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PTW Leads the Charge in Villa Travel Celebrating Five Years of Local Business

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A new concept is quietly emerging in the travel industry, which beckons the luxury vacation homeowner and discerning traveler alike. It is known as ‘Villa Travel’ and it is trending rampantly through the travel industry.

Typically, when the term ‘villa’ is used, a clear reference is being made to the historic homes of Europe, and visions are conjured of centuries old Tuscan estates. Touchstone Pictures’ “Under the Tuscan Sun” had passion-seekers flocking to such estates in 2003 when the movie was released.  However, it is the ‘modern’ villa that makes the scene and the catalyst, Private Trade Winds, a local Newport Beach travel service celebrating their five year anniversary, is responsible for its debut. “Our company is very unique, as it serves both the luxury vacation homeowner looking to rent and trade their property, as well as the luxury traveler seeking a Five Star Villa Vacation Experience with the inclusion of resort-type services,” said Irene Aviles, Founder and President of Private Trade Winds.

While classic villas will always be desired, modern villas which consist of single family residences, resort homes, condos and even shipboard penthouses gain in popularity. A villa can be a private ranch estate in the Sierra Nevadas, a beachfront hacienda in Mexico, or a ski-in/ski-out condo in Aspen, as long as it adheres to specifications which elevate it from a vacation home rental to a Five Star Villa Vacation. Those qualifications are simple but each bears equal importance regardless of villa size.

A ‘villa’ should be in a highly sought after destination, and should be in a coveted area within that destination. For instance, if a home is in a golf community the most desirable location would be on the Greens or with golf course views. If a villa is in a mountain destination it should be ski-in/ski-out or have majestic views of the slopes and/or surrounding mountains. The home’s interior should be rigorously vetted from kitchen type (complete vs. gourmet) to bed linens, bath amenity and robes. Finally, a villa should offer daily housekeeping, concierge, babysitting and chef services, just to name a few.

Villa travel is an exciting way to take in local surroundings and afford more space, privacy and security than a typical hotel stay. Families taking villa vacations report back with a higher sense of closeness, relaxation and a more enjoyable experience. Bringing couples, families and friends together while providing a warm and comfortable atmosphere is what ‘vacation’ is all about. Private Trade Winds, delivers just that.

Private Trade Winds is proud to launch their Destination Weddings & Events Department. As a full-service licensed travel agency, Private Trade Winds can now book travel, villa accommodation and honeymoon stay, all with the inclusion of a wedding coordinator with 20+ years of experience!

PTW Donates $56,000 for Auction at Gala

Private Trade Winds Donates Another $56,000 in Villa Product for Live Auction at the 2012 JDRF Charity Gala Bringing 4-Year Total to More Than $225,000

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation found an ally once again by enlisting the support of the philanthropic Newport Beach based villa rental company Private Trade Winds. Three luxury villas were donated and drew raves from generous supporters of this worthy cause.

The prestigious Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel, California set the backdrop for an elite gathering of Orange County’s most generous socialites and contributors. The halls were lined with vendors representing exquisite jewels, coveted art, and fine wine and spirits available to the highest bidder, but it was the live auction in the grand ballroom that rallied the crowd into generous giving. Irene Aviles, Founder and President of Private Trade Winds, as well as Andra Minnehan and Judy Sweetland Directors of Sales and Marketing were present at the event. “This is such a worthy cause, and seeing the children afflicted with this disease really makes you count your blessings and give generously to put an end to this type of suffering,” said Aviles.

Villas donated by Private Trade Winds include a ski-in/ski-out Aspen chalet, a beachfront condo on Oahu, and PTW’s newest gem – an 8 bedroom luxury seaside villa on the French Atlantic Coast near Bordeaux in France. A Private Trade Winds membership package valued at $2,995 was included with each winning villa bid, allowing recipients to enjoy properties in the company’s portfolio at up to 50% off for one year. Memberships were also available to purchase at $2995 with PTW donating 50% of the fee back to JDRF. The evening concluded with the annual after party known as Club Imagine, where music and dance filled the air.

