BRIGHT CREATIVITY

She’s the “Italian with the Austrian pinch” - meet Eleonora Pitasso - Sales Broker and Shipyard Relationship Coordinator at Burgess, where she has been since 2015. Find out what it takes to be a successful yacht sales broker, how selling a yacht has changed (or not) during the pandemic, what rocks Eleonora’s boat when it comes to the job she does and to end on a positive, her very own words of wisdom. Quick background: Eleonora shares her time between the roles of Sales Broker and Shipyard Relationship Coordinator. She was literary born on the Iron Curtain, the hospital being on the wall of the Yugoslavian border in the early 80s. Eleonora holds a Postgraduate Studies in Diplomacy and International Affairs with an emphasis in Geostrategy (Geopolitics combined with Military Studies) – she also studied also in Berlin (Humboldt Universität) and Rostock with the European Institute. Around 15 years ago and after having completed her post-graduate studies, she was supposed to head to the European Institutions to look for a job: instead, she opted for personal reasons to move to the French Riviera and landed work as a General Manager for a small yacht brokerage company based in Monaco and Miami. It was her first boss who infused her the passion for the product and she decided that she would make of yachting a real vocation. Tune in to hear more as to what rocks Eleonora's boat!

LUXURY WITH NATALIA had a chance to catch up with Irene Luke, Shareholder and Co Managing Partner at Savills, Monaco. Monaco has an unrivalled reputation for the world’s wealthy. Thanks to its history, heritage and busy sporting and social calendar, the Principality has an unrivalled global reputation as a destination for the world’s wealthy. In the interview, Irene provides some excellent advise for those seeking to invest in property in the Principality, things to be aware of and sought-after addresses that only someone like Irene with her know-how backed up by Savills' renowned intelligence, would be able to advise on. As an English solicitor by training and having been a resident of Monaco for over 25 years, Irene has throughout her professional career both in London and Monaco, advised private clients primarily on real estate/ tax matters in Monaco and France. Since 2008, Irene has been a shareholder and co managing partner of Savills Monaco. http://savills.mc

LUXURY WITH NATALIA invites its 100TH GUEST ON THE PODCAST - Guinness World Record Holder, Will Hollingshead. This brave man who is used to the elements being a yacht crew member, got to taste it in a whole new dimension, rowing across the Atlantic with The Ocean5 rowing team December 2019-January 2020. Will Hollingshead and the team took on one of the world’s greatest physical challenges, rowing unaided over 3,000 miles of the unforgiving Atlantic Ocean under 36 days. This is something which tested their resilience to the very extremes of what humans can achieve. In completing this epic adventure they set a new Guinness World Record for the Fastest 5 man crossing, won their category and raised over £100k to fight against plastics in the ocean for Plastic Soup Foundation. Inspired? Tune in to listen to how it went and what pushing limits can do to a man both physically and mentally. www.theocean5.com www.plasticsoupfoundation.org

LUXURY WITH NATALIA is joined by Founder and Managing Director of SuperYacht Times, Merijn de Waard. Find out what has changed in a year for the industry that has been used to yacht shows, face to face viewings with clients, networking events and a certain manner of doing Marketing. Today, with Covid-19, the yachting world has had to adapt, be creative and rely on technology. Merijn and his team rode the wave ingeniously and in the interview goes on to describe the new SuperYacht Times 3D (SYT 3D) virtual experience. As Albert Einstein said, “In the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity.” Built with the use of modern gaming technology, SYT 3D is the first online tool that brings the experience of yachting to life. Find out as to why in the interview and overall what has been different from the man whose company holds the finger on the industry's pulse with his paper and online magazine. www.superyachttimes.com

LUXURY WITH NATALIA invites Head of Marketing at Imperial Yachts, Steve Bailet back on to share how it's been for the Monaco-based yacht brokerage since the last interview we did at the Monaco Yacht Show in 2019. Find out how this successful yacht brokerage took the Covid-19 situation by its horns to turn it into a positive, and how clients have been reacting to a new way of yachting. Not to be missed in this interview - Steve taps into the details surrounding a world first announced only last week - one of the largest yacht projects ever built in the Netherlands that Imperial Yachts is part of along with Amels & Damen Shipyard and multi award-winning designer, Espen Oeino. Imperial is luxury yachting 360° - this is what sets Imperial Yachts apart. This is not only their company motto, it is the guiding principle behind a full-spectrum approach to all things marine. It is to make your yachting experience better. This cannot be achieved with quality products alone. It requires a comprehensive, 360-degree service, from initial concept, finance, design and construction, to management, charter, maintenance and marketing. Established in 2005, Imperial builds, brokers, manages and charters many of the world’s finest superyachts, and it requires teams of experienced specialists operating with patience, discretion and attention to meticulous detail. It requires an integrated, through- life package that adapts as the clients' ambitions develop. While the Imperial main office is located in Monaco, the heart of the superyacht industry, the brokerage has been deeply involved in some of the main new build projects of the past ten years, and are currently managing some of the most impressive future superyacht projects, soon to be among the super star launches of this decade. www.imperial-yachts.com

