Insider News

The Insider from Waterstone...

It is a very busy and exciting time for us here at Waterstone as we take the new year head-on. We spend our days striving to inspire you, whether that is through our many sales missions in the US and Canada and creating new partnerships which we believe will be of value to you. We are always happy to share with you updates on our company and our collection, which this month includes: 

 

  • A new restaurant in Florence
  • "Glamping" opportunities in Argentina
  • Helpful Peru-focused sales tools
  • New & noteworthy changes & additions
  • A spotlight on our team 


All the best,







Win a 2 night stay
at The First Roma Dolce!
Click here to learn more.

What's New at Sina Hotels

"Il Giardino" Restaurant at the Sina Villa Medici in Florence

New Restaurant at Florence's Sina Villa Medici

A quaint, serene courtyard with a pool and lush, green botanical gardens is not easily found in the very heart of Florence, yet this is precisely what the Sina Villa Medici' offers its guests. Facing the courtyard, and under the glass paneled ceiling in the photo above, is a conservatory where the hotel has long served gourmet meals to guests beneath the stars. Wanting to create a fresh, new culinary experience for their guests, Sina Villa Medici has transformed the conservatory into a completely new restaurant named Il Giardino. Along with an intimate dining ambiance and seats for only 25 guests, Il Giardino Restaurant offers an appealing menu that blends traditional Italian and Mediterranean cuisine with modern twists meant to satisfy all of your senses. Click here to learn more.

New Videos from Florence & Venice

Sina Villa Medici (Florence, Italy)
Click video to view

Sina Centurion Palace (Venice, Italy)
Click video to view

"Glamping" in the Argentine Forest

Peuma Hue, our favorite private "estancia" in Bariloche, Argentina has recently added "glamping", or glamorous camping, to their experience offerings. Their 2 new yurts are a 20 minute walk from the property's main lodge or just a quick car ride. Sitting on a raised deck in the middle of the forest, the 16-ft diameter canvas yurts offer breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding Patagonian mountains. Each of the yurts can accommodate 3 people and have the option of being booked on all-inclusive basis where meals and activities are included. Estancia Peuma Hue offers many appealing activities for nature lovers including:
  • Horseback riding
  • Kayaking, boating and fishing
  • Hiking and birdwatching
  • Yoga, mindful walks and meditation 

Planning Peru - Custom Itineraries & Informative Webinars

One of the reasons Metropolitan Touring Peru should be your go-to DMC when planning Peru is that they are able to customize and tailor itineraries to perfectly align with your clients' interests and passions. Get inspired and see the types of adventures they can arrange by looking at their 2019 sample programs which include the following itinerary themes:
 

Nature lovers  |  Deluxe Peru  |  Gastronomic specialty  |  Moche Route  |  Land of the Incas  |  Family program
 

Metropolitan Touring also hosts many informative webinars throughout the year. Click here to view the full schedule. Upcoming webinar topics include:

  • February 21 -- "Peru 101: Peru is a country full of diversity and color due to its culture and climate richness. With our quick guide, you can learn what makes Peru such an outstanding destination for travelers of all ages." Register here
  • March 21 -- "Desert WondersIncredible beaches bathed by the Pacific Ocean and gigantic mysterious forms drawn in the desert are just some of the attractions of these dream destinations." Register here

New & Noteworthy

Gansevoort Turks + Caicos Announces New Independent Brand
 

In late January, the resort formally known as Gansevoort Turks + Caicos unveiled a new name and brand, Wymara Resort and Villas. Celebrating their 10th anniversary with a fresh new identity, Wymara remains fully owned and managed by the original developers and owners of the resort. With no change in staff, you can rest assured that your clients will continue to enjoy the same warm hospitality, attentive service and amenities they have grown to love through the years. Our on-island DMC, Luxury Experiences Turks & Caicos, is very well connected and the first to know about changes such as this, so make sure to book with them to always stay ahead of the curve.

Alberto Pirozzini Promoted to "Area
General Manager" of Pellicano Hotels

 

Alberto Pirozzini, longtime General Manager of Hotel Il Pellicano in Tuscany, has recently been asked to take on a larger role within Pellicano Hotels Group. He will now, in addition to maintaining his General Manager position at Hotel Il Pellicano, act as the Area General Manager of all 3 Pellicano properties, namely the previously mentioned Hotel Il Pellicano, La Posta Vecchia Hotel outside of Rome and Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa, the newest addition in Ischia. With this new title he will oversee the operations of all 3 properties. We have always enjoyed working with Alberto, a true professional, and we congratulate him on this new position.


The Mall Luxury Outlets Sanremo
Coming Soon


The very successful Mall Luxury Outlets Firenze is in the final stages of opening up their new location, The Mall Luxury Outlets Sanremo in June of 2019. Located conveniently close to our hotel in the Riviera of Flowers, Royal Hotel Sanremo, and just 30 minutes from the dazzling town of Monte Carlo, your fashionista clients will be in heaven.


