By Judith Pratt.

When you consider the level of detail and preparation that goes into making a wedding unique, it seems remarkable that so many of us are happy to settle for a simple, dare I say, standard photo album.

While the photo album is as much a part of the wedding tradition as cake and bridesmaids, it’s curious that this element of the big day hasn’t evolved into something more special. Every element of the wedding day has its luxury option and bespoke alternative, yet we’re still ordering the same old photo albums.

One company doing their bit to redefine the concept of wedding mementos is Unique Wedding Memories. A team of professional lifestyle journalists, editors and photographers who have spotted a niche for unique, premium quality wedding souvenirs. Their luxury wedding books offer so much more than a place to display your wedding photographs.

By combining lifestyle reportage with journalist flair, they have created a concept that is bound to appeal to those seeking more than a photo album to remember their day by.

Vanity Printing Press commissioning editor Charles Michum explained the vision:

“Lots of things happen on a wedding day that you simply can’t capture with just photos. Important memories such as the vows, best man’s speech and first song fade into obscurity and people find themselves forgetting that precious detail. That’s where our journalism experience comes in. We know people want photos, but many of our clients don’t realise how much detail can be missed until they receive their book and are able to reflect on the finer nuances of the day.”

“We interview guests, transcribe all the speeches and use our journalistic nous to distill the essence of the celebration into words. We then take a selection of the most editorially intriguing photos to illustrate the story that we uncovered. We can create traditional wedding albums to go alongside the book, so there’s no pressure to cram them all in alongside the editorial.”

Based on the luxurious samples we received, it’s hard to imagine this kind of service not taking off. The sheer range and flexibility of package options means that there’s a reportage choice for every wedding. An all out luxury package including 12”x12” hard-back books, 12”x12” hard-back photo albums plus smaller hard-back memento books can cost as little as £700 or as much as £6,000, depending on the level of service required.

“There are two ways to make your wedding book. You can have a Unique Wedding Memories editorial team attend your wedding and discreetly gather everything they need for your book. Or we can make your book without attending if you’d prefer.

Our editorial team will prepare a brief so that you, or more typically one of your guests, can get all of the essential information on the day. We can supervise and support if needed, one of our team is always on call. Then we put our editor hats on and turn the material into a professionally designed and written reportage spread. This approach particularly suits those having an intimate wedding and couple’s who’d prefer to keep a cap on their spending. Wedding reportage can be a luxury, or it can be a smart value-add that takes the hassle out of ordering photo albums. It’s up to the couple how they want to use our skill and experience.” Explained Charles.

As well as editorial, Charles’ team can also handle your photographic needs.

“For couples who want the convenience and peace of mind of having a team of professional journalists documenting their entire day, we can also supply professional and experienced wedding photographers. We only use photo-journalists that we know and trust and the copyright of the photos belongs to you immediately. There are no delays in getting your photos back and you don’t have to pay any extra for a disc. We can usually get your book back to you in less time than it takes a typical photographer to turn around a photo album.”

Flexible packages range from £500 – £6,499

Work in partnership with wedding planners and consultants, if required.

Optional extras include DVD of guest interviews, memento books, albums, unique and personalised “thank you” books for bridesmaids and groomsmen.

Multi-lingual editors, including Urdu speakers.

No copyright restrictions.

Electronic proof-copy for the client to sign off.

As many copies as required.

Wedding anniversary gift packages.

www.uniqueweddingmemories.com

Words: Sean O’Meara.
Images: Paul Hyde

Sometimes you’ll come across a leisure concept that could only exist in one place. It’s rare, but when it happens and you know you’re having a unique experience, it makes things all the more special. This is true of the Grand Hotel Kempinski Geneva. It owes as much to its Genevoise lakeside location as it does to the gold standard service that runs throughout. It’s easy to build a nice hotel next to a nice lake be done with it, but this is Lake Geneva and anyone who knows Geneva will understand why this particular hotel is the only hotel in town worth your attention.

There are other exceptional hotels in Geneva, but if you want to feel Geneva, this is the place. The recent regeneration of the Kempinski Grand has been done so sympathetically and intelligently that the hotel really benefits from its context. Everything is geared up to reflect the easy going, relaxed and sophisticated nature of the surroundings.

