Ultra Women in Travel

Today – Thursday 8th March – is International Women’s Day 2018! We’re marking the occasion by celebrating our fabulous female UltraVilla experts – of which we are fortunate to have many. A few of our great experts share their thoughts and insight on why women are so successful in the travel industry:

Katharina Allès-Trauttmansdorff, Italy Expert

Excellence.Villas by Trust&Travel

“I think that tourism is a business where women can find their place more easily than in other businesses. You don’t necessarily need much of an education, but you most certainly need lots of common sense and a sense of service. Human relationships are of the highest importance. You must be able to multi-task, and the industry lends itself to a freelance way of working, so women can juggle their time schedules to fit family needs. Tourism also is a business where imagination, dreaming and the capacity to enjoy are just as important as the amount of money you make.”

Alexis Gillis, Cape Town Expert

La Rive Franschhoek & La Rive Cape Town

“Women are fabulous in this industry as we are attention to detail orientated people and care about the small things. When travelling clients want to know that everything was thought about and taken care of.”

Anna Deimezi, Greece Expert

White Key Villas

“The industry has been dominated by men holding the key positions in the past, but this has been changing over the past years. More and more women are taking the lead and are shaping the industry. What really sets women apart is their ability to swiftly adapt and efficiently multitask in this very demanding, fast-paced hospitality environment.”

Sylvia Delvaille Jones, Global Advisor

Villas & Apartments Abroad

“The luxury villa industry attracts women because the product reflects what we romanticize about and what reflects in our everyday lives. We are drawn to the beautiful.

We are often the keepers of our own homes, so we have the eye to identify and appreciate a fabulous villa. We do have a tendency to home in on the issues, big, small or insignificant, but as a result, we strive for perfection, which in turn enhances our villas and the services we provide. We see things through critical eyes because it is so important. 

We have that knack for carefully selecting what we feel is a villa that is best suited for different groups of people. Affording the family or group of friends a rounded experience with a taste of local culture, we will dig to uncover unusual things and experiences in the immediate area and further afield in order to keep all of the age groups engaged, learning, but most importantly having fun. It is about bringing them closest to the life, land, culture and people of the area.”

Follow our social media hashtags to find out more about our inspiring experts, including their experiences in travel, setting up and running their own travel businesses, and what their favourite private rentals of the moment are!

#womenintravel #ladiesinleisure #ultravillainess #homeofthemoment #dreamhomefromhome #luxurytravelinspo #ultrainspiration

This is House & Garden’s profile of UltraVilla, from its March Villa Special Feature:

PERFECT MATCH

Gone are the days of scrolling through endless listings for the perfect villa, as Ultra Villa has revolutionised the system Back in 2014, a handful of travel experts put their heads together to brainstorm a platform that would bring together the cream of the world’s villa rental specialists. They agreed what was required was a match· making service that paired traveller with property, from trusted rental companies across the globe.

What followed was the birth of Ultra Villa. Its brilliance is twofold. First. it gives travellers access to the world’s leading independent luxury villa rental experts and their exquisite properties: everything from chalets to beach houses, mountain lodges, castles and cosy cottages. Secondly, it introduces travellers to the experts on the ground who can provide a hands· on local concierge service. For example, a couple looking to rent a property on Harbour Island in the Bahamas, will be put in touch with Ultra Villa’s local expert. who’ll not only be able to secure the prettiest bloom-covered plantation-style cottage, but will recommend the finest places to eat. from The Dunmore (strict dress code and rum punches) to Brian’s Grill and Jerk, where you dine on conch chowder in his front yard. You will have a golf cart parked out front, groceries in the fridge and water taxis pre-booked.

A strict ‘by invitation only’ policy and vetting process ensures UltraVilla’s members have close ties to all of their properties – something that often allows access to villas, homes and estates that wouldn’t usually be available for rent to the public. With show-stopping properties, independent villa companies and expert local knowledge – from Fiji to Saint-Tropez, the Greek islands to the Indian Ocean, and Turks and Caicos to The Algarve – isn’t it time you added UltraVilla to your little black book?

Ultravilla and Luxury Cotswold Rentals are delighted to be supporting this event at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square on February 20th 2018 – with a silent auction chance to stay at Weaver’s Cottage in The Cotswolds, picture below – as the work that Wellbeing of Women do is invaluable, and woman’s reproductive health is an important issue for us. We know we are privileged and with privilege comes responsibility, a responsibility to help, not just with money – nor always in the public eye – but with action.