Click here to learn more

Getting to Know Waterstone

Martin Thomas, Director of Marketing & Consulting Services


Martin Thomas (he's the one on the left!) is a veteran and passionate member of the travel industry. He brings energy and insight into every project he undertakes and we are very grateful to have him on our team. Get to know him better by reading our Q&A below.
Q: What attracted you to work at Waterstone? A: I was drawn to Waterstone's commitment and for how the company celebrates the art of luxury hospitality. I find it very artisanal in that everything we do at Waterstone is hand-crafted and not off the shelf. Q: What have been some highlights of working at Waterstone? A: I am certainly proud of the latest Waterstone Book and the reception it’s had with advisors and industry partners. We have introduced great cooperative marketing opportunities to our members as well, but you can’t beat visiting with our members alongside our travel advisor partners to understand exactly how best to support them. So my fam trips last year to Venice and the Dolomites visiting
La Perla, Sina Centurion Palace and Hotel L'Orologio Venice and to Peru visiting the Country Club Lima Hotel and touring with Metropolitan Touring Peru would have to top off my highlights reel! Q: When you’re not at Waterstone what do you enjoy doing? A: Apart from family activities, my spare time is devoted to playing and watching soccer which has been my passion since I was 5 when I also started supporting Manchester City. It's great to

see them finally succeeding now and playing such lovely "football" in the process, and I am pleased to still be able to run around and kick a ball myself – albeit a little slower these days! Q: What is something you cannot travel without? A: My trusty i-pod!  It might be a bit antiquated now, but it took me ages to download all my old tapes and vinyl records onto it – so it's with me on every flight! Q: You moved here from England many years ago. What is something you miss about English life that you can’t find here in America? A: Pubs, friends and good English 'banter’ or ‘mickey-taking’ as we call it back home. But since the advent of Skype, local IPA breweries here in NJ and the English Premier League being broadcast on TV – things have gotten a lot better!
 

What the "Stoners" (what we call ourselves here at Waterstone) are listening to now

Music is something all of us share a passion for. Here's what's currently playing through our headphones:

 

-Marcelo: Ashes to Ashes by David Bowie "Missing the greatness of BOWIE."
-Lynne:
Somebody to Love by Queen "Ever since the movie Bohemian Rhapsody
came out I've been listening to Queen and trying to keep up with the high notes.
"
-Martin:
Yellow by Coldplay "The album is always in my car - it never gets old!"
  -Marianna: Catchy Song from the Lego 2 Movie "This is life with 2 young boys...
-Grace:
Million Reasons by Lady Gaga "I'm still not over 'A Star is Born'..."

Upcoming Waterstone Webinars

The First Roma Dolce - Enhancing "the First" Experience in Rome
Wednesday, March 6th at 12 PM EST

First came The First Roma Arte, which has received high praise from advisors, clients and press alike. Now (next month!), The First Roma Dolce arrives to build upon the First experience in an especially "sweet" way. The hotel, dedicated to the world of fine chocolates, pastries and all things sweet, will include a patisserie in addition to 23 contemporary accommodations. Join General Manager Daniele Carta and Sales & Marketing Manager Daniela Moita to learn more about this exciting expansion of the First brand, which will bring a host of new experiences to all guests. One advisor who attends the webinar in its entirety will win a complimentary 2 night stay at The First Roma Dolce.Winner will be picked randomly and contacted after the webinar.
 

 Click here to register 

Discovering Château du Coudreceau - The Private Golf Estate in France's Loire Valley
Wednesday, March 20th at 12 PM EST

Your own private XVIII century château in the Loire Valley, your own private golf course on 200 acres of country bliss, your own top notch, English speaking staff to look after your every need and a range of luxury experiences to suit the most demanding tastes. Do I have your attention yet? Join General Manager Niall Carroll on this webinar to learn more about how Château du Coudreceau, just 90 minutes from Paris, is the perfect option for your special clients seeking exclusivity in a truly luxurious château country estate.
 

 Click here to register 

Metropolitan Touring Colombia - How the Country's
Best DMC Can Make Planning Easier

Wednesday, April 24th at 12 PM EST

Few destinations around the world are as ‘hot’ as Colombia, and we at Waterstone are honored to be working with Metropolitan Touring Colombia, a Destination Management Company that has quickly established itself as the most innovative and well connected in the country. There is so much to experience in Colombia, from the marvelous cities of Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena, brimming with art and culture, to beautiful Caribbean beaches on which to bask, and Metropolitan Touring Colombia is the ticket to everything Colombia has to offer. Join us as we talk with Eugeny Yunis, Manager of Metropolitan Touring's exclusive Travel Advisor Desk, about how her team can take the pressure off planning your clients' trips to Colombia.
 

 Click here to register 

QUICK LINKS:

      

Our Collection     Inquiries     Past Webinars


REPRESENTING FINE HOTELS, RESORTS, YACHTS & DMC'S IN:
Italy ~ Ireland ~ UK ~ France ~ Argentina ~ Ecuador ~ Peru ~ Colombia
 Turks & Caicos ~ India & South Asia

 


CONTACT US:
1-800-528-6069 | 973-543-1600 | grace@waterstonemarketing.com

 


CONNECT WITH US: