Luxury Real Estate

Courtesy of Ole Jespersen of IRG International Realty Group

IRG International Realty Group, exclusively represented The World, the only private community at sea. IRG International Realty Group was appointed as the exclusive agent in Portugal to represent The World. The World is the only residential community at sea, arrived on July 5th in Portimão and July 7th in Lisbon, after docking in Spanish ports, Marbella and Cadiz. This ship allows its residents and guests to travel the world without leaving the comforts of a private home. There is an average of 150 adventurous and like-minded explores onboard at onece, travelling to intriguing destinations all over the globe.

This remarkable, 12-deck, 200 meter-long floating home offers an elegant and intimate travel lifestyle with impeccable service and amenities that deliver a personalized and bespoke experience. Discerning travellers can travel in one of the 165 private residences aboard The World or elect to own one of the select homes available for resale. Approaching its eighth year of successful sailing, The World looks ahead at innovative developments in the horizon. In late April 2007, the ship underwent multi-million dollar refurbishments, resulting in new soft goods in public areas including the Lobby/ Plaza area, several of the onboard restaurants and the full-size tennis court as well as the debut of The World Spa by Banyan Tree on the vessel. The World´s Residents are deeply invested in the upkeep of their onboard homes. The private homes onboard the vessel undergo ongoing modifications and enhancements such as wine storage rooms, new technology and other personal touches that ensure Residents feel at home while onboard. In its eight years at sea The World has attended the America´s Cup Races in Auckland, the Louis Vuitton Challenger in Valencia, Carnaval in Rio, the Monaco Grand Prix and the British Open. Due to ots worldwide itinerary, the vessel is able to span the globe every two-to-three years. For more information about the residential sales please contact IRG International Realty Group at the Lisbon Head Office: +351 210 305 022 or info@irgportugal.com

By: Paula Louise Berthelot of Prudential Santa Fe Real Estate

Destination - Travel + Leisure Santa Fe Ranked Top N. American Travel Destination - 2009 7/10/2009: For the eighth year in a row, Santa Fe has made Travel + Leisure (T+L) magazine's "World's Best Awards" list of top 10 favorite Continental United States and Canadian travel destinations. For 2009 Santa Fe is ranked as the fifth most popular travel city in North America by the magazine's travel-savvy readers. In 2008 Santa Fe was also in the poll's fifth spot while in 2007 Santa Fe ranked fourth. Clearly, Santa Fe remains an enduring favorite with the publication's large group of sophisticated and passionate travelers.

"For Santa Fe to be consistently rated as a travel destination on a par with cities like New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Quebec City is a tribute to Santa Fe's enduring appeal and customer satisfaction," said Keith Toler, Executive Director of the Santa Fe Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Visitors are seeking something genuine and original in their travels and Santa Fe's history, culture, people, and attractions deliver that authenticity," he said.

Of Santa Fe, T+L reported: "The heady aroma of burning piñon logs permeates the air every night in Santa Fe, where the altitude-nearly 7,000 feet-ensures that even summer evenings are crisp enough for locals to light up their kiva fireplaces. The scent is a constant presence in this ever-changing city, where thick-walled adobe buildings nearly 400 years old stand cheek-by-jowl with avant-garde art galleries and edgy modern restaurants. It's a reminder that, despite its vibrant population of skiers and hikers, painters and photographers, alternative healers, hippies, and gays, this city is strongly connected to its Spanish-Native American heritage-and to the pristine landscape that surrounds it."

Nancy Novogrod, editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure, said: "This year's results reflect our readers' travel interests in this challenging economic reality--value, intimacy, service, and discovery are top priorities.

T+L subscribers were provided questionnaires both online, in the February and March, 2009 issues, and by email. The responses were tabulated to reach the final results in this, the magazine's fourteenth annual poll. Cities were rated on 6 criteria: sights, culture/arts, restaurants/food, people, shopping, and value. Scores were compiled using a 1 to 5 rating of each category. A minimum number of responses was required for a candidate to be eligible for inclusion in the awards listings. Results were announced today online and appear in the magazine's August, 2009 issue.

