‘Riding The Rails’ In Ireland, Lisa Smyth Is Surprised To Find That There Is No Better Way To Discover Her Cherished Homeland – All In Five-star Luxury, Of Course.
“The Irish are not good at formality,” laughs Michael McCarthy, Train Manager on board Belmond’s Grand Hibernian – Ireland’s first, and only, luxury train. We are chatting while seated in the wonderfully elegant Observation Car of the train Kildare, on our way to disembark in Dublin after a two-night Taste of Ireland tour.
“We provide five-star luxury, but with a relaxed approach and plenty of Irish charm. What is unique about Belmond is that each property is authentic to its location – and the Grand Hibernian is Irish in every way, including the fact that all the staff have the gift of the gab,” jokes McCarthy with smiling eyes.
Full disclosure: I am Irish. Born in Dublin, I moved to Australia when I was a child, but I consider both countries my home. So, it was with some trepidation that I boarded the shiny, midnight blue train three days earlier. I was worried the formality that can often come with high-end experiences might make our time uncomfortable, and I was keen for my partner to experience the warm and irreverent Ireland I love so much.
A Hibernian welcome
I need not have worried. Within five minutes of our arrival on the first day, Johnny, the delightfully jaunty, waistcoat-clad Food and Beverage Manager, had made two playful jokes at my partner’s expense while pouring us our second glass of
Champagne. Our first glass had been consumed on the platform where we were greeted by lively Irish music and trays of beverages carried by our sharply dressed attendants.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2018-Ausgabe von The CEO Magazine - ANZ.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2018-Ausgabe von The CEO Magazine - ANZ.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
There Were No Unknowns For Us
Putting discipline at the core of figurehead construction helped it survive both the global financial crisis and the covid-19 pandemic, says managing director Joe Grasso.
The Future Is Digital
We are watching a lot more television as a result of the pandemic, but as the senior vice president, head of streaming for 10 viacomcbs Liz Baldwin explains, the way we view it has totally changed.
The Ultimate Investments
With the global economic recovery from the pandemic underway, many analysts are suggesting now is the time to invest – but will whisky, soybeans or bitcoin find a way into your portfolio?
Once in a LIFETIME
CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF INTEGRITI PROJECTS ANDREW STENOS IS BUILDING MORE THAN BESPOKE HOMES. HE’S ALSO BUILDING DREAMS FOR CLIENTS WHO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT.
PUTTING FAMILY FIRST
COUNTRY LIVING HOMES MANAGING DIRECTOR MARK RAVENSCROFT HAS OVERSEEN IMPRESSIVE GROWTH, BUT NEVER LOST SIGHT OF WHAT MAKES THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS SUCH A SUCCESS.
“A SAFER COMMUNITY IS MY MAIN PRIORITY”
ULTIMATE SECURITY CEO NASSIM SAID HAS BUILT A HIGH-TECH SECURITY ORGANISATION FROM THE GROUND UP, ALWAYS WITH COMMUNITY SAFETY IN MIND AND AN INSISTENCE ON FAMILY VALUES.
We Did It Our Way.
WHEN STEVEN SIMEONI FOUNDED TAS CITY BUILDING, HE KNEW HE WANTED TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
FROM PRECISION TO PREZZEE
A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY BARON AT 24, PRECISION GROUP BILLIONAIRE SHAUN BONÉTT HAS BUILT HIS CAREER ON UNDERSTANDING THE RETAIL MARKET. NOW HE’S INTRODUCING PREZZEE, THE DIGITAL GIFT CARD PLATFORM THAT’S CHANGING THE WAY WE GIVE.
HIGHWAY STAR
IN REGIONAL AUSTRALIA, WHERE TRUCKS ROUTINELY NAVIGATE VAST STRETCHES OF HIGHWAY, THE ROAD BETWEEN AGRIBUSINESS AND COMMUNITY IS SHORT. DENILIQUIN FREIGHTERS IS AN OLD HAND AT THAT ROUTE, WHICH CEO VICKI MEYER SAYS IS ITS MOST IMPORTANT ONE.
BENEATH THE SHEETS
A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP GOES A LONG WAY TOWARDS MENTAL WELLNESS, AND AH BEARD CEO TONY PEARSON BELIEVES THE OFT OVERLOOKED MATTRESS IS THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT.