwww.kuhn-partner.com (for Castell de Manresa)

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Give your loved one a heart

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VICTOR • 7


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Artist in ResidenciaA fAvourite of victor MeMbers, LA RESIDENCIA, situAted in the chArMing Artists’ villAge of deiÀ, coMbines the best of old And new MAllorcA

Lying by the lush green mountains of Mallorca’s north-west coast and just a few hundred metres from a secluded swimming cove,

La Residencia blends centuries-old Mallorcan charm with all the facilities of a modern luxury hotel.

Converted from two manor houses, one dating from the 16th century and the other from the 17th, and located between the mountain and the sea, in an area declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the hotel has 67 units plus a variety of suites, four of which have private plunge pools and a further four with their own private swimming pools.

The hotel (owned by Orient-Express Hotels Ltd) is situated on the edge of the village of Deià, where the writer Robert Graves lived for 45 years. He found inspiration on the surrounding mountains and is buried in the village churchyard. There is still a thriving artistic community in Deià, and the hotel has its own sculpture garden with works by sculptors from around the world. Should you be inspired by your surroundings, the sculptor in residence, Juan Waelder, is available to give lessons on the basics of sculpting. You can also take a master class with artist in residence Alan Hydes.

The hotel’s decor offers a striking mixture of old and new with antique

furniture contrasted against simple white walls and distressed, bleached wood. Wander through the gardens and you can see examples of traditional Mallorcan dry stone walling, a skill still practised on the island. In addition to the visual arts, there are also regular concerts here and the hotel is particularly proud of its Steinway grand piano dating back to 1887.

Fans of the hotel – and its atmosphere of peace and calm – include the kings and queens of Spain, Norway and Jordan, as well as Bianca Jagger, Francis Ford Coppola and Angela Missoni.

“Victor brings a new dimension to those travellers looking for that total luxury experience,” comments Sven Gevers, General Manager, La Residencia.

Housed in a 16th-century olive press, El Olivo is one of the finest restaurants in Mallorca. The menu takes the best of Mallorcan traditions and gives them a modern twist. Starters include quails from Montuïri with asparagus on celery purée, while the main course selection features

“ a new dimension to that total luxury experience”

The picture of charm

DESTINATIONMALLORCA


LA RESIDENCIAA double room for two adults starts from €685tel: + 34 971 639 011www.hotel-laresidencia.com

grouper glazed in olive oil and citrus fruit with savoury parsnip purée.

Wine and olive oil have been produced in this area for centuries – indeed the hotel produces its own olive oil. La Residencia can also arrange for you to visit the local winery and oil press. Should you fancy exploring the area, you can just hop on one of the hotel’s Vespas and head off to enjoy some taste sensations.

Savour the view as you swim


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Far from the madding crowd

SON NET hAs A privAte Art collection feAturing works by chAgAll And hockney. enJoy the view...

We love the buzz and the energy of Palma but it’s good to know that just 20 minutes away from

the city, the Gran Hotel Son Net offers peace and tranquility – as well as an amazing collection of art. It has paintings by Chagall, Hockney and Warhol, and the highly knowledgable staff will happily give guided tours to guests.

Perched on a small hill, overlooking the village of Puigpunyent in the midst of the Tramuntana mountains, this is a unique place to catch the sunset over the peaks. The building dates back to the 17th century and the hotel, which opened 14 years ago, feels very much like a Mallorcan villa. This historic finca with its beautiful patio and original well was refurbished in 1998.

It has just 31 bedrooms (seven suites and 24 double rooms) each named after an important figure from Mallorcan history. This smaller-scale boutique feel adds to the sense of calm and intimacy at the hotel. That said, both Gran Suites, located in two corners of the finca, have large, spacious rooms, while the Presidential Suite (where Lauren Bacall stayed) and the three spacious Royal Suites have private terraces

gRAN hotEL SoN NEtA double room for two adults starts from €295 tel. + 34 971 147 000/ e [email protected]

delicious combinations, including a great array of fish. This year Oleum sees new executive chef Sergio Olmedo Amengual delight all diners. El Gazebo is the hotel’s informal restaurant, open during the summer months. Located near the pool, it offers a panoramic island view and uses ingredients fresh from the local market, cooked to order with other ingredients from Son Net’s own vegetable garden.

This year sees the hotel plant its own organic vineyard with the Malvasia grape – first documented on the island in the 15th century. “We’re supporting Mallorca’s local wine industry,” says Bjorn Wild, the hotel’s General Manager. Son Net’s own-label wines will be available to guests during their stay and also to ship worldwide.

As an end note, we particularly recommend the hotel to golfers, as six of the island’s 22 golf courses are within a 30-minute drive of the hotel.

“ a unique place to catch the sunset over the peaks”

Relax by the pool in a private cabana

or gardens, beautiful views and huge, luxurious marble bathrooms with walk-in showers and Jacuzzis.

It might be relatively small, but the Gran Hotel Son Net still has landscaped gardens, a spectacular 30-metre swimming pool surrounded by private cabanas, plus two additional swimming pools, Jacuzzis and a gym. From the pool, we love looking out at the Tramuntana mountains.

The best local products are presented at the Oleum restaurant in creative and

10 • VICTOR


The buildings might date back to the 18th century but Son Brull, which has been painstakingly restored, is very much about chic

modernity. Owners the Suau family have been in the hospitality business for more than half a century, so they know a thing or two about making guests feel at home.

The interior design is by Ignasi Forteza, a young, up-and-coming Mallorcan designer who is also a personal friend of the Suau family. Works of art in the hotel include pieces by Joan Cortés, Joan Hernández Pijuán, Guillem Nadal, Vicenç Viaplana, and Joan Bennàssar. Local art adds to sense of place with pieces by, among others, Pep Llambías,

known for his pop art and rough neo-industrial installations.

From the lobby through to the beautifully appointed rooms and suites (we particularly like the Bang & Olfusen hi-fi systems and the Jacuzzis), the design is striking and often quirky. Dramatic lighting contrasts with rough-hewn walls, and black leather sofas are matched with simple, architectural flower arrangements. If that all sounds a bit too cool for its own good, then don’t worry – the atmosphere is very relaxed and the welcome always warm.

Warm and relaxed is also the best way to describe the swimming pool area – the infinity pool seems almost part of the centuries-old olive grove surrounding it.

SoN BRULLA double room for two adults starts from €400tel: + 34 971 535 353www.sonbrull.com

Splendidisolation

The spa area has an organic feel with its simple decor of stone and wood. Similarly its treatments feature natural ingredients such as olive oil, honey and sweet almonds.

Food at the hotel’s restaurant, 3|65, is often something of a work of art but again, we’ve always found that it’s essentially unpretentious and what counts here are the flavours. Simple ingredients beautifully prepared are the key. Favourites include grilled artichokes and prawns with crispy pancetta and red-pepper sauce, and roasted shoulder of lamb with pear in red wine and nut couscous. Victor members usually enjoy a cocktail in the u-bar, formerly an olive press, before dinner.

The location adds to the sense of seclusion – it’s close to the unspoiled village of Pollença, at the foot of the Puig de Maria, a small hill with superb views over the Mediterranean, and just a 10-minute drive away from beautiful coves beside crystal-clear, turquoise water.

Son Brull is also surrounded by more than 30 hectares of land, just off the golf course of Pollença and close to the golf course of Alcanada. As well as hiking, biking and golf, guests can book cookery lessons. There are also regular wine tastings, attended by winemakers from all over Spain, for the perfect combination of wine, food and truly great views.

Modern Art, Ancient buildings And beAutiful views – it’s little wonder thAt SON BRULL hAs A growing nuMber of fAns

“ local art adds to sense of place”

Chic but quirky: the bar

DESTINATIONMALLORCA

VICTOR • 11

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DATE Dep-Arr DATE Dep-Arr

Sat 30.06.12 10:00-13:07 Sat 30.06.12 17:00-18:07

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Sat 18.08.12 10:00-13:07 Sat 18.08.12 17:00-18:07

Fri 24.08.12 09:00-12:07 Fri 24.08.12 17:00-18:07

Mon 27.08.12 10:00-13:07 Mon 27.08.12 18:00-19:07

Sun 02.09.12 10:00-13:07 Sun 02.09.12 17:00-18:07

BOOk NOw: VIctor now FLIeS to oVer 940 AIrPortS In euroPe. It’S Free to BecoMe A VIctor MeMBer So juSt VISIt the weBSIte And Buy A SeAt • www.FLyVICTOR.COM


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Sat 28.07.12 10:00-13:18 Sat 28.07.12 16:00-17:18

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Sat 21.07.12 10:00-11:58 Sat 21.07.12 16:30-18:28

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Fri 01.06.12 17:30-20:20 Sun 03.06.12 19:30-20:20

Fri 08.06.12 17:30-20:20 Sun 10.06.12 19:30-20:20

Fri 15.06.12 17:30-20:20 Sun 17.06.12 19:30-20:20

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Fri 29.06.12 17:30-20:20 Sun 01.07.12 19:30-20:20

Fri 06.07.12 17:30-20:20 Sun 08.07.12 19:30-20:20

Fri 13.07.12 17:30-20:20 Sun 15.07.12 19:30-20:20

Fri 20.07.12 17:30-20:20 Sun 22.07.12 19:30-20:20

Fri 27.07.12 17:30-20:20 Sun 29.07.12 19:30-20:20

Fri 03.08.12 17:30-20:20 Sun 05.08.12 19:30-20:20

* More dates to come in August subject to demand. terms and conditions apply. you must be a Victor member to book via the Victor website. Membership is free. All fares shown are inclusive of fees, taxes and charges. Payment by card will incur an additional charge of 2.5% for bookings made via the Victor platform. check all applicable terms and conditions on the Victor website ( www.flyvictor.com ) before booking.

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VIctor’S SuMMer SeAt SALe: our FIVe MoSt PoPuLAr routeS FroM juSt £995 Per SeAt

London

Nice

Palma de Mallorca

Ibiza

Valencia

Paris

Innsbruck

Naples

Düsseldorf

Zurich

HamburgAmsterdam

Cannes

Faro

Lisbon

Bilbao

Malaga

Manchester

Munich

Vienna

Tivat

Olbia

ONLy 6

SEATS PER

FLIGHT

Geneva


12 • VICTOR

DESTINATION

IBIZA

BEyOND ThE BAlEArIc BEAT

The Med’s MosT celebraTed parTy island has a quieTer, More auThenTic side, as one VicTor MeMber reporTs

LP Hartley’s famous line, “The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there”, has probably rarely been applied to Ibiza. But

as I returned, I couldn’t help reflecting on how my current visit to the island had differed so much from my student experience back in the eighties.

This time I’d travelled by Learjet 45 with a businessman and his wife who’d shared my private jet to get to their holiday home. They’d enthusiastically given me advice about the best things to do on Ibiza beyond the party scene until we’d arrived at the private jet terminal, free of crowds and noise.

On the cliff tops of the north-eastern part of the island, my home for the next few days was the Hotel Hacienda Na Xamena. Already well established but subtly updated and refreshed by Alvar Lipszyc, the architect founder’s son and

his wife, Sabine, it is surrounded by pines and situated in an area of protected beauty.

As I walked into my room and threw open the windows (each one has a sea view which guests can enjoy from their own Jacuzzi) I began to feel the stresses of work ebb away.

Everything here has been created to harmonise with the surrounding natural beauty – the streams, waterfalls and plant life – as well as the traditional Moorish whitewashed architecture.

Eden, the hotel’s restaurant, sits on the edge of one of its swimming pools. During dinner you’ll find yourself bathed in the colours of the setting sun, gently reflected from the pool.

I had already made a booking at Cascadas Suspendidas, an outdoor thalasso therapy circuit.

It hangs at the top of the cliffs, around 200m above sea level and has a circuit

“ I started dinner with a Bellini, the harry’s Bar signature cocktail”


of heated seawater pools connected by stunning waterfalls.

Having unpacked, I met Serena Cook in the hotel reception. If you’re looking for exclusive experiences and access to Ibiza’s hidden gems, then Cook, who runs the concierge service, Deliciously Sorted (fans include Thandie Newton and Mick Jagger) is your woman. She had managed to get a table for lunch for us at El Bigote, an authentic fish restaurant which doesn’t have a phone number and which reportedly even refused the King of Spain admission because it was full.

Over fish stew made from the day’s catch, cooked gently with saffron, and a carafe of local wine, she told me about the exclusive experiences that she can arrange.