For 2009 the top 10 U.S. and Canadian cities, in Travel & Leisure magazine's World's Best Awards are:

1. New York (1); 2. San Francisco (2); 3. Quebec City (6); 4. Charleston, SC (4); 5. SANTA FE (5); 6 Chicago (3); 7. Savannah (9); 8.Victoria, British Colombia (-); 9. Montreal (7); 10. Seattle (-).
(last year's poll ranking) the - indicates the city was not ranked last year.

New York was given an overall score of 84.65. Santa Fe received an overall score of 82.53.

By Jim Walberg of Caribbean Island Realty

Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate International Conference - Paris, France. Day 3 - final two sessions

The last day of the Luxury Real Estate International - Paris Conference was focused on current and future technology critical to the international real estate community, and what are some concepts for exit strategies for selling a real estate company.

Victor Lund, one of the partners of the WAV Group, was the presenter on technology tools and trends. The research he did for this presentation was impressive. I would recommend you visit their website and learn more about the services they provide real estate companies around the world. I had several discussions with Victor and his fellow partners about how the success of Caribbean Islands Realty can even be expanded.

John Brian Losh was the facilitator for the last two sessions of the conference. The first session was about how one valuates a Brokerage, and if one is ready to retire or move on to a new adventure how can it be sold. There was a very lively discussion on this topic. Several of the comments from the participants were focused on they could not imagine retiring. There is something unique about owning a real estate company that allows one to serve clients as long as one is able and is still finding it a satisfying and profitable experience.

Mr. Losh wrapped up the conference with a time of reflecting on the profitable ideas that we will be taking back to our real estate businesses. There was a LONG list of ideas and tools that will be serving all of us in 2009. Some of my final thoughts from the Paris conference were:

• Some of my personal take aways from the Paris conference are focused on the extraordinary quality of the LRE members. Meeting new LRE friends and expanding friendships with those I already new was worth the price of admission.
• Each of us have unique businesses, and very specific local real estate markets in the as part of the Luxury Real Estate international membership. One can gather all the latest greatest “stuff” for our businesses, however the bottom line is it still is all about personal relationships. People do business with people they trust and actually enjoy working with.
• The ultimate power of the Luxury Real Estate network is still generally untapped. The more relationships we have within Who’s Who In Luxury Real Estate the more we are able to leverage our global real estate services and sell more properties.

From Australia to Poland, my real estate businesses have been expanded because of my participation in this important international conference in Paris. AND…did we have some amazing fun in Paris exploring restaurants, and even some fun cave vin bars. Actually, the fellowship time was where the long lasting effects of the Paris conference will benefit all of the delegates. My next adventure was to Geneva after Paris. Stay tuned…more to come.

By Jim Walberg of Caribbean Island Realty


Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate International Conference - Paris, France. Day 2 - all day seminars and networking opportunities


After Wednesday night’s cocktail reception and formal dinner, the real work of the Luxury Real Estate Paris Conference began. With delegates from 14 countries in attendance - from Australia to Poland, Day-2 of the conference focused on how we can expand our real estate company networks in order to create a more global presence in each of our local markets. The Hotel du Louvre was the perfect venue for the work of the conference. It was agreed by the delegates that the international members have barely scratched the surface of what is possible when all of us expand our sharing of information, experiences, and our luxury listings.

Day 2 of the Paris conference opened with John Brian Losh welcoming the delegates from 14 countries. What an impressive group of professionals who have come together to share their best ideas. The 60 delegates had the opportunity to introduce themselves and give a brief assessment as to the condition of their real estate markets given the world economic crisis. It was again a reminder that ALL real estate is local. We also had the chance to highlight one or two of our top listings that may be of interest to a room of Realtors from around the world.