Private Trade Winds is a Newport Beach based company which enjoys giving back philanthropically to the local community, the nation and the world. After launching in 2007, the Company stayed the course through a hard pressed economic recession, and emerged as a leading supplier and educator in Five-Star Villa Vacations. Private Trade Winds celebrates their five year anniversary this year. To learn more contact Judy Sweetland at jsweetland@privatetradewinds.com.

PTW Inc., Hosts Villa Specialist Webinar

Private Trade Winds, Inc., Hosts Villa Specialist Webinar with The Travel Institute and Awards Travel Agent With $1200 Villa Vacation. 

Edward Stepp, CTA, of the Florida based travel agency Stepp Into Paradise, LLC, is the most recent recipient of a luxury villa vacation valued at $1200 from Private Trade Winds, Inc., the Nation’s leading Villa Supplier.

Private Trade Winds (PTW), has partnered with The Travel Institute, a non-profit company dedicated to serving the travel community, by writing the Villa Certification Course, a program designed to equip Travel Agents with the knowledge necessary to master this unique niche known as Villa Travel.

A webinar was conducted by Certified Villa Specialist Judy Sweetland, who serves as Marketing Director for Private Trade Winds. Topics covered include villa classification, destinations, and required service and amenities which elevate a typical vacation rental to a Five-Star Villa Vacation. “Villas offer space, privacy and security – three elements favored by the affluent luxury traveler,” Ms. Sweetland advised.

Upon completion of the webinar a name was selected by random drawing, and Mr. Edward Stepp received a three-night villa stay at Private Trade Winds’ PGA West Villa on the Greens, located in La Quinta, CA. “I am really excited and look forward to going to one of their villas in California. This is part of my niche that I look forward to expanding in my business. I will most likely take the Villa Specialist Course online,” said Mr. Stepp of his prize valued at $1200. To learn more about villa travel or The Villa Certification Course offered through The Travel Institute, please contact Judy Sweetland at jsweetland(at)privatetradewinds(dot)com or call 866-789-4589 Ext. 804.

About Private Trade Winds Private Trade Winds, Inc., located in Newport Beach, CA is the creator of the Five Star Villa Vacation, and is preparing to celebrate their five year anniversary in February. PTW enjoys partnering with Travel Agents, Real Estate Agents, and Developers in defining, classifying and selling Villa Travel.

Villa Travel Trending in 2012 and Beyond

Private Trade Winds Inc., in conjunction with The Travel Institute is offering a free webinar for those interested in learning more about selling Villa Travel to luxury vacationers.

Private Trade Winds, Inc. is leading the charge in defining the term ‘villa rental’ in the travel industry, an accommodation in the luxury segment that has previously gone uncharacterized.

One such way of doing this is by writing and implementing the first Villa Specialist Course through The Travel Institute, a Certification offered through the Lifestyle Specialist Program. Those choosing to take the course – primarily Travel Agents, Real Estate Agents and Developers – will become aware of the various types of villa rentals available today, and most importantly discern between a vacation rental and a Five Star Villa Vacation.

“Private Trade Winds, Inc. knows villa travel, and we’re highly motivated and eager to share our knowledge with the travel community at large,” said Irene Aviles, Founder and President of Private Trade Winds, Inc. “As new villa rental companies emerge, it’s important that fundamental guidelines are in place, and this begins with appropriate education.”

Throughout the course offering, participants will receive statistics from The State of the Villa Report, a survey conducted by The Harrison Group and commissioned by Private Trade Winds in 2009 to follow the trends in Villa Travel. Tactics and strategies are covered to fully equip Agents in selling villa product, and 10 Continuing Education Credits (CEU) will be earned upon successful completion of the course.

“This is a great opportunity for travel counselors to learn more about this highly profitable and sometimes misunderstood specialty market.” says Patty Noonan, CTC, The Travel Institute’s director of sales.

The Travel Institute in cooperation with Private Trade Winds is offering a free webinar January 19, 2012 at 3:00 EST/12:00 PST to provide more in depth information on what can be gleaned from taking the course, and how it can increase profitability for Agents who wish to sell Villa Product and specialize in this rapidly growing niche market. The free webinar and the course are open to the public and webinar registration can be accessed at thetravelinstitute.com/training-resources/webinars/

Private Trade Winds, Inc. Speaks on a Distinguished Panel at the 16th Annual Luxury Real Estate Conference

Irene Aviles, Founder and President of Private Trade Winds, Inc., was asked to share her expertise on trends and projections in the luxury villa rental industry for a network of individuals, which includes the most prominent global luxury brokers nationally and internationally.

A panel of five leading experts in the luxury segment of the travel industry gathered at the 16th Annual Luxury Real Estate Conference at the Grand Del Mar in San Diego, to share their insights on a rapidly growing trend in the travel industry known as Villa Vacations. Piers Brown, Founder of Fractional Life was the moderator, and asked the panel timely and poignant questions.

Irene Aviles, Founder and President of Private Trade Winds brought her company’s philosophy to the table and shared what she calls the hybrid club concept. “Through the years I have bought into almost every type of vacation ownership there is – Fractionals, Timeshares, Destination Clubs, you name it. There were plusses and minuses to each one. I wanted to create a company that embodied the best elements of each concept, and leave the rest behind. I wanted a low-cost alternative to high-priced destination clubs – and in April 2007, out of my own love of travel, and my experience in vacation home ownership, Private Trade Winds was born.”

One of the main topics the panel covered was the need to set industry standards for villa travel in the marketplace; at this time the term ‘villa’ remains undefined. Taking the charge, Private Trade Winds has partnered with The Travel Institute in writing the first Villa Certification Course. The course, titled “Villa Specialist” not only defines villa travel, but also classifies villas as Modern and Classic. Travel Agents who complete the course will become Certified Villa Specialists and receive continuing education credits. Liza Hogan, President at Resort Rating Specialist, also sat on the panel and was in agreement that an industry standard should be established. Ms. Hogan’s Denver based company rates resorts and vacation rental properties.

The Conference speaker, Robert Frank spoke on the role of the high net-worth in the economic boom and bust. Frank writes The Wall Street Journal‘s Wealth Report, a blog focused on the culture and economy of the wealthy. He is also the author of the bestselling book “Richistan” and the newly released “The High Beta Rich.”

Private Trade Winds, Inc., is located in Newport Beach, California and has recently announced a 96% client satisfaction rate in their first five years of business. In addition to being a villa supplier with over 400 villas in their portfolio, the company also offers a managed Trade Program for vacation homeowners. Private Trade Winds markets directly to the traveler, and enjoys partnering with Travel Agents, Real Estate Agents and Developers. For more information please call Judy Sweetland at 866-789-4589 Ext. 804 or email jsweetland@privatetradewinds.com

 

Irene Aviles, Founder & President of Private Trade Winds

The Private Trade Winds Team

How do you define Villa Travel?  When consumers and travel agents think of villas, their first thought is for a special occasion or a large group traveling together.  That would be correct, however, there are so many more options to explore for everyday travels, so Private Trade Winds has been working on re-defining the “villa concept” .  Of course, we love the traditional Villa which we would call a Classic Villa. Classic Villas are typically found in Italy  and France, or they can be large ski chalets and single family beachfront homes. We are proud to introduce the Modern Villa, as well.  With the vast real estate developed over the last 10 years travelers now have various options for condos, condo-hotels, residence clubs , fractionals  and resort real estate  that they can add to their choices for travel instead of choosing a hotel.

Are the rates for a villa per person or for the entire villa? When rates are quoted they are for the entire villa and a maximum number of occupants.

What is the required length of stay at your villas? Some of our villas have a minimum stay; however, in most cases the relationship that we develop with the homeowner allows a great deal of flexibility. We will always go above and beyond to accommodate each need in every situation.

Does a weekly rental always start on the same day each week? No. It’s not like a timeshare where everything is structured and there’s no room for flexibility. Arrivals and departures are based on the client’s schedule, not the other way around.

When is High Season and Low Season? Our villas are located all around the world in various time zones and geographic locations. Therefore high and low seasons exist in most cases. Our Travel Advisors are well-qualified with more than 20 years experience, and they’re familiar with the specifics for each destination to help clients make the best choice. An option that many travelers overlook is Shoulder Season – the time period right before and after High and Low season. Shoulder Season can be an excellent time to travel with less crowds, more privacy, and reduced cost.

Do clients have to pay full rent if they book a home with more bedrooms than they need? Here lies the beauty of villa travel – again flexibility, flexibility, as mentioned in two of the other questions.   In many cases clients have the option of renting the villa as a whole, or they can break it down into smaller units to accommodate their needs. Again, the villa accommodates the client, instead of the client having to comply with property restrictions. Take our Caribbean destination – Rock Cottage on Antigua. Rock Cottage is a unique 5 bedroom villa built on the point in Soldier’s Bay at Blue Waters Antigua Resort. Although this spectacular villa can accommodate 10 guests, a couple in search of a unique experience can rent a smaller portion of the villa, and still receive all the service and amenities of Blue Waters Resort. So a party of two – a honeymoon couple, for instance, can book a suite and still enjoy a private pool, daily housekeeping and more! Many of our properties operate this way.

Is a villa a good idea for a honeymoon? A villa is perfect for a honeymoon. They can be large and grand enough to accommodate the entire wedding party, or small and intimate enough to set a romantic ambiance for honeymooners. Privacy and luxury go hand-in-hand with villa travel. Another great feature in a villa is the inclusion of a gourmet kitchen. In most cases a chef can be brought in to prepare a meal, and we have even had an occasion where we arranged a private culinary and wine pairing class for the bride and groom.

Aren’t villas more expensive than a hotel? Villa travel is more affordable than you might think. This topic was recently covered by Conde Nast. If you’re booking multiple hotel rooms to accommodate a large family, villa travel will most likely be a greater savings, but it will undoubtedly be a better value. When booking a villa you have to remember you’re not only getting space, privacy and security, but you’re also getting a complete or gourmet kitchen for meal preparation. Think how fast 3 meals a day, 7 days a week can add up. Having a kitchen to enjoy home cooked meals or a relaxing breakfast in the morning isn’t only convenient, but it can also save money.  When comparing total vacation costs for any size group, villas usually win the price debate, and the memories created make it a hands-down better experience.

What are some examples of great deals out there?  The best deals can be found everyday when a Private Trade Winds client purchases one of our Travel Plans.  Designed for our frequent travelers, clients save 10-20% on all PTW villa bookings through a price discount and/or special inclusions.  In addition, enrolled clients can take advantage of special offerings of up to 50% off throughout the year.  Clients who book our villas individually are guaranteed the best market price at any time, and receive special offers through our bi-monthly special newsletter .

Which destination is the best or hottest right now? That’s a very personal decision so we let our travel advisors help each client find the best destination for each traveler.  Nevertheless, we are always searching to bring our clients new and exciting places to explore and what is interesting – we seem to have a knack for finding that next special destination. Dubai was definitely a timely find, but at this moment I would have to say London and The Seychelles. Of course, it helped having the Royal Wedding the month our London property was released, and then Prince William and Kate spent their honeymoon in the Seychelles which pointed a lot of travelers in that direction. We had inquiries on the Seychelles the day we launched the villa in our June Newsletter .

Do all of your villas include staff personnel? Yes, either on or off site.   In order for a villa to be certified branded as a Private Trade Winds Villa it has to have daily housekeeping, chef, babysitting, and concierge.  Roundtrip airport transportation is always made available as well. We expect our guests to receive all the service and amenities one would find in a 5-Star Resort.

What makes Private Trade Winds Villas Branded?  We pride ourselves in being the first Branded villa rental company and the founders of the Five Star Villa Vacation.  Although our villas are located worldwide, they have a consistency in how we rate each condo, home or estate.  In addition, we offer hotel type amenities such as spa robes, high-end bath amenities, coffee, bottled water, and other logo branded items to make every guest feel the splendor of luxury hospitality.

What is your deposit and cancellation policy?  Each varies by location and size of the property, however, if a client chooses to purchase a travel plan they get to sign one lease and all properties follow one set of cancellation policies with no security deposit required, which makes it much easier for frequent travelers to enjoy villas (1-13bd options) any time, any place, without the traditional hassles of vacation rental leases and deposits.  Read more about our travel plans

Are children welcome in all the rentals?  Children are considered occupants and unless a resort is considered “adult only”, or if a homeowner chooses not to allow children, they are always welcome.  Most properties cater to children of all ages and provide toys, activities and children’s necessities to make it a fun trip for all.  At Private Trade Winds, we value our guests with children and even provide robes for their size.  Read about Stella, one of PTW’s most recent child guests on our blog.

Do I need to purchase trip insurance?  We always suggest trip insurance due to the uncertainty of life.  It’s just a way to have additional peace of mind.

 

To Book a Five Star Villa Vacation call 866.PTW.4LUX Ext. 803 or email info@privatetradewinds.com.

Private Trade Winds and The Travel Institue Introduce the Villa Certification Program

Private Trade Winds, in conjunction with The Travel Institute is proud to announce the release of the first Villa Certification Program. The course, called Villa Travel, was designed to equip travel agents with the knowledge and tools necessary to assist clients who prefer spacious accommodations, yet value the service and amenities typically found in 5-star resorts.

No longer is villa travel reserved for Counts and Countesses on mass vineyards in Tuscany. Of course, the classic villas of France and Italy are still highly sought-after destinations, and rightly so, but what the public needs to know is that a villa can range from a 1-bedroom beachfront condo to a 13-bedroom palatial estate. What ultimately sets apart a villa vacation from a vacation rental involves an assessment of the destination, the residence, and all they have to offer. This is where the education process comes in, and it has all been crafted with the ultimate satisfaction of the traveler in mind.

In early May, the Today Show aired a segment on villa travel, and they went into detail on the rise in villa travel and the advantages therein. While we were delighted to see coverage on the subject, the segment began by defining villa as “any rental property or house.” It was this comment that prompted our immediate reaction, and we realized the urgent need to set parameters in this rapidly growing niche of the travel industry.

Our response, and what we feel is our duty as villa specialists, is to protect the consumer by educating the travel industry, and safeguarding the traveler against the pitfalls of misrepresentation in an otherwise unregulated segment of travel.

Today’s discerning traveler can have it all – daily housekeeping, airport transportation, concierge service and more – without sacrificing comfort, security and luxury. The key factor is educating both travel agents as well as the consumer on the various options that are out there, and most importantly, how to appropriately match the villa with the vacationer.

The Villa Specialist course covers such subject matter as villa history, classic vs. modern villas, villa options, sales & marketing, accommodations, amenities & inclusions, and more. Upon completion of this comprehensive course, participants will be able to clearly differentiate a villa vacation from a vacation rental, and open doors to a whole new world of experiences for their client.

Real Estate Agents and Developers can benefit from taking this course as well, since they will want a better understanding of what the consumer is looking for in a villa rental, and they will have the opportunity learn how to choose their partnerships wisely when deciding who will represent their product in the industry.

An informational webinar will be conducted by The Travel Institute on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 12:00 PDT, where listeners can learn more about the course. To request an invitation, please email Judy Sweetland at jsweetland@privatetradewinds.com.

If you would like to learn more about villa travel, contact Andra Minnehan at 866.PTW.4LUX Ext. 809 or email her at aminnehan@privatetradewinds.com.

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