LUXURY WITH NATALIA invited former colleague in yachting, Vyara Dimitrova, now estate agent at Wretman Estate. We talked about the buyer's market in the South of France in these Covid times, useful advice on what to look out for when buying as well as sharing light on how a realtor goes about giving clients value in dealing with an expert in real estate. Vyara moved to France to study marketing and successfully obtained her master degree from the university of Nice. She proceeded to work in a fast upscale environment of the luxury yachting industry, where she spent 10 years in management and charter. Being an intermediary for both yacht owners and charterers taught her how to anticipate every client’s need and provide an outstanding customer service. These skills help making her the excellent real estate agent she is today. Proactive with a can-do attitude, Vyara's passion is to fulfil the real estate goals of her clients, guiding them through one of the biggest investment of their lives. Wretman Estate was founded in 2006 by the brothers Johan and Filip Wretman. They currently have 7 offices and 42 collaborators focusing their work throughout the region between Menton and St Tropez, as well as in the hinterland of Nice, the area of Valbonne and in the Var. The company specialises in foreign clients, accompanying clients throughout the entire transaction process. They also hold an investment division called Wretman Invest that specialises in the acquisition and sale of hotels, vineyards, apartment buildings and other investment projects. www.wretmanestate.com

"Luxury with Natalia" is joined by Alan Waxman of Landmass London. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in Soho, catering for a high end clientele notably the elite such as Nicole Kidman or Sienna Miller. As a multi-award-winning design and development company delivering private luxury properties – specialising in turning a negative into a positive with its trademarked concept of volumetric design. Alan and I discuss the ins and outs of property as well as its 360-degree service, integrating architectural and interior design, project management, construction and property sourcing via its in-house team – providing clients with a single point of contact throughout the entire process. Over the last 20 years, Landmass have completed over 50 projects. It has also provided counsel for many more projects working with developers and private landlords. Despite the uncertainty in recent years, on a number of recently completed projects Landmass has been able to add a 20% profit on costs and a 50% return on equity. https://www.landmass.co.uk

"Luxury with Natalia" welcomes Chantelle Browne of CB Lifestyle. With a diverse range of luxury sectors under her belt, Chantelle now owns a consultancy providing strategic marketing, communication and PR services to the worlds finest brands. Split between London and Dubai, she works alongside both conglomerate companies such as Aston Martin Red Bull, Rolls Royce an Emaar, and also more boutique brands looking for global visibility and a turnkey PR strategy. With a first class degree in Journalism, Chantelle has worked at publications such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and Harrods aviation/estates, and has qualifications with Google and HubSpot digital marketing academy.  Chantelle took part in docu-series touring Pakistan, advocating for the safety and publicity of tourism, which aired to more than 12 million viewers. She is also an ambassador for TiE women, fostering female talent across India.  https://www.thecblifestyle.com

'Luxury with Natalia' welcomes Norbert Sedlacek Koch of Innovation Yachts and Ant Arctic Lab. Our interview takes place on board the boat that will see adventurer and thrill seeker Norbert attempt a world record and sail 34,000nm through five oceans including the North West passage. All this single handedly, non-stop without assistance. Setting sail on 19th July 2020 from Les Sables d'Olonne, I caught up with Norbert to hear all about the boat he built with the team for the purpose, made out of revolutionary volcanic fibre and wholly recyclable. The world has apparently never been more accessible. What was once the realm of pioneers and explorers is now within reach for all of us. And there is also a common perception that the world territories have been all chartered. But are they really? According to Norbert, there's an adventure to be had and we hear all about it in the interview. With a mission to re-evaluate the meaning of sailing round-the-world and to shape the future of ocean odysseys, the ANT ARCTIC LAB project will be undertaking one of the last greatest maritime adventures in the world. The aim of the AAL project is to sail around the world including by the Arctic and Antarctic oceans nonstop and without assistance. The journey will start on 19th July 2020 from Les Sables d’Olonne (FRA) heading to the Bering Strait via the North Atlantic and the North West passage. Then, the ride will continue across the whole Pacific Ocean to finally rounding Cape Horn. A circumnavigation of the Antarctic in the Southern Oceans, leaving Cape of Good Hope and Leeuwin on port-side, will lead to a second time at Cape Horn to ultimately heading North through the Atlantic Oceans to cross the finish line in Les Sables d’Olonne. Designed and constructed by Innovation Yachts, the Open60AAL is built from volcanic rock fibre, balsa wood and biocompatible epoxy. Beyond the choice of 100% sustainable and recyclable materials, the development of this innovative and ecological construction increases safety and performance. The ANT ARCTIC LAB project will take Norbert to the edge of uncertainty, by attempting a sailing performance that has never been achieved. It is an extreme navigation and unique endurance challenge in line with the great maritime exploits. http://innovation-yachts.com http://www.ant-arctic-lab.com