These include a chance to meet Argentine artist and Ibiza resident Grillo Demo, who will paint your portrait, complete with his signature motif, falling

DESTINATIONIBIZA

IBIZA


VICTOR • 13

DESTINATION

BEyOND ThE BAlEArIc BEAT

jasmine – but only if he thinks you’re fabulous enough.

After a swim back at the hotel and a freshen up it was time to head out for cocktails. It’s hard to think of two more contrasting holiday destinations than Ibiza and Venice but Cipriani, the owner of La Serenissima’s celebrated Harry’s Bar, has just launched in Party Central. With a restaurant, a grill on its terrace and a lounge, Downtown Ibiza at the Ibiza Gran Hotel serves Cipriani classics such as risotto primavera and vanilla crème meringue. Its walnut and chrome details are reminiscent of a luxury yacht. As the sun set, I started my dinner with a Bellini, the Harry’s Bar signature cocktail made with sparkling wine and peach purée.

Actually, I had three – and the next morning as my taxi made its way along winding roads to the small town of San Miguel, I was beginning to feel the effects. But a café con leche and a pastry soon revived me. I had come to see Italian craftsman and resident of the island, Dario Bome. A group of us watched transfixed as he set about creating leather belts, handbags and wallets with patient, deliberate movements in his workshop. Next door, his wife, Valeria, was designing Indian print dresses which she sells along with antique Indian jewellery.

Then it was back to Ibiza’s charming old town for lunch. I’d arranged to meet a knowledgeable ex-pat at El Olivo, in the Dalt neighbourhood. We had a starter of artichoke hearts in lemon juice with

pecorino cheese and olive oil, followed by fresh cod with sun-dried tomatoes and anchovies as my lunch partner gave me some further recommendations.

After we’d finished our café solo, he directed me to Montgríssimo, one of the best places to buy products from Hierbas de Ibiza. You can find its soaps and fragrances in some upmarket stores around the world, but there is something so much more authentic about buying them in Ibiza itself. The company’s eponymous signature scent is made from natural essences of orange and lemon peel, thyme, sage, lavender and rosemary. For my own, Balearic version of Proust’s Madeleine, I’d been advised to take home with me bath salts made from the produce of Las Salinas, Ibiza’s ancient salt flats, or handmade soap using aloe vera from Hierbas de Ibiza’s own plantations.

That night saw me, post thalasso, setting off for Km5, a restaurant, art gallery, boutique and music venue. Food at the restaurant is classically simple international cuisine and I had a wonderful salad of sweet, juicy tomatoes and a rich, creamy mozzarella. Open in the evenings from April to October, Km5’s boutique has fashion from local designers. The Garden Lounge is a chilled-out space with discreet lighting and a regularly changing roster of the coolest DJs. Perhaps I’m still a party animal at heart.

Hacienda Na Xamena at sunrise


Evening bliss at the Hacienda Na Xamena restaurant

GET IN TOUCH

www.deliciouslysortedibiza.comwww.hierbasdeibiza.comwww.hotelhacienda-ibiza.comwww.km5-lounge.comwww.elolivoibiza.org

det-det, calle bisbe azara, 4 – ibiza Town

dario bome, c/ de la iglesia 10, san Miguel

HOTEl HaCIENda

Na xamENa

ROCa llIsa GOlF COURsE

✈

IBIZaTOwN

FORmENTERa

TaGOmaGO


14 • VICTOR

VIcTOr EXclUSIVEIBIZA

Going the extra isle

Less than a kilometre from Ibiza, Tagomago is the ideal escape from the energy and vibrancy of the Med’s most famous party island

and its accompanying hedonism. Surrounded by crystal-clear turquoise

waters and rolling green hills, and covered in native grasses, an air of calm pervades Tagomago. As well as empty beaches, its 525,000 square metres are criss-crossed with pathways. The lighthouse – one of the few examples of human activity on the island – dates from 1909 and the island is also a bird sanctuary and nature reserve.

On the west coast, there is a beach with mooring which also offers water sports of all kinds; simply take your pick from yacht excursions, snorkelling, scuba diving, kayaking or fishing.

There is only one house on the island. Situated right in the middle with stunning 360-degree views of hills, the pool, the sea and Ibiza itself, this modern mansion has five double bedrooms with

Prices available on request. [email protected]: (+34) 971 228 259 (office)(+34) 665 603 066 (mobile)www.tagomago-island.com

en-suite bathrooms. Tagomago might feel remote from reality, but everyday luxuries include a sauna, an outdoor gym (why sweat inside with weather this good?) and a beach grill. There is also a heliport.

