The Mark GM shares travel tips
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NAME: Olivier Lordonnois
Nationality: French
Profession/Title: Hotelier/General Manager, The Mark Hotel
How often do you travel?
Twice a month on average
Favorite traveling style?
Flying or sailing
Q: What do you always do after returning from a trip?
A: Share stories and pictures of my travels with family and close friends.
Q: What do you always search for during a trip?
A: Insight into the daily lives of locals through experiencing the cuisine, art, culture and the best kept secrets that are not known to tourists.
Q: What do you always pack?
A: My iPad and a pair of trainers so I can keep my running routine.
Q: What is your preferred airline?
A: It depends on my travel destination — Emirates for Middle East, Air France for Paris, American Airlines for traveling in the US, United for South America and Cathay Pacific for Asia.
Q: Do you have any tips about seating on a flight?
A: I am a fan of long flights as it is the best time to relax and unplug for a little while. All airlines now have the ability to make a flight enjoyable and comfortable. I’m usually good at sleeping on planes and the flatter the bed, the better.
Q: Best in-flight meal or activity?
A: I was once served Raclett during a first-class flight on a Swiss airline, which was a nice touch. Emirates also has a nice bar at the back of the plane where you can meet people and interact with other passengers.
Q: How do you get over jet lag?
A: I usually get over jet lag pretty easy, but do find that getting a good night’s sleep on the plane helps me recover quicker.
Q: What are your favorite hotels? What makes these hotels so memorable?
A: Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat for its reminiscence of the 1930s on the Riviera and wonderful suites; The Upper House in Hong Kong for its unique design and panoramic views; The Aman Tokyo for the way they reinterpreted the traditional Japanese style in such a modern way (the lobby is truly one of the most beautiful hotel spaces I have seen); and The Connaught for its character and rich history.
Q: What do you value most when choosing a hotel?
A: Hotels that have a sense of place really stand out for me. Rather than just focusing on their location, I prefer hotels that have their own unique character... in which their individualities are shown in the hotel design, amenities, facilities and personalized service. I tend to stay away from big chain hotels and “cookie cutter” properties.
Q: What hotels do you look forward to staying at in the future?
A: Palacio Belmonte in Lisbon and Hotel Costes in Paris. I am also excited to return to the Aman Tokyo and Shanghai Peninsula next week.
Q: Recommend one of your favorite destinations. Why is it so special?
A: The French island of St Barts is one of my favorite destinations — it is where I got married and is only a short flight from my home in New York City. The island itself is unique and boasts great restaurants, five-star services and beautiful secluded beaches (depending on your mood — one side of the island is perfect for relaxing on the beach while the other side is great for parties).
Q: Best/must purchase in St Barts.
A: A pair of swim shorts from Orlebar Brown.
Q: What do you do upon arriving in St Barts?
A: Unpack and go for a nice lunch at Jean-Georges restaurant at Eden Rock hotel.
Q: Where are you planning to go next and why?
A: I’m looking forward to returning to St Barts this Thanksgiving, as it is a yearly tradition.
Q: What’s the strangest request that a guest has made at your hotel?
A: More elaborate than strange — we recently had a guest request to store 125 empty pieces of luggage at the hotel to use for their Madison Avenue shopping trips while visiting New York.
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