The Stories

The Stories

Let yourself be inspired

Right now, we're confined to dreaming about travel rather than actually doing it. So what better way to transport yourself somewhere new than by getting lost in stories that capture the magic of it?

The philosophy of Magic Travels

The Magic Travels group is an independent and family-owned Destination Management Company established in 1985. The company DNA is to be different and innovative. Join us for this interesting interview with CEO Samer Jabri and discover the philosophy of Magic Travels.
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A Revived Scotland is Calling

The Scotland of our dreams is a shared one. A castle perched at the edge of a misty loch that ripples with secrets and tales of old. Wild heather blows in from the moors with its glorious hues of mauve. Cloud-softened light gathers in patches as thin rays make their way past the Highland peaks.
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Into the Wild, with The Wilderness Group

The Wilderness Group DMC brings together the experience and expertise behind leading adventure travel brands Wilderness Scotland, Wilderness Ireland, and Wilderness England and today provide the benchmark for luxury active and experiential travel across the UK & Ireland.
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The Future of Massari Travel

Massari Travel was born under the guidance of the skilful deeds of Lucio Massari in 1967, who kept all the secrets to the art of tailoring bespoke travel experiences for over half a century. A leading light in the Italian incoming travel industry, Massari Travel maintains the same golden standards nowadays under the guidance of Lucio's talented daughter, Sabrina Massari. Find out more about this family-run business in the heart of Italy in this exclusive interview with Sabrina Massari
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Italy Charme & the Secret to the Italian Lifestyle

Italy Charme loves sharing fascinating stories of local people, farmers, winemakers, and artisans, a new generation will help ensure knowledge and continuity of the uniqueness of the Italian lifestyle for this reason. Italy Charme is investing a large part of its energy to protect the historic identity and to promote it around the Globe
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The Rebirth of Anantara Maia Seychelles Villas

Born and bred in France, Lionel Ferrari first landed in Seychelles on Maia's pre-opening team as a trainee and made his way up to Front Office Manager. After a swift detour working in F&B in El Salvador, Lionel travelled back to Seychelles as the EAM at Paradise Sun for 3 years, after which he took over as General Manager at the very young age of 32.
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Hotel MSSNGR, Guest Communication Reinvented

After graduating, Konstantin Schlüter kicked off his professional career as a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group. It did, however, not take more than 6 years for his entrepreneurial spirit to surface with the founding of Travel IQ, a travel search engine in 2007...
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The Originals | To The Top of “Bad Boy Mountain”

Due to the unparalleled beauty and enchanting landscapes, exploring Greenland is a must for anyone after some out-of-the-ordinary adventures. From coastal glaciers and glacial lakes to the tundra, the environment boasts some of the most impressive natural sights you’ll find anywhere in the world.
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The Story of Luxury Bloc

The XO Private Founder, Yvan Vermeesch, sits down for the exclusive interview series with, Philip Michopoulos, Owner of the amazing Kivotos Hotels located in Santorini and Mykonos
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The Story of THRS

The XO Private Founder, Yvan Vermeesch, sits down for the exclusive interview series with, Yeishan Goel, CEO of the amazing THRS (India & Middle East), Travel & Hospitality Representation Services. THRS is the region's leading luxury hospitality consulting and representation firm, focusing on sales, media & communications, and integrated marketing for luxury tourism brands worldwide
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The Originals | Majestic Greenland

Due to the unparalleled beauty and enchanting landscapes, exploring Greenland is a must for anyone after some out-of-the-ordinary adventures. From coastal glaciers and glacial lakes to the tundra, the environment boasts some of the most impressive natural sights you’ll find anywhere in the world.
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The Future of Sustainable Travel

Sustainability and in all-new hotel developments is here to stay, they are not just a temporary trend. Read more about the industry trends and some of its more exceptional players and the masterminds that make it happen.
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A Duty of Care & Traveller Safety

The COVID-19 pandemic has made leaving home more concerning for everyone whether they’re travelling for pleasure, on business, for education, or, indeed any other reason. This has only served to sharpen the duty of care responsibilities that tour operators, travel designers and businesses and have to travellers.
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Fly Me To The Moon, Mastering Greece

The XO Private Founder, Yvan Vermeesch, sits down for the exclusive interview series with Elena Papanicolaou. Elena left behind a corporate career in the chemical sector, to unleash her passion and is now the proud Founder of Fly Me To The Moon
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The Unsung Heroes of the Travel Industry

As dire as the global travel industry presently is right now, it is going to come back. It may be a slow, frustrating, and tedious process perhaps, but it will reappear like a new butterfly, emerging from a mandatory and confined slumber
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The Magical Euphoria Retreat: The Story

The XO Private Founder, Yvan Vermeesch, sits down for the exclusive interview series with the mastermind behind the concept, Mrs Marina Efraimoglou, the owner of the Euphoria Retreat. Find out more about the story behind this mystical holistic property nestled on the pine-clad hillside of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Mystras
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Meet the Morukuru Family

There are few things more precious than a sense of belonging, two of these precious notions are experiencing a deep connection a place, and to one another, This is what struck Ed and Anka Zeeman when they first started the Morukuru Family. Morukuru Family’s three exclusive-use houses in Madikwe Game Reserve, Morukuru Ocean House and AtholPlace House & Villa.
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