The unfussy, minimalist design of the house complements the island’s windswept natural beauty. Bleached wood and polished stone are set alongside plain white walls and aluminium furniture. With views such as these, simplicity is the best aesthetic.

A cook, housekeeper, personal butler and full concierge service come as part of the package. For an additional cost, massages and beauty treatments, yoga, pilates and private shopping excursions are also available. To add your touch, you can order bespoke flower arrangements.

A private piece of paradise

The island oF TAGOMAGO oFFers an escape FroM ibiza’s pulsing parTy scene

“ with views such as these, simplicity is the best aesthetic”

GO sOlO

White linen curtains billow gently in the breeze, and if the sun becomes a little too hot, guests can retire to shaded areas with comfortable daybeds. The pool is vast and its extensive surroundings contrast with the undulating green hills around it. As the sun sets, the colour scheme and the mood change slightly, as candles and discreet lighting appear. Drinks on the terrace after a long day’s sunbathing and swimming have never felt so relaxing.

The silence is broken only by the sound of cicadas and the breeze. If luxury is increasingly about seclusion and exclusivity rather than ostentatious detailing and intrusive service, Tagomago is at the forefront of the new luxury holiday revolution.

Should you wish to dip in and out of the Ibiza town atmosphere, you can reach it by boat in less than five minutes, and a helicopter can be made available (at additional cost). Tagomago is also perfect for events, whether business or pleasure. Whatever your plans, this is the ultimate in island luxury.

Perfect for a sundowner


VICTOR • 15

CôTe d’azuR

azur like it


A byword for glAmour And glitz, the Côte

d’Azur still hAs something new for

the luxury trAveller, As one viCtor member

disCovers

It tells you something about the long romance between the British and the South of France that the region’s most famous thoroughfare

in its biggest city, Nice, is called the Promenade des Anglais.

Today, of course, this once elegant walkway is a busy multi-lane highway, which, for many, shows how the area has become just a bit too popular for its own good. So, where to find the traditional luxury of the Côte d’Azur? How could I continue the calming, luxurious experience of arriving by

private jet in a part of the world often known for wealthy widows in their white Versace jeans and overpriced, under-delivering restaurants?

Having checked into my hotel, Château Eza (see page opposite) and spending a few moments enjoying the silence and taking in the views, I returned to Nice and made for Serain Cappa, a salon de thé in Place Garibaldi.

A café au lait and a meringue with chestnut purée, along with some people watching, soon had me in the

South of France mindset and I began to make some plans for my stay.

That evening I met some friends for dinner at L’Univers de Christian Plumail. Plumail serves classic haute cuisine with a fresh, modern twist. We ate lobster blended with orange and crab and milk-fed Pyrenean lamb with artichokes and new season garlic.

The next day I took the train along the coastline, past the beaches and glittering Med to Cannes for lunch at Le Mesclun. Here husband and wife

team Olivier and Anna Bouzerand offer a new take on the hearty, full-flavoured cuisine of the Midi with dishes such as duck liver marinated in Sauternes with walnuts and lemon chutney.

I opted for a sea bream fillet with baked leeks and chorizo, then vanilla and pistachio risotto with raspberries cooked in balsamic vinegar, the sweet and sour flavours refreshing my palate. During my post-prandial stroll I came across Trabaud, which offers a carefully edited collection of women’s

DeStiNatiON


16 • VICTOR

DeStiNatiON

CôTe d’azuR

menswear from well-established luxury labels and new, up-and-coming names.

Bags in hand, I moved onto Antibes, with its Picasso museum, where windows look out onto the Med. After pottering around the museum and the old city walls, I met a friend who introduced me to Les Vieux Murs, a restaurant in the old style with its bergère chairs and washed walls.

Situated on the rampart of Antibes’ old castle, food is classic but discreetly refreshed with starters such as pea velouté flavoured with mint, served with pan-fried foie gras. I chose loup de mer with fennel and a hint of lemon – light and full of fresh, subtle flavours.

