Charter the F/V Time Bandit from TV’s "Deadliest Catch," visit Napa during the “crush” with Super Bowl-winning coach and winemaker Dick Vermeil, hear stories from behind the scenes of the Clinton and Bush White Houses and rub elbows with sports legends in Hawaii with Dick Vitale. All are among new programs offered by AuthentEscapes to create unique experiences for guests traveling on a wide range of programs.
This January, AuthentEscapes joined the Virtuoso network as one of the first specialty tour operators in a new exclusive product division. “Having grown up in the bespoke travel business, both for groups and individuals, it has been exciting to see (CEO) Malaka and (husband) Ryan Hilton develop AuthentEscapes and build on their creative success,” says Virtuoso CEO Matthew Upchurch.
Among the programs being offered:
Inside Napa Valley's “Crush” with Coach Dick Vermeil: Experience the harvest period of Napa Valley (called the "crush" by those in the Valley) with Coach Vermeil, a Calistoga native. Program at Calistoga Ranch includes tours and tastings at prestigious wineries, including Duckhorn, Parraduxx, Silver Oak, Chateau Montelena and, of course, Vermeil Wines. (October 2010).
The World of Fine Wines: Lisbon to Bordeaux: Charles Curtis, MW, head of North American wine sales for Christie’s, will welcome guests onboard The World of ResidenSea for a rare series of in-depth experiences of world-class wines. (July 2010).
Waterways of the Tsars: Stories from the Clinton and Bush White Houses: Get behind-the-scenes insight on the Clinton and Bush years from former White House Executive Chef Walter Scheib, as you cruise the waterways of Russia. (August 2010).
Hawaiian Holiday with Dick Vitale: Join Dickie V in Maui with a roster of celebrated sports personalities. "Fun in the sun -- playing golf, tennis, hitting the beach and helping The V Foundation battle cancer, sounds like a perfect vacation to me,” says Vitale. “The Four Seasons Resort in Maui is awesome!” (July 2010).
Go Fish or Stay Home: Charter the F/V Time Bandit: Jonathan and Andy Hillstrand, famous brothers onboard the Time Bandit on TV’s 'Deadliest Catch," invite you and up to four friends to test your grit in Alaska’s icy waters of the Bering Sea. (March 2010 – one charter only).
“Innovation is the name of the game in order to survive in today’s travel marketplace,” said AuthentEscapes’ CEO Malaka Hilton. The owner of Virtuoso-member agency Admiral Travel International has been paving the way in experiential travel since organizing a private charter to the Cannes Film Festival in 2005. In fact, Hilton was recognized for innovation by Virtuoso suppliers at the consortia’s annual Travel Mart in August 2009.
Space on AuthentEscapes journeys is available through Virtuoso-member travel advisors.
Visit www.authentescapes.com.