Hosted by Claudia Winkleman – the host of Strictly Come Dancing – and her mother, Eve Pollard – an renown international newspaper and magazine editor – the duo will be interviewed by their friend and broadcaster Emma Freud (wife of Richard Curtis) after a champagne dinner; and there will be auction to raise funds for the charity. The event is sold out with over 400 guests attending.

Wellbeing of Women is the only UK charity dedicated to improving the health of women and babies, to make a difference to everybody’s lives today and tomorrow. If you are not already in the know you can find the auction here.

They fund medical research
Wellbeing of Women funds some of the best research in women’s health in the UK, according to the highest standards of peer review. We also fund the research careers of the brightest young gynaecologists, obstetricians and midwives. They will go on to become experts in their field, making an invaluable contribution to significant improvements and innovations in women’s gynaecological and reproductive health
Since the charity was founded, we have contributed to many life-changing medical developments – IVF, fetal scanning, vitamin supplements in pregnancy and cervical cancer screening, to name just a few.

They raise awareness
Wellbeing of Women works to improve the public’s awareness of the health issues affecting women at each stage of their lives.

They provide health information
Wellbeing of Women provide the most up-to-date information on women’s health to support individuals, their families and friends.

All this is made possible thanks to the generosity of their supporters:

• Individual gifts
• Corporate sponsorship & partnership
• Donations from trusts & foundations
• Events
• Volunteer branches

If you feel, like us, that their work is invaluable and can help support Wellbeing of Women in any way, please get in contact and get involved.

Winter has to be one of the most popular times for a romantic getaway, the cold weather and dark nights encouraging you to curl up somewhere special with someone exceptional or run away to somewhere where the sun will warm your skins. And as Valentine’s Day is upon us, there is absolutely no excuse not to whisk away the most important person in your life right now, or at least set that train off down the tracks. So, from the Paris cliche that is never a cliche, from private tropical oases to cosy mountain retreats, and from chic rural boltholes to sexy beach getaways, here are a few of our favourite ideas for a couples vacation or break this winter. But only a brief snapshot of the boltholes our experts can offer that are ideal for an intimate retreat any time of the year, perfect for asking the most important question of your life if that is on your mind; or just showing someone very special how much time spent just with them means to you …

THE COTSWOLDS

Tucked into a hillside overlooking a vineyard and the Welsh hills beyond, Little Lodge, near Cheltenham, is a perfect romantic retreat for two. Cosy up around the fire-pit with something cold and bubbly … Perhaps a glass or two of Cotswold champagne … Part of Luxury Cotswold Rental’s collection.

PARIS

Paris is the City of Love all year round, of course, but if you visit during winter – when there are fewer other tourists and snow sprinkles around – you can have more of the capital just between the two of you. And what better way than to base yourself right in the heart of the city at one of Haven In’s amazing apartments. There’s nothing more romantic than savouring some quality time with your sweetheart in the heart of Paris.

THE ALPS

Enjoy a romantic ski trip to the Alps while staying at the charming La Petite Ferme chalet, located in a picturesque hamlet of Montriond on the outskirts of Morzine. It’s only a five-minute drive from the bubble at Ardent, so you can easily access the slopes and then retreat to your couple’s chalet at the end of the day for a cosy evening just for two.

Available through UltraVilla ski chalet expert Ultimate Luxury Chalets, La Petite Ferme has been beautifully restored by its owners and is luxuriously decorated in furs, cowhides, dark wood and other mountain elements. The double height ceiling of the lounge area gives a fantastic spaciousness to the chalet, which is amplified by the floor to ceiling windows with views onto the distant ski lifts and local church steeple. Adjacent is an open plan kitchen with a traditional wood burner.

Two of the chalet’s bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms and the third an open plan and a separate shower room. The delectable decor is carried over into the bedrooms, each with individually styled featuring cow or deer themed antiques.

If you’re not snuggled on the cosy living room sofa enjoying its vast selection of DVDs, you’re bound to be relaxing in the chalet’s private outdoor hot-tub.

HARBOUR ISLAND

New England charm in a Caribbean clime with small narrow streets and perfectly formed old clapperboard houses – but still bristling with the conveniences of modern life. You can curl up with your ‘plus one’ in perfect seclusion but still have fine tête-à-tête dining and some serious clubbing a stone’s throw away. And, of course, the famous pink sands for that romantic morning stroll or late night wander … Allamanda is a perfect example of Pamela Murdock’s great portfolio.