The next day was spent shopping in Nice again. I’d been given instructions to visit two shops in particular. Perry De La Rosa has luxury vintage pieces, from watches and jewellery to picture frames and homewares. Then it was on to Maison Auer, one of the Côte d’Azur’s institutions that has retained its integrity over the years. Following the shopping list that I had been given by friends at home, I chose chocolates and marrons glacés, from the vast arrays on its marble-topped counters.

One of the joys of Mediterranean life is the late afternoon ice cream. Fenocchio in Nice’s Old Town has helped turn ice cream into a true gastronomic experience rather than simply a treat to keep children quiet. A bustling café and maître glacier, it serves up a vast array of flavours such

Racing ahead: Monte Carlo

Stepping onto the terrace of Château Eza, the vast blue expanse of the Mediterranean before you, a gentle breeze

wafting the rhythmic chirrup of the cicadas from the surrounding trees, you’d be hard pressed to believe that this part of France has suffered centuries of conflict.

Fortunately, that all happened a long time ago and the presence over subsequent years of royalty, philosophers and diplomats has brought a sense of peace to this stunningly beautiful hotel, almost 500 metres above the sea, near the village of Eze.

The Château underwent a €2million renovation in 2010, so it has all the facilities of a luxurious five-star hotel while maintaining the feel of the comfortable family home it once was.

This really is a boutique hotel. There are just seven rooms and four grand suites. One room has a canopy bed while another features two fireplaces.

Throughout the hotel floral patterns and period furniture are in keeping with the character of the building. But there is an element of modern luxury too – some of the rooms have Jacuzzis from which you can enjoy views of the Med.

Château Eza also has an arrangement with the nearby private beach of Anjuna, should you want to feel the sand between your toes.

The Château has a Michelin-starred restaurant where the chef’s imaginative take on the haute cuisine of the Midi includes lobster ragout with shellfish and marinated roast lamb with courgettes and garlic. A pre-desert is intriguingly described as “an eruption of chocolate”.

All this, of course, enjoyed against those Riviera views.

A double room for two adults starts from €[email protected]

riSiNg abOve it allA swedish prince and nietzsche were among visitors to Château eza

weblinkswww.lemesclun-restaurant.comwww.lesvieuxmurs.comwww.delarosa.frwww.maison-auer.comwww.trabaud.fr

MOnACO

niCe

CAnnes

“i chose chocolates and marrons glacés”

as zabaglione, jasmine and chocolate with ginger. Dazed by the choice I opted for Belgian chocolate and raspberry and set off to explore the Old Town.

Later that evening, sitting on the jet as we rose above the lights glittering across the Mediterranean, I reflected that despite its long history as a playground for the wealthy, the South of France can still offer something new for the luxury traveller.

✈

The view from Château eza


DeStiNatiON

CôTe d’azuR

VICTOR • 17

positioned on a superb viewing deck. She even has a custom-designed 9.5m (31ft) classic cabin cruiser to harmonise with her period styling, allowing guests safe and dry passage ashore in all weathers.

As for leisure facilities, a deck Jacuzzi and an outdoor cinema are supplemented by two speedboats, five waverunners and an array of other water toys. Her traditional wood-panelled interior features all the latest communications and entertainment equipment.

We were particularly impressed with the master duplex suite which includes a full-width cabin, ‘his and hers’ bathrooms, living room and dining saloon, observation lounge or cinema, study, private sundeck and pool. This gives the principal charterer the flexibility to hold meetings and even film screenings in peaceful seclusion, as

Some like it yacht

In the early years of the twentieth century, the Corsair series of yachts owned by financier JP Morgan Jr and his father, J Pierpont Morgan, were

celebrated and envied in equal measure on both sides of the Atlantic.

It’s said that when Morgan senior was asked how much it cost to operate such a vessel, he replied: “Sir, if you have to ask that question, you can’t afford it.”

At 90m (296ft) including her spars, Nero is a worthy successor to the Morgan’s Corsairs.

Available for charter and for sale, through superyacht brokerage Burgess, with whom Victor has an exclusive partnership, Nero echoes the form of the classic steam yacht while it features the speed, comfort, accommodation and quietness of the modern superyacht. Her woodwork and highly complex carpentry have been skillfully made to resemble what the very smartest yachts would have featured in the golden age of yachting. Every door handle and teaspoon is completely in keeping with the style of the vessel.

The side-boarding platform makes an excellent ‘beach’ from which to swim and dive, access the yacht by tender and generally enjoy the water.

Intelligent use has been made of many classic features. The funnel, for example, not only houses essential equipment but is

MediterrAneAn suMMer 2012 rAtes€420,000 per week excluding operating costs – July/August and events€385,000 per week excluding operating costs – other monthsAlso offered for sale. Price on application.www.burgessyachts.com

well as join his or her guests in the social areas of the yacht. Two VIP suites, each with their own saloon, provide a level of accommodation usually reserved for the master suite on other yachts.

If required, one VIP suite can be divided into two separate cabins each with ensuite facilities. Two additional guest cabins can be configured with large twins or a double bed. These small but well conceived details all add to Nero’s indisputably attractive charter credentials.

The advantage of sailing around the Riviera is that every day is, in effect, a different holiday. Bored? Just weigh anchor and move on. A yacht is also ideal for seclusion and escaping the crowds.

A typical Riviera itinerary might start from Antibes to glitzy St Tropez, then to Cannes for some shopping, before enjoying the relative peace of Cap d’Antibes. Finally, it has to be Monte Carlo for an evening ashore. The Morgans would be proud.

turn bACk the CloCk And exPerienCe the elegAnCe And style of 1920s yAChting but with the most luxurious modern Comforts

“ start with a voyage from antibes to the glitz of St tropez”


18 • VICTOR

Every now and then in any particular market there is a game changer, a business disrupter. Clive Jackson is

the latest in a relatively small but very significant and exclusive group of people who have dared to look at an existing business model and tear up conventional wisdom in search of a better way.

Bill Gates and Steve Jobs did it with computing. Gates dared to challenge the hegemony established by giants such as IBM, arguing that his software would one day put a PC on every desk top. Then his former colleague Steve Jobs asserted that a simply practical computer could also be sleek, sexy and desirable.

Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou disrupted the short and medium range airline industry. The cosy, complacent assumptions of state

airlines and large corporates were suddenly blown apart by a newcomer called easyJet, which was just that.

OK, so it worked with mass aviation, but can it really work in the rarefied world of private jet travel? Can a sector where money (it’s generally thought) is far less of a consideration, and where privacy is a major selling point, really be an appropriate market to disrupt?

“Absolutely,” says Clive Jackson without a moment’s hesitation. Sitting in his office in Fulham, south west London, a mug of tea in hand, dressed in an immaculate white shirt and elegantly faded jeans, his passion is obvious.”

He adds: “What we’re saying to people who currently charter private jets is, there’s a smarter way of doing it – if you’re not using Victor to pay less for your charter or you’re

With one thousand like-minded members behind him, Clive JaCkson is bringing about a radiCal Change in the Way private aviation Works and hoW people think about it

ClivePROFILEVICTOR

not paying by the seat, then you’re missing out.”

So many new business ideas come about through a frustration with the status quo, and a desire to make it better. For Jackson, 52, it was BMI’s scheduled service to Mallorca – or the lack of it. When the carrier ended its regular flights to the island where Jackson has a home, he asked a group of fellow passengers in business class what they should do about it. Hiring a private jet was one option. “The problem was, though, that we’d all have to be travelling at the same time and with only the seven of us that just wasn’t realistic,” explains Jackson.

After considerable research, he came up with Victor. Launched officially across the whole of Europe in August last year, following extensive trials to Mallorca, it

Interview:

“ there’s a smarter way of flying private jets – if you’re not using Victor to pay less for your charter or to pay by the seat, then you’re missing out”


VICTOR • 19

enables members to charter a private jet and sell spare seats, be it on the aircraft they’re travelling in or on the otherwise unused return leg. Victor now offers a pay-by-the seat service on a private jet that is already flying at a time and to a destination that is also of interest to another of its members. There are usually around 500 seats on the system at any one time.

“We have 220 aircraft at our disposal from 50 of the finest operators across Europe,” says Jackson. “Most importantly we have introduced a set of terms and conditions of travel between our members and operators so passengers can feel more confident and have much greater financial protection.”

“Consumers want more transparency”Victor is not a broker, but a marketplace. “The difference is about transparency and a genuine commitment to try and save people money. We’re happy to let them see the actual quotes directly from the operator before they book and we openly publish all the contact details of every operator partner. This is because we believe that the consumer protection we offer, plus the choice of supplier and the prospect of selling a seat is a good enough reason for switching to Victor.”

There are hundreds of thousands of people who assume that they can’t afford private aviation but would gladly accept a seat on someone’s private jet if only it was affordable, and now, with Victor, says Jackson, they can.

This is the latest in a long line of business ventures that Clive Jackson has launched. Probably his best known enterprise is digital marketing agency Global Beach. A provider of web design and social media strategy which puts a strong emphasis on consumer interaction, as well as measurable results, its clients include Bentley Motors, Casio, Financial Times, PayPal and Sony Entertainment.

His experience with Global Beach, which he founded in 1993 at the very start of the digital revolution, has clearly provided Jackson with knowledge and insights that are ideal for creating an online e-commerce business which is ultra-responsive to its customers.

It’s when he talks about this interaction with Victor customers that Jackson is at his most passionate. Phrases such as

will be many, will be to gear up for the explosive growth that an internet platform will face when it reaches its breakthrough moment.”

Victor has just finished its first round of fundraising. Jackson put up the first couple of million of his own money to prove the model, and even in these difficult economic times he closed a friends, family and members round in record time and was oversubscribed. “People are really excited by the concept,” says Jackson. “One prospective investor and member came in to meet me and actually said, ‘You’ve done what I’ve been thinking about for several years, so I’m in’, others have put money in because they know me and my track record.” Again the fact that so many shareholders are members and users is a real vote of confidence, Jackson argues.

“power of the consumer” and “aviation revolution” pepper his language. “The key is to understand exactly what the consumer wants and when to give it to them,” he explains. “Then you need to deliver on the promise and exceed their expectations.”

Jackson, the digital marketing guru, really gets into his stride when it comes to the new digital world which Victor has been born into. “The balance of power is changing; there’s more power than ever in the hands of the consumer,” he says.

Created by real users“One of the big differences between Victor and everyone else in the aviation business is that the consumer has a far greater influence. I’ve designed our business model in conjunction with 30 or more regular jet charterers, people with fractional ownership, those that have pre-paid for a set number of hours and the occasional spot charterer.

“Our success to date is a reflection of members who are still heavily involved in helping us refine and create new products and services. It’s the true democratic power of the web – social engagement.”

Victor’s practice of customers sharing a cabin, for instance, has come directly from those customers themselves. Hitherto it was considered that a private jet was just that, but a remarkable 92 per cent of Victor members are happy to have someone else in the cabin with them.

In August last year, shortly after its launch, the company sold just a handful of seats on one route and now it boasts sales on a quarter of all aircraft that its members have chartered; Jackson confidently expects that figure will double to 50 per cent within a year.

Going global“Like all internet businesses, our success is measured by the number of members, and of course, transactions. With over 1,000 like-minded members already behind the brand, the signs are quite encouraging.”

Harri Koponen, Executive VP of Rovio, the company behind the globally successful Angry Birds game, says: “I’m totally sold on the concept. Victor is already having a disruptive influence, having created both a marketplace and a compelling consumer brand and has the potential to go global within a year.”

He adds: “The challenge, and there

BORn hong kong

EduCaTIOn seaford College, petworth, West sussex

LIVEs henley-on-thames and occasionally mallorca. married with one daughter

FaVOuRITE mOVIE in bruges

mOsT InspIRIng ROLE mOdELs sir Jackie stewart and sir richard branson

PROFILEVICTOR

“ like all internet businesses, our success is measured by the number of members, and of course, transactions”

“Other business leaders are telling us that we have the opportunity to become a truly global brand that could achieve the sort of valuation attributed to a successful internet platform,” he says, but you get the feeling that Jackson and his team of eight (they are busy recruiting) view the creation and development of Victor as almost more about being successful than simply creating a major money spinner.

“There’s so much potential here that we’re all acutely conscious of the pressure not to make too many mistakes, as we innovate and try new things. If they work then great and if they don’t, then we do something else,” he says. “The first few years of a start-up business, particularly one that has such potential to disrupt the marketplace will be highly challenging.

“It’s all about energy, innovation and being smart about where and what you invest in; alongside some unfashionably long hours, which is why we’re absolutely determined to get it right.”


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if you think private jet travel is out of the question ... · excellent food at gran hotel son net...

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