Day 2: The first conference session was titled Your International Marketing Plan - Marketing Your Listings Abroard. Michael Audet from the WAV Group was the moderator, with myself - owner of Caribbean Islands Realty , Olivia Hsu Decker - owner of Decker Bullock Sotheby’s International Realty - California, USA, and John Brian Losh - founder and president of Who’s Who In Luxury Real Estate, Seattle, Washington, as the panel members. The second session of the conference was titled Developing Your Global Brand - Perspectives From International Companies. Marilyn Wilson from the WAV Group was the moderator, with myself, Ann Chiasson - owner of Sea to Sky Premier Properties - Whistler, Canada, and Ole Jespersen - owner of IRG International Realty Group, Portugal. Some of the highlights that were a part of the open discussion were;

• In the midst of the global economic crisis we need to change/adapt or die.
• Personal relationships are still the key to serving our customers at the highest levels.
• The Internet is merely the beginning of connecting to people - but it is THE critical tool to master given how people want to start a relationship with a Realtor.
• Make sure your business is leading with revenue regarding any financial decisions. Running out of money is why good businesses close their doors. Cash is KING.
• The business and marketing tools provided to the Luxury Real Estate membership are vast in order to assist all of us in the expansion of our businesses. The key is for each of us to understand what they are and then implement them.

The day ended with me having pages of notes, and a significant expansion of my professional and personal global network. It has already opened many new doors for the marketing of our Caribbean real estate projects. We then enthusiastically moved on to the nightlife of Paris. Until my next report…fair winds!

By Jim Walberg of Caribbean Islands Realty

I was invited to speak at the Luxury Real Estate International Conference in Paris this month. London was my first stop.

We are spoiled with 85F degree weather in the Caribbean almost 365 days a year! Europe in January is COLD. The Who’s Who In Luxury Real Estate’s 4^th Annual International Conference was this month in Paris, and I was invited to be one of the presenters. Before the conference I traveled to London for a few days visiting one of the ten families that make up my “European family”. It is amazing to step into the pace of Europe with London as the first stop. It is one fast paced city!

My time in London was generally walking this beautiful city - from Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park, to the museums and art galleries. Another reason why I was in London was to meet with one of the partners of Deloitte - an international consulting firm for the top corporations of the world. My friend is in charge of their international real estate division. My meeting was to gather information regarding his view of what is predicted for Caribbean real estate markets in the midst of the global financial meltdown. It was a very insightful hour with him.

What we are seeing the past six months in Caribbean real estate sales is an abrupt slow down in sales that require a mortgage. And, the European buyers have almost disappeared. If you recall the Russians started showing up last year in the Caribbean and they are no longer visible. The real estate product that is predicted to thrive is the Fractional Deeded Ownerships, and the Residence Club products. The HOT market is expected to continue in the Dominican Republic. It was very useful to have this conversation given that we have already noticed these trends.

No matter what the economic conditions in the world we will still figure out a way to make lemonade out of lemons regarding real estate sales. Until my next report…fair winds.

By Cynthia Naumes

New York was fantastic! I’ve been kicking the idea around to go to New York after I declined to join my boyfriend in Boston for one of his conferences. Each time I heard commercials about “saying goodbye” to the coliseum I felt a strong sense of sadness.

The last time I was in New York the Yankees were away and it has been on my “bucket list” to get there to see a game. It was now or never so at 1 o’clock on Saturday I booked a flight to New York, went online and bought a game ticket, then proceeded to get a hotel the miles from the stadium. By 5:30 I was on a plane arriving at 8 o’clock the next morning. It was a blast. I hooked up with two police officers, a luxury home builder and his wife from Scottsdale, a purse sergeant – born and raised in the Bronx – and his girlfriend a travel agent and a couple other people.

The two officers and I hung out, then met back up with the group (amazingly, because there were so many people) in line and the builder had four extra free tickets... up from the third base FOUR ROWS UP!!!! Oh my gosh, it was amazing.

No stadium chair. But great memories!


Editor’s Note:
Cynthia Naumes is a Real Estate Broker with RE/MAX Realty Group, a member of Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate in Medford, Ore. She specializes in marketing luxury properties and rural ranches and farms in Southern Oregon. What an exciting trip! New York City is quite a special location because of its rich American history. If you would like to come and see this vibrant city with a group of fellow luxury brokers, Luxury Real Estate is offering a Post-Conference Networking Trip to New York City immediately after the 13th Annual Fall Conference in Philadelphia. Be sure to check it out! It’s sad to see the end of an era as Yankee Stadium will soon be demolished and replaced. What a great idea to put together a bucket list and do the things we are afraid of doing because we think there’s no time or they’re too difficult. I try to live my life so that I am prepared to die at any moment because I know that I have treated others with kindness and honesty and I am on the right path leading to constant improvement. I do as much good as possible so that I won’t have regrets about failing to do the most important things in life.

