I’m thrilled to kick off my new series, Travel Obsessions of the Month (TOM), which will highlight the latest things in luxury travel and lifestyle that I am obsessing over. August’s TOMs range from concierge experiences to international food and cocktail scenes. Enjoy!
Feeling VIP with The ALIX Experience: A few months ago I wrote about this new members-only concierge service for female business travelers. Well in July I got to experience an event first-hand at Sotheby’s with a great group of dynamic women. We had a private exhibition tour of the Contemporary Living 
sale and 20th-21st century art and design, led by Aimee Pflieger, Specialist in the Photographs Department at Sotheby‘s and interior designer Fernando Santangelo. I love art, interior decor and design, so being able to speak with the brains behind the exhibition was a true treat! Post-tour my friend and I ended up going to dinner with one of the ladies from the group and we had a fabulous time–a testament to the wonderful experience that can be had through ALIX! www.thealixexperience.com
Drinking it Up in Sydney: Trendy Sydney cocktail bar, QT Sydney, has unveiled a line-up of imaginative new cocktails with a playful, “Aussie” touch. Made in Perlini shakers, poured from antique soda siphons and served in vintage crystal, the drinks showcase a twist on beloved vintage cocktails. Try the The Gilligan, a reinvention of a classic rum punch, which offers a “backbone-stiffening blend” of Absolute Elyx vodka infused with pineapple, El Dorado Spiced Rum and Pernod Absinth. It’s served in a copper pineapple with pellets of dry ice and smoke for a theatrical drinking experience. Cheers to that! www.qthotelsandresorts.com
The Flavors of the French Riviera: Five years ago I had the great pleasure of traveling to Cannes and Nice when I represented Hotel Martinez and Hotel de Palais de Méditerranée (now Hyatt Regency hotels). What I loved about the dining scene in these two coastal towns was the ability to eat good food in an unpretentious atmosphere (ok, not everywhere, you have to know where to go!). Flaveur is a Michelin star restaurant founded by the Cake brothers chefs in Nice, which revolves around the theme of escape. To learn more, check out my French Riviera travel article in the upcoming September/October INDUSTRY issue. www.flaveur.net