The Grand Hotel Kempinski has made its mark on the European scene, due in no small part to the huge investment and thought that has gone in to their spa – transforming the venue seamlessly from a classy business stop off to a destination hotel in its own right. Other hotels in the Kempinski collection have gone for Givenchy branded spas, but the Geneva property has its own exceptional facility. Since the redevelopment, the spa has become one of the main draws for visitors.

Take breakfast on the terrace of Floor Two bar to kick the day off in perfect fashion. Geneva has a great Summer climate and nothing could be more pleasant than a champagne breakfast over looking the city. Floor Two bar and restaurant is an all day lounge affair serving fresh pastries, local beers, coffee and lunch. The smell alone is enough to keep you seated for longer than you planned. Mingle with business people, locals and tourists as they check email, read the paper or just relax. Come evening and the smell of the patisserie is overtaken by the buzz of people arriving for pre dinner cocktails.

There are two excellent dining options here. Le Grill serves up innovative, locally sourced classics. Tse Yang is the best Chinese in the country. Java club is located downstairs, out of earshot and plays host to Europe’s coolest up and coming DJs.

The location is perfect, the Jet d’eau is visible from all lake facing rooms. You’re in the heart of this compact metropolis, but don’t expect hustle and bustle. Geneva has a unique, laid back personality that you’ll get used to very quickly. From the lobby, to the pool and outside on to the street, you’ll be doing well to feel stressed here. Staff are smart, friendly and dare I say it, quite cool.

The Grand Hotel Kempinski, for all its high end hallmarks isn’t about glitz or razamataz – it’s about clever, well though out ideas. Take the pool area, steel girders criss cross the ceiling and from them hang enormous cushioned hammocks. Ideal for relaxing after a swim or therapy session. The changing area has a unique feel too, wooden boards laid on pebble are characteristic of the type of design cues that set this place apart from the local competition. There’s the odd flourish to remind you that you’re inside an expensive, well run hotel. The lobby is a sprawling study of marble and boutiques, with unique pieces of local inspired art to catch your eye as you pass through. But in the main, the hotel oozes civilized charm and elegance – much like the city outside.

Rooms are modern, comfortable and benefit from floor to ceiling windows that frame one of the most perfect views you can get. Look up and you’ve got snow capped Mont Blanc, look down and you’ve got the shimmering mirror of Le Petit Lac, the inlet of Lake Geneva around which the city was built. A considered and refined design concept is complimented by soft textures and handmade fabrics. The bathrooms are exactly as you’d expect from a sophisticated 5*.

Like most hotels in Geneva, there are first class business facilities here, but the Kempinski is clearly committed to consolidating its reputation as a destination hotel. Europe’s biggest and possibly best hotel suite is here. But in typical style, it’s not something they’ll brag about.

If you’re here on business, treat yourself to a couple of extra days in one of the most elegant cities in Europe. Indulge in a therapy session, get breakfast on the terrace and mingle. It’s a friendly, refined place with a characteristic charm all of its own.

Photography by Paul Hyde

Rent the Runway, the leading online destination for dress and accessories rentals, has taken the natural next step in expanding its rental business by adding handbags to the site, starting with luxury handbag designer Judith Leiber. To celebrate the launch, three lucky winners will receive a “diamond ticket” hidden in their handbag rental, with the prize being Everlon Diamond Knot Bracelets from Helzberg Diamonds valued at $2,500 to $4,300. One winner will be chosen at random in the months of October, November and December.

“We’re thrilled to expand our business with the launch of Judith Leiber handbags. We’ve seen that women love adding jewelry to their dress rental – or even renting jewelry alone – so we’re eager to give her an even bigger assortment of accessories that includes handbags to complete her evening out,” stated Jennifer Hyman, CEO and co-founder of Rent the Runway.

At launch, there will be thirteen styles available for either 4-day or 8-day rentals, including some of the more iconic Judith Leiber minaudieres such as the heart and disco ball. Handbag rentals will start at $100, with retail prices ranging from $995 to $2895.

The three lucky winners who receive a “diamond ticket” hidden in their handbag rental will be rewarded with the ultimate holiday treat. A one-carat white gold Everlon Diamond Knot Bracelet valued at $2500 will be sent to one winner each in the months of October and November, while the grand prize winner will be rewarded with a $4300 two-carat white gold Everlon Diamond Knot Bracelet in December. Entry can also be completed online with no purchase necessary by emailing your name and phone number to rtr@renttherunway.com. For complete rules of entry, please visit www.renttherunway.com.

Rent the Runway is the premier online destination for dress and accessory rentals. With a revolving roster of over 120 top designers, 15,000 of the season’s hottest dresses, and 4000 accessories, Rent the Runway is designer fashion delivered to her doorstep for a fraction of the price. For all of life’s special occasions, www.renttherunway.com provides the Cinderella experience for women everywhere.

By Emyr Thomas:

The London Restaurant Festival is a citywide celebration of eating out, designed to showcase London’s diverse and exciting range of restaurants. From 4 to 18 October, food lovers can explore some of the capital’s finest cooking, from its high-profile Michelin-starred restaurants to coveted neighbourhood gems.

photo credit: Marco Baldanza

The Festival was created by Fay Maschler, restaurant critic for the Evening Standard, and was launched in 2009. In the Festival’s inaugural year, more than 450 restaurants from across the capital took part, each running attractively priced Festival Menus, designed to showcase a restaurant’s individuality and cooking style. The organisers hope that over 800 restaurants will participate in the Festival this year, with a clear strategy focused on ensuring that every one of the 33 London boroughs is well represented by its restaurants.

This year’s event includes the following highlights:

‘Gourmet Odyssey’ – In one lunchtime, food enthusiasts can eat at three influential restaurants, meeting chefs and fellow foodies along the way. Starting with a champagne reception at The Met Bar, guests will be transported from one restaurant to another on a Routemaster bus;

The Big Debate – Speakers including AA Gill and Janet Street-Porter will argue ‘Is French Food a Spent Force?’

The Big Quiz – The Big Quiz will be one of the Festival’s more intellectual contributions to the capital’s culinary scene, hosted by Rowley Leigh at his restaurant Le Café Anglais on Monday 11 October;

Supersonic Masonique – The Festival sees the return of the original pop-up restaurateurs, Pablo Flack and David Waddington of Bistrotheque. Following the success of 2009′s event, the Bistrotheque boys are putting on another Supersonique Masonique Supper Club, which will be held in the Supersonic Masonique Lodge at the Andaz Hotel;

10-10-10 – Taking place on 10 October 2010, 10-10-10 will see ten celebrated chefs from outside London joining forces with ten of their equally renowned London peers to offer a unique collaborative menu for Sunday lunch;

London Eye – Every night during the festival, one capsule of the London Eye will become a 10-seat pop-up restaurant, with a different chef cooking each evening, including Gordon Ramsay, Richard Corrigan, Angela Hartnett and Giorgio Locatelli; and

The London Restaurant Festival Awards, which showcase London’s best food, chefs and restaurants – Held on 18 October 2010 in Old Spitalfields Market, the Awards will represent the finale of London Restaurant Festival 2010 by bringing together the best chefs and restaurateurs in the industry.

There will be eight awards presented on the night, four of which will be for the best Festival Menus in each pricing category, which will be voted for by the public between 4 and14 October. The other awards will be chosen by the panel of judges.

Bon Vivant
Bon Vivant is delighted to offer ViVo’s readers a trial membership of 2 months for the price of 1 for £100. For affordable luxury with the personal touch, please visit the website or the blog. To purchase tickets for this event, please email info@bonvivant.co.uk or call 020 7278 0642.

Nearly three hundred years ago, a revolutionary English engineer was designing and handmaking precision clocks that were centuries ahead of their time. The original feats of science, design and beauty that one of our greatest minds, John Whitehurst, created can only be currently seen in museums, stately homes and palaces. And now, luxury Whitehurst clocks, steeped in British history and provenance, are back in commission.

During the 18th century, John Whitehurst, famous English industrial revolutionary, was working alongside some of the world’s greatest minds in his hometown of Derby, including Benjamin Franklin, to create most advanced and aesthetically challenging timepieces.

This is a standard that remains at the heart of Whitehurst, where, to this day, expert craftsman in Derby are still practising his art of hand making some of the most advanced, precise and mechanically beautiful clocks in the world.

And now, as it unveils its brand new timepieces to satisfy a renewed, international demand for painstakingly crafted, fine clocks, made to the highest standard, Whitehurst, it seems, is still making the heirlooms of the future.

The new weight-driven Whitehurst timepiece – with its design based on the original Y-Frame clock built in 1770, which today sits proudly at Chatsworth House – incorporates much of the original engineering found in the well-known antique. It is meticulously hand built, piece-by-piece, marrying new technology and three hundred year old techniques.

A commitment to the original Whitehurst ethos of mechanical firsts has allowed for the inclusion of a unique revolving polar projection. So, as well as marveling at the fascinatingly exposed intricate workings of the complication, you can continuously track the earth’s rotation – and keep a check on the time across the world in a most beautiful way.

The clock, which weighs-in at a substantial 18 kilograms without the stand, features a rare dual weight configuration and has been built with such mechanical responsibility, that it can be considered one of the best time keepers in the world, with as little as the loss of one second every two months.

As with original Whitehurst timepieces, all of the clock parts are made from material which comes from the same foundry, and, wherever possible, cut from the same piece to enhance precision. Some of the 18 wheels, which turn continuously, are made on machinery that has been making clock parts for hundreds of years. They have been carefully hand filed, hand polished through an eight-stage process and finished in a protective 24 carat gold to ensure a flawless result that can only be achieved through original techniques.

However, new digital and computer-controlled technology, along with the latest developments in materials, have been adopted for some elements – to create clock parts to a standard that even John Whitehurst could only dream about.

Whitehurst Clocks are built to order at a cost of £150,000 – £200,000. Each clock takes between six to nine months to hand build and, as with all Whitehurst clocks past and present, feature the official Whitehurst trademark within the working of the clock. Family crests can be hand engraved into the workings of the clock at the client’s request.

A Whitehurst craftsman will install the clock, and you will receive an official certificate of provenance & ownership upon installation wherever you are in world.

The care and support you receive is in keeping with the flawless Whitehurst experience. Each piece is designed to require minimal care from the owner and all timepieces are guaranteed for life. Support is provided in the form of a global network of Whitehurst approved horologists who will offer exceptional care and service to ensure your clock remains beautiful for life.

www.whitehurstclocks.com

As the stock market turbulence causes investors to panic and hunt for the options that will give their money something at least resembling a return, some of the truly desperate among us have even considered putting it all on the horses. Are we mad?

Racing is thrilling. The ups and downs, the zero-sum game. The winner takes it all. But is ownership of a thoroughbred really just a rich man’s play thing or is there a smart stategy for making money on the track.

Loving horses is not a prerequisite for racehorse ownership. But it sure does help, especially when our expensive animal is costing a small fortune in maintenance and has yet to even place.

photo credit: osedgman

Like all smart investments, the real skill is finding the people who can make your money go far. And, again like other investments, finding the best people to manage the investment is in itself an expensive undertaking.

In ViVo Magazine (printed edition) we take a look at the pros and cons of horse racing ownership, asking whether or not it can ever be a sound financial move to put capital in to racing thoroughbred.

One couture connoisseur tells us about her passion for retro tailoring and a desire to get her measuring tape around a certain Mr James Corden….

By Amanda Nicholls

Let me introduce you to a woman boldly dipping her toe into the pool of couture with her first UK venture, comprising a collection of beautifully cut bespoke shirts and a superb service to boot. AG Bespoke Couture has thrust itself onto the fashion scene with aplomb and with 28 year old, South-African born Anoesjcka de’Lorenzo at the helm, as face of the enterprise and brains behind it, the company has certainly made an arresting entrance.

Miss de’Lorenzo’s résumé is suitably impressive; having spent time in Giorgio Armani’s Milan factory and on Savile Row, under the watchful eye of top tailor Sean O’Flynn. It was while dining in Armani’s Milan restaurant that de’Lorenzo boldly approached the icon and eventually he put her in touch with his factory CEO.

“When I met Mr Armani I didn’t realise how fortunate I was and how that meeting would change my life. There is still a part of me that is awestruck; I look at him with admiration and respect for what he has achieved”, says Anoesjcka. “The more my company grows, the more awestruck I become, actually. When you begin, you take chances and you are fearless, as you have nothing to lose”. It is Mr Armani’s advice that she has found most valuable: “He told me to start with one thing only and make sure to do it well before doing anything else. So, for the moment we are focusing on shirts, but we have the bigger picture in mind and would love to branch out into the entire corporate wardrobe.”

She’s clearly found her niche in the high-fashion landscape; shrewdly choosing to concentrate first on the staple item of every professional. It does seem harder to find a well-cut shirt these days; Anoesjcka agrees that high-street stores have compromised on quality in recent times in order to broaden and maximise production. “We all want to keep up with fashion and express our individuality at a cost we can afford, but we should not make the mistake of buying something we can only wear once”.

Anoesjcka believes the biggest compromise has been on fit and feels standardised garments prioritising frills and bows at the expense of the basic cut, do not flatter the female frame. She describes her approach as a hybrid of classic style and solid, quality tailoring; conveying true craftsmanship. There is much European influence in each garment; shirts are handmade in Italy with French tailoring techniques. With all the work that goes into one piece, purchasing an AG Bespoke Couture shirt is undoubtedly an investment. Since the recession, de’Lorenzo says she has noticed a change in the way people buy high-fashion. However, she feels the majority of her target market still appreciate quality over quantity and consequently, prefer to buy from AG over companies that mass-produce.

Another major focus for the brand revolves around the idea of empowering women in the work place. According to the impressive South African, this is still a problematic issue in the majority of working environments. She believes the way women dress impacts on their confidence and in turn, affects success in the work place. While the Straight & Curvy range aims to make women feel beautiful, the classic style with defined collar and cuffs adds strength and professionalism to the look.

She also appreciates the difficulty in maintaining a good working wardrobe and feels her shirts complement many outfits, moving effortlessly from day to evening wear. For her, it is the focus on women’s body shapes, at long last, that is most exciting in fashion at the moment. “We are being educated on what we can wear, but the standard block sizes of the industry still need to change.

In terms of design, the recession has helped designers focus on creating pieces women can actually wear, rather than works of art for the catwalk. We are back to basics and I love the minimalist approach”. However, Anoesjcka points out that tailoring for men is just as important. “A good tailor can trick the eye and change the appearance of a man’s physique by using skilful tricks and cuts. It requires a combination of several techniques and an intense study of the human body!”

Already she’s secured the confidence of royal bank Coutts & Co and benefited from a few of their coveted commercial tips. Like Mr Armani, they have recognised the potential in this blonde bombshell with a bright business head. The emphasis on the bespoke, integral to the brand’s marketing, has also helped de’Lorenzo gain a corporate and celebrity clientele, all keen to get their hands on her smart threads.

I wonder who might be her next celebrity project. She confesses her love for sleek tailoring and salutes A-listers like Kate Moss. “I love it when she steps out in a tailored suit. Nothing can be sexier. I also admire the understated elegance of France’s first lady, Carla Bruni. My dream project is to be James Bond’s shirt-maker but I would love getting my measuring tape around James Corden. That would be a very funny experience and I think he would look fantastic in one of my shirts.”

Anoesjcka’s catalogue of contacts includes Harold Tillman, owner of Jaeger, whom she has her eye on to collaborate with someday. “He’s definitely the best-dressed man in town and his knack for the fashion business is phenomenal. He has given me great advice over the years and always has time for everyone”, she says fondly, highlighting a rare quality in this fast-paced industry. “I would also love to work with Chanel and learn their fundamentals. Karl Lagerfeld knows every curve in a woman’s body”.

Evidently a natural in front of the camera herself, I wonder whether de’Lorenzo prefers being in the spotlight or behind the scenes. With a smile, she reveals that as a model and trained actress, she’s not the least bit camera shy. Although, her main reason for modelling the collection has, of course, smart business logic behind it. As the face of the brand, customers are able to see her confidence in the product she is promoting. “I do not want to be a brand delivering pieces that people cannot relate to. I want customers to be comfortable giving their opinions, so we can constantly improve my designs”.

On vanity sizing and the size zero debate still raging in the fashion world, de’Lorenzo has clear views. As the name of her women’s collection suggests, she feels the variety of the female shape is something to be celebrated. “I think we need to be open-minded about this issue. It may affect a minority, but if someone’s daughter dies of anorexia because she wanted to be like her icon, or if children grow up thinking they will only make it if they are thin, then we have a huge problem. My sister had this illness so I understand the implications it has on loved ones. Eat, exercise and be happy!”

This is a woman with a wise head on her young shoulders. In fact, many of Anoesjcka’s incisive attitudes seem to hark back to those of previous decades, including her thoughts on tailoring style. I ask her what her favourite bygone era is, in terms of fashion. ‘The fifties for sure; especially Italian fifties glamour. Men’s tailoring was sharp and clean-cut and Chanel showed women how to create their own waist, as high or low as they wanted, by means of a belt. So, whether you had an easy or difficult figure, you were in control. Women oozed confidence because they were comfortable in their own skin. After that, I think relaxed shaping and mass production took over.”

Anoesjcka de’Lorenzo plans to expand her empire beyond the Regents Park Road store and is currently in talks with House of Fraser to make her shirts available to a wider audience. ‘Our female clients can now e-mail us their measurements and we will deliver their shirt right to the office. Soon, you will see the AG team running all over London delivering boxes wrapped in bows. It will seem like Christmas everyday”. It certainly is refreshing to see a young company putting quality at the centre of tailoring policy. As is de’Lorenzo’s enthusiasm for creating styles to suit a range of shapes, rather than one generic cut that only flatters its coat-hanger.

Her greatest challenge so far? Being a little fish in a big pond…with the occasional shark! She’s learned a lot during her meteoric rise to success and perhaps the most in fashion’s capital, Milan. There, she discovered the difference between fashion and style and realised that a confident, stylish woman will never be out of fashion. That and to beware of the Italian charm…

For more information, visit www.agbespokecouture.com

Photography by Dan Pothecary and make up by Kirsty McCall

Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts has launched five limited edition cocktails – inspired by each of the four women, plus Mr Big – to mark the launch of the second movie.

Available at seven of the Park Plaza UK hotels – each of the cocktails has been designed in conjunction with the official vodka of the film, Skyy vodka, using bottles created by the series’ and film’s infamous costume designer, Patricia Field. Each promises to taste as good as the film will look.

The Star of New York is Skyy vodka with a splash of lemon, gomme and cassis, served in a martini glass – a stylish, sassy drink and the perfect embodiment of Carrie Bradshaw.

Blonde Ambition, made with Skyy vodka, orange and lemon juice and fresh raspberries, is exactly what Samantha would drink – bitter sweet with a real kick down to the last drop.

Red Over Heels, a heady mix of grapes, basil and Skyy vodka, is a down-to-earth tipple which would suit all Miranda-types, whilst Park Avenue Princess, a pretty, pink concoction of Skyy vodka with passion fruit juice and campari is perfect for romantic, Charlotte-a-likes.

As you would expect, the Mr Big-inspired Mr New York, is a macho mixture of Skyy vodka with Wild Turkey, marachino and cola and should coax the men to get involved in the SATC-mania!

Any of the drinks are the perfect way to start or end an evening at the movies, or for you and your friends to simply enjoy a glamorous girls’ night out, Sex and the City-style.

Choose from the stylish bars at:

Park Plaza Riverbank on the Albert Embankment (18 Albert Embankment; www.ParkPlazaRiverbank.com);
Park Plaza County Hall (1 Addington Street; www.ParkPlazaCountyHall.com);
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge (200 Westminster Bridge Road; www.parkplaza.com/westminster);
Park Plaza Victoria London (239 Vauxhall Bridge Road www.parkplaza.com/londonuk_victoria);
Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes (108 Baker Street; www.parkplazasherlockholmes.com);
Park Plaza Leeds (Boar Lane City Square www.parkplaza.com/leedsuk);
Park Plaza Nottingham (41 Maid Marian Way; www.parkplaza.com/nottinghamuk)

Tuatara, Nightclub – Kings Road, Chelsea

The latest addition to Chelsea’s rather well stocked collection of impressive night spots is Tuatara, an opulent and inviting member’s club located not far from Sloane Square. Like the best restaurants and bars, this is one venue that you could walk past without noticing if you didn’t know it was there. A modest entrance is all it needs.

The interior concept is well delivered – regal splendour that would satisfy Kings Road’s original owner, Charles II, combines well with the relaxed opulence of the lounges and VIP areas. It’s a nightclub very much in the old school mould, expect a house band, signature cocktails, a restaurant and a roof terrace. There’s a tone of Middle Eastern elegance that subtly characterises this venue.

If you’re looking for somewhere to entertain clients or friends whilst in London, Tuatara offers a blend of style, refinement and personality that will make for a memorable night out.

For guest list and membership enquiries – info@tuataraclub.com

By Sean O’Meara

If you’ve longed to engage with the planet, to observe its scale, power and vulnerability on a rewarding level, but can’t reconcile the mechanics of explorative travel with your green ideals, then it may be time to redesign your approach to achieving your dream adventure escapade. A large portion of potential adventure travellers are yet to take the plunge due to their environmental concerns and their reservations about the authenticity of planned, guided experiences.  So it’s essential for many that exploratory travel is done in the spirit of conservation and sensitivity for local culture. Respect for nature and fostering a sense of place are at the core of Momentum Adventure’s tread lightly ethos, which is why their bespoke packages are so interesting.

With itineraries crafted to reflect the exacting requirements of the most discerning experiential travelers, Momentum have ushered in an intensely exciting new era for travel of this kind. Empowering their clients to explore the world’s hidden gems with confidence whilst enabling them to maintain a mood of wide-eyed awe is not an easy thing to execute, but these packages deliver such a combination masterfully.

 
Momentum Adventure’s bespoke itineraries introduce the adventurer to the most intense, satisfying adventures it’s possible to under take. They achieve this whilst maintaining a balance between drama and meticulous planning , this is what sets these experiences apart from other packages. The degree of expertise and passion involved in crafting the itineraries enable anyone from a novice backpacker to an experienced adventurer to sample once in a life time spectacles within a framework of consumate yet unobtrusive professionalism. It is the nature of traditional adventure travel that sacrifices to style and comfort are made to accommodate the essential aspect of discovery, but Momentum’s unique take on the concept allows for the most out of the ordinary experiences possible to flow seamlessly into some of the most luxurious.
 
Founded by Matthew Robertson, a traveller and explorer whose enthusiasm was sparked on expeditions with leading exponent Mark Diggins, Momentum Adventure’s premise is that every trip should be a voyage of discovery. To ensure this happens, a team member accompanies all adventures alongside world-renowned experts and guides to enhance the personal experience of the extraordinary. Local knowledge and experience add a seam of authenticity that you can’t get with a typical adventure package.

Due to the high level of personalised service, Momentum Adventure escorts little more than a dozen trips a year, each of them tailor-made and subject to detailed preparation. Clients receive one-to-one consultations, a computer programme that charts and monitors the countdown to an expedition, every piece of requisite equipment including top-of-the-range clothing as well as expedition photography as a memento of the journey. Trips can be tailored for individuals and groups, on a personal or corporate basis.

Whether Heli-Skiing in British Columbia or taking on the arid hostility of California’s Baja peninsula in a dune buggy, each journey delivers the ultimate in experiential travel. Rain forests, the Poles, Kashmir – each a unique venue for an intimate encounter with nature. Respite from the high octane activities on offer comes in various sublime forms. From wine tasting, remote hot springs and luxury accommodation in between adventures. It’s a rare opportunity to be able to be pushed to your physical and mental limits before rewarding yourself with a hot tub wind down, in the Arctic. Never before has it been possible to engage with nature so genuinely whilst maintaining a memorable degree of comfort and style.

 
A series of bespoke (and flexible) outline itineraries including more than 20 destinations have been created for 2010 within three distinct categories:
Sub-Zero (comprising South Pole, Arctic, Polar Research station, Spitsbergen)
Wilderness (comprising Borneo, Mongolia, Jordan, Yukon, Baja)
Ski (comprising Surf & Ski, Kashmir, Lebanon, Japan, British Columbia, St Moritz, Ski the World)

Momentum Adventure Journey packages start at £5,000

www.momentumadventure.com