By Michael Marquette
From his blog: The arrival of the luxurious Qantas A380 aircraft

On Sunday, September 21, Australian airline Qantas will welcome to Australia the first of 20 of its luxurious A380 aircraft, having flown via Singapore from the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France.


Affectionately referred to as the Super Jumbo, the A380 will be welcomed into the Qantas fleet at a ceremony in Sydney, which Simon Turner, founder of Marquette Turner Luxury Homes, has been invited to attend.

Marquette Turner Luxury Homes certainly recognizes the luxurious credentials of this amazing aircraft, and we are very excited at the prospect of viewing the best cabin design in the sky, which has been overseen throughout by world-renowned industrial designer Marc Newson.

Simon will have the honour of being one of the first proud Australians to view first-hand Marc’s stunning creative touch to all four classes on board the aircraft, First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy, which will no doubt truly reflect “the Spirit of Australia.” To view the interiors and take an interactive tour of the aircraft from the comfort of your chair, simply click here.

Qantas will operate its first A380 commercial passenger service from Melbourne to Los Angeles on October 20, 2008, and its first Sydney-Los Angeles service on October 24. Two additional A380s will be delivered by the end of 2008.

Simon will report back to you post-ceremony on Sunday.


Editor’s Note:
Michael Marquette is the co-Founder and Director of Marquette Turner Luxury Homes, a member of Luxury Real Estate in East Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Founded on Australia Day 2007 by Marquette and Simon Turner, Marquette Turner is a property consultancy company covering the Australian states of New South Wales and Victoria. Marquette has a background in medicine and a large retail and wholesale business. While some airlines falter in changing times, others thrive, like in this example. That’s wonderful that Turner was invited to attend this event. I look forward to hearing how it goes.

By Robert Lockard

I don’t have a whole lot of time today, but I just wanted to share an interesting CNN article entitled “The staycation effect: 5 reasons to travel now.” Because people have been very wise with their money this summer and have not gone on as many vacations, right now is a great time to take a vacation. Many hotels and luxury resorts are offering special discounts to entice people to get out of their homes and into a luxury community.

As soon as I saw this story I thought of Andrew Harper. They’re the experts on luxury hotels and travel, and they’ve posted some great blog entries in the Luxury Real Estate Blog on scoring free hotel upgrades and 10 places in the U.S. to see before you die. Plus, I just finished writing a City Spotlight on Nassau, Bahamas for the winter 2009 issue of LuxuryRealEstate.com Magazine. That definitely seems like an excellent getaway in the Caribbean. I can’t wait until the magazine comes out so you can read my fun take on the islands.

I wish I had more time to talk about this topic, but I highly recommend reading the whole CNN article. It’s quite concise and informative. Enjoy!

Editor’s Note:
Robert Lockard is the Public Relations & Media Specialist with Luxury Real Estate. I am Robert. I create all of Luxury Real Estate’s newsletters, write the editorials in LuxuryRealEstate.com Magazine and much more. I had mixed feelings about writing this blog entry today. I just don't know if it's super appropriate to share on September 11, when feelings of melancholy and seriousness should prevail in my heart. I hope you don't mind.

By Andrew Harper

Getting a better room is easier than you might think – and it never hurts to ask.

Most travelers never think to ask for a hotel room upgrade, which is regrettable. During the off-season, large hotels frequently run high vacancy rates, and moving a guest into a nicer room doesn’t cost anything except for some extra laundry expenses. As with so many other things in life, there is simply no harm in asking politely.

An upgrade doesn’t have to mean a larger room. Perhaps it’s an ocean view, a king-size bed or a room in an especially quiet wing. The important thing to remember is that hotel upgrades are mostly about personal relationships, rather than loyalty programs or special credit cards (though those can certainly be helpful).

Upgrades are given at the discretion of the hotel manager or the front desk clerk. These people tend to receive a fair amount of grief from finicky guests on a regular basis, and they appreciate being treated with respect and patience. Acting entitled or being deceitful usually won’t help your case – these are professionals who have seen it all before.

Dress nicely, and be as friendly as possible, even if you’re exhausted after a long flight. Inquire about an upgrade after you’ve given your name, but before you’ve been assigned your room. Do a little research on rooms beforehand, and make a specific request (e.g., “Would it be possible to be upgraded to an executive suite at no extra charge?”).

Simply asking for a “better room” is not as effective as requesting a particular room using the hotel’s terminology (Central Park Suite, Harbor View Suite, etc.). Don’t be disappointed if an upgrade is not possible – this is a matter of availability, after all.

In large-city hotels, upgrades are more likely during weekend, due to the absence of business travelers. For smaller hideaways in scenic locales, your chances are better during the week. Frequent visitors or members of various hotel reward programs will gain preferential treatment, but more often than not, hotel management is happy to lend a favor to a calm, amiable guest. It’s good for business.

Here are 10 tips for securing a hotel room upgrade.

1. Contact Management Before You Arrive: If you are celebrating a special occasion, feel free to mention this in an email. A personable and enthusiastic call to confirm your reservation also can help.

2. Book a Mid-Range Room: You’re more likely to be upgraded from a mid-range room than the cheapest room in the hotel.

3. Time It Right: Large city hotels tend to be busier during the workweek. For a smaller hideaway in the country, try for a midweek booking if you have some flexibility.

4. Arrive During Mid-Afternoon: Checking in between 3 and 5 is optimal. The front desk clerk will have a better sense of the day’s bookings and cancellations.

5. Look the Part: Dress appropriately. A nice jacket can make a world of difference. If you’re traveling with tired children, it probably won’t hurt to have someone mind them in the lobby while you’re at the front desk.

6. Be Personable: Ask nicely. Mention that you’d be happy to reference the counter clerk’s name in customer evaluations.

7. Be Specific: For example: “Would it be possible to be upgraded to an ocean view?” If you have a preferred room that you’ve stayed in before, feel free to mention it.

8. Mention Relationships: If your company does a lot of business with the hotel, feel free to mention it. If you use a travel service or a credit card that has a “special relationship” with the hotel, by all means, pipe up.

9. Take Advantage of Minor Misfortune: Laundry gone missing? Noisy neighbors? Kindly let management know that an upgrade will wipe the slate clean.

10. Leave On a Happy Note: A nice tip for the doorman. Smiles for the concierge. A note of approval to the manager. Every little bit helps, especially for the next time around.


Editor’s Note:
For more information on this company, contact Margaret Temple, the Business Development Manager at Andrew Harper in Austin, Texas. Andrew Harper is an exclusive partner with Luxury Real Estate. This is some great advice for travelers seeking great deals. For more than a quarter century, Andrew Harper has explored the world as an incognito traveler. His unbiased reviews of the finest hotels, villas, yachts, restaurants and culturally authentic travel experiences are legendary. Through a variety of media, complemented by highly personalized travel planning services, members of Andrew Harper’s luxury travel club enjoy the resources to dream, plan and realize an unparalleled level of globetrotting.

By Meghan Barry

John Brian Losh and John Casey Losh traveled to Jackson Hole, Wyoming last week to visit longtime Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate member and new Board of Regents member, Real Estate of Jackson Hole. The weather was unseasonably chilly, with some snowflakes in the air on the 10th of June. Brian had a chance to meet with the sales staff, have a great discussion about the thriving real-estate market in Jackson Hole and share some words of wisdom.

Pictured are Chris Johnston, Chairman & CEO; Bob Graham, President/Associate Broker; John Brian Losh and Ray Elser, Responsible Broker.


Editor’s Note:
Meghan Barry is the Executive Vice President of LuxuryRealEstate.com. She works closely with CEO/Publisher John Brian Losh to organize a variety of Luxury Real Estate programs, events and services. Mr. Losh does a whole lot of traveling, going all the way to Italy to visit members over there and to many other locations around the world. Maybe he’ll come visit your neighborhood next.